You're gearing up for that cruise, and you want the best vacation you can possibly have. Choosing the right stateroom can mean the difference between a great time and a not-so-great time. Let me preface by saying that a traveling by cruise ship is one of my all-time favorite family vacations. The time you spend in your stateroom is completely up to you. Price is always a factor but if you are like me, you always want your own space. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you make your Continue Reading
Cruise Chat: What to know about Costa Maya Mexico #BayouTravel
My upcoming cruise is approaching and like many travelers research before visiting a foreign country is key. One of my upcoming cruise post visits will be Costa Maya Maxico. Although i have visited Mexico several times with and without my family I like to know what to expect when traveling especially when I am traveling aboard a cruise ship. Since time is limited on port days I thought we would share some important information about you need to know before visiting Costa Maya. Are you Continue Reading
5 Tropical Destinations to Visit This Winter #BayouTravel
Winter doesn't have to be spent in the snow and cold. Instead of spending all of your winter days shivering and fighting off the seasonal blahs, consider a tropical destination for a winter getaway this year. Check out these five tropical locations to visit this winter. Costa Rica The winter season is a great time to visit Costa Rica. December and January sees the beginning of the country's dry season and you can count on 70 degree days being the norm. In Costa Rica you can enjoy Continue Reading
What Exactly Does Duty-Free Shopping Mean and How to Prepare #BayouTravel
Duty-Free shopping is not as cut and dried as it might seem on the surface. The vast majority of people that buy Duty-Free products have no idea what they are doing and if they are actually saving money or not. In fact, stores and places that sell Duty-Free probably count on that ignorance. Sometimes they sell items for more than you would pay elsewhere and label it Duty-Free anyway. So how can you be a savvy Duty-Free shopper and find the actual deals? It begins with learning what Duty-Free Continue Reading
Travel Tips: How to Keep Your Family Fit When Traveling {Especially on a Cruise} #BayouTravel
One thing I loved about traveling aboard a cruise ship is the FOOD! Not only does one need to workout before an upcoming vacation, but making smart choices while traveling is a must. I utilized the stairs whenever possible and found myself taking strolls in the early morning to burn a few extra calories. If you are going to eat the gourmet dinners aboard a cruise ship then making smart choices can help trim some unnecessary calories. While aboard Carnival Cruise Lines - Carnival Dream Continue Reading
Cruise Travel Excursions: Ruins of Cozumel, Mexico #BayouTravel
The island of Cozumel is a popular cruise stop on many Caribbean cruises. There are plenty of things to do at this destination but one of the most sought after shore excursions is visiting the ruins on the island. But, did you know there’s more than one set of ruins to visit and you don’t need to book one of the shore excursions from your cruise ship to enjoy these historical sites? There are at least 24 archeological sites that have been discovered on the island of Cozumel with San Gervasio, Continue Reading
Cruise Chat: What to do on your Montego Bay Cruise Port Stop #BayouTravel
Montego Bay, Jamaica is one of the largest cities in the country and has long been an important port for trading and travel in and out of the island. For most of its modern history it was a key sugar port in the region. Today the area remains a major port for cruise ships coming into Jamaica and has been working to build and modernize its infrastructure. If Montego Bay is a stop on your cruise, there’s no shortage of things to do. Jamaica grows delicious coffee beans and a visit to Continue Reading
My Family & The Size Factor – Cruising With Children #BayouTravel #CruisingCarnival
Disclosure: I was a guest aboard Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Dream. All opinions and thoughts are my own. For more information, please refer to this site's disclosure section. I started writing my about Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Dream experience which set sail out of New Orleans but as I began to edit my pictures I began to get very emotional. Initially I began writing about Carnival Dream and how appropriate this ship was for my family. You see, I have older children. Continue Reading
Cruise Travel Preparations: What to know about Belize Cruise Port? #BayouTravel
The country of Belize has become one of Central America’s hottest destinations thanks to its Caribbean coast, proximity to Mexico, plentiful natural resources, and English speaking population. This nation, once a colony of Great Britain has been welcoming tens of thousands of tourists a year. If your next cruise makes a stop at the port of Belize here are some things you should know. Belize City Incoming cruise ships dock in Belize City that not only borders the Caribbean Sea but the Belize Continue Reading
Cruise Travel Guide: Food of the Caribbean #BayouTravel
Caribbean cuisine is a unique fusion of African, European, East Indian, Arab, Chinese, and Indigenous food and food styles. Because of the geographic nature of islands a lot of foods are based around the ingredients that can be found locally such as rice and beans, tropical fruits, fish, pork, poultry, and beef. Caribbean cooking also includes many different spices and herbs like hot peppers, garlic, onions, cilantro, rosemary and thyme. The availability of many items became possible only Continue Reading
Carnival Dream – When The Sun Goes Down Cruise Ship Entertainment #CruisingCarnival #BayouTravel
Disclosure: I was a guest of Carnival Dream. All opinions are my own. Please see site's disclosure section for additional information. When I travel with my family I want a combination of two things: Relaxation and Excitement. I'm not going to beat around the bush, I like my naps, especially on vacation. But when the sun goes down I like to enjoy local entertainment. During our recent cruise aboard Carnival Cruise Lines- Carnival Dream my family and I enjoyed all the entertainment options Continue Reading
Family Cruise Ship Excursions for Less – Western Caribbean #BayouTravel
Families can benefit in many ways by cruise travel. Aside from the bundled cost, the ease and convenience of cruise ship travel is a huge draw to many traveling families. In my mind, the actual cruise is not what draws people away from a cruise: It is the cost of each port day. During my recent Carnival Cruise Lines - Carnival Dream experience, I was determined to maximize my cruising dollar at every port. As I share my experience below I will be highlighting the overall cost at each port Continue Reading