Talk about a first. I’m face down on a massage table being slathered by honey—locally produced no less. And I’m enjoying every sticky moment. To be specific, I’m at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Orlando, part of the sprawling 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando hotel complex that includes two hotels, a water playground, golf course, eco tours, fly fishing, signature restaurants and one of the largest spas in Florida. After a frenetic 10-day business trip that took me 10,000+ …
Even in this economy, some people do make their dreams come true. And in so doing, they make others travel dreams come true too. Welcome to Silverton, CO. This isn’t any ski resort. For one thing, there is only one lift and no bathrooms–just an outhouse. Apres ski means a beer or a coke in the chilly tent that serves as a base lodge. It’s heated by a wood stove. Only expert skiers need come and be …
DAY 5 (of 6) — You can’t help but smile. We’re sitting on woven mats under the stars listening to the best Ukulele playing I’ve ever heard. Rather than a huge luau with terrible food and hackneyed performances, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu has opted to celebrate Hawaiian culture with the Aulani Starlit Hui in which “Uncle” and an ensemble of dancers, musicians, singers and cultural practitioners entertain us under the stars. That includes …
DAY 4 – (of 6) — Think a separate spa retreat for teens and another designed for entire families to enjoy together. Think adult treatments infused with local Hawaiian healing techniques. Think an outdoor hydrotherapy garden—the only one on the island of Oahu—here at Disney’s brand new Aulani resort. Laniwai (the name means freshwater heaven in Hawaiian) is supposed to embrace the Hawaiian connection to nature. I think it can enhance family connections too both by encouraging …
DAY 3 (of 6) — The hardest part about the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa will be persuading the kids to leave to explore Oahu—to visit Pearl Harbor or Haleiwa, the famous North Shore surf town, shop for souvenirs in Waikiki or hike up the iconic Diamond Head. And that’s a shame because Oahu offers so much culture, history and just plain fun. Ever visited a turtle spa—in the ocean? But there’s so much to keep …
Disney is a name known worldwide, and those of you that have experienced a Disney Cruise with your children know that the magic of the parks translates nicely to a cruise. Over time, the Disney Magic has brought its special brand of cruising to ports around the world; Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Russia; in the eastern and western Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas, St. Maarten to name but a few. And now, …
DAY TWO (of 6) – Ready to learn the Coconut Walk? “Aunty,” who actually is well known Hawaiian entertainer SonyaMendez, leads the children as they clap Coconut shell instruments together around the outdoor restaurant. In between songs, Goofy, Minnie and other Disney Pals—all decked out in Hawaiian gear—stop by for photos and hugs here at Disney’s new Aulani Resort on Oahu. “This is a place where children will leave with a sense of place,” she says. “This …
DAY ONE (of 6) — I admit it. I’ve drunk the Disney Kool-Aid. I’m ensconced in a two bedroom unit at the brand new Aulani Disney Resort and Spa (the name means” a messenger of the chief” in Hawaiian) in Ko Olina, Hawaii. The resort sits on a beautiful lagoon just 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and less than an hour from Waikiki Beach but is worlds away from the traffic and crowds and in fact …
Trusted by over 1.5 million cruisers since 2003. Get FREE access to members-only pricing.
There is a highly acclaimed way to receive multiple quotes from a site called CruiseCompete, where cruise specialists compete to offer you the best deal. The media sums it up for CruiseCompete:
“Score Luxury Cruises at Bargain Prices” (The Street)
“Best site for cruise deals” (The Wall Street Journal)
“28 Best Travel Sites” (Kiplinger's) Multiple annual mentions
“36 Web Addresses You Should Know” (The Washington Post)
All Things Cruise is dedicated to the joy of travel. Specializing in ocean, river, ultra-luxury, small ship and expedition cruises.
Subscribe for travel updates, news and great offers directly from the cruise lines!
