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Athens photo dump + photo tips (SAVE + SHARE this Athens photo dump + photo tips (SAVE + SHARE this post)! Also get you a tripod, mine is also a selfie stick which I love. It’s literally the single item I use to take our videos and photos 90% of the time. You can set your phone on a timer for photos or use a Bluetooth clicker, I’ll link it in my bio! 

Always shoot with your back camera and with the sun facing you! I personally use Lightroom to edit all of our photos and for videos I edit in splice, VN or capcut.

Last but not least shout out to @vavaasatisfaction for this hair, my girl did that and I’ll def be running this style back!
Things to Do and Where to Eat with 48 Hours in Hou Things to Do and Where to Eat with 48 Hours in Houston with kids #AD @traveltex (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Visit the Cockrell Butterfly Garden

2. Explore the Houston Space Center

3. Walk along the paths at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

4. Check out all the rooms at Color Factory

5. Eat at @Gatlin’s BBQ (Black-owned) and be sure to arrive early as they close at 6pm

6. Try the Brisket at @TruthBBQ

7. Eat ribs at @thepitroom

Have you been to Houston? What other recommendations do you have? 

#GetYourOwnTripToTexas #NationalBBQMonth
Hello Houston! It’s #NationalBBQMonth so what be Hello Houston! It’s #NationalBBQMonth so what better place to experience it than here. #AD @TravelTex 

We’re excited to eat our hearts through the city! If you live in or have been to Houston, what are your recommendations for BBQ places we have to eat at while here? 

SAVE + SHARE this post for your own foodie trip to Houston #GetYourOwnTripToTexas
24 Hours in Athens (SAVE + SHARE this post): We l 24 Hours in Athens (SAVE + SHARE this post):

We landed at 10:30am the day before boarding our cruise and hit the ground running. The best way to get over jet lag is to get on the current time zone immediately so that meant no time for sleep as we needed to stay up. 

🇬🇷 2:00pm Traditional Greek food tour with @foodaroundathens 

🇬🇷 6:00pm: Walk around the neighborhood of Anafiotika 

🇬🇷 7:00pm: Went to the top of the hill near the Acropolis for sunset

🇬🇷 8:30am: Self-guided Acropolis visit

🇬🇷 10:00am: All about Athen e-bike tour with @athensbybiketours

🇬🇷 1:00pm: Lunch at @hoocut for one of the best gyros we’ve had

🇬🇷 2:30pm: Head to the cruise port!

Yes we’re crazy but also we got right on the time zone and were good to go the rest of the trip plus we made the most of our time in Athens!

Do you hit the ground running if you land in a new time zone during the day to beat jet lag or do you sleep and take time adjusting? We love the app Timeshifter to help with jet lag management!
Athens - Boarding Virgin Voyages - Santorini - Rho Athens - Boarding Virgin Voyages - Santorini - Rhodes - Bodrum - Mykonos

What an amazing sailing it was! 10/10 recommend!

Let me know any questions you have and tag who you want to go on this cruise with!
Couples Posing Ideas (SAVE + SHARE this post): So Couples Posing Ideas (SAVE + SHARE this post): So we absolutely suck at posing but here are some amazing poses @geraldhazizi helped us with during our short photoshoot with him in Santorini. I will be using these as references moving forward lol, I love how they turned out. 

We used my phone and tripod most of the trip to capture images or asked fellow cruisers but I’d say this professional shoot in Santorini was worth it. Our session started at 10am so not super early at all, Gerald knew all the best spots and how to avoid the crowds!

Which pose is your favorite?
Tips for sailing on @VirginVoyages Resilient Lady Tips for sailing on @VirginVoyages Resilient Lady (SAVE + SHARE this post):

1. Download the app, it is essential to make your bookings, see what’s going on during your sail, etc.

2. There are 6 speciality restaurants on board for dinner (these are all included in your voyage at no extra cost 🙌🏾). Reservations open 45 days before sailing & are available from 6pm-10pm. If you can’t get a reservation for the day/time you want, don’t worry there are walk-in spots available and we did this many days when we decided to eat at more than one restaurant a night.

