Tanja's Travel Talk

In June this year, I had the pleasure of attending CLIA’s (Cruise Line International Association) Cruise 3sixty conference where it was a week of all things cruises. Along with informational and seminars, social events and entertainment (Blue Man Group were AWESOME) there was plenty of opportunity to network, ask questions and my favourite part – cruise ship inspections!! The two ships I walked around on, sang karaoke on (attempted), dipped my toes in their pool and tried out their beds were the Princess Diamond and Holland America’s Ryndam.

Diamond Princess

Entered service in 2005, 2650 passengers, 1100 crew onboard. I love the fact that it has over 740 balcony suites and in a variety of room categories. The Diamond Princess primarily sails Alaskan and Mexican Riviera itineraries.

The first thing that stands out is the number of pools this ship has and the size of them. Cruise ship pools can be on the small size however the Diamond Princess has 5 swimming pools and 8 whirlpools. The Lotus Spa area is very nice. I somehow gravitate straight to the spa...

Entertainment – the main theatre hosts Broadway and Las Vegas type shows. The casino is quite large and there is a cigar bar nearby. If you are sensitive to smoke, stay clear of this area. I could smell smoke a ways from the Casino. There are plenty of bars with Club Fusion being the hot spot. Extensive kids club as well.

Dining – main dining room, Vivaldi for Italian, Sante Fe for southwest dining, Pacific Moon for Asian dining. Sabatini’s serves an 8 course Italian meal for a small fee. There is also poolside dining for quick eats and room service. Having lunch on board, I had a lovely Salmon dish in their main dining room and it was delicious and a nice portion. Service was also attentive.

Accommodation: rooms are clean, small and charming. Shower only in inside staterooms. If you need a bathtub, or a larger space an upgrade to a balcony room is highly recommended.

Weddings-At-Sea – the Diamond Princess has an onboard chapel called Hearts and Minds. It is a small room but nicely decorated. The ship’s captain can legally marry you right onboard! Online, guests who could not make your cruise wedding can watch your ceremony live via webcam.

Holland America Ryndam

Entered service in 1994, 1260 passengers, 602 crew onboard. It is an attractive mid-size ship sailing primarily Caribbean and Alaskan itineraries.

Walking onboard, the first thing I noticed was the friendly staff. Every deck that I was on, a staff member asked if they can help me locate a room or area. Even with this assistance, the Ryandam is very easy to navigate and the deck plan is not confusing. Walking around the ship, it is very airy, with large windows and nice lighting and also very elegant with uniformed stewards, museum like artwork in the halls.

Entertainment – the 600 seat Vermeer Lounge hosts production shows while the Wajang theatre hosts movie nights with new releases and popcorn. The Casino is a decent size with over 116 slot machines and there are many bars to choose from: Piano bar, ocean bar with tables that have touch screens to play cards and games electronically, Crow’s Nest Lounge up top to dance the night away.

Kids – I know that you are thinking, HAL ships are not for young families but the kids club is pretty impressive. They have a kids club for ages 5 and up and for teens ages 9-17 there is a teen’s room with video games, mini-golf, pizza parties, teens disco, movie night. Something to think about – being on a smaller ship means fewer kids onboard and the kids may have more personal attention from staff.

Pool and fitness – big and bright fitness room with classes available, HAL has a running track, tennis and so on. The Spa area is decent. The Lido Deck Pool is located mid-ship with its sliding glass roof, spa tubs and bar. The quieter Sea View Pool is at the rear of the Navigation Deck. Beautiful wooden lounge chairs are on deck for you to enjoy.

Dining – Very elegant two tier Rotterdam main dining room, Lido restaurant serves up breakfast and lunch, Terrace Grill offers burgers and light fair, Java cafe has espresso drinks. Pinnacle Grill offers Pacific Northwest fine cuisine, and is reservations only and a small charge is necessary. The lunch that I enjoyed on board was scrumptious, and my steak was quite a large portion.

Accommodation - All the rooms are a very good size, even the inside staterooms were larger than I expected them to be. The furnishings are modern, with marble sinks and big fluffy beds and towels. The Mariner’s Dream™ beds are wonderful. For rooms with a bathtub and shower, an upgrade to at least an Oceanview stateroom is recommended. Or spoil yourself in their penthouse with a king size bed, living room, dressing room, bathroom with whirlpool, large closet and private veranda. Ahhh, the good life!

Weddings: packages are available – you can be married on an Alaskan glacier or Caribbean island!

I had the pleasure of organizing Aliesha & Kevin's destination wedding  to the Dominican Republic this spring. They are such a lovely couple!

Wedding date: April 18, 2010

Location: Dreams La Romana, Dominican Republic

Most memorable moment: 

Aliesha's most memorable moment of the wedding day, was the calmness of walking around the corner, seeing Kevin, and the ocean, and being in complete awe, thinking this is exactly where I am supposed to be. You feel complete, and the rest of the world melts away, and all you see is that person you want to share your life with.

