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Our First Disney Vacation — Day One

Published by Silvia Andrito

I find that the times right after a vacation are the times when life gets the busiest. Which is the main reason why it always takes me so long to write a blog about our adventures.

Our Disney vacation was, in one word, MAGICAL. Months of planing really paid off, guaranteeing that our experience was wonderful in every way. I will recount day by day what we did and what it cost us. So let us jump in!

Day 1:

Our Itinerary For Day One

We live in Florida, so we only had a 3 hour drive to get to Disney World, nonetheless we woke up early and were loaded up and on the road by 9 am. I had several little presents wrapped for our daughter which doubled as birthday presents and kept her entertained on the drive. Every half hour or so I gave her a “Tinkerbell Present” such as a Disney themed golden book, or a play set from the Disney store, or the wooden magnetic princess dress up. Since I planned in advance I was able to wait for all of these to go on sale and ended up paying less.

We made it to the Contemporary Resort at noon. Check-in was a breeze and the cast member was extremely helpful and nice. She made sure we all had celebration buttons (which are free) and she made sure we understood the dining plan and everything else. If you have any questions at all that is the time to ask, they are more than happy to help you and will go out of their way to insure you are happy, Disney has some of the best customer service in the world, so make sure to use it!

The Contemporary Resort – Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Our room was great. Very spacious, elegant, and well appointed. We were in a corner unit and had a patio. The pool and volleyball area were right in front of us and the lake was to the right. I wanted to set up an in-room celebration for our birthday girl, but I didn’t want to shell out the $350+ it would cost to have Disney Floral and Gifts do it (I am not going to lie, I considered it, but in the end decided I would rather spend that money in the park). So that meant DIY time! While my husband took our daughter to check out the pool and the concourse my sister and I rushed to our room and set up our own celebration. We laid out all of her presents on the beds, and decorated the room with Disney princesses, streamers, and confetti. Brand new Mickey, Minnie, and Donald plushies sat next to the presents which included an Elsa dress, a Cinderella wand, a Frozen jewelry set, an Elsa doll, a Frozen play set castle, Minnie ears, and frozen comfy slippers. I bought all of these items from the Disney store, I waited for all of them to go on sale (read: I checked the Disney store’s sale page every day starting in October) which made me be able to get the Elsa dress for $26, which is an AMAZING price for such a good quality, authentic dress. Our little one was ecstatic, she was so happy she didn’t know what to open first.

After all the presents were opened we headed to the Contempo Cafe for lunch. Lunch was yummy and fast, after which we headed to Fantasia, the gift shop, to buy lanyards for our pins. I bought 4 lanyards and 4 card holders which cost me around $100. Almost as much as all of my little one’s presents, but we wanted authentic and unique, so you gotta dish out the money for that -_-

We explored the grounds for a bit before heading to our room and changing into our swimsuits. The pools were great. They are heated, have a slide, a sprinkler area, and splash zones in the main pool. There is a bar which serves food and drinks, and lots of reclining chairs, and cabanas. No, the Contemporary’s pool is not as themed as other hotel’s but I felt like it had enough to be fun for the kids and relaxing for the adults, I though it was just perfect. Also there are SEVERAL lifeguards on duties and they all take their job VERY seriously, which adds another level of safety.

Once pool time was over we took showers and got ready for our dinner at Chef Mickey’s. We had Advanced Reservations (ADR) for all the restaurants we ate at (you have to if you want to be able to get in) but this does not mean that you will be seated immediately, there will still be a wait. We waited about 15 minutes, time that we spent taking pictures and watching cartoons. Please note we purchased a Disney Dining Plan as part of our package, therefore we did not have to pay any extra for our dinner. The buffet itself was good, but the highlight of the evening was meeting Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald. Out of all of them I have to say that Goofy was the nicest and most energetic. He was not rushed and he wanted to play with everyone on the table. Seriously kudos to that cast member he went above and beyond.

In my original plan for that evening we were going to go to the Polynesian resort after dinner to watch the fireworks from the beach. But dinner ran long (meeting all of those characters and taking pictures takes time) so we had to cancel. This is one of the most important things you can do when you go out on vacation, ADAPT. Adaptability is one of the main skills needed in order to have a happy vacation. So while I wanted to go to the beach, it actually worked out better not to go, between it being cold, we being late, and planing on waking up very early the next day it might have been stressful to haul our large party over there.

