Alaskan Cruise on Princess Cruise Line

The Alaskan cruise season runs from early May to early October and most all cruise lines have some sort of itinerary available.  We chose Princess for a couple of reasons.  First, we'd never sailed with them and if you know anything about our agency, we value first-hand experience with the products we sell in order to guide our clients.  Princess also had an interesting itinerary that fit our schedule.  If you don't choose an itinerary that is round-trip between Seattle, you'll most likely fly into or out of Canada at one end of your trip.  This means you'll be required to have a valid passport.

Royal Princess docked in Skagway, AK

Our trip was early June on the Royal Princess for a 7-Day Inside Passage with Glacier Bay.  Before we stepped foot on the ship, we spent a little time in Seattle, WA.  I strongly encourage cruise clients (regardless of where you're cruising from or to) to arrive at the port at least one day early.  I have another blog on the reasons so I won't go over them again.  Please check this link out for more info.  I also prepared a short blog about Seattle, WA as well.  That link coming soon.  

Weather and Packing

With a great amount of our leisure time spent in tropical climes, one of the most challenging aspects of our trip was packing.  We just didn't know what to bring.  Most of the port cities we visited are part of the largest temperate rainforest in North America.  We were expecting daily rain and clouds, so having clothes that would dry fast was important.  

Before we left for our trip, we visited Sierra.  It's part of the TJX family of brands (TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods), and offer the exact type of clothing were were looking for.  Brands such as Columbia, Merrill, Spyder, and, The American Outdoorsman fit the bill.  I purchased half a dozen plain, colored t-shirts.  They weren't the sporty dry-fast shirts you might be used to, though.  These were much softer and thin.  I got three or four pair of pants and a hooded, rainproof jacket.  

Something that surprised me as compared to Caribbean cruising was the ability to reuse outfits over the course of the trip.  Since the temps were mild, our clothes weren't disgusting at the end of the day after exploring each port.  I'd layer a t-shirt, long sleeve, and possibly a sweatshirt with a pair of quick-dry pants and waterproof shoes.  We'd carry a backpack with stocking caps, gloves, and rain coats just in case.  Here is a complete list of my clothes as well as other odds and ends I took.

If you purchase quick-drying clothes, even if you're unfortunate enough to be soaked, you'll still get a couple of days from each outfit if needed.  While there was a formal night, in general, we didn't see people getting as dressed up for dinner.  Many times, we'd wear the same outfit we'd worn during our port adventures to dinner that night.  I highly value comfort over being fancy!

What I Enjoyed the Most on the Ship

Balcony Room

I truly think you'd regret being on a ship without a balcony.  The ability to step outside my cabin to the brisk, salty-fresh air as the ship glides by snow-capped mountains and dense forests is not to be underrated.  Technically, we had a mini suite, not a traditional balcony room.  The MS offered us a bit more space and a seating area.  Check out a video of our room on YouTube.

Music and Comedy

A couple of the activities I like when I cruise is live music and comedy.  Both were a hit on this ship.  The Trawlermen is a UK-based folk band who did some amazing covers of more contemporary rock songs.  Our comedian was solid, offering both family and adult-themed shows.  It was a bit disappointing they didn't move him to a larger venue for his adult-themed show since it filled rather quickly.

Food and Drinks

The food on the ship was decent but I do concur that the pizza on board was a step above what you'd expect for cruise pizza, heck even most restaurant pizza, too.  Like with most cruises, I don't often elect to pay extra for specialty dining so we stuck with the included provisions as well as our two free "casual meals" that came with our beverage and wi-fi package (Princess Plus).  

Seafood pizza at Alfredo's

The pizza at Prego Pizzeria was fantastic with three choices of topping that rotated daily.  Alfredo's Pizzeria was how we spent one of our casual meal credits.  They had many basic varieties (very similar to Prego) with the option to pay extra to upgrade.  I was disappointed there was an upcharge to get more pizza topping choices since this was already an "upgraded" meal.  The Trident Grill, located next to Prego, offered grilled hamburgers that were top-notch.  I'd have happily had burgers and pizza the entire trip.

Excursions

Not a photo from my trip....

Each port of call has something to offer.  We booked a whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv's before we arrived in Juneau.  Round-trip transportation from the port to Auke Bay, the boat journey to search for whales, and a brief stop to get a photo with Mendenhall Glacier in the background.  We saw whales but none breached like in the photo below.  We also saw orcas (killer whales), seals, and sea lions.  