3. Be sure to check out the ship activities prior to sailing to pack appropriately for themed nights. Every sailing has a Scarlet Night where you wear red but our sailing also had a pajama party and 80s party and people really dress up!

4. Virgin Voyages doesn’t offer drink packages but they do offer a Bar Tab. You can purchase $300 in advance and get a $50 bonus and this credit can be used for anyone else in your cabin or even friends/family in another cabin so every person doesn’t need one and you don’t have to use it all on yourself. The drinks are very reasonably priced so just be careful getting too much in advance as you can’t use the credit on anything else on board. Beer is as low as $5, a glass of wine $7 and mixed drinks $9 plus tip is included! Soda and non-pressed juices, tea and regular coffee is free on the ship so you won’t have to spend anything on that!

5. Spa services book quickly and can’t be made until you get on board so head straight to the spa to book any appointments you want and note there is a 24 hour cancellation window so if plans change be sure to cancel in advance or you’ll be charged for the full service.

6. Reservations for a time slot for embarkation are required so check in as soon as possible to snag an early time and enjoy the ship longer!

Listen, a time was had on this cruise! Swipe for a cabin tour, food from some of the restaurants on board, and live music. I have more tips coming in a part 2 so let me know if there is anything specific you want me to cover on my next post! Tap the link in my bio for $200 onboard credit if you book a sailing on any Virgin Voyage!

The Traveling Child

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Navigator of the Seas Review: A Royal Caribbean Ship

January 8, 2020      Caribbean, Destinations, The Bahamas

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

We just returned from our second sail on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. If you’re looking for an introduction to cruising or can only spare a weekend getaway Navigator of the Seas is your best option. This is because it is the nicest ship out of all cruise lines doing 3 night cruises. Most cruise lines have their oldest ships do these short cruises but Royal Caribbean invested $115 million in renovating Navigator of the Seas in 2019 to fulfill the ships slogan of Weekend Like You Mean It! Here is my Navigator of the Seas review to help you decide if it’s the ship for you.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

Navigator of the Seas Review: 3 and 4 Night Itineraries

Navigator of the Seas sails from the port of Miami on 3 and 4 night itineraries. The ships 3 night cruises depart on Friday and return Monday morning while the 4 night cruises depart Monday and return on Friday. Both itineraries go to Nassau and the Perfect Day at CocoCay but on the 4 night ones you can choose between two stops at CocoCay or have a sea day. The Perfect Day at CocoCay is on Royal’s private island and it is absolutely amazing, literally non-stop fun. Here’s a video from our visit on Navigator back in May, you can read more about the island here.

Interested in extending your Florida vacation? Read our itineraries for: Orlando, Panama City Beach, Tampa, Fort Myers and Sanibel Island and Miami! 

Navigator of the Seas Review: Things to Do on Board

The reason why Navigator of the Seas is the best weekend cruise is because of all the things to do on board. Most weekend cruises have a crappy pool, one show and that’s it. With everything there is to do on Navigator of the Seas you will have a hard time doing everything during your 3 nights.

The Pool Deck

The pool deck of Navigator of the Seas has the Solarium Adults only pool which is nice and quiet with two hot tubs. Then the main pool deck has two pools, two hot tubs and a kids splash pad. 

There are life guards at every pool and life jackets provided free of charge. Kids cannot enter the pool with swim diapers so make sure they’re potty trained.

The Sports Deck

The sports deck on Navigator of the Seas is where you can find all the thrilling action. Here you’ll find two water slides, the RipTide where you go down head first on a mat and the Blaster which is a two person tube. There is no additional cost for the slides.

For more thrills you can test your skills and balance on the FlowRider. There are two activities here, boogie boarding and stand up surfing. The staff will give you a short demonstration and then you’re on your own to see how long you can last. If you need further instructions you can book a private lesson, while using the FlowRider is free, the private lesson is at a fee. The below video is technically me doing the FlowRider on the Mariner of the Seas since I didn’t get a video this time but it’s exactly the same and in the same spot of the ship. 

