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

by Royal Holiday
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

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.

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CruiseCruise TipsDestination TipsRoyal at SeaRoyal CaribbeanRoyal Holiday

Find Out the Best Tips for Each Royal Holiday Cruise Route

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

Many people dream of going away on a cruise and having the time of their lives, but for some the day it comes it may not be all they had in mind. Planning is everything and getting all the details right will make the difference between an ok experience and a cruise of a lifetime. Royal Holiday offers cruises all around the world to places as exotic as the Greek Islands or as remote as Alaska. In each amazing route you will lose yourself in the amazing scenery and landscapes from beaches to mountains and sunny paradises to frozen wonderlands. To make sure you have an absolutely amazing time on the cruise of your choice here are the tops tips for each of Royal Holiday’s routes.

Alaska

Crown Princess

With Royal Holiday you can visit Alaska on the Crown Princess, but be sure to follow these tips to guarantee an absolutely amazing vacation. To truly enjoy the wildlife and scenery be sure to book your trip, although you will find the routes available, and if you choose this destination it’s important to be aware of the weather and how this may be a difficulty when planning certain activities. If you are decided on enjoying the mountains, glaciers and the Arctic tundra then you have to analyze if you prefer “high” 50s and 70s temperature for the region, but crowds at every stop, and some rain then it’s best to travel in June, July or August. Now if you are more interested in less crowds and cheaper prices then you may consider going in May and September, although it is important to remember that the weather will be more unpredictable so activities may be cancelled more often, and if you’re one for getting seasick than you may reconsider these months due to the choppy waters in the Gulf of Alaska. On the other hand, September does offer the best time of year to see the Northern Lights.    

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Greek

MSC Cruceros – Orchestra and MSC Cruceros – Magnifica

The Greek Islands are for everyone, and will give each traveler an experience they won’t forget. Even if you a history-lover or more of a shopper, you’ll find both ancient ruins to visit and places to learn about the Crusades in the Middle Ages, and stores and galleries that will seem like heaven. Not to mention to gorgeous beaches. Although July and August are the most popular time of year to take a cruise in the Greek Islands, you may want to remember that the temperature can reach up to 100 degrees, whereas you’ll find more pleasant weather in June and September. If you are a wine-lover, besides enjoying the benefits of less people and cooler climate when visiting in September, you will also find that it is grape harvest time at Santorini’s vineyards. While on the Orchestra you will stop by Santorini, one of the most iconic ports in Greece and be able to enjoy your love for wine, while doing some shopping in the city of Oia. So when packing for the Greek Islands prepare for the sun, and once you arrive the crowds especially during high season. Lastly, in Greece there tends to be a high price fluctuation due to tax increases, always verify the prices online before you travel.

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Bahamas

Royal Caribbean – Majesty of the Seas

With Royal Holiday you can take advantage and save money by booking of shoulder-season cruise rates when planning your vacation for April, September or October. When roaming the islands be sure to take full advantage of the meals prepared on deck and included in your package, and then visit the island. You can always rent a taxi and make your own tours. Of course take advantage of the duty-free shopping, but be aware that what you buy is not anything you could get back home for the same or similar price. Finally, just be sure to pack country-club casual clothing, bathing suits and plenty of sunscreen, as well as keeping an eye out for the rising crime especially at night or in remote places.

Southern Caribbean

Carnival – Splendor

While visiting the South Caribbean you’ll find that the high season is December through April, but the best time of year to visit won’t vary since climate is usually quite similar throughout the year. The only warning is to be aware of hurricane season that goes from June through November. You might want to plan your trip for late summer and early fall so that you get the best deals. Everyone who is offering their services will be expected to be paid, so be sure to have an idea of what they cost, as well as the norm 10% to 15% tipping protocol. Be sure to look for Netherlands and French goods that are imported and have great deals. Finally, always ask for a receipt when you pay, to make sure that later there are no confusions of not having paid yet.