Gateway to the Yukon

I'd have to say that my favorite experience of the trip was the White Pass and Yukon Route train excursion in Skagway.  This 2.5-3 hour round-trip trip was a highlight of my trip and helped satisfy a need to see some areas away from the ports.  If possible, arrive early at the loading point for the trip and ask, encourage (,...beg!) to be on the last car.  It offers a premium vantage point to take photos and videos of the experience.  Here is link to YouTube to see a clip of our train experience.

With our time before or after our excursions and while in Ketchikan where we had nothing planned, we just walked the streets, visiting shops and taking in the sites.  There is plenty of cruise port shopping for those who need an ulu knife, sweatshirt with your choice of a bear, salmon, or whale, or birch syrup.  They have plenty of  other cool stuff, too. 

What I'd Do Differently

Land Cruise Tour Combo

I did love the 7-day cruise but would have really enjoyed so time before the trip having more experiences on land.  With the exception of a quick blur of fur running into the weeds, I never saw a bear, sigh.  While I don't fancy myself as an intrepid hiker, I'd have loved to have a bit more wilderness exploring.  When considering any sort of land cruise combo, you have to keep in mind that you not only are you adding cost to your vacation, but most every land cruise tour originates or terminates with a Canadian port.  This means you'd have to have a current passport in order for us to book this sort of trip for you. 

"No Kings...Crab"

One restaurant I saw repeatedly while researching Alaskan cruises (and saw both locations in Juneau) is Tracy's Crab Shack.  The location closest to the port is reportedly very busy when the ships come in but a short walk toward Juneau (10-12 minutes) finds you their less busy 2nd location with the same quality everyone raves about.  I do kick myself for not splurging and getting a mess of crab legs...  

Double-Check Those Next Day Flight Options

The last thing I would consider, and this will definitely depend on your home airport, would be staying one post-cruise night to take advantage of an early morning, non-stop flight home.  The trip back to Indy was tumultuous at best and involved flight delays at SEA-TAC because some yahoo mentioned the "B-word" while on his plane, mid-air text and emails between with our airline to switch to a later flight in Chicago, and a sprint through the airport by some of the party (...thanks Ted, Andy, Brendan, and Emma) to check-in at our connecting gate while the rest of the party ambled along.  

Most all AK cruises have a brief stop in Vancouver, Canada

Honestly, this is from the Canadian Pavilion from Epcot ;)

The front of the train from the back of the train.

White Pass and Yukon Rail with the Royal Princess in the background

Blue sky and snow-capped mountains

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more info about all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

 

 Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages wins on so many levels. Joe and I first went on a Virgin Voyage in March of 2024 on the Scarlet Lady and immediately loved the vibe. There is something so different about ADULT ONLY atmospheres. The comedy is better, the food is better and the atmosphere is less chaotic. One item of note, unlike other cruise lines, you must have a valid passport for a Virgin Voyage.

 

I recently returned with our youngest daughter on the Valiant Lady and a girl's trip was perfect as well. The ships in the Virgin fleet are the same as far as the basics but the shows and decor can vary. I loved feeling immediately at home with the layout..ie, I knew how to immediately get to fantastic made to order pizza at embarkation then grab my first ice cream of the day. Followed by the sailaway party and of course the first night's PJ Party.

YES, I took a bite before we even got the photo, taste testing is required.

    A couple of difference I love with Virgin Voyages are the drink packages and lack of clothing expectations. First, unlike other cruise lines that offer "be wasted all week" drink packages that would leave me sick and require all adults in the same room to have the same outrageously expensive drink package, Virgin does drinks BETTER. First, their regular, free, drip coffee is good. Not so bad you feel the need to go buy coffee on board. Second, they include soda, tea,  juices and water. We had fresh carafes of water in our room which were refilled often.  Finally, you can purchase drinks for reasonable amounts ($6-$15) and you can prepay with a bar tab for the entire room to share, this comes with a bonus if booked in advance. For instance, prepay $200 and get $25 bonus added. This can be used to buy drinks for anyone (in your party or not).  You can get gourmet coffees, (really good, alternate milks, made correctly and only $4-6) pressed juices, smoothies, non-alcoholic and alcoholic cocktails, beer, and wine. 