Instead we watched the fireworks from right outside our room. Which was an added bonus, you have a good view of the fireworks from pretty much anywhere in the Contemporary since you are walking distance from the park. After the fireworks we were tucking in when we heard very loud music coming from the outside, but after a quick glance we could not determine the source (we figured it out the next night, purely by accident).

And that was it for our first vacation day!

WHAT WE SPENT —

Vacation Package (Hotel, 2 Day Tickets with Park Hopper, and Disney Dining Plan): $2,241.18

Tinkerbell Presents: $47

In-room Celebration Decorations: $31

In-room Celebration Presents: $120

Fantasia Gift Shop: $100

Finding the Value in a Disney Resort — Guest Post

Published by Silvia Andrito

By Jennifer Cavagnaro

I wasn’t raised with a ton of money. My mom was single and she saved for years in order to bring my brother and I to Disney World at the age of 10. I remember every single minute. We stayed at the All-Star Sports Resort (a well-known value resort on the Walt Disney World property) and we only went to the Magic Kingdom. It was extremely hot out and after only a few hours of rides, my brother and I begged to go back to the hotel and play in the pool.

Fast forward 22 years… I’m a mom of 4 children and a true Disney lover! You might be thinking: “Four children? At Disney World? This woman is nuts!” Truthfully, I can’t argue with you there! I think my first trip to Disney as a mom was in 2009, when Brianna was 1. We stayed at the All Star Sports hotel, as it was the only one that I knew about and it brought back so many memories. Since then, I can’t even count the amount of times that we have been. (Hey… it’s only 3 hours away and very convenient!).

We have always stayed at the value resorts. I may be somewhat of an expert.
There are currently 5:

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

They are all basically the same, with different themes. They are extremely kid-friendly with bright, vibrant Disney Characters in front of each building and throughout the property. Each resort has a huge lobby which consists of an arcade, a gift shop and a cafeteria-style dining hall.

Since the resorts are on the Disney property, they provide free bus transportation to and from the theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. Chase, my 3 year old, thinks the “Diddee Bus” is the highlight of the trip! Quick tip: The 3 All-Star resorts share a bus, so if you are taking the bus back from Animal Kingdom (for example), it makes 3 stops. Pop Century is stand-alone and only has the one stop.

Over the past 8 years, we have typically bounced around the value resorts, favoring Pop Century as it was the newest. Then came Mia… dun dun dunnnnnn! Mia is my 4^th and last baby, and her presence at Disney demands a suite. Ah, shucks. This means we just had to stay at the brand-spanking new value resort: The Art of Imagination. It’s geared towards large families that need suites. The first time we stayed there, I was pregnant with Mia and we still qualified for a standard room. I picked the Little Mermaid building, of course. A little tip: It’s SUPER far from the lobby. My Fitbit loved it. My pregnant and swollen ankles? Not so much.

After I had Mia, I chose the Finding Nemo building which happens to be a “preferred” building. This means that it’s close to that fabulous lobby that I mentioned before. The suite was FANTASTIC. Two bathrooms, master bedroom, a little kitchen area, a table turns into a bed, a sleeper sofa… need I say more? This suite fit all 6 of us as well as my babysitter!

Pricing and Tips:

The value resorts offer specials throughout the year. Typically, the best and lowest prices are offered during non-peak season (in order to bring in guests).
I have seen regular rooms at the All-Star resorts for as low at $87 per night
The suites tend to be more expensive (considerably, in my opinion!)
Staying at the Art of Imagination for a family of 6 in March averages $435 a night ($470 per night for a preferred room)
Florida residents save more: $377/night for standard and $392 for a preferred room.
The average meal costs $10-$15 per person (give or take!)
The refillable cups are $17.99 for the length of your stay (I believe around $8.99 for 1 day if you choose to pay daily) and can be used as many times as you’d like. They are electronic now, you cannot bring your cup back from a previous stay.
The dining plan is HIGHLY recommended, especially if you are a foodie. This can only be booked with a package but saves a ton of money, especially if you do the Character Dining restaurants. There are various pricing tiers for this option.

If you’re looking to stay on the Walt Disney Property, yet needing to save a few bucks, I highly recommend any of the 5 value resorts.

Planning a Vacation to Disney World — Where To Stay

Published by Silvia Andrito

*Please note that originally I was going to do a post for all five categories, but Accommodations got toooo long making it a monster of it’s own, so I had to break the original Basic’s post into two. First we discussed My Disney Experience, ADRs, FastPass+, and Magic Bands in Planning a Vacation to Disney World — The Basics. Now we will go over Accommodations (Disney resort categories. Staying on property v. off, etc.).