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

Image courtesy of Royal Holiday at royal-holiday.com

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Destination TipsRoyal at SeaRoyal CaribbeanRoyal Holiday

Meet these breathtaking islands of the South Pacific

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

  1. Wakaya (Fiji): A $200 bargain

Wakaya is a truly beautiful and well preserved private island, purchased in the nineteenth century for $200. And there, in this dreamy place of the Fiji archipelago, its current owner, David Gilmour, has built one of the best hotels in the Pacific. For his friends and for those who can appreciate a true paradise.

Wakaya is not one of those islets that you can drive around in five minutes. In its 13 square kilometers, there are hills a few hundred meters high ending in towering cliffs, there are closed forests where deer roam, and there are beaches that look like the last corner of the world, the perfect place to hide. This is the place that customers of the Wakaya Club can enjoy, one of the most exclusive hotels in the Pacific.

Wakaya is within the Lomaiviti group of islands, just east of Viti Levu, the main island of Fiji. There is only one way to get there: to fly in a small aircraft that is the whole fleet of Air Wakaya. It’s a 15-minute flight from the airport of Suva -the capital- flying over the sparkling ocean and some islands surrounded by reefs.

  1. Maui (United States): The charm of Hawaii

It is one of the islands that form the most exotic archipelago of the US, but it’s not just any island. Maui is a special place where the beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls and even dawn seem taken from a tale. It is a place where nature seems unreal, no wonder it’s known as “the magical island”.

The sound of “aloha” welcomes you, necklaces and flower tiaras, surfers and pretty girls with hula skirts make up that preconceived popular image of Hawaii, the one you may have seen in countless movies and TV shows. It is obviously much more than that. And within that “much more”, Maui has always had a prominent place. The second largest island of Hawaii boasts, in the South Pacific, having taken a good slice of natural charms when volcanoes distributed its beauty through the archipelago. Hawaiians themselves admit this with their Maui no ka oi, “Maui is the best”, and even the legend tells it: the demigod named Maui pulled out all the islands from the bottom of the sea with his magical hook. And the island that he named must have kept much of that magic, as it has been crowned the best island in the world by the international press on many occasions. Different from the other Hawaiian islands, with small towns, a leisurely lifestyle and natural wonders such as the Haleakala National Park, Maui is famous for its long beaches, waterfalls, romantic sunsets and a broad variety of adventurous activities.

  1. Palau (Republic of Palau): Diving in private

There are thousands of islands scattered across the Pacific Ocean that offer the best gifts of nature. But if what you really like is to enjoy a unique place, where besides dreaming you can go diving in the strictest privacy with 350 species of coral and 1,400 species of fish, that place is the archipelago of Palau.

The Palau have never been involved in any headlines in the international press nor are they excessively known by the general public. Perhaps that is why they have become the secret refuge of such characters as the director of Titanic, James Cameron; and Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. A set of islands that no more than a hundred years ago were under Spanish sovereignty until they were sold to Germany in 1899, along with the Mariana and the Caroline Islands. The nature here is impressive. The feeling of paradise that invades its landscapes is overwhelming. The transparency of its crystalline waters is almost insulting, and splendor of its nature is immeasurable. So many adjectives that have led them to become, in recent years, one of the five preferred destinations for scuba divers.

  1. New Caledonia (France): An almost perfect cocktail

In a shaker, we put a bunch of Melanesian culture, a few drops of Eastern exoticism and a nature so primitive that it would seem as if it were taken from an album of children’s cards. We then add the finest essence of French “savoir-faire” and place it in the Pacific Ocean. An almost perfect cocktail. It’s called New Caledonia.

  1. Aitutaki (Cook Islands): The dream of the South Seas

Aitutaki seamlessly combines all the elements that define the dream island of the South Seas: a barrier reef surrounding a lagoon of waters of impossible color, white sandy beaches, palm trees, and the most admired dancers in Polynesia. 

  1. Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia): A goal of artists and adventurers

We know the innermost archipelago in the planet by the paintings of Paul Gauguin, the trips of famous adventurers and the works of great writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Herman Melville, or Jack London. They created a myth that still captivates those seeking a holiday in peace.

