Today we are in Ocho Rios

James Bond Beach

Today we are in Ocho Rios(aka Ochi)

Ochi is the garden of Jamaica, where rolling green hills spill over onto white sandy coves and turquoise blue waters of a craggy coastline. Ochi is buzzing with activities, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Here there is a perfect mix of excitement and serenity.

Here are my top tips

Rainforest at Mystic Mountain - See Ochi from a different vantage point. Taking a tropical forest adventure tour up to the 700 foot mystic mountain peak will do just that! This amazing attraction in Ocho Rios offers many adventure tours for all ages. Explore the forests rich eco-system, sparking rivers and spectacular views. Here you can enjoy bobsledding thru the forest, zip lining or coasting through the sky on a chair lift....whatever you're up for.

Green Grotto Caves - Time and tide have etched the limestone Green Grotto Caves, lined with the green algae that gives them their name. The caverns are home to bats and marine life, and over the centuries they’ve been a hideout for fugitives and runaway slaves.Hidden away in an inner cavern is the crystal-clear Grotto Lake. Overhead, pockets in the limestone provide filtered light through the caverns’ forest of stalactites and stalagmites.

Dunns River Falls - One of Jamaica's national treasures. Flowing falls extend up 600 feet, here you can climb the falls and hangout a lagoons and pools along the way. This is one of the most popular tours in Ochi. It is breathtaking and not to be missed!

Goldeneye Boutique Hotel - For my James Bond fans, stay here where Ian Fleming lived while birthing the character we all love "007". This is truly a unique and special property, please let me know if you would like more information. For those who cannot stay here, I recommend a visit to James Bond Beach which is located east of Ocho Rios on the island’s northeastern coast (just a little east of Oracabessa). It offers fabulous views and a heavenly tropical setting. The particular claim to fame for this beach is the fact that Ian Fleming spent a lot of time here enjoying Jamaica’s ambience.

Thank you for learning more about one of my favorite Caribbean destinations! For more info check out my blog www.jdtravelplanning.com

Today we are in Montego Bay

Montego Bay(MBJ)  is an exciting vibrant "hotspot" in the Caribbean. Renowned for its beauty and range of activities.  MBJ offer a variety of intriguing attractions. Nature lovers, history buffs, thrill seekers and those who love to shop will find plenty to do here in addition to amazing beaches and water activities.



My top recommendations

• Explore the "Hip Strip" Gloucester Ave is a mile long stretch of shopping, dining and partying, it is lively day and night. Be sure to check out Margaritaville with its 110' long chute that drops patrons from the deck into the sea.

• For my foodies I highly recommend the Sugar Mill Restaurant at the Half Moon Resort and Pier 1 on the Waterfront.

• History lovers, we've got you covered. The Cage which is a 19th century jail for runaway slaves and drunks.  Visit Rose Hall Great House and hear the eerie tales of the "white witch" Annie Palmer.  I also recommend taking a day trip to Falmouth- about 22 miles away,  you will find lots of history here as its one of the earliest planned urban developments.  They had running water before NYC. There was thriving commerce and culture in its heyday but the demise of rum and sugar production halted all of that.  Falmouth is ready for a revival.  Founded in 1790 rich in colonial history, Georgian architecture and cobblestone streets.  Arrange a Heritage walk with a local expert to experience it all.

• Thrill seekers will enjoy ziplining through the jungle canopy, off road exploring on an ATV, splashing through the surf on horseback and river tubing, and bamboo river rafting on the scenic Martha Brae. When night falls head over to the Glistening Waters Marina for a tour on the bioluminescent lagoon.

Margaritaville

Sugar Mill at Half Moon Resort

Rafting on the Martha Brae

Today we are in Negril

Negril on the west coast of Jamaica is known for its laid back vibe, amazing sunsets and world class beaches.  You will not find any high rises here, the resorts are no higher than the coconut trees and the buildings are set back you will find long, broad beautiful beaches here.  Eat and drink, love and laugh, play, party and be happy.  Negril — come and experience the pleasure.

My top recommendations

• Rick's Cafe on the west end of Negril is not be be missed.  There is a  real funky feel here with amazing cliff diving, hot sunset parties and more!  Grab yourself a cold Red Stripe and enjoy!

• Great seafood and Jamaican cuisine can be found at Norma's on the Beach and at Cosmos Seafood Restaurant.

• Live reggae bands and dancing are easy to find, there are exciting clubs along Norman Manley Blvd or you can check out the beachfront bars at Alfred's Ocean Palace or The Jungle Night Club & Sports Bar.  Enjoy the sounds of live reggae and the amazing beach views!

