My Personal Experience on Boscov’s Travel Exclusive Private Non-Stop Charter Flights to Orlando & sailing on an MSC Cruises’ cruise

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took our Boscov’s Travel exclusive private non-stop charter flight to Orlando. Read her incredible experience below.

MSC Cruises’ Seaside

My husband and I went on the Boscov’s Travel exclusive private non-stop Orlando charter the week of October 22, 2023. We weren’t traveling with family this trip so we decided to forego the theme parks in the Orlando area and instead take a relaxing 4-night cruise to the Bahamas along with 2-days in St. Augustine after the cruise.

As a Boscov’s Travel employee, I have taken our charter several times before and it’s always been such a pleasurable experience compared to flying out of the other airports where there’s lots of traffic congestion and extra costs.  The Reading Regional Airport is easy to get to, easy to park (we were right in front of the terminal, mere steps away), and the Boscov’s Travel check-in and TSA security were fast and efficient (all done within a few minutes).  We did not have to pay to park, pay for our seats, or pay for luggage! When you add up all of these costs, these are big savings, plus driving time to the airport is a breeze!

The Southwest Airlines flight crew was friendly and welcoming and our plane ride was very fast and smooth (we arrived early). We were booked on the MSC Cruises’ Seaside sailing to Nassau and Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve, Bahamas. We met an MSC Cruises representative shortly after our arrival at the Orlando International Airport and were effortlessly transferred to Port Canaveral (less than an hour ride) where we boarded the ship.

MSC Cruises’ Seaside

We had a cabin in the Yacht Club which is an exclusive ship-within-a-ship experience with excellent service from the ship’s staff (special praise to Jordan, our waiter and Glen, our butler). As part of the Yacht Club experience, a private butler meets you at the pier and escorts you onto the ship bypassing the long lines. We were checked in promptly at their Concierge Desk and were eating a delicious lunch within minutes at their private dining room. Our Yacht Club experience included the Premium Beverage package, unlimited Wi-Fi and complimentary access to the Thermal Spa area.

Nassau Port Terminal

Our first stop was Nassau, Bahamas which has a very nice and new Port Terminal & Shops.  If you traveled to Nassau in the past, you may remember the old straw market and vendors.  This was not a pleasant experience… very claustrophobic and chaotic with lots of pressure from the vendors to buy their wares.  This new Port Terminal & Shops is very clean, bright and organized with lots of open space, beautiful landscaping and friendly vendors. Such a great improvement! After our shopping jaunt, we returned to the ship where I decided to take advantage of the Thermal Spa (my husband went off to explore the ship). I spent two hours experiencing all the features which included a steam room, two saunas (a dry and a European), a snow room, a salt room, a Vitality pool with oxygen-intensified water, an aromatherapy shower and a heated stone lounge chair. I absolutely loved these last four options!

Our next stop was Ocean Cay – MSC Marine Reserve, their private island.  This island was a former industrial site where sand was excavated that MSC reclaimed and restored to its natural beauty. What was nice about this stop was we were here overnight so we didn’t feel rushed and could enjoy a leisurely day and a half at the beach using the ship as our hotel. As part of the Yacht Club, we were escorted off the ship by our private butler (again bypassing the lines) and taken by a dedicated tram to the Ocean House Beach & Restaurant.  The Restaurant was very nice and served several options for lunch including local fish, lobster and tropical drinks.

Bimini Beach

The beach here is pretty, but we decided to walk a short distance to the North Beach which was located on the lagoon and had beautiful calm clear water with a palm tree-lined beach. On our walk we passed Bimini Beach which has a spectacular lighthouse and views. In the evening, the beach is filled with night-life including a beach party and light show!

Casa Monica Resort

Dinner at Forgotten Tonic

We disembarked the ship on Thursday morning and picked up the car rental shuttle at the pier for the next part of our adventure. We got our car then drove to St. Augustine! Our drive took a little over two hours as we took the scenic route rather than major toll-ways. We checked into the Casa Monica Resort (part of the Marriott Autograph Collection), which is a beautiful hotel built in 1888 nestled in the heart of St. Augustine’s Historic District. We spent the afternoon exploring this area which was all within walking distance of our hotel. Later, we had dinner at a quaint little restaurant called Forgotten Tonic. The restaurant reminded us of dining in a cafe on a Mediterranean street.

St. Augustine Historic District

Flagler College Hall

Alcazar Hotel/City

Spanish Moss – Fountain of Youth

Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the U.S.A.

The next day we took a narrated sightseeing tour of St. Augustine’s historic landmarks on Ripley’s Red Train tour. A special perk is they offer military and senior discounts, but you must ask for it.  Our driver/guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining as he told us about the history of America’s oldest city.  After this tour, we went back to the Orlando area for our overnight stay at the Embassy Suites-Orlando International Airport. The next day check-in at the airport was easy with the help of the dedicated Southwest staff at the North East Flight Departures ticket counter. We did check in three hours ahead of our flight departure time because security lines at Orlando International Airport can be very long. Our flight back to Reading Regional Airport was again enjoyable with a colorful fall aerial view of Berks County as we arrived back in Reading.

We had a wonderful vacation and the charter was truly the best way to get to Orlando! I highly recommend trying Boscov’s Travel’s exclusive private non-stop charter flights to Orlando at least once (and when you fly once with us, you’ll agree it’s the best way to get to central Florida)! Your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor is ready to assist you in planning your Orlando vacation whenever you’re ready! Contact your local Boscov’s Travel or call 800-755-8020 or visit https://www.boscovstravel.com/exclusives/orlando-charter/default.aspx to learn more.

My Personal Experience on an Alaskan CruiseTour: Q&A Edition

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My Personal Experience on an Alaskan Cruisetour: Q&A Edition

In August 2023, one of our Boscov’s Travel employees’ Grandmother took a CruiseTour in Alaska onboard Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas. Read her incredible experience below:

Q: How long have you wanted to go to Alaska and what made you want to go?

A: I’ve wanted to go since the 90’s! Alaska sounded beautiful, nice and different. There seemed to be a different way of life and the thought of going there sounded adventurous. Prior to going to Alaska, I have been to 43 of 50 states. Alaska being an additional one I wanted to check off my list!

Q: How old are you? If I can share because it truly makes this entire experience more incredible in my eyes that you were able to finally make your dreams come true, especially at your age! I admire this.  

A: Yeah yeah, sure. I’m eighty years old.

Q: What finally got you to go to Alaska?

