Behind The Scenes Ship Tour (Empress of the Seas-Royal Caribbean)

 One interesting tour that can be done while cruising with Royal Caribbean is that they offer an all-access behind the scenes tour of the ship while you will be cruising at sea. Take note though that not all of their ships offer this tour. So if you're interested in signing up for this type of tour check your ship if they offer one.

This tour lasts for 2 hours and involves a lot of walking and standing most of the time. Closed-toe shoes are recommended for safety reasons as there are some steep areas you will be walking on during the tour. You should be in a good physical condition when joining this tour.

A complimentary ID necklace was provided for each tour guest. (see above photo).

In this tour, you will be given the opportunity to see various back of the ship's house areas that include the dining room, galley, provision area, incinerator room, engine control room, laundry and the bridge.

Photos are allowed, so yes, you can bring your cameras but audio/video taping is not allowed!

Also avoid bringing purses or bags that are huge in sizes. Not sure why, but sling bag is okay coz I carried one! 😊

You will receive a letter of instruction a day before the tour so you don't need to worry about the pros and cons! It is all in the letter. 

It's an interesting tour, because you can actually learn the daily routines of what's happening in the ship, including on how they control it; - you can get the chance to chat with the ship's captain at the bridge and ask questions too!

The Old And New San Juan City Tour (via Royal Caribbean)

San Juan is the capital of Puerto Rico, - a commonwealth of the United States. It was founded by the Spanish and made it their settlement in 1521. Today, it is considered to be the second oldest European settlement in the Americas, and one of the largest natural harbors in the caribbean.

No wonder why many tourists are very much attracted to its colonial past that reflects its architectural landmarks which now can be frequently seen through out the Old San Juan.

If you love exploring culture, arts, sports and many more, the tour of Old & New San Juan is perfectly made for you.

This guided tour will first lead you to New San Juan where guests will see common landmarks such as the Capitol Building, the Convention Center, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, Museum of Art Puerto Rico, Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Plaza Las Americas, and others. (Take note that this is a driving tour and hopping off the bus is not allowed except for a visit to Fort San Cristobal,)

The tour will then proceed in Old San Juan where visitors will be given the chance to explore inside San Cristobal Fort and can take as many photos as they want ;). Tour inside the fort is 45 minutes. There is a passageway going up the fort through a tunnel. ;)

My hubby going up  the fort.

Other historical buildings will also be seen like Museo de Ateneo, Antigua Casino and Casa Olimpica where you would learn each of their cultural significance.

The ending part of the tour will be a shopping time at Plaza Colon. Items such as crafts, arts and souvenirs will be the common choices.

You will also get the option to stay a little bit at Old San Juan as you prefer and go back to the ship on your own or choose to be taken back to the ship by the tour bus.

The CocoCay Nature Walk Excursion Experience

If you love nature and you want to know more about what kind of plants and trees are surrounding the island, as well as what animals exist in the island, this excursion is ideal for you. This approximately 3 quarter-mile walk into the remote island of Cococay will take you to learn interesting facts about Bahamian plants and trees as well as the medicinal properties they give.

Before taking this excursion be sure you are wearing your most comfortable shoes as there are uneven paths in some areas. You will be walking up and down on a hilly area with uneven rocks and flat dirt areas are common. Don't forget to bring with you a bottle of water, your hat, an insect repellant and sunscreen for skin protection, your sunglasses, and just wear light comfortable clothing. 

You'll also get the chance to visit a historical ruin on the island such as that of Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard). As you further explore your walk, you will see iguanas, some variety of birds and pelicans, then you will be introduced to sea stars, conch and the occasional stingray.

I saw an iguana!

The tour lasts for an hour 45 minutes, but it can be earlier, and ends at Barefoot Beach which is a 5-minute walk from the central area.

CocoCay Island, Bahamas

It was such an amazing experience visiting CocoCay in Bahamas during our cruise.

Me and my husband at Cococay Island, Bahamas

CocoCay is a private island exclusive for Royal Caribbean as well as for Celebrity Cruises guests. Both these cruise ships bring their passengers to the island by tenders.

CocoCay is surrounded with bright blue waters in the middle of the Bahamas, and situated about 45 miles north, northwest of Nassau.

This island was used to be called "Little Stirrup Cay" before the Royal Caribbean Cruises assumed the lease of the island for exclusive use. It used to be a deserted island that has white sand beaches.

After Royal Caribbean Cruises acquired the lease, and was renamed CocoCay, the company started renovating the island and became a tropical paradise.

