Ports of Call

Here are some of our experiences in the different cruise ports of call...everyone's experience is different so we would love to hear about yours! It's hard to judge a place on just a snapshot in time, but here you go...

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

This was our first stop on our first cruise so we didn't know what to expect. We had small kids with us so we opted for just a day at the beach instead of something more difficult. Unfortunately, the "beach" that they took us to was somewhat disappointing. It was more like a sandy patch than a beach. The food and entertainment were mediocre.. it involved a DJ playing Bob Marly and a bunch of Jamaican girls being ordered around by a white guy that was obviously the owner. Anyway, I don't feel that our experience does Jamaica any justice, next time we will opt for a different excursion.

Cozumel, Mexico

We have been to Cozumel twice now and have loved it both times. Both times we have opted to do the "Playa Mia Beach Break"--a beach resort about 20 minutes from Cozumel. They have a great beach with gorgeous water and all kinds of water toys to play with, along with a great swimming pool when you get tired of the ocean (like that is possible!). There is also a fabulous Mexican buffet that we highly recommend. When we were there without the kids we did the swimming with the dolphins experience and that was a lot of fun. Overall, I would say that this is a great excursion if you have kids and want a leisurely day at the beach. On the way back to the boat, you walk through an area full of shops and all the Mexican souvenirs that you can carry. Sombrero anyone?

Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands

We have been to these beautiful islands twice and both times had a great experience. The first trip we had the kids so we just did the beach excursion. I think that 7 Mile Beach has the best sand I have ever seen. It is so soft, like brown sugar. The water is crystal clear, so beautiful. This beach is perfect for small kids to just play in the sand and water. The second time we went, we booked an excursion online instead of with the boat. They picked us up at the pier and we went snorkeling, swimming with the Stingray, and finally a few hours at 7 Mile Beach. This trip we had Grandma with us and she was happy to tag along, but stayed on the boat during the snorkeling and stingray experience. It was nice and relaxed and we had so much fun. Swimming with the stingray is one of those life experiences that I highly suggest you do!

Nassau, Bahamas

We had a fun day exploring around Nassau on foot. We went to the Queens Staircase, a huge, beautiful staircase; and a old military fort. We just got a map and walked around the city without much difficulty. We found a Hard Rock Cafe and had lunch and then ended the afternoon shopping at the local artisan market.

Key West, Florida

Key West was the first stop on our Disney cruise. It is an exotic little town that mostly caters to those looking for a party. We walked around the town, shopped at the tourist shops and found a few Letterboxes. The highlight of the day was a yummy treat of frozen key lime pie on a stick, dipped in chocolate. Oh so good!

Roatan, Honduras

This is pretty little island of the coast of Honduras. We went on a fun excursion involving snorkeling and then a stop at a wildlife preserve where a monkey peed on Kevin. We stopped at the Artisan market on the way back to the boat.

Belize City, Belize

We found this to be a pretty town though the further we got from the pier the more obvious the poverty. Kevin and I went on the cave tubing excursion. This involved a bus ride out to a beautiful, mountain area where we were given a big inner tube and followed a guide to the caves. We jumped in the river and floated through the caves on the inner tubes. The caves were very large and only a few parts were dark enough to need the head lamps they gave us. This was a fun and memorable adventure.

Ensenada, Mexico

A poor little town not far down the coast of Baja, Mexico, Ensenada was our second stop on our first cruise with all the kids and our first cruise in the Pacific. We booked the excursion from the boat because I was too nervous to explore with 5 kids on our own. We were bussed out to the "Blowhole", a natural water spout not far from the pier. To get to the Blowhole, you walked through a market area full of lots of people trying to get the "gringos" to buy their wares. We stopped for some yummy tacos and churros before heading back to the boat.

