Western Caribbean Cruise Vacation Review

At the beginning of May, CJM and I went on our third cruise, a Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. We've always cruised RC, but this was our first time on such a large ship. We left Sunday morning from Savannah, and arrived at Port Canaveral about 12:30 p.m. On our last cruise, we were the last people on the ship, and basically ran through the gate at 2:57 p.m. This time we hit it right in the middle of the busy time, but it really only took us an hour to get from our car to our cabin, which wasn't bad to me. It definitely helps to be loyal to a line, because our Crown & Anchor Society membership allowed us to get checked in faster in a special line versus waiting in line to our corresponding deck number.

Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas--The Boardwalk at Night

Oasis of the Seas--Central Park from inside

Going through cruise check-in is a lot like going through TSA at the airport, and then checking in on the other side. Once we got on the boat and checked in, we got a cocktail and started exploring. This ship is so huge, and there was so much to see. It started raining once we got through security, so we didn't get to explore the pool area much {it also rained every cruising day, so we really only spent any time on the top deck on the second day for a quick drink}.  We did try to make the most of the huge ship and all it's amenities by being sure to exercise each day we were at sea, eating at all the different dining options, and checking out all the bars.

Oasis of the Seas--Aqua Theater

Oasis of the Seas--Champagne Bar

Oasis of the Seas--American Icon Grill Main Dining Room

On the ship, we enjoyed the main dining room each night thanks to amazing food and waitstaff, visited the casino a few times, and loved all the shows and entertainment. We ended up doing a ton of things, but there were still activities on board that we missed even with our week long itinerary!

Haiti

Oasis of the Seas in Haiti

Haiti

Labadee, Haiti

Oasis of the Seas at Labadee, Haiti

Our first stop was at the private Royal Caribbean beach of Labadee in Haiti. It was absolutely amazing, and way better than CocoCay. It was a beautiful beach, with tons of different sections to lay out at. The water was beautiful, and we spent too much time swimming by the floating bar which ended up with me getting my first real sunburn!

Bamboo Beach Club in Jamaica 

Falmouth, Jamaica

Falmouth, Jamaica  

Bamboo Beach Club in Jamaica 

Our second stop was Falmouth, Jamaica. I had read a bunch of questionable reviews about this port, so I booked a shore excursion through the cruise line. We boarded a bus and drove over an hour to the Martha Brae river where we tubed with our group down crystal clear cool water for about 45 minutes. Then we were taken to the Bamboo Beach Club where we received a sampling of Jamaican delicacies. On the way back on the ship, we picked up  beef and cheese Jamaican patties which was delicious and so spicy!

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico  

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico

Oasis of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico

Catamaran in Cozumel, Mexico

The final stop on our trip was Cozumel, which we both absolutely loved. I had the best margarita of my entire life at the Thirsty Cougar Seaside Boozery {cucumber + jalepeno for the win!} and a delicious steak burrito at like 10 a.m. thanks to the time change. We explored some, and then walked {and walked, and walked...we clocked over 5 miles that day!} to a ocean side beach club to wait for our next excursion. I had booked a catamaran sail and snorkel via Viator that had great reviews. We got nervous because no one else showed up, but it turned out to be our lucky day! We were the only two on the tour, and go to snorkel privately for over an hour before cruising around the bay while eating homemade guac, margs, and delicious fruit and pico de gallo!

Oasis of the Seas Central Park at night 

Oasis of the Seas Ice Show

 

Oasis of the Seas Ice Show

Oasis of the Seas Ice Show

Overall, we had the absolute best time. I keep saying it was more fun than our honeymoon because we weren't as tired, and we really maxed out all of our options and experiences this time. We really love cruising, and I can't wait for our next one. We're thinking about doing Cuba next  year!

Best Maxi Dress for Vacay EVER

 Shop Buddy Love Panama Maxi c/o Mint Boutique 

We've had the absolute best time on our vacation last week! I can't wait to share all about it, but wanted to give myself a few days to recover and think about all the high points again before compiling it all into a blog post. Before I do, I wanted to share the BEST maxi dress for vacation EVER!!

This dress has been hanging at one of my favorite local boutiques Mint {hop on over to their website and Facebook page, and you may see a familiar face!} for a couple of weeks, and I knew it would be perfect for one of the dinners on our cruise. It's absolutely beautiful. The colors are gorgeous, it's kind of glam yet comfy, and it's cool and fun for summer.

Unfortunately, we had super rainy/windy weather on all of our "at sea" days, so my plan for an awesome shoot at the very front of the ship was foiled by like a million mile per hour winds. Hence the limited balcony location. But the weather doesn't stop this dress from popping and being absolute perfection. It'll definitely be one I live in all summer long.

A couple of my favorite pieces make an appearance in this look: my gold Lisi Lerch "Ginger" earrings {if you love the tassels, you'll love these! A lot lighter to wear, and a little less expensive. Wait to order during a 30% off sale!}, my new stack of Alex + Ani bangles that we began collecting on this trip to commemorate all of our stops, and my favorite dupe wedges that are super comfortable and super popular this year.

Check back soon for vacation recap, and be sure to follow Mint on Facebook & Instagram {@shopmintbdublin} for all the cutest spring and summer styles.

