Tag: Travel

Travel

A Day in Honolulu

Lori Martin

You may have noticed that this post is NOT titled “Day 2 Itinerary”, and I will explain why. Everyone will have a different pace that they need to follow. You and your travel partner may be ready to roll on Day 2, but another person might have slept poorly and is feeling exhausted on their first full day. The remainder of my posts will be sample “what to do in a day” posts. You can pick and choose what you want to do from these or follow them to a “T”. It’s your trip and it’s 100% up to you.

No trip to Honolulu is complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor. Well, if you’re traveling with really small children, maybe this is NOT the activity for you, but other than that, it’s a really moving experience. What follows are my tips for a day of Pearl Harbor.

First up, eat a good breakfast. You’re going to have a big day, so start it off right and fuel your body. You know your body best, but I do suggest having a good balanced breakfast. Yes, the French Toast with whipped cream, strawberries, and popping boba SOUND great, but that’s a big sugar spike – only to be followed by an even bigger sugar crash. Maybe today you opt for a few eggs (protein), some healthy fats (avocado), and some carbohydrates (toast or breakfast potatoes).

NEWSFLASH – there is a traditional Hawaiian dish called the Loco Moco. I’m NOT a fan of mixing foods together so I was super hesitant, BUT, I tried it and ohhhh myyyyy gravy. WOWZA! Who’s now a Loco Moco fan? This girl right here! What’s IN a Loco Moco you ask? It starts with a bed of rice (you can get white or fried rice, I prefer white for this dish). That’s topped with a ground beef patty, Portuguese sausage, sautéed mushrooms and onions, topped with brown gravy – and with two eggs (cooked your choice of ways) on top of all that.

The Loco Moco from Eggs N Things (Saratoga)

Once you’ve fueled, head out to Pearl Harbor. You have many transportation options (Lyft, Uber, city bus, rented car, taxi). Our Lyft XL from near the Honolulu Zoo to Pearl Harbor cost about $50. There were four of us going together. Cost for Lyft and Uber vary by time of day, so your results may vary!!

I suggest you plan ahead for Pearl Harbor and buy your tickets online. We had done that, and had tickets for visiting the Arizona Memorial at 1:00 and everything else was at our discretion (time wise). We allowed a half day and that simply wasn’t adequate. We visited the Arizona Memorial and after that the guys went on the submarine to tour that. I’m not a fan of tight spaces, so I opted to walk the grounds while they were on the sub. After that we boarded a shuttle out to the USS Missouri. Unfortunately they were closing within an hour and a half of our arrival, so we really had to hustle through. Was it worth it, even at a rush? ABSOLUTELY!! But, as it was our first time, I could’ve easily spent an entire day there, and the hubs agreed. I’m not going to share a lot of photos from the “destinations” because honestly, you want to see it for yourself. The Arizona was deeply moving to all of us. Over 80 years later, and there is still oil bubbling up from the wreckage. I heard one woman remark that they call those oil bubbles “black tears” and that seemed quite fitting. The hubs had a neighborhood “Mom” during his childhood who had a brother die on the Arizona. It was really something to look at those names and see Mrs. K’s brother’s name up there.

May they all rest in peace
I had no concept of the size of these ships until we saw one in person. They are absolutely massive. To think that a ship this size was hit by an 18″ bomb and came
completely out of the water is simply mind boggling.
Beautiful – Inspiring – Emotional – Solemn

Our visit to Pearl Harbor left me feeling very emotionally drained. I thought a lot about my Dad and uncles as we visited. I wondered how visiting PH had impacted my Dad, as his knowledge of the attack on Pearl Harbor was a lot closer than mine. We all would’ve liked to have had time at the Aviation Museum, but time had gotten away from us and we had to go. Again, this is why I’d 100% suggest you allow a full day for Pearl Harbor. I don’t think you’ll regret it – UNLESS you’re traveling with small children and frankly it’s just going to be too much for them. You know your children better than anyone but I definitely wouldn’t want to subject the youngsters in my life to a full day at a military memorial.