This is a photo of the FlowRider on Navigator of the Seas.

If you don’t want to get wet there are still some fun activities on the sports deck for you. There is a basketball court and rock climbing wall. And by chance you just want to relax in this area there are a few hammocks you can lazy around in.

 

Navigator Dunes

While the name isn’t super telling, Navigator Dunes is an onboard outside mini-golf course. There are nine fun holes and the course is open 24 hours a day. The area isn’t manned and you can just grab the clubs, balls and scorecard at your leisure. This activity is also included in your cruise fare.

Arcade

On Deck 12, right next to the Adventure Ocean kids club is the Challenger’s Video Arcade. The arcade is open 24 hours a day but the games are not included in your cruise fare. You can just swipe your sea pass to play and games range from $1-$6. Make sure you’ve disabled your kids charging privileges or have set a spending limit if you plan on allowing them to explore the ship unaccompanied. 

dad playing with two daughters in the arcade on Navigator of the Seas cruise ship racing each other on a racing game

Battle for Planet Z Laser Tag

Laser Tag on a cruise ship? Yes, on Navigator of the Seas you’ll even be able to play Laser Tag! It takes place in Studio B which is also where the ice skating rink is so it’s not available every day and has specific days/hours you can play. Each round lasts 10-15 minutes, with 6 people on each team and it’s quite fun. This is also included in your cruise fare but fair warning the line can get long, especially if it’s only available for one day during your sailing so arrive before it opens to get a spot in line. Closed toe shoes (these cannot be water shoes) are required to play so be sure to pack sneakers and wear them to this activity.

Mom and daughter dressed in laser tag vest to play on Navigator of the Seas cruise ship

Cupcake Decorating Class

If you or your kids are obsessed with baking shows you’ll love that you can take a cupcake decorating class on board Navigator of the Seas. It’s the perfect sea day activity but be aware it comes with a $35 per person fee.

Sushi Making Class

Cupcakes not your thing but love sushi? The Izumi Japanese restaurant on board also offers a sushi making class. Enjoy some sake while you prepare your sushi, it will either help or hurt your chef skills! Check onboard for the price of this class.

Ice Skating

I never would have imagined you could go ice skating in the middle of the ocean but Royal Caribbean is not playing when they say Weekend Like You Mean it! Ice Skating is also included in your cruise fare along with the rental of the ice skates, just bring socks. The ice skating is held in sessions as only a certain amount of people can be on the rink at once so again arrive early to claim your spot.

Mom and daughter ice skating on board Navigator of the Seas cruise ship

Escape Room

Royal Caribbean has really made it so you cannot say that you were ever board on board their ships. The Navigator of the Seas even has an Escape Room! The activity lasts one hour and costs $19.99 per person. You must be 12 years old to participate and there does have to be at least 6 people signed up for the activity to run.

In addition to these activities that aren’t standard on most cruises you’ll also find the typical activities on board. Trivia, karaoke, and game shows can be observed or participated in throughout the day, every day.

Navigator of the Seas Review: Complementary Dining

Cruises are all inclusive so all of your meals, water and lemonade are included in your cruise fare. On board the Navigator of the Seas that means you can dine in the Main Dining Hall (a la carte meals) for breakfast and dinner and eat at the Windjammer, a buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner at no additional fee. While a set number of classic meals remain the same, there are multiple daily specials on the menu in the dining hall and the Windjammer so you always have the option to try something new. There is also El Loco Fresh at the pool deck which serves tacos and quesadilla for lunch, and Cafe Promenade serving pizza until 3AM.

Navigator of the Seas Review: The Speciality Restaurants

While there is a ton of complementary dining there are four specialty restaurants on board are an additional fee. These include the steakhouse Chopped Grill, the Italian Restaurant  Jamie’s, the Japanese restaurant Izumi, and the seafood restaurant Hooked. Other eateries on board not included in your cruise fare are Starbucks, Playmakers Sports Bar, Johnny Rockets, and Ben and Jerry’s.

