If you want to know anything else about the Caribbean Princess or have any questions about cruising or Princess Cruises, just ask.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Booking Your Cruise
Anyone can have a great time on a cruise. But not every cruise is a good fit for every person. To find the cruise right for you, ask yourself these five questions before you book that trip.
No matter where you want to go - Alaska or South Africa, Iceland or Tahiti, Greece or Australia - there’s probably a ship to help get you there. Is the Panama Canal calling your name? Perhaps you want to see first-hand to see if the Leaning Tower of Pisa really does lean.
The embarkation port is also something to consider. You may have a particular city closer to where you live and would like to sail from there. Maybe there is a city you've always wanted to visit. Why not head to the port city a couple days early to explore it? It's like a bonus vacation.
Just check out all the options for embarkation cities for the Caribbean this month:
Different cruise lines and cruise ships really do have different "vibes". It is crucial to research different cruise lines to see which one best fits both your expectations of a vacation and your budget. Check the features offered on the ship. Some cater to active families with zip lines, water slides, and ice skating rinks. Other ships are traditionally elegant with fewer activities for kids. Some cruise lines are known to have a party-like atmosphere (cheaper) and others are known for luxury (pricier). If comfortable in a three-star hotel most cruise lines will exceed expectations. If a quiet five-star hotel is more your style many lines will be able to meet your needs but a higher end cruise line might be a better fit.
Cruising can be cheap and cruising can be expensive. One of the biggest misconceptions is that cruising is so expensive it’s out of reach of most travelers. Not true. Sales are frequent and sometimes offer pre-paid gratuities, beverage packages, or onboard credit. Great values in cruising can come from booking off-season cruises, booking very early, or booking last minute.
Hotels base pricing on a nightly per room basis; cruise pricing is a per person basis for the entire voyage. A third or fourth person within the same cabin may pay a lower per person price than passengers one and two.
Be aware of what amenities are included in the final cruise cost. Despite the add-on costs cruise vacations can be cheaper than land-based vacations.
Hotels typically have a few room types. A room could have two queen beds or one king bed or have extra space like found in a suite. A room near the elevator or an upper floor may be requested. All rooms have a window and sometimes there is a balcony or patio.
Cruise ship accommodations are different. On a cruise ship passengers can pick the exact cabin location long before sailing. The cruise line even provides the up-to-date availability online.
Not all cabins are created equal. The size, bed configuration, and the location on the ship can be important. Prone to seasickness? A cabin in the middle of the ship might be best. Claustrophobic? A cabin with a view of the outside world might be a better choice than an inside cabin without a window. A light sleeper won’t want to be underneath the nightclub.
Twin beds are standard on most ships but can be converted into a queen bed. While some cabins can accommodate two people and others can fit more, a cabin holding up to four passengers has upper berths attached to the ceiling or wall. The beds fold down to create bunk beds. If you have three or four people traveling together, be forewarned.
No matter which cruise you choose, make sure you've done your research ahead of time!
Friday, March 15, 2019
The Friday 15
I think I'm getting close to the end of my free magazine subscriptions. While I loved getting free magazines through T-Mobile Tuesdays I realized I just can't keep up with them. But I'm caught up now!
Add those to a bunch of things I no longer need or use, like some shelving and a wicker hamper? Yep, 15 more things are outta here!
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Make Chocolate Bunny Rabbit Candy and Treat Pouches - Tutorial Tuesday
Looking for a quick and easy Easter project? These homemade Easter candy and treat bags look just like chocolate bunnies but they're made from paper bags. No sewing required!
For this project you will need:
- Paper bags. I’m using a paper bag from my local grocery store but you can also purchase them here. I cut it into 9" X 12" pieces
- 15" ribbon for each bunny
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
- Scissors
- Template downloaded from HERE
Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Sewing for Good Sunday
Despite hubby getting in the way a few times, I made some pretty good progress on the charity quilts today.
On another one I was able to not follow lines and still make it work. (This is the back.)
As you know, when we travel we are away for extended periods of times. Like months at a time. But when we're home, we're home. We don't go anywhere and we don't do anything outside the house. We don't go out to dinner, we don't go to shows, and we certainly don't do anything exciting. We go to the grocery store every couple of weeks, the drugstore once a month, doctor appointments here and there, and occasionally venture out to the thrift store. In fact, we drive so little that I am still on the same tank of gas from when we filled up after our last trip. That fill-up was on Christmas Eve. Almost three months on the same tank is a record for us, I think.
So when I told hubby this morning that if he could find a coupon for a restaurant near his Monday appointment, he got pretty excited. Started searching the coupon flyers we received in the mail, even. (Him looking at coupons? Had to be a first.) But he spread them right on top of the quilts I was basting. (Maybe it was my fault for doing my basting on the kitchen counter, but gee whiz. Couldn't he do that at his chair? Didn't he see I had fabric and batting and quilt tops all spread out there?)