• Get out to the offshore reefs. The reefs attract and abundance of sea life, nature lovers will love snorkeling, diving or enjoying a glass bottom boat tour.

• The beach!!  All seven miles of it.....enjoy the sun, sand, surf and mesmerizing sunsets!  You can find the party spots or a nice secluded cove, the choice is yours.  Make Negril your home.

                                       

                                         Sunset in Negril.........mesmerizing!!

                                         Ricks Cafe


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Today we are in Jamaica

Jamaica is a very popular destination, many people once they travel here will return again and again.
It's a great place for families, honeymooners, destination weddings, golf groups, girls getaways and more. It is so easy to fly into Jamaica from most US or Canadian gateways. Yes you can drink the water, everyone speaks English and most places will accept the USD(and if not it's super to to find an exchange).

Aside from the above, my top 5 reasons(and believe me there are many more) to visit this incredible island are just below. Over the next few weeks I will focus on different areas within the country, so stay tuned.

Why visit Jamaica?

1) The people! Jamaicans are such a fun loving people who are full of pride. You can learn much about their culture and history through their dance, music and food. They love to chat you up.....just ask! The warmth of the people will keep you coming back.

2)Miles and miles of beautiful beaches, coves, waterfalls and rugged coastlines.

3)Jamaican food is fresh and locally sourced, so colorful and full of flavor it's not to be missed! Be sure to try some local Jerk cuisine and the national dish of ackee and saltfish.

4)Water sports are everywhere, whether you are a pro or a beginner needing instruction, there is adventure for everyone. You can go snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing(at Boston Beach), windsurfing and more.

5)Hotels and accommodations are abundant here. Jamaica is the birthplace of the All-Inclusive concept. But don't worry, there are many more options including villas, luxury hotels, boutique properties and more. The list of accommodations is substantial, I always recommend using a travel professional to help find the perfect stay for you.

Norwegian Breakaway Review

Wow, I am so fortunate, last week I was a guest of Norwegian Cruise Line onboard the Breakaway. It was so exciting to have Cardinal Dolan bless the ship and the Rockettes christen the ship. I want to share everything with you so here is my review of the Norwegian Breakaway.
This is New York Cities ship.... themed with the beautiful hull art by Peter Max, the Rockettes as the Godmothers, Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Ocean Blue and 3 Broadway Shows onboard, Rock of Ages, Cirque Dreams-Jungle Fantasy and Burn the Floor. Keeping with the NYC theme you will find Sabrett Hot Dog carts on the boardwalk, Carlo's Bakery and Gelato as well.
Dining: One of the greatest concepts onboard Norwegian ships is the "Freestyle Dining" and with 27 dining options onboard this is the way to go! The food in the main dining rooms was amazing our first night out I had "surf and turf" and the fliet was amazing and the lobster so delicious. Meals at O'Sheehan's and Ocean Blue were great as well. O'Sheehan's is open 24 hrs so it is great to stop here after a night out gambling and dancing!
Kids Clubs: Great safe play areas with supervised activities all day long, kids are split up into age appropriate programs and you will hear them say "I don't want to leave." The teen club Entourage is amazing and accommodates 13-17 year olds. Splash Academy is for ages 3-12 and here you will find interactive fun the kids will enjoy. There is even an area within Splash Academy open for kids ages 6 months-2yrs old with an adult accompanying them.
Sports Complex: This is an exciting area of the ship for all to enjoy there is the ropes course, "walk the plank" from 16 decks up and a zipline. The pool area has 5 waterslides, some are the largest at sea and you can shoot from the top to the bottom in 6 seconds....thrilling!
The Boardwalk: Such an exciting area(one of my favs), I can't believe this has not been done before. There is 1/4 mile of boardwalk lined with restaurants(inside and outside seating) a bakery, gelato and the famous NYC hot dog cart. There are great seating areas and bars on the boardwalk as well. At night this area is hopping!
Spiegel Tent: Jungle Fantasy themed with animal prints and animal themed art throughout. Quite a breathtaking show, be sure to arrive 30 mins before the show for best seating. The Premium seats here are worth the money.
Spice H20 hosts the weekly 80's themed party(dress up like Madonna and Don Johnson).They host a fireworks show right off the ship at this party-be sure to check it out! There are some cool wall murals in this area of the ship, maps of LI, Welcome to Fire Island and Rockaway Beach too! Keep your eye out for the NY theme all around the ship.
Main Theatre presents Rock of Ages and Burn the Floor, reservations suggested and arrive 45 minutes early for the best seats.
Carlos' Bake Shop: check out the goodies and coffee here from the "Cake Boss",  they have 2 locations Deck 6 in the Atrium and another smaller spot on the Boardwalk.
The Haven: This is a ship within a ship. Boutique style hotel with concierge and butler services, exclusive access to private restaurant and pool, preferred seating at all shows and access to VIBE Beach Club a private outdoor area with bar, cabanas and great seating areas.
678 Ocean Place: such an exciting area of restaurants, bars, casino, shops and great entertainment. Here you will find the dueling pianos at Howl at the Moon  and Slam Allen at Fat Cats Jazz and Blues Club.

