The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Teams Up With Jean-Michel Cousteau To Launch Ritz Kids

As parents you always want a trip to a new city to be educational and enriching.  Vacationing isn’t just about relaxation, but about experiencing new cultures and learning about the local customs, traditions and even the environment.   Today the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., announced that through the launch of their new, exclusive Ritz Kids children’s programming they are hoping to provide an engaging and immersive experience that builds upon the adventures of travel that children will always treasure.

Ritz Carlton eco program for kids

Available at  84 of their hotels from Hawaii to Kazakhstan, the program is created in partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society.

“We are very excited to continue our highly successful relationship with a unique individual whose entire life has been spent dedicated to preservation of the environment, with particular attention to marine conservation and education,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The new global brand standard for children’s programming includes robust activities for resorts, in addition to multiple touch points for children at city and urban properties. The refined luxury experience for young guests aged four to 12 provides a differentiated program which engages children to explore the world around them.

“The fun and exciting activities appeal to a child’s innate love of discovery and sense of curiosity.  All kids start out as scientists, constantly asking ‘Why? What’s that? How does it work?’   I have spent my life exploring the natural wonders of the world, seeking to understand how our planet works and how we can better protect it,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau.

“Ritz Kids is offering something no other hotel company has before – globally consistent, immersive programming that builds upon the adventures of travel your child will always treasure.  These experiences will be remembered long after their stay,” he added.

The content of the Ritz Kids programming was created by Ocean Futures Society exclusively for The Ritz-Carlton. The environmental expertise of Ocean Futures Society allows The Ritz-Carlton to craft fascinating experiences that are based on four key pillars:

  • Water: Emphasizing the importance of sea life and health.
  • Land: Encouraging exploration and discovery.
  • Environmental Responsibility: Promoting the environmental health of our planet for the future.
  • Culture:  Exposing young minds to a variety of art forms, including music, local customs and history, as well as cuisine.

Whether at a city or a resort destination, children will be exposed to an array of environmentally focused experiences that foster interaction with the world in which they live. The content created by naturalists is as diverse as the natural world around us and is tailored specifically to intrigue and thrill bright young minds. Every family-friendly Ritz-Carlton hotel around the world incorporates Ritz Kids touch points for children throughout their stay.  Specifically, Ritz-Carlton resorts offer an array of exciting adventures, each rooted in one of the key pillars, designed to engage dialogue, spark curiosity and draw wonder from each hotel’s dynamic culture and locale. Examples include searching for indigenous birds in the wild, exploring gardens for Food Fun, playing games to learn about various types of fish, exploring how fish are different from people and learning about local cultures, myths and legends.

The Ritz-Carlton site notes that the eco-program, if chosen in Orlando is $60 per child aged 4 – 12. Includes snack and a take-home craft based on the lesson.

WestJet Debuts The Magic Plane!

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If you are flying WestJet in the near future you may have special guest joining you! WestJet, WestJet Vacations and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts (Canada) today revealed their most exciting adventure yet — a custom-painted Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 series aircraft featuring Mickey Mouse in his most famous role, Sorcerer Mickey. WestJet's Magic Plane with Mickey Mouse

“We are very proud of our work with Disney and everything we’ve done together over the years to enrich the lives of our guests,” said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “With the Magic Plane, we are soaring to new heights, offering guests of all ages the chance to share the skies with one of the world’s most beloved and iconic figures. We also look forward to having fun with our guests on the ground as they see the Magic Plane flying over their communities and at airports across our expanding network.”

“Bringing this vision to life has been a true collaboration between our companies and it’s so exciting to see the final result — the aircraft is absolutely beautiful,” said Marlie Morrison, Managing Director, Marketing & Sales, The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Ltd. “WestJetters are the first point of contact for many of our Walt Disney World guests embarking on their memorable family vacation.  We have a great appreciation for WestJet, which shares a similar culture in bringing guests an exceptional experience from beginning to end.”