Vacation Planning

This post contains affiliate links. 

If you've been around me at all in the last month,  you've heard about one thing: our vacation! We booked another week-long cruise in May {read about our last adventure here}, and I cannot wait. I really really like cruising. For us, it just works. It's all-inclusiveness + the sheer amount of activities and entertainment make it a no-brainer, especially since not everyone can't be out in the sun as much as I can.

We're going on a Western Caribbean cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, and will be stopping in Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico. I like going in May because it's super warm, but not blisteringly hot just yet, and we shouldn't have to worry about any hurricanes either. If you've been on this boat or done this itinerary before, let me know some of your favorite can't miss spots or activities!

There's always a bunch of "what to pack" lists for cruises that are like, way too much stuff. I'm more concerned with the wardrobe for the week of course, so I threw together a quick list of my faves. 

1 & 2. Cute one pieces & shorts: Great for excursions and exploring your stops. No worrying about things becoming untied or slipping down when doing the various activities (Pink Ruffle Suit here) (Blue Off the Shoulder Suit here). I like pairing them with some cute shorts to create a cohesive look. Of course a cover up or caftan work as well, but sometimes with all the walking/climbing/etc., it's nice to have shorts.

I still love a good bikini for tanning, and usually find a great selection at Target. 

3. A Beach Bag: Mine is huge and monogrammed, but I saw this palm one at Belk this past weekend and loved the waterproof material as well as the exterior pockets! I use my beach bag to carry all my important stuff on and off the boat: meds, passport, wallet, etc. and then I reduce and put the beach towel in it when we are at our various destinations.  I use this in place of my traditional handbag and and camera bag for the week. 

4. Beach Towel Clips: It's windy on these giant ships. I've never brought the clips before, but I'm going to this time. I hate trying to lay out by the pool and the wind keeps whipping the towel into me the entire time. 

5. Fun Maxi Dress: This is the time to bring out all the fun summer wear, and a great palm print maxi like this one is perfect for the environment and the more formal nights. There's a ton of really cute palm/flamingo/lemon/fruit themed pieces out there this year, and vacation is the best time to wear something printed and fun!

6. Sunhat: No brainer, but it's hot and sunny whether you're on the boat or exploring the destination. These fun sunhats were all the rage last summer, and I've found these dupes for less than $20 with lots of fun sayings on them like "Alcohol You Later" and "Do Not Disturb." 

7. Sunnies: Same with the hat, you need sunglasses on a cruise. Why not get a fun colored pair like some pink tinted aviators?!

8. Clutch with Shoulder Strap: So I  gifted white monogrammed bags like these to my bridesmaids, and got one for myself with my new monogram too, and it turned out to be the most handy thing I had on the last cruise. It's the right size and weight to hold your cruise ship pass, wallet/money, lip gloss, and phone. It looks nice at dinners as a clutch, and is easy to carry throughout the ship without lugging around the whole giant beach bag. I just slip it inside the beach bag with my wallet and passport to get started, and then pull it out when needed throughout the week. 

Beat the Monday Blues, Plan a Cruise!

A beautiful Monday like today has me totally missing the beautiful blue skies and clear waters from our honeymoon cruise. We had such a blast on that trip, that I'm ready to take another so soon! One of my favorite things about cruising is learning more about the boat you're on and on the new "fancy" ones that have just begun sailing. Check out these two videos about some of the amazing new Royal Caribbean amenities aboard some of their newer ships. Who's ready to set sail?

Staycation with Crane & Canopy

It's officially summer, and vacation time is here...for some people. Others are planning a just as fabulous stay-cation, like myself! Having just come back from our honeymoon in May, we won't be planning another trip until later on in the year.

But I still plan on having plenty of fun, and luxury bedding company Crane & Canopy wants it to be the most relaxing staycation yet! I like to pick weekends where I have absolutely nothing going on, so that Christopher and I along with the pups can enjoy our little house and town together with no pressure. We enjoy cooking at home a lot, and one of my favorite things is making breakfast in bed on Sunday mornings! With beautiful bedding, it feels just like a stay at a bed and breakfast, but better because the dogs are there, too.

For something quick and easy, I'll whip up some french toast using pre-made cinnamon swirl bread from the grocery store. Mix together six eggs, a dash of milk and cinnamon for dredging the bread, then cook on a griddle for two minutes or so on each side. Serve with a side of bacon, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and enjoy a deliciously quick breakfast in bed on Crane & Canopy bedding like these:

I love the calming and cool shade of blue that the Noe Blue Nova Bedding 

features. The Nova duvet pairs a top sheet and duvet to make making the bed

a quick and easy task! 

I always have throw blankets on my bed and couch. They're the perfect way

to get comfortable when the evenings get chilly, or you just need a good

snuggle while watching TV. I love this beautiful cable knit 100% cotton

Crane & Canopy blanket. It's bright and summery, but warm enough for

wintertime, too!

A pop of color is always fun, and I think this coral trimmed scalloped sheet set would be an exciting summery compliment to the Noe Blue set above. 

What are you doing for your staycation this summer? Why not visit Crane & Canopy to see how you can make your time at home more luxurious! Check them out on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to learn more.