100 Cruisetacular Leaps!

Video Credit: The Ocean Escape YouTube Channel

It's time to party, and what better day to celebrate than on Leap Day 2012! I've never done anything special to celebrate this 'extra' day, but this year all that changed. Some may be celebrating and enjoying reverse proposals, but The Ocean Escape celebrates this particular post! Why? Because it's post number 100! Can you believe it? We've been cruising together for 100 editions to this site! So in honor of this monumental post and to break the tradition of not celebrating Leap Day, excuse for a moment as I take 100 cruisetacular leaps for every single post! Are you excited, too? Well, come on and join me! Okay, I'm back now (that was a great workout... now I'm desiring to hug a buffet line on the high seas, haha).

I've had so much fun writing, tweeting, video-blogging, and sharing many of my high seas adventures with you! Yeah, I know I have a little bias to one particular cruise line (as you can see in the video above), but don't we all? What's been your favorite posts of the 100? I think hands-down, mine is this very one. It means so much to me. I remember the day I started this blog nearly 2 years ago... and to finally see 100, it just brings me great Jubilee and Elation! Speaking of, Carnival is where it all started for me--great memories indeed. We've come this far and have many more nautical miles to sail together. 

Thank you so much for staying connected with the cruising cross-fire here on The Ocean Escape. Your readership is something I truly appreciate and don't take for granted. Here's to celebrating 100 times of hitting the publish button and many more to come down the line! Much Love to you all--Shon!

Introducing Embark--A New Way to Book Cruises

Video Credit: Embark YouTube Channel

I’ve been fortunate to meet a host of cruise fanatics, like me, on the internet since starting The Ocean Escape nearly 2 years ago. Some work on a great ships, others are travel writers/bloggers like myself, while others sell cruise-related products. No matter what our niche is, we all have one thing in common: we are addicted to cruising! One person I recently interacted with on Twitter was Allan Teruel(@EmbarkAt), co-founder of a new cruise start-up company called, Embark . This Silicon Valley based company is a marketplace that connects cruisers with travel agents--they want to make your next cruise booking an easy, interactive, and more fun experience.

“I found that booking a cruise is a little too painful for something that should be fun and exciting,” Teruel said in our interview this week. He went on to say, “While there are thousands of people that go on a cruise every year, there are many more that don’t because of the uncertainties such as, ‘do I need to fly in a day before the cruise?’, ‘can I take my kids?’ or ‘how should I dress while on board?’”

I tend to agree with some of the problems that Embark has expressed. Many of us have been cruising for years, but the initial steps into this travel genre may not have been an easy ones. According to CruiseMarket Watch, 87% of all cruises are booked through a travel agent. No shock there, right? Especially with many of the questions rookie and seasoned cruisers alike vocalize before hitting the high seas. Some of us are fortunate to know a great travel consultant, whereas many new cruisers are leaving it up to fate or even worse, an online-booking website that can’t answer any questions. Embark’s solution is to create an eBay-like marketplace where cruisers can meet travel agents and discover new itineraries while finding the most value for their dollar.

Embark with Embark--it's a new way to book!
Photo Credit: Embark

“I grew up on online-booking and that’s great for a quick weekend getaway or renting a car,” Teruel added. “However, cruising is much more of a hands-on experience that requires a lot more tender-loving-care from a travel agent. Cruisers, especially first-timers, need to have their hand held by a person who is more familiar with a cruise line or an expert of a port of call. I’m extremely excited to bring an innovative technology to the world of cruising to make everybody’s next trip on board that much more enjoyable.”

Embark recently opened its doors to the public this year. They have a very simple user-interface where you search by cruise ship and date of departure. A short video also accompanies the homepage that summarizes the benefits of Embark. They currently are listing Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International Cruise Line itineraries, but Teruel mentioned they are adding new itineraries every day and hope to have a majority of all cruises listed on their site within the next few months (including my all-time favorite, Norwegian Cruise Line). This is in addition to mobile products to for the on-the-go cruisers as well.

Embark is free to use for both cruisers and travel agents, but they have several plans that provide you additional features such as priority support and the number of itinerary contests you can start for a small fee. As an added incentive, those that use referral code “TCE” will automatically receive a free upgrade to Embark’s Bronze plan. New users can sign up here. They also have an upcoming Webinar that gives a high-level view of how Embark works--check out their Webinar schedule here. Your ships await, and Embark may help you get aboard your next cruise!

My Junior Cruising Days

I recently found some old pictures of me and I thought I would share them with you. Now, they aren't old in the sense they were taken just a few years ago... these bad-boys were taken eons ago! The below are pictures of me during my early days on the high seas--I had long hair, a larger-than-life appetite, and the dreaded acne problem (where was ProActiv back then?). Feel free to laugh as hard as I did when I saw them again for the first time.

Here I am on a muggy day in Miami, Florida. Carnival Imagination stands tall behind--
the first cruise ship I ever sailed! It's like a mini-reunion! :)

And you thought my love for NCL was a new thing? Well,
you thought wrong! I've been faithful all these years... and will
continue being such! 

Oh, yeah, baby! I was a true rock-star back in the day! Who needs an
electric guitar when you have chess pieces!

Up close and Crystal! Chillin' with Crystal Harmony in Miami one grand morning.
Well, maybe my facial expression suggests the morning wasn't too grand, haha.

No, that's not Rick James, but I was sure sporting his iconic look back in the day...
minus the beads!

Okay, stop laughing so hard! It's all good; actually, I laugh at myself all the time. Laughter is the best kind of medicine and take it however it comes! Today, I hope you laughed at my throwback pictures and you continue keeping laughter alive inside your hearts! I'll be sure to post some more throwbacks throughout the year for your enjoyment. Remember to ALWAYS pack a camera when you hit the high seas because you never know what throwbacks you'll be able to cherish one day. Your ships await... and the memories that come along with them. Keep Laughing--Shon!