A: I finally found someone to go with me and my granddaughter made it very easy to finally go because she works for Boscov’s Travel. She had my friend and I come in to meet with one of the Travel Advisors. This was my first time using a Travel Advisor, but the service at Boscov’s Travel was phenomenal and we were well taken care of. We took an Alaskan CruiseTour for about two weeks – which means when we arrived in Alaska, we saw places by land and then halfway through we boarded Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas to see even more of the incredible state by ship!

Q: What did you pack that came in handy?

A: My raincoat and rain pants. While it did not rain much, it did rain early in the morning at Icy Strait and on the last day in the morning at Ketchikan. Otherwise, we had great weather, but that’s why these came in handy. My granddaughter also made us matching shirts which were fun to wear on embarkation day. I wanted matching shirts like you see people wear on cruises and she surprised us with them. We got many compliments and it was fun to strike up conversations with fellow passengers because of our shirts!

Q: What do you wish you packed with you?

A: I wish I packed more capris since the weather was pretty in between each day, which I am grateful for. I do feel I had everything I needed as my Boscov’s Travel Advisor gave me a packing list for Alaska. I felt well set with what I took.

Q: What was the weather like during your time in Alaska?

A: The weather for our time there was great! It was between 65 and 75 degrees most days and sunny. There were a few days that started out with clouds and fog, but it always became nice later on in the day. The entire land portion of our tour was sunny and warm. On the ship it was a bit cooler, but it was still very nice. We encountered rain in Icy Strait, Skagway and Ketchikan, but most of the rain was early in the morning or a drizzle so it did not affect our days very much. Overall, there was not really bad weather at all!

Q: What was your favorite hotel you stayed at during the land portion?

A: Sophie Station Suites in Fairbanks. We had a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom. We could walk to a strip mall nearby which had fast food restaurants and also a few grocery stores to get food to make breakfast. There was a restaurant at the hotel, beautiful flowers, and an exercise room. The beds were also very comfortable. Here’s a tip for you, if you go to the bathroom in your room here – the doors are sliding so be careful you don’t get locked in. This was really funny because both my friend and I got locked in.  If you do get locked in, there’s a little round button inside the door hole that you have to push. It took us some time to figure out, but it worked.

Q: What was your favorite land tour destination?

A: Denali Village because it was a cute little village on the river with a beautiful deck off the main building lobby with a restaurant, bar, coffee bar, couches, TVs and a huge deck overlooking the river. There were also hiking paths, little shops, fire pits and the Cabin Night Dinner Theater which had a fun singing and dancing show about Alaskan pioneer times. The family-style food at the theater was very good.

Q: What was your favorite land tour excursion?

A: The excursion we took in Fairbanks was one of my favorites. We started by visiting the Alaskan Pipeline which was really cool. I learned a lot – the pipeline goes from Prudhoe Bay all the way down to Valdez. It was neat to see how big it really was. After the pipeline, we went to the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska. They had a lot of artifacts from when the Alaskan villages had tribes. From there we went into downtown Fairbanks and had lunch at the Crepery – absolutely delicious!

After the Crepery, we completed my favorite part of this excursion, the paddleboat ride! This boat took us up and down the river where we got to see many houses that were built along the river, an airplane landing on the river, and Susan Butcher’s Musher Dog Camp which is now run by her daughters. We were able to see how they hooked the dogs up and watched them pull an atv with wheels since there was no snow at the time. Afterwards, the dogs went swimming! Then the boat went further down the river to a village where they explained the process of how to catch salmon and cure it. Then we got off the boat and went through a village which depicted how the Alaskan tribes used to live. They showed us the animal skins they use to make coats with, the coats themselves, elks they raised and recreated houses that we walked through. The final part of this excursion is where they brought over the dogs from the musher camp so we could pet and play with them. The dogs really liked the kids which was very cute. We ended this fun excursion with a paddleboat ride back to the dock.

Q: What was your favorite place to eat on the land tour?

A: I think the meals we had on the Wilderness Express Train that went from Fairbanks to Denali, then Denali to Talkeetna, and later, Talkeetna to Anchorage were my favorite. We were on this train three different times and each experience of the train was very fun. We ate great food (breakfast, lunch and dinner), had drinks and met fellow travelers. It sounds a little silly but an atmosphere like the Wilderness Express Train makes all the difference for your meals. We got to see a lot of animals and stunning scenery while onboard. The train was a double-decker with the top half being a domed-glass rail car for viewing – phenomenal.

Q: What is your favorite memory from the land portion of your tour?

A: Seeing Mount Denali from Talkeetna Resort. We had beautiful views during the sunset on the back deck of the resort. At first, Mount Denali’s peak was the only visible part of the mountain, but when the sun went down the clouds dissipated and we could see the entire mountain. It was a beautiful and breathtaking moment.

Q: Moving on to the cruise portion of your tour, how was Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas?

A: The ship was very nice! It was just the right size for cruising Alaska. If we were on anything bigger, the ship would not have been able to go to all the ports it did, plus it would’ve taken me too long to get to where I needed to go onboard. They had a lot of activities and our stateroom was nice.

Q: What did you love most about the ship?

A: There were a lot of activities going on so you never were bored. They had trivia in the Schooner Lounge and other games that were fun to play, but also watch. Plus, you can’t forget about the fabulous entertainment and dining options! One of my favorite activities onboard was the parade of flags where they had everyone who was working on the ship carry their country’s flag and put on a performance to show off their country.

Q: What was your favorite entertainment onboard?

A: The Piano Man show was very good. There was a lot of singing, dancing and of course, piano playing.

Q: What was your favorite restaurant and meal onboard?

A: Hands down, my favorite dining experience onboard was Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant. We had a seat by the window and a very attentive waiter. The food was very good. For my appetizer, I had breaded eggplant parmesan with sauce. I’m getting hungry just talking about it. For my main course, I had filet mignon with mashed potatoes, broccoli and dinner rolls on the side. Last but not least, was dessert – tiramisu and coffee. Everything was extremely delicious and my friend also really enjoyed her meal.

Q: What was your favorite excursion from the ship?

A: This is hard to choose, but I really enjoyed Whale Watching in Icy Strait Point. We saw a lot of whales, some were even swimming in groups of three or four, going in and out of the water. The excursion tour operators were great with their knowledge, where to go and where to watch the whales. We learned if you watch the birds and where they flew, there were typically fish there. If there were fish, the whales would also be around.

Q: What was your favorite port?