Known in the social media world as the #magicplane, the aircraft will perform its inaugural flight on December 3, 2013, from Calgary to Orlando, Florida, home of Walt Disney World Resort. Following the flight, the Magic Plane will fly throughout WestJet’s domestic, trans-border and international network. WestJet's Magic Plane with Mickey Mouse In addition to the magic on the plane’s exterior, there is a bit of magic on the inside of this aircraft too.  Regardless of where they are travelling, guests on the Magic Plane will receive cookies in the shape of Disney characters. WestJet has also installed custom antimacassars on the seats so there is more than enough pixie dust for everyone! WestJet's Magic Plane Fun facts about the Magic Plane
  • The two sides of the aircraft are mirror images of each other in all aspects but one. We’ll leave it to our guests to determine what that is!
  • There are a total of 36 different paint colours on the aircraft.
  • It took a team of 26 people 24 days working around the clock to paint the Magic Plane.
  • The painting crew consumed more than 150 doughnuts over the 24 days.
  • The painting crew consisted of people from four countries, five states, two provinces and 12 cities.
  • The cookies that will be served on board are a special treat in the shape of Disney characters.
  • Over the next five years, the Magic Plane will fly more than 400,000 guests a total of nearly eight million kilometres.
Amazing! Westjet's Magic Plane

Be Wined & Dined Onboard Freedom of the Seas

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Cruising is about food. No? Yes! Well for me it is. In fact that is how I got into cruising. I had done one too many bad all-inclusive vacations where the beach was beautiful, the place was nice but the food was horrible. I’m lookin at you Cuba! Tired of going hungry on vacation, my mom suggested we try a cruise and I was hooked. Not just because of the tropical locales, but the outstanding food that I had heard would arrive at every meal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, we found there were often a large number of choices for hungry cruisers on most lines. There are few moments when I will turn down a good meal, snack or appetizer.   And during our recent cruise on Freedom of the Seas, I went in with my heart and stomach wide open. This is not the time to diet folks. Being the second largest cruise ship on the water – Freedom of the Seas steps it up a notch with their specialty restaurants, various dining areas and cafes. I loved every moment and may have gained a pound or two….  But it was all for research.  right? Freedom of the Sea in St. Thomas Let’s start at the top of the ship!  The most popular destination for diners is the Windjammer. Day and night this place is packed. And for good reason – they have a vast selection, that works well for cruisers with all dietary preferences. At breakfast every station is stocked with all of the staples – bacon, sausage(turkey and pork), homefries, eggs, pancakes and waffles. Hungry vacationers can also grab some fresh fruit, oatmeal, baked beans, sliced meats, cereal and freshly baked pastries.. It’s all here and very plentiful! Freedom of the Seas - breakfast buffet At lunch the kitchen cooks up fish, burgers, hotdogs, carved meats and 3 or 4 varieties of pizza. Mixed in you will find rice, steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, roasted chicken and daily specialties. For tea time(3-5pm), cruisers coming back on the ship from a day on the island or just some time by the pool can nosh on tacos, burgers, sandwiches, fresh salads, cakes and warm cobbler with a sweet cream sauce. This was one of my favorite mid day spots. We loved the DIY taco bar, which is complete with a beef chili mixture, hard shells, taco chips, salsa, Guacamole and all the fixins. Come back for dinner and you will find more hearty choices like stews, paella, pasta dishes, more carved meat, fresh breads, a full salad bar, a cheese table and a large variety of sweets.  There are also staples like fries, burgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese, pizza and grilled chicken. Freedom of the Seas - windjammer saladsFreedom of the Seas - windjammer buffet Jade, the Asian restaurant which is essentially an extension of the Windjammer, serves up stir frys, sushi, won ton soup, fried rice, General Tso’s chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, sushi, Japanese egg drop soup and Shanghai Noodles. Freedom of the Seas - jade buffet dinner

