The Talking Suitcase

10/09/2024

Get ready for the "world's biggest weekend" on Royal Caribbean's new Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas. Learn tips & see what's new onboard!

Read it -->https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/utopia-of-the-seas-tips-whats-new-onboard/

06/09/2024

🚢Thinking about taking a Virgin Voyages cruise? They have some great deals going on right now including an offer to get up to $500 instant savings!

We cruise with VV again in 3 weeks. This one will be a back2back sailing visiting the DR, Key West and Bimini.

Let me know if you have questions about the promo

📌 Check out all the offers --> https://www.virginvoyages.com/book/voyage-planner/find-a-voyage?cabins=1&USD[%E2%80%A6]lors=2&toDate=2022-10-04&agentId=190279&agencyId=5406

04/09/2024

Ice skating on a cruise is just one of the fun features offered on many Royal Caribbean International ships.

Have you tried it?

17/08/2024

Day #5: Disembarking Utopia of the Seas & Cocoa Beach

This cruise went by way too fast! Disembarkation was smooth despite having well over 5,000 people onboard. We had breakfast in the main dining room before carrying our luggage off the ship around 8:30am.

Tip: Use the escalator in the terminal instead of the ramp. It’s soo much faster!

✈️ What to do near Port Canaveral if you have a late flight:

1. We rented a day room through Resort Pass in Cocoa Beach. This was a great option for us as we only paid $20 more for the room than just resort passes for 4 people. We were able to shower before our flight after spending the afternoon on the beach.
2. Visit Kennedy Space Center - a great experience for adults and kids.
3. Rent a car - There are a few car rental companies with free shuttle transport from the port. Use the car to store your luggage, explore for the day then drop it off at the airport.

We had a wonderful vacation on ! Now it’s time for the kids to get ready to start school next week. Summer has flown by once again.

16/08/2024

Day #4: Utopia of the Seas

Our last day of the cruise was spent at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island.

The great thing about Coco Cay is you can pay for amenities like an adults only hideaway and the water park or spend the day lounging around at the pool or beach for free. We chose to relax and snorkel at Chill Island and eat lunch at the included buffet.

We had enough sun by 1:30 so we went back to the ship for a drink at the Lime and Coconut and to try our luck at the casino. We hit it big and left with $97 from the 25¢ slot machine 😂

In the evening we watched the adults only comedy show in the Royal Theatre. Both of the comedians were hilarious although it was a little awkward laughing at some of the jokes while sitting next your kid…

Utopia only sails 3 and 4 night itineraries. I would have loved another night or two to explore more of the ship and activities on board. But overall we’ve had a fantastic cruise and highly recommend the new ship.

15/08/2024

Day #3: Utopia of the Seas

A sea day means it’s all about exploring more of the ship and relaxing by the pool.

We finally went to the new Pesky Parrot (replaces the Bionic Bar on other Oasis class ships). Look for Brian the parrot. He has some pretty funny dad jokes.

Lucy and I played Wizarding World Trivia and it turns out we don’t know as much about Harry Potter as we thought. We only got 19 out of 40 right 😂

Lunch was at the specialty restaurant Hooked where we had filet and lobster. Then dinner was at the brand new Royal Railway. It was a fun experience but definitely a one and done due to the price.

Anyone have any questions about the Utopia of the Seas before we disembark?

14/08/2024

Day #2: Utopia of the Seas

We docked in Nassau for our first port of call. It’s incredible to see side by side comparisons of how much larger the Utopia is compared to other ships. As the 2nd largest cruise ship in the world, she is massive!

We decided not to book an excursion and just wandered around downtown and browsed the shops at the newly renovated cruise port. Then we HAD to stop in for a drink at Senior Frogs before heading back to the port.

The girls went back to the ship for a buffet lunch while the boys hung out at a bar on the island for a bit longer. Pool time for the entire family finished out the afternoon. We had dinner in the main dining room and were pleasantly surprised, again, at the quality of food. I realized I’m a little strange, but I love that they have an Indian dish on the menu each night. Soo good!

Lucy and I loved “Aqua 80 too” at the AquaTheater featuring musical favorites from the 80’s. It was a great performance that the boys definitely missed out on.

Next up will be a sea day.

13/08/2024

Utopia of the Seas Day #1

We boarded the ship around 1pm despite waiting in line for over 45 min due to a terminal power outage. Not too bad when the power kept going on and off!

The newest Oasis class ship is huge and gorgeous! We enjoyed a lobster and stone crab lunch at the Solarium Bistro, wandered around the ship, went down the Ultimate Abyss, had dinner in the main dining room and watched YOUTOPIA (the Ice skating show) and ALL IN! (the new production show). Both shows were incredible, but I think the ice show was our favorite so far.

The sail away party was definitely a great time and I can see why many people are concerned about it being a party ship. However, there are plenty of spots around the ship to enjoy quiet time. I think Utopia is a great option to suit the needs of a variety of cruisers.

It was a fun filled day with more to come on our short 4-night cruise.

