Zip Lining While Cruising the Dominican Republic - Oct 2024

 

At the Resort

One of our bucket-list items was to go zip lining. During our cruise to the Dominican Republic, we signed up for an excursion. 

At the cruise pier we were met by our tour guide, Duran, who claimed us as part of his "family." We were loaded onto an old military style open air truck that took our group from the cruise port to the zip line resort. That was the scariest part of the entire adventure.

In the Dominican Republic, traffic moves incredibly fast. Despite solid center lines and hills with no view of oncoming traffic, other vehicles sped around us to pass. There were goats, cows and donkeys grazing only inches from the side of the road.

The trip to the site took around 45 minutes and took us past a variety of neighborhoods, some well-appointed and others at a level of poverty that made me grateful to live where I do.

Once at the resort, we were given a few minutes to get a cold drink and use the restrooms before touring the gardens and beginning our training. In the first photo, behind the truck in the trees you can see the first platform where the zip trek begins.

After getting instructions on how to hold on and how to brake during the slide, we geared up. The equipment is a bit heavy for someone my size, but manageable. There's a pulley hooked to a harness that goes around your thighs, waist and shoulders, and a crash helmet.

It's a surprisingly simple process to zing across spans of jungle dangling from a cable and a pulley. It was a six-leg journey with platforms between each of the runs. There was even a child among our party. She was fearless.

We're both retirement age which made dealing with the immense heat of the Caribbean climate tough. My husband, got overheated after the strenuous stair climbing wearing heavy equipment.

After 4 legs, we made an early exit down one of the back "secret" stairs. He's had major back surgery and knee replacements. We didn't want to push our luck.

On the drive back to the cruise port after our excursion deep into the jungle the truck started making strange noises. Turns out it got a flat tire and we were broken down in a scary part of town, 

Thankfully the excursion was sponsored by the cruise line, which meant we wouldn't be left behind if we got back to the ship late. As it turned out, we needn't have worried. A replacement truck arrived within 45 minutes to off-load the 30 or so zip-lining participants.

This was our first time to try this type of adventure and it won't be our last. One disappointment was that we couldn't use our Go-Pro camera at that site. 

The thrill of sailing nearly weightlessly across an expanse of tropical forest was indescribable. The pulleys make a sound that becomes familiar as each participant sets off from one platform, zinging across steel cables to land feet first at the next platform. Waiting to catch the arriving zip-liner is a crew of trained professional handlers whose courtesy and understanding was much appreciated.

 

Where the truck transport stopped to fix the tire was a bit sketchy. There was a restaurant across the street, but no one got off the bus to give it a try.

The resort where we were taken was a beautifully decorated, tropical paradise with bathroom facilities, lockers, and a small souvenir shop.

There was a veranda in the back for catered lunches and a shady, covered area after the excursion where we were served fresh watermelon, cantaloupe and soft drinks.

We had a great time and would do this again in a heartbeat. Next time, we're looking for a place that has fewer stairs to climb!

Notes

Requirements & Restrictions: Minimum age – 6 years. All minors must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. Closed-toe shoes are required. Maximum weight – 250 lbs. Hair must be tied for the ziplines. For safety reasons, pregnant women, and guests with back or neck injuries, walking disabilities or other severe medical conditions may not participate in this excursion.

What to Bring: Comfortable clothing, hair band to tie long hair, and cash for additional purchases.

Good to Know: Tour order may vary. For the zipline portion of the tour, if a child is considered too small for the activities, the child must ride with a guide. Transportation is on an open-air truck and ride may be bumpy.

(Notes from the Carnival Cruise site)

Cruising the Panama Canal December 2023

 

The best trip of our ongoing cruising adventures was our trip to Panama in December of 2023. We were aboard the Ruby Princess, which although it is an older ship, has a charm and appeal that can't be matched by the huge megaships in the fleet.

What made the trip memorable? First of all, our cabin was spectacular. We opted for a full penthouse suite which, if you ever get the chance, is a must-try. As "sweeties" so-named by the Events and Guest Services supervisor, Tina DeBarros, we were spoiled beyond belief.

Embroidered house slippers and luxury robes, umbrellas and a fruit basket waited to welcome us to the room. The towels were extravagantly thick and felt new. The bathroom was beautiful with a full tub and a glass-enclosed shower along with a separate toilet room.

Our balcony was twice the normal size of our mini-suites and the closet space was extravagant. Topping it off, the service by our room steward was impeccable.

But, before arriving at the ship, we were invited to a special gathering at the headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale with a pre-boarding photo session and a spread of delectable food treats.

Staff members answered questions and made dinner bookings for us at specialty restaurants onboard. They labeled our luggage and whisked it off to be taken directly to our rooms.

Before a transport van took us directly to the secret entrance for embarkation with NO waiting in line, we had a fascinating conversation with Tina whose insight about the ports we were to visit was truly enlightening.

Our daily breakfast location was at Sabatini's, reserved for suite holders and Elite level passengers. One morning, I ordered the traditional eggs Benedict meal and it was fabulous.

Throughout the cruise we would run across Tina who never failed to recognize us and give a huge hug. She photobombed our breakfast pics, taken by the Maître D,  Ivan, whose sense of humor had us in stitches.

The ten-day cruise took us to Jamaica, Cartagena Columbia, the Panama Canal, Costa Rica and the Cayman Islands. My favorite port was Costa Rica where the tourist shops at the end of the pier offered native artwork, beautiful paintings on wood, hand-made leather items and the usual assortment of t-shirts, hats and carry-all bags.

The nearby shopping area in Jamaica was the only area we explored while there. The merchandise was a bit overpriced, (t-shirts for $38) but if you compared from shop-to-shop you could get a few deals.