    Next up, dress code for dining onboard. In my real life, I am a teacher. I do not dress up for life and really loath packing to be "fancy". On Virgin Voyages you can wear whatever you like, every night to every venue. Sure, this is likely true of most cruise lines but on Virgin they mean it, at any dinner you will see cocktail gowns and suits next to shorts and a t-shirt with no one paying a bit of attention. They have a red night that you can be dressy red, funny red, matching red or not red at all. One night they have an event to "be fancy" but again that is up to interpretation and all are welcome.

Lots of amazing onboard activities if you like to stay busy. We joined in on Country Line Dancing, Latin Dance Party, Summer camp crafts, sunrise yoga, comedians and shows. There were trivia shows all over the ship, extensive board games collections, an open and free arcade, casino, multiple locations to lay out and soak in the sun, pools, spas, and don't forget BINGO with the Drag Queen!

When booking Virgin all of this plus gratuities are included! 

The food is amazing because there is no need to cater to children and all ages. There is also NO BUFFET which makes me ridiculously happy. You go to multiple kiosks and order exactly what you want and it is served up fresh and untouched by other cruisegoers. The pizza parlor on board is great and we returned several times. The ice cream shop has consistent flavors then some changing daily, stop by as often as you'd like. The social club has wings, popcorn, hot pretzels, candy and treats. 

There are five "sit down" restaurants on board for dinner with several serving breakfast and brunch. You make reservations prior to your trip but they were all 9pm because we booked the trip so late. After boarding the ship on our first day ( and after stopping to eat) we went to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant to meet with concierge.  They fit us in to earlier time slots that are held back to meet the needs of those with less tech savviness or those of us that were late to booking. We got everything moved to workable times with no issues at all. Unlike all other cruise lines, none of the restaurants (often called specialty dining) are an upcharge.

When you are ready to book your ADULT only cruise to the Caribbean, Europe and Greece let us know and we will take care of all the details!  

 Dillontravels@gmail.com

 

The "Magic" of staying at a Disney resort

The Grand Floridian, a deluxe resort located on the Monorail system

            

When working with clients, we are sometimes asked what advantage there is to staying at a Walt Disney World resort.  Many times, people feel that they can skip the resort and save money on their trip.  While there might be a savings, we believe the pros of being on property far outweigh modest, monetary savings.  Not sure if you'll save, request a free quote.

Disney World has over 25 different resort options spanning from budget-friendly value resorts, mid-level moderate resorts, extravagant deluxe resorts and even a campground.  Prices range from $130-$6000 per night and depend on the resort category, room category, and travel dates.  Generally, you can expect to spend $200-400 per night.   

 Time - You will spend time traveling to and from the off-property resorts.  Something to remember is that Walt Disney World is HUGE!  It covers over 20,000 acres and is the size of Manhattan.  Time is valuable, especially if you have a short trip.  It will be less convenient to go back and take naps mid-day if you aren't close to your WDW resort.

The Skyliner Gondola

      Transportation - You have free transportation once you arrive at your Disney resort.  So, there is no need for a rental car.  The resort shuttles run every 5-25 minutes which varies depending on the time of day.  Some off-property resorts offer shuttles but they may only come two times a day or every hour.  And this is all if the hotel even offers theme park transfers.   

     If you decide to drive or rent a car to give you more flexibility, keep in mind that theme park parking is $30/day for non-resort guests (free if you're staying on property).  

    

     Money and Promotions - Staying on property with a package, which includes a resort stay and ticket plus the option to add a dining plan, makes you eligible for Disney promotions.  If these come out, even after booking, we will apply them to save you money.  Also, a package requires a $200 deposit and final payment 30 days before travel.  You can cancel anytime before final payment is due.  If you book a ticket-only reservation (and stay off-property), the full amount of tickets is due at the time of purchase and these are non-refundable.

     Early Park Entry - Resort guests are eligible for entry to select parks 30 minutes before anyone else.  Rope drop is only possible if you are coming from a Disney resort.

     Lightning Lane Advance Purchase - If you decide to purchase LL passes, you can do so 7 days prior to travel if you're a resort guest.  For others, it's 3 days prior.  This could be the difference between getting or not getting a pass for a particular ride.  Not sure what a Lighting Lane pass is, read more here.

The Beast at Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom

      Dining Plan - You must stay on Disney property to purchase a Dining Plan.  If  you purchase the Disney Dining Plan, we will make those reservations for you as part of our free services.  Depending on your needs, the DDP or the simpler Quick Service dining plan, is designed for convenience and can be a way to save.  Check out this blog to find out if you'd benefit from a dining plan.