Specialty

There are so many places to eat on Freedom of the seas but Johnny Rockets was one of our first stops! Freedom of the Seas - johnny rockets We visited twice for a late lunch and once for evening shakes. Freedom of the Seas - shakes at johnny rockets Just like on land, this at sea diner offers burgers, dogs and loaded fries.  For $4.95 guests(shakes & floats are additional) can choose from a long list of Johnny Rocket’s signature items including some dessert at the end.  My favorite is the smokehouse burger and root beer float. My husband loves their chicken club.  We both shared the chili fries and onion rings.  We didn’t have room for dessert but saw other diners having apple pie. Portofinos is Royal’s Italian Specialty restaurant.   During this cruise we had the opportunity to dine there and it was wonderful! Freedom of the Seas - Portofinos Our dinner started off with Proscuitto in Insalata, an antipasto plate and Carpaccio di Manza, thinly sliced beef tenderloin  with parmesan shaving and artichoke paste. My husband and I both had the beef and it literally melted in our mouths.  It was the best we had ever had. Freedom of the Seas - Portofinos Carpaccio Di Manza For dinner my husband and oldest son had the Filetto di Manzo (the beef tenderloin), while my youngest and I both had the Spiedino di Mare, a ‘skewer’ of Maine lobster, gamberoni, scallops and salmon.  It comes on a skewer, as the name suggests, and the host slides everything off on to your plate before removing the shell from the lobster. Freedom of the Seas - dinner at portofinos Another hit – especially with our little one who doesn’t get lobster very often. For dessert we were recommended the Dolcetti Alla Portofino, a sample plate, which I had along with a chocolate mousse cake. Freedom of the Seas - dessert sampler at portofinos Chops Grille Steakhouse – We didn’t have the pleasure of dining at Chops while on this cruise but a couple we met at one of the shows had just come from there and only had great things to say about their experience.  For an additional $30 per person guests  can choose from Filet Mignon (7 & 10oz pieces), Alaskan Halibut, Veal chop, an 18oz Porterhouse, 12oz Striploin or a Chops-style Mixed grill that includes a combination of a grilled lamb chop, apple-chicken sausage, veal tournedos, bacon, bubble & squeak and veal reduction..  On the side you can add double whipped potatoes, sautéed broccolini,  crimini mushrooms and leeks, green beans with Dijon mustard sabayon and feta cheese crumble or roasted potatoes with prosciutto and parmesan.    For starters they offer Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Cake, a smoked duck salad, Asian- Inspired Spicy Tuna, Warm Goat Cheese and Basil Souffle, Oyster Duet and Cheese and Onion soup.

The Dining Room

The dining room on board Freedom of the Seas is a 3 story emporium located at the back of ship between decks 3 and 5.  Open for breakfast and dinner every day, the dining room also serves lunch when the ship is at sea. Freedom of the Seas - main dining room From 8-10am on sea days and 7:30-9:30am on port days the dining room serves a variety of cold and warm cereals, pancakes, French toast, omelets, eggs Benedict, and a full American breakfast plate. Cruisers can choose to order from the menu or serve themselves from a station that is set up in the middle of the room. The best part about breakfast is that guests are seated together as they arrive so this is a great way to get to know your fellow cruisers. Freedom of the Seas - dining room breakfast buffet On our third morning we booked the character breakfast and were welcomed with a large plate of chocolate pastries and a kid friendly menu that included some very sweet selections like chocolate chip pancakes and Belgian waffles with a chocolate caramel sauce topping.  If you are looking for more nutritious options, they have a smoked salmon plate, omelets, oatmeal, cream of wheat, a scrambled egg breakfast and also a seasonal fruit bowl with yoghurt and granola.  The character breakfast is complimentary but needs to be booked before the morning of the event to ensure there is space available.  My kids were thrilled to party with Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots.  This was definitely a highlight for us! Freedom of the Seas - Dreamworks character breakfast menu During the days at sea you can also have Lunch in the dining room from 11:45am – 1pm.  They serve fish, burgers, Quiche, pitas, Risotto, enchiladas and a signature pasta.  For desert you can choose from warm crepes, homemade cakes, strudel, flan or a selection of ice creams or sorbet. Dinner in the dining room is my favorite meal of the day.  Cruisers can chose between traditional, assigned-seating dining during two sittings (5:30 and 8 p.m.) and My Time Dining, where you pick a preferred mealtime (anytime between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m.). There is always a large variety of choices and unique combinations.  It’s like being able to go out for dinner every night! Throughout the week diners can choose from the daily changing menu or from a static menu that offers Caesar salad, Escargots, Shrimp Cocktail, Linguine pomodoro, Angus Beef Sliders, a broiled filet of Atlantic Cod, marinated grilled chicken breast and an aged handcut Manhattan strip steak every night. If you have cruised with Royal in the past you will notice signature dishes that have been on the menu for years like the roast duck with braised red cabbage, Tom Turkey, Filet mignon, Prime Rib of Beef and, of course, the Seafood Platter.   For dessert there was always a large selection of cakes, tartes, souffles, mousses, ice creams and sorbets. Freedom of the Seas - roasted duck  

