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Discover Maui: One Of The Most Amazing Islands On The Pacific

by Royal Holiday July 11, 2016

written by Royal Holiday

This island is the second largest in the Hawaiian archipelago. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Maui has a population of 117,644 inhabitants. It is known for its beautiful and diverse beaches and a crater that surfaces from the ocean and is home to a large variety of marine life. Maui has all the features that make it an amazing destination, its beautiful landscapes can be observed while traveling one of the most iconic roads in the world. The turns, tunnels and waterfalls that embellish the Hana Highway and surround the island, are something to behold.

Lahaina is the capital of Maui, formerly the capital of the entire archipelago and until 1845 it was the most famous whaling port in the Pacific. Now, the port can be visited and the historic district is filled with renovated buildings, museums and more.

The island of Maui is also a perfect place to practice aquatic sports like surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. On top of that, golf is a big deal as well and the many cultural outings and terrific restaurants make Maui the perfect place to relax and vacation.

Multi-colored beaches.

Maui’s beaches are quite diverse when it comes to marine vegetation, sea life and colorful sands in white, green and black. Waianapanapa State Park is home to one of the black sand beaches while Kapalua beach has golden sand and Kaihalulu displays sands of a reddish variety. This phenomenon occurs due to volcanic eruptions that mix small lava particles with sand and because of the rapid cooling of the lava by the ocean water, while green sand occurs because of volcanic crystals and minerals that are separated by erosion. The colorful beaches are a marvel seldom seen anywhere else in the world. The strategic location of the volcanic activity of Hawaii is responsible for these wonderful sights.

Places to visit in Maui

Haleakala

This is one of Hawaii’s most beautiful natural parks. It extends all the way from the south coast to the east and it sits at 3,055 meters above sea level. The park is a huge volcano covered in lush vegetation that provides visitors with the most amazing sights. The tip of Haleakala Crater is the tallest spot in all of Maui, sitting at 10,023 feet above sea level. Visiting the top is one of the most amazing experiences you can live in Maui, getting the chance to witness all the botanical diversity and the post-card quality landscapes of all colors and sunsets to die for. Excursions and walking trails in Haleakala are activities mainly geared towards tourist. You can find all information about routes, prices and tours, available in one of the three visitor centers located at the entrance to the park. The national park has an area of over 30,000 acres full of diverse sights like tall green forests, waterfalls and desert among others.

Image courtesy of dronepicr at Flickr.com

Kaanapali Beach

Is this beach, you may engage in all kinds of aquatic sports like snorkeling, submarine rides, scuba and others. The main appeal of this beach is the chance to actually see humpback whales passing by. This place is quite important due to being so large and different from the rest of Maui’s beaches. The beautiful white sand and the crystal clear water make this beach one of the most beautiful places to see in all of Hawaii.

Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery

A modern and innovative idea was born at this farm when a family had the idea of combining organic sugar cane with mineral-rich seawater in order to create vodka. The place is located on the western hills close to the Haleakala volcano. The place is perfect for lovers of fine spirits and those interested in tasting this exotic type of vodka. Here you will find a dedicated guide that will give you all the information about the distillery and how their extraction processes have evolved over the years: and of course, a chance to try their famous drink.

Lahaina City.

Lahania is the most important city in the island and used to be one of the most important harbors in the whole archipelago back when it was Hawaii’s capital. The town has a population of 10,000 inhabitants and thanks to the tourism and agriculture; Lahaina has thrived and became a popular destination for travelers.

One of the main attractions people can find here, is a historic trail that goes through the whole city. The path is full of information posted on helpful signs that talk about the history of Lahaina from its beginning in the kingdom of Hawaii and before the land was even known for its harbor.

For more information about beautiful islands, visit our Royal Holiday Cruises blog.

