Honest Review - Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas We…read morerecently took a cruise on the Radiance of the Seas with Royal Caribbean International, traveling from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas for 3 nights and 4 days. As Hindu (Krishna/ISKCON) devotees, we follow a strict vegetarian diet--no onion or garlic--and we also offer our food to the Lord before eating. Because of these dietary restrictions, we were honestly very hesitant and nervous about booking a cruise. However, our experience turned out to be absolutely wonderful. To our surprise, there were several Indian chefs onboard who took exceptional care of us. They personally came to our table for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, spoke with us about our dietary requirements, and prepared fresh meals exactly according to our needs. We were expecting that we might have to survive on fruits for the entire trip--but instead, they provided a variety of freshly cooked vegetarian dishes made specifically for us. The level of service truly exceeded our expectations. For any Jain or strict vegetarian devotees who are hesitant about going on a cruise due to food restrictions, I can confidently say that Royal Caribbean is a great choice. Just make sure to inform them of your dietary requirements (such as Jain vegetarian or no onion/garlic) at the time of booking, and they will accommodate you throughout the trip. Overall, the cruise experience was excellent. The service was outstanding, and we had no complaints at all. We were even provided with a quiet conference room where we could perform our daily prayers peacefully. I would give them 10 out of 10 for their service. Thank you--this is our honest review.

We recently sailed on Quantum of the Seas out of San Pedro to Catalina and Ensenada. Overall, we…read morehad a really positive experience! The ship had so many activities and places to explore we didn't even get to see everything. SO many family friendly activities and we loved the pools. We never had a hard time finding a lounger by the pool which is always a sticking point for me. At Catalina, the tender boats were easy to get on and off and it was a fast trip to the island. Staff overall was very professional and polite. Definitely felt a lot of pressure to fill out the survey after the cruise as many staff members explicitly told us to rate them 10. One server mentioned how he needed the 10 score to send money back to his family. Service was excellent, but talk about pressure! I think they should leave it up to the guests to make their own minds. They also pushed the drink packages pretty hard on the ship if you didn't have one. They were always trying to sell something. Food was pretty good! I was surprised. I LOVED the buffet. The specialty dining was OK, not sure if it was entirely worth it. We tried the Italian place on. board and it was pretty good, but along the same quality as the rest of the food on the ship. Definitely recommend making those reservations in advance if you can because they fill up! As a family vacation, this was super affordable and an overall good time for all ages. Highlight was the family karaoke and the rock-a-roke! Casino was fun and ALWAYS busy. However a hand full of the machines weren't working. My son loved the kids club and kept saying he wanted to go back! Our room was nice. We had one queen bed and a sofa/bed (which we didn't use for sleeping cause it was pretty small). For two adults and a toddler it was a good size. Highly recommend getting a room with a balcony! Loved looking out onto the water every day and we even saw a pod of dolphins! So magical! Another way they can improve is to have more pool towel stations! The pools were pretty spread out but you had to walk so far to get towels at the ONE location, and there was always a line. The themed nights were fun and some people went all out with dressing up but there was no pressure to participate. Lots of options for excursions but they are better for adults or older kids. Crazy enough, my mom broke her finger while on the ship and the medical team was so fast and thorough. Kudos to the doctors and nurses on board. TLDR, great affordable option for a family vacay. Decent food, great pools, comfy rooms.

A Great Cruise With Some Gaps -- But The Haven? Game‑Changer…read more Norwegian Cruise Line delivered a really enjoyable vacation overall, but let's call it like it is: this isn't the most kid‑centric cruise line out there. If you're expecting wall‑to‑wall family programming, this isn't that. That said, the Kids Academy was an absolute hit--the staff was fantastic, the activities kept the little ones happy, and it quickly became the go‑to spot. And the arcade? Total blast. Easily one of the highlights for the kids (and, let's be honest, the adults too). Entertainment-wise, the shows could use a little more spark. Nothing bad, just missing that "wow, we need to see that again" energy. A bit more excitement or variety would go a long way. Now... the part that bumps this from a 3.5 to a solid 4 stars: The Haven. We scored a deal, and if you know, you know. Private restaurant, priority everything, a butler who somehow appears exactly when you need them--it's a different world up there. The Haven experience smooths out every rough edge and turns the whole trip into something special. Overall, Norwegian delivered a great cruise with a few areas that could level up, but thanks to The Haven, it felt like a truly elevated getaway. Would absolutely sail again--especially if another Haven deal pops up. Bon Voyage

