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Experience Disney’s Castaway Cay!

January 31, 2021 By Marvelous Mouse Travels Leave a Comment

Anyone else miss cruising? Today agent Nikki Kennedy takes us on a tour of Disney’s Castaway Cay! When you are ready to travel reach out to Nikki https://www.facebook.com/NikkiMMT or any of our Marvelous Mouse agents! https://marvelousmousetravels.com/contactus/

So what’s so great about Castaway Cay? Let me just start with saying.. EVERYTHING…from the beaches, to the staff, excursions, food, unlimited ice cream, snorkeling trails, kids’ clubs, teen clubs, shopping… I could go on and on!

Grab your towel they have ready for you and lets head to the island! 

 

Let’s start with the important part – ADULTS ONLY BEACH! Serenity Bay is on the far side of the island, and like I mentioned its only for 18+! the water is so clear, the sand is beautiful, and you honestly wouldn’t even know all the craziness happening on the other beaches is so close! 

If you are thinking you won’t be able to enjoy that side of the island because you will have kiddos with you, think again! Just like on the ship, there is a play area for kids with the counselors they already know and love! Same with for teenagers and the nursery is also open on the ship! 

Now let’s talk inclusions! There are wagons, strollers and wheelchairs on the island for your use, self-serve ice cream and sodas and of course FOOD! There are 3 Cookies BBQ locations, including one on the adult side that is 18+! The food is so good however the birds know it as well, when I left my plate to go get a drink, they got my chicken! By the time I got back the head server had already replaced it and was waiting there to tell me what had happened.. I was gone maybe a minute. The service isn’t just on the ship! and of course it’s delicious for humans not just birds.. its food on Disney’s private island! How could it not be? 

 

There is an underwater snorkeling course, including sunken ships and a Mickey Mouse statue! The play area complete with fast slides isn’t just for the kids and the items you can buy are exclusive to Castaway Cay AND they will take them back to the ship for you to pick up in the gift shop! 

 

After your day of fun in the sun you can walk or take the tram back to the ship! You will be greeted with flavored waters and air conditioning! 

Filed Under: Disney, Disney Cruise Line, General Travel Tagged With: adventure, beach, cruising, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Parks, family, family travel, family trip, tips

Why Vacationing In A Mask Is The Most Normal Thing You Can Do Right Now!

November 21, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Marvelous Mouse agent Lindsay Smith gives us a great perspective on traveling during this unusual time!

When travel resumed in June, travel agents everywhere jumped in the first available plane, train or
automobile that would take them to their favorite vacation destinations. When the CDC lifted the No Sail Order last month, Royal Caribbean announced that in just 24 hours, more than 20,000 people had signed up for their mock sailings – many of whom were travel agents.

Travel agents were sure that clients would feel the same about travel resuming and would be thrilled to pack their bags and finally take their long-awaited vacations. However, the growing sentiment is not fear of Coronavirus, but rather, “I don’t want to wear a mask on my vacation. I don’t want to be reminded of this virus during my personal time.”

I get it. I will follow all rules and regulations and wear my mask when required, but it’s not my idea of a good time. However, I wanted to travel. My family wanted to travel. My friends wanted to travel. Even more so – we NEEDED to travel.

According to a report from the CDC on August 14, 2020, symptoms of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder increased considerably during April-June 2020. Our vacations were cancelled. Our family gatherings were cancelled. Our daily way of life was cancelled. We remained indoors to protect ourselves and others. For the foreseeable future, our holiday traditions will most likely be altered because of limits on social gatherings.

A study conducted by Nature Neuroscience in early 2020 tracked 132 people prior to the Coronavirus pandemic. Baseline assessments measured depression and anxiety and geolocation tracking apps tracked their activity, along with text messages asking about their current mood at random times during the study. At the end of the study, participants repeated the same initial depression and anxiety assessment as well as MRI scans. The results were a strong correlation between positive emotions and diverse activity, and participants responded with emotions such as “happy”, “relaxed” and “excited” when the tracker showed the respondent visiting different locations throughout the day.

A quick Google search will return numerous studies with the same outcome. In this alternate universe we are living in, traveling, even in a mask, is one of the most normal things you can do and could be beneficial in elevating your mood and overall outlook. Traveling in a mask doesn’t remind you of your current situation; it helps you escape it – safely.