A: My favorite port was definitely Skagway because there was a lot to do. We went on another favorite excursion of mine here, the White Pass Railroad! This excursion included a ride on the railroad, a salmon bake, Liarsville, and a Red Onion Saloon Tour. We began the excursion by boarding the White Pass Railroad to the Yukon in Canada where we saw some really great scenery along with the path that the prospectors had to take from Skagway up to the Yukon in Canada.

From Canada we took a bus down to Liarsville with a stop at the Alaska welcome sign to take a photo. Liarsville is like a tent city where the miners used to stop before taking the path up to the gold rush fields. We learned the town was called Liarsville because prospectors would make up stories about how much gold they found in the Yukon. I found it very interesting. Liarsville also had entertainment and gold panning where we panned little flakes of gold. There were also little tents set up to demonstrate how the prospectors used to live including a press, madams’ tents, stores and more.  After Liarsville, we went to a salmon bake which was delicious!

Following the salmon bake, we went to the Red Onion Saloon and took a tour of the upstairs brothel and had champagne – very fun! To end our time in Skagway we walked around town and got some ice cream. Something funny to share with you is that we got ice cream in every port because each port in Alaska claims that their ice cream is the best, so we had to try it all.

Q: That’s funny, so who do you think has the best ice cream?

A: They all tasted equally good. But I will say my favorite flavor was Moose Tracks in Skagway, which is ironic being in Alaska (moose), but it was yummy!

Q: What is your favorite memory from a port?

A: This isn’t a port where you can get off the ship, but seeing and cruising the Hubbard Glacier was incredible. The ship did a 360-degree turn during this part of the cruise. We had a balcony stateroom so we sat on our balcony taking in all the scenery and wildlife of this beautiful area. We saw many seals lounging out on icebergs which was cool. I highly recommend a balcony stateroom just for this experience alone.

Q: We’ve talked a lot about the Alaskan wildlife so let’s go over the animals you saw.

A: We really did see a lot of animals! The one place we saw many animals was in Denali on the Tundra Wilderness Tour excursion – so much fun! The animals we saw on this tour included a moose hiding in bushes, brown squirrels, the Alaskan State Bird: the Willow Ptarmigan with its babies, a brown grizzly bear eating berries, caribou, and Dall sheep up on the rocky part of the mountain. If you want to see Alaskan wildlife, this is a great excursion for you! My suggestion would be to go on an early morning excursion so you see more animals as they are very active in the morning. Throughout Alaska we also saw more moose, seals, cows, otters, salmon, bald eagles and of course the musher dogs!

Q: You have shared with me previously you made new friends on your trip. Do you want to share more about that?

A: Sure! We met and bonded with six different pairs and two families during our time in Alaska. During many of our land excursions, we all hung out together and got to know each other. After boarding the ship, we saw some of them and caught up, but we weren’t on any excursions together. Since being home, I have been in touch with about five of the pairs and hope to visit them in the future. We agreed if we ever get to each other’s neck of the woods we would meet up!

Q: What surprised you the most about Alaska?

A: What surprised me the most was how barren Alaska was, even in the towns. There were not many people there at all. Anchorage is the biggest city in Alaska and it’s not much bigger than Reading, Pennsylvania.

Q: Was there anything you did or saw that you wish you skipped?

A: Actually, no.

Q: Is there anything else we did not discuss that you’d like to mention?

A: Well, in Ketchikan the excursion we took was really great! We went to Potlatch Totem Park and saw many Totem Poles. We actually went in a building where they did all the totem carving and learned that the trees are hollowed out so they don’t rot once carved. The carvings each tell a story which is very neat.

After the totem park, we went to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, which was recommended by my granddaughter and a lot of fun. I also now recommend it! After the show, we went to Creek Street a little section of Ketchikan that is built over the water of the Ketchikan Creek. There were houses built on stilts and many shops where the prices were more reasonable than some of the other ports.

We were blessed at Creek Street during the time that we were visiting because the salmon were swimming upstream – meaning we got to see the salmon climbing ladder and jumping out of the water. We also got to see some seals and otters, one which was eating the salmon. We enjoyed this port so I feel it is worth mentioning.

Q: What is a summarization of how Alaska made you feel?

A: Oh boy, I was extremely glad I went there and learned more about the state. It felt like a different country and was so pretty. I was very happy to see everything and had a very good time. So, happy would be the answer to your question.

Q: Would you travel to Alaska again? 

A: Yes, but I would try different things and see new places. I would really like to go to Seward and see the Fjords. I would love to see different towns during the land portion of the tour and cruise to other ports. There’s a lot to see and do in each port so even if I went to the same ports again, I could do something different every time. I also want to go to the Mendenhall Glacier on a raft because I was supposed to do this on an excursion, but it was cancelled due to permafrost causing a flood. This was the only disappointment of my entire trip, which was no party’s fault. This just gives me more of a reason to go back!

Q: What do you recommend to anyone wanting to travel to Alaska?

A: Take a CruiseTour and use a Boscov’s Travel Advisor. If you take a CruiseTour, do the land tour portion first because it is very busy and then once you board the ship you can rest the first day since you’re at sea.

Q: What advice would you give someone going to Alaska for the first time?

A: Pack different types of clothing because the weather can be anywhere from 30 to 80 degrees – you truly never know what it will be. Pack some of everything, but make sure you have layers so you can put them on and take them off. Also, take a backpack so you can use it for said layers as needed.

Q: What was your favorite part about using Boscov’s Travel and would you use them again?

A: I enjoyed the ease of being able to have someone assist me in planning my vacation itinerary and flights. It made my vacation experience much more relaxing. I would definitely use them again. Their services were phenomenal from start to finish. My Travel Advisor was there to assist me along the way with any questions I had. This was the best way to book my Alaskan CruiseTour and I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

Does this incredible experience incline you to explore the Final Frontier? Your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor is ready to assist you in planning whenever you’re ready! Contact your local Boscov’s Travel or call 800-755-8020 or visit https://boscovstravel.com/cruises/alaska.html to learn more.

My personal experience onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took a cruise onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay. Read her incredible experience below.

My family and I had recently sailed to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas! We had such a great time onboard and at the ports! The ship sailed out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey with stops in the ports: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas. So far, I have been on all four Oasis class ships, but this was my first Oasis of the Seas sailing after it’s “royal enhancement,” which means the ship has been newly renovated.

On our sailing, we had adjoined Central Park Balcony View Staterooms and the views were stunning as this neighborhood is set with more than 10,000 plants and flowers – a tropical nature sanctuary onboard. For those of you who don’t know, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships have seven different neighborhoods which include the beautiful open-air Central Park, the Royal Promenade where parades and parties take place, the Boardwalk, the Pool and Sports Zone, the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place, and the Youth Zone. All of these neighborhoods are filled with exciting new discoveries and memories to be made.

