Cruise to Alaska on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

 

If you haven’t taken a family cruise vacation, what are you waiting for? Many people think cruising is not for them, but a family cruise has so much to offer everyone that you should give it a try before you make up your mind. We’ve been on shorter cruises with a Caribbean itinerary before, but this summer we took a round-trip Seattle cruise to Alaska on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas.  We had a blast, and there was something for everyone from grandparents to teens. Most of all, we were able to make this trip happen for our family thanks to the value of cruising.  Here is a trip report from stem to stern:

Pre-Cruise- We arrived in Seattle two days ahead of time and spent a short time in the city plus a full day hiking in beautiful Mount Ranier National Park. Despite beautiful weather at home and in Seattle, we still had travel delays on our departure day and missed almost all of our first day. Because air travel is so unpredictable, I can’t recommend enough to arrive the day or two before a cruise. We were so glad we did! We took the Link Light Rail from the airport to downtown and picked up our rental car from the downtown location. It was so easy and only $3 per person. We heard while we were in line at the car rental office that the line at the car rental desk at the airport was hours long so we were thrilled that we averted that mess. The car rental was for our Mount Ranier day an easy day trip from Seattle. The hikes and scenery are breathtaking and well worth a trip. It was a wonderful addition to our cruise itinerary.

 

Embarkation - We dropped off the rental car the morning of our cruise departure and had the hotel call us a car to get to the port- $10 per person for our family of six. It was about the same for an Uber, but we could all go in one car so it was perfect. The embarkation ran smoothly, thanks to the check-in on the Royal Caribbean app. We all have passports and I also think that added to the ease of our arrival. Within minutes we were on the ship. Arrival day is crowded since not everything is open. We had a short check-list of things we needed to do upon arrival – get duplicate stateroom keys, add a second restaurant to our pre-booked specialty restaurant package, and check to see if we could make reservations for the Flow Rider surf simulator (we couldn’t – the reservations for each day are made at 8 p.m. the previous day using the app. We did easily make reservations that way during our cruise.) After running through the list, we headed to the Windjammer buffet for lunch. The kids used the Windjammer a few times for lunch, but we only went on arrival day. We much preferred eating in the main dining room and other options throughout the ship. More about that in the dining section.

Stateroom – We had a balcony room, and our kids had ocean-view rooms. The space was about the same, and the kids liked sitting on the seat in front of their window, so it was perfect for them. We used the balcony and loved looking out with coffee in the morning or in the evening after dinner. We found the staterooms to be ample in terms of space and storage. We’ve read about people bringing magnets etc. but we didn’t need them because of the many cubbies and storage spots. One tip is that there is a deep enough space under the bed to stow the suitcases – that made a big difference to get those out of the way. I bought a $10 bunch of flowers from Seattle’s Pike Place Market and loved having them in my stateroom all week. The shower water was always hot for us, but my parents as well as the kids complained about having cold water on and off throughout the week. My parents notified their stateroom attendant and said the next shower was scalding hot. However, our temp was just right without any issues. We were on deck 10, and it was quiet and peaceful. The kids were on deck 3. It was convenient for them to get to decks 4 and 5 to access the main promenade, and their rooms were not far from the Music Hall. But that did make their deck a little nosier than up on deck 10.

 

Entertainment – The live music was great. We loved all of the bands and artists we heard. The variety was amazing – rock, instrumental piano, pop, singer/songwriter style. We never lacked for music and we loved that. The themed dance nights were also some of our favorites. We danced the night away to both the 70s and the 80s theme nights and the Silent Disco parties, and the cast made the events so fun by dancing on stage with moved to follow.  The 270-theater space is a fantastic space at the back of the ship with three stories of windows so by day the view is stunning and at night its an amazing spot for dancing or watching the fun. We were not overly impressed with the shows – whether it was a Royal Caribbean production or the outside acts.

Activities – The Seaplex area of the Quantum was fantastic and a hub for our 14- and 17-year-olds. They did it all: Bumper Cars, Rock Wall, Flow Rider (surf simulator), Ripcord by iFly (skydiving simulator), ping-pong, cornhole tournament and I’m sure there’s more I’m not thinking of. They didn’t roller skate only because they didn’t want to. This spot drew teens of course, but it is big enough to disperse everyone to different areas. My kids opted out of participating in events in The Living Room, where the ships teen club was centered, but the Seaplex offered endless options for them. I think our son climbed the rock wall more than a dozen times!