 Character Dining - Whether staying on property or not, you can still make reservations for a character meal.  WDW resort guests can do this 60 days before travel, others wait until 30 days before travel.  This might make difference of getting the meal you want to experience.

The "Magic" - As corny as it sounds, there is something to be said about being immersed in Disney.  If you stay on property, from the moment you arrive, you are enveloped.  Your off-property resort won't have Mickey-shaped waffles, Disney art, or  themed-pools.  No Disney gift shop, no cast members, and no whimsical Disney background music.  That special "something" disappears at the end of a long day visiting the parks when you pile into your car and head for your off-property hotel.  

Perhaps, one of the saddest signs of all times!

The "What if...." - I wrote this blog just one day after Hurricane Milton struck central-Florida.  Amanda, one of our agents, was visiting and offered a unique insight to being "stuck at Disney" during a storm.  Somethings we learned are that WDW has constructed buildings to withstand Category 5 storms, the resorts have generators, and maybe most importantly, Disney has a plan.  

Activity board at Contemporary Resort

After the theme parks and common areas closed, guests were sequestered to their respective resorts to ride out the storm.  It appeared that sufficient notice was provided about what would be closed and when.  The resorts that had interior access to a central lobby (mostly, your deluxe resorts) could access the amenities such as the store, arcade (which was free!), and restaurants.  Disney had a variety of activities to pass the time and once the storm has passed and it was safe, Disney start to shift back to business as normal.  

The theme parks were scheduled to reopen about 30 hours after they closed.  I added a couple of her photos below.

   

Extra towels and shampoo, furniture moved inside, and sandbags at the doors

One of the Monorails parked inside the Contemporary Resort

  

Carts and signs tied down for the hurricane

Lamps covered to prevent damage from debris

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

Disney's Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, Explained

Disney's Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, Explained

If you've ever considered a Disney trip, you've probably run across the terms Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. If you aren't familiar with these terms, here's a quick overview of how these work.  For this article, I'm going to speak only about Walt Disney World in Florida:  

• You can purchase these options as an enhancement to your base or Park Hopper ticket. 

•  Once purchased, you can select rides and attractions (based on availability), permitting you to skip the regular line queue.  

• When your designated time to ride arrives, return to the ride joining the "Lightning Lane" line where you bypass the standard line. 

Before it was Genie+ and Individual Lighting Lane, we had the good 'ol (FREE!) Fastpass system, different names but it's all the same idea minus the punch in your pocket book.

Starting this week, Disney has once again revamped the names and features.  Here is a little info about what's new and what's changed.  

• Lightning Lane Multi Pass (LLMP) instead of Genie+
• Lightning Lane Single Pass (LLSP) instead of Individual Lighting Lane

These features are available for purchase from your MyDisneyExperience app.  Your package (resort and tickets) or ticket must be linked to your account.  

• Walt Disney Resort guests can make their purchase and select experiences up to 7 days before their check-in, for up to 14 days.  

• Non-resort guests who have theme park tickets can make their purchase and select experiences up to 3 days before the active ticket date through the active ticket date.  

• Annual Passholders can make their purchase 7 days in advance if they have a resort reservation, if not, it's 3 days in advance.  

• This is far better than making your purchase the day of use.  

You can make three Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections and purchase two Lightning Lane Individual selections.  The LLMP experiences are divided into two groups (except for Animal Kingdom).   After you've redeemed your first multi pass experience, you can make additional selections, one at a time, based on availability.

Some other new features are:

• You can see the rides and attractions that are available before you finalize your purchase.

• You can make multiple Lightning Lane Multi Pass and/or Lightning Lane Single Pass purchases in one transaction from your MDE.  

• If you have Park Hopper tickets - you can only make selections in one park until you've redeemed your first experience.  After that, you can make selections in another park.

One feature that managed to stick around is the price.  Yep, Disney is still charging us to skip lines.  These prices are dynamic meaning they adjust up or down by date.  Below is a video of the prices we are seeing this first week of availability (July, 2024).  Clearly, this can add up as you tack on LLMP and LLSP purchases for your group. 

The LLMP/LLSP purchases are non-refundable.  If you cancel your resort package or ticket, any Lighting Lane selections associated with your MDE account are automatically cancelled, too.