We are spending Spring break with some of our kids and grandkids this year on the NCL Aqua (party…read moreof 8). We have three different categories of rooms, including one in the Haven, a family balcony cabin and a regular balcony cabin. The Haven cabin is gorgeous, super comfortable bed and we have plenty of storage. We have a butler and a concierge team and they are taking great care of us. We love our nespresso machine as well for our morning routine. The Haven restaurant is nice as well, MUCH quieter than anywhere else on the ship. The Haven Bar is also a quiet retreat in the evening. The bartender's know our names and are phenomenal at what they do. We've been to several specialty restaurants so far and Sukothai's red chicken curry has the 'win' as well as the Sole from Palomar. Don't miss these. The Starbucks on the 7th floor is a hopping place and we've enjoyed a taste of home daily. There is SO much to do- between the pools; the aqua coaster, activity center with mini golf and such, the kids are happy.

Brickell Travel did a fantastic job with my reservation. Anyone I spoke with was friendly and…read morehelpful. In addition Tania was able to provide a last minute upgrade on my return flight. I highly recommend them.

A+++ service. We got off our cruise and decided we wanted to book another getaway ASAP and saw the…read moregreat reviews for Brickell Travel Management and decided to drop by their office for their services. Ennio was so helpful. He made sure he worked with our budget and vacation needs. We wanted to get away from Miami's rainy weather and see some sunshine and that's exactly what Ennio did for us. We didn't give him much time to plan because we honestly wanted to get out of town ASAP. He got us an amazing deal for an all inclusive trip to Cancun with airfare all within our budget and with a flight out the next morning. I've never used a travel agent before but I'm sure glad we did. Me and the hubby were trying to find stuff ourself by using all the traveling websites but weren't able to find anything good and we're getting tired of the process. That's when we decided to give a travel agency a try. Think I'll have to use these guys from now on. Friendly service, knowledgeable agents and super efficient travel planning. Love it.

I needed my US Passport renewed and Miami Passport Agency is the closest to me to get same day…read morerenewal. I highly recommend filling out the paperwork online and making an appointment to make your experience much smoother. Once my first thing in the morning appointment time came a group of us were let in the appointment side. They also take walk ins, through a different side of the building. However if you have an appointment you go to the front of the line for security screening and get to the processing windows first. Security screening (think airport screening) was quick and I was off to the processing window. They reviewed my paperwork and I was told it usually takes about 2 hours to be processed. The procedure for picking up my renewed passport was explained and they also told me a text message would be sent when it was ready. After exploring Miami a little bit I was texted and I got my new passport. Very efficient process and the employees were great.

Fast not that long to wait for the passport if you have an early appointment. We had a 7:45…read moreappointment got there at 7:54 and was still let in for an expedited passport.

We love NCL and have cruised countless times with them . We just recently took a four day cruise…read moreout of Jacksonville Florida to Great Stirrup Cay and the Bahamas. We were not pleased with our room choice. We had the balcony club balcony suite. The TV was the size of a computer screen, and we had trouble all week with the the door to the balcony, we had to call three times before they finally sent someone to fix it. We also were not impressed with the bathroom. I've never been on an NCL cruise line that had a tub and not a shower and not just any tub but a tub that was extremely high. See picture below as usual. The entertainment was great and the drinks were plentiful and the food was great. We would have to rate this cruise ship the Gem in need of some upgrades. We love NCL and will continue to cruise with them

Spent a record 10 days at sea on this ship for their inaugural transatlantic cruise that got…read moreextended and changed right at check-in for a different disembarkation date and port. The captain handled it well. The service staff did the best they could, but it was obviously stressful for everyone to make such big changes last minute before sailing. All of our plans still worked out. Overall a fantastic experience on a brand new ship, specially designed for Caribbean or warm weather cruising with extended outdoor deck spaces for lounging and pools on lower decks in addition to upper deck so you can love the shade or the sun depending on the time of day. Fun rides and games great for older kids and adults like the Tee Time Mini Golf, Drop Dry Slide, Twin Racing Aqua Coasters, Glow Court Interactive Games, and an entire arcade with Duck Pin Bowling. Dinner options are spread out across two main dining rooms, a buffet, an Indulge food hall with international cuisine, local pub & cafe, and 6 additional speciality restaurants. Casual clothing is welcome everywhere on ship and all nights. The current cruise director likes to theme nights according to decades, plus a glow party night- main late night activity after main stage performers is dance party with DJ or sitting in a lounge listening to musicians or comedian. Excellent thermal spa worth the extra spend for the trip if you need quiet spaces to escape and relax, but doesn't offer any true hydro-massage, mostly heat therapies and cold contrast therapies.