 

Drinks – We debated about the drink package and ultimately, spent for three people (myself, my husband, and my 23-year-old daughter) the equivalent of the cost of 2 drink packages. So, we still think we came out ahead. The drinks are about $12 each, but beer and wine are $8 on average. As Crown and Anchor members, we got discounts on beer and wine, making them an even better deal. If I’d had more beer/wine instead of cocktails, we would have spent less. But the cocktails are really good and we loved getting the Drink of the Day.

Dining – We had specialty dining meals at Chops Grille, Wonderland, and Jamie’s Italian. The chops were amazing – a truly fabulous meal. For the price, it is an absolute bargain. I would definitely go there again in a heartbeat. We liked the experience of Wonderland, but the food was hit-and-miss. Some things were really good, but others not so much. The Alice in Wonderland theme was fun, and I’m glad we did it as a family but I’d likely not do it again. Jamie’s was delicious and I will definitely go there again! The main dining room was mostly good, better for dinner than breakfast or lunch. Our service was amazing, and we ate everything we got except for one night when we weren’t wowed. The food was always hot, and overall, we enjoyed our nights in the main dining room every single time. Some people have complained about the food on this particular ship, but we found it to be really good – and we are from New Orleans, spoiled by the best restaurants and cuisine in the world. Tip for those on My Time dining: on the first night we requested the same table for the duration of the trip. So we never had to stand in line for a table after the first night.

Excursions – Unfortunately our Juneau canoeing excursion was canceled because of weather, so we opted to take a city tour that basically was narrated info on Alaska on the way to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was amazing – we hiked to Nugget Falls and waded in the ice-cold, glacier-fed water. We were disappointed that we couldn’t go out in the canoe, but Alaska is so beautiful it is hard to be upset. In Ketchikan, we visited the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, shopped downtown, visited the Salmon Ladder, and stopped at the Bawden Street Brewery. In Sitka, we rented bikes and rode to the Sitka National Historical Park and the Fortress of the Bear. We had an amazing lunch of deliciously thin and crispy wood-fired pizzas at Harbor Mountain Brewing. The views on the bike ride were spectacular. The ship’s sail through the Endicott Arm of the Dawes Glacier was a wonderful experience and view, although the warm weather meant we didn’t see as much of the glacier as we’d hoped. Still, it was worth getting up at 5 a.m. for! It was the only day I wore a jacket heavier than just a lightweight windbreaker. Didn’t wear the sweater or sweatshirts I packed.

Service – The staff went above and beyond to help, and we found the service to be top-notch. Even at guest services when there was a line, they sent crew members down the line to keep things moving quickly. The dining staff was the absolute best, and our stateroom attendants were responsive and personable. All crew members were smiling and friendly, always willing to help. We felt well taken care of, even pampered. The amazing crew was one of the best parts of the cruise.

 

Wi-Fi – We had one Voom Wi-Fi package and it worked well for the most part. The free chat and ship app was glitchy. It popped us off multiple times a day and you have to sign in again. Still, it is nice that there is a free feature to keep in touch with everyone.

Overall – We never would have been able to take this trip without the value of the cruise. The food, activities, and entertainment included made it affordable but also offered something for everyone. We could do different things according to our interests, but we had plenty of family time and had so much fun being together, truly unplugged and enjoying each other’s company.  One thing I noticed is that many families brought cards or small games that they would play at tables throughout the ship. We brought cards ourselves and liked being in the library above the 270 for some quiet space. I even saw families at restaurants throughout Alaska playing cards together. It was so refreshing to see and I loved watching families having fun together in that way. Making memories and bonding as a family is what vacations are all about. We will forever cherish our trip to Alaska aboard the Quantum of the Seas!

 

Universal Orlando – A Great Getaway Even in These Times

 

It’s now been more than 60 days since both Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World re-opened their parks to both Florida residents and guests from around the country. By now, you may have heard stories of low crowds, zero wait times and empty parks that provide perfect backdrops for Instagrammable pictures. But you may be wondering is it true, and what kind of experience can you really have in each location.

I’ve just returned from a visit to Orlando where I spent time in both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. Read on to learn how I rated each destination’s experience with regard to attractions, dining, shopping, characters, shows and photos. More importantly, I’ll breakdown what it all means to you and whether taking a trip to either theme park is a good fit for your family. Today is all about Universal including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Stay tuned for a full report on Walt Disney World!