Our Lyft back to the Waikiki area was less expensive than our one out. However, my Lyft account shows that it was a standard ride vs. XL. The ride back was $25.

You may find yourself needing a short rest and/or refresh after a day at Pearl Harbor. Depending on the day of the week and crowds at the time of your travel, you may want to make reservations for dinner. As of February 2025, Open Table seems to be the most commonly used app for reservations in our experience. Choose something for dinner and discuss your experience at Pearl Harbor. Dinner is also a great time to discuss plans for your next day. Perhaps after Pearl Harbor you’re wanting something a little less emotionally taxing. In my opinion, nothing heals the soul as much as good old Vitamin Sea – so maybe a day at the beach is what’s next on your agenda! Don’t forget to enjoy the sunset and take a stroll along one of Honolulu’s bustling sidewalks! There are great restaurants inside the Royal Hawaiian Center, with a range of price points. We enjoyed Noi Thai Cuisine, which offers their dishes on a 1-5 scale for spiciness. For a complete list of restaurants inside the Royal Hawaiian Center, click HERE. It’s a beautiful spot to walk through before and after dinner! Remember my thoughts on going to bed on a full stomach! Get that post-dinner leisurely walk!

If you’re still ready for fun, stop in one of the hotels or restaurants for a drink. The Sheraton Waikiki has a bar/restaurant called “Rumfire”. In the spirit of research for the blog we tried the Mai Tai flight – and discovered that our favorite was the Rumfire Signature Mai Tai. We enjoyed it so much, we tried it again just to make sure it was as good as we believed. And then we went back at least one more time – just to make sure! As of 2/2025, Rumfire offers a dinner menu from 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm, last call for cocktails at 10:45 pm, and last call for food at 9:45 pm. They also offer Happy Hour from 3:00 – 5:00 daily. And, in case you’re wondering, the Mai Tai is $9 during Happy Hour. They have a good selection of food on their Happy Hour menu as well as those delicious beverages!

Pro tip – don’t drink a bunch of Mai Tais and make an impulse buy on your way back to your hotel. Although, this hat might be my favorite Waikiki souvenir!

My sister-from-another-mister always helps me make questionable decisions!

To be clear, YES – I bought that hat and NO – I regret nothing. But, I’m not sure how I’m gonna get that sucker back home. I may have to ship it. The hubs says he’s gonna wear it on the plane. I think he’s bluffing. Kinda.

If you try any of these suggestions, leave a comment and let me know! Heck, if you READ a post, leave a comment and let me know! I dunno if anyone is even out there….helloooo……????

Travel

Day 1 Itinerary

Lori Martin

You landed in Hawaii and you’re ready to GO! Except you’re not. You’ve likely been traveling since the wee hours of the morning (Hawaii time) and now you’re ready for bed and it’s mid afternoon. My tip for Day 1 – and I’m counting the day you LAND in Hawaii as Day 1 – is to give yourself some grace!

Get to your hotel, Air BnB, resort, etc and get settled in. BUT – DO NOT – I repeat DO NOT – take a “nap”. Normally I’m a big proponent for napping, but in this situation, NO NAPS!!! Put on some walking shoes and head out to explore. You may want a quick shower after travel, but DO NOT nap!

First up, explore the area around where you’re staying. If you’re on or near the beach (and that’s a pretty good bet) take a walk along the shoreline. There are wonderful sidewalks, lots of people to watch, and there is NOTHING as invigorating as the sea breeze blowing in your face. Don’t let the sound of the waves lull you to sleep – but let the activity of the beach get you enthused for your Hawaiian vacation!

You’re gonna see ABC Stores – go ahead and just go in one and check it out now! Pretty much anything you need, an ABC is going to have it, and you can find one on just about every block. Remember to throw a reusable shopping bag into your bag or back pocket, because you’re going to pay for every bag in Hawaii.

If you need a snack or a drink, pop into one of the many establishments that you pass as you walk and enjoy. You’re in Hawaii, so as a wise man once told me – “If you go to Hawaii and DON’T have a Mai Tai…did you REALLY go to Hawaii?” Ha ha. Explore, have a drink, grab a snack, and start looking for where you’re going to have dinner.

