Virgin Voyages Labor Day Sale!
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Virgin Voyages Travel Agent
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Gold Tier Certified First Mate - Marissa Books Travel
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If you prefer to explore and book on your own, that's cool too! Tap the button below to explore Virgin Voyages and if a questions pops up later, even after you book, feel free to let me know! :)
Algarve Portugal Travel Blogs:
Full List of discounted virgin voyages cruises included in the labor day sale:
Rates start from $169 per Sailor per night for Insider cabins — Sea Terrace upgrades start at $208 per Sailor per night:
Rates start from $149 per Sailor per night for Insider cabins — Sea Terrace upgrades start at $203 per Sailor per night:
- English Sights & European Delights • Sep 8 - Sep 14, 2024 • 6 nights from Portsmouth
- Mayan Sol • Sep 8 - 13, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Mayan Sol • Oct 6 - 11, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Dominican Daze • Oct 11 - 16, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Riviera Maya • Oct 20 - 25, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Dominican Daze • Oct 25 - 30, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Riviera Maya • Nov 17 - 22, 2024 • 5 nights from Miami
- Eastern Caribbean Antilles • Dec 14 - 22, 2024 • 8 nights from Miami
- Valiant Caribbean Holiday • Dec 20 - 26, 2024 • 6 nights from Miami
- Resilient Caribbean Holidays • Dec 21 - 28, 2024 • 7 nights from Miami
- Eastern Caribbean Antilles • Jan 25 - Feb 2, 2025 • 8 nights from Miami
- Western Caribbean Charm • Feb 2 - 8, 2025 • 6 nights from Miami
Rates start from $149 per Sailor per night for Insider cabins — Sea Terrace upgrades start at $203 per Sailor per night:
- A Scarlet Fright Voyage • Oct 24 - Nov 3, 2024 • 10 nights from Athens
- Barcelona to Civitavecchia • Nov 3 - 14, 2024 • 11 nights from Barcelona
- Idyllic Isles of the Caribbean & Colombia • Jan 21 - Feb 3, 2025 • 11 nights from San Juan
Food Blogger Restaurant Reviews:
Coming soon on our Virgin Voyages Cruise Blog
Since Virgin Voyages is a newer cruise line, we have a lot to dive into and share with you soon, including:
- Virgin Voyages Drink Package
- Virgin Voyages Reviews
- Virgin Voyages Marvelous Collection
- Virgin Voyages 2025 Cruises
- Virgin Voyages 2026 Cruises
- Virgin Voyages Caribbean Cruises
- Virgin Voyages Transatlantic Cruises
- Virgin Voyages Europe Cruises
- Virgin Voyages North American Cruises
Virgin Voyages Eclipse Voyages - Virgin Voyages Spa Prices
- Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot
- Virgin Voyages Status Match
- Virgin Voyages Sea Terrace
- Virgin Voyages Shore Things
- Virgin Voyages Drink Prices
- Virgin Voyages Excursion Prices
- Virgin Voyages Laundry Prices
- Virgin Voyages Lingo
- Everything You Need To Know About Virgin Voyages Cruises
- Is Virgin Voyages Worth The Money?
- What is Included on a Virgin Voyages Cruise?
- Virgin Voyages Black Friday Deals
Cruise Travel Blogs:
Stay tuned for more virgin voyages special offers, deals, and reviews including virgin cruises Black Friday 2024 deals, solo deals, and resilient lady reviews on this virgin voyages blog. Watch this space! :)
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Today we review and taste test Aldi Asia Green Garden Noodles in two flavors:
- Tailandês - Preparado alimenticio deshidratado con pasta alimentícia y vegetales/ preparado desidratado com massa alimentícia e vegetais a la tailandesa/ a moda tailandês
- Asiático - Preparado alimenticio deshidratado con pasta alimentícia y pollo / preparado desidratado com massa alimentícia e galinha al estilo asiatico/ ao estilo asiatica
Aldi Asia Green Garden Noodles
asia green garden noodle ingredients and cooking instructions
Cooking these asian noodle pouches is simple. Just add 375ml of water to a sauté pan. Once boiling, add the contents of the pouch and stir. After around 5 minutes of cooking most of the water should be absorbed by the pasta. Add 15ml of oil. Mix and cook for 1 more minute.
Aldi Asia Green Garden Noodles - Cooking Instructions and Ingredients
Inside the pouch
Inside the pouch was about what I expected to see - dehydrated noodles and flavor powder. Conveniently, the powder was not in a seperate package.
Inside Aldi Asia Green Garden Noodles
Restaurant Review blog.
cooking the noodles.
Cooking the noodles is very simple. Add the pouch to a specific amount of boiling water. In about 5 minutes they are ready! You can stir-fry some meat and vegetables for a quick mid-week meal.
Serving the noodles.
One night we served the Asian noodles with sliced chicken and broccoli. The Thai noodles we served with chicken tenders, real creative over here... :p
More Grocery Reviews.
Aldi asia green garden noodle review
These noodles are quick and easy to make, as expected. I found the Thai noodles to be a bit more flavorful. This isn't anything that I would stock up on, but they are handy on occasion when you need a quick side dish and are tired of plain rice.
Cost: Around 1.50 euro
Cost: Around 1.50 euro
More Aldi Reviews
Let's tour an oceanview stateroom on Symphony of the Seas - a cabin tour with photos!
This tour will help if you are trying to decide between an inside, oceanview or balcony on your Symphony of the Seas
We recently sailed Royal Caribbean for the first time after many cruises on Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America.
On our previous cruises we have booked interior rooms as well as balcony staterooms and for this 8 night Southern Caribbean Cruise we opted to try an oceanview cabin on this Oasis class ship.
On our previous cruises we have booked interior rooms as well as balcony staterooms and for this 8 night Southern Caribbean Cruise we opted to try an oceanview cabin on this Oasis class ship.
Oceanview cabin 3198 photos - Symphony of the seas
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Pictures
Our Oceanview Cabin was on the third deck.
