Sun on our skin. Sand under our feet. And not a care in sight. Our escape to Secrets Maroma was exactly what we needed ~ equal parts romance, Riviera magic, and a steady supply of mimosas.
Arrival & First Impressions
From the moment we arrived at Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, it was clear this wasn’t going to be just another vacation ~ it was a full reset. The open-air lobby greeted us with ocean breezes and chilled champagne, and within minutes, the stress of everyday life melted away.
Set along one of Mexico’s most stunning stretches of coastline, Secrets Maroma feels secluded but not isolated. It’s close enough to Cancun and Playa del Carmen for day trips should you choose to do so, yet blissfully removed from the noise. The grounds are immaculate with winding pathways through lush greenery, bright hibiscus blooms, shallow pools, and that unmistakable mix of salt air and sunscreen.
The Resort Vibe
Secrets Maroma isn’t loud luxury ~ it sort of whispers to you. Every palm tree seems perfectly placed, every staff member genuinely happy to see you, and every corner feels designed for adults who just need a break from . . . well . . . everything!
That said, paradise doesn’t come completely without quirks. The Riviera Maya jungle air brings a certain “tropical glow” (better known as humidity) and the local mosquitoes clearly thought my calves were an all-you-can-eat buffet. A small price to pay for paradise, but next time I’m packing the heavy-duty bug spray.
Even with the occasional itch, it’s impossible not to unwind here. Whether you’re floating between the pools, lounging under a thatched palapa, or wandering back to your suite with a “just because” glass of bubbly and a snack from the Coco Cafe, it’s impossible not to slow down here. The resort’s adults-only energy creates an atmosphere that’s peaceful without being boring – think grown-up fun with a side of serenity. Secrets Maroma makes slowing down effortless.
Dining & Drinks
Let’s talk food and drink! Secrets Maroma shines with it’s dining and multiple bar areas. Seven gourmet restaurants mean you could stay a week and never repeat a meal.
From Italian nights at Portofino to teppanyaki-style excitement at Himitsu, every dinner felt like its own mini adventure. The service was warm, the flavors bold, and the presentations picture-worthy without trying too hard.
It’s worth noting that the Hyatt Secrets brandfeatures similar restaurant concepts across their properties so if you’ve dined at one Secrets, you’ll find a few familiar names and menus here too. The consistency is actually comforting, knowing you’re guaranteed a great meal, wherever you land.
One quick heads-up: men are required to wear long pants for dinner at most indoor restaurants (much to the chagrin of my husband, who believes vacation attire should always only include shorts). Consider this your friendly reminder to pack a pair (or two) so you don’t end up dining al fresco every night by default.
Breakfast turned into our favorite ritual. The buffet is full of wonderful options ~ from freshly made crepes drizzled with Nutella, strawberries, and bananas (finished with a sinful splash of condensed milk) to omelets crafted right in front of you with your pick of cheeses, veggies, and meats. It’s the kind of spread that makes you linger a little longer, pretending to “just grab one more bite and simply indulge in the blissful realization that there’s no agenda waiting after that second mimosa.
And while the cocktails and wine get plenty of love here, our beverages of choice were the mocktail versions ~ bright, tropical, and just as refreshing without the buzz. Whether it was a frosty piña colada sans rum or a mango mojito minus the kick, each sip still felt like vacation in a glass.
Sunny Days in Paradise
Days at Secrets Maroma tend to blend together in the best possible way. Mornings could start with yoga by the sea, followed by long dips in the turquoise water or long drawn out breakfasts followed by an ocean front cabana with bar service and afternoon bites delivered to you. If the pool is your scene, it could sometimes be lively – sometimes including pool workouts (water bike anyone?) – but they never seemed crowded. Whether you join the fun at the swim-up bar or drift off to sleep in a quiet cabana with the sound of waves as your soundtrack.
The beach deserves its own applause: powder-soft white sand and clear water. Add in beachside service that somehow appears exactly when you’re thinking “I could use another drink” at your beach chairs or if you indulged yourself and rented one of those amazing beachfront cabanas and you’ve got paradise, perfected.
Then there were the storms ~ dramatic, cinematic, and absolutely spectacular. Thunder that rolled like a drumline and lightning that lit up the whole sky. Instead of spoiling the day, it gave us an excuse for an afternoon nap, curled up, listening to the rain, with nowhere to be and no reason to move. Honestly? It was kind of perfect
Evenings to Remember
When the sun sets, Secrets Maroma turns up the romance. Candlelit dinners on the beach, live music by the terrace, and the kind of tropical air that makes everything feel cinematic. We indulged in multiple romantic dinners – we were celebrating our anniversary after all so why not! One on the beach in those beautiful ocean front cabanas and one by the pool – both private, quiet, and just what we had hoped they would be. Every evening like a scene worth remembering.
Why We’d Go Back (and You Should Too)
Secrets Maroma delivers something rare – luxury that doesn’t feel pretentious, service that feels effortless, and effortless beauty. It’s for couples who crave connection, friends celebrating freedom, or anyone who believes vacations should be equal parts pampering and play.
It wasn’t flawless ~ the jungle has its quirks, and Mother Nature has her moods ~ but that’s what made it real. Because sometimes, the best part of travel isn’t chasing perfection. It’s leaning into the moments that make the story worth telling.
As we boarded our flight home, one thing was clear: the secret is out ~ Secrets Maroma is pure, slightly humid, champagne-soaked magic.
Ready to Plan Your Own Secrets Escape?
Let RaD Travel Adventures handle the details so all you have to do is pack your swimsuit, grab your favorite travel buddy, and let the mimosas flow.
Until next time ~ bright days, calm seas, and adventures always on the horizon.
Champagne First, Questions Later: Boarding the Valiant Lady
So, we finally did it! We took the plunge and sailed with Virgin Voyages. As first-timers (aka “Virgins” in cruise lingo), we were more than a little curious about all the buzz surrounding this adults-only cruise line that promises to flip traditional cruising on its head. No buffets, no kids, no tuxedos ~ just laid-back luxury, creative dining, and a “come as you are” vibe that feels part rock concert, part resort getaway. From champagne boarding to late-night theme parties, our week aboard the Valiant Lady was filled with highs, surprises, and a few “well, that’s different” moments.