Killah Dragon at LuLu’s Waikiki – they have a great selection of Gluten Free items and their
Happy Hour is from 2-4 pm (Monday – Friday)

Day 1 – it’s PROBABLY going to be an early dinner. If you’re traveling to Hawaii from anywhere in the mainland US, it’s much later “at home” than it is locally. Please just accept the fact right now that you MAY be ready for “dinner” or “supper” at 4:00 pm in Honolulu. No, that doesn’t make you old. Matching clothes makes you old, but I’ll get to THAT later. The GREAT news about being ready to eat so early is that a lot of places have “Early Bird” specials from 4-6, so look at those menus as you walk by and pick out your first Early Bird spot. Do what makes YOU comfortable, but I like to try new stuff when I travel. There are a lot of chain restaurants that we have on the mainland right here in Honolulu. But, for ME, it’s a hard pass to eat at PF Changs or the Cheesecake Factory. I mean, MAYBE, but it’s not my first pick. It’s a 100% hard pass for McDonalds or other mainland fast food. I am not here to experience the stuff I can get at home. That’s just me, so if eating dinner at Denny’s helps you because it’s familiar, no judgement from me. Just don’t ask me to join you for dinner, because then I’m probably going to judge you. Ha ha – kidding – kinda.

Eat a nice meal and have a cocktail if that’s your thing. You’re on VACATION baby! And not just vacation, but a HAWAIIAN VACATION!!! That’s super special in my book. Order the dessert. You’re doing a lot of walking!

We are tired, but we’re walking, because we cannot go to bed at 6:00 pm, no matter how much we want to! Enjoy the walk, enjoy a meal, and then get ready for a good sleep!

Now, once you’ve eaten and you’re all stuffed and happy, take a leisurely walk back towards “home”. Maybe walk a little past “home” and then turn around and head back. Just give yourself a little “digestion” time, because nobody I know feels great when they go to bed with a full belly. Before you go to bed, drink a glass of water – because HYDRATION! You’ve had a long day of travel and your body needs water! Pay attention to the local time, and my general rule of thumb is that as long as you make it to 9:00 pm LOCAL TIME, you’re good on Day 1. You’re likely exhausted, so making it to 9 pm may be a stretch, but give it the ole college try!

Our first – of many – Waikiki sunsets

Get a great night’s sleep because much adventure awaits tomorrow! If your Hawaiian “home” is near the beach and the temperature cooperates (which it almost always does), open the windows or slider and fall asleep to the sound of the waves. Ahhh – there’s just nothing better in my mind!

Travel

Getting to Hawaii

Lori Martin

One of the biggest expenses when planning a trip to Hawaii will be your travel there. Airfares have been steadily going up since 2023, and fares to Hawaii are no exception. The hubs and I flew to Hawaii for less than $50 total (for both of us). Yes, you read that right. Let me explain how.

I take FULL advantage of reward programs. So, we have the Southwest Visa card that we use for absolutely EVERYTHING. Now, this takes some discipline, because I’ve seen people do this, and they don’t SAVE the money they’re spending so when that credit card bill comes every month, they don’t have the funds to cover it. DO NOT DO THAT!!! It’s SMART if you’re fiscally responsible! Don’t go buy random crap to get miles! Here’s what we do.

Everything possible goes on the Southwest Visa card. I’m talking EVERYTHING!! Utilities, insurance, groceries, gas, etc. If they accept a card, I use that card. Then at the end of the month I go and pay the bill off. If you’re unsure about being disciplined enough to save the money for the bill, here are a couple tips. One is to pay the card every time you use the card. You could do it daily or weekly if that helps you budget easier. You could also move the money from your primary checking account into a savings account daily or weekly, as you spend on the card. However you do it, just remember that you DO NOT want to roll a balance from one month to the next.