First impressions of oceanview cruise cabin
I was soo impressed by how light and bright our oceanview cabin was on Symphony! The window was so much larger than I expected! To the left you can see the wall-mounted TV and some drawers.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Room Tour
In stateroom 3198 the bed is by the window and the couch is nearer to the door as seen below.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Sofa
Beside the couch is a cupboard with shelves and a small safe. There are also two small drawers at the bottom of this cupboard.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 In-room Safe
We opted to have the bed pushed together and as you can see there was a small space on either side of the bed that act as a nightstand.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Bed Pictures
Cruise Travel Blog:
The window in our oceanview room 3198 on Symphony of the Seas was a round window, divided in the center. The window is so large that an adult person can actually sit in there like a little hamster on its wheel. :)
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Window Picture
Turning around and going back toward the entrance you can see on the right side of the couch is a closet with hangers. There were a combination of regular wooden hangers as well as wooden hangers with the clips attached for pants or skirts.
To the right of that closet is the bathroom door.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Closet
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Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Inside Closet
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The bathroom on Symphony of the Seas is a really spacious and modern cruise ship bathroom. There is no shower curtain, but instead a full glass shower! A dispenser in the shower supplies body wash/shampoo combo.
Symphony of The Seas Oceanview Cabin 3198 Bathroom Pictures
This cruise ship bathroom is spacious and bright. There is a large window and three shelves to the right along with a shelf underneath the sink.
It was nice to find in our stateroom a rundown of all the shows scheduled during our cruise consolidated to one sheet on embarkation day.
Royal Caribbean Tip: Use the Royal Caribbean App to reserve your space at each show you are interested in. This was the first time we experienced needing to reserve our showtimes on a cruise.
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Royal Theater Shows
Studio B
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Aqua Theater, Boardwalk, Royal Promenade
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View from oceanview room 3198 & Review
Here's a view of Celebrity Apex from our Oceanview room window at the port in Florida.
What do you think of the view?
I was so impressed with our oceanview stateroom. As mentioned at the outset, this was our first time booking an oceanview cabin and I absolutely loved it.
What do you think of the view?
I was so impressed with our oceanview stateroom. As mentioned at the outset, this was our first time booking an oceanview cabin and I absolutely loved it.
We saved a good bit booking an oceanview instead of a balcony, but having this window made a huge difference to me compared to an inside cabin. I would definitely recommend keeping an eye out for an oceanview if you like natural light in your room, but are on a tighter budget!
Symphony of the Seas Review, Royal Caribbean Review, Royal Caribbean Blog, Southern Caribbean Cruise, Stateroom Tours
royal caribbean blog southern caribbean cruise review:
If you're looking for Royal Caribbean Kids Sail Free Cruises 2025, you're in the right place!
ROYAL CARIBBEAN DEAL RIGHT NOW:
Right now you can take advantage of a Royal Caribbean sale where the second guest sails for 60% off and kids sail free!!
Royal Caribbean Kids Sail Free Promotion
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the age limit for kids sail free sale on royal?
Royal Caribbean considers anyone aged 12 or younger to be a child. During the Kids Sail Free promotion, as long as you are not booking one of the excluded dates, your kids 12 and under will sail free!
Kids sail free is not working - why?!
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If the Kids Sail Free promotion doesn't seem to be working, it could be that the child's age at the time of sailing is above 12. Also, you may be trying to book a sailing that is excluded. The kids sail free promotion may have ended (don't worry, it will come back!)
Also important to note, the kids sail free promotion is limited to triple, quad, and family occupancy bookings. This means that in a double occupancy stateroom of 2 people consisting of one parent and one child under 12, the child will not sail free. There need to be 2 paying passengers before a child sails free. Very often the kids sail free promotion is coupled with one like you see here "Second passenger 60% off" so if there is 1 parent and 1 child then the child would be 60% off in that case. |
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Royal Caribbean Blog:
Kids Sail Free Cabin Occupancy Sample Scenarios:
Double occupancy - 1 adult, 1 child under 12 - child will not sail free.
Triple occupancy - 1 adult, 2 children under 12 - one child will sail free
Triple occupancy - 2 adults, 1 child under 12 - child will sail free
Quad occupancy - 2 adults, 2 children under 12 - 2 children will sail free
Quad occupancy - 1 adult, 3 children under 12 - 2 children will sail free
Your Royal Caribbean Travel Agent can ensure you're getting the best rate for your family cruise!
Is 'kids sail free' not really free?
I recently booked a family with a child under 12 on Symphony of the Seas during a Kids Sail Free deal and their daughter paid $0 in cruise fare. Taxes and port fees are required for every passenger, so that still needs paid for each child under 12, but as far as the actual "cruise fare" is concerned, it is free.
Do babies sail free on royal caribbean?
Infants and children are paying passengers on Royal Caribbean. Your best bet is to wait for a great sale like the kids sail free promo.
The minimum age for a passenger on Royal Caribbean is 6 months old. You cannot sail with a baby under 6 months old. On embarkation day your child must be at least 6 months old.
The minimum age for a passenger on Royal Caribbean is 6 months old. You cannot sail with a baby under 6 months old. On embarkation day your child must be at least 6 months old.
what are the 2025 kids sail free cruise dates?
There are tons of cruise dates in 2025 that qualify for the Kids Sale Free promotion! It's probably easier to check the section below which notes the dates which are excluded from the kids sail free deal.
How can i get extra royal caribbean onboard credit?