Deciding Where To Stay

The first question that you may have is: “Where do I stay?” To answer that, we need to look into what Disney has to offer. They have three main categories of resorts which are based on price point.

The Art of Animation – Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Value Resorts –
Cost: The cheapest of the three categories at an average of $150 per night. Price varies depending on season and room type, can fluctuate from as low as $93 to $200. They do have suites at a higher price.
Accommodations: The rooms tend to be the smallest at about 260 sf. for the average room. Double beds or a King bed. Themes tend to be very bright. Can be quite a hike from room to main areas.
Amenities: Themed pools but no slides. A food court but no restaurants. Bus transportation to and from parks.
Resorts: Pop Century Resort, All-Star Movies Resort, All-Star Sports Resort, All-Star Music Resort, Art of Animation Resort (Newest out of all of these, better accommodations at a slightly higher price).

port-orleans-resort-french-quarter-gallery04

Port Orleans – Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Moderate Resorts –
Cost: This is the mid category with prices ranging from $180 to $290 per night depending on season and room type. They do have suites at a higher price.
Accommodations: Room size is about 314 sf. Beds tend to be bigger, decor is themed but nice. Moderate resorts also have a very spread out layout, which means longer walks to main areas.
Amenities: Themed pools with at least one slide at main pool. A food court and at least one sit-down restaurant is present in most of them. Transportation is also by bus with Port Orleans also offering a boat.
Resorts: Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach Resort.

The Contemporary Resort – Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Deluxe Resorts –
Cost: This is the top category with prices ranging from $340 to $835 per night for standard rooms. Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge are the cheapest in this category.
Accommodations: Room size ranges from 344 sf. for a standard room to over 1000 sf. in some suites. Many standard rooms also include a daybed besides the usual two queens or one king, which means these standard rooms can sleep 5 people comfortably.
Amenities: Some rooms offer amazing views. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous with great gift shops and amazing lobbies. Includes several sit down restaurants with at least one fine dining option. Themes are more muted in an elegant way. Amazing pools with slides. The main attraction for a deluxe resort in my opinion is location, location, location… We chose the Contemporary Resort for our vacation because of it’s proximity to Magic Kingdom, as in walking distance, as in 10 minutes walk. Not only that but the fact that we were not limited to buses but also had the option of the monorail. In most deluxe resorts you will have more transportation options such as buses, monorail, and boat, plus they are walking distance of at least one park.
Resorts: Contemporary Resort, Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club Resort, BoardWalk Inn, Beach Club Resort.

Staying Off Property –
This is another option available for your consideration. Orlando is a huge city with so many wonderful things to do and see, Disney World is not it’s only claim to fame. This is my opinion of what are the pros and cons of choosing an off property resort:
Pros: For a fraction of the cost you can stay at a very nice resort. There are many resorts and hotels all throughout Orlando that will offer you a much better deal. Many provide you with transportation to parks and other Orlando attractions. The amenities can be fantastic; themed pools, great spas, amazing restaurants, etc. It also gives you the chance to take a step away and relax in-between park days. Did I mention the cost? Really the main thing going for these resorts are their price, comparatively.
Cons: Disney offers you several perks for staying on their property which are not available at off-site resorts, these perks include:
– Free* transportation to and from the airport with included baggage claim and delivery to your room. (Magical Express).
– Free* delivery of any purchases you make in the park to your resort so that you don’t have to carry it around all day.
– Free* park transportation and parking.
– Access to the Dining Plan and Advanced Dining Reservations (only available if you are staying on property).
– Extra magic hours.
– Immersion, staying inside the “Disney Bubble.”
– Access to the convenience of Magic Bands, for payment or room access.
*Please note that by Free I mean included in the price of your room. You don’t pay extra for these services.

So while it might make more sense to stay off property if you are looking to save money or want a break from all things Disney on your stay, at the end of the day I feel that for a family with young children staying on property is the way to go. Having the convenience of being able to walk to the park and multiple transportation options will make it all the easier to deal with a tired infant. Because of our proximity we will be able to take a mid-day break for naps and recharge so that we can enjoy our night.

NOTE: If you book your vacation through Disney you will only have to pay a deposit towards your total trip cost at the time of booking. The full amount will be due about a month before your check-in date. You can make monthly, weekly, daily, (hourly?) payments, it is up to you to set up your own schedule as long as you have it all paid before that 31 days prior date.