I use that card for everything until the Southwest Companion Pass is achieved. Not only am I getting Southwest points on every charge, I also am working my way towards a Companion Pass. Now, perhaps you don’t know what a Companion Pass is. Southwest Airlines has a program where if you earn the CP, someone that you designate as your Companion flies with you for free – you pay the taxes which currently run $11.20 for a round trip flight. There are rules and restrictions for the CP program, but we have had really amazing luck with it. If you’re interested in a Southwest Rapid Rewards Chase Visa, click HERE and not only will YOU get bonus points for joining, but I’ll get some points for referring you! As of 2/14/26, you can use the link to earn a CP valid through 2/28/26, plus 30,000 bonus points! If you’re a business owner you get even more points with the Premier Business Credit Card!

Now, because the hubs and I are business owners, we also have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Business card that we also use. Once the CP has been earned for ONE of our RR accounts, we switch and start using the other card in order to get the CP for the other person as well. Then, if we’re both flying with 2 guests, the guests are free. Please note there are rules and regulations for changing your companion, but it’s pretty straightforward and as long as you pay attention to the rules you’ll be golden!

Now, another concern is “ewwww….flying to Hawaii takes SOOOOO long”. Honestly, it was NOT bad! We flew from St. Louis to Las Vegas. It was an early morning flight and I never sleep great the night before a flight so I was ready for a nap. Anyone else get paranoid they’re going to oversleep and miss their flight?

Once we got to Vegas, we had enough time to hit the restrooms, grab some food, and board our flight to Honolulu. I ate my sandwich, knit for maybe 30 minutes or so, had one cocktail, and then it was off to sleepy land for me again!

We saw the Sphere when taking off from Vegas!

Yes, it’s a 6.5 hour flight from Vegas to Honolulu, but it was not bad. A couple tips –

  1. HYDRATE! Take a refillable bottle of water with you and fill that baby up at every stop. Liquid IV packets are a great way to help get the water down and balance your electrolytes.
  2. Get up at least 3 times during your flight (that’s about once every 2 hours) and walk to the restroom. It’s good to get some blood flowing in your legs and give yourself a stretch, as well as empty your bladder from all the water you’re drinking (see #1 above).
  3. Pack things to keep yourself entertained on a long flight. I loaded up my Kindle with books, I had a knitting project, and I had music on my phone. It was nice to have distractions from sitting.
  4. Here’s another product recommendation and I don’t get anything from this one! Just sharing the love! The hubs and I both get sore legs after prolonged sitting. I had read about Firefly nerve stimulators and decided we’d give it a try for our long flight. Once on board the flight we both put them on and started them up. I can honestly say I feel like they REALLY made a difference for me and I will not only be using them on our return flight, but I’ll also use them on future long car rides (anything over 2 hours tends to make my legs hurt). You can order HERE. Again, nothing gained for me by you buying them. But, anyone who knows me knows that I would never recommend something unless I had experienced a benefit and really believe in it! For our trip I ordered “The Ultimate” so that we both had a pair of devices and straps. You are able to turn the device off when not in use, but once the battery dies, the device must be thrown away. At this time they do not have a rechargeable device.

Now, there are LOADS of airlines that fly to Hawaii, lots of deals to be had, etc. I’m giving you OUR experience, which was with Southwest. If you’re really bougie and want to fly first class, treat yourself! I’m a little bougie and would’ve loved first class tickets, but MAN, I’m also a bit practical and two people round trip for less than $50 – even I’m not passing that deal up!

Once you GET to Honolulu, you need to get from the airport to your hotel, resort, condo, etc. We chose to get a Lyft because we were tired, lugging a lot of luggage, and didn’t want to mess with having to think too much. Lyft and Uber are great options.

You can take the public bus. We have used it a lot since settling in, but did not use it to get from the airport to our condo. I would suggest that if you have the time to plan, order your bus pass ahead of time so that you have it and are ready to go when you land. You can get the bus pass HERE, but remember to allow enough time for the actual physical card to be shipped to YOU at your home address! You can add funds to your card once you get it. At the time of this post, as far as I know, there is not an app on your phone for the bus system. But, I will admit that getting the bus passes was a task I asked the hubs to handle and I don’t know much about it. I just was handed my card and scan it when I get on/off the bus.