Royal Caribbean Kids Sail Free Excluded dates:
Thanksgiving Sailings (Departing between November 22, 2024 – November 29, 2024); (Departing between November 20 - November 28, 2025), Holiday Sailings (Departing December 20, 2024 – January 3, 2025); (Departing between December 18, 2025 – January 1, 2026), Spring Break Sailings (Departing between March 7, 2025 – March 28, 2025); (Departing between March 6, 2026 – April 9, 2026), Holy Week/Easter sailings (Departing between April 12, 2025 – April 24, 2025), Radiance Alaska Cruise Tour Sailings (Departing May 17, 2024 – September 13, 2024); (Departing May 16, 2025 – September 12, 2025); Summer sailings (Departing May 22, 2024 – August 30, 2024); (Departing between May 22, 2025 – August 29, 2025); Anthem of the Seas sailings (Departing November 21 – December 28, 2024) and Chinese New Year sailing on Anthem of the Seas (Departing January 27, 2025)
More Travel Deals:
Foodie Blog:
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Lisbon is one of the best foodie destinations and for those who want to know if Lisbon has good sushi, the answer is a resounding yes! You can definitely get your sushi fix in Lisboa! =)
We tried one of the many sushi restaurants in Lisbon and with a 4.9/5 rating on google it could possibly be Lisbon's best sushi.
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sushi Fixe Miraflores
Sushi Fixe is a sushi cafe with inside and outdoor seating in the Lisbon neighborhood of Miraflores, an Uber ride of less than 10 minutes from Belem, costing around 4 euros at the time of this post.
You may be thinking "Sushi Fixe is an interesting name. I wonder what it means and how do I even pronounce that?" I got you.
What does Fixe mean in English? Fixe is Portuguese slang for something that is cool or great. Fixe is pronounced "Feesh"
Sushi Fixe Restaurant Rodizio in Lisbon, Portugal
Sushi Rodizio Lisboa
As the sign indicates (if you look closely), Sushi Fixe is a Restaurante Rodízio.
What is rodízio in Portugal?
So you may notice some restaurants in Portugal are called rodízios. Rodízio is a portuguese word that basically means "rotation" in English.
This restaurant style originated in Brazil where diners pay a set price for their meal and waiters bring around a variety of fresh meats off the spit, in rotation. It's an all-you-can-eat style of dining.
The rodízio concept in Portugal is not exclusively for churrasqueiras serving grilled meats. There are fish rodízios, pizza rodízios, and sushi rodízios in all of Portugal, including Lisbon, just to name a few iterations.
What is rodízio in Portugal?
So you may notice some restaurants in Portugal are called rodízios. Rodízio is a portuguese word that basically means "rotation" in English.
This restaurant style originated in Brazil where diners pay a set price for their meal and waiters bring around a variety of fresh meats off the spit, in rotation. It's an all-you-can-eat style of dining.
The rodízio concept in Portugal is not exclusively for churrasqueiras serving grilled meats. There are fish rodízios, pizza rodízios, and sushi rodízios in all of Portugal, including Lisbon, just to name a few iterations.
Sushi Fixe Menu
Sushi Fix is basically a sushi buffet in Lisbon, only the rolls aren't sitting on display for unknown lengths of time and you don't have to get up for them.
Sushi Fixe Menu
How it works:
You have a slip of paper at your table with a list of menu items and space to write a number down. You simply write how many of each item you want and the sushi is made fresh to order! Since this is an unlimited sushi situation your waiter will come back and you can continue ordering more sushi as needed!
Sushi Fixe Menu With Prices
Fried Foods & Soup | Sushi Fixe Lisbon Menu
We tried crepes gambas, tempura shrimp, tempura vegetables.
Photo of Sushi Fixe Menu
Rice, Noodles, Salad, Gyoza | Sushi Fixe Menu
We also ordered massa fina rice noodles and gyoza.
Photo of Sushi Fixe Menu
Espetadas (kebabs/Skewers) | Sushi Fixe Menu
Our group also tasted the chicken skewer.
Photo of Sushi Fixe Menu
Sobremesa, Bebidas (Dessert, Drinks) | Sushi Fixe Menu
Never pass up an opportunity for Lychee. You can get an entire bottle of wine at some restaurants in Portugal for under 10 euros as you can see!
Photo of Sushi Fixe Menu
Sushi Fixe Price
At the time we went, the price for this sushi rodizio in Lisbon was as shown below:
Almoço (Lunch) 13.95€
Jantar (Dinner) 15.95€
Prices listed are por pessoa (per person).
On the weekend (fim de semana) or public holiday (feriado) it's 15.95 euro per person.
Children (crianças) 4 and under are free (não pagam - they do not pay)
Children 5-10 years old pay half price (pagam a metade -they pay half)
Sushi Fize Hours are: 12h-15h (noon to 3pm) and 19h-23h (7pm-11pm)
Almoço (Lunch) 13.95€
Jantar (Dinner) 15.95€
Prices listed are por pessoa (per person).
On the weekend (fim de semana) or public holiday (feriado) it's 15.95 euro per person.
Children (crianças) 4 and under are free (não pagam - they do not pay)
Children 5-10 years old pay half price (pagam a metade -they pay half)
Sushi Fize Hours are: 12h-15h (noon to 3pm) and 19h-23h (7pm-11pm)
Sushi Fixe All You Can Eat Prices and Hours + Menu Item Photos
Sushi Fixe Photos
Here are a few imagens (pictures) de sushi fixe Lisboa! Honestly we did not take many pictures because we were really enjoying the company and conversation, but hopefully these will give you a sense of what to expect when you come to this sushi buffet!
Salmon sushi Boat.
I've always dreamed of getting a sushi boat, but they are usually so expensive and seem like a lot of sushi. This is an amazing opportunity to get one. I never felt so cool in my life. 8)
This boat was quite salmon (salmão) forward with some pops of roe (fish eggs). The thin rice noodles can be seen below as well.
This boat was quite salmon (salmão) forward with some pops of roe (fish eggs). The thin rice noodles can be seen below as well.
Gyoza.
Big fan of all types of dumplings including Japanese gyoza. These were steamed gyoza.
Another Tasty Read: Are Dumplings A Perfect Food?
Tempura Everything.
Tempura shrimp (gambas, also called camarões), tempura vegetables with sweet chili sauce. Fried sushi shown below as well.
Sushi Fixe Reviews
Sushi Fixe is a great sushi restaurant in Lisbon. The value to quality ratio is incredible so it's no wonder they have 4.9 stars on google. Well deserved!