Port of Call Review: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (Norwegian Cruise Line's Private Island)

Video Credit: The Ocean Escape YouTube Channel

Have you ever cruised to a private island? No? Yes? You think? Well, I'm not sure which ones you have sailed to--if you've anchored off the coast of one--but you need to ensure Great Stirrup Cay (GSC) gets a special visit from you and yours! Why, you ask? Well, was the video not convincing enough for you? Need some more persuasion? Okay, okay... keep reading:

A new feature to GSC is a buffet pavilion (as you can see, I kicked the buffet's butt).

Great Stirrup Cay is located in the Berry Island chain of the Bahamas--making it approximately 120 miles east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Norwegian Cruise Line (formerly known as Norwegian Caribbean Line) was the first cruise line to acquire an uninhabited island and use it for guest enjoyment--this history making event occurred in 1977. I'm not sure what the island looked like in '77, but I can testify on what it looked like in 2009. What's the word I'm looking for? Hmm... oh, I got it: different. It was pretty small and the tendering experience was truly all that and more. When I disembarked Norwegian Sky to get to the island, the tender literally landed on the beach and we were told to hop onto the island. What was up with that?

I was a brave soul and bared  it all... 
well not ALL, haha. But can you blame me? I just lost 45 pounds!

Thank God for miracles! The island has seen a complete makeover since my last visit--a 20+ million dollar one to be exact--and the island looks ah-mazing! Since the water is too shallow for any ship to dock on the island, tendering is required. What's tendering, you ask? Well, it's kind of similar to swimming, you grab your life vest and... I'm just kidding; it's just boarding a smaller ship that can make clearance into the port because your host ship has been drinking too much sea water and can't fit into the harbor, haha. 

The ride can be a little choppy at times, but you'll make it in one piece (just hold on tight and don't try taking a bazillion pictures of the ship while standing up on the tender--you'll get plenty from the island, from a safer vantage point). So what's new? Well, for starters, you're not dropped off on just a beach anymore--there's an official tender bay where the little ships berth. From the mini-port, you can walk the plank to shore. Also, there is a pavilion over the dining facilities, you can experience a massage in the cabanas, enjoy separate beaches (one for families, one for adults), and more open areas--perfect for walking around, sight-seeing, people watching, and taking pictures... you know, the usual.

Umm... yeah, I'm as confused as you are. 
Why is Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas in this picture?

I promise I didn't island hop in the picture above. A cool aspect of where GSC is situated is: it's right next door to Royal Caribbean International (RCI)'s private island, Little Stirrup Cay. Now, they call it 'CoCo Cay,' but let's be real. The only reason why is because we all know NCL is 'winning' and they can't compete with the cruisetacular swag of 'Freestyle Cruising'. So, if you see an RCI ship when you arrive in GSC, don't be alarmed, you didn't ship swap, you're just getting the 'winning' view of their 'little' private island.

Ahh... now that's more like it! Norwegian Gem within arms 
reach of GSC's snorkeling bay and Cruise Man 3000! 

I am so pleased with how far Norwegian Cruise Line has come over the years and their investments into Great Stirrup Cay highlight only a glimpse of how cruisetastic this cruise line is--they're truly the bomb diggity! GSC is a must cruise and comes highly reccomended from me. There's plenty of beach space for you to lounge around, take a beach yoga class which will be relaxing for both the mind and body*, or tap into your big kid and slide down the inflatable hippo slide*. The possibilities are endless on this private island, but you have to check it out for yourself! Your ships await--and she may usher you into the water of Great Stirrup Cay!

Photo Credits: Shon "Cruise Man 3000" Ford
*Denotes an additional cover charge

Cruise Ship of the Month Highlight: February 2012

Cruise Ship of the Month -- February 2012: Norwegian Sun
Photo Credit: Ship Parade

Welcome to February 2012! Hard to believe 2012 is a month in already, right? Is it moving quickly for you? For me it is, and I have no complaints (the quicker the months come, the closer I am to embarking on my next cruise)! This month's top honor goes to the sleek and compact 'Freestyle Cruising' vessel, Norwegian Sun. Sailing all over the globe with contemporary amenities and a vibrant hull presence, she is the perfect ship to slide into this month's spotlight.

Norwegian Sun has room for 1,936 passengers (double occupancy), is equipped with 12 dining options, and is armed with 8 bars and lounges. I had the privilege of sailing her back in 2006, and she was--and still is--a true favorite of mine. So it comes as no surprise Norwegian Sky is also on my Top 10 Cruise Ships List. Unlike many of the newer ships being issued today, Norwegian Sun has a more intimate feel and ah-mazing food! It is not as crowed as let's say Norwegian Epic would be, but still provides a cruisetacular adventure for all who sail her.

Norwegian Sun is based in some super cool home-ports throughout the year, so she may be cruising close to you in the months ahead. Winter of 2012--until April--she is based in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida sailing 8 day/7night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Then she'll be heading east to be based in Denmark; sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark round trip to Northern European cities such as St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden for 10 days/9nights. After her summer stint in Europe, she'll return to U.S. waters calling Miami, Florida home. Norwegian Sun will be based there covering pretty much all of the Southern Caribbean for 12 day/11night and 11day/12night sailings. After her Caribbean visits, she's headed to Alaska for the summer 2013 season.

For more information on Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Cruise Line, cruise over to their site now! I promise you'll love this ship, so book your cabin today! Your ships await, and yours may be sunny and bright! Much Love--Shon!