Kevin's most memorable moment was having dinner on the beach. He loved that there was a sunset over the ocean, the breeze, and being surrounded by our best friends and family.

Feedback of the resort/services received while in destination:

I don't know where to start - the resort was absolutely amazing, the food choices were fantastic, and the service was excellent. As with any resort, I am sure, there were a few times that we had to wait, but being able to go to a "restaurant" without having to make a reservation was a definate bonus. We didn't have to decide the day before where we wanted to go and eat the next night.

They also had 24 hour room service, you could order a bottle of rum if you wanted to!!! There was always something happening if you were interested in playing games and participating in the resort functions, and what we really appreciated was that the staff would let us know about it, (we also received a newsletter kinda thing the night before, they'd just slide it under the door) and not be pushy about you participating if you didn't want to.

As for the wedding function, I could have used a little bit more info from the co-ordinator, but on the same note, she made it very stress free - if something had of gone wrong, I really wouldn't have known about it. The dinner on the beach was amazing, but I wouldn't suggest anyone take up on the offer of a DJ. We did, and no one really danced. I would have liked to have a little bit more of a guideline from them, but that is neither here nor there. The ceremony was excellent, less than 10 minutes by our choice, and the gazeebo was exactly what we were looking for. I would have liked the photographer to have taken a few more pictures other than just the ceremony, but I probably should have been more clear regarding that.
Otherwise, everything went smoothly. Getting of the plane when we arrived at night in the pouring rain, we didn't really receive a lot of direction as to where we needed to go, but once we found our way it was good. We had no glitches, our luggage wasn't delayed, and our flights were all on time.

Advice to future couples planning a destination wedding:

Take the extra time and spend the extra money on having the photographer stay with you longer (or take one of your own). Do the trash the dress session a day or two after. Don't worry about the weather - it can pour rain for an hour, and be sunny twenty minutes after.

Testimonial:

I was happy with everything. You kept us well informed on everything that was happening, and if there was a glitch in the planning of it, you let us know right away. The information that we received on the resort was on par, and sending out info on the country that we were visiting was extremely helpful. You did an amazing job accomodating all of our guests that were flying from different sides of the country as well as the United States. We'll be back to plan our honeymoon!

Carrie Underwood and new her new hubby have been spotted in Tahiti at Le Taha'a!

Tahiti is the epitome of romance.

Tahiti and her islands, especially Moorea and Bora Bora, are a magical tropical place for a honeymoon or romantic getaway. Nowhere in the world are the colors more vibrant, the waters of the Pacific warmer, or the people friendlier. Just mentioning the names of those faraway islands conjures images of breathtaking blue-green lagoons, tropical flowers in brilliant colors, and graceful palm trees.

Taha'a - The Vanilla Island:


Taha'a, with the rich aroma of vanilla lingering heavily in the air, offers a glimpse of the traditional, tranquil life of the Tahitians. The flower-shaped island's simple beauty is charmed by soft mountain shapes and surrounded by tiny motu with bright sand beaches. In the fertile valleys cutting within the island, local farmers grow watermelon, vanilla, and copra.

Le Taha'a Resort and Spa is one of French Polynesia's most exclusive resorts.  From your relaxing private balcony on your overwater bungalow is your unsurpassed view on Bora Bora island on the ocean side.  Heaven!

Please do not hesitate to be in touch to enquire about your honeymoon, destination wedding or romantic getaway to Tahiti!

You've picked your perfect gown, now how to ensure it arrives at your destination wedding location in one piece, clean and ready for your big day?


1. Ship your dress.  Use services like Fed Ex, DHL etc .  Skip fretting about lugging your dress around the airport or risk trying to hang it in an airplane closet. This is the best if you have a large dress that will not fit in a small space.

2. Carry-on.  I do not recommend packing your dress in your checked-in luggage.  There is potential for your dress to be lost, delayed or damaged.  You can call the airline to verify space for a wedding dress. Try to board first, ask the attendent if there is a closet (usually located in first class if at all) that has room to hang your dress.  If not, you will be placing it in the overhead bins.  A puffy cinderella dress will not fit in the overhead bins! The garment bag should be no longer than 54 inches long and you will be expected to fold your dress in half to place in the overhead bin, if it cannot be hung in a closet.

3. Call me crazy but you can buy a seat for your dress on the plane.

4. Be pleasent. When asking the flight attendent for help with your dress you do not want to come off as demanding. 

5. Once in destination have the resort steam or press your dress to take out any wrinkles that may have occurred from transporting it! Sometimes you can just hang your dress and the humudity in a hot destination will ease out any wrinkles in hardly any time at all.

Top 10 Reasons to take a Cruise:


Choose to cruise for VALUE. One price buys your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.

Choose to cruise for ROMANCE. Secluded beaches, en suite dining on a balcony overlooking the ocean and spa services for two are just some of the romantic pursuits available.