A sushi buffet like this is a great option for sushi lovers and novices alike as you can try so many different types of sushi in a low pressure kind of way. Of course you don't want to be wasteful and you will order conscientiously. Still if you don't love a particular piece it hurts less knowing you can order another roll!
Ginger, Wasabi, Soy Sauce, Place Setting at Sushi Fixe Miraflores
Sushi Fixe also caters to different tastes in your group. Maybe not everyone in your family or friend group loves sushi like you. Now you don't have to fight bitterness because they can order noodles, salad, meat skewers and more while you eat your dream sushi boat!
how to eat sushi
I loved the instructions for eating sushi that are included in the menu and had to laugh because of how common it is to break these recommendations.
Pode - This section shows the things you can do - you can use chopsticks or your hands, you can mergulhe (dip) the sushi fish-side-first into soy sauce, you can set your chopsticks on the ceramic rest when not in use, you can coloque (place/put) the sushi in your mouth fish side down, and finally when you're done eating sushi you can rest the chopsticks on the Hashi-Oki as shown in the picture to signal to the wait staff you are done.
Pode - This section shows the things you can do - you can use chopsticks or your hands, you can mergulhe (dip) the sushi fish-side-first into soy sauce, you can set your chopsticks on the ceramic rest when not in use, you can coloque (place/put) the sushi in your mouth fish side down, and finally when you're done eating sushi you can rest the chopsticks on the Hashi-Oki as shown in the picture to signal to the wait staff you are done.
Do's and Don'ts of Eating Sushi - Sushi Fixe Menu
Não Pode - Things you cannot do when eating sushi including: rubbing the chopsticks against each other to 'remove splinters', If the chopsticks are damaged (have splinters), just ask for new ones. You cannot eat sushi in multiple bites, each piece should be eaten whole. You cannot put ginger slices on top of sushi. You should eat it in between pieces as a palate cleanser. You shouldn't put the wasabi paste in the soy sauce. You should place wasabi directly on the sushi. You cannot share wasabi and other sauce dishes with others, they should be individual. Nor should you pass food from your chopsticks to others.
So I'm curious how many sushi faux pas have you made? I have definitely eaten ginger on top of sushi. On this trip for the first time I mixed wasabi paste in soy sauce then later took time to read this page and had to laugh.
Don't worry, no one is going to slap your wrist if you didn't follow these tips for eating sushi. But honestly, I love that they included them.
Making sushi is an art and to appreciate that art there are methods to eating it which, when followed, will enhance your experience and connect you more to the Japanese culture. :)
So I'm curious how many sushi faux pas have you made? I have definitely eaten ginger on top of sushi. On this trip for the first time I mixed wasabi paste in soy sauce then later took time to read this page and had to laugh.
Don't worry, no one is going to slap your wrist if you didn't follow these tips for eating sushi. But honestly, I love that they included them.
Making sushi is an art and to appreciate that art there are methods to eating it which, when followed, will enhance your experience and connect you more to the Japanese culture. :)
Is SushI Fixe the best all you can eat sushi in lisbon?
Like anyone could even know that, Napoleon.
Given that sushi fixe (sushi fix as some call it) is the only sushi restaurant we've had the privilege to try in Lisbon so far, I suppose we can't say for sure.
But what we can say is that Sushi Fixe is a great sushi buffet/rodizio in Lisbon and we would go back in a heartbeat!
How to say thank you politely in Japanese:
Arigato Gozaimasu ! ありがとう ございます
Gifts For Sushi Lovers.
sushi earrings • retro Japanese sushi set • cat sushi dish • personalized sushi tray • incredible whale sushi set
more lisbon restaurant reviews:
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If you're wondering how to get free onboard credit for your next Royal Caribbean cruise, you're in the right place!
Royal caribbean deal right now:
Right now you can take advantage of a Royal Caribbean deal that lands you $100 bonus onboard credit on 2025 Caribbean Cruises!
Royal Caribbean Group Deals
Maybe you have heard about group deals before and you can definitely get great group rates with Royal Caribbean. Your Royal Caribbean Travel Agent will help you find the best deal and sailing for your group.
On top of the discounted group cruise rates, for each cabin with a qualifying deposit made by August 31, 2024 you will enjoy $50 onboard credit for short cruises of 5 nights or less and $100 onboard credit for 6-8 night cruises!!
• How many people make up a group?
Typically you need 8 cabins to benefit from a group rate on Royal Caribbean. If you have family and friends who love to cruise or clients, this is no trouble.
• But I only need one or two cabins?
Don't worry! Send me a message. and I'll see what I can do! Perks of working with a Travel Agent ;)
• Do I need a Royal Caribbean Discount Code?
Nope! As your dedicated Royal Caribbean Travel Agent, Marissa Books Travel will take care of everything for you so that you can enjoy your cruise and free onboard credit! yay!
How to get More royal caribbean ONBOARD credit?
A lot of people do not know this, but if you own 100 shares of Royal Caribbean stock, you are entitled to a Shareholder Benefit of free onboard credit in the amount of $50, $100, $250, or $1000 depending on the length of your cruise. This is not a one time benefit. You can get your extra OBC every time you sail Royal Caribbean!
100 shares is nothing to sneeze at, but hey if you have the cash free snag those shares in one go and get a $75 M1 bonus while you're at it! ;-)
Your Royal Caribbean Travel Agent can help you if you're wondering how to redeem your Royal Caribbean Shareholder Benefit!
100 shares is nothing to sneeze at, but hey if you have the cash free snag those shares in one go and get a $75 M1 bonus while you're at it! ;-)
Your Royal Caribbean Travel Agent can help you if you're wondering how to redeem your Royal Caribbean Shareholder Benefit!
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How can kids sail free on virgin voyages where the minimum age policy is 18 years old?
Virgin Voyages, the adults-only luxury cruise line that launched at the end of 2021 has announced a promotion which is popular in the industry - kids sail free. But there's a catch..
Kids Sail Free Sale - Virgin Voyages Cruises
did virgin voyages change their no kids policy?
You may be wondering:
- How can kids sail free on a premium line that is only for adults?
- Does virgin voyages allow kids now?
