From Praia Grande to Pastéis: Our Portugal Week
Nov 7–20, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
We flew to Portugal from Boston in about six hours, and I was stoked that Justin had officially made it over to Europe without having to endure one of those painfully long, leg-cramping international flights so many of us have experienced.
Our journey started in Columbus, with a connection in Boston before the overnight flight to Lisbon. Neither of us slept on the red-eye, so by the time we landed in Portugal, we were running on fumes.
From Lisbon Airport, we booked an Uber out to the coast. Wow, was that an exciting, twisty drive. Our driver must have had some racing experience because he handled those curves like he’d driven them a thousand times. About an hour later, we arrived at Praia Grande in Sintra.
The staff at Arribas Sintra Hotel welcomed two exhausted travelers long before normal check-in time. They showed us to some cozy seating facing the mesmerizing waves of the Atlantic where we could rest while we waited for our room to be refreshed.
By mid-afternoon, we were escorted into a surprisingly roomy hotel room with a balcony overlooking the pool and beachfront. We had a queen bed, TV, espresso machine, and even a small dining table for two. After the overnight flight and winding drive from Lisbon, seeing and hearing the Atlantic from our balcony was exactly what we needed.
We spent the weekend taking walks along the beach and listening to the constant crash of the ocean. And I mean CONSTANT. I have never seen waves like this in my life. It was like having ocean soundscapes on repeat no buffering and it broke my brain but I really needed the reset.
Praia Grande faces the open Atlantic and is known for its consistent surf. The beach attracts surf schools and beginners during calmer summer conditions, while larger winter swells make the water much more challenging for experienced surfers. Neither of us surfs, so we were perfectly content enjoying the ocean from dry land. The waves, cool breezes, and slower pace made this such a delightful weekend to unplug from everyday business, meetings, and schedules.
Beach Life vs. City Life
Once the workweek arrived, we moved into the city and checked into 138 Liberdade Hotel. Justin would have preferred to stay at the beach while working remotely all week. However I wanted to explore during the mornings before his work shift without spending part of every day commuting back and forth from Praia Grande. The compromise? A room with a balcony.
138 Liberdade Hotel fit the bill perfectly. We were within walking distance of the main shopping areas, Christmas market, and waterfront, while Justin had outdoor space where he could relax or work. The hotel was modern, with tasteful artwork throughout, and our deluxe room felt quite roomy by European hotel standards. There was plenty of space to work, lounge, and settle in for a full week without constantly working around our luggage. The balcony was massive. You could have thrown a small get-together out there. The bed was another story. Firm. Very firm. As in, my ribcage hurt firm (side sleeper here).
The hotel offered a continental-style breakfast for €25. If you know you’re going to eat there every morning, I’d prepay for breakfast with the room rate and it will be discounted a little.
Otherwise, if you’re able to muster the energy to walk a few blocks before coffee, there are several bakeries and cafés nearby serving excellent coffee and pastéis de nata. There doesn’t seem to be a huge breakfast culture here, at least compared with what we’re accustomed to at home, so coffee and pastries became an easy way to start the day before finding something more substantial later. Also, buy extra pasties for later because they are soooooo delicious.
There was also an Aldi about a block from the hotel to the right, plus a small food court nearby, which made grabbing drinks and snacks for the room easy enough. There is also a several small mom-pop convenience stores that carry snacks and toiletries and souvenirs to include a replacement computer mouse should yours crap out like Justins did.
We found out dinner operates on a much later schedule than we’re used to. One weeknight, we walked into an Italian restaurant near the Christmas market at 10 p.m., and nobody seemed to think twice about it.
We also learned to pay attention to afternoon hours. Many smaller shops and neighborhood eateries close for a few hours during the middle of the day, often somewhere around 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., while larger stores in the central shopping areas tend to stay open.
There was one feature of our hotel Justin wasn’t expecting: church bells.
A local church sits just behind the building, and its bells ring throughout the day. This was definitely a new experience for Justin. I grew up with church bells serving as an unofficial alarm clock during my grade-school years, so I slept right through them.
Churches, convents, monasteries, museums, religious artwork, and statues of saints seem to appear everywhere you wander. History feels woven into everyday life here.
We haven’t ventured onto the famous trams or funiculars. Justin’s aversion to heights makes those a tough sell, although they’re charming to watch rumble through the streets. A recent accident involving one of the historic funiculars didn’t exactly help my case.
Thankfully, there are plenty of other ways to get around. The Metro seems efficient, and between buses, trains, taxis, rideshares, and walking, we never lacked options.
Exploring on foot also gave me time to notice the details. The hills are lined with colorful older buildings, many with updated interiors. Renovation seems to be happening everywhere. Cobblestone streets, stairways, patterned tile sidewalks, decorative façades, and bright buildings give the city its character.
