A look at the Norwegian Escape...

If you want to get in on a great cruise deal on a the newest NCL ship, take a chance with the NCL Escape.  Promotions are going on through January 3, 2016 to receive two amenities and some on board credit.  There is still time to book for January cruises...

NCL Escape - a look...

Getting Certified - NCL Freestyle Specialist - my newest acheivement...

I am so excited to have received my NCL Freestyle Specialist Certification!  This is the highest level of certification that NCL currently offers.

Denise Hile, Freestyle Certified

An insert from the press release:

Norwegian Cruise Line is proud to announce that Denise Hile has earned the necessary credits to graduate from its online travel agent university, NCL University. This progressive, state-of-the art online school is geared to deliver an enhanced level of knowledge and insight into Norwegian Cruise Line’s unique Freestyle Cruising philosophy, cruising destinations, ship programs and operations, and many other “behind-the-scenes” elements not available anywhere else. Each graduate is required, within one year, to earn a minimum number of credits through a choice of accredited courses and electives. The rigorous curriculum includes testing at every level in order to move forward. 

Carnival's New Brand - Impact Travel

Carnival's New Brand - Impact Travel....

If you are looking for a way to give back or pay it forward, then you will be excited about the news from Carnival on the Fathom Travel program.   The inaugural destination is the Dominican Republic.

Here is an insert from the news release...

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, N.Y. (June 4, 2015) – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest travel and leisure company, today launched a new brand called fathom™, defining a new travel category it is calling “social impact travel,” that will offer consumers authentic, meaningful impact travel experiences to work alongside locals as they tackle community needs. What sets fathom apart is the long-term, systematic partnership approach with its partner countries paired with the unique business model that allows for sustained impact and lasting development. fathom’s scale and global vision reach beyond what the world has ever seen. The company’s first destination will be the Dominican Republic, a country known for its spectacular beauty but also a country where the average household income is approximately $6,000 USD a year and more than two million Dominicans do not have access to piped water.

To read more, click on this link:  CCL - Fathom Travel

A glimpse of San Juan...

A day well spent in San Juan, learning a little about the history and viewing the beautiful landscape. This day trip involved mostly a visit to El Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a 16th century citadel, part of the San Juan Historic Site.  There is more to see than time permitted, so if you have the opportunity to explore San Juan, you may want to have a few days.  It would be well spent and provide you with lots of cultural knowledge of this beautiful place.

 A view of San Juan Harbor from the deck of a cruise ship... beautiful to see 

Hubby at the entrance to tour San Juan National Historic Site.  This was a worthwhile visit to recommend for a half-day to full day tour.  The Historic Site includes the forts of San Cristóbal, San Felipe del Morro, San Juan de la Cruz (El Cañuelo) and the city walls.

A view of the port from inside the Historic Site.  The Carnival Breeze cruise ship is docked at the pier.

A glimpse of the soldier quarters.  Notice the small, narrow stairway in the background of the photo... used by the soldiers.

The shore line view from the top of the Historic Site.  

A section of the San Juan Bay and business district.

Antiqua... how I miss thee

If you get a chance to travel to the Caribbean, be sure to include Antigua and Barbuda on your itinerary.  Especially of interest to history buffs, you can take a tour of Nelson's Dockyard and hear the tales of the then dockworkers.  A tour guide explained that it would take 5 months for the cleaning of the ships that wintered in the Dockyards.  The Dockyard was named for Admiral Horatio Nelson who resided there from 1784-1787.

As you can see from the photo, yatching is a popular event in Antigua and the Dockyards.  Annual events include Antigua Sailing Week and a meeting of the Antigua Charter Yacht.

So, with all the history and beauty of this area in Antigua, this is one place to visit and include on your bucket list.  It is well worth it.

English Harbour  - You can see Nelson's Dockyard in the foreground

Map describing Nelson's Dockyard's history

A view of some yachts at the Dockyard.  If you look closely at the hill, there is an estate where Princess Grace of Monaco stayed.