After more than one prodding, he finally moved along with his pack of coupons. He found one, then disappeared to go cut it out. And was gone a long time. I know it was a long time because I was getting close to cussing him out. Why? Because before he left he put his dang coffee grounds right next to the other area I was using for fabric and batting. Seriously, who puts coffee grounds this close to batting and fabric?
Despite those hiccups - and time wasters - I still basted four quilts. And I got all four quilted.
I was able to follow the lines on the John Deere quilt and did some double lines on the pink one.
On another one I was able to not follow lines and still make it work. (This is the back.)
And again worked late into the night and neglected to get a picture of the fourth one. A productive Sewing for Good Sunday before our first restaurant meal of the year on Monday.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Welcome!
Hi, I'm Deb, and welcome to my blog! I'm a former school teacher turned crafter/cruiser/kitten foster parent. On any given day you'll find me doing at least one of those things. I've been putting down my thoughts (and taking plenty of pictures along the way) here on www.debsdays.com for several years now. Nowadays you can find my daughter joining me as we work on sewing and crafting projects on the blog, but what can you find here?
- Free Sewing & Crafting Tutorials If you're looking for free sewing and craft projects - especially quick and easy ones - this is the place for you. You'll find links to directions, supply lists, templates, and clear, step-by-step how-to videos to accompany every single project.
- Digital Downloadable Sewing & Crafting Patterns in my Etsy shop. Yep, you can access DebsDaysDesigns patterns on your computer or device without needing to go into a store!
- Foster Kitten Resources Having been a foster parent for the smallest of kittens these last several years, I've got a pretty good grasp on the early lives of cats, bottle babies included. On Fridays I share some of those tips, hints, and plenty of cute kitten pictures.
- The Kind Words Project To encourage myself and others to recognize the power within each and every one of us, I've been anonymously delivering kind words of support and inspiration, along with dollar bills. Putting positive and grateful thoughts out into the world has come back to me ten times over.
- The Picture a Day Project This is where it all started, taking a picture every single day. The plan was to go for 100 days, but somehow it crazily wound up being for 1000 straight days instead. Now that's commitment. Even did it again for 100 days during the pandemic.
- Cruising Resources. You'll find general cruise information, live trip reports, and posts relating to specific ships and destinations. With over 700 days on cruise ships, the first hand experiences I share are helpful for both new and seasoned cruisers. Every penny spent on travel comes out of my own pocket so the opinions and recommendations aren't influenced by anyone else but me, myself, and I.
Looking for something else? Try out the search bar over to the right. Or email me by clicking on the icon below.
Happy crafting, cruising, and catting!
Deb
Deb
Friday, March 8, 2019
The Friday 15
Every week I think it'll be the last time I can find another 15 things to get rid of. Yet here we go with another 15 (and then some) items heading out of here.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Learn How to Sew a Quick & Easy Corner Bookmark - Tutorial Tuesday
If you have some fabric scraps to use up and you need a bookmark, this project is for you.
For this project you will need:
Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.
Otherwise you can just watch video directions for this quick and easy homemade corner fabric bookmark sewing project here:
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Sewing for a Good Sunday
Yikes. Here it is 11:00 at night and I just realized I didn't report the progress on the quilts for the Quilts for Kids organization for today's Sewing for Good Sunday.
I got three of the quilts basted and two of those three completely quilted. Woo hoo! But the biggest excitement for me came about because I was too lazy to change the lead color in my marking pencil. I really needed to mark some squares in something besides white. As I was contemplating the work it would take in dealing with those teeny tiny pieces of lead, it occurred to me.
Painters tape.
Yep, it works great as a template you can use without marking. It's the first time I used it but definitely won't be the last.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
5 Free Things to do on a Sea Day
For years I delayed ever going on a cruise. I just knew I didn't want to be cooped up with a couple other thousand people, stuck on a ship at sea with nothing to do. I wanted adventure and exploration.
1. Learn something new.
There are plenty of activities every day to learn something new. How about a crafting class or dance lessons? Maybe tackle pickleball or learn how to plan the steel drum. You can even learn about the inner workings of the production shows by taking a backstage tour of the theater. Or perhaps find out how food is prepared by taking the galley tour. Many voyages also have guest lecturers talking about the history of the region.
2. Hang out by the indoor, outdoor, or adults only pool or relax in a hot tub.
Many ships have a large movie screen out by the pool running movies during the day and into the evening. Princess Cruises even broadcasts NFL football on Sundays on the big screen.
3. Drink for free.
While you need to pay for most alcoholic drinks on the ship, there are multiple opportunities to score free drinks. Think free champagne at the art auction and rum tasting in the shops. Maybe you will be that someone getting to drink the martini the crew made at the martini demonstration. And many cruise lines have special cocktail parties (with free drinks) for their returning guests, too.