There are private taxis and transfers that you can also schedule to get you and your party from the airport to your hotel/condo. Viator has some options. I’m sure you can also find good ones on Google. Just make sure that no matter what you choose you check the ratings!!!

Some people prefer to rent a car for their stay. Parking, however, will be your biggest hurdle for renting a car. Know before you go if parking is available at or near where you’re staying, and how much it costs per day. Parking CAN be very expensive and in our experience thus far, we have not had a need for a car every day.

Check back soon for my first “full day agenda” for adventure on Oahu! Until then, Mahalo friends!

Travel

Travel feeds my soul

Lori Martin

Adventure. Exploration. Wanderlust. Discovery. No matter what you call it, there is nothing as invigorating as traveling to a new place and discovering new things.

For most of February, the hubs and I have had the privilege of being in Honolulu. A week here is an indulgence, but a little over 3 weeks is an insane opportunity that we just could NOT pass up. I’ve decided to create some posts about our time here, including tips for traveling that made our travels easier, sample agendas for different day trips, and some of the restaurants that we’ve really enjoyed. I’ll sprinkle in photos from our travels as well. So, if you are stuck in cold weather and don’t want to hear about it or see absolute paradise, I suggest skipping the posts tagged with #travel or #Honolulu. Ha ha.

Sunset on Waikiki Beach 02_14_2025

But, if you’re interested in travel or think you may want to visit someday, follow along for what hopefully will be an inspiring and educational trip!

Mahalo (that’s “thank you” in Hawaiian)…

Lori

Travel

…and more Venice

Lori Martin

Venice was just too awesome for one post. Day two was more exploring, eating, drinking – repeat. We saw some gorgeous spots. One tip for traveling when it’s hot (and you’re not sure you’ll have easy access to laundry) is WoolX shirts. Seriously! They’re made of Merino Wool – but they’re NOT hot. In fact, they’re soft, moisture wicking, and don’t get stinky. They are quick drying, so if you get stuck in a downpour or decide that you want to wash it out in the sink after several days of wear, these shirts will easily hang dry overnight! I have two of the Mia V-neck shirts and absolutely LOVE them! You can save $20 on a $50 order by clicking HERE! You can thank me later! They’re incredible. I’ve already ordered long sleeve shirts for our May 2024 Alaskan cruise!

OK, back to Venice. We had a washer, but no dryer in our apartment. I guess that’s what made me think of the WoolX tees. I washed my stuff on day 1 and then had everything hung about the apartment hoping it would dry. My jeans and heavier items did NOT dry easily, so those had to be soaked and washed once I got home. I will say had I been comfortable enough to leave them out in the courtyard on the drying rack in the sun, they likely would’ve dried just fine, but I was afraid I’d return and someone would’ve stolen my “Mom Jeans”…which in hindsight, really was not a valid concern!

I’m a big fan of the Aperol Spritz – even located Aperol at home!
Food and drink – amazing!

One thing that was a “must find” while I was in Venice was the Lellabella yarn shop! I had decided that, as a knitter, a cool souvenir would be yarn from my travels. Drake brought yarn back from Scotland for me, so I was on a mission to locate this mother-daughter owned shop that is packed with amazing yarns. I was like a kid in a candy store!

Drake picked out a merino wool/cashmere blend yarn for a scarf/hat combo and then I just bought random things for random projects. The ladies were so lovely to help me and we were able to work through the language barrier fairly easily. While we were there a few local customers came in with their projects seeking help from the owners, which then inspired me to buy more yarn once I saw what it looked like when knit up!

I’m VERY happy that I found the yarn shop!

We walked along, stopping in shops that interested us, taking photos of the beautiful surroundings, and of course – eating and drinking when needed!

For our final full day in Venice, I told Drake and Sara that I was going to get up early, have breakfast at a neighborhood cafe and then head out to Burano for the day. They were welcome to join me or they could do something else, but I wanted to meet up for a nice dinner for our last night. They decided to stay there, so I headed out on the morning of May 23 for Burano. First up was a cafe just around the corner from our apartment for an AMAZING breakfast.