Got a few hours before your flight and need a place to store your luggage? You may want to consider…read moreusing Hold My Luggage's luggage concierge where you can book your reservation online or at the kiosk. Located at an outdoor kiosk at the main entrance of Bayside Marketplace, you can conveniently drop your luggage off while you shop, grab something to eat or go on any of the tours within walking distance. It's also a few miles away from the Port of Miami. Being able to walk around Bayside with our luggage was so convenient. It was a good way for us to kill some time after our cruise and before our flight. Pro tip: Ask your Uber or Lyft driver to drop you off at the main entrance of Bayside Marketplace to find Hold My Luggage (across from Starbucks).

Great place to store luggage. I wasn't sure what to expect because it was my first time in Miami,…read morebut the place was super convenient to get to after my cruise. I needed somewhere to store my luggage before heading out to the airport. It was a little hard to find from the google map, but it's towards the back of the second floor of the marketplace. The storage is actually just a small part of a luggage store that is at the end. The lady that worked there was one of the nicest in the planet it was really reassuring given our anxiety about the safety of the luggage. I think this is the perfect place to leave luggage and it was really inexpensive. I would use it again in a heartbeat.

Jared was great to work with! He was extremely considerate, efficient and cared for my needs. My…read moretrip turned out amazing! I look forward to using Picky Up Traveling for my future vacations.

I had such a memorable trip using Pinky Up Travel. Very accommodating and reasonable to work with…read more I will definitely be using Pinky Up Travel for future trips!

I've been on a few cruise lines before and came to the conclusion that cruising just might not be…read moremy thing. But after seeing the ads and reviews for Virgin Voyages, I was intrigued, especially by the adults-only concept, so I decided to try a solo trip. I sailed on the Scarlet Lady for a 5-night cruise out of Miami, with stops in Key West and Bimini. Pros: - Virgin really puts thought into the solo traveler experience. I received a welcome note in my cabin with details about a solo meetup on day one, which made it easy to connect with other travelers and dedicated crew members. - Black Friday deals made it possible to book without paying a double occupancy supplement, which is a huge win for solo trips. - The option to bid for a cabin upgrade was a nice perk for securing more space and a better location. - Dining reservations for the more popular restaurants can be secured once you board. If you miss out initially, you can still join a waitlist directly at the restaurant. - Being able to go straight to your cabin upon boarding was super convenient, and my luggage arrived within a hour. - The sail away party, complete with unlimited champagne and high-energy music, really set the tone for the trip. - The food options were a highlight. Between the rotating ice cream shop, late-night pizza spot, Opa Hour tapas, and The Galley (the avocado toast and desserts had a serious hold on me), there was always something good to eat. - The PJ party was a whole vibe. The DJ kept the energy up with a diverse playlist that had everyone engaged. - The balcony hammock in the cabin is elite. It's the perfect spot to unwind, and a nap is almost guaranteed. Cons: - The pools are on the smaller side and not very deep. - The music playlist can feel repetitive at times. I noticed the same songs playing in the same order two nights in a row. - The complimentary Wi-Fi is inconsistent. It worked fine for scrolling, but streaming apps like Spotify were a struggle. - While most of the staff were great, a few interactions felt less than welcoming, which stood out. - The beach club in Bimini was overcrowded. By the time I arrived around noon, finding a lounge chair was a challenge. Overall, there are clearly more pros than cons when it comes to sailing with Virgin. While I'm still not fully sold on cruising as a whole, this experience definitely shifted my perspective. I'm already considering another Virgin trip; it just might be the one that converts me.

This is my SECOND Virgin Voyages cruise as a SOLO and it was the best time…read more One thing about VV, if you are SOLO, you will never feel alone. They have a Solo meetup so you can meet other solo travelers and you will never feel pressured to hang out with anyone. The food is SO GOOD. There are so many options and you can never go wrong with any. The pizza place closing late is also prime. It is is the hotspot after you go clubbing. The restaurants are incredible Gun Bae is a good time with Asian cuisine. The Virgin is yummy Italian. A little Razzle Dazzle. The galley for 24 hours food. The shows are GREAT and HILARIOUS. The parties are fun. The casino is always a moment. Virgin Voyages will always be the top cruise line. It is just a great moment. I sailed out of Miami both times. i can't wait to go on the European cruise.