Attractions

Walking on to Hagrid's 

The crowds at Universal were low, but we were there in the beginning of the week. So, with that disclaimer in mind, we found the attractions at Universal smooth and with very little wait. The queues for rides were well mark for social distancing, but guests acted sort of on the “honor system” leaving space between them without much interaction from cast members.  The lines always seemed to move steadily. The line for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures got to be about 90 minutes during our stay. That is nothing compared to what it was when we visited at the end of 2019! Plus, with getting to enter the Islands of Adventure park an hour early, we were able to walk right on two days in a row. But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. In my opinion, Universal has an advantage over Disney in the attraction category on two counts.

1. The Express Pass system returned with the parks re-opening.  Express Pass allows you to use a special queue, sort of a “fast line.” You can purchase an Express Pass that allows one use per ride or an Unlimited option. When you choose to stay at select Universal Orlando Resorts the Unlimited Express Pass is included with your stay. We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel Resorts, which is one of the locations where the unlimited pass is included. We used it on most rides, although in many cases we did not even need to. The wait times were 5-10 minutes on average, with the exception of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventures. (Note: The Express Pass is not valid at Hagrid’s)

2. In addition to the Express Pass, Universal brought back the Park-to-Park ticket along with the early entry into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when you stay on site. These two factors proved to be key in helping us to enjoy every attraction that we wanted to during our time.

Of course, masks are required throughout the property, including at CityWalk and on. Universal cast members were standing by at each and every attraction with hand sanitizer. So, every single guest that boarded every single attraction received a squirt. Cast members were also careful to make sure that guests kept masks on - even telling us during the Hogwarts Express that we were under “active surveillance.” When we asked for more information about that last part, they kindly explained that they cleaned the train cars several times throughout the day but not after each trip, so therefore, guests were required to stay masked even though they rode with only their party.  

Periodic announcements and A-frame signs reminded guests of the health and safety requirements.

Directional signs also kept guests moving in the same direction so that one party wouldn’t literally bump into another.

 

U-Rest areas were easy to find and provided a few minutes of mask-free relaxation while still feeling the vibe

Dining:

Many restaurants in City Walk were closed, making dining less flexible in that area. Dining options were more plentiful inside the parks. In fact, some options, such as Green Eggs and Ham in Seuss Land in Islands of Adventure and Blimpie’s along the Comic Strip in Universal Studios, were open when they are typically open only seasonally.  Universal allowed you to walk and eat, but if you were not actively eating, cast members asked masks to be returned to covering nose and mouth.

Shopping:

Limited numbers of shoppers were allowed in stores, but the cast members kept the flow moving easily. We never had to wait to get into shops, and guests were courteous and happy to follow the social distancing guidelines.

Characters:

We were a little disappointed in Universal’s take on characters. We found them throughout the parks, but found that they appeared to be “zoo-like” in that they were always behind a wall or landscaping boundary. Some of the Marvel characters interacted with guests, and that was nice to see. Still, it was great to see them throughout the parks.

Shows:

We were thrilled to see that some of the shows in Diagon Alley and other musical entertainment throughout Universal Studios returned. To get the best view of the shows from the stage in Diagon Alley, you can sign up for a floor spot, marked with a circle. Others can view from a distance while standing.

Photos:

We were able to take photos without masks as long as we were away from other guests.

 

Seasonal fun:

Two Halloween Horror Night houses and a Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt showed that Universal was ready for fall festivities.

Overall:

We found plenty of kids in costume, waving wands; families with babies in strollers or toddlers, and even teenagers; groups of friends – young adults and the young at heart. There is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to have a great time at Universal Orlando while staying safe.

Dream Now

Dream now – then join me for travel in 2021 and 2022 or let me help you plan when you are ready.

I don’t know about any of you, but these days I find my mind wandering – thinking of beaches and gentle waves; of marinas filled with sailboats; of steely skyscrapers or brightly-colored houses along country lanes; of cobblestone streets and bustling cafes with aged bakers standing aside carts of freshly-baked bread as they chat with neighbors in French, or Italian, or any language that I can’t understand but sounds like music. In short – I’ve been dreaming of traveling and praying that our world will turn right-side up again so we can all experience the beautiful world that God made. Until then, I’m dreaming, and my mind is wandering – specifically to the Mediterranean Coast and the Wachau Valley.

Many of you know that I’ll be escorting a group to the Mediterranean in May 2021. We are pinning

our hopes that all will be well and the trip will go on as planned! That group has grown to more than 40, and there are a VERY FEW spots left if you’d like to join us as we venture to Barcelona and Palma de Majorca in Spain; Marseilles in southern France; and Cinque Terre, Rome and Naples in Italy via the amazing Harmony of the Seas. We are waiting eagerly for Royal Caribbean and other ships to return to the seas, and the cruise industry is working hard to put safety protocols in place so that can happen.