Casual Dining

In the Royal Promenade you can dine, drink and people watch until your heart is content. There are a lot of options for cruisers just looking for a quick snack or fast meal. The cafe in the Royal Promenade is the perfect spot to relax, have a treat and drink some Joe. They sell Starbucks and also have complimentary regular and decaf coffee, tea and hot chocolate all day long. If you are hungry there is a large variety of sandwiches and baked goods. Open 24 hours a day the cafe is always a busy spot and stocked with great snacks. Freedom of the Seas - promenade cafe Freedom of the Seas - promenade cafe Added as part of the rejuvenation in March of 2011, the Cupcake Cupboard is the perfect place to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Created to look like a small town mom and pop bakery, the Cupcake Cupboard rotates 30 different varieties of baked treats through the shop weekly. Freedom of the Seas - cupcake cupboard When we visited the display was stocked with lemon, coconut, oreo, a pink & green cupcake called the Fiona, carrot cake, turtles, red velvet, vanilla, double chocolate and chocolate/vanilla.  Mini cupcakes retail for $1.50 and full size ones $2.75($14.95/6, $28.95/12).  We took part in the cupcake decorating class during one of our days at seas and the kids loved making their own creations.  Everything was laid out and ready to go when we arrived and the staff was very patient while teaching 10 little ones how to create their monkeys!  The one below was made by my 4 year old.  The class is $15 for kids 11 and under, $22 for anyone 12+. Freedom of the Seas - cupcake decorating Located right next to the Cupcake Cupboard and across from the cafe, Ben & Jerry’s serves up 17 of their most popular flavors(+ 2 types of sorbet) including Cherries Garcia, Phish food, mint chocolate chunk, chocolate chip cookie dough and Chunky Monkey in freshly made waffle cones or bowls.  Cups and sugar cones are s – $2.50, m- $3.25, l- $4.00, and waffle cones are s – $3.25, m- $4.00, l -$4.75.  They also make shakes for $4.50 and sundaes for $4.25(caramel and hot fudge), $5.25 for a waffle cone sundae. Sorrentos, the ship’s authentic New York pizzeria serves pizza  from 11am – 3am every day.  This was our favorite late night spot.  After we picked the kids up from Adventure Ocean we would head to Sorrentos for a quick snack.  Always fresh, the kids loved the selection and also that they could just grab pizza whenever they wanted.  Regardless of when you visit there is always 3 or 4 different types of pizza from vegetarian to meat lovers, desserts and some Italian meats and salads. Freedom of the Seas Sorrentos Pizzaria Vintages has over 100 varieties of wine by the glass including up to 36 different types you can taste from the enomatic wine system. While most glasses will run you between $7-36 the ship does stock the fancy stuff! Their most expensive bottle is a $1966 French Bordeaux. They also have an Australian Shiraz which is priced at $1750. But don’t be worried that this place is too rich for your taste the average bottles starts at $27 and if you arrive between 5-8pm they serve guests complimentary Cheese plates. Freedom of the Seas - vinatges barFreedom of the Seas - wine tasting system Across the way, the Irish pub, Bull and Bear stocks over 40 beers from around the world including Harp lager from Ireland, Hoegaarden from Belgium, 2 non alcoholic options; buckler and O’Douls. They don’t serve food, but they have live entertainment and a very funny bartender. Freedom of the Seas - bull and bear pub