*We squeezed the 4 of us in an ocean view balcony stateroom. There is plenty of storage and not as tight as I was expecting.

07/08/2024

🛳Virgin Voyages: 30 Things I Loved & Hated About Our Virgin Cruise

We found so many things to love about Virgin Voyages and some things that we didn’t necessarily like. However, that doesn’t mean we didn’t overall LOVE our Virgin cruise. I put together a love/hate list to share more information about cruising with

https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/virgin-voyages-30-things-i-love-hate-about-our-virgin-cruise/

05/08/2024

Thinking of take a cruise? These are the top 4 mega ship cruise lines and top 2 large ship cruise lines.

Which is your favorite?

⚓️Message me to book ⚓️

29/07/2024

What is one meal you’ve had while traveling that you still talk about?

Derrick still talks about his lobster and crab sandwich in Maine from 11 years ago.

We’ve had some incredible food in countless countries, but this is one meal he always comes back to as a favorite.

25/07/2024

50+ Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips & Tricks

We all need a little help planning our next vacation and it’s important to learn as much as possible before setting sail. That’s why I had to put together this Virgin Voyages cruise tips & tricks article to share everything you need to know before sailing with Virgin Voyages.

https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/virgin-voyages-cruise-tips-tricks/

23/07/2024

Need help booking your next dream vacation? Contact me so we can start planning your cruise, all-inclusive, Disney trip and more!

28/06/2024

We had a fantastic cruise to Cozumel and Bimini last month. Learn about Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady and read what we did at those ports.

New Post --> https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/virgin-voyages-miami-cruise-5-night-riviera-maya-review-cozumel-bimini/

Have you cruised to Cozumel or Bimini, Bahamas?

16/06/2024

Are you planning to take an Alaska cruise?

Check out out everything we did on our 7-night cruise from Seward to Vancouver plus read how we spent our extra time at those destinations. Alaska is definitely a bucket list destination!

What ports are you planning to visit or want to see?

https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/ncl-alaska-cruise-seward-to-vancouver-glaciers-skagway-juneau-review-alaska-inside-passage-cruise-tips/

13/06/2024

We loved our Virgin Voyages cruise so much that we have 2 more booked!

They are having a Father’s Day Sail & Save sale right now.

The offer is for as low as $129 per Sailor per night (with Sea Terrace upgrades from $183) valid on select sailing in the Caribbean this summer.

Hurry — offer ends June 14th!

Book direct with me: https://www.virginvoyages.com/book/voyage-planner/find-a-voyage?cabins=1&USD[%E2%80%A6]lors=2&toDate=2022-10-04&agentId=190279&agencyId=5406

Let me know if you have any questions.

11/06/2024

My little lady is on a school exchange in France! She spent a day in Paris with her host family enjoying the sights and reminiscing about past visits. She captured this photo of the Eiffel Tower all decked out for the

08/06/2024

We took a nice stroll around the Yates Mill park during our visit to Raleigh. There are 3 trails visitors can hike. We walked the Pond Trail and part of the Creekside Trail. The Yates Mill is the last operable water-powered gristmill in Wake County. This was a nice way to get some steps in after our 3.5 hour drive and would be great for families with younger children.

24/05/2024

I can’t get enough of the beautiful views from our balcony while cruising through the Endicott Arm and seeing Dawes Glacier. The memories are priceless! Don’t forget to pack a hat and jacket as it will be chilly on the deck.

19/05/2024

We're taking an almost FREE Virgin Voyages cruise in September! We'll pay just $364 in taxes and fees for a 5-night cruise visiting Turks and Caicos and Bimini. Fingers crossed for no hurricanes!

HERE'S HOW: There are a few promotions to book a cruise with Virgin Red points. If you don't have Virgin points, you can transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards, AMEX Membership Rewards or Citi ThankYou Points. Even better - through May 31st, you get a 30% transfer bonus with UR's and MR's. I only used 89K MR's to book our 5 night Caribbean cruise!!

The Caribbean cruises required taxes and fees to be paid while the Transatlantic have the fees included in the points rate.

*I linked the 4 offers in the comments

Do you have points to take advantage of this offer?

17/05/2024

Want to travel for FREE or cheap? There is an elevated bonus right now on one of our favorite cards. I was just speaking to my mom this morning about a new credit card. She wants a card that isn't hotel/airline specific.

You can purchase directly through the portal with your points or transfer to hotel/airline loyalty programs for a (usually) better redemption.

Earn 75,000 bonus points with either Chase Sapphire® card when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months!
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19n/PJBLROSNJ4

The CSP has a $95 annual fee. The bonus is normally 60,000 so this is a great time to apply!

I have the Reserve and Derrick has the preferred.

*I earn 10K points if you sign up with my link

Click to learn more.

09/05/2024

We had a perfect day at Bimini! The weather was a lovely 78 degrees and breezy. We spent the day at the Beach Club swimming in the turquoise water and taking a long walk along the waters edge.

After I got a little too crispy in the sun, we returned to the pier and enjoyed happy hour at the back of the ship.

