Tag: Norwegian Cruise Line

• Cashews and Cats of Cyprus

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on June 1, 2023

  When I chose the destinations for this vacation, Cyprus was a bonus spot. It wasn’t until AFTER I returned home that I learned Cyprus has MORE cats than humans on the entire island. This fact alone would have been enough for me to book a trip exclusively to Cyprus. My first impression was fast and furious, I enjoyed the latter half of our day, but I didn’t feel the need to go back.

  Until I discovered the cat fact.

  Our day in Cyprus started early and ended early. We only had five hours to explore, and we booked a tour to show us a few spots near our docking port in Limmasol. I will spare you all my true thoughts on how bad our tour guide was. She did her best, but the woman was not fluent in English and her lack of enthusiasm sucked the excitement right out of me.

  It was so hard to listen to her I eventually stopped all together.

  I fully understand that when I am in these foreign countries I am the minority. I never expect locals to speak my language, and I think it’s rude to speak to someone in English without attempting to learn a bit of their local language. However, when booking an English speaking tour I do believe the guide should be fluent in English. This goes for any language, if I book a Spanish tour I would hope the guide would be fluent in Spanish. Alas, this is the last you’ll hear of my grievances with these guided tours.

  Thankfully Cyprus is not a place I felt a need for endless information, and I instead used the tour as an opportunity to be transported around with ease.

  

  We started our day with a very quick visit to the archeological remains of Kourion, a city with evidence connecting it to the Greek legend of Argos of Peloponnese. We sat down with our group in this large amphitheater, before deciding the stray off on our own. This decision was half fueled by the fact I could not understand anything being said (wasting time sitting in one spot), and half fueled by my overwhelming need to get away from the small child who was sitting behind me on our tour bus.

  Was it the broken English that caused me not to hear our guide, or the child who would not stop talking at the top of her lungs? Jury is still out.

  I’m thankful we broke away, because there was so much more to this site than what our guide was showing us. I would have loved to wander this area on my own with endless time, but even the short bit we saw was beautiful. We didn’t wander too far, we only had about 30-45 minutes total at this place, but we wandered just far enough to get a view of the water and more of the ruins.

  

  

  From the Kourion we drove to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. I wasted no time deviating from the group once we arrived, and I was immediately blessed with my first friend of the day. A small black and white feline with a tick on his head. I did my good deed for the day and removed the tick with a piece of paper. I then proceeded to pet him regardless of the tick sighting.

  What can I say, I like to walk on the wild side.

  

  

  This area was small, but without the struggle of trying to focus on someone speaking I was able to enjoy myself more. I wandered the ruins and soaked in the history, but truth be told these types of sites don’t really tickle my fancy. Unless I have time to read more about what I am looking at. Ruins are fascinating, and I do enjoy history, but as one of the couples we met on this trip said: “once you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all.”

  I don’t entirely agree with that, but there are certain ruins I feel more connected to. Either way this site was a sight to see.

  

  

  

  

  I said goodbye to my new friend, and we hopped back on the bus for a 30 minute drive to our final stop of the day. We drove to the small town of Omodos, and this was my favorite part of the tour. We parked the bus and walked as a group towards the city, passing by some cats in a small park. It was as if the Greek Gods sent us good vibes after visiting the sanctuary.

  We aggregated as a group in front of a church where we were given the green light to break off and meet back in an hour and a half. I couldn’t go inside the church because I was wearing shorts, and both Duncan and I wanted to wander as much of the town as possible. We beelined back to the cats before weaving in and out of the small narrow streets.

  

  

  

  I quickly discovered Duncan is just as keen on wandering European streets as I am, and we covered as much ground as possible in our short time. We passed a man watering his plants who asked us where we were from. We exchanged a few words before moving on to find more cats. I eventually lost count of how many cats we found, but the amount of dopamine I received after each sighting was enough to keep me at a forever high.