Tiramisu pancakes with a cappuccino – SO DELICIOUS!

I felt like a savvy traveler, navigating the public water bus system and getting myself out there! I had to change water bus lines a few times in order to get to Burano, but I made it.

The trip to Burano included a line change at Arsenale, gorgeous scenery from the boat, and an adorable Venice pup who had a very “Scruffy-like” face and reminded me of home!

Burano is a gorgeous island, full of brightly painted buildings and amazing shopping. Before I got too engrossed with the shopping I stopped at an outdoor cafe and enjoyed a few drinks and some amazing food.

Best spaghetti I’ve ever had. Limoncello spritz vs. Midori spritz – both were delicious and refreshing!
Such vibrant colors, luxurious fabrics, and lively music – it was truly an experience for all your senses!

After enjoying my day on Burano I headed back to the apartment to meet up with Drake and Sara. I knew that at this point, an entire new suitcase would be required to get all my stuff home, so dinner and finding a suitcase were on our agenda for the evening.

We decided to eat dinner at an outdoor cafe on the Grand Canal near Rialto. The food was decadent and delicious – as always – and we were able to sit and leisurely enjoy our meal as well as the sights and sounds of Venice. We enjoyed a delicious appetizer of Buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto and then I had a pasta with freshly shaved truffles on top. Molto bene!

After an amazing dinner it was time to get packed up and ready to head home. The red suitcase is also a “souvenir” from Venice! Pro-tip – pack your suitcase and put it INSIDE another suitcase so you don’t have to buy one on vacation!

We did public water bus transport to the airport, and it was quite easy. I had been watching when we were taking the water bus and knew there were a few that were dedicated Marco Polo lines. We got to the airport, got checked in, and soon boarded our flight back home. It was a wonderful trip! Our flight went from Venice to Atlanta, which is where I left Drake and Sara. Our company had a show in Atlanta that week, so I stayed in Atlanta and met up with the team. Drake and Sara flew on to Nashville and then drove home.

You always see this stuff and it’s easy to say “yeah, I’m going to do that” but not many of us actually do – TAKE the trip, VISIT the places you want to see, DO SOMETHING spontaneous, SPEND TIME with your loved ones. This trip was a great reminder to me that there is an amazing world out there, full of incredible sights…and we are on limited time. This trip reminded me of that and ignited the desire to go, do more. See more. Experience more. Live more.

So, friends – if you’ve made it this far…well, this is just the beginning. More experiences, more new adventure, more fun times are ahead…and I hope you’ll join me in these adventures as well as the average daily life!

Travel

Boarding and Montenegro

Lori Martin

Mother’s Day – time to board my first cruise! It was an exciting day, but the weather was less than enthused. Oh well – I’m not letting the weather dampen my excitement. We waited on our bus until we were able to get off and queue up directly under tents to keep us out of the drizzle. Royal Caribbean representatives were on hand with umbrellas, which was nice, to help anyone who needed to get luggage and get to the tents.

We made it through easily, which I think is partly due to the fact that we had followed instructions. We had our luggage tags, our documents, and were smiling. These all may have contributed to the speed at which we went through the line, but regardless, we made it through the line quickly and were boarding the Explorer of the Seas.

We headed to our stateroom to check it out. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. Three of us were staying in the room and it was much roomier than I had expected – especially the bathroom! I had envisioned a shower that I could barely move around in, but that was not the case. We took a quick photo from our balcony – can you see how excited we are??? — and headed on our way to explore the Explorer of the Seas.

Here’s our view from the Port of Ravenna – I’m sure that it’s absolutely a gorgeous spot on a clear, sunny day. The town (from what I saw as we drove through on the charter bus) seemed really cute and quaint – a place I wouldn’t mind returning to and exploring a bit!

After exploring for a bit (wow – these things are HUGE) and kinda orienting ourselves to the boat (ha ha – we got lost about 2,000 times – thank goodness for the app and maps everywhere) we decided to head to the Main Dining Room, as we had selected 6:00 seating.