- Can you bring your children with you on a Virgin cruise?!
The answer: It depends. =)
No. Virgin Voyages is not changing their no whippersnapper cruise concept, but they are offering a great opportunity to sail Virgin as a family if you have grown kids!
young adults sale free on Virgin Cruises
Right now young adults (aka "kids") can sale free when you book a cruise on Virgin Voyages. The kids sail free promotion allows you to save quite a bit on your next adult family cruise!
So... who is considered a "kid" on virgin voyages?
The age for a "kid" varies widely in the cruise industry. On Royal Caribbean only ages 12 and under benefit from their kids sale free promotion. Celebrity doesn't really do a kids sail free promo these days, but from time to time they offer 3/4th person in a cabin free promo, which is a similar concept, only without an age limitation. MSC at times runs kids 18 and under sail free
How old is a kid on virgin cruise line?
Since Virgin is exclusively an 18+ cruise line, their promotion applies to sailors (kids) between the ages of 18-26 years old.
So despite the cruise line's no kids allowed policy, your boomerang kids can join you on your next cruise and since we all know you're footing the bill already... at least you won't be paying full price for them this time. ;p
Book a kids sail free cruise on virgin today!
Did you miss the kids sail free sale?
Bummer, I hate when that happens! But hey, don't worry! You can check the latest opportunities here or request a free quote from Virgin Voyages Travel Agent Marissa Books Travel
Coming soon...
Since Virgin Voyages is a newer cruise line, we have a lot to dive into and share with you soon, including:
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More cruise stuff you'll like:
Follow @marissa.books.travel on Instagram
In this sea day Mediterranean cruise blog you will find Sun Princess reviews including cruise food and features of the Princess Cruises App along with a complimentary whisky tasting!
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For those who like to sleep in or just leisurely start their day, a well chosen cruise can be an excellent vacation choice. Unlike a hotel with limited breakfast hours, a cruise has so many dining options available to you at all times. On days when we did not order the free continental breakfast room service delivery on Sun Princess and we didn't go to the main dining room or buffet for breakfast, we could still enjoy a selection of breakfast foods all day at the Americana Diner! |
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Brunch in the americana diner
americana diner menu sun princess
As a quick recap, you do not need reservations for the Americana Diner and everything on the menu is available every day except the bottom right corner where it says "Tonight's Special". Those items rotate each night to include a few options from the main dining room menu in addition to the default Diner classics.
Sun Princess Americana Diner Sample Menu
buttermilk pancake stack.
The buttermilk pancake stack came with blueberry jam, chocolate, streaky bacon, maple syrup, and a torched banana. In this case we requested only syrup and bacon along with the triple pancake stack and torched bananas. The bacon was missing! Oops :)
diner's hash .
For the Diner's Hash you could choose between salt beef and halloumi (cheese). Your preference would be served with home-style potatoes, fried egg, roasted bell peppers, and griddled onions.
Let's see how it turned out!
Let's see how it turned out!
Diner's Hash | Sun Princess Food Reviews
This was quite a potato-forward dish with the diced potatoes as well as two large roasted potato wedges. The homestyle potatoes tasted ketchup-y to me and while I wasn't the hugest fan of that I suppose it fits with the diner theme.
Overall solid brunch! |
Breakfast in Americana Diner
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strawberry shortcake milkshake.
Since we are attempting to try (nearly) everything on the Americana Diner menu, this seemed like a good opportunity for the Strawberry Shortcake Milkshake!
Described as strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries and milk, topped with whipped cream and meringue pieces. I would be surprised if this milkshake actually has fresh strawberries in it, nevertheless it was super tasty!
The meringue pieces on top were a great touch and much better than the donut garnish of the coffee and donuts milkshake we tried previously, imo.
The meringue pieces on top were a great touch and much better than the donut garnish of the coffee and donuts milkshake we tried previously, imo.
the wheelhouse bar on sun princess.
Shown below is the wheelhouse bar on Sun Princess around 1pm on a sea day. This is a popular spot for drinks before dinner!
Complimentary liquor tasting & history of whiskey events
The Princess Cruises App shows you all of the activities for the day and allows you to bookmark your favorites. A complimentary liquor tasting on a cruise is pretty common and will be held in the duty-free liquor store on board. On Sun Princess the duty free liquor store is called Fine Spirits & Treats and in this shop they held the free liquor tasting as well as an educational whiskey tasting.
Free Liquor Tasting on Sun Princess
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History of Whiskey Cruise Activity
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I do recommend coming on time and only lingering in the shop if you are ready to make a purchase or else it can get awkward. Of course the point of these events are to generate sales and the crew members need to make sales to perform well.
We had the opportunity to try a unique Cotswolds single malt whisky.
Also wanted to give a shoutout to the beautiful tile design inside this duty-free shop on Sun Princess. I really loved this design and it suited my huaraches nicely, don't you think?! :p
Stunning Tile Design in Sun Princess Duty Free Shop
• Shop: Nisolo Huaraches in Brandy
pizza & Dogs on the Pool deck
From the shop on deck 7 we headed up to deck 9 - the pool deck - to walk around and enjoy the sea views, but let me tell you it's hard to walk past the Princess Pizzeria without checking the menu and grabbing a slice.
The special of the day was Four-Cheese pizza (fresh mozzarella, fontina, provolone, and dolcelatte).
* This 4 cheese slice was the best pizza we ate on Sun Princess!
So happy we grabbed this slice, although after that day we never managed to catch it again which was for sure a bummer.
Feedback for Princess Cruises: Serve the Four-Cheese pizza more often! :o)
Hot dogs on sun princess
There are several hot dog choices available at the grill on Sun Princess.
You can order the hot dog as suggested on the menu which includes mustard, relish, and fried onions, or you can alter it how you prefer such as with just fried onions and ketchup.
They always serve the fries in the cute little baskets and the trays are perfectly picnic-y with the red and white checkered liners.
You can order the hot dog as suggested on the menu which includes mustard, relish, and fried onions, or you can alter it how you prefer such as with just fried onions and ketchup.
