Royal Reunion a Short Film by James Brolin

What an Amazing short film directed by James Brolin, I believe it will bring a sentimental tear or smile to each one of my readers; Bravo James Brolin and Royal Caribbean!

Liberty of the Seas

Here is a slide show of my last two trips on the Liberty of the Seas the first one was a 2 day pre-inaugural trip with many happy industry leaders, and the other was a fantastic 7 day cruise for my daughters birthday.  Although we had a great time in the ports, we actually enjoyed the days at sea as the ship has so much to offer it is hard to find time to do everything!  The photo above was taken in Labadee, Haiti this is Royal Caribbean's private island, and before they completed the changes to accommodate the Oasis and Allure of the Seas, still it is a beautiful sanctuary.

Liberty of The Seas Slideshow: Cruise’s trip from Miami, Florida, United States to 4 cities Miami Beach, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Labadee (near Cap-Haitien, Haiti) was created by TripAdvisor. See another United States slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

Fabulous Food Fridays - The Bahamas

This is my very 1st "Fabulous Food Friday's" and since I have been writing about The Bahamas we will start with the National food of The Bahamas "Conch."  Bahamians have made this typically bland mollusk taste Oh so Good once they start adding all those island flavors!  Although you can find conch made in many different ways (conch chowder, cracked conch, conch stew, conch cakes) a couple of the most popular would be Conch Fritters (usually eaten as an appetizer) and Conch Salad enjoy the video courtesy of Bahamas Breeze where even you too can learn how to prepare conch fritters.
As for some of the popular libations the world famous "Bahama Mama,"  recipe so refreshing along with Kalik the beer of the Bahamas... ♥ Noemi 

    How to make: "Conch Fritters" courtesy of Bahama Breeze

Let the Celebrations Begin...

Via {msnbc.msn.com, polyvore.com}

A Royal Celebration

Courtesy of Cunard.com

27 April 2011 - As the world eagerly awaits the wedding of the century, Cunard Line and the youngest fleet at sea prepared for its own Royal Wedding festivities taking place whilst sailing during this momentous occasion. Officers and crew of flagship Queen Mary 2 put final celebratory touches on board yesterday in New York as guests embarked for the ship's first Eastbound Crossing of the 2011 Transatlantic Season.

Featured aboard the Line's regal fleet of Queens - Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth - will be Royal Wedding celebration activities, including:

Earth Day Part 2 - North Captiva, FL

North Captiva Island is known for its pristine white beaches and some of the best shelling in the world. There are 5 miles of beautiful beaches to walk on North Captiva, two-thirds of which border a 700-acre state land preserve. Enjoy walking for miles and not seeing any signs of civilization except the footprints you leave in the sand. source {northcaptiva.com}
What sets North Captiva apart from the other islands is that access to the island is only possible by private boat, water taxi, or private airplane. There are no cars or paved roads to upset the natural beauty of the island. Transportation on North Captiva is accomplished using golf carts on scenic dirt roads and paths. Here, traffic congestion, tourist attraction hysteria and over commercialization seems worlds away.Source {Runaway Haven}
I have spent many years traveling to North Captiva, if you like getting back to nature this is the way to go! There are homes of all shapes and sizes to accommodate your friends and family Runaway Haven is especially dear to me as this is my best friends home. Swim with dolphins, check out the manatees, marvel at some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets all in your own back yard! 

In Honor of Earth Day 2011

With 1.5 million acres of swamps, saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles, Everglades National Park is one of the most unusual public parks in the United States. Located on the southern tip of Florida, the park is home to 14 rare and endangered species, including the American Crocodile, the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. A large portion of the park is primitive, explored only by adventurists and researchers – but visitors have ample opportunity to walk, camp and canoe through the flat and watery park that is also known as “the river of grass.” Courtesy of About.com
I happen to live in what use to be part of "The Everglades" on any given day as you can see in some of the pictures below you can find Egrets, White Ibis,  and on occasion a funny lizards like the one on our coconut, called the Cuban Knight Anole - native to Cuba my country of birth, it has migrated to Florida with the assistance of humans. So in honor of Earth Day I promise to do what I can to protect this very precious Eco-system and I will start by replanting my now forgotten vegetable garden and posting pictures of the year long project here next Earth Day.

 

Destination Weddings - Bahamas

Bahamas Destination Wedding by nperu featuring slingback sandals

 Destination Wedding in The Bahamas FAQ:

• Both parties must be in The Bahamas at the time of the application.
• The Bahamas Law states that the couple must be a resident in The Bahamas for 48 hours prior (2 business days) to the date of the application.
HOWEVER, couples can file for their paperwork the next day after their arrival i.e. if you arrive on Wednesday you can apply for your license on Thursday.
PROVIDED you bring the copy of Bahamas Immigration form which you receive upon entering the Bahamas, this form will state the length of time you will be staying in the Bahamas.
• If either party is a minor (a person under 18 years of age), parental consent is required.
• If either party has been divorced, the original final decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced. For European residents, the original decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced in the native language along with a translated certified or notarized copy in English.

Stars aboard The Disney Dream

I was just 15 years old when I got lucky enough to inherit from my not to happy brother a trip to Walt Disney World, I remember exactly how I felt as I arrived at the park early that morning, that Magic feeling still exist today!

During it's 2 night preview Disney Dream brought out the stars; brothers Kyle & Christopher Massey, John Stamos, Samantha Brown, and the newly appointed godmother of the ship, Jennifer Hudson to name a few! The Disney Dream with the feel of a classic ocean liner is a floating resort packed with a whole lot of magic! 

There is fun for the entire family from the first ever water coaster at sea to elegant dining befitting a princess. Adults can enjoy their own fun onboard, with late-night lounges and social areas and dining such as Remy an intimate Adult Exclusive restaurant serving French-inspired cuisine, and Skyline a cosmopolitan sky bar boasting sweeping—and magically transforming—views of some of the world's most famous cities. Designed with family in mind the Disney Dream has something for everyone!

A Little Bit of Everything

Cruise-ship cuisine has come of age, with a little bit of everything for almost every taste and now with newer cruise ships, it's all about choices! One evening you might enjoy the elegant atmosphere of the main dining room while another you opt for your ship's casual dining restaurant or one of the ship's specialty restaurants.

Regardless, you'll find an endless selection of entrees, appetizers, salads, soups, sides and desserts every time you sit down. And there's virtually no limit on what or how much you order. But just because your cruise ship offers plenty of delicious food doesn't mean you'll come home out of shape. You can choose low-calorie, spa or fitness menu selections that are just as tempting as those on the regular menu. Burning calories was never so much fun!
In addition to all the fabulous food and restaurants, a number of cruise lines allow guests to choose their own dining time. NCL's Freestyle Dining concept has been well-received by guests who love the freedom to dine whenever and wherever they like, and six-star lines such as Regent and Silversea also leave the option of dining time up to guests. Princess' Personal Choice Dining, Holland America's As You Wish Dining, Carnival's Your Choice Dining, and Royal Caribbean's My Time Dining are now available in addition to their traditional dinner seating. There are even a few cruise lines that have eliminated the formal dress attire of traditional cruising for a more relaxed, casual dress code for dinner.
However, if you prefer traditional dinner seating with the same wait staff and table companions every evening, it is still available on most cruises and remains the favorite among new and past cruisers alike.  From chocolate covered strawberries to a decadent chocolate souffle, filet mignon to Coq au Vin, from juicy burgers to freshly made pizzas, one thing is for sure there is a little bit of everything for every taste.