Catalina Island, California

This was our first stop on our 4 day Baja cruise. It was a cold, dreary day typical of the Pacifc. The first thing we did is go to the nearest shop and spend a truckload of money on sweatshirts for everyone. Silly me to thing it should be warm in June! Once we were warm, we wandered around the little island. This is definitely not a beach place! The beach was such a sorry place that we didn't even stop, let alone think about putting our toes in the water. Instead, we found a place to rent golf carts and had a great hour driving all around the island. This proved to be the highlight of the day.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

We spent two days at this stop when went went on our first Mexican Riviera cruise. We had all six kids so had to find things to do for all ages. The first day we did an excursion with the boat that involved taking a small boat out to see the famous Land's End Arch and then a bus ride to a private resort for a yummy lunch a some time at the beach. The water was rough and the sand course, so different from the Caribbean. But the kids had fun playing in the sand and water. The second day we did some shopping and took a water taxi out to the Lovers Beach and Divorce Beach. We spent a relaxing couple of hours playing in the water and laying around on the beach.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The second stop on our Mexican Riviera cruise, Puerto Vallarta did not disappoint. We walked down the pier to a Pirate ship waiting for us. We spent the day being entertained by "real" pirates that put on a show of music and acting. We had a yummy lunch and then were dropped off at a beautiful beach for a few hours of playing in the water, snorkeling, volleyball, and a pirate treasure hunt for the kids. I could have stayed there much longer, it was so beautiful. I didn't care for the pirate ship, but the kids loved the cheesy entertainment. We did some shopping in Puerto and discovered the city to be the most modern Mexican city that we have been to yet. We found a mall not far from the pier that was just as modern as any American Mall (we got out of there as fast as we could).

Cruisin'

In the fall of 2007, we went on our first cruise and were instantly hooked. Here I share some thoughts about cruising.

Why we love it...

1. I love the convenience! It is so nice to unpack just once and be set for the week. I love going to bed and let the traveling happen while I am sleeping then waking up in a new place.

2. One word-FOOD--I think many people go cruising just for the midnight buffet. I like being able to find something that everyone will eat (even picky kids) and nobody can argue about where we will go. We have enjoyed the dining rooms and the service (it's fun to get dressed up and pretend you can afford a fancy restaurant). If you are hungry on a cruise then it is definitely your own fault! Every cruise has a buffet and it is usually just that...a buffet. The best food can be found in the dining rooms. Most of the cruise lines also have a fancier restaurant that charges a cover charge to go to. They are usually very good and worth the few bucks more. Palo's on the Disney Magic was the best Italian restaurant I've ever experienced. My advice? Put the kids in the kids camp and enjoy a night off, you won't regret it.

3. Kids activities...this would be why our kids love cruising. Some people say they would never take kids on a cruise. I say they will have just as much if not more fun than you. Every ship has some form of kids camp. I have my favorite (see our Disney cruise) but our kids have had fun in each one. You don't have to feel guilty about dropping your kids of and going to have some adult fun time because believe me, they will be too busy to miss you. The down side to this is that kids have to be 2 or sometimes 3 (depending on the ship) to join the kids camps. They have activities for all ages (on our Carnival Cruise we hardly saw Shaylyn because she was having so much fun).

4. The entertainment...I know that cruise entertainment has been said to be bad at best and we have seen our share of cheesy lounge singers, but we have enjoyed the majority of shows and entertainment. We don't usually take part in the bingo sessions, napkin folding classes, or wine tasting sessions; but we do like the after dinner shows. Disney was by far the best entertainment with Carnival being the worst but the great thing is if you don't want to go to the cheesy lounge singer you can just go down the hall to the comedian or go watch a game in the sports lounge...there are so many activities, you'll never be bored.

5. The bottom line...a lot of people think they can't afford a cruise. If you add up the cost of a week in the Caribbean, including hotel, travel, food, and entertainment for a family it is much cheaper to jump on a boat and have all the work done for you. There are so many deals out there if you just do your homework. We do most of our research online (it's Kevin's favorite thing to do so if you need help, he's your man!). Depending on how early you book your cruise, you can make monthly payments if you want. This summer when were looking for a family vacation, we found it was much cheaper to do a 5 day Ensenada cruise then to do a week at Disneyland.

Our Cruises

1. October 2007 Caribbean Princess--Princess Cruiseline. We left from Orlando and went to Jamaica, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Princess's private island in the Bahamas.

Pros--it was our first cruise so we didn't have anything to compare it to. We loved the big screen on deck that showed movies each night (they give you blankets, popcorn, and warm cookies and milk while you watch); the free style dining that meant you could go eat whenever you wanted, and the walking track around the boat that also had nice chairs to sit and watch the water go by.