If you don't want to purchase the Lightning Lane Single Pass for Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind, you can still opt to enter the virtual queue.  At select times, you can try to access the virtual queue.  If chosen, you are assigned a boarding group.  When your group is called, return to the attraction for your ride.  You can join the virtual queue at 7:00 am or 1:00 pm (but you must be inside the park in order to join the 1:00 pm slot).  Keep in mind, joining the virtual queue does not guarantee you'll experience the attraction.  Not an option for LLSP, but new to the virtual queue, is Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook.  Follow us here for more tips and tricks, not only for Walt Disney World resorts but all of the destinations we can help you plan and book.  And in case you didn't know this, our help is always free. ~Joe

Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay:  What's the Logic?

Most cruises we book sail from and return to a US port in Florida.  The easiest way to reach these cruise ports is catch a quick flight into the port city.  Others, who either want to save a little cash or are "flight-adverse", opt to drive.  Either way, if we booked the cruise for you, there is a high likelihood that I mentioned at some point getting a pre-cruise hotel.   

Why are we trying to get you to spend more on "another night"?

It's easy to see why you might tsk at the suggestion you spend another $200 or $300 on your trip just so you can stay the night near the port before your cruise but there is good reason for this. 

While you may have always flown at the exact time your airline printed on your boarding pass, we've taken enough trips to know that a 6:15 am departure might result in you getting to your destination at noon the following day.  This typically isn't a huge issue unless after you land, your plan is to grab your bags, catch your transfer and scurry to the port with adequate time to check-in and board the ship.  

(fake boarding pass but the airline was NOT CHOSEN AT RANDOM!)

Oh, you're going to drive, cool.  Mechanical issues, foul weather, accidents and more might stymie the best laid plans.  Either way, hoping to roll up to the port on the day of the cruise might not be the best choice.  

They ain't waiting!

Typically, a cruise line will depart the port between 4:00 - 6:00 pm.  And, they will leave with OR without you.  So, what does that mean for you if you're not in your cabin, or more likely, somewhere gorging yourself on shrimp cocktail and cookies when the ship steams outbound?  It means you have paid for a really cool vacation that you might not be taking.

What does it look like when that happens?

You pace back and forth, trying to figure out if you're going to cry or throw up or both.  Seizing all your strength, you (or your travel advisor) scramble to make plans to get you to the next port of call and "catch up" with the ship.  No problem, right?  You just need to arrange, at the last minute, one-way flights to where ever the ship is headed.  Hopefully you have packed your credit card and passport because while you can sail to the Caribbean without a passport, you can't fly there without one.  No passport?  Well, this is the end of your Caribbean cruise. 

But luckily, everyone has a passport.  Let's hope that the ship hasn't altered the course and substituted the port where you'll soon be catching your flight to with alternative port.  This does happen due to weather or scheduling conflicts.  Now, you'll need a place to stay for the night until you can get on the plane.  Don't forget to complete the proper immigration forms online in order to arrive by air.  Oh, one way flights into a foreign country can be a real bear because if you're not leaving (or at least don't have any proof), you might need a visa.  Before you catch up, you've got two or three more meals for the family.  Finally, once you've landed at the destination, you'll need to get to the cruise port.  Get that credit card out again! 

I have had two sets of clients miss their ships departure.  Both had flight delays leaving LAX for a Hawaiian cruise.  Lucky for them, no passports are needed to fly from Honolulu to Maui!  I was able to help with the flights, hotel, and transfers.  But, the clients were out the cost of those expenses and missed the first night of their cruise as well as the full day in that first port of call.  And this is all only possible if we can find those last minute flights and overnight hotel.  Side note: both families had travel insurance and after some work on the part of the client, they were able to get reimbursed.   

Is that hotel sounding more appealing now?

You're right, this is sort of a scare tactic.  I guess it's so scary that I've scared myself into this same practice of arriving the night before for my own cruises.  I understand not wanting to spend extra money.  But, most hotels can be had for a couple hundred bucks.  If you'd like our help (it's free to use our agency), we'll look for someplace with a free airport shuttle and maybe even a free breakfast, too.  Plus, many hotels that are located near the cruise ports have cheap transfers ($10-15/passenger) that can be arranged the day you arrive.  If you're shipping out from Port Canaveral, FL, we work with GoPort who bundles a hotel and all of the transfers into one easy package.  

If you don't mind flying out late, there is a good chance you can find a good deal on those red-eye flights basically making the cost of pre-cruise hotel a moot point.  Either way, I'd say a few hundred bucks is cheap insurance to almost unequivocally avoid missing that sail-away food fest while sparing you any anxiety of not being there on time.

~Joe

Let us know how we can help you with your next trip by emailing dillontravels@gmail.com.  You can also visit our Facebook page or website.