The Virgin vibe is relaxed, modern, and focused on giving you the freedom to enjoy the voyage in your own way. This vibe may not be for everyone ~ some will love the unique take on cruising, while others may be more comfortable with the classic cruise experience. Here’s our honest, unfiltered take on the Virgin experience ~ the good, the quirky, and everything in between.
Boarding Like a Rockstar (Because . . . Well . . . We Did)
Virgin offers the classic cabin choices you’d expect ~ inside, oceanview, and balcony ~ but where things really get fun is with their Rockstar and Mega Rockstar Suites. These aren’t just bigger rooms; they come loaded with perks that can completely change how you experience your cruise on Virgin.
For our sailing, we wanted to check out being a Rockstar! And it definitely set the tone from the very start. Early and priority boarding meant we skipped the long waits and got a head start on the adventure. By 12:30 we were checked in, fitted with our signature Virgin “bracelets,” and whisked away to a private Rockstar lounge stocked with drinks and snacks. From there, it was a relaxed countdown until the official boarding at 1:30, giving us a sneak peek into what life as a Rockstar Sailor feels like.
Boarding was a breeze ~ definitely NOT your typical “stand in line, get a keycard, shuffle onboard” kind of deal. We were greeted by two members of the Happenings Cast (Virgin’s high-energy crew who keep the vibe alive all voyage long) and immediately handed flutes of champagne at the chic Sip Lounge. Not a bad way to kick things off.
From there, we met our Rockstar Agent, basically our personal concierge for the week before heading straight to our suite (yes, it was already ready when we boarded!). We had booked the Seriously Suite, and seriously… it delivered complete with a fully stocked bar, a record player for old-school vinyl vibes, a bathroom with a cheeky peek-a-boo shower, and out on the balcony, Virgin’s signature red hammock swaying in the sea breeze. The Rockstar life was definitely my cup of tea! Rockstar life? Achieved!
Entertainment ~ Virgin Style
Virgin doesn’t do the whole “one cruise director with a mic and a clipboard” thing. Instead, they’ve got the Happenings Cast ~ a crew of 12 charismatic hosts who bring personality and energy to everything onboard. Think trivia, fitness classes, bar crawls, dance parties, and even the occasional spontaneous conga line. The result? The ship feels alive all day (and night) without ever feeling forced.
We dove right into the fun and said yes to just about everything. Each event had its own vibe – unique theme, color scheme, and soundtrack – and every one of them delivered its own kind of magic. Some of our highlights:
VHS Class – Pure retro workout – neon wear optional but adds that extra bit of fun!
Zumba – Because we LOVE our Zumba (and need to work off all the yum we ate!).
The Grog Walk – Virgin’s cheeky version of a bar crawl; with get to know you games & special drinks at each stop.
Tentacle Tour – A behind-the-scenes peek at Scarlet Night by special invitation only.
Tattoo Parlor – Yes, you can actually get inked at sea and we totally did!
Club Caliente – Latin Dance night with a learn-how class before the dance club party!
We Fancy – Glam-night chic with gold theme.
PJ Party – Pajamas encouraged and sleep is optional. We saw everything from furry onesies to naughty nighties!
Bungee Class – Feel like Tigger in workout form.
Every night felt like its own mini festival and no two evenings felt the same; and that’s EXACTLY the point. AND because you do you, you can participate or not. Rather Netflix and Chill? 😉 You can do that too!
After dancing, laughing, and Grog-walking our way across the ship, one thing became crystal clear: Virgin knows how to keep the energy high. But let’s be honest . . . even rockstars need to refuel.
Dining the Virgin Way: No Buffets, No Rules, All Flavor
A five-night sailing wasn’t nearly enough time to taste our way through all six of Virgin’s signature restaurants onboard Valiant Lady but believe me, we gave it out best shot! Each venue has its own personality, menu style, and vibe AND the best part is every single one is included – no extra dining package costs needed.
We kicked things off at Razzle Dazzle on night one ~ bold, colorful and playful as the name suggests. More known as the vegetarian dining spot, they do have a few “naughty” options for us carnivores. We brunched here as well and it did NOT miss! My favorite items for brunch are the Acai Bowl and the Candied Bacon. Yes, you heard that right ~ that candied bacon was AHHH-MAZING!!
Next up was The Wake, one of the more elegant restaurants onboard. Picture sweeping views of the ship’s wake (hence the name) and a menu build for surf-and-turf lovers. Our table of four splurged on The Grand Plateau (for a small surcharge) – a towering seafood display stacked with lobster tail, oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, and snow crab claws. Worth. . . Every . . . Bite. . .
We also made our rounds to Extra Virgin (Italian done right), Pink Agave (modern Mexican that’s equal parts chic and flavorful) and The Test Kitchen (part dining, part culinary experiment). the Test Kitchen is highly recommended and the experience was well worth the time spent! Each dish was precisely prepared and presented in spectacular fashion. Even the palette cleanser drink was tasty!
Every meal onboard felt like a new restaurant discovery rather than a cruise buffet shuffle. Virgin took dining at sea and turned it into a unique experience ~ no trays, no lines, just great food and good vibes.
ALLL about that Rockstar Life
Sure the Rockstar and Mega Rockstar suites come with a higher price tag than the standard inside, oceanview, and balcony room options ~ but honestly, they earn their name! The extras make you feel like you’re living your best “celebrity-at-sea” life.
So what’s included? In short – A LOT! Both suite types come loaded with exclusive perks: early boarding, priority luggage delivery, access to private lounges (Richard’s Rooftop!), and elevated onboard experiences that regular sailors just don’t get. Inside the suites, the upgrades continue: think king-sized beds, a spacious marble bathroom (complete with gold-embossed Rockstar robes), and a Bluetooth record player. Totally cool!