Tonight is dinner at the Mexican restaurant, Pink Agave. A great feature of Virgin Voyages is all the restaurants are included in your fare. No need to pay extra to eat somewhere other than the main dining room or buffet.

08/05/2024

Have you cruised with Virgin Voyages? We’re on the Valiant Lady and loving this adults only ship. We already purchased the promo to sail again!

We sailed out of Miami, enjoyed a day at sea, visited Cozumel and are now relaxing at sea again today. Tomorrow is a port day at Bimini, Bahamas before heading back to Miami.

The ship is gorgeous, the food is fantastic and everyone is super friendly.

If you have any questions, let me know 😊 🚢

29/06/2023

Cruising this summer? See our new article on what to wear on an Alaska cruise. I even created a printable packing list to help you get started.

What else is on your list of must pack items?

https://www.thetalkingsuitcase.com/what-to-wear-alaska-cruise/

16/06/2023

We disembarked the Norwegian Cruise Line Jewel and spent 2 days in Vancouver, BC before flying home. While I can’t recommend staying in the downtown area, we did enjoy visiting Stanley Park, Granville Market and eating at a few great restaurants.

A good spot for breakfast was Nemesis Coffee with tasty sandwiches, pastries and coffee.

K found a couple of our best meals of the entire trip from Tiktok. We had the best sushi EVER at Miku Restaurant. From their signature Salmon Oshi Sushi to the Wagyu Nigiri, everything was incredible. We also dined at Robba da Matti Restaurant. The recommendation was to eat at the West end location and we couldn’t have been happier with our meal and service.

11/06/2023

Days 5 & 6 on the Norwegian Cruise Line took us to Skagway and Ketchikan. In Skagway we took the White Pass & Yukon Route which was build in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. The railway reveals breathtaking views of mountains, waterfalls, and glacial rivers as you pass along the cliffs, across bridges and through tunnels. While it was cloudy, chilly and a bit rainy; the views were awesome.

Yesterday we were in Ketchikan named the salmon capital of the world. Unfortunately, the salmon were just beginning to come in during our visit, so we didn’t get to see them run. The historic district, Creek Street, is definitely picturesque. Later we ate fish and chips and Smoked salmon chowder before heading back to the boat.

Today is our last day and we’re spending it at sea sailing through the Inside Passage.

08/06/2023

Day 4 of our was a stop in Juneau. One of the most incredible experiences we’ve ever had is the helicopter tour and Mendenhall glacier trek with NorthStar Helicopters. We explored the glacier and learned more about how they form and transform. It was an experience like no other!

Unfortunately, Derrick broke his ankle on day #2, so he wasn’t able to join our adventure. He climbed the side of a mountain a few days ago, but the wet pool deck did him in 🤦🏼‍♀️

Have you see the Mendenhall Glacier?

08/06/2023

Day 3 on the was a visit to Icy Strait and our small group whale watching tour. We saw humpback whales, sea lions, otters (with a baby!), porpoise, a bear, seals and eagles!!

There are no words to describe seeing these mammals in their natural environment.

We had a private tour with Hoonah Whale Tours! We highly recommend a small group tour, so you’re not fighting 50 other passengers to see the sea life.

06/06/2023

We boarded the in Seward today! This is our first cruise post Covid. After 2 days exploring Seward, we decided to board the ship at noon. We wanted to spend the day wandering the ship while most of the cruisers were on shore.

We had a buffet lunch then wandered around before staterooms became available around 2pm. After a nap for me and more exploring for the rest of the family, we had a delicious dinner at Cagney’s Steakhouse.

Tomorrow we cruise by the Hubbard Glacier 🥳

05/06/2023

We spent the entire day in Seward starting with Derrick cooking a big breakfast in our apartment. The kiddos were thrilled to have their own bedroom and separate beds.

We had planned to hike to Exit Glacier but there was too much snow and hazardous conditions on the extended hike.

K found a hike up Mount Marathon to keep us fit. We didn’t take the insane shear cliff climb that they do here annually in Seward, but we did climb the hiking trail. It was a moderately difficult hike with stunning views over Resurrection Bay and the city. I may have lost my balance and almost face planted in the snow 😆

Lucy and I stopped at the viewpoint while Derrick and K continued on to the extreme part of the trail. There is still a lot of snow, so they literally Bear climbed their way up the slate mountainside and trudged through snow that came up to their waist in some areas. They were rewarded with spectacular views, a feeling of accomplishment, and thankfully came back down safely. Okay, part of the way they actually had to slide down the snowy cliffside on their butts to avoid injury.

After a lunch in the apartment and some laundry; we headed to the Alaska SeaLife Center. Here they help rehabilitate local sea life while providing education to visitors. I was beyond thrilled to see puffins - especially when one flew and landed on a rock right in front of me! We also watched seals playing in the water and sea lions lounging on rocks.

After an expensive and mediocre dinner, we headed back to the apartment to relax our tired feet. So glad we purchased good hiking boots for this trip!

Tomorrow we’ll board the Norwegian Jewel!