Cons--Austin loved the kids camp, but Madison was too little at the time. This meant trying to entertain a 16 month old (we ended up walking laps with Maddy in the stroller). This is less of a bad thing about the boat than my suggestion of not to take a kid less than 2 on a cruise (unless it's Disney or you bring Grandma with you!).

2. March 2008 Norwegian Sun--Norwegian Cruiseline. We left from Fort Lauderdale and went to Beliz, Honduras, Cozumel, and Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas. This was a NO KIDS cruise--Maddy and Austin got to spend the week with Grandma.

Pros--It's really not fair to compare this cruise with our others because we didn't have the kids with us. Obviously we didn't see the kids camps and we were able to go to the late night shows which we were not able to do with the kids. We loved having a balcony and would recommend it to anyone on any cruise if you can afford it.

Cons-- The Norwegian line is usually cheaper than other cruise lines, but you get what you pay for. The food, entertainment, and rooms were all "ok" but not fantastic. The private island in the Bahamas was small, run down, and dirty compared to Princess or Disney.

3. May 2009 Disney Magic, Disney Cruise line. We left from Port Canaveral and went to Key West, Grand Cayman, Nassau, Bahamas; and Disney's private island in the Bahamas.

Pros- Bottom line--nobody can compare to Disney. The beautiful ship, the excellent service, the delicious food, the incredible kids activities, the amazing shows.. I could go on and on. I'm afraid whenever we go on another cruise, we will end up comparing it to the Disney cruise. We highly recommend it!

Cons--the price is much more than most other cruises. We got a great deal on ours (ask Kevin about it) otherwise we wouldn't be able to afford it but I guess you get what you pay for. The only other thing I didn't like was the boarding process. It took a long time to go through all the lines and stations.

4. June 2009 Carnival Paradise--Carnival Cruise Line--We left from Los Angeles and went to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico. This was a spur of the moment idea when we realized how cheap the cruise was going for.

Pros--the price! If you want a shorter, cheaper cruise, it's the way to go. We hadn't been to Catalina and Ensenada so it was fun to see new places, though I don't feel like I need to see them again! :)

Cons--well, you get what you pay for. The ship was ok but not fantastic. We liked the rooms and beds. The pools weren't great and the water was cold. Overall it wasn't bad but we are pretty easy going. All I ask is that if you go on it as your first cruise, then don't let it be your last! There are much better cruises out there.

5. July 2011 Carnival Splendor-- Carnival Cruise Line--We left from Los Angeles and went to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This was our first trip with all six kids ages 15 months to 18 years old and was quite the adventure!

Pros--This was our first time to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta and we are always up for seeing new places. While I don't love Carnival, the price was right for all 8 of us. The food was decent, the kids clubs great, and the activities on the boat fun. The Splendor has a huge outdoor screen that they played movies on and served popcorn--there was even a retractable roof so we could enjoy the movie even when it was raining. The rooms on the Splendor were decent sized and the house keeping staff were very helpful. Overall, we had a great experience.

Cons--Carnival decor can be likened to a very cheap, gaudy Vegas casino. The motif on the Splendor was pink zebra stripes and they were EVERYWHERE. The sail away party was "lame" (Kevin's words) with not even a horn blast to tell us we were underway. The buffet was a normal buffet, just ok. The shows were Vegas style and most of them were Adult only entertainment. I was disappointed in the kids splash pad area that was only open a couple hours a day. Austin liked the water slide but we didn't spend much time swimming on the boat as we spent so much time at the beach.

Our Cruising tips

We have been on 4 cruises so we don't consider ourselves experts, but here for what it's worth, here are our tips.

1.  Research--once you have found your cruise, research the boat, the ports you are stopping in, and the excursions.  There are many cruise review web sites that talk about things to do and people's recommendations.  The boat excursions are convenient but also more pricey than doing it on your own.  I weigh the cost and pros and cons of dragging my kids all over a strange country vrs. having the tour group meet you on the pier.  When we went swimming with the stingray in Grand Cayman, we set up the tour online and had a great time, but when we got to Ensenada it was much easier to book the tour on the boat and not have to worry about getting around.