The food and bars onboard were absolutely incredible. From the main dining room to the specialty dining, you truly can’t go wrong. We decided to visit the specialty restaurant Chops Grill which was absolutely delicious! My favorite part was the lemon meringue pie which was refreshing and tasty.

Our favorite thing on the cruise ship was the water show Aqua80 – we were blown away! The awesome show is at the ship’s AquaTheater with world-class extreme sports athletes performing top-deck high dives, acrobatics and so much more, all to the tunes of the 1980’s! Aqua80 was truly spectacular!  Don’t forget that on the Oasis of the Seas you need to reserve your showtimes a month prior to your departure via the Royal Caribbean International app.

For our favorite port we visited, we all can agree that we loved Perfect Day at CocoCay! We rented a private cabana on the private island down at the South Beach, which is just one of four beaches on Perfect Day at CocoCay. With our private cabana we received VIP service and our own attendant, which made the experience even more relaxing and fun!

We also took an excursion while we were at Perfect Day at CocoCay. We did a swim with the Bahamian pigs excursion, which was so much fun! The pigs themselves range in colors from black to pink and have cute flat button noses that act as a snorkel when they swim. The pigs were very friendly and so excited to spend time with us. We loved every minute of this excursion!

The best part of our experience onboard the Oasis of the Seas was the great pricing we got for the cruise! We actually booked the cruise with our Boscov’s Travel exclusive public group space, which saved us almost 40% off from the retail promotions that the cruise line runs. These are incredibly special deals! Even better? This Boscov’s Travel group space special pricing is available to you, our valued clients all because of our partnership with Royal Caribbean International!

Overall, we truly enjoyed our cruise to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We love Royal Caribbean International and look forward to future sailings on some of their newly innovated ships that are to be debuted over the next year. I highly recommend cruising with Royal Caribbean as soon as you can, and with our wealth of knowledge, your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor can help you plan your next cruise too. Contact your local Boscov’s Travel or call 800-755-8020 or visit boscovstravel.com/cruises/royal-caribbean/index.html to learn more.

My personal experience at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resort, Montego Bay, Jamaica

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Read her incredible experience below.

We traveled to Iberostar Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the end of March to early April, 2023 for four nights. We enjoy the fun activities, entertainment, beaches and great views that Montego Bay has to offer.  The weather is beautiful as the temperatures in winter is around a high of 82 degrees and in the summer 87 degrees. The best part? The ocean water is 85 degrees all year round! It truly is a wonderful place to visit!

To make our trip as timely and efficient as possible, we booked a personal meet and greet service for our arrival at the Montego Bay Airport. This service brings someone directly to you to assist you through customs, immigrations, and baggage claim, then to your resort. And Iberostar Rose Hall is only a half hour away from the airport! We stayed in a room on the third floor with stunning partial views of the ocean and pool.

This resort was incredible with daily pool activities, nightly entertainment, stunning views, delicious food and so much more. One of the best parts of the trip is the all-inclusive amenities! Iberostar Rose Hall offers five restaurants and 6 bars, including a pool bar. There was no time wasted with all the great things to do on the property.

When staying in Montego Bay there is a lot you can do with many excursion options to choose from if you want to stray away from your resort. On this trip we took a two and a half hour Braco Stables Private Horseback Ride and Swim excursion. This excursion picked us up at our resort to visit the scenic sugar plantations and countryside, then to the shore to swim and go bareback riding with the horses on a beautiful private beach. I highly recommend this tour while visiting Montego Bay!

We really enjoy vacationing in Montego Bay and I highly recommend going at least once. Montego Bay is a stunning vacation spot for anyone. Since I have a wide range of knowledge on the area and of the resorts, it is important that I qualify my clients to fit them with the right resort and activities for what they expect on their vacations. Your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor is ready to help you find the perfect fit for your next vacation in Montego Bay,  Jamaica and beyond. Contact us today!

My experience on the BRAND-NEW Norwegian Prima

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel employees took a cruise on the brand-new Norwegian Prima. Read her incredible experience below.

I’ll be honest with you the thought of cruising made me nervous, neither my boyfriend Matt nor I have gone on a cruise before. My grandparents and my coworkers have all raved about cruising, but I only vicariously lived through their experiences. I wasn’t sure if I ever planned on cruising, but when I was given the opportunity to go on the new Norwegian Prima, I thought ‘how could I possibly not take this incredible opportunity?’ Our cruise was an inaugural sailing on the BRAND NEW Norwegian Prima. The sailing was 4-nights to Halifax, Nova Scotia roundtrip from New York City, NY (no need to fly!).

The morning of our departure was seamless with transportation to the pier and the ease with being able to be dropped off right at the terminal (and right in front of the big and beautiful, Norwegian Prima). Our driver, which happened to be my mother, giggled, got out of the car and asked us to take her photo because that’s the closest she’s ever been to a cruise ship. It was hilarious, but as you can see, none of us have ever cruised before and this was a big deal. My boyfriend and I said our so-longs to her and we went into the terminal. Everybody in the terminal was so friendly and willing to help us navigate where to go and check in. The process was smooth and it only took us approximately ten minutes. We were given a keycard lanyard that would give us access to all things including our room and reservations. We actually found all of this easier and friendlier than the airport. I couldn’t believe I was actually about to step on to a cruise ship for the next five days.

As we walked onboard the Prima, I was amazed. The first area I saw was the atrium which felt like a five-star hotel – three stories tall with a bar on the main level, Starbucks on the next, and a whiskey bar at the top. ‘Am I really on a ship right now?’ I thought. We made our way to our room which was easy to navigate, but there were Norwegian workers to guide the way if assistance was needed. Our room was a balcony stateroom and it was absolutely stunning. The layout was much more spacious than I thought it would be, the bathroom was quaint, the balcony was cozy and the bed was comfy! I was even able to put on my makeup at our room’s makeup stand and hang all our formal attire up in the room’s closet.

Once we got settled in, we went onto the deck and took in the views of the Manhattan skyline and as we sailed away from port we waved to the Statue of Liberty and saw Ellis Island. The view was incredible with the sunset behind Lady Liberty. After this, we knew it was time to explore and make our reservations for dining and entertainment. We wanted to experience every single thing we could to get the most out of our first cruise – and that we did.