I know that this was a lot of information! But once you have made the decision of where you will stay you will only need to focus on what applies to your individual experience.
Make sure to come back to check out the next post in this series which will be a guest post from Jennifer Cavagnaro, a seasoned Disney traveler with lots of experience and tips to share.

Planning a Vacation to Disney World — The Basics

Published by Silvia Andrito

The first step in this series is to discuss the “basics.” This is your starting point. While there is a lot of information, there is no need to feel overwhelmed; if you learn the following you will be able to navigate the planning process for your next Disney vacation like a pro… or more like a well-informed consumer.

Disney has implemented several changes in the last couple of years in an effort to make your stay as magical and painless as possible. There are different tools and systems that have been put in place to make the booking and planing experience extremely easy and user friendly. We will discuss My Disney Experience app and website, ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations), FastPass+, Magic Bands, and how to choose the right hotel for you. So, lets get down to business… to defeat the Huns…

*Please note that originally I was going to do this post for five categories, but accommodations got toooo long making it a monster of it’s own, so I had to break the original Basic’s post into two. First we will discuss My Disney Experience, ADRs, FastPass+, and Magic Bands. Then we will go over Accommodations (Disney resort categories. Staying on property v. off, etc.).

1- My Disney Experience

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

My Disney Experience is the new inclusive personal account which can be accessed through Disney’s website and has it’s own app. It is literally a way to plan your “experience” and keep track of everything important. Here you will be able to book your vacation, make and keep track of your dining reservations, your FastPass+ reservations, see all the details for every single attraction, ride, event Disney World has to offer. You can keep track of your itinerary, check in to your hotel from the comfort of your home, and so much more.

Create your account (online or after you get the app), download the app, and explore. There are several blogs out there with great information on how to use this wonderful tool. But in my opinion the best way to learn it and feel comfortable with it is to just spend a few hours with it. It is very user friendly, but if you and technology are just not a good match, then don’t despair, as I mentioned before there are several “how to” blogs just a google search away!

2- ADRs & Dining Plans

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Advanced Dining Reservations or ADR is the system that allows you to reserve the restaurants you will be dining at while in Disney property. These reservations can be made as far in advance as 180 days before your check-in date. Make sure to try and make your reservations as soon as possible since there are several restaurants that are very popular and will be fully booked months in advance (Cinderella’s Table, Chef Mickey’s, Be Our Guest, etc.).
In order to book and ADR log in to My Disney Experience, go to Things To Do, and under Dining click on Make A Reservation. Then select the date and time you want the reservation for and the size of your party. Then depending how early on you are booking you will be presented with a very long or very short list of possibilities. You can further dwindle this list down by selecting which park or resort you are looking to dine in. Keep in mind that a reservation time does not mean that you will be seated at that time, you will still have a waiting time of about 15 minutes, it just guarantees that you will be given a table.

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Dining Plans are prepaid meals that you can purchase when buying your vacation package. There are three dining plans currently:
– Quick-Service Plan —
You get $46.34 to spend per adult per night. This includes 2 quick-service meals, 2 snacks, and 1 refillable drink mug, the mug can only be used in the resort.
– Disney Dining Plan —
You get $67.33 to spend per adult per night. This includes 1 quick-service meals, 1 table service meal, 2 snacks, and 1 refillable drink mug, the mug can only be used in the resort.
– Deluxe Disney Dining Plan —
You get $103.57 to spend per adult per night. This includes 3 meals (quick-service or table service), 2 snacks, and 1 refillable drink mug, the mug can only be used in the resort.
The main thing to remember is that you don’t get the dollar value, you get a preset number of meals. Which means your meal could end up costing more or less than the amount you pay for the dining plan. With a little bit of planing you could end up saving a lot of money. I find Disney Tourist Blog to be a great guide to making the Dining Plan work for you, they also have lots of other great information so make sure to check them out.

*Please note that Advanced Dining Reservations and Dining Plans are only available to those staying on Disney property.

3- Fast Pass+

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

You can book your Fast Pass+ through My Disney Experience (app or website). You are allowed to book in advance 3 Fast Passes per person per day. On the day of once you have used all 3 of your Fast Passes then you are allowed to get one more per person, and so on.
The main difference here is that if you are staying on Disney property you get to book your Fast Passes 60 days in advance (starting at midnight), if you are not staying on property then you get to book yours 30 days in advance (also starting at midnight). Which is actually kind of a big deal if you are trying to get those hot attraction tickets (Want to meet Anna and Elsa? Then you better get online at 12 on the dot!).