2.  Saving some moola---you know once the real way that the cruiseline makes money is not from the price of the cruise, but from the on-boat expenses.  Most people blow all their cash on alcohol, at the casino, and in the shops.  They give you a card when you get on the boat that is your room key and credit card--no cash is exchanged.  This makes it very easy to not notice the purchases adding up.  I think the key to this is planning ahead.  Here's an example...we don't drink alcohol, so that's not an expense, but on our first cruise we purchased an "all you can drink soda cup".  They give you a mug (not a very big one by the way) for $25 a person and you can get a soda at the pool, shows, dinner, etc.  We quickly realized that to get our monies worth we would have to drink something like 10 sodas a day, which is not only not good for you, but you will quickly get sick of soda.  On subsequent cruises, we have skipped the soda card and just had water most of the time.  Once in a while if we felt like it we would order a soda (I think they charge $2 a drink) but found that it was not often enough to justify the mighty soda cup--plus we didn't have to carry the dumb cups around everywhere.

Our Disneyland tips

We love Disneyland and over the years we have been enough to now be able to offer some advice to those going for the first time.   We'd love to hear your tips and advice too!

1.  Bring the kid's food!  I bring the Smuckers frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, crackers, juice boxes, cheese sticks, etc.  Disney won't let you bring a cooler in, but I've never had any food taken away from us--we just don't take anything that has to be kept cold.  We still get our meals, but my kids don't care (yet) if they are eating something different.  Another food tip is to bring food for a quick breakfast in your hotel room.  Most of the hotels have mini fridges.  When we arrive in Anaheim we go to the store (usually Target) and buy some milk.  I bring cereal and plastic bowls and spoons or buy them too.  Sometimes I bring protein bars for Kevin and I or I have bought muffins or some other quick breakfast food.  Either way, it's much cheaper than going out to breakfast so I can save our food money for another meal.

2.  Don't stand in lines longer than 20 minutes!!!  A positive thing about going to Disneyland so many times is that we don't feel like we have to rush around and see everything.  We get fast passes to our favorite rides then go on another ride in the mean time.  If you have little ones that can't go on an adult ride, you can get to the front of the line and take turns riding without losing your spot.

3.  Bring the previous trip's toys back to the park with you.  My kids want a toy just because it is there.  When Austin went through a pirate phase, we brought his pirate hat, sword, gun and whatever else he would need to feel like a true pirate without making us buy everything again.  This is also true for the night parade or fireworks.  The park sells all kinds of toys that light up in the dark.  I bring them from home and whip them out when the sun goes down and ta da!--  instant entertainment without spending more money.  (hint--many of the disney toys can be found at walmart or target for a third of the price--just buy them before you go and you will save lots of money and the kids won't know the difference--I suppose this would only work on very small kids!)

4.  Bring a jacket for everyone--no matter how warm it is in the day, when the sun goes down and you are standing around in the night air, if you don't have a jacket, I guarantee you will be spending lots of money on a new one.

5.  Bring the biggest stroller you have.  If your kids are small enough to need a stroller then I recommend bringing the one with the most cargo space to shove all of the junk that you need and all of the stuff you will buy--so nobody has to carry their stuff around all day.  Note--I'm sure it happens, but we've never had anything stolen from our stroller, though I still take my camera and real valuables with us on the rides.

6.  The best times to go---OFF SEASON!!  Avoid any time that Utah or California schools are out--when Utah has UEA, Spring break, Christmas break, etc--guaranteed it will be busy.  Our favorite time is the week AFTER Thanksgiving.  The closer you get to Christmas, the busier it is.  January is a great time, not crowded and not hot (plus the park closes early so you don't feel obligated to be there all night).

7.  Ok, here's our best secret:  The Best Spot for the Parade in Disneyland--next to the bathrooms between Fantasyland and Tommorowland across from the Matterhorn.  There are benches and shade and you don't usually have to get there too early.  You can sit on the bench and the kids can sit up closer on the ground if they want.