Rockstars also get a head start on dining reservations – giving you the extra jump needed to get the dining time at the restaurants you want AND the BONUS? If your friends didn’t go Rockstar, you can still book dining for them too. (It’s giving hero energy.) You’ll also enjoy priority spa bookings and event access. As for the bar? Regular Rockstars get one full setup, but Mega Rockstars go all in—with unlimited bar refills and a daily bar tab included. Because apparently, moderation is optional when you’re sailing like a VIP.
Full Overview – Likes, Dislikes, Meh
Champagne Toast Worthy:
The overall come as you are Vibe – you do you!
Happenings Cast & All Crew onboard – exceptional! High energy, friendly, and all of them go above and beyond!
Inclusions which included the gratuities, all your dining locations, wifi and more!
High-quality food and creative presentation
Specialty restaurants all included at no additional cost
Hammocks on every balcony ~ Addictive and Spectacular
Adults-only atmosphere
Fitness facility and classes – so many options to keep you moving
Wristband for stateroom access and all onboard purchases
Fun, energetic entertainment and events – each with its own unique feel
Water Carafes in the stateroom with still and/or sparkling water, refilled daily and water refill stations for you refillable water bottles
Bar Tab not Beverage Pkgs – allows each sailor to drink what they like without having to purchase the same pkg as their roomie
Rockstar Status! Yes, we paid extra to get it but having it was EPIC!
Not quite our Cup of Tea:
Public event areas and dance venues felt a bit small and got crowded very quickly turning it into a mosh pit feel rather than a dance floor
Music playing 24/7 with few quiet spaces – ok for some people but we appreciate having some quieter spaces to relax including the Board Game area making it not such a great spot to play board games
Paper straws – Booo! Appreciate the effort for the environment but it makes the drinks taste like paper
Bar Tab – use it or lose it so if you drink less than expected you don’t get it back. So the Bar Tab is good & bad all in one. 😉
So that’s it for us! If you want another take on the same cruise, check out the review written by my friend Jill and a fellow blogger. Journeys By Jill
Until next time ~ may your days be bright, your seas calm, and your next adventure just around the corner!
Another adventure in the books. This time? An all inclusive resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We reserved 8 nights at Hyatt’s Secrets The Tides adults only all inclusive in Punta Cana, D.R., that opened in January 2024. While we don’t drink much alcohol (my husband not at all), we do appreciate a good mocktail (pina colada or maybe a mango daquiri) and multiple restaurant options included in our stay.
Upon arrival in this balmy tropical paradise, we were greeted with icy cold towels for hands and face refreshment, a glass of pink champagne and choruses of “welcome home” from the staff then we were ushered into the Preferred Check-In lounge. We happen to be members of the Unlimited Vacation Club with Hyatt resorts and as such, based on our level of membership, are allotted free room upgrades when available. The room we booked was a Preferred Tropical View King Suite but after sitting with the staff at check-in we were upgraded to a Preferred Master Ocean Front King Suite – a fantastic upgrade and a nice perk of being members.
Secrets Preferred rooms at most resorts come with a Butler who is there to help with anything you might need – restaurant reservations, daily event schedules, access to special items, to address any concerns with your rooms and more. For anyone who says they never use their butler, I say they just need to open their minds to allow them to help because ours? was spectacular with all things we needed and in adding extras we didn’t need but were appreciated. Just a few of the images of entry and walk to our room.
Our butler was Andreina – she gave us an overview walk through the resort, pointing out restaurant locations, pools, spa, gym and escorted us to our room. Our suite had 1.5 baths – the master bath was massive! – dining, kitchen, living area, master bedroom and master bath plus a double wide balcony. The mini fridge is stocked with water, soda and beer and next to the mini fridge is a wine cooler with a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine. We also were able to express our request to remove the beer since we don’t drink it and add more water and juice instead.
~Beaches~
An ocean beach is my happy place, my place of zen, my place of solace and joy, and this beach was no exception. Slightly reclined, blended icy drink in hand (thank you Allberly!), ocean breeze and sunshine – perfection! Also, if you of a mind to walk down the beach about 5 minutes – you can get a massage on the beach at Gundula’s Tropical Treasure. Pricing is so reasonable you could get a 60 minute massage every day and not break the bank and they do a fantastic job!
~Resort Entertainment ~
There were nightly shows if you were in the mood to go – they tended to be a bit too late for our taste but we did go to a couple of them. Show nights were Madonna night, Queen Tribute, the Rock Show, a Dominican Show, the Silent Party (headphones with 3 music types to play while everyone dances around to whichever music they hear in their headphones), and a Neon Beach Party. The Neon Beach Party was fun – giant panda, lit up stilted guy and more.
Then the entertainment staff that put together multiple opportunities to create and socialize. One day there was cigar rolling then hat painting, candle making and even sunset painting on the beach. I can’t say we were the best artists but we had a great time engaging in the activities together and with others.
~ Anniversary Celebration ~
For our anniversary, our butler arranged a romantic dinner on the beach. The table was set up on the beach under teepee poles wrapped with fairy lights and soft music melded with ocean waves washing over the sand. While savoring our meal, we were able to watch the moon rise slowly above the horizon. Never have I ever seen the moon rise like this, so beautiful!
To top off the evening, we found our butler had taken the time to decorate our room, provide a small cake, chocolate covered strawberries (dusted in edible gold) and a chilled bottle of champagne.
~ Los Restaurantesy La Comida ~
The Secrets brand has many of the same restaurants across their the brands but not all chefs within are created equal. We tried to hit them all in the week we were there though but we missed :
Portofino – Italian Cuisine. We never made it to this one as they required men to wear pants to sit inside and while you could wear shorts and sit outside, my hubby must have sweet blood as every possible mosquito will find him making outside dining not our favorite.
Barefoot Grill – Beachside Restaurant and Grill: This one ended up just being a cart beachside as they used the location during the lunchtime for Oceana Grill. We did not technically eat here but did try the burgers they would serve via Seaside Grill.