 

 Club Mobay:  VIP Meet and Greet Review

We have visited Jamaica close to a dozen times and have always entered via Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.  We have had the wonderful experience of walking off the plane, breezing through Immigration and Customs, and to our transfer in under an hour.  We have also had the misfortune to deboard and after spending two or more hours at the airport, drag ourselves to the transfer bus.  The later is more frequent with the average time spent being around 1.5-2 hours.  

For our most recent trip, we chose to test drive the Club Mobay VIP Meet and Greet service.  For the cost is $50 per person, they advertise you'll be "fast tracked" through the entry process allowing you to get your vacation started that much sooner.

So, what was our experience arriving?

• We got off of the plane and were greeted by a Club Mobay employee with a sign displaying our name.

• We were whisked to the automated immigration kiosks where our host explained how to and then helped to scan our passports.

• We were escorted through the first check point using a line designated specifically for the Club Mobay guests.

• Next, she took us to the baggage claim area where we waited for our bags.  We had just enough time for a restroom break before our bags spilled onto the conveyor. She even grabbed one of those fancy carts you normally have to pay extra to use!  

• Finally, she escorted us through the second check point, again using a line specifically designated for Club Mobay guests.  

(our host and our sign)

Did we save any time?

We definitely did!  I would guess that from the time I stepped off the plane until I was delivered to the Sandals Club lounge, we spent a total of 35 minutes navigating the airport and "entering" Jamaica.  Other guests who were traveling with us said it was even quicker for them.  The longest part of the experience was waiting for Southwest to unload our bags but that did give us time for a much needed bathroom break.

(the throng of people we skipped at the 2nd check point because we are awesome...and paid $50 each)

Who should do this?

I would recommend this for anyone visiting Jamaica via MBJ airport.  This service is also available if you fly into Kingston International Airport but for most leisure tourists, this will almost certainly not be the case.  Who would really benefit:

• people travelling during a busy season

• people who are anxious travelers or have never navigated a foreign airport

• people who enjoy being greeted like your special, escorted around like royalty, and then delivered expeditiously after skipping the long lines for the paltry sum of $50

Sounds great! Does Club Mobay offer anything else?

I'm glad you asked.  As I mentioned, we were taken to the Sandals Club Lounge (a benefit for guests of Sandals and Beaches resorts) at then end of our whirlwind 35-minute adventure through Sangster International.  But, if you don't happen to have access to the Sandals lounge; you can freshen up, grab a snack, or just relax for a moment at the Club Mobay lounge.  I kick myself in the pants for not exploring the lounge.  I don't know for certain, but would imagine they assist you locating your resort transfer (which we can add to your trip), find a taxi, or rent a car. 

"...and, if you act now, for the amazing price of $35 extra"

You can receive the full deal by adding the Club Mobay departure lounge.  This service is designed for those returning home after their trip.  Again, you'll have access to wifi, snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, showers, and more.  On one of our earlier trips, when MBJ was less "glamorous" we spent our pre-flight hours hanging in the lounge.  I enjoyed the snacks; treats like pre-packaged biscuits (cookies), bags of plantain chips, and hors d'oeuvres.  The first two of which could be taken with me to munch on while on the plane.  The free drinks were less appealing, especially after spending a week at an all-inclusive resort.  I guess I'd had my fill of Red Stripe.

Honestly, with the upgrades that have occurred at MBJ over the past decade, I don't know waiting in the terminal is any less comfortable than any other major US airport so we probably won't ever use the Club Mobay departure lounge again.

One final note, the cost for kids (ages 2-12) is $25 for arrival and $23 for departure services.  Kids under 2 years old are free.

A little extra kudos to Club Mobay...

This trip was for a wedding and much to our dismay, an unnamed "Patriotic" Airline saw that we did not make our original flights.  Our arrival to Jamaica was not only the following day but occurred at two different times.  I was able to send an email and followed up with a phone call about our flight updates.  From a travel agent standpoint, they were very easy to work with.  As one of their customers, I was assured they would have staff there to accommodate us.  They definitely excelled.  