People have been friendly and laid-back, and after spending time here, I understand the appeal for remote workers and digital nomads.
One of my favorite parts of our week was the Christmas market. We enjoyed it enough to visit twice. If you’re here during the holiday season, I’d definitely make time for it. The lights, vendor stalls, food, and holiday atmosphere made it an easy place to wander around for an evening.
And then there was the hot chocolate. Justin is a bona fide chocoholic, and Portuguese hot chocolate might have forever changed him. Thick, rich, and much closer to drinking melted chocolate than the hot cocoa we’re used to at home. I’m not sure ordinary hot chocolate will ever satisfy him again.
One final lesson: don’t expect your postcards to beat you home. I dropped three postcards at the hotel front desk with international postage and assumed they’d make their way to the U.S. within a few weeks. Nope. All three eventually arrived, but it took FIVE MONTHS. By then, our trip was a distant memory and the postcards were practically historical documents. I’ve since read stories from other travelers about international mail from Portugal taking an unusually long time to reach the U.S., but five months for a postcard was definitely a first for us. So if you’re mailing postcards home, send them for the nostalgia, not for timely trip updates. Your recipients might get a surprise reminder of your vacation several months later.
TL;DR:
Splitting our time between Praia Grande and the city ended up working perfectly for us. We got a quiet weekend beside the Atlantic to recover from our flights and unplug. Then we spent the week balancing Justin’s remote work with my early-morning exploring. He got his balcony. I got the city outside the front door. And somewhere along the way, Justin found hot chocolate that might have permanently ruined all other hot chocolate for him. I’d call that a successful compromise.Read more
Norwegian Star: The Cruise that Tested Our Patienc
November 21, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Our second cruise ever was supposed to be simple.
Board a ship in Portugal. Cross the Atlantic. Escape winter in Ohio. Begin our first snowbird season in the Caribbean. Instead, Norwegian Star became a floating lesson in patience.
The ship itself wasn’t bad. In many ways, she was charming. At more than twenty years old, Star had the personality of an aging aunt who still looked good for her age but occasionally forgot where she left her glasses.
The trouble wasn’t the ship. The trouble was figuring out how anything worked. The first clue came from the daily announcements. Every cruise line seems to have its own style. Some provide weather updates, destination information, arrival procedures, and useful reminders. Norwegian Star preferred a different approach.
“Hey Hey Har, Norwegian Star!”
If you wanted to know today’s temperature, tomorrow’s arrival time, or even what time zone you were currently in, good luck. The announcements were largely advertisements disguised as information. This became a recurring theme throughout the voyage.
One morning we discovered that getting ashore required a tender ticket. This information had apparently been announced over the public address system while we were in our cabin. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hear the announcements in our room and the television channel that was supposed to broadcast them wasn’t working either.
So began another scavenger hunt:
Deck 12 for beach towels.
Deck 7 for tender information.
Back upstairs because the towel process had changed.
Back downstairs because nobody seemed quite sure where the tickets were being distributed.
By this point we had started hearing frustrated variations of the same question from fellow passengers: “Is someone actually managing this?”
I half expected a secret password or ceremonial handshake would be required before we were finally allowed off the ship.
The daily schedule created another mystery. Norwegian wanted guests to either visit information screens scattered around the ship or use the mobile app. The app did contain a PDF version of the daily schedule, but there was one problem. You couldn’t add your events to a calendar.
Normally this wouldn’t be a major issue and i’d just add it myself to my personal calandar. On a transatlantic crossing, however, the ship’s time changed repeatedly as we crossed time zones. Appointments entered into my phone quickly became meaningless. My morning routine eventually included manually updating my phone’s clock before checking what day and time it actually was.
Medical requests proved equally adventurous. Before sailing, I had submitted paperwork requesting distilled water and a diabetic sharps container. Norwegian approved the request. They emailed confirmation. They even left a note in our cabin acknowledging the request.The actual supplies, however, were nowhere to be found. Guest Services informed us that nothing was available onboard. Repeatedly.
After three days of asking, our room steward somehow located both items and quietly placed them in our cabin.
To this day, I have no idea where they had been hiding. The water package followed a similar journey. We prepaid for bottled water before boarding.
Day one: no water.
Day two: no water.
Guest Services suggested Room Service.
Room Service suggested someone else.
Someone else suggested Starbucks.
Nobody knew anything.
The water finally arrived on day six. By then I felt emotionally invested in the delivery.
Our suite was comfortable enough, though it came with surprises of its own.
The bathroom featured a full bathtub, which felt luxurious by cruise standards. The decor, however, looked like it had been preserved from the 1990s. Blue tile, yellow-orange walls, occasional rust stains, and drains that periodically emitted mysterious odors.
At one point the toilet stopped flushing entirely. Several hours later it began working again without explanation. We chose not to ask questions.