They always serve the fries in the cute little baskets and the trays are perfectly picnic-y with the red and white checkered liners.
We enjoyed sitting by the windows as we passed through the Dardanelles Strait of Turkey.
Princess crew call chat review
This feels like a good moment to give some feedback on the Princess Crew Call Chat.
On the Princess Cruises App you have access to "Crew Call Chat" 24 hours per day. This is a really great feature and allows you to ask questions and receive answers via text rather than having to make a phone call or go down to the desk in person. Love this feature!
The quality of the responses, though, was a bit hit or miss. For instance, on the schedule there was a "Craft" in the Horizon's Dining Room on deck 7. No further details. So I decided to ask the CrewCall Chat what the craft was.
Arts & Craft Activity on Sun Princess
Their response was to list out several activities that afternoon (not helpful) and then tell me to look at the schedule in my room (not helpful) and then send the generic I'm-closing-out-this-ticket message to finish the chat (corporate box ticking at it's finest).
Crew Call Chat
I found this a little bit annoying to be honest as my question was not answered, I was clearly already familiar with the schedule in the room and on the app as I asked about a specific event listed on there. In the end they basically told me to go to the dining room and find out lol.
I found this a little bit annoying to be honest as my question was not answered, I was clearly already familiar with the schedule in the room and on the app as I asked about a specific event listed on there. In the end they basically told me to go to the dining room and find out lol.
Not super helpful CrewCall Chat
Imagine I had mobility issues. It would have been really nice if someone could have told me what this activity entails (like.. is this a children's activity or something adults would also enjoy) before I make my way with great effort across the ship. Do you see what I mean?
I truly don't know if the people responding to the Chat are on the ship and what information/resources they have access to, but on a number of occasions I found the Crew Chat to be less than helpful, unfortunately. Always giving an honest review over here.
Crew Chat is a great app feature which could use some improvements.
complimentary laundry on sun princess
When you sail on Princess with Elite Status one of the best benefits is free laundry. It was really nice to return to our room and find our laundry washed, pressed, folded, or hanging. Especially on a 14 night cruise, having complimentary laundry is game changing. This is one way Princess Cruise Lines rewards loyalty to their line.
Still, there are things you may wish to consider in order to decide whether or not to send your laundry out on a cruise.
• • Coming Soon: Tips for washing clothes on a cruise • •
Still, there are things you may wish to consider in order to decide whether or not to send your laundry out on a cruise.
• • Coming Soon: Tips for washing clothes on a cruise • •
Princess Elite Cruisers enjoy complimentary laundry!
Princess does have laundry rooms for public use throughout the ship. Many who do not wish to hand wash their clothes on vacation will make use of these laundry facilities on a cruise ship.
Self service laundry is a top rated feature of Princess by many cruisers that other lines should take note of.
Self service laundry is a top rated feature of Princess by many cruisers that other lines should take note of.
dinner in the sun princess main dining room
For some reason we missed snapping a pic of the dinner menu in the main dining room this night. Must have been distracted by visions of crab cakes and beef Wellington ... At any rate, here's what we tried!
Crab Cake
A crab cake with some lump crab meat as seen in the photo wearing a hat of greens, one ruby slipper and resting atop a bed of aioli.
I really enjoyed the crab cake and accompanying sauce. We did find it a bit strange, however, that a breaded and fried item would be sat on top of a creamy sauce, rather than the sauce being a garnish along side. We found this odd because 1. it makes the bottom of the crab cake soggy and 2. if you are averse to the accompanying sauce now the whole bottom of your crab cake is tainted by it. I could see this causing some cruisers to become crab cakes themselves. :p
Feedback for Princess Cruises: Sauces beside fried foods, please and thanks! :)
Feedback for Princess Cruises: Sauces beside fried foods, please and thanks! :)
Prosciutto & Melon with endive + Arugula
Here are two different plates of the same dish for consistency comparison. This prosciutto and melon medley accented with a bit of endive and arugula is such a prime example of how simple dishes can be outstanding. With a few flavorful ingredient you have all you need!
This melon and prosciutto salad would make for an easy appetizer at a dinner party!
Roasted pear salad
A roasted pear salad was hard to pass up and I am so pleased I didn't skip it. I'm a big fan of fruit on salads and this salad offered a brilliant mix of colors and textures between the leaf lettuce, roasted red pepper slices, cooked pears, and sprouts on top. Beneath the sprouts you could find crumbled blue cheese - always complimentary to sweet pears!
This salad is another cruise food worth re-creating at home!
beef wellington
Beef Wellington is at the top of the list of foods I'm eager to order on a cruise. It's such a fancy meal that is more laborious to make than we care to do very often (literally probably 10 years ago was the last time), but when executed well is such a delight.
Beef Wellington on Sun Princess
While the plating was lovely I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this under seasoned and overcooked Beef Wellington on Sun Princess. Later on in the cruise a waiter gave us the tip to order one step rarer than you want because that's the way to get the cook you want on it. So I guess we should have ordered medium-rare?
I hope this is a fluke, but I'd love to know how your Wellington was on your last cruise?
I hope this is a fluke, but I'd love to know how your Wellington was on your last cruise?
Sun princess dessert Menu
Sun Princess Dessert Menu
coconut cake with raspberry sauce
At the waiters recommendation I ordered the coconut cake with raspberry sauce, but found it a bit boring. The cake was on the dense and dry side. The filling was okay and it really needed more raspberry sauce.
Coconut Cake with Raspberry Sauce
Chocolate tart
The chocolate tart with vanilla crème anglaise was as rich and chocolatey as you can imagine by looking at the photo. The crust had an interesting texture reminiscent of the oatmeal-y nature of no-bakes, but more finely ground and drier.
Chocolate Tart
Iced cointreau souffle
The iced cointreau soufflé was a last minute addition and it was the highlight of this night's dessert! If you like cointreau / citrus flavor definitely order this unique cold soufflé!
