A quick look around the Celebrity Equinox on a sea day. Included are a few of the activities provided and a nice review of the Solarium. Enjoy!! Be sure to follow Maddie and Ryan for more adventures at sea and on land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFFBKouKLfw&t=11s Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much!
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15 Best Things to Do in Victoria, BC: A Cruise Port Guide
Travels with Mickey Cruises Disney Planning & Packing About Cruises Disney Planning & Packing About More than 2 results are available in the PRO version (This notice is only visible to admin users) 15 Best Things to Do in Victoria, BC: A Cruise Port Guide This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you. I only share products I personally use, genuinely recommend, or believe will help make your cruise travel easier and more enjoyable. Thank you for supporting Travels With Mickey! Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a city where history, British charm, and Pacific Northwest beauty come together. Named after Queen Victoria, the city dates back to 1843, when the Hudson’s Bay Company established Fort Victoria. Today, much of that history is still beautifully preserved throughout the city.Some of Victoria’s most recognizable landmarks reflect its rich heritage, including the magnificent British Columbia Parliament Buildings, completed in 1897, and the iconic Fairmont Empress, which opened its doors in 1908.Victoria is also home to the second-oldest Chinatown in North America, after San Francisco. As you explore the city, you’ll find reminders of its British and colonial roots everywhere—from beautifully landscaped gardens and historic buildings to museums, public squares, historic street names, and classic English-style pubs.Whether you’re visiting Victoria on a cruise stop or spending a few days exploring Vancouver Island, the city offers plenty of history, culture, gardens, food, and beautiful places to discover. Arriving in Victoria, BC: Cruise Port & Transportation Guide If you’re visiting Victoria as part of a cruise, you’ll arrive at Ogden Point Cruise Terminal, located in Victoria’s Outer Harbour, just over a mile from the Inner Harbour and downtown.Once you step off the ship, you’ll find tour operators right outside the terminal, making it easy to join an excursion or start exploring Victoria on your own.If you enjoy walking, the route into downtown is straightforward and scenic. It’s roughly a 30-minute walk to the Fairmont Empress, located along the Inner Harbour. Along the way, you’ll get your first glimpse of Victoria’s waterfront and historic charm.Not in the mood for a walk? You have several other options. Pedicabs and horse-drawn carriages are popular ways to get around and offer a fun, leisurely way to see the city while taking in the sights. Taxis and other transportation options are also available near the terminal.For cruise passengers with limited time in port, Victoria is relatively easy to explore, whether you choose to walk, book an excursion, or arrange transportation. Before leaving the ship, be sure to take your SeaPass card and a credit card with you. Your SeaPass is essential for getting back onboard, while a credit card is handy for shopping, dining, or other expenses during your time in Victoria.In most cases, you won’t need to take your passport ashore. The cruise line typically provides the necessary passenger information to local port authorities, allowing you to leave your passport safely secured in your stateroom. Arriving in Victoria, BC: Cruise Port & Transportation Guide Most cruise ships spend only a few hours in Victoria, and many calls are scheduled in the evening, so your time in port can feel especially short. But don’t let that discourage you—you can still experience quite a bit of Victoria in just a few hours.From strolling along the waterfront and exploring the beautiful Inner Harbour to taking an evening carriage ride or simply enjoying the city’s atmosphere, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your time ashore.So, what can you realistically do with just a few hours in Victoria? Here are some of the best ways to spend your time in port. Visit The Butchart Gardens One of the most popular shore excursions in Victoria is a visit to The Butchart Gardens. Located in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, these world-famous gardens attract more than one million visitors each year and were designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004.Created by Jennie Butchart, the gardens cover 55 acres and feature spectacular floral displays, winding walking paths, and beautifully designed themed gardens. It’s an especially popular choice for cruise passengers looking to experience one of Vancouver Island’s most famous attractions.The gardens are approximately 30 minutes from the cruise port, depending on traffic. You can book an excursion directly through your cruise line or arrange your own transportation if you prefer more flexibility. If you’re taking a taxi, expect to pay approximately $55 each way (2026), although fares can vary.If you’re arranging transportation independently, be sure to leave plenty of time to get back to the ship. Traffic can become heavy during peak travel periods, and you don’t want to turn a relaxing day at the gardens into a race back to the cruise terminal.If cruise line excursions are sold out, Viator is another option worth checking. You’ll find a variety of independent tours and experiences, giving you more flexibility and additional choices. Just remember that when booking an independent excursion, you’re responsible for getting back to the ship on time. Choose a tour with a comfortable time buffer before all-aboard. Explore Victoria’s Inner Harbour Downtown Victoria centers around the beautiful Inner Harbour, where there’s always something happening along the waterfront. Tiny ferries cross the harbor, seaplanes take off overhead, and whale-watching boats head out in search of marine wildlife. It’s a wonderful area to simply wander, take photos, and soak up Victoria’s unique coastal atmosphere.Overlooking the harbor is the iconic Fairmont Empress, one of Victoria’s most recognizable landmarks. The historic hotel has welcomed guests since 1908 and is especially famous for its traditional afternoon tea.If afternoon tea is on your Victoria bucket list, pay attention to the timing. Tea service ends at 4:00 p.m., which can make it difficult for cruise passengers arriving on an evening port call. If you miss it, don’t worry—you can still stop inside the hotel and pick up some of the signature tea to enjoy atContinueContinue reading “15 Best Things to Do in Victoria, BC: A Cruise Port Guide”
Celebrity Edge Tour and Day at Sea
Curious to see what the Edge is like? Here is a quick video taken by my son and his fiancee. Watch and subscribe to see what else this cute couple is up to! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJG4sZ_WJR0&t=87s Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much! *Zest4Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Suprise engagement on the Celebrity Edge!