8.  Did you know there are "hidden Mickey's" all over the park?  The shape of Mickey's head has been hidden everywhere.  You can find them on the rides, in the decor, in the shows, even in the fireworks!  You can buy a book in the park that tells you where they all are and has a scavenger hunt with clues to find them.  Last time we went with Kevin's family, we gave the clues to the older kids and gave a prize to the ones that found the most.  It's fun to see where they have been hidden and puts a different spin on the park if you have been many times.

9.  Our favorite restaurants in Disneyland---

The Blue Bayou--in New Orleans Square--you need reservations and it's expensive but the atmosphere and excellent food are worth it.  I wouldn't recommend it for little kids since they get impatient and won't eat the food (mine anyway).

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant--in Frontierland by Thunder Mountain.  Great open area with lots of tables.  We love the taco salads and the cinnamon chips.  This would be a time to bring the kids food because even the kids meals are quite spicy and there is no American food.  This is the only restaurant in the park that still allows free soda refills.  We keep our cups and refill them every time we pass by--even if it's just ice water.

French Market--in New Orleans Square--the place for Mint Julips and Fritters--yum!!  The food is ok but we like to get a snack and listen to the live band that is usually playing.  

Cafe Orleans--in New Orleans Square across from the Blue Bayou--it has most of the same food as the Blue Bayou including the yummy "Monti Cristo" sandwich but is cheaper and easier to get into.  You still need reservations but can usually get in if you stop by a few hours before you want to eat.

Hungry Bear--in Frontierland by Splash Mountain--burgers and chicken sandwiches that are pretty good.  I like the seating area.  We sit next to the river in the shade and the kids can watch the ducks and boats go by while we eat.  Bonus--the bathroom is right there too.

9.  Tips for tired parents--

--ride the train!  It goes all around the park--you can just stay on until you're tired of it or use it to avoid walking across the park between rides.

--for an air conditioned place to sit while the kids run around, try the Innovations attraction in Tomorrowland.  It's got all kinds of cool games for kids (and adults) to play.  It's a big circle so you can sit in the middle and relax while the kids play as long as you like.  Did I mention it is air conditioned?

Our experience with Priceline

We have used Priceline many times for hotels--mostly in Anaheim but also in Florida and Hawaii.  It's a great service if you want a good price but are flexible.  We always start with an outrageously low price and work our way up 5 bucks at a time.  Also, we never accept anything less than a 3-4 star hotel, that way you know at least a general idea of what you will be getting.  In general in Anaheim, we pay around $55-75 depending on the time of the year.  If you want two rooms this is harder to get.  Keep in mind that the $55 doesn't include parking, shuttle, and food that you might not have to pay for at a closer motel (ie Candy Cane Inn is about $125 a night) and you never know where you will be at.  But if you want a 3-4 star hotel for a cheap price then it is the way to go.  Another note is that the more hotels we try, the more picky we are while some may just be happy with a place to rest their heads at night.

The Happiest Place on Earth

Anyone that knows us, knows that we love Disneyland! We only live 6 hours away so it's easy to drive down for a quick trip. In addition, we are big LA Angels fans so if we can fit a baseball game in with a trip to Disneyland, all the better. Because of our frequent trips, we are often asked about our preferences for hotels. In recent years we have used Priceline to help us find the cheapest rates and this has led us to hotels all over Anaheim. Here's a list of some of the hotels we have stayed at along with positives and negatives of our stay. If you have stayed at any of the same places and have had different experiences, we invite you to share them with us.

1. Candy Cane Inn--in our days before Priceline, this was our hotel of choice. It's a cute little place within walking distance of Disneyland.

Pros--Beautiful grounds, free continental breakfast, free parking, free park shuttle, friendly staff.

Cons--Rooms need to be updated, uncomfortable beds. No suites, rooms are small if you have a big family. More expensive than Priceline (Candy Cane doesn't participate in Priceline)

2. Hyatt Regency Orange County--Our favorite Priceline hotel for a single room. We stayed in a suite once (not on Priceline) and loved it. It had 3 rooms, 3 queen size beds, 3 tv's, and my favorite, two bathrooms. Perfect for 7 people.

Pros--Beautiful grounds, great beds/pillows, close to Target/restaurants, comfortable big rooms. Free shuttle to the park.