First Time Cruiser Alert – when you book a cruise on RC, you’re given the choice between choosing a set time for dining OR “My Time Dining”. We had no idea what the difference was, and felt like picking a time was better, even if it was early. For us – GREAT CHOICE! We could sit at “our table” #230 anytime between 6:00 and 6:30. The folks who did “My Time Dining” were always waiting. We had a table for 4, so if we didn’t show up by 6:30, someone who was waiting on a table for 4 would be seated at our table. But, we noticed that there was always a line at the “My Time Dining” spot and some seemed to wait quite a while.

My impressions of the main dining room were great. You have the same table, and the same servers, the entire cruise. The menu is set, so you choose a starter, entree, and dessert. There are options to “upgrade” to a few options (steak, seafood) but we never did the upgrade simply because all the options were amazing.

Disclaimer – I’m from the midwest, and beef here is like lobster in Maine. The first night Drake and I both ordered the menu NY Strip. I should’ve known better. I liked the steak, but it was more like a piece of beef I’d use for a stir fry or fajitas – it was thin but large. To me a NY Strip is at least 1 1/2″ thick and not as large as theirs. Don’t get me wrong, it was flavorful and tasty, but not what I’d call a NY Strip.

As far as all the other food, amazing. No complaints at all. Our server, his assistant, and the MDR Manager were all wonderful. They updated us on upcoming ports, any news we needed to know, etc. They also made sure we were well taken care of. My personal note on “Formal Night” is do what makes YOU feel comfortable. We skipped MDR for the first Formal Night and hit the Windjammer buffet. Our servers asked us the next night why they missed us. We explained we were not “formal” folks and they said to not worry about that at all. We went into the MDR on the next formal night, straight from coming back from an all day port exploration. We were sweaty, in shorts/tees/sneakers, and had one lady give us the stink eye from her table of elegantly dressed companions. Judge not lady, and enjoy your meal, as we just did!

After dinner we went to our stateroom and our luggage had been delivered so we unpacked a bit and then I decided to enjoy the remaining daylight, so I grabbed my knitting project, my headphones, and my phone with my audiobook and headed to the Solarium. I got a chair and, as you can see – enjoyed the view, my audiobook, and some knitting. It was a great way to relax and try to shake off the normal “hectic” state that I tend to live in!

I like to unpack on a trip (even short ones) so after the sun went down and I couldn’t see out I went back to the stateroom to unpack my things. We booked this cruise last minute, so after I booked it I started reading about cruising “do’s and don’t”. Apparently the first rule is “Don’t book last minute” – whoops. Spoiler alert – we had a great time. Would our price had been better had we booked months earlier – probably, but this was spontaneous and because we had some Delta credit to use or lose, we went for it.

During my “post booking” and “pre boarding” research time, I found some items that seasoned cruisers recommended. Here’s what I bought, what I used, and why they were helpful or not. Remember, if you purchase through the link I’ve provided, as an Amazon Affiliate, I may get a small commission, but I’m not promoting these products to support my family! These are things I’ve actually purchased and used, and I’m being 100% honest with my opinion.

IMO, a “must have” are the magnet hooks. A ship’s walls are metal, so magnet hooks help provide some extra storage. They’re available in a variety of colors and weight limits. We had the 27+lbs hooks and they were adequate for what we used them for. We hung hats, nightshirt, towels, and a scarf/wrap on ours. It was really helpful for the hats – we travel with a lot of hats, so Drake had two hooks and layered his baseball hats on those.

If you’re traveling internationally, you need electrical outlet converters. I bought two of these and used one all the time. Keep in mind that both Drake and Sara had done a study abroad, so they each had their own converter, otherwise both of mine would’ve been needed. A lot of posts indicated a shortage of outlets on the ship, so I had also picked this power strip up, but never took it out of the box, as we had more than enough outlets. But, not all ships are the same, and the box for this is very small, so I have kept it at the bottom of one of my “always goes” travel bags with other items I’ve determined to be “travel necessities” so it’s there if we need it!