My onboard experiences

Dining

I cannot begin to tell you how delicious the food was on the Norwegian Prima. Some of our favorites include the Indulge Food Hall (complimentary), The Local Bar & Grill (complimentary), and Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty). The nicest part about Norwegian Cruise Line is that there are no fixed dining times which means you can eat when you want, with who you want. I enjoyed this because Matt and I never eat at a consistent time – when we’re hungry we’re hungry, so this worked out well for us. We did have to make reservations for our included specialty dining which can be done on the NCL app.

Indulge Food Hall

AMAZING! In an onboard meeting, I learned that Indulge Food Hall is a new dining concept onboard and I truthfully would not want to go without it. You can literally dine around the world from Indian Food to Italian, Latin and more – don’t forget the incredible Coco’s desserts. There are eight dining options and the food hall is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We went here at least once every day. The food choices are endless and I mean it – even if you went here every day for a week-long cruise, you could enjoy something different every single day.

When you order at Indulge, you use a screen to look at all your options and the waiters in your section of the food hall serve your orders and drinks. The staff were super kind and attentive. We even made a friend with our first-day waiter, Bhilly. After our first meeting, he was always ecstatic to see us – he asked us about our day, would recommend food, and just make sure we were having an overall great time. The waiters truly gave exceptional service and I hope to see Bhilly one day again on a cruise.

The Local Bar & Grill

The Local Bar & Grill was a dining option we figured would be more American food as it is a pub option so we waited to go there until our third day for lunch. Boy, were we glad we finally did. I had the fish sandwich the first day and I went back for another the next – that’s how delicious it was. Matt did the same, but with the chicken salad sandwich. All of our appetizers and drinks were perfect. I highly recommend the Local Bar & Grill.

Cagney’s Steakhouse

Apparently, a lot of people like Cagney’s Steakhouse and you can add us to that list. Matt really wanted to go here and we had one specialty dining package to use. For our inaugural sailing, specialty restaurants required reservations so our first day on board we snagged our Cagney’s reservation.

Matt and I ordered an abundance of food to try and there was not a single thing we didn’t enjoy. For starters we ordered the black tiger shrimp trio and the lobster bisque, which had big pieces of lobster in it. I’m getting hungry again just talking about it. For our entrees, I got filet mignon and Matt got the ribeye. Our waiter, Cloyd (fun side note, he said the way you remember his name is either Pink CLOYD or CLOYD Mayweather) came to our table with a box of knives to choose to use with our steaks. Cloyd explained what each knife was good for and what he recommended. Then our steaks came out and I have to tell you, I am not the biggest steak eater, but I’ve never had a better steak in my life. I crave Cagney’s filet mignon all the time now, that’s how good it was!

For our sides we took Bhilly from Indulge Food Hall’s recommendation of parmesan dusted truffle fries and Cloyd’s recommendation of potatoes au gratin, plus some broccoli. I can’t express enough how delicious our food was. For dessert we got the seven-layer chocolate cake and the “omg” caramel-butterscotch cheesecake, both were incredible. If you are a steak-lover or a good-food lover (who isn’t?), I am confident you will LOVE this specialty dining restaurant.

Side note on specialty dining: A few of my fellow coworkers tried out some of the other specialty restaurants including Le Bistro, Palomar, and Los Lobos. Everyone enjoyed their food and recommended their specific choice in specialty dining. I have a feeling you can’t go wrong with any of the specialty dining options.

Bars and Lounges

The bars and lounges on the Prima were so neat and diverse. I’ll touch on some of them.

Belvedere Bar

The Belvedere Bar was tucked away behind the casino. They had fun cocktails and the bartenders were very kind and informative to us as we were new to cruising. The Belvedere Bar was nice for a quiet cocktail during the day and a bit livelier with a small crowd in the evening.

Waves Pool Bar

We visited the Waves Pool Bar as we waited for the ship to sail. My favorite cocktail was the frozen Pina Colada. The drinks were delicious and it was nice to watch all the activity on deck.

Observation Lounge

The Observation Lounge is beautiful because its wide-open windows allow you a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean. We were here for two cocktail hours and the time spent was great and the bartenders were very attentive. My favorite part of this bar and lounge was definitely watching the moon come into view over the ocean as the sun went down.

Penrose Bar

The Penrose Bar is so fun and pretty as it is on the lowest level of the atrium. Plus, being in the atrium it’s a great place to people watch.  After one of the entertainment shows, we went there with a fellow colleague and her husband, had some drinks and listened to the live band. They were phenomenal! Every evening there was a band that played here so don’t miss out as they did not disappoint.

Starbucks

The good ole morning friend, Starbucks. There’s not much to say other than every morning my coffee was great and the lounge was cozy. Keep in mind, there’s a Starbucks in Indulge Food Hall if the line in the atrium Starbucks is too long.

Onboard Activities

The activities and entertainment on the Prima were top tier. From the games, slides, experiences and more, there was always something fun to do!

Prima Speedway

I have to tell you the Prima Speedway was so impressive. How can a three-level go-kart race track on top of a cruise ship not be impressive? This had to be one of the most fun activities on board. Zipping around a race track on top of a cruise ship at almost thirty miles per hour is loads of fun. The track had many turns, dips, and brought you up to the top where you could see amazing views of the ocean. All of us got at least fourteen laps in!

The Speedway also has an observation deck where you can shoot lasers at the go-karts in play to give them a speed boost. On the deck there is a winner’s circle where you can pose for a photo op and see the leader boards for your sailing. The Prima Speedway is great for anyone who likes to have fun, is adventurous and competitive. Even better, get off the track and turn the corner and you’ll be at the Speedway Bar for a drink. The Prima Speedway was incredible and you have to try it out at least once!

Tee Time

Mini-golf on a cruise ship, but not your usual mini-golf, this is an interactive course and tech-immersive! There are nine holes mapped out in a Vegas-style backdrop (out of this world). You will receive your golf ball that has technology in it so every time you place your ball on the green, it syncs up to the hole. The course knows it’s you, knows how many times you’ve hit your ball for par, and at the end you can even win a prize – including a free cruise!

The Bull’s Eye

The Bull’s Eye is your classic game of darts with a twist! The game has a video tracking system that automatically calculates each person’s score. There are multiple types of dart games you can play and the technology keeps your game light-hearted, but competitive. So fun!

The Stadium

The Stadium is a fun place to play it up with tabletop shuffleboard, pickleball, subsoccer (our favorite), beer pong and more! Some of these classic games even have a few twists. Matt and I found our competitive sides yet again, and had such a fun time testing out each game.

