We didn’t get the to the hotel until after 11pm, so when we walked into the lobby, the Bleu Bar was alive with people and awesome music. Check in was quick and easy, we were given a room in the Chateau tower and headed up to change so we could come explore some late night Miami nightlife. Our room was an Oceanfront king balcony room, the room was average size, with a floor to ceiling marble tiled luxury bathroom, and boasted a corner balcony that wrapped around the hotel. We had views of the gorgeous pools, the port and downtown Miami and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

View from our balcony in the Chateau tower of Fontainebleau

We headed to SET, a club on Lincoln Rd to meet other friends. SET is a typical high end Miami nightclub, where drinks are high priced, but the music is amazing and the dancing doesn’t stop. After leaving SET, we headed next door to Groovy’s pizza, which is one of the best late night eats, before heading back to the hotel.

After a great night’s sleep, we woke up to the sun shining through our windows and the sight of the gorgeous Atlantic. The main bowtie pool was already starting to fill up at 9am, so we hurried downstairs to get coffee from Solo, which has great coffee and even better pastries. We wanted to check out all of the resort’s six pools, so we first walked the property before deciding on a spot to settle and relax. If your looking for a bit of quiet, the round pool is a perfect spot, a little more hidden from the action, however if your looking for a great Miami pool party head to the main bowtie pool which is packed with people and fun! For an ultimate pool day, try renting one of the luxurious cabanas surrounding the pools. All of the cabanas, have butler service, flat screen TV’s, a comfy sectional and Wi-Fi. We ordered lunch poolside; I definitely recommend the cubano sandwich or a shrimp cocktail for something lighter.

We decided to watch the sunset from our balcony and then head down to Ocean Dr. to take in a bit more of South Beach. We ate at one of the many great restaurants on Ocean Dr. sitting right outside in the middle of all the action. South Beach definitely comes alive at night, and I recommend just hanging out and exploring the city.

South Beach will always be one of my favorite spots, whether we are there for a party weekend or a layover before we depart on a cruise, I always get so excited to be there. On this trip, the Fontainebleau was the highlight of our Miami stay and we give the resort a 10 out of 10, for luxury, fun and a classic Miami experience.

We have been looking for a great location to try a canopy tour (aka. zip lining) and we found the BEST expierience in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Our trip was booked through Vallarta Adventures, and outstanding company with a reputation of professionalism, safety and most of all FUN! They have a ton of tour options, but we wanted the biggest thrill, so we chose the Outdoor Adventure. We started off the trip in true 007 style with a speed boat ride to Boca de Tomatlan, a secluded beach at the edge of the jungle on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. We flew across the bay, passing in front of all the large cruise liners and along the scenic coastline. Once we arrived at the small fishing town, we were met by a giant 4×4 Mercedes Unimog that took us off-roading  2,000 ft above sea level to the Vallarta Adventures base camp deep into heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains. We all hopped off the 4×4 to meet the rest of our tour guides and get fitted with our canopy gear and mule. Yep, you heard me,I said mule. While I was definitely a bit anxious about riding a mule up the side of a very steep mountain, it was nothing compared to how scared I got when we saw the first zip line!  I was shaking so badly the whole way across I barely enjoyed the scenery, but by the 2nd line I was already feeling like a pro and loving every second! About five lines in we came to a beautiful waterfall in the heart of the jungle with just a tiny platform sticking out over the edge and only one way down! The water was freezing, but it felt great after being quite sweaty from all the zip lining and light hiking. The next zip line was one they called “the wet chicken”, which was a lower line that splashed down right into a natural pond below the waterfalls, it was so much fun splashing down! A few more zip lines, a tight rope walk, and some light hiking we ended back at base camp. We all dropped our gear in a hurry since we could all smell the homemade quesadillas cooking and we had defintely worked up an appetite.

The entire outdoor adventure was just amazing, it included a little bit of every type of thrill, yet is still enjoyable for all ages. I give Vallarta Adventures and the Outdoor Adventure a 10 out of 10 and a definite must when visiting Puerto Vallarta!!!

We wanted to start Cabo off with a party, so we asked to be pointed in the direction of Squid Row, a well-known party spot, to grab a few Corona’s and start the day! We were craving some delicious Mexican food and were told that he marina had a variety of restaurants and was a close walk. The Marina was beautiful, full of luxury yachts and a great view of Lover’s Beach could be seen in the distance. As we walked the boardwalk checking out menu’s and and stopping occasionally to shop in the local gift shops we decided on a restaurant near the end of the Marina, Baja Cantina. The restaurant had a really cool tree sheltering the whole front dining room, with simple little lanterns all hung from its branches and wrapped in white lights, it was a great atmosphere.