Iced Cointreau Souffle
Up next: a day in istanbul, turkey
Our next port of call, and also our anniversary, would be Istanbul, Turkey. When I flipped on the TV in our cabin to watch the "Shore Excursion Program" for Istanbul ... it was not available. Classic...
TV Port Guides Unavailable
more in this sun princess review series:
Portugal travel blog:
On this Princess Cruise Blog we visit the Mediterranean Port of Chania in Crete, Greece and share some things to do in Crete cruise port including souvenir ideas!
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Day 4 of our Sun Princess Mediterranean Cruise landed us on the Greek Island of Crete. This was, in fact, an alteration to our original itinerary. Santorini was our original port of call, but it was changed to Chania, Crete. New Cruiser FYI: If you have never cruised before you should be made aware that ports of call are subject to change. If there is a safety issue, capacity issue, or other unforeseen circumstance a cruise line may stop at a different port or have another sea day.
To start our day on Crete, we ordered the free room service breakfast on Princess. We ordered 2 danishes, 1 pizza muffin, an egg and cheese English muffin, a fruit plate, and bananas along with coffee, of course!
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In this post:
Looking for something specific? Jump ahead:
Princess Cruise Review
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Starboard View of Souda Port Chania on the greek Isle of Crete
We mused that the "Welcome to Souda Port Chania" sign must have been there since Paul's day based on how worn and barely visible the words were.
Welcome To Souda Port Chania | Crete Cruise Port
View from Balcony 11221 Starboard, looking at Chania port toward the left, straight ahead, and to the right respectively.
Crete Cruise Port FAQs
Is Chania a tender port?
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete.
Where do cruise ships dock in Crete?
The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day.
Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece?
On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania.
Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete.
It can be, but on our Mediterannean cruise we did not tender on Crete with Princess Cruise Lines. Check your cruise itinerary or contact your cruise line to confirm if you will be tendering or docking on Crete.
Where do cruise ships dock in Crete?
The majority of cruise ships will dock in Iraklion (Heraklion) port or Souda (Chania) when visiting Crete for the day.
Where does Sun Princess dock in Chania, Greece?
On our cruise, Sun Princess docked at Souda Port. Souda is the name of the port in Chania.
Also note the blue dot on the map below to indicate where Sun Princess was docked in Crete.
Cruise Travel Tip
Cruise Travel Tip: On Sun Princess, there were large screens along the path to exit the ship on port days which featured contact information for the Port Agent. Make sure to snap a photo of the Port Agent Contact Information. It will usually be in your printed daily schedule as well.
If you run into any trouble while in Port, including if you're running late, (ps. please don't run late getting back to the ship!) it will be essential to contact this number for help. It is well known that cruise ships will leave passengers who aren't back on board in time, so always get back to your ship with plenty of time if you are doing your own excursions.
Still, 'unexpected events overtake us all' and if you find yourself in that situation, call the port agent right away and let them know. No guarantee the ship can wait or will wait, but you stand a better chance if you've communicated and they know what's going on. =)
Our one day in chania cruise port
Shuttle Bus to Chania Town
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours.
Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
Chania is a very walkable and cute port to visit, however you cannot quickly walk to Chania from Souda Port. It would be quite a long walk, something to the tune of 2 hours.
Needless to say, we were very happy that Princess had a complimentary shuttle bus from Souda Port which dropped us off in Chania near the Municipal Garden of Chania.
Free Shuttle Bus from Souda Port to Chania Town | Princess Cruise Review
The bus displayed a sign in the front window which said "Sun Princess Shuttle".
How long is the shuttle from Souda Port to Chania? The ride was between 15 and 20 minutes and gave a good opportunity to check out some key phrases in Greek from The Turquoise Collection. |
Handy Greek Travel Phrases
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A walk through chania, crete
After getting off the shuttle I snapped a pic of this monument and area which was under construction. As it turns out this is the entrance to the Agora, the Municipal Market of Chania.
It is currently being restored and while it was anticipated to reopen in summer 2024, the expectation is now at least spring of 2025.
Chania's Agora, or Marketplace, is currently being renovated. A Spring 2025 re-opening is anticipated | Crete Travel Blog
As we walked along the perimeter of the Municipal Gardens of Chania to reach the coastal area, we met two of the loveliest elderly ladies at the cart. We learned via google translate, it was their custom every week on this day to be there. Modern day Anas to warm our hearts. Although we couldn't speak the same language we instantly felt the special bond that is such a treasure.
Next we popped into a grocery store to take a peak around. Fully enjoyed this coffee grinder. Nothing like freshly ground coffee beans!
A Rustic Coffee Grinder in a Grocery Store on the Greek Isle of Crete
Walking around Chania is enjoyable. From wide shopping and dining streets like this one ..
A spacious walking street in Chania | What to do on Crete
... to narrow winding alleys, you'll enjoy exploring this Greek isle on your cruise!
A Narrow Street in Chania | Chania Cruise Port In One Day
Here's a cute hotel entrance framed by a blooming bougainvillea which provides shade like an umbrella from nature for anyone sitting at that little table. =)
Charming Chania Hotel Bougainvillea in Bloom
Unique Greek Gift Ideas on Crete
Leather goods make a great souvenir from Crete. This leather shop called Baba Yank Handcraft Leather Workshop sold leather belts, leather purses and backpacks.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia.
According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story.
Do you see the green and yellow leather bags in the photo? This backpack style is called Vourgiali or Vourgia.
According to their website, this style of bag is used by Cretan shepherds and farmers to store their daily meals. Vourgiali can also be found in Cyprus and the Dodecanese islands. This leather backpack would be a really cool souvenir from Crete - it's useful, it's unique, it supports a local artisan, and it has cultural significance and an interesting story.
Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas - Leather Goods
If leather isn't your thing. check out O Armenis for more unique souvenirs from Crete.
Handmade Knives at O Armenis in Chania
O Armenis sells traditional cutlery and you can see how unique these handmade knives certainly are.