A beautiful wood yacht at the Dockyard.

The Lookout station Guard House for the Royal Artillery.

Munitions building at the lookout station.  Hubby checking it out.

In the distant cliff is the estate of Eric Clapton.  What a view!

A day in the Virgin Islands...

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands...

St. Thomas - a tranquil moment. It was a unique experience to visit this serene location that included a few hours at Magens Bay. Considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches, this public park sure captured my heart. I found it peaceful and enjoyable to walk along the nearly a mile long shore.  You can enjoy a stretch of the beach that is lively with activities or a quite stretch that allows you to capture a few happy memories and peaceful moments.

A view from the beach shows how calm the bay is and how inviting... it is a place to return to again when I have the opportunity.  

Cruising has the advantage of giving you a glimpse of a variety of destinations... some that may be on your bucket list.  I can help you plan your journey to the Virgin Islands!
Carpe Diem moments await you!  Take a look at  my site and give me a call.

Denise Hile - Expedia Cruise Ship Centers

Hawaii Memories...

I was blessed to be able to travel to Hawaii and cruise the Islands on the NCL Pride of America over a year ago now.  But today is a day to recall warm, tropical places, and this is one of the best memories I have.  Traveling to Hawaii and seeing the beauty that surrounds you is just overpowering. Even today as I think back to a beach on Maui, I am enveloped in the awe of the moment... it was a Carpe Diem experience and definitely my "happy place" for quite some time.

One of the best ways to see the Islands is on a cruise, and the NCL Pride was a good option.  You are in a port everyday or even overnight in Maui and Kauai.  Sailing past the Napali Coast and its remarkable shoreline is a must.  One of the other memories that I keep close is driving up the coastline at Kona, on the North west coast of the Big Island, ending at the northern most point and breathtaking views.

So if you would like to take a journey to a land of beauty, I can help you plan your own Hawaii Memories.  Let me know... http://www.cruiseshipcenters.com/en-US/DeniseHile/home 

Maui...a view of my "happy place"

Black Sand Beach on the road to Hana - Maui

A sunset view from the top of Haleakala - 10,023 ft above sea level.  

Maui shore - my "happy place" memory

At the crater edge of Kilauea - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Akaka Falls State Park - near Hilo, Hawaii (The Big Island)

Kona shores and a view of the NCL Pride of America

NCL Pride of America at Kona, Hawaii

Hubby looking at lava rock on Kona Island

Kona, Hawaii

Journey through the Panama Canal

Traveling through the Panama is a bucket list must, especially for anyone interested in historical achievements that has benefited many ships and their cargo.   On a cruise ship, this is a day long transit that began for us in the Pacific Ocean traveling through the first set of locks that raise the ship to the level of the lake (a man-made reservoir) in the center of the canal, then traveling through the second set of locks that lower the ship to the level of the Atlantic Ocean.  (Our cruise ship makes the journey from the Pacific to the Atlantic and then returns from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  The ship for our journey was the NCL Star).  

Here is a link to a map by Thomas Römer/OpenStreetMap data [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons that displays the canal as a whole.

During the day long transit, a narrative guide was brought on board the ship to share the history and details of the canal.  Also, a professional photographer stood on the land and hills to take photos of the ship and passengers as we progressed through the canal.  This was later made available on a DVD.

What a memorable trip that was worth experiencing!  And I have a few photo memories to share...

A photo of the set of locks as we entered on our ship, the NCL Star.  You can see a pilot boat and another vessel in the distance.

Inside the first set of locks.  The vessel and pilot boat are already in the second lock.

Looking to the side, you can see the rail cars that help navigate the ship through the canal locks.

Water being flushed out of the lock - all of the movement of the water to fill and empty the locks is by gravity

A look back as the lake portion of the canal is shown.

A passing vessel in the lake of the canal.