Galaxy Pavilion

If you enjoy virtual reality, top golf, and simulators – this is for you! The Galaxy Pavilion has a flying, interactive theater, a TopGolf “driving range,” racing simulators and more. The high-tech world of the Galaxy Pavilion is fun for everyone and I can tell you, we definitely had fun here.

The Drop

Intimidating? Kind of. Fun? YES! We stood on the top deck watching people free-fall down this 10-story slide and it was a bit nerve-wracking. I kept reminding myself that I sky-dived before so I could handle a slide. But this was a free-fall slide that went over the side of a ship. Oh well! We gave it a go and it was SUPER FUN! Once it’s your turn, you get in at the top of the slide and the Norwegian employee will explain how to lay for the ride. Then the door closes over, the countdown begins… woosh – The Drop! The slide was fun with turns and at one part there is a window section of the slide where you can see down to the ocean. If you can overcome the nerves – do try this, it’s worth it.

Pool Deck

While it was a bit to chilly for the pool, we did enjoy the pool deck on our first day since it was a bit warmer than the rest of the sailing. If you like to people-watch like I do, this is a great place for you. The pool deck is definitely the hub area for people to gather, hangout and lounge. The scenery of the ocean was stunning and the pool is fabulous. Don’t forget about the infinity hot tubs (super relaxing with stunning views) and waterslides or get a drink at Waves Pool Bar!

Oceanwalk and The Concourse

The Oceanwalk was beautiful and thrilling. Take a walk and you’ll be impressed as you’ll find the first glass walkway at sea! The ocean is right under your feet and the views are incredible! Right next to Oceanwalk is the The Concourse where beautiful interactive artwork is displayed. We took a lot of fun photos and videos here.

Casino

Casinos aren’t necessarily our thing, but it was really neat to see a full-running casino on the cruise chip. If you enjoy casinos, you’ll love this!

Mandara Spa & Thermal Suite

We decided we wanted to have a nice relaxing day here and we’re both glad we did. If you enjoy spas, you’re going to love this. We bought a day pass to the Mandara Spa & Thermal Suite which allowed us access to robes, towels, refreshments, and some of the spa’s neatest features including: the Vitality Pool & Salt Flotation Pool which has a multi-story waterfall, a relaxation area with hot stone loungers and a beautiful ocean view, a charcoal sauna, a Finnish sauna, an infrared sauna, a salt room, an ice room, a steam room, an experiential shower! The spa also offers massages, acupuncture, manicures/pedicures, facials and more. Plus, there is the Pulse Fitness Center attached to the spa for all to use. The fitness center also has panoramic views of the ocean too. The spa was definitely the place to unwind and feel good so do try it if you like that kind of thing!

Entertainment

I cannot say enough how incredible the onboard entertainment was. For each show you need to reserve your spot to the theater on the NCL app, but if you can’t get a reservation there’s no need to worry! Every night before the show begins you can join a standby que on the NCL app and if someone does not show up for their reservation ten minutes prior to showtime, you’ll get notified that you are able to go in to the show! So get there early and all you have to do is show your notification or reservation and you’ll be on your way to enjoy the entertainment. We were able to get into every show by doing this which was so worth it! Keep reading for our favorite entertainment on board.

Prima Theater turned Nightclub

To begin on the entertainment, the Prima Theater was spectacular because not only were there incredible shows, but it is the first venue in the world that transforms from a three-story theater to a spectacular Vegas-Style nightclub. We watched the theater transform in a matter of minutes. After the transformation, the seats were gone and the dance floor was open – AMAZING! Our favorite theme night at the nightclub was the 80’s Flashback night. The music, lights and vibes were all set as we danced the night away!

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

This Tony Award-nominated Broadway show did not disappoint. I thought it was spectacular. You’ll be immersed in Donna Summer’s incredible life journey all while singing along and dancing to the Disco Queen’s hits. Even though I was not alive during the disco era, I can tell you this Prima Theater show is incredible no matter your age!

The Price is Right Live

Yes, this is exactly what you think it is. The Price is Right brought right to the Prima Theater. Seriously, they brought the real traveling Price is Right Live replication right to the ship. When you arrive at the Prima Theater you will get your name tag and hope you are one of the lucky players to hear “come on down” to the stage to play. We weren’t called down, but the entire experience was super fun.

Syd Norman’s Pour House

At Syd Norman’s you’ll have drinks and sing along to your favorite rock hits. We had so much fun here that went more than one night. The house band was comical, fun, and interactive all while rocking out. It’s one of those things where I will say you have to see it for yourself.

The Improv At Sea

We went to both the family show and the late-night adult show, both of which were hilarious! We really were laughing the night away. Comedy at its finest.

Destination and Excursion – Peggy’s Cove, Halifax, Nova Scotia

I was actually fairly nervous to do an excursion as I did not know what to expect or how it worked. We made our reservations for the excursion on Norwegian’s website and were told to meet in the Prima Theater prior to our excursion start time. Once at the theater, Norwegian employees called the excursion names and when your excursion was called you met with your tour group. We met our group and followed our guide off of the ship. We immediately got into our excursion van and were on our way!

Our ship docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and we chose the beautiful Peggy’s Cove and Arcadian Maple Syrup excursion. Throughout our ride to Peggy’s Cove our guide told us about the area and pointed out popular sites and attractions that we passed. When we finally arrived to Peggy’s Cove and fishing village, our guide explained what we could do and see as well as told us what time we needed to be back at the van. After that, we took off exploring the entire village. We viewed the lighthouse, tried a lobster roll (YUM), took photos, went into the fishing village shops and more. The area was stunning and if you ever go on a cruise to Canada, I highly recommend Peggy’s Cove!

Once it was time to meet back up with the group, we had a head count to make sure everyone was there and moved on to the Arcadian Maple Syrup store to taste the maple syrup and shop. After this stop we made our way back to the Prima. To get back on the ship all we had to do was scan ourselves in with our keycard lanyard and then be double-checked with facial recognition. Going on an excursion was much simpler and exciting than I expected it to be. I’m so glad we went on one!

I’ve officially filled you in on all of our favorite highlights and experiences from the Norwegian Prima inaugural sailing. The morning the ship arrived back in New York City, I was sad to leave. Thankfully, the process to unload was as easy as the process to board. The Norwegian crew announced on the ship’s overhead speakers when it was each group’s time to load off. We waited in a line and the process was simple to go through customs. Then we found my Mom in the pickup area and as soon as Matt and I got in her car we told her she needs to go on a cruise! We do hope to take her on one someday as she would absolutely love it.

