This new ride is located in the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre that had held the ‘Great Movie Ride.’ The old ride took you through the different movies and sets via tram like car ride right through the middle of the movie set.
*Spoiler Alert* The following is a description of this new ride. If you want to be surprised, stop here and go ride the ride. You won’t be disappointed!
Continue reading Disney – Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Ride
We had the privilege of touring the Norwegian Sky before it traveled to Cuba.
Norwegian Sky was built in 1999 and served as Sky until 2004 when it was overhauled and renamed Pride of Aloha. For four years she sailed the Hawaiian islands as a U.S.-flagged and crewed ship. When she reverted to her original name and was re-flagged to the Bahamas Norwegian wisely kept her beautiful Hawaiian themed decorations. A 2013 refurbishment and good maintenance has kept Sky looking good. Continue reading Norwegian Sky – Ship Tour
We recently got a chance to tour the newly renovated Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas. The main public areas have all been upgraded. Including the Perfect Storm Sports deck adding a Flowrider, Dueling Waterslides (Typhoon and Cyclone) and Adventure Dunes Putt Putt Golf course. Continue reading Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas – Ship Tour
(Blog by Keith and Sandra Merwin)
On Tuesday as the Safari Explorer transited from Lanai toward the island of Maui through the National Humpback Marine Sanctuary everyone was watching for humpback whales. While we did see humpback whales that will be the topic of another blog post. What else we found that day is our current subject. Continue reading Hawaii UnCruise – Ocean Cleanup Event
The Ohana at Walt Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort is a table service restaurant located on the second floor facing the Seven Seas Lagoon. All the food at Walt Disney World is expensive so is it worth while to splurge with table service? On our last visit (more here) we decided to celebrate a birthday with dinner at Ohana. We looked at several other restaurants but the menu and atmosphere interested us. We did make a reservation. None were available online for the dates we were on property so I called and talked to an agent. They found us a table and while the 8:30 p.m. time was later than we normally eat it worked out fine. Continue reading Walt Disney World – Ohana Dinner Feast Review
After leaving Molokai we sailed for the island of Lanai. The distance between the two islands is only about 20 miles, so this wasn’t a long transit. One of the very different things about cruising with Safari Explorer is the open door policy on the bridge. If you go to the bridge and the door is open then cruisers are welcome at go on the bridge and talk to the crew there, look at the charts to see where we are going and use the binoculars to scan for whales or other wildlife. If the door is closed, the crew needs to concentrate and you should come by again later. This is very different than other Cruise ships where the bridge is off limits at all times. We visited the bridge often and enjoyed visiting with the crew. Continue reading Hawaii UnCruise – Lanai
We love trying out different Disney Resorts. Staying on property is always fun and offers great benefits like free parking and Extra Magic Hours (Each day of the week, resort guests can enter a park one hour earlier or stay in a park up to two hours later than normal park operating hours.) As Florida Resident Annual Passholders we are often able to get special discounts on rooms. For this trip of three nights we chose the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Continue reading Walt Disney World – the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness
Should I get a passport book or card?See my previous post about when you need a Valid Passport.
In some cases, you an use a passport card instead of a book. The cost of a valid Passport Card versus the cost of a valid Passport Book makes looking at this option necessary.
It seems so confusing, but it is not. I will cover the Passport Card in a separate Post but in general, you need a Valid Passport if:
However, there is an Exemption if you are cruising from a U.S. Port and returning to the same U.S. Port. Other paperwork can be used instead. Continue reading When do I need a Passport?
(Blog by Sandra Merwin)
One of the best excursions UnCruise included was a night time snorkel with Manta Rays off the coast of Maui.
They provided full wet suites for this one because of the length of time we were going to be in the water and that the water was a little cooler after dark. After a light dinner our guide for the dive, Ian, came aboard and talked to us about Manta Rays. Manta Rays eat plankton, tiny little organisms floating in the ocean. This dive is done at night because lights are used to attract 
the plankton, which attracts the Manta Ray. The Manta Rays swim up and barrel roll with their mouth open to scoop up the plankton in order to eat. The Reef Manta Ray we saw are black and white with wing spans of 9 feet – 14 feet. Manta Rays are uniquely identified by the markings on the belly of the Ray. Very much like the Fluke coloration of a Humpback whale uniquely identifies a specific whale. In order to view the Manta Rays feeding, a surf board is outfitted with rope loops for each person to hold on to while they have snorkel gear and the surf board is pulled along by the guide.
While we were snorkeling the guide was able to identify 8 different Manta Rays by coloration. The largest Manta Ray is “Big Bertha” who has a wing span of 14 feet. Normally the guide says she does not barrel roll to feed. While we were there viewing Big Bertha did come out and barrel roll to feed for us. The guide saw about 2 – 3 other Manta Rays which did not display their coloration so they were not identified by name.
