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Last week marked my sixth time to visit Jamaica. Not a lot has changed over the years. Travel time is around 3:30 minutes from DFW. The island is lush with pristine beaches and mountains in the background. Beautiful flowers, trees, it is very green. The Jamaican people are English speaking and friendly. My stay this time took me to Hyatt Zilara, an adults only resort but connected somewhat to Hyatt Ziva a family friendly resort. This could work for a multigenerational family trip. The grounds were well maintained and beautiful with lush greenery, palm trees, and beautiful flowers. Service was good just remember you are on Jamaica time and everything is laid back and slow. Room service was offered with an iPad in my room to order from. I loved the lobby coffee bar, you need to try Blue Mountain coffee.  Around the property were jerk shacks, outdoor restaurants, as well as indoor with air conditioners. The food was good and lots of options even for picky eaters, be careful with the jerk chicken...it can be spicy, HOT HOT HOT! The beach was well taken care of. Plenty of palm trees for shade with chairs. Cabana rentals are available. Options for pools were many. It was easy to find a quiet place to sit and relax or enjoy the entertainment with the pool staff for a more lively day. Love that they provide staff for pool and beach service. I would love to help you to try out Jamaica!

My first time to Alaska I decided taking a cruise would be the best way to see as many spots as possible. I took a Princess Cruise out of Seattle to explore Alaska. I choose the Discovery Princess, this is Princess newest and biggest ship for Alaska. Three football fields long big! So you can imagine plenty of activities and spaces to enjoy while onboard. I enjoyed the beautiful Alaskan terrain and plenty of wildlife to see. I saw the following; bald eagles, whales, seals, a bear, and mountain goats. I viewed most of these right from my balcony room. Having a balcony makes life very convenient if it's raining or cold. Make sure to take binoculars! Princess has a naturalist speaking over the sound system explaining all the things surrounding you and where to look when you view the glaciers, terrain, animals, etc. My favorite things were to order a latte and and sit on the balcony. Yay for room service that is included with your Princess medallion. What is a medallion? It is a small round object you wear for your cruise that opens your room door,  you order room service from anywhere on the boat, you can even play in the casino with money being charged to your room.  I like the reserved seating times. Discovery has three main dining rooms. You can upgrade to specialty restaurants if you would like. I ate at the Crown Grill one evening for my Anniversary dinner and it was amazing. Princess has formal nights you do not want to miss. It was fun getting all dressed and taking pictures. Of course that was option not mandatory.

What is there to do on the ship you ask? So many activities for you to participate in. Entertainment includes shows in the big theater, movies on the upper deck with popcorn, outdoor activities like a basketball court, mini golf, staff led games like egg toss. If you want to stay inside they have trivia, board games, and card tournaments. They have adult only areas and late night open mic nights and karaoke. Line dancing lessons in the Piazza or how about some Zumba? The entertainment staff does a wonderful job getting the people involved. Something for everyone.  If you want pampered try out the spa. I like how you can book this before you step on the ship by way of your app.

My excursions were a little laid back. First day was Ketchikan and I did a electric bike ride and hiked in the forest with a guide. My husband went halibut fishing where he caught on and it was delivered to the ship and the chef cooked it for us. Yummy!! When in Juneau I explored town by foot, it had many shops, restaurants, and local watering holes. The tram is a good idea. Skagway was a private tour that followed the white pass and went into the Yukon where I went to a dog sledding camp. Very interesting how they prepare in the summer for the winter with the dogs. The scenery was amazing in this part. Waterfalls, rivers, mountains, valleys. It was worth the day trip. The last stop was Victoria, BC I got a ticket and boarded a bus that transferred us to town. Victoria is know for their beautiful gardens and it was a very well manicured town. Really pretty. Back to the ship and woke up in Seattle to travel home.

This cruise brought me up to speed on what Alaska has to offer. I hope you choose to do one soon!