But for those who are not quite ready to think of travel even for next year, I’m excited to announce

that I’ve got a new trip on the horizon for even farther down the road in spring of 2022. This new adventure will take us on a Viking River Cruise down the Danube through the Wachau Valley in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Join me for Viennese coffee, Linzer tortes, ancient gothic architecture, breathtaking castles and cathedrals and several UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Viking’s longships are made specifically to navigate narrow rivers so they can dock right alongside the picturesque scenery. Each ship holds no more than 200 people, so the experience is intimate with a small-group, concierge feel.

Best of all – book by Aug. 31, 2020 and you can change your plans up to 24 hours ahead and receive full credit toward any Viking cruise of your choice. The small size of the ships mean that space sells out quickly, so check out the details below, and call me today with any questions!

Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria

St. Stephens Cathedral ceiling in Passau, Germany

Traditional pottery in Bratislava, Slovakia

  

As you start to move from the dreaming stage to the “I’m-going-to-get-out-there” stage, remember, I’m able to help you with any trip – from a hotel stay, to a Disney destination or Universal Orlando getaway, to a river or ocean cruise. I can even just craft a custom itinerary for you. When you choose me as your travel professional, you get personalized service from someone you can trust. Plus, you are bringing your business to a local family, something that I appreciate more than you can ever know!

So keep dreaming – but when your heart starts to pull you out of dreaming and toward going – let’s get you back out there – maybe even by sailing along the Mediterranean Sea or Danube River.

Clickhere to check availability on either the Mediterranean Cruise starting May30, 2020 OR
the Danube River Cruise starting March 30, 2022

Stay Safe. Dream Big. Travel often.

Explore the Breathtaking Landscapes of Europe on the Exciting Harmony of the Seas - 7-Night Western Mediterranean Itinerary

All Good Things with Kadee is headed to the marvelous Mediterranean and you are invited to come along. Join us in the summer of 2021 for an escorted cruise to some of the most amazing spots in the world on board one of the most awarded cruise ships ever built, the Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas. 

A cruise to the Mediterranean means combining some of the most sought-after destinations in the world into

an un-pack once, seamless, stress-free European adventure. From narrow, cobblestone streets to sweeping mountain and sea views; ancient facades with centuries of stories filling each stone to mouth-watering tastes of the flavor of each place – a visit to the Mediterranean means filling all of your senses. On board, the Harmony of the Seas has Broadway shows, 23 pools, a 10-story-high water slide and a Central Park area with 10,587 plants – you’ll forget you are even at sea!

We set sail May 30 from Barcelona then head to Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, Florence, Naples and Rome. This itinerary has a perfect blend of the romantic and the exciting. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone who has never been to Europe or for those who have been but want to return to these storied spots with the ease of a cruise vacation. 

I fell in love with the Mediterranean 20 years ago when we visited Barcelona and the Costa del Sol. The vibrant people, culture and food were something that I always longed to return to. The ports of call on this cruise check off so many bucket list items!  I have a firm belief that everyone should visit Rome and Florence at least once in their lifetime for the history, art and architecture.   A recent trip to France left me loving long lunches that start with wine and end with cheese, and since I didn’t get as far south as Marseilles I can’t wait to sample the fresh seafood that has just come off the boats lining the quay that dates as far back as the ancient Greeks. From Naples, we can spend a day on the Amalfi Coast vising the beautiful town of Positano with its gorgeous cafes and shops and take in sweeping views of the coastline. We can also visit Pompeii to see the extraordinary relics of the volcanic eruption that devastated the town in just 79 AD.  

Best of all, this trip allows plenty of time for rejuvenation without worry of taxis, checking in and out of hotels and other hassles. By day, explore these legendary Mediterranean destinations. At night, relax and enjoy the Harmony of the Seas as she comes alive with music, dancing and tales of the days delights.  

A limited number of staterooms are reserved at special pricing – the sooner you reserve in our group, the better the deal. The first tier of booking ends March 1, 2020, so grab your spot today. These prices are among the lowest you will find for such an amazing experience!

Pricing: Per Person, based on double occupancy

- Interior 879.00

- Outside 1,149.00

- Balcony USD 1,408.00

Pricing is valid until March 1, 2020. A $200 deposit is required upon booking.

Other room types and occupancy available