Our family is looking forward to cruising from Guadeloupe on our most port-intensive cruise yet, so I was quite concerned when I realized that the round-trip cost that I was finding for flights between New York City (NYC) and Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) was over $2000 per person! That doesn’t include checked bags, and we are traveling as a family of five!

Caribbean, Caribbean Cruise, Cruise, Cruising, Diverse, Diversity, Family Cruise, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruising, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globetrotter, Globetrotting, Island Hopping, Island-Hopping, Islands, Land Vacation, MSC, MSC Cruise, MSC Cruises, Travel, Tours, Tour, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursion, Tropical Cruise, Vacation, Vacation Planning, Flights, Pointe-a-Pitre, PTP, JFK Airport, SXM, Air Antilles, Norwegian Air, JetBlue, Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe Cruise, Kids Sail Free, Martinique Cruise, Martinique, Travel PlanningPeta-Gaye DanielSeptember 16, 2017Pointe-a-Pitre, PTP, Guadeloupe, JFK Airport, Norwegian Air, Air Antilles, JetBlue, Spring Break, Airline, Airlines, Flight search, Guadeloupe flights, SXM, Martinique, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Guadeloupe Tourism, Caribbean, Tropical Vacation, Family Cruise, Family Vacation, Family Travel, Black Family Cruise, Black Family Travel, Black Family Vacation, African-American Family Travel, African-American Family Cruise, African-American Family Vacation, Trinidad Cruise, Grenada Cruise, Dominica Cruise, Martinique Cruise, Barbados Cruise, St. Lucia Cruise, Cruise to Guadeloupe, Cruise to St. Lucia, Cruise to Barbados, Cruise to Trinidad, Cruise to Tobago, Cruise to Trinidad and Tobago, Cruise to Grenada, Cruise to Dominica, Cruise to Martinique, Cruise from Martinique, Cruise from Guadeloupe, Fly to Guadeloupe, Fly to Martinique, cheap flights, how to get to Guadeloupe, Southern Caribbean Cruise, Southern Caribbean, MSC, MSC cruises, MSC Fantasia, MSC PoesiaComment

Myth vs. Truth: What Will You Believe?

We've probably all heard one or more of the following seven cruise myths, and unfortunately, such myths have kept some folks away from a spectacular vacation. I am writing today to shed some light on a number of negative things that have been said about cruising. Let's spread some truth, debunk some myths, and hopefully inspire someone to explore the awesome world of cruising!

Myth #1:

Caribbean Cruise, Cruise, Cruise Insurance, Cruise Protection, Cruise Tour, Cruisetour, Cruising, Excursions, Excursion, Family Cruise, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruising, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globetrotting, Globetrotter, Island Hopping, Island-Hopping, Vacation Protection, Vacation Planning, Vacation Insurance, Vacation, Tropical Cruise, Trip Protection, Travel Insurance, Travel, Tours, Tour, Shore Excursion, Shore Excursions, Cruising With A Child, Cruising With Children, Why Cruise?Peta-Gaye DanielSeptember 12, 2017cruise myth, cruise myths, debunk myths, debunk cruise myth, debunk cruise myths, debunking cruise myths, debunking cruise myth, norovirus, seasick, seasickness, why not to cruise, how to cruise, I want to cruise, want to cruise, love cruises, love cruising, why should I cruise, should I cruise, truth about cruises, truth about cruising, why cruise?Comment

Cruising During Hurricane Season

My family and I are excited about our upcoming cruise, and as embarkation day approaches, we have watched, heard, and read a lot about the hurricanes that have already occurred this hurricane season. Atlantic hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th, but hurricanes are said to be more likely from mid-August to mid-October, also known as the “season within the season” or “peak season.” Some may ask, “With all these hurricanes, are you still cruising this season?” Our quick answer: “By the grace of God, yes!”

We have cruised during hurricane season at least twice before. Our upcoming cruise is a combined birthday and anniversary celebration. Therefore, it stands to reason that the cruise will take place at or near the time of the birthday and anniversary being celebrated. Furthermore, if you read My Cruising Family’s very first blog post, you know that I am an advocate for purchasing travel insurance before cruising, especially before cruising with young children. Children are unpredictable. Life is unpredictable. As my husband said, “Cruising during hurricane season is the same as cruising any other time. All travel involves some level of risk.” Purchasing insurance takes those risks into account and provides peace of mind.

Hurricanes should always be taken seriously. However, that does not mean that successful travel plans cannot be made during hurricane season, even if those plans are to the Caribbean, Mexico, and/or parts of the United States that are vulnerable to hurricanes.

Organized Island-Hopping and Further Globetrotting

I am Jamaican-born and first visited the United States when I was four years old. Then, after years of visiting the United States during Easter and summer vacations, I officially moved to New York, U.S.A. in 1991. I then visited Jamaica regularly during school vacations.

Being born and raised in the Caribbean, I am well aware of the beauty and diversity that the Caribbean holds, and while I know that a number of Caribbean islands, including my homeland, are tourist hotspots, I also know that there are a number of lesser known islands that offer much to be experienced.

Globetrotting, Globetrotter, Island-Hopping, Island Hopping, Caribbean, Islands, Travel, Tours, Tour, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursion, Family Vacation, Family Travel, Family Cruising, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruise, Excursion, Excursions, Diversity, Diverse, Cuba, Cruising, Cruisetour, Cruise Tour, Cruise, Vacation Planning, Vacation, Tropical Cruise, Caribbean Cruise, Land Vacation, All-InclusivePeta-Gaye DanielSeptember 8, 2017Caribbean, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, Grand Cayman, The Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, France, Netherlands, St. Kitts, Nevis, Saint Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Saint Thomas, USVI, United States of America, United States, United States Virgin Islands, U.S.V.I., Belize, Mexico, England, Germany, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, Dominica, Martinique, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Vincent, Saint Vincent, The Grenadines, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint John, St. John, Saint Croix, St. Croix, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands, Bucket List, Family Travel, Black Family Travel, African-American Family Travel, Black Family Cruising, African-American Family Cruising, Family Cruising, Cruising, Island Hopping, Island-Hopping, Globetrotting, Globetrotter, Globetrot, International Studies, Passion for Travel, Peta-Gaye Daniel, PetaGaye Daniel, Peta Gaye DanielComment

What Travel Documents Do I Need To Cruise?

Cruising is amazing, fun, and relaxing all in one, and in order to get to that amazing, fun, and relaxing part, it is important to first take some time to ensure that all required paperwork is in place. Understanding what travel documentation is needed to cruise starts with understanding the types of cruises that exist. My hope is that the information in this post will help you to prepare well for your cruise by having all the documentation that you need, and then some.

What's The Deal With This Blog?

Hi!

Some of you may have read this on the homepage for this blog, but my guess is some didn't scroll through the homepage... lol. I know how we can get, clicking around and jumping from link to link, so I've added this introductory information as well as a bit more insight in this blog post because I think it's important to know the reason and motivation behind things that I read, support, and/or engage in.

Why Cruise?

Why cruise?

For our family, the answers are simple, and can be summed up in one word: value.

As a mom, I value family time. As Peta-Gaye, I value travel. I have been blessed to merge these two values into one amazingly convenient experience over and over again through cruising. With deals like MSC Cruises’ Kids Sail Free, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free-At-Sea Offer/3rd and 4th Guests Sail Free, the overall cost of a cruise for a family of four or five can be quite affordable, and certainly valuable if one thinks of all that family will be receiving during the cruise.

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