Oceana – Seafood and more: Oceana was also open for breakfast !hello Eggs Benedict! (for Preferred Guests) and lunch as well as dinner. We did lunch here when we didn’t feel like going to the buffet. Angus Beef Burger. Eh not great – lettuce and toppings are usually a bit wonky at these resorts, tomatoes were a bit limp, no relish, and hamburger undercooked the first time (I don’t like my cow still mooing) and sent it back and the next one was a bit dry so *shrug* what can you do? Sometimes it’s just not what you are used to and it doesn’t quite meet expectations.
El Patio – Mexican Dishes: We started with the Chipotle Chicken Empanada and for our main we ordered the Tacos Al Pastor and the Green Chicken Enchilada. The Tacos? SOOO good! The Enchilada was fairly bland but it was ok – just didn’t have the flavor palette I was expecting.
Seaside Grill – This was a sit outside but undercover meal. We ordered the steak – it was average and regardless we ate fairly quickly as my husband attracts mosquitoes like a bee to a flower.
Meraki – Mediterranean Cuisine: Meraki was one of our favorite restaurants. We ordered the Gyoza as an appetizer, and the Shrimp Pad Thai and Beef & Mushroom Yakisoba for main. The dishes had plenty of sauce and a whole lot of amazing flavor – we ended up going here twice.
Teppanyaki Table – inside Meraki (with dinner “show”): Personally I was a little disappointed with the “show” here as I’ve had better. There was a little bit of metal spatula play – but otherwise, not much to say here. The food prep was delayed and confusing. The past experiences we have had we selected the protein we wanted, and it was served alongside the fried rice. This time the protein was served by itself with the rice as an afterthought – it wasn’t served up until after we had already eaten most of our protein. The food was just ok and sadly didn’t live up to dinner and entertainment as you normally might see at a Teppanyaki dinner service.
Tierra – South American Fusion: Appetizer Ecudorian Ceviche & Argentine Proboleta (literally a bowl full of melted cheese). Mains were Peruvian Lomo Saltado and Rice & Chicken Peruvian Style – Great flavors – tender meats – service was a little slow but I think we had a new to waitering waiter. I didn’t take a lot of “foodie” pics but I did grab some of the pretty plates here.
Market Cafe – International Buffet: Buffet was quite good with loads of options for breakfast, lunch or dinner. One of the better buffets we’ve had in our travels.
AND in addition to actual restaurants, there was the Coco Cafe for a quick bite or coffee and Desires Sports Bar with some basic “bar” fare – then there are the “just drinks” Bars – Preferred Club Lounge Bar, Rendezvous Lobby Bar, Showtime Theatre Bar, Preferred Club Pool Bar, Sugar Reef Pool Bar and the Manatees Swim Up Bar. Lots of options for those drinks! Getting to know your bartender – whether at the bar (Israel) or on the beach (Allberly) – is always a good idea. 🙂
~Everything Else~
Well I’ve covered la comida, la playa, el dormitorio y el entretenimiento. What’s left – Service? Gym? Excursions? Service was great in most regards – with the understanding that a lot of the staff was new and still learning the ropes. The gym was actually pretty nice with as much as you might need for a that quick workout while vacationing. As for excursions, we worked with the Amstar staff at the resort to book an off-site excursion to Monkeyland. It was a nice enough excursion – the monkeys were soooo cute (pics below) and the little tour on how coffee is made with a tasting was good (actually I really liked the coffee and they don’t do creamer or leche, only azucar) but then it came down to the “sell”. They had products there for sale to finish off the day – coffee beans, coconut oils, etc – which was fine other than it not being quite how I would have chosen to end my tour. But… the MONKEYS!!!
To wrap up, great all inclusive adults only resort – smallish in size, beautiful grounds and rooms, a multitude of restaurant options and good service. Final photo dump for some of my favorite views.
We were very much looking forward to all things Belgium (especially the chocolate!) – and while we didn’t go to the City of Brussels, we did go to Zeebrugge (Bruges) which is the port for this particular cruise itinerary. While we pulled into port at 9:00am, we had some time prior to the excursion we booked via Norwegian called Romantic Bruges scheduled for 12:45 so a leisurely breakfast onboard was a lovely way to start our morning.
Bruges is often called ‘Die Scone” or ‘the beautiful’ as well as being referred to as the Venice of the North due to its many canals and was recently granted UNESCO World Heritage status.
Our tour included just under 5 hours of a walking and exploration through this wonderful medieval town. I am always in awe of architecture that has withstood time – the US just doesn’t have the same architectural history and so seeing these buildings with such intricacies is a treat. It was as if we stepped back in time, walking through the narrow streets, viewing the ancient buildings, tree-lined canals and gabled facades.
We made our way through the town to Burg Square, Bruges’ central plaza containing a myriad of neo-classical buildings, a gothic town hall and a courthouse that dates back to the 1700s. Each building in the square had its own architectural structure –
There is also horse drawn carriage that takes you on a tour of the area which would have been a wonderful way to tour this older town and, though we missed that opportunity ourselves, I would highly recommend checking it out.
The Belfry Tower is an imposing 13th century belfry overlooking Market Square. Its bells—now a 47-bell carillon—have been a feature of the city for centuries.
The Chapel (Basilica) of the Holy Blood was originally built in Romanesque style though the upper chapel was transformed in Gothic Style at the end of the 15th century and again in 1823. Only the curved arches giving access to the side chapel of the Holy Cross remain from the original Romanesque chapel. The exterior of the basilica is decorated with gilded bronze statues and medallions. These statues represent Archduchess Isabelle of Burgundy, Mary of Burgundy, Thierry of Alsace, and Philip of Alsace.
The figures featured in the medallions represent Archdukes of Austria Albert VII and Maximilian III, Margaret of York, and Sibylla of Anjou. The latter was the wife of Thierry of Alsace.
So many more architectural specific buildings: Provestry of St. Donatian – a baroque building constructed between 1665 and 1666 which are standard during the Counter-Reformation period; Old Civil Registry – a Renaissance architecture completed in 1537; the Vrije – Manor of the Castellany – a neo-classical 18th century style building; Bruges City Hall – Gothic building constructed between 1376 & 1421 when Bruges was part of the Burgundian Netherlands.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the square –
After exploring the town square, we embarked on 30-minute canal tour by small boat. Traveling the serene waterways of this romantic and historical city we were able to see so much more of the town by the waterways. It was a nice leisurely way to view the town – with a unique perspective. I may link to a video of that at a later date.