The suite perks were equally unpredictable. Norwegian advertises robes and slippers for suite guests. Ours had neither. We eventually learned the previous guests had apparently taken them home as souvenirs. We discovered this on day twelve.
The bed was another adventure. Two twin mattresses pushed together created a sleeping surface firm enough to qualify as structural support. As a side sleeper, I woke up each morning feeling as though I had spent the night on a countertop. I requested a mattress topper. None available. Extra blankets for padding? Also unavailable. I eventually resorted to building my own cushioning system from spare linens hidden beneath the sofa + my unused clothing.
The ship’s entertainment provided some unexpected laughs. The theater shows ranged from forgettable to mediocre, but the atrium musicians were excellent. Trivia games, arts and crafts sessions, dance classes, and origami workshops helped pass the many sea days.
After a while, though, I developed a theory about our fellow passengers. Based on the lecture schedule, Norwegian Star appeared to cater almost exclusively to murder enthusiasts.
Topics included blood spatter analysis, forensic science, death investigations, insects that help solve crimes, and real-life wrongful convictions.
At some point I became convinced that half the ship consisted of retired detectives while the other half consisted of people they were investigating.
Food was perfectly acceptable but limited. Breakfast meant the buffet or main dining room. Lunch and dinner rotated between the buffet, the pub, and a poolside grill where burgers competed with flies for attention. Five additional restaurants carried specialty dining charges. The Brazilian steakhouse failed to impress us, though the coffee shop became a regular stop.
Despite all the frustrations, Norwegian Star wasn’t a terrible ship. She carried us safely across an ocean. She introduced us to transatlantic cruising.
She delivered beautiful sea days, long walks on wide outdoor promenades, and more hot tubs than any reasonable person could ever need.
Most importantly, she taught us one of the first lessons of cruise travel: Sometimes the best stories come from the trips that don’t go smoothly.
By the time we reached the Caribbean, we were already better travelers than when we boarded.
We just didn’t realize it yet.Read more
Ponta Delgada: Our First Taste of the Azores
November 22, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
After days of open ocean, seeing land again felt almost surreal.
Ponta Delgada, located on São Miguel Island in the Azores, became our first stop after crossing the Atlantic. We hadn’t planned an excursion. At the time, we were still in our “walk off the ship and see what happens” phase of cruising.
So that’s exactly what we did. We wandered. No itinerary. No destination. No tour guide holding a sign.
The town was clean, quiet, and surprisingly modern. Before arriving, I had assumed the Azores would feel more remote than mainland Portugal. Instead, many of the buildings and public spaces appeared newer and better maintained than some areas we had visited in Lisbon.
As we explored, we found ourselves drawn into a peaceful garden filled with winding paths, tropical plants, and locals going about their day. It wasn’t a destination we had researched beforehand, yet it became one of the most memorable parts of our visit.
Nothing about the day felt rushed. There were no crowds pushing through souvenir shops. No aggressive sales pitches. No frantic race to see ten attractions before returning to the ship.
At the time, we left feeling slightly underwhelmed because there wasn’t much happening within walking distance of the port. Looking back, I think we simply visited the Azores the wrong way.
The real treasures of São Miguel lie beyond town. Volcanic lakes, hot springs, dramatic coastlines, and lush green landscapes are what make the islands famous. We simply didn’t know that yet.
Cruising has taught us many lessons. One of them is that some destinations reward independent exploration while others reward a little planning.
If we return to the Azores someday, we’ll be heading straight for the island’s natural wonders.
But for a first visit, wandering aimlessly through a quiet Portuguese island town wasn’t a bad way to spend the day.Read more
Not Every Port Is a Postcard: St. Maarten and
December 2, 2025 in Sint Maarten ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F
By the time we reached the Caribbean, our floating hotel had developed a new onboard attraction.
A shipwide coughing competition 😷
Somewhere during the crossing, a respiratory virus had begun making its way through the passenger population. By the time we arrived in St. Maarten, coughing echoed through elevators, dining rooms, hallways, and theaters.
The soundtrack of our vacation had become throat clearing and cough drops.
Our visit to Philipsburg wasn’t focused on beaches or sightseeing. We had a mission: Find medicine!
We spent the morning walking the streets near the port searching for pharmacies and grocery stores. Every stop became an opportunity to find something that might help Justin’s increasingly persistent cough.
As we wandered through town, St. Maarten never quite clicked for us.
The Dutch side felt heavily commercialized and lacked the charm we were hoping to find. Nothing was particularly wrong with it. It simply didn’t leave much of an impression.
Oddly enough, the experience made us appreciate home. Travel has a funny way of doing that. Sometimes a destination inspires you to move there. Sometimes it reminds you how much you already enjoy where you live.
As we walked through Philipsburg, I found myself thinking about Ohio.