I will never forget the first trip my family took in June to a beach house in Oak Island, NC. After 3 nights, we began the drive home and my 7 year old started to cry. He didn’t want to go back home. He didn’t want to go back to an environment where he stared at the same walls every day and was reminded of everything he was missing. The vacation was the most normal he had felt in months – even while wearing a mask!

We visited Walt Disney World in August with the same result. Face coverings are
required in the parks and all public areas but my children didn’t complain once. Sure, the experience was a little different but the outcome was the same. Smiles. Excitement. Fresh air. Escape.

Thinking of cancelling your next trip because of mask requirements? This is where your travel agent can be a huge asset! Express your concerns. Work with your agent to come up with a travel solution that works best for you! There are many destinations, such as all-inclusive resorts, that do not require a mask while on site because of pre-testing requirements! Still want to travel to Walt Disney World but worried about a mask? Your travel agent can help you plan activities and “mask-breaks” that will make your trip more enjoyable!

I encourage you to take the trip. Travel out of the box you’ve been living in since early 2020. By waiting for mask requirements to be lifted, you may be missing out on exactly what you didn’t know you needed! Take advantage of these opportunities to escape your “new normal” and find the joy in traveling again!

Filed Under: All-Inclusive, Disney, General Travel, Universal Parks Tagged With: adult trip, beach, covid, cruising, face coverings, family travel, holiday travel, mask, travel tips

Take a Look at the Carnival Panorama!

October 31, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Our Marvelous Mouse agent Jaclyn Vercillo had the opportunity to check out the new Carnival Panorama! Let our experts help you plan your next cruise vacation!

The last time I was on a Carnival Cruise ship I was nine years old and believe it or not I came home with a 1st place trophy for a bikini contest. Now I know what you are thinking, but this was the early 90’s people. I heard “Bikini Contest in 5 minutes” and I raced to my room to grab my T-shirt that had a body with a bikini on it. Needless to say I beat out quite the crowd of contestants and my family was left with a fond and hilarious memory.Flash forward to almost 30 years later, I stepped onboard Carnival’s new ship the Panorama for the Feast of Fun and the ship naming ceremony. I truly didn’t know what to expect because I have been an avid DCL and Royal Caribbean Cruiser and in all honestly I have viewed Carnival as a cheaper “party cruise” boat. Well from the moment I stepped onboard, I started to eat crow. I was completely blown away but the decadence of the ship and all it has to offer. When we walked in we were swept through the Casino where they have a 2 story tall Panoramic screen (see what they did there) with floating stingrays hovering over the bar area. It was stunning. I then headed into the shop atrium to enjoy the music and see what was available. Well if diamonds and jewelry are your thing (they should be) then this is your stop, and gents the watch selection will make your mouth water.  Beauty shops and Swarovski items are also glimmering throughout the shopping plaza. It’s 3 stories so give yourself some time to shop. They also have an adorable candy shop for the kids with a Dr. Seuss theme.