Our “tour” ended by walking over the ‘Lake of Love’ via small bridge. Unfortunately, it was very crowded which made photos a bit more difficult to get. Time for a photo dump.
Bruges is full of lace and chocolate shops, you’ll certainly find the perfect souvenir as you explore the area on your own. One thing I noticed, even in the areas where there were quite a few of us tourists, it was quiet in this city. Strolling the narrow streets to explore, noshing on the amazing waffles made with crunchy pearl sugar and inhaling the scents of all chocolate shops (more chocolate shops than Seattle has Starbucks!) and trying to narrow down which ones to bring home! Pur Chocolat was our choice for decadent treats to take back to friends back home – dark chocolate melt in your mouth truffle dusted with cocoa powder. Heavenly.
With that – for now – though I might update more at a later date as this was one of my favorite ports, I bid you adieu from Bruges, Belgium!
We made it! Flight from Seattle to London was uneventful – no real turbulence which is awesome since I tend to be just a bit of a nervous flier. So hello and good morning London!
cheerio! I actually never once heard anyone say this in London or really any of the phrases I for some reason associate with London – which honestly was a bit disappointing.
Upon landing in London, we had prearranged a driver with Twelve Transfer who was scheduled to swoop us up and then take us on a tour of the highlights of London, with time for photos where possible, then drop us at our hotel – London Bridge, London Tower, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben as well as potentially London Eye and/or The Shard view. Unfortunately, due to our later arrival and the scheduled 2024 Champions League final international soccer match happening – this all added up to drive-by touring rather than leisurely stopping to view.
Fun fact? We likely got the one driver in London who was not actually FROM London, and in fact, did not seem to be much a fan OF London. Our driver, Petar, was originally from Serbia, then moved to Venezuela where he learned Spanish, then resettled in London at his wife’s request. He gave us an ok drive with some basic facts as we went though and he tried to get us some photo stops but with so many streets closed off for the game and extra crowds in town, we ended up with a lot more driving video than actual photos. We did a drive on Tower Bridge, drive by of the Tower of London and saw The Shard from afar. To our driver’s credit, he tried but what we essentially paid for at this point was just airport pickup and drop off at our hotel, St. Ermins.
St Ermins looked lovely from the outside, especially with all the lights once it was darker – our room was small and overlooked the rooftop next door – not a super amazing view for sure. We rested up a bit, hit the cocktail hour for a glass of champagne then set out to try and see the sights we couldn’t see on our drive. St. Ermins was only a few blocks from Buckingham Palace as well as other sightseeing locations.
First stop was Buckingham Palace – we were after hours so the gates were closed and I was a bit underwhelmed – not sure what I expected. Perhaps I was holding images of the Royal Guard in mind (which were not there as gates were closed) or perhaps it was smaller and less grand than I anticipated but regardless, the gardens and grounds were lovely, the gilded gates and the “palace’ were stately.
After some meandering there, we started to our next wandering sightseeing walking along The Mall and going through St. James Park. Of course, we saw the iconic red telephone booths scattered about as we did our sightseeing. Westminster Parliament and Big Ben area was teeming with people and it was difficult to get a full photo without the extras. We ended up at the bridge across the Thames, where we saw The London Eye and Westminster Bridge from the Westminster side. After a long day of travel and walking we started back to the hotel.
Of course, we HAD to have fish & chips while we were there because, well, London! So we found this pub down a little street, St. Stephens Tavern, that offered the pub fare and indulged – or well *I* did. My husband isn’t quite so keen on cooked fish and prefers his raw. That said, he did try my lovely battered fish and actually quite enjoyed them so proof that, when done right, it can change your mind.
Time to sleep for our early-ish call in the morning to hop the bus to the Port for our Cruise!
Lush green forests and sun-kissed beaches, monumental glaciers and breathtaking vistas, bustling metropolises and warm, inviting faces – these are just a taste of the beautiful wonders that await your discovery. With overnights in Tokyo, Doha and Seoul, cruising on Regent offers more time ashore to feel and taste the incredible cuisines and overall atmosphere of these ever-evolving cultural centers.
Adventure calls from wildlands and icy shores, be it the towering spruce trees in Tongass National Forest and the baobabs of Madagascar or the pristine coasts of Antarctica and Norway’s mighty fjords. The forms of escape that can be found are as varied as relaxing on the beach in the Seychelles is from a dip in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Soak in your destination on any of the 120-plus in-port overnights, returning to the comfort of your Unrivaled Space at Sea™ to prepare for another magical day abroad. Don’t compromise on your next vacation. ~ find your perfect itinerary and reserve your suite aboard an ultra-luxury cruise with the all-inclusive value.
Each Oceania Cruises voyage is an invitation to discover your next travel story and reignite your passions. Experience faraway places that you have always dreamed of. Encounter new ways of looking at the world and travel to the far corners of the globe. Savor your experience with imaginative insider tours that immerse you in the heart of the destination’s culinary and cultural traditions.
Thousands of reasons – one passion. There are as many reasons to travel as there are travelers in this world. It’s your turn to embrace your passion for travel with Oceania Cruises.
Velkommin – Góðan dag! Did you know that the Icelandic language is the closest of the Northern Germanic languages to Old Norse, and it is possible for Icelandic speakers to read the Old Norse sagas in the original without too much difficulty. So in other words – the language of the Vikings. Cool, right?
With a new adventure on the horizon were we excited?! Yes!!
With a new adventure on the horizon, we were excited to get to traveling! Our starting destination was London, England so of course, we had to get across the pond first. While en route to the airport via Eastside Towncar service for our 2:30pm flight, we got an email about a flight delay so extra time at the airport was in the cards for the afternoon ~ having access to the Delta Sky Club Lounge definitely helped ease any slight irritation we might have had. With a comfortable place to sit, a glass of champagne and some decent grub (Ivor’s Clam Chowder! Yum!), we settled in for the now 6:10pm take off. Skal!