Not because I missed winter. Absolutely not. But because travel often provides perspective, and on that particular day I felt grateful for what we already had waiting for us back home.
The French side remains on our list for a future visit. Friends and fellow cruisers consistently speak highly of it, and I suspect our opinion of the island might be different if we explored beyond the Dutch side.
A few days later we arrived in Falmouth, Jamaica… but never left the ship.
Normally we’re eager to get off and explore somewhere new, but this visit felt different.
Only months earlier, Jamaica had been hit by a powerful hurricane. From the ship, we could see damaged roofs covered with tarps, uprooted trees, and signs of ongoing recovery.
Combined with the illness making its way through the ship, neither of us felt motivated to spend the day ashore.
Judging by the unusually crowded lunch venues onboard, many other passengers reached the same conclusion.
Instead, we enjoyed one of those rare cruise days where the ship becomes the destination.
No rushing.
No excursions.
No transportation logistics.
Just a quiet day at sea while docked in port. Not every stop becomes a highlight. Some simply become part of the story.Read more
Caribbean Water Therapy: St. Thomas and Grand Caym
December 4, 2025 on the U.S. Virgin Islands ⋅ 🌬 84 °F
The moment we stepped onto American soil in St. Thomas, Justin’s allergies staged an immediate comeback.
Apparently even tropical islands aren’t immune from whatever pollen has been chasing him for years.
After a quick look around the shopping area near the cruise port, we headed toward what would become one of our favorite beaches of the trip.
✨Magens Bay✨
A short taxi ride carried us across the island to a long crescent of white sand framed by calm turquoise water. The beach charged a small entrance fee, which likely helped keep the crowds manageable.
The result was exactly what we needed.
For two glorious hours we floated in warm Caribbean water and forgot about ship frustrations, time zone changes, coughing passengers, and tender ticket mysteries.
I call this Caribbean water therapy. No prescription required.
The water was clear, calm, and impossibly inviting. We spent most of our time alternating between swimming and simply standing in the shallows enjoying the view.
By the time we returned to the ship, we had achieved a matching vacation souvenir.
Sunburn🧯
Despite our best intentions, both of us returned several shades redder than when we arrived. Completely worth it though.
A few days later we arrived in Georgetown, Grand Cayman.
This port began with another lesson in cruise logistics.
Specifically, how not to spend the first two hours of your morning.
Because Grand Cayman requires tender boats, we once again found ourselves searching for information about towels, tender procedures, and where exactly we were supposed to obtain the correct ticket.
After enough running between decks to qualify as exercise, we finally secured our paperwork and boarded the tender.
Forty-five minutes later, we reached shore.
Our first destination wasn’t a beach. It was a grocery store.
Justin’s cough had reached the point where we were willing to purchase anything remotely capable of helping.
Enter Kirk Market to save the day!
The store became one of the unexpected highlights of the day. Clean, organized, and stocked with everything we needed, it provided temporary relief and a reminder that grocery stores become surprisingly exciting when traveling long enough.
After our pharmacy mission, we decided to find a beach.
That proved more difficult than expected.
We walked.
And walked.
And walked.
Several beach access points led to rocky shoreline or coral-covered coast. Others appeared to disappear into private property.
Eventually we accepted defeat, found a local pub, grabbed a bite to eat, and rested our feet. Ok and cool me off because the humidity was melting me from the inside out.
Only later did we learn what experienced visitors already know. Grand Cayman is surrounded by coral reefs 🤦🏻♀️.
The famous sandy beaches aren’t typically located right next to the cruise port. What we actually needed was transportation to Seven Mile Beach. Unfortunately by this point, we had run out of both time and enthusiasm.
Luckily, we already had another cruise scheduled that would bring us back to Grand Cayman only a couple of weeks later.Read more
From NCL Star to Encore
Dec 6–13, 2025 in Belize ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F
After crossing the Atlantic on Norwegian Star, boarding Norwegian Encore felt a bit like checking out of a roadside motel and into a modern resort.
The contrast was immediate.
The ship looked fresh, polished, and thoughtfully designed. The décor felt contemporary without being cold, and nearly every public space seemed designed to encourage people to linger. If Star was showing her age, Encore was showing off.
Even embarkation set the tone. The line looked intimidating at first glance, but Norwegian moved passengers efficiently, and before long we were wandering the ship with vacation mode fully activated.
One thing became clear quickly: there was no shortage of things to do.
Whether you wanted live music, game shows, dance classes, fitness programs, craft workshops, or simply a comfortable lounger with an ocean view, Encore had an option. We especially enjoyed the game shows and the steady stream of live music throughout the ship.
The craft offerings were fun, though we couldn’t help wishing for activities with a stronger Caribbean flavor. Painting coffee mugs and elephants was enjoyable enough, but painting tropical scenes or island-inspired artwork would have felt more connected to the itinerary.