Room Service

What would a vacation be without room service? A fail! Not for our family. We love room service and Royal Caribbean makes it very easy to do. Just turn on your TV, pull up the menu and order away. One night after taking in some of the ship’s shows we decided to watch a movie and have a late night feast. I pulled up the menu and in just few short minutes some spinach and artichoke dip, pizza, 2 fruit platters, a steak sandwich and cheesecake were on their way to our cabin. While I was there I decided to also get our order in for breakfast the next morning. It was just as easy and I was thankful I did it when the attendant knocked on our door at 9am. If you are less technical you can just fill out the slip the stateroom attendant leaves on the back of your door for morning room service and hang it on your handle. Room service is complimentary except between midnight and 5 a.m., when a $3.95 service charge applies. Freedom of the Seas - room service Royal capped off our week with a food festival in the promenade on the last day. From one end to the other there was staff manning stations that were stocked with fresh apple pie, baked breads, fresh cheeses, roast beef sandwiches, pastries and even chocolate dipped strawberries!!  The whole Promenade was decorated with ice carvings and cheese sculptures(below).  Yes the horse, pirate and eagle are created from cheese!

Freedom of the Seas - chees carvings promenadeFreedom of the Seas - Freedom Fest fresh cheese and carved roast beefFreedom of the Seas - Freedom Fest apple pie

Marlon Bandol the same man who carved an eagle out of a chunk of Ice in 12 minutes on our second day was demonstrating his incredible fruit carving skills. Freedom of the Seas - Freedom Fest Marlon Bandol fruit carving One of the ships room attendants was also giving towel folding lessons while the ship’s band played music in the background.  It was a nice way to end the week. Overall I will give Royal Caribbean an A+ for food.  There was always so much available and they really do take such good care of you. As you can see from the images above, we were well fed for the 7 days we called Freedom of the Seas our home. For the whole ship review please visit our sister site Growing Your Baby.  To read more about what Royal offers for vacationing families please visit our run down here.

Celebrity Cruises Announces 123go! Promotion

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If you are looking to cruise with Celebrity Cruise Line in the next year then Friday may be your day to book because that’s when the luxury line brings back their most popular promotion: “123go!” Celebrity Reflection The promotion’s three powerful features will be joined by two entirely new offers, and will allow consumers to select what they value most in a Celebrity vacation, from any of the following exceptional options:
  • Free “Classic Beverage Package” for two, allowing guests to pair Celebrity’s delectable cuisine with their favorite beverages – representing a value of up to $1,200 for two guests, based on a 12-night sailing, and including coverage of beverage gratuities;
  • Free gratuities for two, allowing vacationers to fully relax, knowing tips for Celebrity’s expert staff are covered – representing a value of up to $360 per stateroom based on a 12-night sailing and including coverage of stateroom, waiter, assistant waiter and head waiter gratuities;
  • An onboard credit of up to $300 per stateroom, depending on the selected itinerary length, and available for guests to apply to shore excursions, specialty dining, wine tastings, spa treatments, boutique items, or any other onboard purchase
The promotion will be even more enticing for guests booking a Celebrity vacation in Europe, as they’ll have the opportunity to select two of the three special options. And, Celebrity has further enriched the promotion with an entirely new, family-inspired feature: Free Classic Non-Alcoholic Beverage Packages for third and fourth guests in staterooms, as well as complimentary Internet packages for those guests. Celebrity’s 123go! offer is valid on all ships (with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition), and cruises from February 2014 through March 2015 (excluding Transatlantic and Transpacific voyages) – with more than 400 sailings to choose from – when the cruise is booked between November 29, 2013 through February 28, 2014. Full details can be found beginning at 12:01 am ET November 29 at www.celebritycruises.com/123offer. Celebrity also is inviting Classic tier and above members of the brand’s newly enhanced Captain’s Club loyalty program to take advantage of exclusive benefits: When booking November 29 – December 31, 2013, members will receive 25 bonus Club Points, in addition to the usual Club Points earned for their bookings. They also will enjoy 50 percent reduced deposits when booking.