First step in our adventure was trying out “Upper Class” on Virgin Air which I booked specifically for lie flat seats hoping to negate some of the time zone jet lag. While the flight wasn’t crazy long, just over 8 hours, indulging in a flight with lay flat seats for red-eye flight is worth the price.
When I booked it, I was unaware of the vast difference between the plane layouts with upper class seating. Guess I should have done a bit more research before booking. The 787-9 Virgin plane we had booked had an odd seat layout in upper class – it was a 1-1-1 with the center seats facing one direction and thus sharing the aisle with one row and the third row had its own aisle. The “window” seats all actually faced away from the window which was the first odd item and the seats themselves, once I settled into them, felt oddly narrow. Even so, the seats were comfortable enough, the pull-out screen was adequate and on an adjustable arm, and the table was sufficient. Virgin’s “goodie” bag was made of black recyclable kraft paper and was filed with “sustainable treats”. #LiveFromVirgin The sustainable treats included the basics in an amenity bag – a bamboo handled toothbrush, earplugs, Virgin Atlantic wood pen, a mini toothpaste, mini Ren hand lotion and lip balm, black socks and an eye mask. There were a pair of over the ear headphones in the side pocket of the seat – the good ones Bose-esque. As we settled in, the attendants came around offering “pajamas” as well – gray long sleeve tees and purple cotton bottoms. Oddly enough, I really like these and still use them to lounge around at home.
Drinks were plentiful, the food was good and the service from the flight attendants was wonderful. The salt and pepper shakers were little gold airplanes (so cute! and available to keep if you chose to do so). AND we got a Cano water – ever had a Cano water? This was a first for me too. 🙂
There was an odd lack of storage in the seats – behind the seat itself is where the bedding was stored, there was a small side pouch for a tablet or magazine and very small rectangular area big enough for a bottle of water but was very awkward to reach as it was essentially behind the seat. While I don’t have a massive amount of experience with first/business class as yet, the one I had been on prior was much more traveler friendly.
Time to sleep! I had to watch other people on how to get the seat to lie flat – it was obvious some of them had done it before – and it was definitely a learning curve. These seats did not have the standard push button to allow for recline and lay flat. These seats were either upright or you were required to put away the table and video screen, stand up completely, then pull the back of the seat over the seat to make it flat. Not the quickest or easiest way to get into that position and I wasn’t a huge fan but the bed was comfortable enough and I managed to get a bit of sleep at least. With the time zone changes, our arrival in London would be like 3:30am but 11:30am London time so sleep would be needed if we were going to have any energy for sightseeing before bedtime!
The flight attendant had already conferred as to whether I wanted to be woken for breakfast or just let to sleep (for food? yes please wake me!) – and I settled in as best I could for at least a little sleep before breakfast and arriving in London.
Sometimes we just need to get away from the day to day and do a whole lot of absolutely nothing. We did just that on our latest adventure in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The plan? Indulge in the all inclusive resort life for 7 nights of relaxation.
~ Journey of a Thousand Miles ~
Waking up early is usually pleasant for me but when you have a gorgeous resort to get to? I do it with a smile! Since we were only staying for a week, we kept our packing to a minimum; just carry on bags. Our car service arrived promptly at 6:00am to whisk us away to the airport – we use the same service every time we travel and they are the BEST! Shout out to Eastside Towncar & Limo – always on time, immaculate vehicles and friendly service.
We enjoy boujie style travel – we like to fly Business or First Class, prefer car service pickup and drop off at airport, and just generally enjoy the niceties of traveling. Once we started flying via business or first class, traveling coach was not an option. The cramped seats, crawling over people to get to the restroom, any sort of recline by the person in front puts them in your lap. . . no thank you. Bonus? Being able to hang out in the airport lounges. So, for me, it’s almost a no brainer. This trip was a fairly short flight – Seattle to Cancun airport direct. and as soon as we sat down on the plane, I felt myself start to relax and let go of the stress of the daily grind – just breathe it in – 7 days of ahhhhhh……
Flight was uneventful – watched a couple of movies, had some grub and then we were in Cancun. Unfortunately, checking through security was quite an event with a long line of us and with the agents constantly leaving their desk to attend to other matters making the wait to get through even longer. Definitely could use some work with efficiency there. The Cancun airport also requires use of the “avoid eye contact” technique – to get from the airplane to the location of your transportation for pick up is through an area full of sales tactics for transport and excursions. If you don’t know how to say no to these, watch out! After squeezing our way through this, we arrived outside to the sign for our pre-arranged private transportation – a very nice luxury SUV with a friendly driver.
~Impressions Moxche & Secrets Moxche~
There is nothing quite like being greeted with a cool cloth for the face, a glass of champagne and the words “Welcome Home” as you step out of your ride from the airport. Let the relaxation begin! Impressions Moxche and Secrets Moxche and part of the same resort but if you book into the Impressions suites, it includes access to exclusive restaurants, pool areas and other Impressions only benefits. Impressions also has its own check in area where we met with one of our butlers, Zulda, who showed us to our room – our other butler, Nuftali (or “Netflix”as he told us to call him) was the “daytime” butler.
We booked into a Signature Suite Tropical View King on the Impressions side and were automatically upgraded one level to a King Suite with swim out, Room 1114. Zulda (or “Zelda”) took us on the tour of the Impressions side of the resort and helped us book dinner reservations, set up our romantic dinner for our anniversary and filled us in on entertainment happenings. When all this was done, we ended up for dinner at Seaside, one of the Impressions specific dining areas for a wonderful dinner and catching the second half of a Cacao Ceremony.
~ Signature Swim Out Suite ~
This Signature Suite Swim Out was very nice, the swim out pool fairly private (tho as we were to discover accidentally one morning post shower – the cleaning crew does show up and has quite the view if you don’t shut those shades…), and was more than enough for what we wanted. Our in room bar was stocked with water, juice, rum and wine.