July 11, 2016 0 comments

Destination Tips Royal at Sea Royal Caribbean Royal Holiday

Fantastic Adventure Islands. A short text on where to go to escape and have fun.

by Royal Holiday January 30, 2016

written by Royal Holiday

What do you think is the perfect vacation to escape from it all? Some think it is going to an all-inclusive hotel to relax and being pampered with cocktails and good food. Others think that the perfect vacation is to go deep into the jungle and experience wildlife first hand. A good handful of people think that escaping the heavy and dense city life is going to paradise islands. Better yet, islands where you can have an adventure and have it all to yourself and really forget you live a normal, 9 to 5 working life surrounded by concrete and people.

Here are 3 adventure islands around the world and some activities that can be done to feel you are really getting away from it all.

Image courtesy of John Finn at Flickr.com

Aitutaki Cook Islands:
it is located in the Central-south Pacific Ocean. A beautiful Polynesian Atoll where you can get lost among the chain of islands that are close to one and other. Also snorkel or scuba dive in the reefs. The smiling locals, pink ukuleles and translucent lagoons will greet you when you arrive. The adventure part is to go on two different types of plans. First, you can kayak or paddleboard on the 7 mile long lagoon. You can leave your boat or paddle on a deserted island and then go snorkelling around the reef to encounter cobalt blue starfish, giant clams and yellow barrel sponges. The other plan is to go biking along the back roads to feel the fresh air and the constant freedom of hot summer winds. It is mostly flat but on occasions you will have a small uphill. Remember to hydrate yourself and stop every now and then to take pictures and to rest. There are bike rentals with baskets so you can go into town and stash your fridge with the necessary things for your stay.
Cayos Cochinos, Honduras:
ever thought about going to Honduras? Cayos Cochinos (or Cochinos Cayes) are a group of two small islands, Cayo Menor and Cayo Grande, which are located 30 miles off the northern shores of Honduras. It as an area of 2 kilometres and with a population of only about 120 people. The islands are a marine protected area and it has a scientific research station in Cayo Menor. The coral reef that you will find here is part of the world’s second largest coral reef system known as the Meso-American Barrier Reef. According to national geographic “”The waters around this collection of coral cays are a marine biologist’s dream: protected by the government, off-limits to commercial divers and fishermen, and busy with creatures that may not yet have names.” You can stay at the scientific research station and share bare-bone wooden bungalows. But if you are looking for a more tourist style trip, you can stay at the Plantation Beach Resort in Cayo Grande. Take a hike through the jungle and reach the lighthouse at the very top of the island and enjoy the fine native kitchen that has to be ordered in advance to yachts nearby. You are obliged to do some snorkelling around reefs and corals that are allowed to visit. Be amazed with the ocean wildlife and some animals that you have never seen in your normal TV shows.

Image courtesy of USFWS – Pacific Region at Flickr.com
Santa Lucia. St. Lucia:
the adventure comes in the form of bike riding. You ride through the jungle. As Michael Allard, owner of Bike St. Lucia says “ it is jungle biking, not mountain biking” and David “tinker” Juarez two time Olympian states “ This is probably the sweetest bike ride in the Caribbean”. Many people stay by the beach and don’t adventure into the jungle. Much of the island’s central and northern interior is part of the St Lucia Forest Reserve. St. Lucia has many jungles, forests and natural parks that only the adventurous ones dare to see. Many bike routes for pros and rookies as well are part of this adventure island designed for bikers. Again, according to Michael Allard, jungle biking is not just for experts. “The pros come for the higher trails, but we also have people who arrive here barely having been on a mountain bike before”.

Image courtesy of Jean-Pierre Chamberland at Flickr.com

What are you waiting for? Book your holiday trip, take your bike out of the dusty garage or rent a kayak and hit the islands of adventure.

Escape from it all by doing something really different in the middle of natural parks and untouched reefs. Swim aside rare animals and Bike down hills and around islands. Always remember to be safe and not go beyond your limits and skills. You want to have a vacation to remember not an injury that you will never forget.