Jamaica

Cartagena Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas

In Cartagena Columbia, we took a bus tour of the city that stopped at a fort for 10 minutes to explore the area. A bit longer would have been nice.

Flamenco Dancers

We traveled on to a luxurious residence to watch a performance by Flamenco dancers, onward to a cathedral and then to a museum. The outdoor heat was nearly unbearable but the air-conditioned bus trip was well worth the short-lived discomfort.

The tour ended at a souvenir shop where we found magnets, hats and other gift items.

The walk-through on the way back to the ship took us through a parrot and flamingo filled garden where the birds roamed free. It was beautiful.

The actual transit through the Panama Canal was an experience in itself. We stood on the bow of the ship and watched as the locks opened and closed allowing the ship passage through the narrow canal. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Panama Canal Ship Locks

But the very best part of the trip was being with our friends, Renee and Keith whom we'd met on a trip in April when we visited Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. Our foursome managed to stay awake late enough to close down the dance party in the Piazza when the classic rock band  played.

We enjoyed great food, entertainment, tours, games, invitations to the Captain's party, a private Concierge Lounge a few doors down from our room where we could get coffee in the morning, snacks and drinks at happy hours. It was a fantastic voyage!

Cruising to Alaska in August 2024

Glacier on the Inside Passage of Glacier Bay

August, with temperatures sweltering in Texas, it's a great time for a cruise to someplace cool.

Our trip to Alaska started with a flight from Dallas to Seattle. The flight would have been better if my window shade had worked. Sadly, flying isn't what it used to be. Most passengers keep their window shade down during the entire flight, making it dark and dreary in the cabin. Are electronic devices more fascinating than the view from 30,000 feet? Not for me.

We spent the night at the Westin, Downtown after a car ride from the airport. The trip to the hotel was eye-opening. I'd heard about the "housing challenges" but wasn't prepared for the number of seemingly unhoused people lurking in doorways, walking aimlessly about and hanging around the area. It was enough to make me stay inside the hotel.

But we were pleased to arrive safely at the port where 3 cruise ships were disembarking. The entire process to offload and embark thousands of people would rival the best days of theme park guest management. One particular lady, Bonnie, made sure people didn't hang out in the wrong areas or wait for ride shares where passengers were waiting to get onboard. We watched her in action for over an hour. At the end of our wait, she came over and gave me an unexpected hug. That was nice. We also met a drug-sniffing dog whose tail never stopped wagging. Behind us in line was a family of 5 with 3 teenage boys who were so well-mannered it was refreshing to see. We ran into the Wilsons several times on board, at meals and even shopping in Ketchikan.

Food onboard was spectacular, particularly breakfast at The Catch by Rudi where we met another couple and enjoyed talking over French toast, eggs and a fruit plate for my hubby. We ate there for a specialty dinner also, and wow! The service was amazing, the food was more than plentiful and way too much for us to finish. My Dover sole was deboned at the table with expertise by our waiter, Virgilio, with a nice visit by the Maître d, Johannes who was incredibly personable and a lot of fun.

The ports of Juneau and Skagway were not easily accessible for us. Due to recent damage to the port, a tender boat ride was necessary to get ashore. With the brisk wind and splashing seas, we opted to stay on board, warm and dry. We did make if off the ship for one port, Ketchikan. With an average rainfall of 270 days per year, we were fortunate to enjoy a sunny day with mild temps in the high 60s.

Thankfully, our trip was a couple of weeks before the devastating landslide that damaged property and took lives. A sad outcome in a breathtakingly beautiful place.

Despite the fun, food and friends we enjoyed, a cold cruise would not be the top choice for our next adventure. We were raised in tropical climates and found the temps a bit too brisk for us.

Onward, to the Caribbean in October.

Cruise Ship Fun

There were a number of reasons I refused to go on a cruise. That was, until last October when I found out about a themed cruise with one of my favorite TV show actors. Now that we're back from our first voyage to Cabo San Lucas, it's certain we'll be taking another one.

There was never a dull moment during our 6 day, 5 night trip. We walked the decks from one end of the ship to the other. Whenever we could, we took the stairs to burn off calories from the delicious meals in the Horizon Court, The Crown Grill - an upscale steakhouse and the Botticelli Dining Room. We visited the casino, Club Fusion for a frozen Margarita, dropped by the International Cafe to try some dreamy chocolate mousse, watched line dancing on the Lido Deck, and Zumba exercise classes at the pool. At the port, we boarded the tender ship to Cabo where we shopped for souvenirs in the quaint Mexican village.

The star of the Investigation Discovery TV Series, Homicide Hunter, Joe Kenda was featured at a number of events where he patiently greeted fans and signed autographs for his book, I Will Find You. For the Kenda Cruiser group, there were question and answer sessions with prizes, an off-shore lunch excursion in Cabo, and other activities aboard the ship.

Another Kenda Cruise is planned for next October from NY to Halifax Canada. Search #KendaCruise and Jim Seeley of VIP Tours Cruises and events on Facebook for details.

Beyond the celebrity events there were fun things to do like watch the theater production, Magic To Do, a delightful live musical. Grease and The Incredibles 2 movies were playing on the big screen under the stars. With all the food and exercise, we found ourselves too exhausted to stay up late enough to attend the disco party and costume party events.

To remain safe from illness, observe safe health standards such as disinfecting often touched objects like door handles, TV remotes, room telephones and bathroom shelves. Doing this provides an excellent chance of remaining healthy while cruising. Packets of disposable wipes and are highly recommended for frequent use as you travel about the ship. Or seek out the Purell dispensers when visiting at the buffet.

The food was amazing, the soft motion of the ship en route was calming, the entertainment and the joy of having cell phones off provided a much-needed break from workplace stress.

We truly came back refreshed and new again. We're already signed up for a future trip! Bon Voyage.