Our son took his girlfriend on the Celebrity Edge Sept 26, 2021. They received an upgrade to a Sky Suite and the staff helped him plan a surprise engagement. Please watch the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvKLIeuqIAg&t=121s Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, Celebrity Cruises – Let’s Go! and A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much!
Must have souvenirs!
When we travel, I love to bring home mementos of our journey….both for me and for friends and family. But this can be challenging. What do I get? How do I get it home? It needs to be small, unbreakable (most of the time!), useful and fun. When going to Alaska, I love to buy small boxes of smoked salmon for gifts. I have also discovered Alaska sea salts by the Alaska Pure Sea Salt Company. This company is based in Sitka, Alaska. I first discovered them in Ketchikan along Creek Street. I have tried the Alder Smoked salt and the Sitka Spruce Tip flake and can recommend both! They are delicious on steak, chicken, fish and roasted vegetables. Since first finding this easy, packable souvenir, I have looked for salt and seasonings in other ports. I have found some in the Caribbean and in European ports. Keep your eyes open in outdoor markets and tourist shops. Smoked Alaska salmon can be found in every port and on most cruise ships in the gift shop. One of my all time favorite things to do in a foreign port is to visit a local grocery store. I usually can find small jars of mustard packaged in something fun, like a drinking glass. France is where I first discovered these, but I have also found them in Germany and Sweden. It’s so much fun to open the jars months later and experience a taste of my journey! Have a look around the store….you may find some local candy, flavor/cooking packets or other small items that you can easily take home with you. My son recently brought home this awesome platter he found in England at a Sainsbury. Since it is unbreakable, it was easy for him to put in his luggage. A few years ago we cruised to the Baltic and visited St. Petersburg, Russia. We really wanted something special from here, but did not want to buy the typical Russian dolls. Imagine our surprise when we walked past a Starbucks and found these! It looks like the Russian Matroyska nesting doll, but is a VERY useful hot/cold drink holder! And for less than $10 each…how could we say no! The perfect memory. Both my daughter and I got one and use them constantly. Other favorite souvenirs are kitchen items….such as dish towels and oven mitts. These are always fun to use and bring back great memories of our travels. And of course…don’t forget mugs and the tea to go in them! These are just a few of my ideas and things I look for. We are always on the lookout for T-shirts and sweatshirts, but how many of these do you really need and/or wear? What are some of your favorite things to bring home? I’d love to hear about them…maybe you will inspire me! Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much! *Zest4Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases. .
