It’s the night before my Virgin Holidays Cruises holiday and I’m very excited.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a bit of time for me and my mum so I’m really excited for us to explore the Caribbean together and have a good girly holiday.
Getting ready for any trip or holiday is not my strong point but I’m determined to be organised. I’m really looking forward to going away, because not only am I about to see so much of the Caribbean, but spending a couple of days in New York beforehand. It’s like getting two holidays in one, Swim suit? Check. I-pod? Check. Passport? Check. I’m ready and raring to go.
Tuesday 7th July. Day 1
Yawn! We are picked up from home at 5.20 to get to Heathrow for our Virgin Atlantic flight at 9.20. I love flying with Virgin, it’s my favourite airline, as every flight I’ve been on has always been so comfortable. After checking our bags in we are taken to the Clubhouse which is one of the nicest places you could go. It really is something special and makes for the best start you could ask for on your holiday. From a beautiful meal in the restaurant to a massage in the spa , getting your nails done or a hair cut if you fancy it, even just to chill in the comfy sofa area with a cocktail, nothing is too much in this place. It’s bordering on so comfortable that you might not want to leave!
On the plane we travel in Upper Class - the ultimate comfort - and I quickly have my flat bed made up and get under my duvet to watch one of the dozens films to choose from. You can eat at any point on the flight and choose anything on the menu. You can even join your travel partner to sit opposite them while you eat your dinner, or sit at the bar together and sip some champers. Then go back to have a sleep and arrive feeling more refreshed than when you got on…!
We arrive into JFK at noon, which gives us plenty of time to make the most of the day and see some sights. Driving over the bridge towards Manhattan is so exciting and the view of the skyscrapers is breathtaking. It’s hard to explain the beauty of this city unless you’ve seen it.
The scope of the architecture is very different to anything I’ve ever seen before. We arrive at The Carlyle Hotel, located right next to Central Park on Madison and 76th Street. The Carlyle is a gorgeous hotel – really elegant and in a perfect location for exploring New York sights and shopping. After freshening up, we head out for a stroll to Times Square.
There’s so much to see and the lights of Times Square are unbelievable - America sure knows how to make things look good - you feel like you’re constantly in a film. The atmosphere is electric and you could walk around for hours. The number of restaurants makes it difficult for us to decide what to eat tonight so we ask a doorman outside the famous Waldorf Hotel for his advice and he recommends a fantastic Italian restaurant.
We sit laughing at what an amazing time we’ve had so far and wonder if it can carry on. The time difference is starting to get us so after a glass of wine and trying to fight the tiredness we get a traditional yellow taxi back to The Carlyle at half past ten.
Wednesday 8th July. Day 2
Today is a big sight-seeing day and we have made a plan to see as much as we possibly can. We have a fantastic breakfast in the hotel to stoke up on energy for the day ahead. Tummys full, we take a walk through the park, past the lake and the fair, past the zoo and the baseball area and another couple of huge lakes (Central Park is soooo big!) and out the other side where we decide to walk down Broadway and get to the Grey tour bus.
Map in hand, it is so easy to find your way around New York because of the grid design which makes it all so clear and it is almost impossible to get lost, as you can so easily in other cities. We get on the bus which takes us around the whole of the island and I realise how close together everything is and how you could actually walk everywhere.
We have some great photo opportunities next to famous NYC sights and learn some facts. You can jump on the big double decker red bus at any point in the tour and get back on at any stop to carry on, so we get off at the Empire State Building to have a quick go on the sky ride on the second floor.
It is a great virtual tour which is really fun and feels like you’re flying around the city! Then we go all the way to the top and it is amazing - you look down at the people and cars below who now look like ants. Every building in New York is like London’s Canary Wharf, so it does take some getting used to. The sheer height of everything is pretty overwhelming.
Back on the bus and on to the south of the island, through Soho, China Town and Little Italy. The day has gone so fast and once the bus gets back round to Central Park we walk back to our hotel for a shower and to get ready for our reservation at STK, a very posh steak house on Little West and 12th Street on the south west side of Manhattan . This is honestly one of the best restaurants I’ve ever eaten in. Food gets me very excited– can you tell?!
Thursday 9th July. Day 3
We wake early to go and have a quick shop – well you have to in New York don’t you? It would be wrong not to! And we make sure we’re back to the hotel by 12 o’clock for the car to pick us up and take us to the cruise port. It’s only a twenty minute drive away, so we’re by the ocean before we know it.
Getting on the Royal Caribbean “Explorer of the Seas” is easy and we quickly find ourselves on board and ready to enjoy the second part of our holiday. We went to our cabin to settle in and wait for the ship to set sail for at 5 o’clock. We had a little walk around and are blown away by the size of this ship.
It is humongous and like being on board a moving city. There is so much to do with the many bars, nightclubs, a casino, theatre and ice rink to keep you happily occupied and you know it is going to be hard to do everything in a week. I’m determined to give it a good go as it all looks so much fun!