 ~Joe

You can come along on our adventures, get the latest updates, and see more from us by following us on Facebook.  Shoot us an email to get your quote or if you see a grammatical error:  dillontravels@gmail.com   

Moon Palace, Jamaica versus Beaches Negril, Jamaica

 Fall 2023 we stayed at two different family all inclusive resorts in Jamaica to compare them for families. I would encourage families to stay at either one with no concerns but different families are looking for different pros and cons. So here is how they compare:

Beach Scene

Moon Palace is situated in a bay in Ocho Rios with calm waters and a small beach area. There were always lounge chairs available so I wouldn't consider it "too small".  Beaches Negril is situated on the beautiful open 7 miles of white sandy beaches directly on the ocean. Here you will have more water activities to choose from. Beaches (and Sandals) always have luxury included water sports. At Beaches Negril you will have kayaking, hobie cats, paddle boarding, diving (free for certified divers), snorkeling, banana boats and ocean trikes. Moon Palace offers paddleboarding and kayaking. If you want to spend the day in the shade or sun beachside, Beaches definitely has a huge expanse of options even while at 91% occupancy during our stay.

Moon Palace had some water activities available at an additional charge including a dolphin experience on property plus snorkeling and scuba diving for a fee.

View at Moon Palace, Jamaica

Free Water Sports at Beaches Negril: Hobie cats, kayaks, paddle boarding, banana boats, snorkeling are all included in the price!

Pool Activities

Moon Palace had a mix of all age groups and everyone seemed to have enough to do. There is a surfing flow rider that never had a line, water volleyball and staff creating activities in the pool. Beaches definitely has their young visitors under 10 covered with an entire Pirates Water park fully staffed with lifeguards and servers stopping by to check on you. There is water  and beach volleyball and activities and crafts nearby at both resorts.

Beaches definitely wins on all accounts for the theming and pool features for children under 10. The staff clearly enjoys and engages with kids, there is a lazy river, slides, pouring buckets of water and a large expanse of water fun.

Kids Clubs

Both resorts offer kids clubs for all ages. The Beaches Negril kids area definitely wins in the category for guests under 10. They have a brand new facility opened in 2023, with the biggest climb through tunnels spanning two rooms I have seen. There are two "shoes free" rooms for the under 5 children so that any toddlers on the floor will be in a clean environment. Beaches partners with Sesame Street to bring the characters to the islands. There are parades with characters where the children join in, random character pop ups, theming and  activities for the children to experience the Sesame Street team. There is also a club for 12+ but that is more of a meet up location where kids can check themselves in and out. Staff here is autism certified, CPR certified and clearly well trained. We saw several groups out throughout the week with groups of children eating, playing, and doing activities. Kids were happy and well taken care of, staff was in tune with the kids and the staff to child ratio was perfect. 

My thoughts: Beaches for 10 and under, Palace for 10+. This is a general comment and of course many travel with extended family and have children that span that age gap. I would go on the side of the younger traveler if you want a peaceful trip where they will be occupied.

Spa

Both resorts have a spa and their spas do include some options for junior guests. I overheard some very excited teens on their way to their spa treatments. 

Tipping

This one is always something to plan for in pricing your trips. When Beaches Resorts (and their parent company, Sandals) say ALL-INCLUSIVE, they mean it. Tipping is forbidden on site. This is much easier because on these trips you find yourself at a swim up bar and there's no good place to keep your money dry to tip. You don't see a difference in service based on the biggest tippers. Three places where tipping during a Beaches vacation is allowed but not required: transfer drivers, spa treatment and butler service.

Palace Resorts do not require tipping but it would seem weird not to tip. We tip our transfer driver, the bellhop, the dessert bar, the meals, the room service, bars...you get the point, it adds up.

Safety and Security

We get asked a lot about the safety of a trip to Jamaica, we are always surprised by the ideas some Americans have about travel to Jamaica. I can only assume it is from people that are getting off at cruise ports that are notoriously a frenzied mess or from stories of others that wondered aimlessly through the streets. My husband is a police officer and keenly aware of the dangers most do not notice in our hometown and surrounding area. He has never been concerned. First, we suggest you stay on property or leave only with the designated paid excursions that the resort has already vetted on your behalf. Next, don't wander off property intoxicated or in search of anything from the local "farmers".  There are security personnel on property, video cameras on the beach and excursion desks available to book your trips should you choose to go somewhere. We waked the Negril open beach midday with no concerns and saw security, police and lots of tourists out. We did get approached by locals offering their wears but no one was aggressive, with a swift "no thank you", we were on our way.  Since the beaches are public, there are people walking through or people offering parasailing or marijuana, you can politely refuse and keep walking with no issues whatsoever. 