I know I said the bathroom and stateroom were more spacious than expected, but there is no exhaust fan in the bathroom. As a kindness to my fellow travelers and in order to not have the room stinky, take this! It’s small enough I was able to keep it in my travel crossbody (see A Few of My Favorite Things) and then leave it in the stateroom bathroom once we were settled.

As a first time cruiser I was nervous about motion sickness. I took some Bonine chewable tablets but never opened those. These behind the ear patches did the trick for both Drake and I when we felt woozy. I will definitely be taking those on our next cruise. I also had Ginger lozenges from doTERRA, which I use normally when my stomach feels icky. I travel with several doTERRA products. My family teases me about it, but whatever! The Breathe, On Guard, and Ginger lozenges were very handy for my trip when something in the air triggered allergies and my nose was running like mad. I also had Oregano oil on hand, as it’s a natural antibiotic, antibacterial, antifungal and all around great item. Again, the link above is an affiliate link, so I may receive product credit if you purchase through the link, but I never recommend something I don’t use!

How beautiful and peaceful is THAT?!?!

On May 15 we sailed into Kotor, Montenegro. Being out first port, it was fascinating and beautiful, even though the weather was rainy and gray. We had booked an excursion through RC for this port, so we followed our instructions and proceeded to the “Tender” into Kotor. The “Tender” is a smaller boat that you board from the cruise ship, and it takes you to the dock at port. The ship as a whole was late getting clearance to start tendering passengers, so we got off the tender and were divided for our tour busses. The three of us must’ve been some of the last passengers on our charter, and each had to sit where we could find an empty seat.

The tour itself was fine for a rainy day. The guide was GREAT and very entertaining, especially given the gloominess of the day. The driver had MAD SKILLS. From the bay, Montenegro seems like a small port with a lush mountain behind it. Little did we know, a road, consisting of over 20 “switchbacks” lets residents and visitors explore the mountain and nearby villages.

Geography lesson time! Montenegro, meaning “Black Mountain” borders Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. It was really beautiful, even on the gray, rainy day we visited. If you’d like to learn more about Montenegro, there’s a great BBC profile HERE. I’m no history buff, but the tour was very interesting. Here’s one crazy fact our guide provided that still blows my mind – he has lived in several different countries, yet he has never moved!

Due to it’s remote location and beauty, Montenegro is becoming quite the tourist spot for celebrities. It seems to be a hidden gem on the Adriatic Coast. Because of the weather and time restrictions, our tour was expedited and any stops were “get in, get out, get back on”. We stopped at a small village and had some Montenegrin prosciutto and “black” (red) wine. Then we stopped at a museum for a quick look at some of the royal artifacts from the Montenegrin Royal family, led by King Nicholas I and Queen Milena. They had 12 children, many of whom married royals from other European countries, giving him the nickname the “father-in-law of Europe”. Notably, their daughter Xenia was a trend setter and pioneer in her own right. While many times “betrothed” she never married. In fact, the ending of her engagement to Alexander I of Serbia was so scandalous, diplomatic relations between Serbia and Montenegro were severed. She remained single, learned to drive an automobile, and was said to be “extremely wholesome…with a sunny disposition”. She did charity work and participated in athletic sports. As her father aged, Xenia served as councilor to him, assisting in governmental tasks. When she participated in an anti-Austrian protest, the Austrian government, to whom King Nicholas was indebted to for past favors, Xenia was exiled to France as “punishment” where she lived out her years enjoying life in Paris.

No photos were allowed in the museum, but I’m sure a google search will provide any history buffs with a plethora of information on Montenegro’s Royal family.

A few photos from our tour – and the view as we sailed away from the beautiful Bay of Kotor.

As luck would have it, the skies cleared as we traveled from the museum back to port. Again, it was beautiful in poor weather conditions, so I would not refuse a trip back, especially one that provided a few days to explore the areas beaches and villages, enjoy traditional Montenegrin food and drink, and see more of this beautiful country.

Sailing away for now – but next stop is Corfu, Greece!