January 30, 2016 0 comments

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The 4 most incredible Blue Holes in the ocean you can’t miss

by Royal Holiday January 11, 2016

written by Royal Holiday

The planet has many wonderful places created by nature that have been discovered by men. Some of them are on land and can be touched and walked, some of them can be seen in the sky, through light. Some of them can be listened through the wind, and a few others can only be found in the ocean. We all know 70% of the planet is water and that means there is an enormous world that even though it can’t be seen from the outside, it can surely be explored on the surface and underneath it. The way these amazing places are explored is by using the proper equipment, skills and care, and that is how all their special details and marvels have been found. So many colors, animals, textures and scenes can be seen in the ocean, but that is not all. In a few very rare locations in the world, unique formations in the ocean called “Blue Holes” have been found. Blue Holes are very large marine caverns or underwater sinkholes that extend below sea level and most of them have deep submerged cave passages that turn out in beautiful dive ecosystems. Some of them are considered true diver’s paradises and are visited year round by divers from all around the world. Blue holes develop normally in islands composed of coral reefs or limestones and are formed by the erosion of carbonated rocks. They look like a big dark blue circle of water in the sea. They are normally located in low coasts that used to be above sea level thousands of years ago. The reason why they appear to be darker is because of their depth and the higher absorption of sunlight due to that depth. The contrast between blue holes and the rest of the colors of the ocean make them a true beauty, not only underwater but from the surface too.

Here are the 4 most famous and beautiful blue holes around the world.

The Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Blue Hole of Belize is called “The great” because of its size. It has a diameter of more than 300 meters and it is 124 meters deep. It is located next to Lighthouse Reef, an atoll 70 km from Belize City and it’s famous for being a beautiful dive spot where a great variety of flora a sharks such as nurse sharks, reef sharks and bull sharks can be found. The Great Blue Hole is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was formed about 150,000 years ago. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was the one who made it popular by saying it was one of the 10 best dive sites in the world.

Dean’s Blue Hole, Long Island – Bahamas

Dean’s Blue Hole is known for being the deepest blue hole in the world, with more 200 meters of depth. It is slightly circular and has a diameter between 25 and 35 meters. The first 20 meters are not very wide, but after descending that specific depth it becomes much wider and turns into a cavern with a diameter of about 100 meters. This Blue Hole is located west of Clarence Town on Long Island Bahamas and is like a deep salt water swimming pool with beautiful clear water full of colorful tropical fish for divers and free divers to enjoy. Snappers, silver-plated tarpons, rays, turtles and seahorses can be found here.

Image courtesy of Christian Afonso at Flickr.com

Dahab Blue Hole, Egypt

The Blue Hole of Dahab is a popular dive site located east of Sinai, on the coast of the Red Sea, close to Dahab, Egypt. It is a vertical cavern with an arch that connects the Blue Hole to the Red Sea. It is about 130 meters deep and it is also known for being a dangerous diving location, due to the confusion it may cause to divers underwater. It is actually called the “Diver’s Cemetery” and is considered being the world’s most dangerous dive site, where more than 30 divers die each year, trying to dive under the arch. Despite its bad reputation, the Blue Hole of Dahab has a great variety of underwater fauna. Divers will be able to find clownfish, lionfish, Spanish dancers and turtles, among others.

Image courtesy of Felix Esteban at Flickr.com

Gozo Blue Hole, Maltese Archipelago

In the Mediterranean Sea, in Dwejra, on the west coast of the island of Gozo, which is part of the Maltese Archipelago is the Blue Hole of Gozo located. It is the smallest known Blue Hole. It is a 15 meters deep inland sea pool and has a diameter of 10 meters. It has an underwater tunnel that connects the hole to the sea. It is also known for being a beautiful dive site where you can find a great variety of marine life such as schools of bream, parrot fish, moray eels, lobsters, octopus among others.

Image courtesy of Darren Barefoot at Flickr.com

January 11, 2016 0 comments