After dinner, it was on to explore more, I was on the hunt for the famous Cabo Wabo Cantina, dragging Alexander along for the walk, I was determined to try the infamous Cabo Wabo tequila! The bar founded by legend rocker Sammy Hagar, was just as you would imagine, much like walking right into a Van Halen rock video. The walls graffitied in neon and black-light paint, big screens everywhere just jamming to the greatest hits of Van Halen, and about a thousand bra’s hanging from the bar, I’m sure left by women who tried their luck with a few shots of Cabo Wabo tequila!

If your looking for a destination full of life, beach and an endless supply of tequila, Cabo San Lucas is definitely worth the trip!!!

On our recent trip back to explore Playa we stayed at the NOW Jade Resort, it was a beautiful, well maintained resort and had gorgeous landscaped grounds! Upon arrival you are greeted with champagne and coconut scented towelettes, we upgraded to the “Preferred Club” a section of the hotel reserved for Preferred guests only. We were directed to the preferred club lounge for check-in where a lovely spread of breakfast pastries, cheeses and other items were waiting. We arrived early so our rooms weren’t available, but we planned on that situation and brought our bathing suits in our carry-ons, so we quickly changed and headed to the pool and sun.

There are 2 pools at NOW Jade, one being for adults only, “the quiet pool” and the other a winding pool with bridges, pool volleyball and all guests are allowed. We mostly enjoyed the adults only pool, it was a beautiful pool with a pergola on one side with over-the-water hammocks and an infinity end that seemed like it dropped right into the ocean. We did venture over to the larger, active pool on occasion for a change of scenery. NOW Jade is an all-inclusive resort so other than when we were in Playa, we just ate our meals at the resort. Normal All-inclusive fare, large buffet with a good selection for all meals, as well as 7 specialty restaurants to choose from. The Italian and Japanese, Teppanyaki, were our favorites. I would rate this hotel a 7 out of 10.

We are both sun and beach lovers and we surely got our fill, but the reasoning for staying here was to travel back to our favorite port Playa Del Carmen. We took a taxi into town every chance we got, unfortunately the only negative about NOW Jade that it is a 30 min taxi ride from Playa, had we known that it was that far we might have chosen a resort closer. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time and are counting the days till our next cruise stop in our favorite little town, Playa Del Carmen!

We only had 2 days in town, the first which was spent mostly at a beach front bar/restaurant, Mamacita’s. Playa was hosting an annual techno/house music conference so the beaches were packed with locals and tourists enjoying the music. We decided to rent a cabana for the day at Mamacita’s, which ended up being the perfect spot right in the middle of everything. There are several other beachfront bar/restaurants on the same stretch of beach, all fairly similar, and all very nice. When it gets dark they all become the hottest nightlife stops and are a great spot to dance the night away! That night however, we had our fill of the beach and decided to walk around town a bit to do some shopping. Playa del Carmen is full of all kinds of different shops, you can find everything from a hand woven bracelet for around 110$ pesos to Dior and Chanel’s hottest watches and sunglasses! Zingara was one of my favorite shops, it was a bit pricey, but there swim and beachwear was just beautiful.

The next night we decided to start our night in Playa a bit earlier, in search of some authentic Mexican food, we were advised to try La Papilla’s. We were a group of ten for dinner, and arrived during the dinner rush, but the staff quickly pulled tables together on the 2nd floor balcony and sat us with an awesome view of downtown. The food was great, amazing burrito’s, shrimp filled quesadilla’s and Margarita’s made to perfection. After we ate, off we went to conquer some of the shops we had explored the day before and quite a few new ones. Most of the stores stayed open till about 10:30pm when the streets started to quiet down on the main drag, however the party moves back down to the beach if your looking for drinks, dancing and fun! We decided to check out the Blue Parrot, a well known stop in Playa. The dance floor is right on the beach and you can feel an amazing warm ocean breeze while you dance the night away! As if we weren’t having a great time already, they dimmed the lights and performers came out onto the beach for a fire show that was absolutely incredible!

Playa Del Carmen is an adorable and fun little Mexican town about an hour south of Cancun and only a ferry ride away from Cozumel. I would make this town a must see or stop on any Mexican adventure, and I can’t wait to go back!

If you are looking for a hotel stay in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale either before or after your cruise – this hotel has it all.  It is really in the middle of both airports and both piers.

As we arrived from a short ride from airport by taxi, we noticed the parking lot was flooded with shiny Mercedes, Porsches and Ferraris.

We were promptly greeted and directed to the front desk to check in.

Right away, Rachel and I were taken back by the peaceful koi ponds surrounding the entry way, including many koi fish, turtles and waterfalls. The lush plants and flowers were a delightful addition and added a sense of “tropical” to our first impression.

The clerks at the front desk were very friendly and advised us thoroughly of our accommodations. Walking to our room resembled some sort of tropical jungle and along the way we encountered interesting chameleons, playful birds and greenery plants of all kind.