Soooo…. To answer your question, yes, I would cruise again! And yes, the Norwegian Prima is really this incredible. I never thought that I’d be on a cruise ship, let alone something as magnificent as this. What I am going to leave you with is if you have the opportunity to go on the brand-new Norwegian Prima, do it! Explore everything you possibly can, relax and have fun! I really hope to go back on a cruise ship soon and by soon, I mean, like yesterday.

I recommend cruising on the Norwegian Prima as soon as you can, and with our wealth of knowledge, your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor can help you plan your next cruise too! Contact your local Boscov’s Travel or call 800-755-8020, boscovstravel.com.

My personal experience visiting Dreams Tulum for Dia de los Muertos

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Last year one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took a trip to Tulum, Mexico for Dia de los Muertos. Read her incredible experience below.

I was fortunate enough to experience the celebration of Dia de los Muertos while visiting Tulum, Mexico.  Although celebrated around the same time of year, Halloween and Dia de los Muertos are not the same. Celebrated throughout Mexico and parts of Central America, Dia de los Muertos is a multi-day celebration of family and loved ones who have passed away. It honors their memory and helps to guide them on their journey to the afterlife. It is a celebration of life, and a reminder that all life is cyclical.

While celebrating Dia de los Muertos, I was able to see elaborate alters which are created out of flowers, seeds, paper banners, water and fire – the four elements – to provide the loved ones’ spirits with everything they need for their journey and to guide them on the right path.

While in Tulum I also visited the Temple of the God of Winds. Tulum is a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city that is on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea. It was a port city for the nearby ancient city of Coba whose ruins are also available for the public to visit.

We stayed at the Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa, which was about a 10 minute cab ride from the ancient ruins, and the small town of Tulum where there are many shops for souvenirs and a number of lovely little cantinas to stop for a cervesa or two. The resort sits on an expansive white sand beach and has two pools including a heated relax pool and a heated activities pool plus a splash park for kids.

You’ll never be hungry or thirsty at this resort, with 6 a la carte, sit down, themed restaurants and a large international buffet to choose from. There are also 6 bars throughout the property and a smoothie bar for all of your drink desires.

We stayed in the Preferred Club section, which gives the guest upgraded status and amenities such as an upgraded, in-room minibar, a Preferred Club section on the beach with Bali beds and wait staff, and a concierge to arrange your reservations, excursions, and spa treatments. It also gives you access to the Preferred Club lounge that serves hot and cold hors d’oeuvres throughout the day, a sit down breakfast service, and top shelf international brand liquors.

When the sun goes down, the night heats up with many activities, entertainments and open bars with live music. One evening they had a complete Mariachi band perform and dance with the guests. Another evening they performed an elaborate stage show depicting Mayan culture and Dia de los Muertos that was wonderful. They had a Cirque du Soleir-like acrobatic performance over the pool with a fire and water theme that was equally enjoyable on another night. Needless to say, their entertainment team is top notch!

If you are considering a trip to Riviera Maya, you can’t go wrong with staying at Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa. While it is a little over an hour away from the airport, it is worth the trip. With our wealth of knowledge, your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor can help you plan your next vacation to Mexico too! Contact us today. See you on the beach!

2023 Orlando Charters are Here

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We are continuing to provide convenient exclusive non-stop flights from select local airports in PA to Orlando, Florida so you can visit your favorite parks, attractions and beaches in 2023!

Boscov’s Travel is both an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and Universal Preferred Travel Agency with a wealth of knowledge to customize your travel package any way you like. Come fly aboard a chartered Southwest Airlines 737 jet with us.

What’s included in the Boscov’s Travel charter?

Included in all Boscov’s Travel Orlando Charters:

  • Non-stop air aboard a Southwest Airlines® charter flight between your choice of three local airports — including Reading, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Harrisburg airports — and Orlando, FL

Additional Services you can add:

With all the recent changes in Disney travel and available packages, it can be confusing. Talk with your trusted Disney travel expert and they will guide you through all the new processes in place to make the most of your Orlando Charter. You choose your itinerary in Florida. Searching for sunshine and crystal-clear blue waters within the U.S. at one of the famed Gulf Coast beaches or a faster pace at Universal Orlando Resort? Planning for the most magical place on Earth? Enjoy travel arrangements for Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, plus Disney’s Water Park options. Your Boscov’s Travel Advisor will customize your package any way you like. Learn more about Walt Disney World

Southwest 737 airplane

What are the benefits of flying from a local airport?

  • These airports offer less congestion than driving to regional airports, little or no fees for 7-day parking, shorter security lines, and overall, less hassle.

Southwest doesn’t offer reserved seating. Can I be guaranteed to sit with my family?

  • Because of our exclusive partnership with Southwest Airlines, we are able to offer you complimentary reserved seating.

What time are the flights?

  • Flights depart at approximately 8:00 AM Sunday morning and return the following Saturday evening.

 

What do you charge for Disney tickets? What about Universal Orlando tickets?

We offer competitive pricing for Disney vacations and Universal Orlando theme parks. Rates vary by season and available offers. Talk to an Advisor and request a quote today!

How much is parking at the airport?

  • Parking is free at the Reading airport. There is a nominal fee for parking at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Harrisburg airports.

How much do you charge for luggage?

  • Your checked luggage flies free. Each passenger is entitled to one checked bag not to exceed 50 lbs., plus one carry-on bag and one personal item.

I’m ready to book my flight on Boscov’s Travel Exclusive Charter to Orlando!

Great! Visit our locations and hours page for find your closest Boscov’s Travel location to start planning today! Outside of the area? We are happy to assist you online and by phone at 800-755-8020.

 

My personal experience at RIU Dunamar Costa Mujeres, Mexico

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took a trip to Costa Mujeres, Mexico. Read her incredible experience below.

We travel to Mexico two times a year and stay at different resorts each time. We enjoy the beautiful sand, drinks, and food – it’s a great place to go! In the past some of our favorite hotels that we have stayed at are RIU Palace Costa Mujeres, Hard Rock Riveria Maya, Sun Palace and Blue Bay Esmeralda. This April 2022 we stayed at the RIU Dunamar, Costa Mujeres, and all-inclusive beachfront and kid friendly resort. We loved it!

This resort is across the bay on the mainland, just north of Cancun. The beauty is its location. This area feels calm and secluded, but is just thirty minutes away from Cancun’s bustling restaurants and nightlife. Isla Mujeres is visible from the resorts in this area.