Moxche has shows in the theater every night – some more engaging than others and the theater reserves a section for Impressions members with it’s own bar service (and popcorn). The show that night was the Cirque Deliria – akin to the Cirque de Soleil shows on a slightly smaller scale – and it was fantastic! It was so worth staying up for after the long day of travel – highly recommended and a great way to complete our day of travel and settling in to the ahhhh of relaxation.
Chocolate covered strawberries sprinkled with coconut flakes in the room awaiting our arrival after the show. The strawberries were so incredibly sweet – I’m not sure I’ve had strawberries as sweet. We indulged in those with a glass of champagne and called it a night – off to slumber.
~ Exploring the Resort ~
The next day was mostly full of exploring the different areas of the resort, restaurants, cafe, different pool areas and the shops. This is not really the resort to head to if you want a nice wide expanse of beach to relax on – though you could walk down the beach, it was a bit narrow and felt a bit lackluster. The pool areas did their best to make up for it though. The first pool area looked like a lagoon complete with sand and water that got gradually deeper – gorgeous area. There are also some “cenote” areas with smaller pools perfect for just a couple people and fairly private, the “entertainment” pool with the more boisterous drinking crowd and an in betweener.
We also ended up transferring into a Master Suite with a partial ocean view giving us the view we prefer and a huge room that we only used maybe half of. Boujie indeed. A video walk through of this gorgeous room here: https://youtu.be/gZBgIq9sS8Q. In contrast with our swim out suite tropical view, this room had a massive deck with table for 2, a bar height table and a massive tub with a view of the tropics and the ocean, a living area separate from the sleeping area with a sofa and another bar height dining table, sink & coffee, plus an additional wine cooler.
The “entertainment” that night was “Roads Through Mexico” – different areas with food and drink, art by local artists, entertainment (great Mariachi band!) and full of color.
~ It’s all about the Boujie ~
Wednesday was a full day with a massage at the spa (wonderful!) followed by a 7-course dinner at Teodoro and the Elements show. Teodoro is a lengthy affair – 7 small courses along with wine pairings for each dish- Octopus Carpaccio, Lobster Taco, Beef Sweetbreads Soup and Duck Sous Vide with a Citrus Souffle for dessert. So much yum! Of course, I had to have them stop with the wine pairings after 2 courses as I was feeling the effects and wanted to actually enjoy my meal.
Spa Area
The Elements show that night was one reminiscent of the 80’s? with B-boys doing their thing with stick man lights and some crazy breakdancing styles.
~Getting Jiggy with It . . . or not . . . ?~
Thursday entailed more relaxing at infinity pools by Seaside and dinner at Allora, Italian dining. As this was our anniversary, the dinner was supposed to be a romantic dining experience but due to some miscommunication it was not so much romantic and actually fairly bland. The food was so-so and the romance of the restaurant was a fail. After dining, we spoke with the restaurant manager who is the manager for both the Italian restaurant, Allora and the French restaurant, Bisou, to ask about the confusion. He was fantastic about wanting to make it up to us and said Bisou would be a better experience and the ambiance is more romantic – so we set up a reservation for Sunday at Bisou.
Our butlers did their best to make the night special for us and they must have timed it with estimating end of dinner as we got back to the room to the HUGE tub filled with bubbles and bath salts, candles around the room and rose petals on the floor and bed upon our return from dinner. So we skipped the show that night (although we heard it was good) so we could stay in – enjoy the bubble bath and follow it up with sitting out on the massive deck with drinks.
~ Adventure Awaits ~
Friday was our one excursion off the resort. As they have an excursion booking option on site through the resort, we chose the Sea Safari to Cozumel. Little did we know what a wild ride it would turn out to be. First, just getting TO the actual excursion turned out to be a bit of a hassle with little direction from the resort we hopped into the large passenger van which dropped us off at a shop. Ummm now what? We meandered around until we found the table where we picked up our ferry tickets – then were told to wait just outside the store for someone to meet us. It was then follow the leader, who disappeared and while we made our way to the ferry, up the escalators to boarding where no one seemed to know what we were supposed to, finally boarding the ferry to Cozumel and walk to the Rib Boat boarding for the snorkeling. We stopped at 3 different places for snorkeling – so much fun! Each stop had different water levels – from 30 feet then 10 feet then finally a 5 feet sandbar area. At the 30 foot level we saw under water sculptures and tons of different fish including a large baracuda! Yikes!
At the 5 foot level fewer fish but we did see a manta ray. The rib boat was not my favorite – we were put in the front and they hit the waves so hard the front end popped up high and then hit down hard – hanging on for dear life on the way and the way back. I thought for sure it would put my back out by the time we finished the ride. Back at Cozumel we did a quick shopping search for a green monkey (perhaps a story for another day) and then boarded the ferry back to resort. And more craziness ensued – we were on the 2nd level of the ferry and with the wind and waves, salt water was splashing us all the way on 2nd level – but it was a laugh or cry situation, so I laughed (maniacally?) all the way back to shore. Disembarking soaked with salt water, we discovered we had lost our group guide. Others from the excursion looked as confused and lost as we did and with the blind leading the blind, we tried to retrace our steps back through the streets to hopefully find the shop we originally met up at, succeeding after a few wrong turns, to meet up with our ride back to the resort.
Finally we were back at the resort, exhausted from the sun, the wind, the salt water, and a very busy day but, rather than doing the sensible thing ~ showering and turning in early~ we went to dinner at Asado and caught the fire show. Asado was set up as a special buffet style grill dinner with all sorts of grilled options followed by a spectacular fire show. Another show worth catching with the ocean as a backdrop.
~ Winding into the Weekend ~
Saturday was more of the same relaxing we were getting used to. We found ourselves enjoying the privacy of a cenotes – sunshine and occasional water tip made for a perfect start to our day.