4- Magic Bands

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World

Magic Bands are your keys to the Kingdom… Literally. They function as your ticket, the key to your room, your Dining Plan pass, and your credit card. They make it extremely convenient. No need to carry a wallet or key, you can just wear these waterproof bands and be able to enjoy your time bag free (you might still want a bag for diapers and change of clothing, but it is nice to dream).
You will receive your bands about three weeks before you travel. They will be shipped to your house if you make the reservation with enough time. If you make a last minute reservation they will be waiting for you at the front desk when you check-in.

There you have it! The basics you need to know in order to start planing your next Disney vacation. Make sure to come back Saturday for our next post: Planning a Vacation to Disney World — Where to Stay.

We Are Going To Disney World

Published by Silvia Andrito

Photo Credit: Disney World Resort

We have been meaning to go on a Disney World vacation since last year when our daughter turned 2. However at that time work got extremely busy, we also had to move our office, and to be honest I was not too excited to go to Disney in the first place since my Disney World experiences have always been stressful, tiring, and expensive.

In the past, as a Florida resident, my family and I have gone to Disney World several times. My parents took us many times as children, and while I enjoyed it, it was never a magical experience for me.

I never forget the last time I went with my brand new husband and my extended family. We were a big group (about 15 people, 2 of which were toddlers) and NO PLANING whatsoever went into this vacation. The powers that be (the people that were paying) decided to go on an impromptu Disney trip a weekend during the summer vacation.

They booked a hotel in Kissimee that had a last minute sale going on. The first day was spent driving up to Orlando, checking into hotel, and looking for cheap eating options around hotel. The next day it was decided to have a late start, since we were on vacation, followed by a lengthy breakfast. After this we drove to the park and went to purchase our tickets at around 11 AM. By the time we made our way into the park it was blisteringly hot, the crowds were huge. As mentioned there was no plan, so everyone had rides and places they wanted to see. I remember at around 3 in the afternoon we had devolved to cranky toddlers and adults just standing in the sweltering heat arguing (for over an hour, no exaggeration) about which ride we should go. This ended in the group breaking off into different subgroups going their own way to make the different lines for whatever they wanted to ride. We ended the day right after the parade (which we saw as we walked to exit the park) and everyone was in such a bad mood it would have been better not to go at all. After that experience it would take my husband and me about 8 years before we dared to venture back to Disney.

Now, after spending the last 6 months doing a lot of research and planing, I can tell you exactly what we did wrong on that trip.

We didn’t plan ahead. Disney World can be absolutely magical, however it requires planning and you have to start as early as 6 months. This is a hard date. If you start later than 6 months ahead of your trip you might not get to have a lot of amazing experiences, like having dinner with Mickey and the gang, or dining at the Beast’s castle, or that very exclusive table at Cinderella’s castle.
We didn’t stay in a Disney resort. Now while there are LOTS of great hotels in Orlando, if you stay on the property you are in that “Disney Bubble” which gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the “Magic of Disney.”
We started our day late. When visiting a Disney park is not the time to sleep in. Schedule a day off in between park days so that you can rest, and by god sleep until the crack of noon. But the day you have park tickets be there at least half an hour before it opens.
We went on one of the busiest and hottest times of the year. Whenever possible try not to go when kids are on vacation, chances are a huge number of other parents had the same idea which can result in looooong lines.

So as you can understand after that experience we were a little leery of going back, but we decided that we were taking our daughter on her first magical Disney adventure for her third birthday. But I wanted it to be different this time, therefore I sat down and commenced my months long research and planning into how to do Disney the right way.

In the following series I share with you all of the knowledge I have compiled. We will cover the basics, extra magical activities, budget, timeline, diy crafting activities to get you family excited, and so much more.

I will give you all of my planing tips and tricks as we approach our vacation date (in two weeks) and then later will tell you how the experience goes and how it compares to previous vacations and expectations.

I really hope you come along for this ride and let me know in the comments how your own experience compares!

Curried Chickpea Wraps

Published by Silvia Andrito

This is one of the easiest, yummiest lunch or dinners you can put together. It is a vegan recipe, however it is extreme filling and satisfying.

I recommend you save this recipe for a really busy night. You know, one of those when you get home late, and dump all your things on the floor, and just stand there with a glassed look in your eyes, starring at the kitchen and thinking of ways of setting it on fire so that you don’t have to cook, but opting not to since it would be too much work in the first place… Or is that just me? Regardless of this is the perfect meal for one of those nights. Very little effort, big rewards.