Disney Announces Special Savings at Walt Disney World For 3 Night Jan/Feb 2014 Vacations

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Tis the Season to escape the snow and head to warmer climates! If visiting with the famous mouse is in your plan for 2014, Disney has announced their new “Families With Little Ones” vacation package, which offers some great savings for traveling families. For just $999, a family of three (two adults, one child ages 3 to 9) can get a 3-night, 2-day package that includes 2-day theme park tickets, Disney’s Quick-Service Dining Plan and 3 nights in a standard room at a Disney Value Resort hotel (excluding Disney’s Art of Animation Resort) – valid for stays most nights Jan. 5 through Feb. 12, 2014. Walt Disney World This is a great way for parents or grandparents to kick off the year, and a the best time to visit, considering the first 6 weeks of the year tend to be light for Disney.  It is also the perfect time to bring along a young-park goer who may be visiting for the first time. Less chaos = more fun! Between world-class attractions in the theme parks and water parks, character meet ‘n’ greet and dining opportunities in the parks and resorts, just-for-kids menus, recreation fun and much more, there’s enough magic for the whole family. Some of the highlights perfect for guests traveling to Walt Disney World Resort with little ones include:
  • In the theme parks: Magic Kingdom New Fantasyland—Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Princess Fairytale Hall and Enchanted Tales with Belle are some of the new must-do’s for little ones; also Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Barnstormer. Epcot—The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Turtle Talk with Crush inspire learning and fun. Disney’s Animal Kingdom—Explore Kilimanjaro Safaris, DinoLand U.S.A. and Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade; also close encounters with fascinating wildlife at every turn. Disney’s Hollywood Studios—Disney Junior-Live on Stage! and Toy Story Midway Mania! are the perfect fit for younger children.
  • At the resort hotels: With themed pools, walking paths and complimentary activities such as Movies Under the Stars, resort hotels provide a great retreat for a relaxing break or even a little one’s afternoon nap during a day of fun in the Disney theme parks. And when parents need a night out, Children’s Activity Centers provide supervised childcare for children ages 3-12 years at five convenient Walt Disney World Resort hotel locations. Centers include arts & crafts, video and board games, Disney movies, dinner and activities. Disney restaurants offer children’s menus, plus crayons and coloring books to keep kids entertained. Character dining—where a cast of characters visit guests’ tables while they eat—is a great way to introduce little ones to Disney characters.
To book the “Families With Little Ones” vacation package visit DisneyWorld.com for booking information.{Resort fine print: For stays most nights Jan. 5 through Feb. 12, 2014, check online at Disneyworld.com or call 407/939-7750 for availability. Must book by Dec. 31, 2013.  Rates may vary based on Disney Resort hotel, room type, party size and length of stay.} Children under 3 are admitted free to Disney parks every day. SOURCE

Royal Caribbean Announces Anthem Of The Seas With Be Homeported in Southampton

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After weeks of speculation, Royal Caribbean International announced today that Southampton will be the home port for their second Quantum class ship – Anthem of the Seas.  The ship will split its time between Southampton, offering Mediterranean cruises in the Summer and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offering Caribbean cruises during the winter months. Quantum:Anthem of the Seas Scheduled to sail her maiden voyage in April of 2015, Anthem of the Seas will offer cruisers more game-changing “firsts at sea” such as a skydiving experience, a thrilling adventure that transports guests more than 300 feet in the air on a breathtaking journey; cutting-edge transformative venues including the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, roller skating and more; and the cruise line’s largest and most advanced staterooms ever.

anthem of the seas Two70° day to nightAnthem of the Seas Seaplex

  These new, larger staterooms enable innovation in design, storage and comfort including the industry’s first virtual balconies. Virtual Balcony staterooms on Anthem of the seas Located on the south coast of England, Southampton is often the first and/or last port on a European cruise or Atlantic crossing for many cruise lines. map of the UK Sixty miles from Heathrow Airport and 80 miles from Gatwick Airport, the town is home to many performance centers, Art Galleries, museums and fabulous shops. Currently, Royal’s Adventure of the Seas and Independence of the Seas sail out of Southampton cruising to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Baltic, Norway and Canary Island.  Royal plans to keep Adventure of the Seas in Southampton along with Anthem. The itineraries for the new ship will be released in early 2014!

Verrückt, The World’s Tallest, Fastest Water Slide To Make A Splash In Kansas City!

