Cruise Preview

It is hard to believe but I am already preparing for another cruise. I know, I know... I just went on one. But as I have said MANY times, I am a self-proclaimed "cruise whore." This cruise will be over Valentine's Day. Chad and I are going together... 10-nights on Holland America's Noordam. I am EXTREMELY excited. I actually already cruised Alaska on this ship, but it is a gorgeous ship and I am excited to be on it again. Especially for 10 nights!! This time we are going to...

- Half Moon Cay, Bahamas (Their private island)
- Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
- Samana, Dominican Republic
- Kralendijk (Bonaire), Antilles
- Willemstad (Curacao), Antilles
- Oranjestad, Aruba

Of those, I have only been to Aruba before, and luckily, it is my favorite port from all my cruises. Last night, Chad and I booked three shore excursions, so I thought I would share them with you now.

Half Moon Cay - Private Cabana
Enjoy the ultimate in luxury during your stay on Half Moon Cay with the use of your own private cabana. Board the first tender ashore, or have priority tender use, to maximize your time by being the first guests to arrive. For your comfort, you will find your cabana outfitted with a refrigerator, ceiling fan, air conditioner, table and chairs inside, and deck chairs and a misting shower on the private terrace. You will be provided with fresh fruit, vegetables with dip, and chips and salsa to snack on as well as an assortment of soft drinks and bottled water to quench your thirst. Beach towels, floating mats, and snorkel gear are also included for your use throughout the day.

Grand Turk - Power Snorkeling
Board a comfortable air-conditioned bus that will take you to one of Grand Turk’s beautiful, white-sand beaches. Your guide will provide you with snorkel equipment and a handheld Power Snorkel Unit. After you hear brief safety and use instructions, you will take off for a snorkeling experience of a lifetime, gliding gracefully through the water, soaring over beautiful coral reefs. Afterwards, enjoy sunbathing, swimming or snorkeling from the beach. On your Power Snorkel Adventure, you will explore reefs farther from shore by simply touching the unit to go and releasing to stop. This is an adventure not to be missed.

Willemstad - Jewish Heritage Tour
This tour explores Curacao's Jewish heritage and visits the Western Hemisphere's oldest synagogue. Board your air-conditioned transportation and drive to Willemstad's Scharloo District, home to old colonial mansions built by the island's Jewish merchants. Intolerance and the Inquisition drove Iberian Jews first to Brazil, then to Curacao. The island's thin volcanic soil made conventional farming a near impossibility, forcing the immigrants to turn to commerce. Visit Beth Haim Cemetery, consecrated in 1659, and a repository of superb funerary art. Tour Landhouse Bloemhof with its excellent collections of art and artifacts from Curacao's Jewish past. Your final destination is Mikve Emmanuel Israel, the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, built in 1732.

Unfortunately, the cruise is still four and a half months away, but I am EXTREMELY excited to go.

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