Curried Chickpea Wraps

Ingredients
1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
1 Tbsp curry seasoning (several options out there, just choose your favorite)
1 tsp cumin
salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/4 cup coconut milk
Spinach or any other leafy green
Pita bread or Naan

Yogurt Sauce
1 green onion diced
1 garlic clove finely minced
1/4 cup yogurt
zest of 1 lemon
Optional: Dill, cucumber, or mint go well here (I did not use for this recipe).

Directions
In a pan heat up the sesame oil. Add the garlic and chickpeas, let cook for a minute. Add the curry, cumin, salt and pepper, and let saute over medium heat for another 3 minutes. Add coconut milk and cook until the milk has completely reduced (another 5 more minutes).

Meanwhile mix yogurt, green onion, garlic, lemon zest, and salt to taste. Voila! Yogurt sauce is done.

To serve heat up the naan (if you like that sort of thing), add leafy greens such as spinach, add chickpeas, and then drizzle with yogurt sauce.

Quick, delicious, and healthy! The perfect recipe for the busy individual!

Five Cruise Boarding Tips

Published by Silvia Andrito

Recently we had the opportunity to go on our second cruise. This time it was in a Royal Caribbean ship, (our first time it was aboard the Carnival Fantasy), The Empress of the Seas. Once again this is one of the smaller ships of the float, which makes for a more relaxed experience. At some point I will do a comparison between the smaller Carnival ship v. the smaller Royal ship.

Today I want to give you some tips on boarding your cruise. If you do a quick google search you will find that this topic has been discussed ad nauseam. But after spending several hours reading through many travel blogs these are the tips that most everyone seems to agree on. As far as my own experience I can confirm that these are great guides to follow. Some extremely obvious (don’t leave your passport) others not so much (bring a bottle of wine/champagne), here I give you 5 tips that will make your life better on embarkation day.

Long line, tired, but excited for our vacation.

1- Be early –

There seems to be a bit of a mixed opinion on this subject. Some tell you to get there early others to make it just in time so that you don’t have to wait in the terminal. I have done both.

For our first cruise we got there several hours early (only way we could bum a ride out of a loved one was to trap them into taking us before work). Because we were there so early we ended up waiting about two hours in the terminal. We were able to go in through security and get all of our documents checked very quickly. There was virtually no line. Then we just sat around in the terminal chatting and watching videos. It was a bit boring (and we were starving since we didn’t have time to eat breakfast) but it was pretty leisurely. Once it was boarding time we were one of the firsts in line to go in the ship where we made a beeline for the buffet.

A very long line to embark

The second time around we couldn’t entrap one of our loved ones into giving us a ride -_- so we had to rent a car park spot and go in our car. This trip also happened at the busiest time in the year for our business so we actually had to go into work before sailing away -_-. Therefore we ended up making it about one hour before our cruise had to depart. Oh, the agony! The shame! The LINE! We were in an extremely long line that barely seemed to move for about an hour. The plus side was that we were able to board immediately without having to wait some more after.

Now keep in mind that embarkation day is the first day of your vacation. I honestly preferred the first experience where we got to experience no lines, had more chances to ask questions of staff, and got to make our way into the ship at a more leisure pace. So my recommendation is to get there early, the whole “get there very late” seems to be a myth. The later it gets the lines seem to move even slower as panicked travelers make mistakes and have to search for “missing” documents in their bags. So get there early!

2- Don’t Forget Your Travel Documents –

This one seems very obvious, but you would be surprised how many people actually don’t bring the right document (resulting in a panic, asking someone to bring it to them if they are fortunate enough to live in the area, which starts off your vacation on the wrong foot). You will not be able to board the ship at ALL if you do not have a passport, a birth certificate, or a naturalization certificate (as far as I know these and maybe a green card or a passport card are the only forms acceptable). No, a marriage certificate will not work. No, a drivers license only will not work either. So talk to a cruise representative BEFORE you get there to make sure you have the right document. Also double check that you have your passport (or approved document) before you leave your house.

Birth Certificate/Naturalization Certificate v. Traveling with a passport.

For our first cruise we did not have passports, so I used my Naturalization Certificate while my husband used his Birth Certificate. We had no problems whatsoever, it went just as smoothly as when we used our passport. No delay because of documents when boarding or disembarking. So it can absolutely be done, however I had more peace of mind when I had a passport. Not to mention there are places I would not go without a passport, such as Mexico. So proceed at your own risk, however it makes you more comfortable.