Phillipsburg, St. Maarten
The last port of our cruise was Phillispsburg, St. Maarten. We have been here once before, so we decided to just stay locally and enjoy the beach. Since we were here overnight, it was fun to see the town during the evening, when it was basically empty of tourists. And we had the beaches to ourselves both that night AND the next day, as we were the only ship in port. Be sure to watch our YouTube video of our visit! St. Maarten is an island country in the Caribbean and is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It shares the island with Saint Martin, an overseas collectivity of France. This is the smallest inhabited island divided between two nations, dating back to 1648. The capital, Phillipsburg, has cobblestone streets and colorful, colonial-style buildings which line the Front Street shopping area. It is a popular cruise ship stop. The Dutch side is also where you can find the popular Maho Beach, situated near the main runway at Princess Juliana International Airport. Its position between a large hill and a beach provide some spectacular approaches. Aviation photographers flock to the airport to capture pictures of large jets landing very close to sunbathers. I didn’t get many pictures of Phillipsburg, as we headed straight to the beach and I did not want to leave my phone unattended and in the hot sun. Great Bay Beach is an easy walk from the cruise ship. There is a nice boardwalk area with restaurants, bars and a few hotels. You can rent a chair, umbrella and get several drinks for between $10 and $25 dollars. Just depends on who you go to! The French side, Sint Martin, has the popular beaches of Orient Beach and Friar’s Bay. The town of Marigot has some wonderful restaurants serving French style food and local seafood. Be sure to visit the large outdoor market next to the harbor, where you can find lots of souvenirs such as clothing, bags, hats and spices. You can also find locals selling fresh coconuts, which they are happy to open for you. All too soon, our overnight stay in St. Maarten was over and it was time to head back to Ft. Lauderdale. Thankfully, we had another sea day before disembarkation. 🙂 Now it’s time to begin dreaming of and planning for our next Caribbean cruise! For more, check out the YouTube of our son and daughter-in-law. Follow Maddie and Ryan for more adventures at sea and on land. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTHg1jZWg4I&t=56s Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much! *Zest4Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Bridgetown, Barbados
Link to YouTube video on the port is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG8iBVuK0eQ Barbados was first visited by Spanish navigators in the late 15th century and claimed for the Spanish Crown. The island first appeared on a Spanish map in 1511. When an English ship, the Olive Blossom, arrived in Barbados in 1625, the men took possession of it in the name of King James 1. In 1627, the first permanent settlers arrived from England. Barbados became an English, and later, a British colony. On November 30, 1966, Barbados gained its independence from England. The island has retained many of the English customs, such as driving on the left, afternoon tea and cricket. Bajan cuisine is a mixture of African, Indian, Irish, Creole and British influences. The national dish of Barbados is Cou-Cou & fried Flying Fish with a spicy gravy. Flying Fish sandwiches are also served at many of the beach bars and are a popular snack. We visited a local grocery store and bought several packets of Bajan seasoning. Can’t wait to try it! We walked into town from the cruise port and found a fish market. Oh how I wished I had a way to cook some of it! In the center of downtown lies Broad Street. It runs directly through the center of the city and passes the Parliament Buildings. Here you will find the center of city’s shopping area. Just across from the Parliament buildings is a statue of Lord Nelson, which is actually older than the one in London. On the other side of the street, there is a canal which leads directly to the ocean and a small draw bridge for larger, private vessels. The Mount Gay Rum visitors center in Barbados claims to be the world’s oldest remaining rum company, with an confirmed deed from 1703. It was originally called “Kill-Devil” by the Barbadians who first distilled it. Cockspur Rum, which began in 1884 when Valdemar Hanschell created the rum and Malibu, which began in 1893 and is now owned by Pernod Ricard, are also from the island. After exploring the town, we walked back to the ship to grab our swimming and snorkel gear. Barbados has some of the cleanest water in the Caribbean and is known for its expansive beaches. After a short taxi ride, we found a spot on the white sand beach near Shipwreck Beach. We didn’t see any turtles, but did see some fish. The water was a little cooler than St. Thomas, most likely due to the fact that is situated with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. Barbados is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles. Even though it was a little cooler, we were able to stay in the water for a long time and really enjoyed ourselves. I highly recommend visiting the beaches of Barbados. At sail away, we spotted a turtle swimming alongside the ship. This is one island I would consider returning to for a land stay. It is a popular destination for the English and other European countries. One thing to remember when packing though….camouflage wear by the non-military is illegal in Barbados….even by children. It is actually a good idea to NOT wear this type of clothing in ANY Caribbean country. Let’s connect: Join me and other cruisers on Facebook at Zest4Cruising, A Celebrity Cruises Forum, A Celebrity Solstice Cruise Forum, A Celebrity Reflection Cruise Forum, A Celebrity RETREAT class forum and Alaska Cruise Lover Forum You can also follow me at: YouTube at Travels With Mickey Pinterest at Travels with Mickey Instagram at Travels with Mickey Please visit and follow my Amazon store for more helpful items to make your cruise even more enjoyable! P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons are below). Thanks so much! *Zest4Travel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Program. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Basseterre, St. Kitts