The trip to the room alone was unbelievable, but then our room was amazing. A more than ample king-size bed was lined with linens sparing no expense or thread count, luxurious marble in a large bathroom with Scottish shower and Jacuzzi tub. Our great view over looked the chef’s personal garden where he grew and hand-picked fruits and vegetables used in the delicious dishes made in The Cascata Grille – onsite with beautiful views, overlooks  magnificent golf courses and water features, and offers a fusion of American and Italian flavors from a creative culinary team.

After unpacking and getting refreshed, we proceeded to dinner at The Cascata Grille, which was excellent. We shared an appetizer dish comprised of oysters, bruscetta, calamari and gulf shrimp the size of sand dollars. As our main course we split the crusty margherita pizza, finishing the meal with a cup of hot espresso.

We then went to the pool, which included a lazy river, fun waterslide and cozy hot tub. The pool also included The Laguna Grille, featuring tropical island casual fare on an outdoor open terrace with views of a lagoon-style pool, which serves sandwiches and drinks poolside. We enjoyed the tranquility of the pool area and rested in the sun to the mesmerizing sounds of waterfalls and tropical parrots before retiring to our suite for the night.

The next morning we ‘enjoyed’ the gym’s many amenities including numerous treadmills and weights. Afterwards we took the personal shuttle to the Ocean Club on the Atlantic for some time in the hot sun and got very hungry for lunch. The Ocean Club Grill is a seaside eatery with indoor and outdoor patio dining at the private club. The menu mirrored that of The Laguna Grille at the pool — a pleasant surprise because of the large selection of “beach food.” We then enjoyed some time on the soft sandy beach and gazing at beautiful blue ocean until the sun went down for the night, beautifully.

That night we went to a restaurant in South Beach called Big Pink. The menu here is huge just like the portions while the prices are very reasonable. I ordered the steak wrap sandwich and Rachel had the Philly cheese steak sandwich. Both were extremely large and hearty so we ended up taking half of each back to the Fairmont Turnberry Isle. We then enjoyed a couple of after-dinner drinks at Big Pink before going to Nocturnal Night Club. The club was very fun and we danced the night away until we finally had a cab take us back to the Fairmont Turnberry Isle. The next day we spent playing between the Ocean Club and pool after having a delectable breakfast at The Cascata Grille. The huevos rancheros were excellent and Rachel’s blueberry waffles made me want to order seconds.

That night we went to Big Pink again for dinner and enjoyed the nightlife at the popular club, Nikki Beach, dancing the night away again and drinking exotic beverages. On our last full day at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle, we did some resting & relaxation at the Ocean Club before going to the Aventura Mall and having dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. The food there is just amazing and the shops — Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s — were great. We shared a gelato from a vendor in the mall while shopping in the elegant stores before, alas, catching a taxi to the Ft. Lauderdale airport to go home.

Overall the experience at The Fairmont Turnberry was excellent. The service was impeccable along with the excellent service, food and extracurricular activities including the amazing pool, waterslide, lazy river and Ocean Club. I would definitely ‘highly recommend’ the Fairmont Turnberry Isle to anyone looking to for a short or long stay in Florida without all the hustle and bustle of South Beach. That is, of course, if you don’t want the hustle and bustle. If you do, just take a cab 20 minutes down Collins Avenue and Miami is yours!!

Most Transatlantic cruises are currently sold out, with a few cabins available or possible wait listing — Crossing from one side of the Atlantic to the other can take anywhere from 6 to 8 days, longer cruises are available.

The classic Transatlantic routing between New York and London (Southampton) comes to mind, but there are other routes as well. Travelers in North America can choose from the following departure ports: New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Miami, San Juan and Galveston. Travelers in Europe and the UK have the option to leave from London (Southampton), Hamburg, Genoa, and Rome among others.

Depending on your departure point, your routing across the Atlantic will take in a wide variety of ports. Time onboard can be spent wisely as all ships are outfitted with a substantial inventory of things to do. All ships offer communication centers where you can make phone calls, use the Internet, and send emails.

The following is a link to a list of Transatlantic cruises offered on CruiseCompete, along with search tools for more options:

http://www.cruisecompete.com/searchresults.php/?limit=100&page=1&order=3&submitok=Apply

Tip: If the link does not work, go to CruiseCompete.com, then ‘Search Cruises,’ selecting ‘Transoceanic’ in the region menu.

Here is what we found when we called lines offering transatlantic cruises:

Cunard

Cunard was sold out for their transatlantic cruises prior to the air disruption. However, Cunard will waitlist you for transatlantic cruise and tell you where you fall on the waitlist for a refundable fee of $500.

NCL

While the April 26 Miami to London is sold out, NCL’s June 24 London to New York has some availability on the Epic.

Celebrity Cruises

May 20 from Miami has waitlist only, as it is currently sold out.

Royal Caribbean Cruises

May 2 from San Juan on the Adventure of the Seas has some availability and allows waitlist option.

In addition, CruiseCompete is offering to assist travelers who are stranded. You can email them at

transatlantichelp@cruisecompete.com