For those who like quieter spaces, we discovered one of the ship’s hidden gems: the Waterfront walking deck on Deck 8. Comfortable loungers lined the port side, creating one of the best places onboard to relax with a book, watch the ocean, or simply enjoy a slower pace.
The Observation Lounge became our sanctuary.
While much of the ship buzzed with activity, the lounge offered floor-to-ceiling ocean views, comfortable seating, and a calm atmosphere that felt worlds away from the energy surrounding the pool deck. Whenever we needed a break from the crowds, this was where we escaped.
The food experience was another pleasant surprise.
Coming directly from Norwegian Star, the buffet felt enormous. Food stations flowed better, seating was easier to find, and the themed dinner nights provided welcome variety throughout the week. We appreciated the many handwashing stations throughout the buffet area, a small touch that helped keep things moving smoothly.
The Manhattan Room served as the main dining venue, though we often preferred Taste and Savor. They offered the same menu in a smaller and more comfortable setting, making dinner feel a bit more relaxed.
One mystery took most of the cruise to solve.
We kept hearing about the American Diner but somehow never seemed to find it open. By the time we finally made it there on Day Six, we discovered it was essentially the pub menu served in a charming 1950s diner setting, complete with milkshakes that required an extra charge. The experience was less about the food and more about satisfying our curiosity.
The crew throughout the ship earned high marks. Staff members were friendly, attentive, and genuinely seemed happy to help. Service felt consistent whether we were in restaurants, public spaces, or interacting with our stateroom team.
Our balcony cabin quickly became one of our favorite cruise accommodations.
The steward provided a mattress topper that transformed an already comfortable bed into one that made sleeping in dangerously tempting. Storage was excellent, with abundant shelving and closet space that made unpacking easy. The balcony chairs even reclined nearly flat, creating a surprisingly comfortable place to read or watch the sea drift by.
The only cabin design flaw involved electrical outlets. Everything was concentrated near the desk, which could create challenges for anyone using a CPAP machine or other bedside medical equipment. An extension cord would be a smart thing to pack.
The biggest disappointment of the voyage wasn’t the ship itself.
It was the pool deck.
Not because it wasn’t attractive, but because it always seemed packed. Music blasted from morning until night, turning what could have been a relaxing outdoor retreat into something that felt closer to a beach club. Even from our midship balcony on Deck 11, several decks below the pool, we could hear the DJs and announcements throughout much of the day.
Thankfully, the balcony doors blocked most of the noise indoors.
Still, we often found ourselves wishing we could hear ocean waves instead of dance beats.
The irony was that Encore offered so many wonderful quiet spaces elsewhere that avoiding the pool area became easy.
By the end of the sailing, one thought kept resurfacing.
We wished this had been the ship carrying us across the Atlantic.
Our transatlantic crossing on Norwegian Star had been memorable, but Encore showed us what Norwegian’s newer generation of ships could offer. Better design, more activities, improved dining venues, comfortable accommodations, and modern amenities combined to create one of the most enjoyable Norwegian experiences we’d had.
If Star introduced us to Norwegian, Encore convinced us to come back.
Ship Tip: Skip the crowded pool deck and head straight to the Observation Lounge on Deck 15. The panoramic views, comfortable seating, and peaceful atmosphere make it one of the best places on the entire ship.Read more
Harvest Caye, Belize: What to pack along
Dec 10–11, 2025 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F
Harvest Caye is Norwegian Cruise Line’s resort-style destination off the coast of southern Belize, and this is one port where knowing a few things before you walk off the ship will save you some surprises.
First, no tendering! The ship docks at a long, covered pier, so you walk straight off and onto the island. The pier is about 0.3 miles long, but there’s a complimentary open-air tram if you don’t want to make the walk.
Once ashore, you have access to a huge resort pool, beach, loungers, umbrellas, kids splash area, restroom facilities, Wildlife Experience and Butterfly area without paying an additional admission fee. The island is nicely set up for an easy day where you don’t need an excursion at all.
The Big Thing to Know: Bring Your Wallet. Harvest Caye does NOT operate like an all-inclusive NCL private island. Bring cash or a credit card with you.
Your NCL drink package does not work on the island, and you don’t charge food and drinks to your ship card. The island’s bars and restaurants are operated by local Belizean businesses, so cocktails, beer, bottled drinks, snacks, and meals are paid for separately with U.S. dollars or a major credit card.
Food isn’t included either. If you want lunch at one of the island restaurants or beach grills, plan on paying out of pocket. There is an easy workaround if you’d rather save the money. Since the ship is docked at the pier, you can head back onboard for lunch and return to the island afterward.
A Few Things to Grab Before Leaving the Ship:
* Grab a beach towel before heading down the pier. There aren’t complimentary towel stations waiting for you on Harvest Caye.