Speaking of kids, I snuck away to check out the tween and teen centers. Parents get ready to not see your kids at all on your trip because these areas are kid heaven. They also have a full arcade for kids and wait for it…they have the indoor trampoline park Skyzone ON THE SHIP! That was a first for me and I think it will be enjoyed by big and little kids.
Next I headed to the outside pool decks for the ship naming ceremony and the beautiful Vanna White did the honors as the ships Godmother. Emeril Lagasse also made an appearance since his culinary works will be on future ships and Guy Fieri came out since his restaurant is on the ship. It was quite the crew.
After the ceremony we roamed around the ship and had fantastic appetizers from the restaurants on the ship. Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse is beautiful, I ate a ton of sushi from Bonsai Sushi, and the pulled pork sandwich from Guy’s Pig and Anchor Smokehouse was incredible. With a full belly I decided to head into the piano bar and listen to some wonderful music.
Next up we sat down to a 3 course dinner. The menu featured a wide variety of cuisine from each restaurant but since I already had sushi, pulled pork sandwiches, and rock shrimp tempura, I decided to go the Italian route. First, can I talk about the bread basket?! It was incredible and on par with any fine dining restaurant I have been to. The Focaccia bread melted in your mouth and the butter was served with a little olive oil and sea salt. For my appetizer I had Il Capitano’s Signature Arancini which also melted in your mouth and my main course was Cavatelli with veal and pork shank bolognaise. Now I am Italian and have been to some of the best restaurants in Italy, and I have to say this pasta was amazing! There is a difference with handmade pasta and it showed in this meal and the sauce was amazing. My only downfall was dessert. You guys I was too full to eat it! But it looked beautiful and my fellow travel agents looked like they were enjoying it!
A few other highlights from this ship that delighted me were the Carnival Culinary Experience, the Havana Bar, the kids waterslides and play area, as well as all the live entertainment and shows. The Carnival Culinary experience looks amazing and I was able to meet the chefs. The kitchen is beautiful and you can enjoy gourmet cooking classes with wonderful wine pairings. Perfect date night while the kids are in the kids club! The Havana Bar was beautiful and had fantastic music. And the live entertainment and shows will blow you away! I don’t want to give away too much but you will be on the edge of your seat.
A major highlight for me was the Hero Bar in honor of those who are currently serving or have served our country. It’s a beautiful space and what a great way to meet up with other service members, or for people like myself, to drop in and thank them for their service.
Last thing I will touch on are the accommodations. What I loved about this ship was that they had a large quantity of suites and larger rooms for families. It’s often hard to accommodate larger parties but the Carnival Panorama has taken care of that. The rooms are not cramped at all and the theming is spectacular. But I have to say on this ship, you won’t be spending much time in your room with everything they have on board!
I was really impressed and I am lucky it’s home port is so close to me. Thank you Carnival Panorama for broadening my travel horizons!

Filed Under: Disney Cruise Line, General Travel Tagged With: Carnival, cruising, travel, travel tips

Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas!

July 14, 2020 By Marvelous Mouse Travels

Thank you Jen McGurn for this inside look at Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas!

The Grandeur sails out of Baltimore, making it a great option for residents of
Maryland and Pennsylvania who want to cruise while avoiding the added
expensive of a flight.
While the Grandeur of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s older and smaller
ships, she is still a beauty!


Throughout my tour, I was able to see every Stateroom category. We started with
the 1 and 2 Bedroom Suites and let me tell you, these are stunning!
At 1,119 square feet, the Royal Suite has 1 Bedroom, a whirlpool tub, Private
balcony and a baby grand piano!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2 Bedroom Grand Suite sleeps 8 and offers 2 Bathrooms and Private Balcony. From the Junior Suites and Balcony Cabins to Oceanview and Interior staterooms, there is something for every budget and every need!

 

 

 

As with all ships, there is no shortage of complimentary dining options.
The ships main dining room, Gatsby’s, is absolutely beautiful. Gatsby’s serves
breakfast lunch and dinner.


Windjammer is the ship’s buffet dining option and serves global cuisine for all
three meals.
Grandeur of the Seas is home to three of Royal Caribbean’s most popular
speciality dining options.
Izumi Asian Cuisine offers sushi and hibachi in a beautiful setting reminiscent of
a Japanese Garden.

Giovanni’s Table serves Italian Family style meals with a contemporary flair.
Lastly is the very popular, Chops Grille. Chops is a signature steakhouse with the
only dry-aged steaks at sea.


While I wouldn’t recommend this ship for family’s with adventurous teens or tweens, it is a great option for young family, older adults or couples taking a kids-free vacation. There is plenty to do at any time day or night.

The ship offers complimentary Kid’s Clubs with a wide variety of activities for
kids of all ages. There is also a nursery for the youngest sailors. The nursery
does charge a nominal fee.
During the day, families can lounge at the pool and adults can enjoy the adults
only solarium. This area has a pool, 2 hot tubs, a retractable glass ceiling and a
bar of its own.

 

In the evening, you can enjoy broadway style shows, the Casino Royale, dance parties, and 8 bars and lounges.


Of course, one of the best parts of a cruise is where it takes you. Grandeur of the
Seas has some amazing itineraries! She sails to Bermuda, the Bahamas and
Canada/New England. Select sailings also include a stop at Royal Caribbean’s
completely renovated CoCo Cay!


So hopefully this blog entry has you dreaming of sailing away on either the
Grandeur of the Seas, or another beautiful ship when they return to service!
So, have you sailed with Royal Caribbean? Do you have a favorite ship?

Filed Under: Food, General Travel Tagged With: adult trip, beach, Coco Cay, couples, cruising, excursions, family, Grandeur of the Seas, kids, Royal Caribbean, suites

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