Cons--Paid parking, too far away to walk to the park, no free breakfast.

3. Anaheim Marriot--Probably our second favorite Priceline hotel. There is a Pizza Hut in the lobby that has great family deals.

Pros--Great beds/pillows, updated rooms, great swimming pool (half is shaded)

Cons-Must pay for parking, shuttle to the park, no free breakfast.

4. Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort

Pros--Close enough to walk to the park, great view of fireworks (if you get a room facing Disneyland), updated rooms, ok diner style restaurant good for breakfast.

Cons--Must pay for parking, no free breakfast. Must pay for shuttle to the park (we walked).

5. Hilton Anaheim--our least favorite Priceline hotel--we have stayed there a couple of times but don't recommend it if you have a choice. Unfortunately, you can't be picky when it comes to cheap! It's still a 4 star hotel and is much better than some of the nearby motels.

Pros--hmmm well, it is a Hilton as opposed to joe smoe's motel.

Cons--Outdated rooms, must pay for parking, must pay for shuttle to the park, no breakfast, we hated the bathroom--very little privacy. The decor in the whole hotel is very outdated.

6. Desert Palms Hotel and Suites--this one is very close to Candy Cane Inn and is cheaper so we thought we would give it a try--we won't do that again! You get what you pay for sometimes!

Pros--within walking distance of the park, ok continental breakfast, cheap.

Cons--Old, outdated rooms and decor, very small, poor pool.

7. Holiday Inn Anaheim--We got two rooms on Priceline when we went to Disneyland with some friends. It is much further away than most other hotels but it was close to the Angels stadium which was nice when we went to a game.

Pros--Free parking, large comfortable rooms (we were given a handicap accessible room).

Cons--Very far from the park--a city bus runs from the hotel to the park but you stop at many other hotels and stops on the way.

8. Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites--our first attempt to get a suite for the seven of us. Yikes!! Definitely won't do that again!

Pros--Directly across from the park (I think that's why most people pick it), free "continental" breakfast, free parking.

Cons--Old, outdated (smelled old and dirty), only one bathroom in the suite, very small difficult to get to parking garage, small breakfast area next to the dumpster (which was being emptied by a loud beeping truck while we were eating).

9. Hilton Suites Anaheim/Orange--another Priceline gamble

Pros--The room was kind of a mini-suite. It had two rooms with two tv's and a mini kitchen. It was great to put the kids to bed and be in the next room. The bathroom was very nice and big.

Cons--Very far from the park. Must pay for parking and the shuttle to the park. We had to park a long ways from the hotel before we found out where the correct parking area was. It is very close to the freeway--don't get a room on the side of the hotel that faces the freeway--very loud.

10. Crown Plaza Resort Anaheim/Garden Grove--

Pros--close to restaurants (Red Robin, Outback, Joe's Crabshack, Target is across the street), nice pool. Free shuttle to the park (but it is shared by the Hyatt and was full by the time it got to us)

Cons--must pay for parking, the parking lot is a long walk from the hotel, no free breakfast. Customer service was pretty poor.

11. Doubletree Hotel of Anaheim--there are several Doubletree hotels in the area. This one was on City Drive by the Angels stadium.

Pros--free shuttle to the park, free warm chocolate chip cookies when you check in (that would be the kids favorite part), nice pool.

Cons--Far away from the park, the shuttle runs just once an hour, must pay $12 a day for parking, no fridge in the room, double sized beds (nobody wants to sleep in a such a small bed!) not very kid-friendly--the whole place felt "stuffy", the restaurant was expensive and not kid friendly.

12. Staybridge Inn and Suites--we have stayed here several times now and have experienced both the single room and the suites. It's right next to (and shares the beautiful pool) the Holiday Inn that we have been to before.

Pros-Comfortable rooms and beds. The rooms have a kitchen area with table and sitting area that is separate of the bedroom(s). The staff is very friendly and helpful. They provide a full breakfast each morning that is great. The pool is very nice with lots of chairs and area to relax.

Cons--far from Disneyland, you have to pay for the shuttle to get there. The bathroom is a bit awkward with the door running into the sink and mirror area.