  1. Tonga (Kingdom of Tonga): The land where time is born

Tonga, the Kingdom of 169 islands, is a place where so many Western beliefs contradict themselves that it could only be born in a different time. A favored place of humpback whales, this is the only nation in the Pacific that has never been colonized and it is just above where the time zone ends… or begins.

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These tips will help you make the most out of your first cruise vacation

by Royal Holiday
written by Royal Holiday

So maybe you’re tempted with the idea of ​​getting into a cruise ship to live this experience for your next vacation. Here are some tips for your first time on a cruise!

Boarding

  • Make sure you have all of the documents needed to embark weeks before departure: valid passports, travel permits for minors, visas, international driving permits, and so on.
  • Bring all the documentation sent to you by the shipping company: vouchers or reservation and payment receipts, passenger tokens, cabin number, boarding passes, baggage identification labels (placed in suitcases, obviously), and so on.
  • When you get to the port or embarking station you must bring your luggage with the tags on place, except for the carry-on luggage. Then at the counter you must show the boarding tickets, documents and a credit card for additional purchases.
  • You can carry liquids in your suitcase, and in their original packaging. You’re allowed to take these as there is no maximum weight limit per person, if we assume that each one will carry one or at most two regular suitcases. If in doubt, check the baggage policy of your shipping company. No explosives or weapons of any kind are allowed.
  • You will be given an ID card which you will use for everything on board: extra charges, restaurant reservations or sports facilities, excursions, and even to pose for the “official photo”, if you want. I suggest you take a small hand purse or card holder so you will not lose it when you go to the pool, for example. You must identify yourself with it every time you get off the ship at each port, and again to re-board after returning.
  • Some cruise companies already offer an online check in process up to 3 days before the date of your departure.
Image courtesy of Richard Tanswell at Flickr.com

Image courtesy of Richard Tanswell at Flickr.com

Life on board

  • The ships usually have 110/220 volt electricity outlets -with two round plug holes, except for American ships that usually have plugs with a couple of flat holes. You should take a set of adapters just in case, and some extra adapters to charge two things at once (the iron and mobile phone, for instance).
  • It is not allowed to carry alcoholic beverages in your luggage so any drinks you bring from home, or buy on board or at a stop will remain in custody until the end of the trip.
  • You can not travel with your pet, not even guide dogs can board, with counted exceptions. You should consult with the shipping company about your ship and particular route.
  • When you get to your cabin, take a look at all the services you have, you can unpack and hang all your clothes and read carefully the information that every day you will get in your room, in the logbook. There is the schedule of services, activities, shows, news and so on. It will help you get organized each day on board.
  • In your wardrobe you shouldn’t forget to take all kinds of hats or caps, sunscreen and sunglasses because you’ll be surrounded by water, one of the most reflective surfaces.
  • There’s no need to bring beach towels. All cruises will provide them for you to use in the pool area. You’ll find them at the entrance of the corresponding deck or in your cabin. If you find bathrobes in your cabin, do not use them to go to the pool. Keep it for private use in the cabin or go to the spa.
  • To use your mobile phone you’ll have to wait to be near the coast or port because there is no coverage at sea during sailing days. For this you must have roaming activated. Beware of the rates, though! And remember that it is cheaper to send an SMS than to make a call from abroad.
  • Can you smoke? Please note that on some ships it is totally forbidden. Consult before booking. In most, however, they have specific areas for cigarette smokers. Those who smoke cigars or pipes must do so in the rooms for this purpose. Restaurants tend to be areas where you can not smoke, although in some cases they have a smoking section.
  • Each shipping company has an “official language” that may be Spanish, Italian or English. In that language you’ll find the menus and logbooks.
  • At the start of a cruise an emergency drill is conducted. It is very important (and interesting) for you to participate as they will give you instructions on how to act in case of an emergency of any kind. The evacuation route is indicated in each cabin (usually behind the front door).
  • On a ship you’ll eat well, plenty and tasty. The services are plentiful, varied, well presented. But you do not have to eat everything in one day. Do not despair. Try different dishes and take it easy. Do not throw yourself at the buffet, because there will be more. And if not, there will be something else. And if not, you’ll have another service in a few hours.
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