Every year Amusement parks around the world clamor to be the best – to have the fastest, highest, most thrilling rides. This year that honor for water rides will go to the Verrückt (German for insane) Meg-A-Blaster at Kansas City’s Schlitterbahn water park! concept image of Verrückt water slide at Schlitterbahn water park Kansas City Scheduled to open on May 23rd, this water slide will move thrill seekers up a conveyor belt in rafts of four before it sends them down a 17 story plunge and over a five-story hill. A previous press release noted that this new category of attraction will shatter all existing records and tower over the current record holder, Insano at Beach Park located in Fortaleza, Brazil which stands a towering 134.5 feet and reaches speeds of 65.2 mph.
“To ensure the record-holding statistics of this new extreme attraction, we are not going to release final height and scope of the project until we are ready to welcome our first guests,” explained Jeff Henry, Schlitterbahn co-owner and the ride’s designer. “This new MEG-A-BLASTER speed-slide is going to wow our guests and is going to be a game changer for our industry. Our greatest challenge will be to find thrill seekers brave enough to ride.”
Over the weekend Schlitterbahn posted images of the slide’s progress, revealing it was so unique they had to invent a conveyor that could carry up the rafts up so high. Verrückt water slide at Schlitterbahn water park Kansas City In October the project experienced some delays due to high winds, but with the main slide now in place, it appears they are back on track for a Spring debut! Verrückt water slide at Schlitterbahn water park Kansas City To keep up with the progress visit the company’s schlitterblog.com

Immerse Yourself In Nature in The Underwater Suite at The Manta Resort

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Our dream is to stay in an over the water bungalow in an exotic locale.  My husband is an aquatic enthusiast and being that close to the marine wildlife is something that has been on his bucket list for decades. And while many resorts around the world offer this incredible experience, few destinations do it better than the Indian Ocean Islands off of East Africa – more precisely the remote island of Pemba. The Manta Resort Taking the adventure to the next level, The Manta Resort, offers visitors a private floating island with your bedroom four meters below the surface. Experience a unique view of the underwater world 24 hours a day. The Manta Resort - the underwater room It is yours to enjoy while sunbathing and stargazing on the top deck, lounging and dining on the water deck.  Relaxation at its best! DCIM100GOPRO Can you imagine sleeping surrounded by a tropical marine environment? Plus there are spotlights in the water at night to ensure you have the best view of the exciting activity that happens when the sun goes down. The Manta Resort - the underwater room at night The Manta Resort’s site notes that the room is $750 per person/room/night for double occupancy($1500) or $900 room/night for single occupancy.  It can be booked in combination with a land stay at the resort for a night or two or for the duration of you stay if you budget allows. The nightly price includes the resort’s extensive all-inclusive plan.  Instead of buffets they serve your meals personally to you at your table on our verandah.  They have free WIFI in the main lounge and dining area and include a daily spa treatment per person at their Kipepeo Spa so you can be as relaxed as possible. This is a vacation I would save(and save) for. More resorts should consider adding these bungalows for their guests.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Debuts New Despicable Me-Inspired Kids’ Suites!

How fun!  The worlds first and only Despicable Me-inspired hotel suites are making their debut at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. The suites bring to life the excitement and playfulness of Grus house, featuring missile beds and Minions, who rappel from the ceiling and surround guests with their unpredictable antics. Despicable Me Kids Suitelr A special time-lapse video captured the entire renovation from start to finish, along with the mayhem that ensued along the way.  The project took more than 5,000 hours of work, 600 yards of carpeting, 36 missile beds,  dozens and dozens of Minions and countless bunches of bananas to complete.
“Our guests will love the theme and attention to detail that went into creating these one-of-a-kind suites,” says General Manager Diane Petit of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.   “From the moment they step inside, children and adults alike will be swept up in the world of Despicable Me.”
All 18 of the hotel’s luxury suites have been transformed to enchant little travelers. The Despicable Me Kids Suites let mom and dad have a little privacy, and the kids have some fun! With a standard king bedroom for the adults plus a separate room for the kids, there’s plenty of space for the whole family at 650 – 675 square feet. Despicable Me Suite Portofino Hotel Orlando A pale blue interior creates a soothing backdrop, while touches of Grus laboratorys red accents remind guests that they are indeed in an unforgettable Minion adventure. despicable-suite-final-web_P These two-room suites feature the kids room outfitted with custom-designed missile beds with Minion-inspired bedding, so that children can sleep like Grus adorable girls: Margo, Edith and Agnes. Plus for added safety, the two separate rooms are connected via a door that can be open or closed, and feature a single entrance to the adult room.