* Your ship Wi-Fi package also stays onboard. If you need internet while ashore, you’ll need cellular service or an international data plan. Otherwise, this is an easy place to disconnect for a few hours.
* Don’t forget your wallet. Even if you’re planning a mostly free beach or pool day, you’ll need cash or a credit card if you decide you want a cold drink, lunch, or a little shopping.
So, are you doing the Pool or Beach? You could easily spend your whole port day around the huge resort pool. There are complimentary loungers and umbrellas, a swim-up bar, waterfalls, and a nearby splash area. Justin will always choose the beach over the pool so we headed for the beach straight away. Complimentary loungers and umbrellas were plentiful which was a pleasant surprise. If you want to get farther away from the activity and music around the pool, the southern end of the beach tends to be quieter.
There is one lesson I learned the itchy way. PACK BUG REPELLENT.
We settled into the area near the end of the zipline over the water, and I got absolutely eaten alive by what I believe were sand fleas or no-see-ums. And I mean eaten alive.
I’d seek out a quieter stretch of beach again, but I’d personally avoid setting up near that same area without bug repellent. Sunshine and an ocean breeze are much less enjoyable when something tiny is treating you like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
One of the cooler free features on Harvest Caye is the Wildlife Experience.
The shaded nature area gives you a chance to see some of Belize’s wildlife without booking an excursion. There are colorful scarlet macaws, toucans, butterflies, and other native animals.
It’s an easy break from the beach and pool, and since admission is included, there’s little reason to skip it. Even if your plan is primarily to find a lounger and stay there, I’d carve out some time to wander through.
If lounging isn’t your thing, Harvest Caye has several paid activities. The Flighthouse zipline course crosses parts of the island and lagoon, including the zipline over the water. Kayaks and paddleboards are available around the saltwater lagoon, and cabanas and private beach villas offer another option if you want your own dedicated space. There’s also a small shopping village with local crafts, artwork, chocolate, souvenirs, and other goodies.
TL;DR:
Harvest Caye is an easy port to explore independently. You don’t need to arrange transportation or book an excursion to fill the day. Walk off the ship, find a lounger, swim, visit the wildlife area, browse the shops, and enjoy the clean facilities before wandering back to the ship whenever you’re ready. The biggest thing is understanding what comes with your day and what stays onboard.
* Beach, pool, loungers and umbrellas are included.
* The Wildlife Experience and pier tram are included.
* Food and drinks cost extra, and your NCL drink package doesn’t work ashore. Bring cash or a credit card.
* Your ship Wi-Fi stays onboard.
* Your beach towel needs to come with you from the ship.
* And if you’re heading to the beach, especially toward the quieter end? Bring the bug repellent. Trust me on that one.Read more
Concierge Class on Celebrity Eclipse
Dec 14–20, 2025 on the Bahamas ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F
After several cruises where technology seemed determined to test our patience, stepping aboard Celebrity Eclipse felt surprisingly civilized.
The ship greeted us with tasteful décor, impressive artwork, and one of the fastest elevators we’ve encountered at sea. It sounds like a small thing until you’ve spent enough cruises standing in elevator lobbies wondering if you’ve accidentally entered a time warp.
This sailing marked our first experience in Concierge Class, and while embarkation wasn’t entirely seamless, friendly crew members quickly pointed us in the right direction whenever we looked lost.
One of the first pleasant surprises was Celebrity’s app. Unlike many cruise apps that seem designed by people who have never used a smartphone, this one worked well. Even without purchasing a Wi-Fi package, we could connect to the ship’s network and message our cruise companions throughout the voyage. That small feature saved countless trips across the ship searching for each other.
Food quickly became one of the highlights of the week.
The Moonlight Sonata Main Dining Room consistently delivered excellent meals, while the Oceanview Café buffet offered enough variety to satisfy almost any craving. Healthy options sat alongside comfort foods, making it easy to convince ourselves we were making responsible choices right before grabbing dessert. The fresh ice cream made those decisions even harder. Justin loves his ice cream.
Activities were another area where Celebrity excelled. The upper deck became one of our favorite spots, with its greenery, putting area, and giant movie screen creating a relaxing atmosphere that felt more resort than cruise ship. We enjoyed watching indoor archery competitions, pool parties that somehow managed to be lively without becoming obnoxious, and an impressive lineup of classes and workshops.
One afternoon we watched artisans demonstrate hot glass techniques. Another day featured paracord bracelet making and dot painting. There were dance classes, wellness workshops, and enough activities to keep even the most energetic passengers occupied.
When the weather turned windy, the indoor pool became a welcome refuge. Few things are more satisfying than swimming while watching rough seas from behind glass.
The ship itself was in excellent condition throughout the sailing. Public spaces felt polished and well maintained, and the onboard library was absolutely beautiful.