4. Work out.
Look to the fitness room for help in staving off those extra pounds that seem to appear on a cruise. Treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, stair climbers, weight machines, and free weights can be found in a ship’s fitness room. You'll be glad you made a trip or two here when you don't have to squeeze into your clothes for the trip home.
5. Relax and enjoy the views. You catch a sunrise from your balcony
Now I know a cruise can provide me with adventure and exploration when we are in port. But I also can find plenty to do when we are at sea. Free things.
There are plenty of activities every day to learn something new. How about a crafting class or dance lessons? Maybe tackle pickleball or learn how to plan the steel drum. You can even learn about the inner workings of the production shows by taking a backstage tour of the theater. Or perhaps find out how food is prepared by taking the galley tour. Many voyages also have guest lecturers talking about the history of the region.
2. Hang out by the indoor, outdoor, or adults only pool or relax in a hot tub.
Many ships have a large movie screen out by the pool running movies during the day and into the evening. Princess Cruises even broadcasts NFL football on Sundays on the big screen.
3. Drink for free.
While you need to pay for most alcoholic drinks on the ship, there are multiple opportunities to score free drinks. Think free champagne at the art auction and rum tasting in the shops. Maybe you will be that someone getting to drink the martini the crew made at the martini demonstration. And many cruise lines have special cocktail parties (with free drinks) for their returning guests, too.
4. Work out.
Look to the fitness room for help in staving off those extra pounds that seem to appear on a cruise. Treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, stair climbers, weight machines, and free weights can be found in a ship’s fitness room. You'll be glad you made a trip or two here when you don't have to squeeze into your clothes for the trip home.
5. Relax and enjoy the views. You catch a sunrise from your balcony
or find a nice chair on the Promenade deck
and watch the ocean go by.
Or head to the back of the ship and watch the wake.
Or catch a sunset at sea.
Cruising the Caribbean
Click on the links below to learn more about what I have to say (and show) about cruising the Caribbean!
Bahamas
The Bearded Clam Bar & Grill in Nassau
Cozumel
5 Things to do in Cozumel
Cruising the Caribbean: Cozumel
Caribbean Princess in Cozumel
Money Bar Beach Club
Money Bar Menu
Snorkeling at the Money Bar
Swimming with the Turtles in Akumal Bay
Snorkeling the Dos Ojos Cenotes
Costa Maya
Costa Maya/Mahahual Cruise Port
Almaplena Eco Beach Resort
Bahamas
The Bearded Clam Bar & Grill in Nassau
Cozumel
5 Things to do in Cozumel
Cruising the Caribbean: Cozumel
Caribbean Princess in Cozumel
Money Bar Beach Club
Money Bar Menu
Snorkeling at the Money Bar
Swimming with the Turtles in Akumal Bay
Snorkeling the Dos Ojos Cenotes
Costa Maya
Costa Maya/Mahahual Cruise Port
Almaplena Eco Beach Resort
Costa Rica
Grand Cayman
Caribbean Princess in Grand Cayman
Cruising the Caribbean: Grand Cayman
Snorkeling with Stingrays
Caribbean Princess in Grand Cayman
Cruising the Caribbean: Grand Cayman
Snorkeling with Stingrays
Puerto Rico
5 Things to do in San Juan
Orozco's Restaurant
Caribbean Princess in San Juan
St. Maarten
Caribbean Princess in St. Maarten
Maho Beach
Bikini Beach Bar on Orient Beach
St. Thomas
5 Things to do in St. Thomas
The Smoking Rooster BBQ
5 Things to do in San Juan
Orozco's Restaurant
Caribbean Princess in San Juan
St. Maarten
Caribbean Princess in St. Maarten
Maho Beach
Bikini Beach Bar on Orient Beach
St. Thomas
5 Things to do in St. Thomas
The Smoking Rooster BBQ
Misc.
Top 5 Places to Snorkel in the Caribbean
Antigua Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Barbados Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Trinidad and Tobago Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Top 5 Places to Snorkel in the Caribbean
Antigua Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Barbados Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Trinidad and Tobago Port Presentation by Vickie Bowne
Looking for more cruising information?
Take a look at what else you can find here at Deb's Days!
Friday, March 1, 2019
The Friday 15
I say this a lot but how is it possible I still can find 15 things to get rid of each week? I have a small house. I have empty space on shelves and cabinets and drawers. But yet every week I have more and more to send off.
This week I have mostly things out of the sewing room. Plus a small shelf that never made it into the picture before it headed to the car makes 15 in total.
This week I have mostly things out of the sewing room. Plus a small shelf that never made it into the picture before it headed to the car makes 15 in total.
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