Accommodations

This really comes down to what you are looking for and what you value in your stay. Beaches properties are very clean with constant staff stepping up to clear all area of drinks, trash, and unused towels. Palace didn't seem to have the same high employee to customer ratio but it was certainly sufficient. The rooms, most meals and snack areas at Palace are in an air conditioned interior building. Our room was oversized with a nice stand up shower (important to me), our "resort view" was just laughable, we were looking at the dirty rooftop of the rest of the resort out our 5 inch French balcony. If a view matters to you, be intentional with upgrading to a room that is beachfront.

Beaches rooms have a very large range and one main reason that booking with a travel agent instead of booking yourself is so important. Again, we have the lowest category of room, it is clean and sufficient. The lowest level here is a garden view, so no dirty red roof! It is a full balcony and not the tiny fake balcony. However, the bathroom does show it's age and the intention of having a tub for bathing children. Then on the other extreme, there are the nicest beach front family accommodations I have seen on any property of any brand. They are astonishing (reach out for a video if interested). As this resort undergoes continual refurbishment I believe the lower categories will be more inviting.

The common areas at Beaches are designed for children under 10. It is smaller than some giant resorts allowing for maneuverability with small children without extreme hassle. There are a lot of multigenerational families and returning guests.

Restaurants

Both resorts have hibachi, sushi, brick oven pizza, jerk shacks, buffets and only a couple require reservations that were easy to secure at check in. Beaches has a delicious new option, Yaku Peruvian food which was excellent. We also enjoyed the Mexican restaurant, Mariachi at both lunch and dinner. They had me at fresh churros!

Moon Palace Jamaica has an area of different food court style options open most of the day. Grab sushi, pizza or sandwiches to order. Their dessert and coffee bar just keeps begging me to come back!

The great thing about a resort focused on children...those of us that eat like children are in great shape. This frozen yogurt restaurant never turned me away...even on my third visit in the same day.

Both have designated dessert restaurants open all day and ice cream which is a big plus for me! Beaches pulls ahead in this area with YoYos frozen yogurt with toppings.

One difficulty at Beaches is that the majority of the dining is outside under covered patios with fans. If you have someone that really needs to get into air conditioning to enjoy their vacation, this would be a frustration. There are no indoor breakfast or lunch options. 

Price Comparison

Looking at entry level, balcony rooms September 2024 for 6 nights for two adults and two kids (14 and 9) the resort cost before flights:

Palace: $2,762.96

Beaches: $5,031.20

(this is not a quote for travel as prices continuously change and are different depending on dates and times of year)

Palace is nearly half the price so you can compare what matters most to you. As Disney enthusiasts, it really reminds me of Pop Century compared to the Grand Floridian. You pay more for the different amenities. So you have to decide what type of trip or experience you are most interested in.

Why choose Beaches?

We book and visit all locations and don't have an interest in one over the other. As travel agents we want our clients happiest so they make memories with their families and book return trips through us. As I contemplated the price difference, I considered who I would think would prefer Beaches.

Sesame street characteres roamed the grounds of Beaches Negril

• Divers: Free diving on site. If you have a diver in the family it is completely free for certified divers to dive twice each day by signing up the day before and showing credentials. Joe dove twice a day for 4 days, those 8 dives would have been expensive to book separately.  All equipment is provided.

Joe between complimentary dives at Beaches Negril

• Sesame Street enthusiasts: The characters are readily available throughout the trip, they stop for photos and interaction, have the on site parade and an inexpensive character breakfast option. There are also shows and activities with the characters included for no additional charge.

Not even jumping into the trash with Oscar could ruin a great Jamaican day!

• Beach Lovers: If being on the beach and in the ocean are important to you, this beach is miles long in both directions and clear water. The Palace beach is small and a bay without clear water.
• Butler service: If it is in your budget, the butler options here are more worthwhile than Sandals in our parenting opinion! Start your day getting ready in the room while the butler brings an sets up your breakfast for the family. Butlers will beat the rush to grab your spot on the beach and mark it as Butler Elite, they bring a cooler to your site, fill it with your family's requests and refill as needed. They bring meals from restaurants, pizza or bbq out to your family at your request. Drinks are never empty and they are a quick call away for any needs you might have, forgot your sunscreen in the room but have toddlers at the beach? No problem, call the butler. This service would make the trip a lot less exhausting with young children.

Airport Transfers

Airport transfers are seamless and included at both resorts.

When you are ready to book this or hundreds of other locations, please reach out, there are never any fees to book with us and have traveled to bring you the most important insider info from each location! dillontravels@gmail.com

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