Its only flaw was selection or lack there of. The room looked like a reader’s paradise until we started browsing the shelves and discovered the collection was surprisingly limited. It was a gorgeous library that seemed to have forgotten the books.
Our Concierge Class balcony cabin was comfortable and offered a slightly larger balcony than many we’ve had thanks to the ship’s design (bump out balcony). Storage was adequate, with six drawers tucked beneath the television, and Concierge guests could request specialty pillows.
Not everything in the cabin impressed us though. The mini-fridge seemed to specialize in keeping things slightly less warm rather than actually cold. Because we were storing medication, daily ice requests became part of our routine.
Our stateroom attendant also provided the one notable service disappointment of the cruise. When we first returned to our cabin several hours after dropping off our luggage, the bathroom still contained used towels and washcloths from the previous guests. Missing Concierge amenities needed to be replaced, and throughout the week our hallway often remained lined with laundry bags long after neighboring sections had been cleared.
Fortunately, this felt more like an isolated staffing issue than a reflection of the crew overall. Nearly every other interaction we had onboard was friendly, professional, and genuinely welcoming.
Entertainment landed somewhere in the middle. The shows were enjoyable enough, though they didn’t become standout memories from the voyage. They filled the evenings nicely without becoming the reason we’d book the ship again.
Disembarkation brought one final reminder that cruise vacations occasionally save their confusion for the very end.
The information provided for Concierge guests contained errors, and the promised app notifications never arrived. We gathered in the Concierge Lounge expecting clear instructions and instead found a room full of passengers asking the same questions but one seemed entirely certain what was happening.
After waiting a bit and realizing nobody had a definitive answer, we joined the self-disembarkation crowd and made our own exit.
Thankfully, even this wasn’t particularly stressful. The Concierge Lounge offered pastries, coffee, tea, and comfortable seating while everyone collectively tried to solve the mystery of when we were supposed to leave the ship.
By the end of the sailing, Celebrity Eclipse had earned a place among our favorite cruise experiences thus far.
Excellent food, a strong activity lineup, reliable technology, beautiful public spaces, and an overall relaxed atmosphere outweighed the few frustrations we encountered. While there were occasional communication hiccups and one disappointing service experience, the voyage delivered exactly what we wanted from a Caribbean escape: a comfortable ship, plenty to do, and enough time to enjoy life at sea.
Ship Tip: Skip the morning buffet crowds and head to the Spa Café instead. The lighter fare, coffee, smoothies, and calmer atmosphere make for a much more peaceful start to the day.Read more
Mom’s Birthday on Carnival Firenze
January 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Our first family cruise together turned out to be much more meaningful than I expected.
Justin and I chose this January sailing aboard Carnival Firenze because it fit our budget and coincided with my mom’s birthday. It also felt like the perfect opportunity to get everyone together after a difficult year. Nearly a year had passed since my grandmother’s death, and my mom had become more of a homebody after losing her. We hoped this trip would celebrate the January birthdays in the family, including my mom’s, my stepdad Sean’s, and mine, while giving her a chance to create new memories.
Mom, Sean, Justin, and I drove down from Fallon to Long Beach the day before embarkation and spent the night at the Hilton. My cousin Marie and her husband Jeff made the drive from Las Vegas and met us at the ship the following morning.
Although several of us had cruised before, this was Justin’s and my first Carnival cruise. It was also my mom’s very first cruise, while Sean had cruised before but never with her. I was excited to introduce everyone to cruising and even more excited that this would be our first vacation together as a family.
Embarkation at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal went smoothly, although the security process caught us off guard. Lining us up in 5 person sets to be inspected by drug sniffing German Shepherds wasn’t something we expected, but the lines moved efficiently and before long we were make by the long winding trek towards the Firenze deck.
Our first impression of the ship was that she was beautiful. The Italian-inspired design was unlike anything we’d sailed before, with elegant sculptures, decorative columns, rich artwork, gold accents, and custom furnishings throughout. The bright yellow and white color palette immediately reminded me of my grandmother, whose favorite colors were yellow and gold. I wasn’t expecting something as simple as the ship’s décor to make me think of her so often, but it became a quiet reminder throughout the week.
As beautiful as the ship was, the layout took some getting used to. Certain levels spanned the entire ship AFT to FWD but not all. The smart elevators left all of us scratching our heads more than once, and we often found ourselves waiting longer than expected or climbing multiple flights of stairs instead. With luggage in tow and my mom’s sore knees, navigating the first afternoon became an adventure of its own. Thankfully, she handled it far better than I expected.
Once we settled in, everyone naturally found their own vacation rhythm. Shawn quickly became a regular in the Tuscany Lounge, singing karaoke every chance he got. Mom and my cousin Marie discovered the casino and spent much of their free time there, especially after Mom learned she could smoke while playing the slot machines. Justin and I preferred wandering the ship together, exploring different decks and taking leisurely walks. Since Justin wasn’t working on this trip, we were able to enjoy a true vacation together without balancing work responsibilities for the first time.