Nowadays, it is now equipped with new and modern aquatic facilities like scuba-diving and snorkeling facilities, renovated nature trails which are one of the island's attractions, new dining shelters such as bars, restaurants and shops like the Straw Market that are in cottages and artisan huts.

Other famous activities are kayaking, swimming, parasailing and more. If you prefer to relax, the island is also equipped with benches and special seating areas along the beach and trellises for shady sanctuaries.

Before catching up your tender going to the island, be sure you are ready for the choices of any excursions or tours that you wanna do. 

There is an excursion desk in the ship and they can help you with some lists of activities you want to do in the island. You need to sign up first before going to the island, as they don't accept walk-in tours once you're there.

Otherwise, you should have already included your excursion itineraries before you board the ship for the cruise.

Cayman Islands - Loads of Fun!

There are lot of things to do and discover at Cayman Islands.
If you love scuba diving, try Stingray City, a famous shallow dive site off Grand Cayman where you can swim with stingrays, or you can go snorkel tour to Stingray City Sandbar. There are 250 dive sites found in Grand Cayman alone, just imagine!...it's unlimited fun for scuba divers ;).
You can also enjoy parasailing, kayaking, fishing or water skiing.

On land, visit Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park,-a 65-acre wonderland showcasing variety of trees, flowers and wildlife.

Shopping:
Fine jewelries, watches, perfumes, European fashions and more can be enjoyed at excellent values at duty-free shops on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. Local crafts are also seen along with Cayman food specialties at Cayman Craft Market and The Farmer's Market Cooperative on Grand Cayman.

Dining:
Try Casa Havana that offers specialties inspired by Cuba & SOuth American cuisines. The Wharf offers Caribbean and international specialties; while Luca is commonly known for fresh Italian-inspired cuisine.
These restaurants are located along Grand Cayman's magnificent Seven Mile Beach.

Where to Party:
Go to Kaibo Bar & Grill at Grand Cayman's north shore and dance to live music every Tuesday nights. Ports of Call Bar at The Wharf offers free salsa lessons every Tuesday night as well.

Calico Jack's is a casula beach bar ideal for dishes at sunset.

Caribbean Escapades - Part 1

Just a thought of a luxurious Caribbean vacation is more than enough to make you feel relaxed.
There are several islands of the Caribbean that offer the perfect escapades for every type of traveler, from a secluded romantic getaway to a fun-filled family adventure.

I will be sharing 6 of the islands which are worth considering for a visit with 3 islands in this post and another 3 of them as Part 2 of my post ;).

ARUBA - this breathtaking island makes many tourists come back again and again, the reason why it's worth the visit. Take note that Aruba is a tropical island, and always summer! Aruba is 6 miles across at its widest point and 70 sq. miles, at 19.6 miles long. Both south and west coasts feature miles of white sand beaches which rank among the most beautiful in the world.
The north east coast is a contrast in a rugged terrain where ocean waves crash dramatically against the shoreline. Travelers looking for adventure off the beaten path can go to visit the eerie rock formations in the desert-like interior, the cacti and the island's famous divi-divi trees. You can spend the day just idling on the beach or racing from an active itinerary to the next in Aruba.

Some exciting things to do are scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing and water skiing.
You'll alos enjoy on land activities like world class golf and tennis, horse-back riding, sightseeing and fantastic shopping.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS - this island is considered to be a true escape...no high-rise hotels, no casinos, no crowds, just pure natural splendors.
British Virgin Islands (BVI) is composed of 60 islands mostly surrounding the Sir Frances Drake Channel. BVI is a natural playground of breath-taking beauty due to its emerald green coastlines, white sand beaches and crystal, turquoise waters making it the undisputed Sailing Capital of the World.l

If you're booking for a stay, there are simple, intimate inns, villas and cottages owned by local BVIslanders. But there are also modest seaside inns to luxurious view-oriented villas.

THE CAYMAN ISLANDS - it's simply a paradise with scores of sun-drenched beaches. Your adventure will be filled with wonderful accomodations, world class dining, breathtaking vistas, exhilirating activities and a bevy of sights and sounds; - whether you choose to stay at grand Cayman, Little Cayman or Cayman Brac.

Grand Cayman is the most cosmopolitan of the 3 islands which blends international attractions with rich local tradition.

On the northeast of Grand Cayman island are the islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman which are 89 miles away from Grand Cayman. These two islands are also known as "Sister islands" and an ideal place for marvelous diving and snorkeling. These isles have scores of hiking trails with dozens of secluded beaches and wide range of hotels, condominiums, villas, bed-and-breakfast and spa services.