  

  

  We saved just enough time to sit in the center of the city while Duncan enjoyed some ice cream, and I enjoyed some honey covered cashews I bought before we started wandering. The shop claimed they were locally made, and one sample was all it took. My only regret was not buying two bags. I ended up eating these cashews as my dessert most nights after dinner.

  

  

  

  Before we knew it we were back on the ship with the entire second half of the day ahead of us. I enjoyed having a half day in Cyprus, it was just enough to see some new places, while balancing rest after the two previous longer days. The morning started a bit rocky with the tour guide and the linoleum lizard behind me on the bus, but the afternoon in Omodos ended with relaxation and my cup filled with joy.

  Give me cats and candy cashews and I’m a happy gal.

  We spent the rest of the day eating, walking the ship, enjoying the views, and watching the onboard entertainment before slipping off into a slumber. I didn’t think I needed to go back to Cyprus, but now I imagine how many more cats there are that I could say hello to. Thankfully my cat quota was filled again the very next day…Next up: the back roads of Rhodes.

  Q: If you saw the stray cats of the Mediterranean would you say hello or avoid them? They were all so friendly.

  

  | 8 Comments Tagged Cats, Cyprus, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

• Israel Pt. 1 – Masada and the Dead Sea

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 17, 2023

  The beauty of vacation, is that when my alarm goes off at 0500 I don’t wince and drag myself out of bed. I spring up like a slinky falling down stairs because I know a new experience is ahead of me. After a full day at sea exploring our temporary home base, Duncan and I woke up bright and early in our first port of the trip – Ashdod, Israel. We were to meet for our shore excursion around 0630, and we made sure to have enough time to eat breakfast before we left.

  With bellies full of chocolate croissants and watermelon we made our way to the theatre to meet for our tour. The process was smooth – we were given a number and were sent to find our bus with the matching number. Before we could exit to find our bus, we had to stand in the longest customs line of the trip. We waited for what felt like an hour, but we made it through receiving a small passport-like paper allowing us to be in Israel for 90 days.

  We were on bus number 7, where we met Eli (ell-EE), the most amazing tour guide I will likely ever meet. A tour guide is like a cup of coffee. The quality can make or break your experience.

  

  Our excursion for the day was a visit to Masada National Park, and the Dead Sea. We drove from green grasslands to barren deserts in a matter of moments, and the drastic change was fascinating. These areas of Israel were unlike anything I have ever seen. We began our day at Masada, a new to me location, and this rugged natural fortress has a somber yet inspirational backstory.

  What started as a palace for King Herod the Great, turned into a refuge after Judaea became a province of the Roman Empire. The refuge was home to the last survivors of the Jewish revolt who chose death by suicide rather than slavery when the Roman enemies broke through their defenses. The Romans built a ramp to climb up to an entrance of Masada, where they found the bodies of the Jewish refugees.

  For months the defenders of Masada had to watch the approach of the ramp and the Romans. And I thought my anxiety was bad.

  

  

  Today there are two additional ways up to the fortress: a cable car, and the snake path. Perhaps if you’re really brave you can take the old Roman ramp, but that has bad vibes written all over it. The snake path walks up the entirety of the mountain, and while I’d have loved to do this we were strapped on time and it was 90F outside. After patiently waiting for Eli to argue with the cable car operator on why we needed physical tickets, we made our way up the mountain where we got our first view of one of the many Roman camps below.

  These camps are where the Romans organized the building of the ramp, and the attack on Masada.

  

  

  Eli was a wealth of knowledge. His tour enthralled me to the point of forgetting how hot it was. Until he stopped talking and I had to find shade in any corner possible. We met another couple on this tour who was not only from Washington, but from the same town, and the four of us cowered away from the sun any chance we had. Us northwesterners don’t do well in the heat.

  Duncan didn’t wear a hat and his forehead turned crispy like a piece of well cooked bacon.