The only scheduled event that you have to do on a cruise is the safety drill. It’s actually good fun and wearing a big orange life vest we had to go to our station to be given instructions. It’s a very quick practice and is very funny and worth a few photos. After that we unpacked and got ready to go for our first meal on-board.
As it was our first evening we decided to go for a quick bite in Johnny Rockets for a slice of pizza and a Ben and Jerry’s, followed by a night cap in Maharaja, a chilled out bar. We went back to our cabin for a good night sleep, but not before a quick trip to the casino to try our luck on a few slot machines in the casino royal! We won!! Almost $40. Not bad for our first night …!
Friday 10th July. Day 4
Today is our first full day at sea and we begin with breakfast in the Windjammer Cafe. As with every meal it does not disappoint and mum and I decide we’ll probably be getting off the ship twice the size. Feeling completely satisfied in the stomach department we collect our towels and find a perfect space for sunbathing on the top deck.
The great thing about sunbathing on a cruise is the lovely breeze. You can find certain areas which make it very comfortable and while looking out at nothing but the sea, it is truly peaceful and you start to really relax into vacation mode. I decide to get to the gym and check out the facilities. It has everything my gym has at home plus a studio for classes.
The day passes by and we have been invited to join the Captain on the Captain’s table, so we get back to our stateroom to heat up the rollers, get the glad rags on and get ready for the formal evening ahead! We go for a cocktail before dinner and it is a really good evening.
We meet some great people including the boss of the ship which was all very exciting and a bit different. On to the casino where we win again, this time $28…we are on a roll! We finish our evening in The Chamber - one of the night clubs - have a boogie and completely forget we’re in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean!
Saturday 11th July. Day 5
Awake early and we open our curtains to Bermuda. I think that’s what excites me most about cruises… waking up to a different place every day. It’s like your patio window is a changing canvas, it’s fantastic!
Well, Bermuda is truly beautiful. After breakfast we disembark and take a taxi to Horse Shoe beach, about a twenty five minute drive away. Luckily, our driver becomes a tour guide and gives us a tour on the way to bay! The beach is gorgeous with white sand, clear water and lots going on. We stay sunning ourselves with lots of dips in and out of the sea.
Tonight we spent our first evening in our allocated dining hall called ‘Magellan’ where we join our table of ten. There is such a mix of personalities and we know we are really going to enjoy their company throughout the week.
The food is beautiful and we finish our second evening onboard in the casino (again!) but our winning streak has ended so we go to the Aquarium Bar to hear live singing and to drown our sorrows with an exotic cocktail. We find ourselves by one of the pools where there is a big pool party and lots of dancing.
Sunday 12th July. Day 6
This is our second full day at sea so we decide to explore more of the ship, and after my big breakfast I decide to have a go at the climbing wall which is tough work but really great fun. The climbing wall is on the top deck and stretches up into the sky, so you get an amazing view of the ship and the open ocean around you!
After the exercise, I need to relax so mum and I sun ourselves on our favourite quiet spot before I go to my appointment in the spa to spend the next two and half hours in complete bliss. I come out feeling on top of the world and new again. I recommend a massage on holiday to everyone! I finish my day very zen’d with a lovely meal and a quick trip to the casino to keep the tradition going but our luck is still running low…!
Monday 13th July. Day 7
After breakfast we get off the ship to see St. Maarten by getting a boat taxi to the other side of the island for some great shopping and a bit of beach time. Mum and I have a big portion of nachos while lying on our beds and I buy a pair of sunglasses before we make the water taxi journey back.
The time on this holiday is flying by and I don’t want it to end. We go down to dinner before heading to the jazz bar to enjoy the live band and then on to the MIAMI VICE party happening on top deck under the stars.
Tuesday 14th July. Day 8
Today we awake in St. Thomas. This is really beautiful and I realise that what’s great about getting a small taster for each place you visit is that you can then decide where you’d like to go back to for another holiday.
We get on an open air taxi to the town and then got on a gondola that takes you up to the highest point of one of the prettiest views of the island. It’s really breathtaking and there is bar from which you can enjoy the scenery.
We bump into a couple from the ship and enjoy a refreshing drink with them, before sharing the gondola back. I have a nice cool swim in the main swimming pool then go for a late lunch and a workout in the gym.
It is our last night on board so after a lovely meal with the friends we have made, we head to casino for a last run of luck and on to the Maharaja bar where karaoke is taking place. My last cocktail is beautiful and I don’t want to leave.
This holiday was really different and I would love to go back to the Caribbean again and visit other destinations. There really is something for everyone and I feel I only covered half of what was on offer, this is a good excuse and on that note… “I WILL BE BACK!”
Would you like to go on the same holiday as Kara? For this cruise and for many other options have a look at our Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals. Prices start from just £1,299.
Source : http://blog.virginholidayscruises.co.uk/my-cruise-holiday-by-kara-tointon