Jamie’s Italian Kitchen Specialty Restaurant

You can choose to not eat at these restaurants at all, pay per meal if you choose to dine at one for lunch or dinner or buy a restaurant plan. Playmakers Sports Bar, Izumi, Johnny Rockets, Ben and Jerry’s and Starbucks are a la cart while the others are a flat fee for unlimited food during your meal. The unlimited dining package is a flat fee and you can eat at all of the specialty restaurants for one low cost.

Izumi Japanese Specialty Restaurant

For the a la carte restaurants you’ll get a $35 credit per person for Izumi and $25 credit per person for Playmakers Sports Bar, however the credit is per seating so you’ll get the same credit each day. Ben and Jerry’s and Starbucks are not included in the unlimited dining package. If you’re traveling with young kids know that you don’t have to get a package for kids 12 and under. Kids 0-5 eat for free at speciality restaurants and kids 6-12 just pay $10 so need to buy a package, they will add the charge as you go to the restaurants. 

Hooked Seafood Specialty Restaurant

Navigator of the Seas Review: The Gym

If you’re like me and still work out on vacation you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the gym on Navigator of the seas. There are plenty of treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes along with free weights and weight machines.

Royal Caribbean also offers classes like spinning, body sculpture and abs. Some of these classes are free of charge while others have a fee. For a fee you can also hire a personal trainer for your time on the ship. My only con with the gym is that it closes at 10pm, I’m not sure why it can’t be open 24 hours.

Navigator of the Seas Review: The Spa

The spa is quite expensive on board but hey you’re on vacation right! I haven’t personally gotten a spa treatment on Navigator of the Seas but I have gotten one on a different Royal Caribbean ship. They typically offer specials when the ship is in port or late night from 5:00-10:00pm. On the first day there is also a spa raffle where you’ll have the opportunity to win discounted or free spa services.

Navigator of the Seas Review: Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s Kids Club

If you’re kids want to meet and play with other kids or you just want some kid-free time you’ll love Navigator of the Seas’s Adventure Ocean. They have multiple rooms including the Royal Babies and Tots program for kids 6- 36 months, then a room for 3-5 year olds, 6-11 and 12-17 year olds. Hours vary depending on if the ship is in port or at sea but the program is free until 10PM. From 10PM-2AM there is a small fee of $7 per hour per child so you can enjoy some adult activities while your kids are entertained.

Navigator of the Seas Review: The Shows

Even though Navigator of the Seas operates shorter itineraries there are still a variety of show to keep you entertained onboard. There is a main show, Show Girls, a comedian and my favorite show onboard, the iSkate show. The iSkate show has cast members which are former Olympians and their figure skating is superb. Here’s a quick look into the 45 minute show.

 

Navigator of the Seas Review: A Look Into the Cabins

Navigator of the Seas like most cruises has interior, ocean view, balcony and suite rooms. We’ve stayed in both an interior and a balcony room on board this ship. Since there were four of us staying in the interior room it included two bunk beds for the kids. The cabins are my least favorite part of Navigator of the Seas, I wish Royal Caribbean had spent some of that $115 million updating at least the bathrooms in the cabin. They aren’t horrible but not as nice as on Harmony of the Seas. Here’s a look into both the interior and balcony rooms.

 

Here is a photo of what our interior room looked like once the bunk beds were brought down.

Navigator of the Seas Review Interior room with bunk beds: Cabin 7235

After two sailings on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas it remains my favorite ship for weekend cruises. I hope this Navigator of the Seas review was helpful to you. If it was please share this article to help someone else!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Hi! We’re The Hambricks

Hi! We’re The Hambricks

If kids live there, kids can visit! That's our motto and you'll often find us exploring destinations most don't find "kid friendly". We've traveled to 35 countries on 6 continents with our children since they were 10 weeks old and share tips to make it easier and affordable. But mom and dad are people too so we also write about solo travel, baecations and girlfriend getaways.

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