After the day full of sun and dips in the pool, it was also our specialty dining night at Tanoshi/Omakase. This experience is one of a kind – a sumptuous dinner prepared by Chef Mitsunori Ichikawa and his team of culinary masters indulgence in a multipole course nigiri dinner prepared right in front of you and paired with sakes, wines, beers and tea selected by the chef. Ordinarily there would have been more people in our experience as the table seats 12 but we were alone so the experience was very personal. Chef served all kinds of sushi – and as I don’t do raw fish, this experience was one I signed up for specifically for my husband. The Chef, bless his heart, braised mine as I don’t do raw fish. For me, the texture is just – ick. Surprisingly – for me (as well as for my husband) – I actually enjoyed the eel. It had such an interesting smoky taste literally melted in your mouth. Oh yes! food pics! I do need to get better at the photos but I did take a few.
Another night another show. Saturday nights show was called Quirky – it is described as a magical wordless world which tells you a bewitching story about every one of us, full of enchantment and surprising effects. This was also a not to miss show – fascinating and entertaining! After the shows, you can are given a speakeasy password to get into the Gypsy Club via a secret passage through the Pharmacia.
Secret DoorProof!
Sunday we started with breakfast at Seaside, one of the Impression only restaurants, which has some of the best breakfast and then settled in by the infinity pool and our cabana. Beautiful spot to relax for the day ~
Seaside DiningView from Seaside tableAcai bowlEmpanadas – yum!
~ and a redo of the romantic dinner at Bisou French restaurant with a special menu. The manager personally gave us a Tada! moment with a covered plate unveiled showing a bouquet of flowers beneath. It was sweet how excited he was about it. Coupled with pretty drinks, candlelight and. . . the most AH-MAZING Beef Wellington and topped off with chocolate covered strawberries AND a creme broulee – combined for a lovely romantic dinner with excellent service and tasty food.
After dinner, it was showtime again. Sunday night was Boogie Show – the show was fun doing music that we wanted to sing and dance to though it was also one that we could have passed on and not felt like we missed out on much.
~Home again, Home again ~
Monday breakfast at Seaside before preparing to head to the airport and back to the rainy days of Seattle. Seaside had some of the best food from the Acai Bowl to the Cinnamon French Toast for breakfast to the empanadas we had while relaxing by the infinity pool to the Waygu Burger for dinner.
With that – it was time to grab the bags, head back to the entrance to meet up with our ride back tot he airport. I’m already craving more time at the resort and the flavors of resort living. Adios’ Cancun – See you next time!
It was time. . . past time actually . . . to take that road trip out to see my best friend. So we made an adventure out of it and rented an RV for the trip. Apparently there are websites out there akin to airbnb where owners can list their RV’s for rent – novel idea!
We did a little research on a few and landed on Rvrzy and selected an RV that was smaller than some but had a shower and toilet as well as the usual items you might find, allowed us to bring our dog along and THIS RV had a story behind it –
Say hello to Peri! Back story about Peri: Originally this was purchased for the owner’s Mom and sister, who made some wonderful memories with Peri. Now that they are gone, he is celebrating them by making it possible for others to make great memories with Peri too. The name came about partly due to his sister being a painter and the color Periwinkle that Peri is and also that someday they wanted to take it to Paris – Pari’. We appreciate the backstory and were ready to make a memory.
While the trip to Boise wasn’t overly long – 8 hours all told without stops along the way, we started out late on a Friday evening about 9:45pm thinking we would drive for maybe 2 hours or so, find a rest stop and then take advantage of the sleep space before finishing up the journey. As luck would have it, we missed the first rest stop entirely, the next one (roughly 60 miles from there) was jam packed with RV’s and trucks so tiredly we continued on again to the next one in Prosser, which was also full but we waited it out and hoped someone might decide to leave and, with some luck, about 1:30am a spot did open and we collapsed onto the beds in the RV. One nice thing about an RV like this – bathroom, shower and beds!
Headed out at about 9am the next morning, coffee and energy drink in hand arriving in Boise at roughly 2pm (3pm Boise time) we finally pulled into the driveway of my best friend Jill and her husband Michael. Phew! Time to relax and catch up. . .
Time to Play!
We didn’t plan really to do many actual activities – just wanted time to hang out and catch up in person, tho we did have a couple things we thought would be fun. As with all travel, flexibility is key to enjoyment. One of our activities was not on schedule for the first day and as we were there only for a couple days, we postponed it to the next day, sent the boys off to do their thing and Jill and I headed over to Two Hoots Lavender Fields.
Welcome to Two Hoots Lavender!
~Welcome to Two Hoots Lavender~
Founded in 2020, Two Hoots grows 5 of the most popular types of lavender – Folgate, Royal Velvet, Grotto, Bucna Vista and French. The farm has many high oil production plants allowing them to distill their own lavender oil and handcraft them into their products. You can pick from fresh precut lavender or cut your own so, in the spirit of fun and adventure, we selected our baskets and wandered out into the fields to cut our lavender.
We picked a bundle, wrapped it up in the paper & twine provided and headed in to the shop. Soooo much to see and smell and see: soaps, shampoos, sprays and even teas. They all smelled so good we ended up with more than one item.
You can find Two Hoots Lavender here: Instagram & Facebook – @twohootslavender and www.twohootslavender.com.
Our trip to Two Hoots was a successful fun time. We laughed a lot, learned about lavender and made a beautiful memory.
~Last Day in Boise~
After we returned back to Jill’s home, we took more time to talk. We have had a year – grieving for family and friends, missing people who filled our lives with joy. While we fully intended to do more in depth talking about that, just being able to be together helped us take one more step to healing. And so we sat, letting the being together comfort us and waited for our “boys” to return from their adventure. They had quite a different “adventure” from ours, which perhaps is a tale for another day and perhaps not my tale to tell. Then it was down to just relaxing the backyard, watching the chickens and talking more about life things.
~Home again, Home again~
The next morning we prepared to head on home. I took a turn at the wheel for a couple hours and found it wasn’t too difficult to drive although it was much bigger than my summer ride but then most are. Arriving in Issaquah for RV drop off about 5:00pm, we returned the RV to the owner having a lovely conversation while we checked it in, unpacked it and put everything into my husbands Jeep for the last segment home. Kona – our Cane Corso – was happy to be home and back to her comfort zone and as she settled back in, I reflected on our journey.