3- Start your vacation early –

I already mentioned that getting there early is best. However you can also start your vacation early. If you are one of the firsts on the ship you can get to explore it before it gets too crowded, which makes this an excellent time for taking pictures… yes we could go eat at the buffet but first let me take a selfie!

Another activity is to go eat or go check out the bars (obvious ones). But something that not a lot of people know is that you can enjoy a spa treatment at a discount rate. Most people that are going to use the spa wait for one of the at sea days for booking, which means that embarkation day and the last day of cruising when they have to fill up all of the remaining empty spots are actually great for getting discounts. Just stop by on embarkation day and ask if there are any discounts. This is a great way of getting some relaxation at a better price.

You can also get to use the pool before it gets extremely crowded. Snatch one of the good lounge chairs by the pool and start working on your tan. Or go make reservations at the specialty restaurants before it all gets booked.

4- Pack a carry on –

There are whole blog posts about what to pack on your carry on. So that should tell you how important it is to bring one. First of all choose a bag that is comfortable and light enough (you will be lugging this around for a while until you can get into your room). Make sure not to over pack so that it isn’t too heavy.

-Pack a bathing suit
– A change of clothes for dinner (or wear something nice enough you can wear for dinner and just bring a pair of shorts/shirt/cover-up you can wear with your bathing suit)
– Portable charger and phone (duh)
– Passport or travel documents
– Spending cash/card
– Any medications you or your loved ones are on
– Toiletries
– If you have a kid you know what to pack: diapers, change of clothes, bottles, toys, etc. Basically what you would put in a diaper bag, just keep it light.
– Entertainment (book, kindle, ipad, etc.)

These are just some pointers. Just make sure you bring anything you feel you will absolutely need and can’t live without for a few hours. While keeping in mind that you want to keep your carry on as light as possible.

We brought a bottle of champagne that we later enjoyed with some room service

5- Bring your drink allowance –

Always make sure you bring your drink allowance. The specific allowance might vary from cruise line to cruise line. However they usually allow you to bring a 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per adult guest inside the carry on. Some even allow you to bring a maximum of 12 cans of soda or soft drinks (sealed, no more than 12 ounces each) per guest. Just know that you can do either or (soft drink or wine). Also know that water and liquor are not allowed by most.

If you decide to bring the bottle of wine know that if you drink it in the dining room or one of the bars they will charge you a corkage fee. So keep it to your cabin or pool deck away from the bar.

I have always brought a bottle of champagne or prosecco which we use to toast our departure. If your room has a fridge you can keep it there until ready to use, if not just ask your concierge for some ice and put the bottle in the ice bucket until ready to drink.

This post is actually a little longer than I thought it would be. There are many more tips that I could give you (flight in the day before your cruise, don’t waste time in going to shopping lectures, the shops on board are not really worth it, etc.) but these are just the cruise boarding tips I think everyone should know before embarkation. If you follow these your boarding should go very smoothly and start your vacation on a peaceful not.

One smoothie a day

Published by Silvia Andrito

Breakfast for the past week has been a smoothie. Now, I know it can get repetitive and boring when you eat the same thing every day, but that is the beauty of the smoothie, it is a magical concoction that can be whatever you want it to be that day!

It is also a great way to eat a LOT of fruit and even sneaking some vegetables in right at the beginning of your day. The combinations are endless and they can be vegan, vegetarian, or not. Whatever you like them to be.

I like to buy fruit in bulk and flash freeze them. That way I know my fruit are fresh and organic, and all of that (like to get whatever is in season also). However you can just buy the bags of frozen fruits and make your life easier if you do not have the time.

So far my favorite smoothie is one that reminds me of my college days. It is a blend of tropical fruits and juice that is absolutely refreshing. Here are some ideas for some different smoothies.

College Memories Smoothie —
(Not guaranteed to trigger your college memories)
– 1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple
– 1/2 cup Frozen Strawberries
– 1 Banana
– 1/2 cup Orange Juice
Blend all ingredients and enjoy.
*Note my featured image all the way at the top is this smoothie I just added 1 avocado to it.

Berry Banana Smoothie —
– 3 Bananas
– 1 cup Frozen Berries
– 1/4 cup Coconut Milk
– 1/4 cup Almond Milk
– 1 Tbsp Honey
Blend all ingredients and enjoy.