  

  

  

  After an amazing trip to Masada, we made our way to the Dead Sea for the final stretch of our tour. After walking and standing in the heat at Masada, relaxing in the salty sea was a great way to end the day. We went to one of the many hotels near the Dead Sea for a meal (included with our tour), where I quickly shoveled a plate of chicken, hummus, cucumbers, potatoes, and fish into my face.

  We only had an hour and a half to eat AND to get our bodies floating – I didn’t want to waste a single minute. Thankfully Duncan was just as keen on turning himself into a human vacuum, and we ate quicker than anyone else on the tour. We made our way to the locker rooms to change, and found an empty spot of land away from the majority of the other people.

  

  

  

  Floating in the Dead Sea is unlike anything I can explain by words. They tell you that you will float, you know scientifically that you will float, but you cannot fully grasp what it will feel like to float until you are in the water for yourself. Duncan was a fish in a past life and when you get that guy in the water he is the most content I’ve seen him (other than when he is in the safety of his own space.)

  Duncan is to the water like Brittany is to the mountains.

  We ended up having plenty of time to float, swim, and roll around like pool noodles, while actively ensuring our faces did not go under the water. Dead Sea salt in the eyes is not something I’d ever like to experience. The water was warm, but I was not uncomfortable despite how hot the day was, and despite wearing black. While planning for this trip I was unsure of what type of bathing suit I should wear. I wanted to be modest and respectful of Israel and their customs, so I chose a halter top suit with shorts to ensure I wasn’t too revealed.

  Once we arrived, there were people in bikinis, and speedos. We were in a small, private beach area belonging to the surrounding hotels and I don’t think anyone would care what I wore. Ultimately I was more comfortable in this bathing suit so it all worked out.

  

  

  

  I’m a sucker for anything holistic, and the minerals in the waters of the Dead Sea are said to be very healing. That, paired with the Dead Sea being the lowest body of water on earth made this visit bucket list worthy. I could have left the vacation and gone back home happy after day one with the experiences I had. This first day was the best day of the entire trip.

  The bus ride back to Ashdod was about two hours, so we settled in for the ride and watched the desert fade back into green while Eli told us stories of his home country. Our tour started at 0800, and we made it back on the ship at 1830. A full day, back just in time for dinner. My souvenir for the day was a clump of salt I found while walking with my hands on the bottom of the sea near the shore. These clumps were everywhere, and my clump made it back home in one piece.

  Duncan found a cool rock, and I am scheming a plan to steal it.

  

  

  Before leaving for this trip I had a lot of anxiety about Israel in particular. The country continues to get attention in the media for protests, for unrest between Israel and Palestine, and more recently for missile attacks throughout parts of the country. These are all valid reasons of concern, but at the end of the day there is unrest everywhere in the world. Travel to Israel is currently only a level 2 out of 4 on the US Department of State website, and as long as certain areas are avoided this country is just like any other.

  I am thankful for the experiences we had on our first day, Israel is a beautiful country full of kind people and rich with history. We were able to spend our second day exploring Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but more on that in my next post.

  Q: Are there any places you were fearful of, but once you visited you were thankful you went? Are there any places you will not visit?

  

  | 22 Comments Tagged Israel, Masada National Park, National Park, Norwegian Cruise Line, The Dead Sea

• Norwegian Cruise Line

  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 9, 2023

  Duncan and I returned home from our 9 day Mediterranean cruise about a week and a half ago, and I am still experiencing the post vacation blues. Never in my life would I have imagined I would be a cruise girl, but we have already started looking at options for another one. This was my second cruise, and just like my last one everything on this ship was down to a science. Amazingly organized and I did little to no decision making other than what I wanted to eat each meal.

  Don’t get me wrong, I will forever enjoy being on my own schedule, planning everything myself, and getting off the beaten track – but sometimes it feels nice to let other people take the wheel.