Some of the best parts of our trips to Mexico is the all-inclusive amenities! RIU Dunamar offers four specialty dinner restaurants, a lunchtime poolside barbecue grill, six bars, including a 24-hour bar with snacks, and two swim-up bars.  I would highly recommend this resort to families because of the Splash Water Park, RIU Land Kids’ Club and poolside activities during the day which are geared towards families.

When staying in Mexico there is a lot you can do with many excursion options to choose from if you want to stray away from your resort. Every time we take our vacation, we take a day trip from our resort to explore the area. On this trip we took a three-hour snorkeling excursion that picked us up at our resort to visit a coral reef, the MUSA statues which are made of material for coral to grow on, a shipwreck and underwater cenotes. The entirety of the excursion was beautiful, fun and educational. Afterward, we visited El Meco which is a small archaeological Mayan Ruins site, which was stunning.

The Mayan Ruins have eighteen structures located off the beaten path to the North of Cancun en route to Costa Mujeres near the Puerto Juarez ferry dock. It has the tallest pyramid on the Northeast Yucatan Peninsula. From the top of the Castillo Ruins one can see the Caribbean Sea, all of Cancun’s lagoons, and Isla Mujeres. I highly recommend visiting some of the Mayan Ruins on a vacation to Mexico.

Obviously, we love vacationing in Mexico and I highly recommend going at least once. Cancun, Rivera Maya and Costa Mujeres are all great vacation spots for singles, couples and families. Since I have a wide range of knowledge on the area, and with all the lodging options and areas to stay in, it is important that I qualify my clients to fit them with the right resort for what they expect on their vacations. Your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor is ready to help you find the perfect fit for your next vacation in Mexico and beyond. Contact us today!

 

My personal experience at the Virginia International Tattoo

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Recently one of our Boscov’s Travel Advisors took a trip to Virginia International Tattoo and its surrounding areas. Read her incredible experience below.

“I recently had the pleasure of attending the Virginia International Tattoo.  To the surprise of many, it has nothing to do with skin tattoos, but is a military exhibition that is the signature event of the Virginia Arts Festival.  This was an especially great experience because it was the 25th Anniversary “Silver Jubilee.”  This performance showcased 25 years of presenting the world’s most patriotic Tattoo, with an all-star lineup up of performers including: Military Bands, Massed Pipes and Drums, Elegant Highland Dancers, Precision Drill Teams, and Stunning International Performers.

The Tattoo was very entertaining and commanded audience participation throughout the show.  Most amazing was the Star Spangled Banner, which brought everyone to their feet; service songs from all branches of the military that asked people to stand when your family’s service song was sung; and a grand finale of hundreds of pipers, military musicians, and singers joining together to perform Amazing Grace.  This event occurs annually in Norfolk, VA.

While there, I took the opportunity to visit various other points of interest including:  Virginia Beach; King Neptune, a colossal 34 feet high bronze statue that rises from the depth of the Atlantic Ocean at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue overlooking Neptune Park; Virginia Military Aviation Museum; Norfolk Botanical Gardens; Navy Cruises “Victory Rover” sightseeing cruise; Nauticus, The National Maritime Center; General Douglas MacArthur Memorial, and the Chrysler Museum.

If you’re looking for a fun, educational, vacation, definitely consider booking tickets for next year’s Virginia International Tattoo and plan several days before and/or after to explore the rest that Norfolk and Virginia Beach have to offer.”

Contact your local Boscov’s Travel Advisor today to book a trip to next year’s Virginia International Tattoo.

My personal experience onboard the Disney Dream

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The following post was written by Ken, Branch Manager at our Camp Hill location and is a review of his recent experience onboard Disney Cruise Line’s Dream and the ports of call.

Almost 25 years had passed since I last sailed on Disney Cruise Line. It was both Disney Cruise Lines’ first year and their first ship, the Disney Magic. Walt Disney World was still celebrating their 25th anniversary. Fast forward to October 2021 – my wife and I took our second Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream. This was also our first post-pandemic cruise and I was quite ready to have a change of scenery and take a “real trip.”

I knew that travel during COVID times was going to be a little different. After spending a couple days at Walt Disney World (this time celebrating 50 years), we headed over to Port Canaveral to prepare to board the ship. The protocol was to be vaccinated and take a pre-cruise rapid-antigen test at the pier. Disney very efficiently administered the testing and within 40 minutes we were notified on their Disney Cruise Line Navigator app that we were cleared to board. 

At that time we were required to wear masks in indoor public spaces on the ship, but this requirement has since been lifted. The word on the pier was that there were about 1,500 passengers onboard a ship holding up to 4,000. The lack of people onboard certainly made it easy to space people out. In the theatre we were seated at least one row and three seats away from any other passengers. We were even encouraged to only share the elevators with those you were traveling with.  

Our 4-night sailing was both a special Halloween-themed voyage and a double visit to Castaway Cay, DCL’s private island in the Bahamas. The Dream was decked out in fall decorations and the lobby’s centerpiece was a spooky pumpkin tree (which became the backdrop of many photos). Guests and crew really went all out for Halloween. Costumes were encouraged on several evenings and guests really got into the spirit. The costumes were mostly homemade and either Disney-themed or pirates.  It seemed like the entire ship dressed up for “Pirate Night,” including the dining room staff and all the Disney characters. Pirate Night culminated with everyone out on deck for DCL’s exclusive “fireworks at sea” show.  

Throughout the cruise we gladly lined up to have our photos taken with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and so on. Sometimes this was in the lobby, other times it was up by the pool on Castaway Cay. We mostly used the adults-only pool deck area; but, since there were hardly any lines, we happily rode the AquaDuck Water Coaster numerous times. This was a Disney Cruise after all, where Disney music plays throughout the ship (except in the adults-only areas) and Disney movies are on the big (make that HUGE) screen out by the pool. We were happy to revert back to being kids for a few days when appropriate.

We kept track of all the happenings on the Disney app on our phone which included our “rotational dining” throughout the ship, plus all the various entertainment. I remembered “rotating” through the various dining rooms on our first Disney cruise and how the wait staff remains with you. The big “wow” show was their Broadway style version of “Beauty and the Beast.” It was extremely well done. Other smaller venues offered singers or music throughout the ship. 

The highlight during the day was our TWO visits to the beautiful Castaway Cay. We took the shuttle to the adult beach, Serenity Bay at the far end of the island. The water here was crystal clear and very calm. You didn’t really have to leave the adults area as it had it’s own bar and a fantastic buffet/grill area. 

I still dream about tropical Castaway Cay and the amazing Disney Dream. I just hope we don’t wait another 25 years to go again!