Overall I found this ship to be a perfect spot for couples to travel together and for multi-generational families, there is so much for everyone to do while onboard or if you choose to do nothing at all there are great quiet spots for that too. If you have questions about the ship please feel free to contact me as I am a "Norwegian Breakaway Specialist."

Next up is the Norwegian Getaway, she will begin sailing Jan 2014 year round from Miami, this ship will have all the great attributes of the Breakaway with a Miami theme. Broadway show is Legally Blonde and each week they will have Grammy award winners or nominees onboard as well as Illusionarium(replacing the Spiegel Tent) with a magical, immersive experience that will blow you away!

Bon voyage.....
Jessica Dempsey
Cruise Planners
631-780-6195

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www.jdtravelplanning.com

Brides Dress Rehersal 2013

Brides Dress Rehearsal

BRIDE'S DRESS REHEARSAL

Spend 3 Nights and 4 Days - This is a fantastic way to view the resorts, and yes there are 8 of them, check out the wedding locations, taste the food and experience the warm welcome from the people of the Mexican Riviera.

Contact Jessica Dempsey, a Karisma Resorts specialist to book this amazing offer! Call today 631-780-6195

Details:

For only $399 per couple, brides and grooms who have not yet booked their destination wedding can stay for 3 nights at their hotel of choice and have the opportunity to taste different cake options, sample menu items and even view the various locations and setups for their ceremony and private events.

This promotion is good for any El Dorado Spa Resort or Azul Hotel by Karisma, and is offered once a month for the rest of 2013.

Azul Beach Resort

Here are the dates for 2013  

                                                                  
March 7

 

April 11

 

May 16

 

June 27

 

July 18

 

August 15

September 19

October 10

November 7


December 5

And here are the highlights of this promotion:

Upgrade to best available room upon arrival

Sample gourmet delicacies and wedding cakes from the private event banquet menu

$500 food & beverage credit after 10 rooms or more are booked*

Meet photographers and other vendors and view wedding set-ups

Meet wedding coordinators

 

Romantically decorated suite

And more!


Terms & Conditions

This promotion is not combinable with the Bride & Groom stay free promotion. No coupons may be used on these bookings. Transfers included between resorts only, airfare and airport transfers are not included. GIVC points cannot be used to pay for this package. GIVC will not receive points for this booking. Not valid if wedding date is held or deposited. Travel agents are not permitted to attend. $500 credit will not apply to groups with less than 10 rooms. *$500 food and beverage credit available when wedding date is confirmed within 30 days of Brides Dress Rehersal. All couples will be required to sign a disclaimer at check-in stating that they will attend a site inspection of the host hotel as well as a presentation at El Dorado Royale on Saturday. *Clients who want to travel outside of selected dates will be required to pay the current hotel rate at the time and will not receive the $500 towards the food & beverage portion of any private event they book. Booking must be made 30 days in advance; space is limited.

Celebrity Summit Review

The Celebrity Summit was recently "Solsticized" in 2012. What does that mean? Glad you asked. It all began when many features from the Millennium Class ships inspired Celebrity to create the Solstice Class ships. Now the Millenium Class ships have undergone a $140M investment to be revitalized.

On the Celebrity Summit, you'll now be able to indulge in the spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms with exclusive dining in the Blu restaurant, enjoy access to Persian Garden spa where you can decompress on the heated tile loungers, enjoy fresh tea and water service daily and have access to your Aqua Class Spa Concierge.  Go on a culinary journey in Qsine where food and art merge into dishes guaranteed to surprise and delight where you will  make your dining and wine choices from the iPad menu. After dinner head on over to the ultra-hip Crush Martini Bar, where you will find an ice-topped bar and the bartenders entertaining you while they mix up your martini from a full menu of classic and contemporary martinis.  Stay connected at the hip Celebrity iLounge, the first Authorized Apple Reseller at sea. You can take classes here to master photography, video or audio skills or shop to purchase the latest gadgets duty-free.

The Celebrity Summit is sure to appeal to  many with the newest upgrades and easy accessibility from Cape Liberty, NJ.

Contact me to start planning your next cruise onboard the Celebrity Summit.

Until next time.....
Jessica Dempsey

www.jdtravelplanning.com