Tropical Spinach —
– 1 Banana
– 1/2 cup Frozen Pineapple
– 1/2 – 1 cup Fresh Spinach
– 1/2 cup Frozen Strawberries
– 1/2 cup Orange Juice
Blend all ingredients and enjoy.

*I forgot to take a picture of the following one… It’s a very green smoothie, so will just update this post next time I make it!
Ginger Green Goodness —
– 1 slice Ginger
– 1 cup Spinach
– 1 Banana
– 1/2 cup Orange Juice
– 1/2 Green Apple
Blend all ingredients and enjoy.

There you have it folks, four delicious vegan smoothies to start your day the right way!

New Year Resolutions – 2017

Published by Silvia Andrito

This year one of my main resolutions is to eat healthier. By this I don’t mean cut out a few carbs or fats. No. I mean I am going to try a mostly vegan diet. That being said my target is 80-20. 80% vegan, 20% non. The idea behind this is that I am the main cook for my entire family and they are not on board with being vegan (not that I am fully ready for that either) therefore the 80-20 seems like a good compromise for all of us. We will be getting some meats and dairy while at the same time increasing the consumption of good, healthy, plant based food. And if as a byproduct I get to look like a super model, well I wont be too upset about it 😉

So to kick off the year and my new resolution I made one of my favorite breakfast:

Avocado Spread on Toast.

This is as easy as recipes get and can be made any number of ways. It really depends on what you have at hand.

Ingredients:
1 Haas avocado
1/2 Meyer lemon
1 tsp chopped poblano pepper
1 tsp fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1 slice of your favorite whole wheat toast (or as many slices as you like, I am not going to judge)

Directions:
Peel your avocado. Mix it with all the other ingredients and mash until you reach a consistency you are pleased with.
Spread over your toast, and enjoy!

I know this was a toughie of a recipe, but I am sure you can make this or something similar with just as much effort. Great for quick snacks or breakfast.

Good luck to me and all of you out there who are starting a new resolution. Hope we make it!

A Day In Nassau

Published by Silvia Andrito

Earlier this year I had the opportunity of going on my first cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. We went on the Carnival Fantasy. The ship is one of the smallest in their fleet, but it was actually a pretty nice, relaxed cruise. I write about our food experience aboard the ship in the following post:
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3. Now this post is our candid opinion about our time in Nassau.

My husband and I were not very impressed with Nassau. This was our first cruise together and our first time in Nassau. We were expecting an adventure Anthony Bourdain would have been proud of… instead we found a very touristy town.

Previous to the trip we tried to be adventurous explorers and did many hours of research trying to find authentic food restaurants, to find historical sites, and meaningful adventures. We came up with what we thought was a promising plan, rented a scooter and headed away from all the tourist hangouts (Senor Frogs?) and went inland to explore.

When we went inland we were met with poverty and not much more than that. No magical restaurant, that while it looks like a whole in the wall it still serves food that knocks you off your feet. No amazing historical sites (though we did see the Queen’s staircase which was beautiful, if a little crowded), the Cloisters that are so lauded are actually just a wedding reception area and were not open to the public that day.

The town itself was nothing more than a tourist trap. Everywhere you went merchants were announcing their wares and they were just trying to pull you into their store. While some people might enjoy spending an hour or two going from stall to stall and haggling prices, it is simply not for us.

The restaurant we ended up going to was Bahamian Cooking Restaurant and Bar. While the food was pretty tasty it wasn’t much different than what was readily available at any of the big chain restaurants. The cost for the food was a bit exorbitant as well.

That being said Nassau is not without charm. There are some beautiful hidden spots, so make sure to keep an eye open at all times and you might find something surprisingly beautiful. Like this courtyard:

The people are also very nice. Once you get away from the merchants trying to sell you their wares, you will find that the Bahamian people are very kind and friendly, always ready to help. Even when we visited areas that were a bit suspect, we always found people that were more than willing to point us in the right direction. Give us pointers on how to ride the scooter (we were pretty bad at first, I am not going to lie), or simply ask us about our vacation and how we were enjoying our stay so far.

At the end of the day I realized that Nassau needs to be taken for what it is. Not a complex town where deep thoughts and personal growth can be found. But as a fun, relaxed island that lives and breathes tourism. So in my very limited experience the way to enjoy it is to just head to the beach, buy a couple of beers or coconuts and relax. Enjoy the clear waters, and just breathe.