Next stop….St. Kitts and Nevis. View the YouTube video at \https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK30220Ythw In 1493, Christopher Columbus sailed by the island of St. Kitts. Although he named it Sant Jago (St. James), later Spanish explorers confused this island with another that Columbus named St. Christopher. As a result, the island became known as St. Christopher. The name St. Kitts was adapted from St. Christopher. Basseterre is the capital of the Confederation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the gateway to popular Saint Kitts beaches like South Friars Bay and Cockleshell Beach. In the heart of the city, Independence Square has an Italian-inspired fountain. Just off the Circus traffic circle, with its Victorian Berkeley Memorial Clock Tower, is the National Museum. In the stately Old Treasury Building, it explores the islands’ colonial past. And calling it Circus traffic circle is appropriate….it is a pretty crazy place! Actually, the name comes from England and is a reference to Piccadilly Circus in London. The clock tower was built in Glasgow and dedicated to the former President of the Legislative Council of St. Kitts, Thomas B. H. Berkeley, in 1883. Basseterre is one of the oldest cities in the eastern Caribbean. It was founded in 1627 by the French and served as capital of the French colony of Saint-Christophe. After a turbulent history involving both the British and the French, St. Kitts gained its independence from Britain in 1983. The city has one of the most tragic histories of any Caribbean capital, destroyed many times by colonial wars, fire, earthquakes, floods, riots, and hurricanes. Despite all of this, a considerable number of well-restored buildings still exist in downtown Basseterre. Port Zante is only used by cruise ships. There is a marina close by for other boats. The Port can accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world. It is built on a reclaimed 15 acre site and contains many shopping opportunities, including jewelry stores, clothing, rum and the St. Kitts Chocolate Factory. St. Kitts Chocolate Factory was started in 2007 and uses carefully selected superior organic ingredients to create handcrafted chocolates using the world’s finest Belgium chocolate, butter, purées, spices, and nuts. To say they are delicious is an understatement! http://www.stkittschocolatefactory.com We had a great time exploring St. Kitts. The city is easy to walk around. We got a great view of our ship from the top of the bell tower of St. George’s Anglican Parish Church, which was begun in 1856. The current building is the 3rd church built on this site, with the first being built in 1672 by Jesuit Fathers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Anglican_Church_(Basseterre) Surprises awaited around every corner…even a colorful donut shop! Right by the port, there was a cute red shack, selling wonderful smelling foods and local beers. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to explore the town and get to a beach, so I guess that will have to wait till next time!
St. Thomas, American Virgin Islands
I finally got the chance to visit St. Thomas…this has been on my bucket list for some time. Be sure to watch our video at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL_h2burcSo St. Thomas is the gateway isle of the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean and is known for beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots. Founded by the Danish in the 1600s, it is a busy cruise ship port. The British occupied the islands without a shot being fired. The British occupation lasted until April 1802 when the British returned the islands to Denmark-Norway. In December 1807, a British fleet again captured St Thomas and held onto it until November 1815, when Britain returned the islands to Denmark. In 1916, Denmark sold St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John to the United States and the island’s inhabitants were granted United States citizenship in 1927. We arrived on the Celebrity Equinox on March 27th in Charlotte Amalie. There are two docks for cruise ships at this port….Little Krum Bay and West Indian Company dock. We were at the one farthest from town…Little Krum Bay. It was a warm, humid day, which is to be expected….it is the Caribbean after all! Just beyond security, there were shops setting up for the day….one was a popcorn stand. These iguanas were making a beeline for them….guess they love popcorn too! They also love the rocks near the water….be careful while walking though….they can really run! Since we had not been to this island before, we took the shuttle into town. I think it was $3/person and they made us a deal, since we were a party of three. After climbing the 99 steps and visiting Blackbeard”s Castle, we happened upon Government House, a neoclassical, gracious three story white building with beautifully intricate ironwork along the balconies. Built between 1865 and 1867, it is a perfect example of the grandeur of official buildings during Danish colonial time. The guards allowed us access to the main lobby, which has display boards of the islands’ governors including Danish, Naval and Civilian; two small paintings by renowned Impressionist artist, Camille Pissarro; and three murals by Italian-American artist Peppino Margravite. My husband was very excited to learn that Camille Pissarro was born in Charolette Amalie, so off we set to find his home. It is now an art gallery, but worth a short visit. This is the hallway leading to the stairs. After our explorations, we were hot and tired, so headed back to the ship for a quick lunch, then off to the beach for some snorkeling. We decided to stay close to the ship. We grabbed a taxi for the short trip to Emerald Beach. This beach is right by the airport and we were treated to lots of planes taking off. The water was warm and wonderful. Near the rocks, we found lots of fish. We swam for about an hour or so, then went back to the ship to get ready for sail away. We had a wonderful visit to St. Thomas!
Best bakery in St. Petersburg, Russia
Walking along Nevsky Prospect, we discovered a wonderful bakery, Konditerskaya Sever. The first written mention of the Bakery on Nevsky 44 is found in the yearbook “All Petersburg” for 1903. It was called “A. Andreev ” and belonged to the first guild merchant Fedor Krymzenkovu. It quickly became very popular with the people of St. Petersburg, and daily lines formed for the freshly baked goods. During the war, the store and a cafe suspended operations, but were resumed in 1946. In 2007, due to an ever increasing demand, a new building was constructed in the Vyborg district, which is equipped with the most modern and technologically advanced equipment from European manufacturers. Now more than 700 professionals are employed in the production of branded products. After reconstruction in 2008, the bakery continues to work the tearoom on Nevsky Prospect, 44 with its own mini-industry. Only here can the citizens and guests of the city try exclusive production of the pastry chef – desserts and cakes with fresh fruit and berries, which are commonly said to “pose in the mouth”. This is one place you truly do not want to miss!