There are a lot of gadgets out there – and I’ll admit, that sometimes I buy them just to play with.  A couple of experiences on recent cruises made me really see the value in one of these gadgets though, and it might just be invaluable to you one day...

The US State Department issues advisories to inform travelers about potential risks in different places in the world.  This could be because of crime, political unrest, or other concerns.  Safety is important, but so is context and common sense. Let's go over what you should keep in mind when looking at travel advisories and in general, thinking about safety and security during your travels...  

The Cayman Islands are gorgeous with a lot to offer, including the famous Seven Mile Beach.  Getting around any new town can be intimidating, but luckily, Georgetown Grand Cayman has a public bus system that is quick, inexpensive, and easy to use.  We've been to Grand Cayman many times over the years, and in addition to it's gorgeous beaches, great diving, and peaceful atmosphere, it also offers high prices on many things, including cabs and tours.  If you know where you want to go through, such as Seven Mile Beach, Hell (mail a post card, leave, tell your friends), West Bay Beach, or maybe one of the great restaurants in town, you can be there as quick as any private car, and for only $2.50...

Carnival Mardi Gras is a much anticipated ship.  Not only will she be the largest ships Carnival has ever built, but she'll have some impressive new features and concepts - some new to Carnival, and others new to the cruising world.  Those hoping to enjoy one of her earliest sailings however, will be disappointed to learn that her first eight sailings have been canceled...

If you're enjoying your cruise and want it to last just a little bit longer, we found a new (to us at least) option that let's you stay onboard in Ft Lauderdale at the end of your sailing, have lunch, enjoy the pool, and yes, your drink package...

Public opinion on marijuana has evolved rapidly.  Whether for medical ailments or just for fun, use of marijuana in the United States is on the rise, and whatever one’s reason is for smoking pot, it doesn’t go away when it’s time for vacation.  The legal and practical implications of bringing pot or other THC-laden products on a cruise are very important to consider though...

Since I was a kid I've found the final day of any cruise to be depressing, and while I've become better at this, I suspect it's like dividing a prime number: I'll never reach zero.  The good news is that the final day of our Celebrity Edge sailing was gorgeous, and I don't think we could have spent it any better than we did.  While relaxing, we also managed to check off a few items we'd neglected thus far into the sailing.  One of them you'll see, seems to have been word play...

Grand Cayman doesn’t have a cruise terminal, requiring ships tender (take small water shuttles) from the ship.  Some see this as inconvenient, but it’s also makes for a scenic way to arrive.  I went to bed last night hoping the weather would hold so that tender operations were able to take place, and in the final hour of our arrival, the sea smoothed out nicely.

Sometimes we travel to explore and see new things, other times we travel to return to what is familiar and comfortable.  When the places that are familiar and comfortable are also beautiful, it’s all the better – and that’s what made this stop great.

Given our “relaxing” start to the day, we found ourselves alongside beautiful coastline in Costa Maya while primarily enjoying Celebrity Edge on this crowded port day...