Each morning followed a familiar routine. Shawn, always the early riser, would head to JavaBlue Café to pick up hot water and coffee before anyone else was awake. He faithfully brought my mom hot water so she could make her instant coffee with the creamers she had packed from home, while the rest of us searched the buffet for our own caffeine fix before deciding what the day would bring.
One unexpected adventure happened without ever leaving our cabin.
At some point during the cruise, we heard a loud thud against our balcony window. Startled, we stepped outside to discover a bird had somehow landed on our balcony. The space between the chairs, table, and railing was so narrow that even I had trouble moving around, leaving the frightened bird trapped with nowhere to escape.
What followed became an impromptu wildlife rescue.
Justin first tried guiding the bird toward the railing, but every attempt only made it panic more. He finally ran inside, grabbed a towel, and carefully draped it over the bird to calm it enough to safely pick it up. Even then, the bird refused to stay on the railing. With no other safe option, Justin gently tossed it out into the open air, hoping instinct would take over.
For a brief second we both held our breath.
Then the bird spread its wings and flew away.
The entire rescue only lasted a few minutes, but it felt like an emotional roller coaster. We went from wondering what had slammed into our window, to worrying whether we’d be able to save it, to laughing afterward about our unexpectedly chaotic balcony adventure. Thankfully, I managed to record the whole rescue, making it one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
Most afternoons everyone did their own thing before regrouping for dinner, bingo, or the casino. It struck a nice balance between spending time together and letting everyone enjoy the vacation at their own pace.
One of the highlights of the cruise was celebrating my mom’s birthday at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. Dinner was outstanding, and each couple even received a complimentary bottle of wine. The staff surprised Mom with a birthday dessert, complete with a candle and a rendition of Happy Birthday that made her smile from ear to ear. It was exactly the kind of celebration I had hoped she would have.
Later in the cruise we enjoyed Bonsai Teppanyaki, where our chef turned dinner into an entertaining performance. Between the jokes, impressive knife skills, and recognizing what seemed like a table full of January birthdays, the evening became another memorable family celebration.
We also spent time playing bingo together and enjoyed a few friendly games of cornhole and mini golf on the upper decks. Meanwhile, Shawn enthusiastically participated in every karaoke event he could find. We all tried cheering him on, although by the end of the evening most of us somehow found ourselves drifting back toward the casino.
One of the funniest moments of the cruise happened there. Justin had decided he was finished gambling for the night but still had money left in his digital wallet. Instead of cashing out, he placed one large bet, figuring he’d either lose it or be done. To everyone’s surprise, he hit a jackpot worth a couple thousand dollars. Jeff looked over, laughed, and simply called him “a degenerate.” The nickname stuck for the rest of the cruise and still makes us laugh whenever we remember the story.
Our first port was Catalina Island, which held special meaning for my mom. Not only was it her first experience riding a tender boat, but visiting Catalina had been on her bucket list for years. She had always wanted to go, but somehow she and Sean had never made the trip.
She loved strolling through Avalon’s charming streets and browsing the little shops. While exploring, we came across an independent submarine excursion and decided on the spur of the moment to give it a try. Descending beneath the harbor to watch colorful fish swim around the submarine while the crew fed them turned into one of those unexpected experiences that none of us had planned but all of us enjoyed.
Ensenada offered a very different adventure.
Rather than booking an excursion, we explored the port shops before following my cousins recommendation to visit a flea market farther into town. After what felt like miles of walking through neighborhoods that became progressively less inviting, we finally reached our destination only to discover the flea market was much smaller than we’d imagined. Looking back, the walk itself became more memorable than the market.
By then my mom’s feet were sore enough that she stopped to buy a new pair of sandals, but she never complained and continued the long walk back to the port. I was genuinely impressed by how much ground she covered throughout the cruise despite her knee pain.
Before returning to the ship, Justin accompanied my cousin into a local pharmacy while the rest of us browsed nearby shops and waited. It wasn’t the most exciting port day, but spending it together made it enjoyable all the same.
Looking back, what stands out most isn’t any one destination or activity. It’s watching everyone naturally settle into their own routines while still coming together every evening. Between birthday celebrations, karaoke, casino laughs, family dinners, long conversations, and one unforgettable bird rescue, our first family cruise became exactly what I had hoped it would be.
Before disembarking, I purchased Carnival’s photo package so we would all have professional family portraits to remember the trip. I divided the prints among everyone so each couple went home with a keepsake.
The Firenze introduced us to Carnival, but more importantly, it gave our family something we’d never shared before. Our first vacation together at sea. After such a difficult year for my mom, I hope this cruise marked the beginning of many more adventures and many more memories still to come.Read more