Choose to cruise for FAMILY AND GROUPS. Families love cruising. Children's programs, kid-friendly menus and tours of the ship will keep your children happy, while affording you some time alone. Planning a reunion or destination wedding - a cruise has something for everyone.

Choose to cruise for CUISINE. Tantalize your taste buds with gourmet fare that showcases exotic ingredients, old standbys like pizza and ice cream or spa cuisine for a healthy alternative. Depending on your mood, dine in a traditional ballroom setting, a small bistro or a casual eatery.

Choose to cruise for VARIETY. With over 200 distinctive ships, 3000 ports-of-call and an unbelievable array of places to see and things to do, there is a perfect cruise for you. For even more choice, consider a pre- or post-land tour.

Choose to cruise for ACTIVITIES. Fill your days with sightseeing, sports activities, cultural lectures, educational tours led by naturalists and historians or simply lounge by the pool and relax. At night, enjoy dance extravaganzas, musical revues, gaming or a quiet evening gazing at the stars.

Choose to cruise for SIMPLICITY. Don't come back from your vacation needing a vacation. Planning a cruise is simple; I can handle all of the details. Once you're on board, nearly all expenses are pre-paid... talk about hassle-free.

Choose to cruise for NEW HORIZONS. Fall asleep in one destination and awake to a new horizon... and you only have to pack and unpack once!

Choose to cruise for PAMPERING. Regardless of your budget, all cruise lines pamper their guests with first-class service around the clock. Ask me about a 24kt gold facial!!

Choose to cruise for SATISFACTION. It's a fact that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.
 
Enquire about a cruise vacation - click here to send me a message!

When you are choosing your honeymoon destiantion does an adventure tour come mind?  It sure did for Heather and Jeff as they embarked on a Culinary Adventure Tour of India.  What could be more romantic than the Taj Mahal and the love story behind it? Thank you Heather and Jeff for sharing your experience:



Wedding date: August 8, 2009

Honeymoon date: November 1-21, 2009

Location: India

Why did you pick this location:

"I thought it was a unique place to go on a honeymoon, and I don't have a lot of interest in sitting on a beach so I prefer to have a more adventurous trip like this."

Best moment of the honeymoon:

The Taj Mahal, Moonlight dinner under the stars in Karuli, Emergency chai in the rain, death defying traffic in Delhi, shopping in Mumbai...how can I choose?!

Advice to future honeymooners:

"Honeymooners spending any time in Delhi might add eye drops and throat lozenges to their packing list.
Also, try to get small denominations of rupees. we had 1000's and had a hard time getting change for them."

Testimonial:

"Everything went according to plan, which is a real accomplishment in India! It was so nice to have a travel agent who I can trust to do as thorough a job as I would do for myself!"

Mix ancient beliefs with modern customs to create a lovely wedding that pays homage to the past while keeping pace with the present.  Here are some Irish traditions for your wedding and honeymoon!

• Traditional proposal: "Would you like to be buried with my people" or "Would you like to hang your washing next to mine?" 
• Claddagh Ring

One custom, called aitin' the gander, involves the groom being invited to the bride's house right before the wedding... and a goose is cooked in his honor. It has to be where we get the expression 'his goose is cooked!'

• Irish brides used to carry a real horseshoe for good luck. (Turned up so the luck won't run out).
• The traditional bride wears a blue dress.  In ancient times blue symbolized purity.  It wasn't until 1499 that white begun to symbolize purity.
• English Lavender is often mixed with the brides flowers.  Lavender symbolizes love, loyalty, devotion and luck.  Often the bouquet are wildflowers with Lavender.
• Bride is to braid her hair on her wedding day.  Braided hair is a symbol of feminine power and luck.
• "Marry in May and Rue The Day" and "Marry in April if you can, joy for maiden and for man". Get married on St. Patrick's Day is considered the luckiest wedding anniversary date in Ireland!  If it rains on your wedding day, you have even more luck!
• Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and an Irish penny for her shoe!
• Irish dancers and music
• Irish Wedding Song
• Wedding cake in Modern Ireland is often a rich fruit cake iced in white.  The top tier should be an Irish Whiskey Cake that is saved for the christening of your first baby.  Wedding cake recipe.
• Traditional wedding gifts are Waterford Crystal and Beleck Parian China.  Also giving bells is a strong tradition. The chime of bells is thought to keep evil spirits away, restore harmony if a couple is fighting, and also remind a couple of their wedding vows.
• "Slainte" pronounced SLAWN-cha is a familiar Irish toast.
• Another toast: May your troubles be less,  and your blessings more and nothing but happiness come through your door!
• Honeymoon in Irish translation is "mi na meala" which means the month of honey.  The wedding couple are to live away and secluded from their family and friends for a month and drink honeyed wine in case their familes would try to seperate them.  It is believed that during this month the bride would become pregnant and the brides family would desire her to stay with her new husband.