Sailed on Carnival Celebration for the first time from February 21-March 1st, 2026. The ship itself…read moreis very new, well kept and has multiple restaurants and attractions for everyone. The restaurants that were unique to this ship compared to the last one I was on were the " Chi-Bang", Cucina del Capitano, Teppanyaki and the steakhouse. I also really enjoyed the pizza from the " pizzeria del capitano" as it was very thin and had fresh ingredients! We did eat at the " cucina del capitano" one night for free, but it wasn't anything special, so I wouldn't go again for $8 per person. The rest of the cruise food was the average meals that you get on all ships--- a bit on the heavier side and tough on my digestive system, but it was nice to have the opportunity to skip the seated dinners to eat a quick salad at the buffet or have other lighter meal. In regards to the layout of this ship, I felt that it was a bit confusing and I definitely missed having the central atrium that was present in all other ships. However, we were fortunate enough to have a room in floor 16 so we could be close to the Lido and serenity. Speaking of serenity--- on previous ships, this was on the back of the boat and thus made for a less windy experience, whereas this time it was located on the front of the boat and you were lucky if your food or towels didn't blow away. My other critique of Celebration is that many attractions required an additional cost--- if you're going to advertise a " roller coaster at sea!" , then you shouldn't be charging guests an additional $15 per person to ride it ONCE. Our local 6 Flags has better deals than that. Furthermore due to the high winds and chilly temperatures during our cruise, the " Bolt" rollercoaster was closed more often than it was open. As a result, when we tried to book a ride, they were all sold out. The ropes course and the water slides are free, thankfully, but one of the slides was broken during our trip, so that was a bummer. In regards to the shows and entertainment on this ship, Carnival Celebration blew all the other ships out of the water ( pun intended). Color my world, We Are One, Noche Cubana, and the circus show were absolutely AMAZING. I felt like I was watching some " cirque du Soleil" shows on the cruise ship, and was very impressed! As usual, their Punchliner comedy shows were also hilarious, and they were always a great end to the evening. Overall, due to the greediness of the owners of the ship in making us pay extra for random unnecessary things, I give the ship a 4/5. That rating also includes the fact that, despite advertising " Celebration Key" as a Carnival owner island, all the activities one would want to partake in cost money. I wish cruise ships would stop getting greedy and instead focus on keeping their customers happy by avoiding extra unnecessary charges.

Overall the seven day cruise was fun and relaxing. What I like about this Carnival cruise was the…read moreparty atmosphere and the variety of food options that we enjoyed without additional costs. The suite life was definitely not as great as Royal Caribbean! The things that we like were the spa shower, the Loft deck (for suite guests use only) and the complimentary bottle of wine. The best perk for booking a suite was the nice size of the room. Unlike Royal Caribbean there was no suite lounge or daily reception. No concierge for booking spa treatments, fine dining etc! There was no coffee available in the suite. There were no treats left by the room attendant. There is reserved seating at all events on Royal not Carnival. Carnival only allowed one meal on their private island Celebration Key (after that you have to pay) Royal provides an endless buffet. There was no private area for suite guests like on Royal Caribbean's private island. The thing I disliked the most about this Carnival cruise was the presence of so much security they were three or four deep everywhere on the ship. In the Limelight club the DJ stopped the music, the lights were turned on and security addressed cruisers with drinks in there hands and no shoes on the dance floor (this happened 4 times while we were there during which the DJ scorned the crowd) It was so tacky. Didn't go back there again. We ate most nights at the Lido Marketplace ( buffet). I like having choices and the food was generally good with the exception of the chicken three times we found it undercooked. The ChiBang restaurant was underwhelming. The appetizers were good the dinner entrees so much. Guys burger joint was delicious just a little salty. The coffee offered in the Lido Marketplace was weak. We had to buy coffee everyday to get a decent cup. The cruise staff were really friendly. The New Year's Eve event was okay. (I like the two Royal Caribbean new years cruises better.) We skipped visiting St. John and Amber Cove ports opting to enjoy the quiet boat instead. Disembarking the boat was quick and easy because we got to the staging area very early and carried our own luggage. Though the walk pushing my luggage back to the car was no fun.