  For those of you who don’t know, in December of 2022 (five months ago) I was advised I had a credit for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) from a cruise my dad had booked back in 2020. The 2020 cruise was cancelled, but no one knew about the credits until recently. I was also advised in order to receive the full credit I had to book a cruise by the end of December 2022 (the same month I found out.)

  I had about two weeks to choose a cruise and mentally digest what was happening.

  

  I managed to wrangle Duncan into this fiasco with me, and I was thankful he was interested in the same cruise destinations I was: Israel, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey. I had been wanting to see Turkey for years, and Israel also intrigued me. I was truthfully indifferent to Greece and Cyprus, but they were added bonus locations. I figured for someone with anxiety, the safety net of an organized group (a cruise) was a great way to first experience Israel and Turkey.

  This trip was fantastic, and the destinations were awe worthy, but this post is going to focus on the ship itself and how we entertained ourselves. My future posts will give respect to each destination we visited in full. The planning process for this cruise was fairly simple, I had a point of contact I worked with and he took care of all the logistics. Then a few weeks before we left I did an online check in with further instructions, and before I knew it we were off.

  

  Our flight left at 0600 on our day of departure, which is only slightly better than getting shocked by an electric fence. I slept maybe 45 minutes total the night before we left, which made for a very long 30+ hours of being awake before I made it to the bed on the cruise ship. I don’t sleep on planes, and our travel day was very long. The silver lining was that by the time I made it to sleep I was immediately on track with the local time. No jet lag.

  A win is a win.

  We arrived in Athens where handfuls of NCL staff herded us like cattle onto a bus, and drove us to the cruise port. We settled in easily, ate some dinner, and slept until 0900 the following morning. Our first day was an “at sea” day, which was perfect for acclimating to the time zone as well as resting after a long day of travel. This was also perfect for exploring the entirety of the ship. Our ship was moderate, with a 2400 passenger capacity it was easy to find pockets of solace aside from our stateroom.

  

  

  We started our first day eating breakfast at the buffet, the spot we would eat every meal on board for the remainder of the trip. It was quick, it was easy, and overall it was good. It took me a few days to settle into which foods sat well with me, but ultimately I found a way to ensure I felt my best the entire trip. My one main complaint on this ship was the water. It was foul. I’m talking sewer water slightly filtered foul. It tasted so bad I eventually stopped drinking it.

  I relied on watermelon and kiwi each morning to bring me back to life.

  The free coffee was bad too, so I went against my rule of not spending any extra money (what can I say, I’m cheap) and I splurged on three venti Starbucks coffees for the 9 days ($10 total.) I only drink a small cup each morning, and I always have to cut the coffee with hot water, so I was able to stretch the coffees over multiple days. A worthy investment for a guaranteed expulsion of the previous nights dinner, as well as a bit of anti inflammatory assistance for my swollen face each morning.

  

  After breakfast I went for a jog on the outdoor running track, which was a bit frustrating on day one. Too many people were using the track to stop and take photos which made it difficult to jog on. I managed my miles and calmed down with regard to gatekeeping the track the remainder of the trip. Later, Duncan tried to teach me chess on a large outdoor chess board, but if you asked me right now what each piece does I couldn’t tell you.

  The ship had endless entertainment options, from the pool deck with live music, to cigar lounges, to live shows. We spent most of our first day lounging, listening to live music, eating food, and getting excited for the days to come.

  

  

  

  Most of our days on the ship after our at sea day were spent eating quick meals at the buffet (there were also 4 complimentary restaurants, but neither of us wanted to sit down and wait), going to live performances in the theater after our daily excursions, lounging on the pool deck, walking laps on the promenade, and sleeping.

  Our room was small, but neither of us complained. I chose the cheapest option and other than the shower not fully draining, and the toilets proximity to the wall (Duncan is over 6 feet tall and had to sit sideways), it was perfect. I’m not one to care much about my accommodations. As long as they are safe, clean, and the bed is comfortable I am set.

