Do it All or Do Nothing at All

 That is the best part of a vacation; you can do it all or do nothing.  One of those places where you can take either option is Grand Cayman Island.  There is so much to see and do on this island.  Yet, with some of the most gorgeous beaches, it is a great place to do nothing.

This is a major port for the cruise lines.  There can be a lot of people hustling and bustling around town, which can create a lot of high energy.  It also has it "get always" for a more peaceful adventure such as on the East End.

Some of the beaches on Grand Cayman to consider are Cemetery, Governor's, Seven Mile and Smith Grove.  While it is great to stretch out and maybe catch up on your pleasure reading, don't forgot you are in a Tropical area and take heed of the Sun.

Of course there are all kinds of active things to do that involve the water.  I will only name a few here and you can look them up on the Internet for more information about any one of them.  You can actually get in the water with Stingrays; this has been voted as the number one activity.  There are also riding horses on the beach and taking them into the water for a swim.  There are all kinds of reefs, natural and artificial to go snorkeling and scuba diving.  The ex-USS Kittiwake was sunk to make an artificial reef and a great adventure to dive down and see it.  There is another item, I haven't done this but sounds like fun is called Paddle Boarding again, you can check it out on line.

Lets not forgot about the places to see on land.  There is the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, the Pedro St. James National Historic Site and the Cayman Islands National Museum.  Couple of other interesting exhibits is the Cayman Motor Museum and the Cayman Turtle Farm.  Of course there are plenty of hiking trails and Lighthouses to see.  If you're into shopping then a stop at Camana Bay is a must.  There is so much to do here and a great place to start would be at the National Trust Visitors Center. 

Yes, the Cayman Islands has it all for those want to Do it All or to Do Nothing. 

Foodies Vacation

Food - What can I say about it that hasn't already been said and written about?  So, for this installment of my blog I not going to write about food but, what people have shared about food.

One of the reasons I get from time to time from a client who does not want to take a cruise is because they don't want to gain weight.  When the first person told me that, they must have thought I was nuts because all I could do was to stare at them like I was dumbfounded.  Actually, I was!  Since then I have become more attune to client concerns regarding their personal needs and preferences including their cruise food adventure.

Yes, one has the availability to eat 24 hours a day while on most cruise ships.  I also have to assume that most of us have food available at home on a 24-hour basis.  Yes, most of the food can be considered gourmet and you may eat a little more at dinnertime than normal.  The thing is that you have a program for eating at home and it's not going to change much on the ship, if at all.  So, while you may consume more calories (weight gain) you more likely will be expending more calories with all the activities while taking this fantastic foodies vacation. - Bon Appetit!

No Worries

 The other day I was having a conversation with a real estate agent friend of mine.  While we were catching up on family, friends and local gossip the conversation did turn to our respective industries.  I have always had and interest in real estate, especially older historical homes.  She just loves to travel and has done a lot.  So as you can imagine there was no loss for words since we only had about an hour together because we both had appointments to go to.

During our conversation, Judy asked me a question that really turned a light on.  I had the answer but, never had thought of it as important.  However, as a client of mine, this would be very important!  The question was "What happens to the bookings I have made for my clients should something happen to me?"  Like I said, this question really hit me as something I should be relating to my clients especially at this time since I am a one man operation.  The answer is:  all my clients bookings would be taken over by the CruiseOne franchiser and then re-distributed to other local agents for processing.

I have always wanted my clients to have a "No Worries" vacation as I take care of all the details for them.  I also have always wanted them to not have to Worry with dealing with my agency.  A lot of my clients are from out of state and the fact that I work from home, it is much easier to ease their minds by letting them know that my agency is legit.  So now, I can let them know before they book that my agency is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and that after they book their investment in their dream vacation is protected.  Now my clients can have (before, during and after) a truly "No Worries" vacation.

The Great Lakes

 Late yesterday afternoon, I received a last minute invitation to dinner.  Lucky enough I was able to accept and even though it was an hour drive, I was more than happy to go.  The location was at the Catawba Island Club which sets right on Lake Erie.  Our table for the evening was outside on the patio.  As you can see from the picture, my view, especially of the sunset was spectacular.  Being born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio the view of the Lake has always amazed me no matter time of year or type of weather.

I had an opportunity one time to ask a vice president of one of the major cruise lines, "why are there not any cruises available on the Great Lakes?"  The answer was, "how many people would want to visit Cleveland?"  I thought, to myself, you're a vice president and that is the best answer you can come up with. 

Well, I am happy to announce that there is a new cruise line, Pearl Seas Cruises that is going to have a luxury ship on the Great Lakes.  Starting in June 2014 they have several different cruises scheduled from Chicago to Montreal.  There winter schedule will take them to the Caribbean.

While they do not have Cleveland listed in any of their itineraries, there are some fantastic ports of call.  After all, the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Baltic have nothing over on the Great Lakes.  There is something for everyone such as; history, culture, scenery, etc.  I wish Pearl Seas Cruises the best of luck and looking forward to taking a cruise with them myself.

Mother Nature

I love this video!  If you watch it closely it takes you around the world to different habitats.  Some of these are exotic places such as the Galapagos Islands.  Which is on my bucket list of place to see.  Another area is Australia.  I have been to Australia and New Zealand and both are highly recommended travel sites.  The beauty of both islands, along with Mother Nature is quite spectacular!

This locations can be travel to by either land or sea.  In my case to the South Pacific, we flew to New Zealand.  Stayed a week on land to tour around the interior locations.  We then boarded the Celebrity Century for a 12 day cruise to Sydney.  Then a week on land in the Sydney area.  Of course, the habitat along the coast lines is much different than the interior of the islands.  But, in either case, Mother Nature is at her best!!

Too Cold in December?

So, I was reading one of my colleagues posting on Facebook and she stated that her client was looking for a warm place to vacation in December.  Apparently, they went to Dominican Republic last December and it was too cold and windy for them.  HMMMM, in December? Oh well! 

However, the posting did remind me of my very first cruise.  It was February 2002.  Winters in Ohio can be very cold and a lot of snow but, most of the time it is gray, overcast, damp, dreary, sloppy and etc.   To get out of Ohio in February is wish most Ohioans have. 

Off to Fort Lauderdale I go with my traveling companion.  We get there and its 90 degrees.  I'm sitting on the back of this huge ship drinking my beverage of choice at the time, Bud Light.  When about a half hour before we where to sail, the captain announced that the departure was going to be delayed because of a mechanical problem.  However, we where not to fret and all the bars where open for free until we departed.  While the delay lasted only 2 hours, I decided right then and there that "This is the Life!" and sailed every year for the next six years in February!  Was it always 90 degrees in Fort Lauderdale in February?  Of course not but, who cares.  I was out of Ohio and even if it was only 65 degrees, the sun was out and it was beautiful!!

First Time Cruisers

The June Wedding bug has been in force.  I have had several calls for booking a cruise with the intent of having a wedding on board the ship.  What was also interesting about these calls  is that most of the brides and grooms have never sailed before.  They are in for a double treat!!  Being married and first time cruisers on the same trip will definitely be a memorable occasion.

With that in mind, I would briefly like to share with you 7 tips for first-time cruisers.
1. Use a Travel Agent
2.  Research Ports in Advance
3.  Pack Only What You Need
4. Configure Cell Phone for International Travel
5.  Calculate Your Finances
6.  Make the most of Shore Excursions
7.  Purchase Travel Insurance

Bon Voyage Everyone!!