  

  My main tips for anyone worried about being around too many people would be to choose a ship with a lower max capacity. Wash your hands AFTER you touch the buffet utensils to prevent germ spreading, and eat either right when the buffet opens, or close to when it closes. Duncan ended up getting a little bug towards the end of our trip and I guarantee it’s because he ate more foods from the buffet that required his hands to eat.

  It’s absolutely possible to eat at a buffet and stay healthy, but washing hands multiple times is a must as well as using utensils. I managed to get by without getting sick, even sleeping next to him. There were a few times we ate when the entire ship seemed to be eating, and it felt like a fish swimming upstream. I was content eating at the buffet, but if this isn’t your cup of tea you can dine at restaurants where they seat you.

  We also ate outside for each meal providing fresh air and less people.

  

  So how much did it all cost? I’m a sucker for the numbers, let’s break it down.

  The cost of this vacation was definitely higher than most of my travels when I sat down and did the calculations, but it was also nearly effortless. The cruise and airfare for two people was $4776, and that’s including port fees, mandatory tipping, travel insurance, and transfers to and from the airport. Divide that by two, $2388 for one person to pay for flights, all accommodations, all food, PLUS travel between four different counties.

  The additional expenses for this trip were the shore excursions. I normally wouldn’t spend extra for these, I would find local guides on my own, or just wander, but ultimately I wanted the security of booking through the cruise ship to ensure I didn’t get left behind. We booked six shore excursions costing an additional $1660 for two people. Most of these excursions were worth the cost, a few were not, but overall it was nice to have everything planned and not have to think twice.

  The shore excursion process was well organized each day, we would meet in the theatre and when our tour was called we would make our way to the gangway where our numbered bus was waiting. This was a wonderful experience with very little stress.

  

  $4776 for cruise/flight + $1660 for (optional) excursions put us at $6436 before we left Washington. $3218 per person to fly, see four countries, have all the guess work taken out, go on excursions, and so on, and so on, and food, and a bed, and entertainment…I also spent $272 (I’m not calculating this into any of these numbers, just making note of it) for myself while on the trip and that included $60 of tips for tour guides, a few souvenirs, and some food.

  BUT, if you remember what I said at the beginning of the post I had a credit. So this $6436 did not all come out of my own pocket. When it was all done and dusted I spent a total of $2617 for two. Split that in half and we each paid $1308 for a 9 day cruise around the Mediterranean. I would absolutely call that a win, and when it was all said and done I would have paid the full cost without a credit if I had to do it again. Absolutely worth it.

  Had I paid full price this would have been my most expensive vacation to date. I am typically one frugal traveler.

  

  Final thoughts: We traveled light because we wanted to. This meant no waiting for baggage claim and no worrying about lost luggage. We washed a few outfits in the shower (I brought liquid detergent) which worked surprisingly well. We did not buy any drink packages or specialty meals, we had plenty to eat with the free options. Entertainment was free, I did not leave extra tips (everything was included in mandatory pre tip payments), we took zinc, vitamin D, and magnesium daily to help prevent sickness, wifi was extra money and that felt icky to me (I did not pay for wifi, my package included 150 min for each of us and we rationed those like each minute was our last meal), and we both slept well in our small cave.

  For any future cruises I do I will likely go on them for vacation rather than for travel. Vacations are meant to be lazy, to move at slower paces and soak up the immediate surroundings. Travel is for fast paced, non stop exploring to see as much as possible. A cruise is different than traditional travel. There are comforts on a cruise that might rob you of experiences you might have if you’re on your own schedule. There is always a trade off.

  There were moments I felt myself wishing I had more time to explore certain areas, but I tend to feel that way regardless. I like to have control over my time and maximize what I see. Ultimately these types of adventures are always what you make of them, we had a blast, and I need to get better at living in the moment! Stay tuned for a week of travel, starting with a day at the Dead Sea and Masada National Park!

  Q: Have you been on a cruise? If yes where, if no would you?

  

  | 27 Comments Tagged Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, Vacation

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