O Armenis - Traditional Cretan Knives Since 1912 Workshop in Chania
The tall walking sticks / shepherds crooks caught my eye as well. I was curious how much they cost. These cool walking sticks were 80 euros, but I imagine they will be hard to pack in your checked luggage. lol
Shopping in Chania, Crete | Mediterranean Cruise Travel Blog
The store Cream Of Hippocrates also looked to have some unique items. Bags made traditionally on a handloom, homemade creams, not to mention books and toys.
Cream Of Hippocrates Store, Chania
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Handloomed Bag at Cream Of Hippocrates Store, Chania
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Walking past the next store, something immediately caught my eye - the colorful coin pouches inside the doorway. They looked Thai, without a doubt.
This cute boutique, Wipa Silk Shop, has loads of cute dresses and accessories including many authentic Thai goods. It was a highlight of the day to chat with the owner, a kind Thai woman.
Please stop in at Wipa when you are in Chania!
Wipa Silk Shop, Chania Crete
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Authentic Thai Accessories at Wipa Silk Shop
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Another great souvenir from Greece would be handmade leather sandals. Typically the sandals will have the family name stamped in the footbed. I much prefer this dignified way to acknowledge the maker than the overly branded items popular today, which can be tacky.
Diniakos Leather Sandals | Greek Cruise Souvenir Ideas
cretan Cats of chania
In the neighborhood were some adorable street cats and a comical, scruffy little dog.
old venetian port of chania
We had made it to the Old Venetian Port of Chania.
Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
We found more cats hanging around waiting for a fresh catch and this one looked quite distinguished.
Striking Black Cat at Old Venetian Port Chania, Crete
There are plenty of restaurants to dine at along the Old Venetian Port where you'll have a view of the water and the Lighthouse of Chania.
What's so special about Chania's Lighthouse?
It's said to be the oldest lighthouse in the world so we thought it worth the walk down the long mole (the stone pier leading to the lighthouse), but not without first taking in the views.
Chania's old lighthouse in the distance
Before walking down the pier, take a peak around the corner of this stone wall to see glimpses of the Chanion Gulf in the Sea of Crete.
Chanion Sea | Greek Cruise Ports
Chania in one day on a cruise
The walk to the lighthouse starts out well. The walkway is spacious and affords views of the boats docked along the shore with the Venetian shipyards in the background.
View of Chania from the walkway to the Lighthouse
The mountains made a majestic backdrop for the Venetian Shipyards at the Chania Marina. Originally they were to build and maintain Venetian galleys (a type of boat that relied mostly on oars and was used for warfare, trade, and piracy in the European seas. source). Later when the Ottomans invaded Crete, the Shipyards actually became storehouses for food.
Mountainous background to the Venetian Shipyards in Chania
Sadly at this point on the journey to the lighthouse, things took a turn. I have to say the walk to the Chania lighthouse is not for the faint of heart on a blisteringly hot day.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3.
Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking.
Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi.
The old sea wall going out to the lighthouse has sort of an upper level and lower level. At one point we took stairs to the upper level, which was more narrow and because I started to feel uneasy we turned back in order to continue on the lower level a la Proverbs 22:3.
Shortly thereafter my sandal proceeds to break in an irreparable way while we are on the middle of this long walk to the lighthouse in the blazing heat. We had no choice but to turn back and let me tell you it was an even longer walk back trying to hold onto my flipflop by scrunching up my toes while walking.
Tired, overheated, frustrated, and hungry we hobbled our way to a place called Tostachi.
Tostachi Restaurant Review | Chania Cruise Port Crete, Greece
Tostachi Restaurant Chania
Tostachi is a cute little restaurant serving bio (organic) foods made from the heart.
Inside Tostachi Restaurant on Crete
Tostachi Chania Menu
To Stachi Menu
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To Stachi Drinks and Sweets Menu
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To Stachi Main Menu
Greek Coffee
We started off with a greek coffee which is made in a pot called a Briki and is reminiscent of the Armenian coffee we had at Ararate Restaurant in Lisbon.
Greek Coffee at to Stachi in Chania
Cretan Spinach Pie
We ordered the Cretan spinach pie with "handmade phyllo pastry, wild seasonal greens & large variety of herbs."
Cretan Spinach Pie at To Stachi Chania
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Greek Spinach Pie on Crete
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Stelio's Salad
While we actually ordered a Greek Salad, in the end we seemed to have received Stelios's salad "with tomato, cucumber, onion, lettuce, rocket, herbs, coriander, avocado, olives, mizithra cheese & balsamic vinegar".
Stelios' Salad at To Stachi Chania
I absolutely loved this salad. I thought it was so flavorful and exciting. So full of colors and textures that you couldn't possibly call this a boring salad. This kind of salad makes eating healthy fun! =) |
A stunning salad on the greek isle of Crete
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Kalitsounia with honey - Dessert
For dessert we decided to try the kalitsounia with honey. This is "handmade phyllo pastry with mizithra cheese with Cretan thyme honey & cinnamon"
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk.
By the way, if you're wondering what is mizithra?! It's a homemade traditional cheese made from goats milk.
Cretan Dessert Kalitsounia with Honey at To Stachi restaurant
Fruit Plate
At the end they brought us this lovely fruit plate of fresh honeydew and strawberry with their compliments!
Fresh Fruit at To Stachi Restaurant
The best part of tostachi.
Chef Stelios, shown in photo wearing his apron, was the absolute highlight of our visit to Tostachi. He was passionate about all of the food he made, eager to explain each menu item, happy to take a video while he made our dessert and show it to us, and he just had a warmth and kindness about him that is rare to see these days.
Stelios touched our hearts!
The kind of guy who would repair a sandal for a total stranger :) and as if that wasn't enough, even provide extra wire in case the first fix didn't stay. What a legend!
Thanks to Stelios, I was able to walk back to the cruise shuttle bus with ease!
walking back to the cruise shuttle bus
With a newly repaired sandal, we could start the walk back to the shuttle bus pickup point, remembering to factor in the 20 minute bus ride and then walking to the actual ship so we wouldn't miss all aboard!
View across from To Stachi Restaurant in Chania
Cool Buildings in Chania
For some reason this red building was so intriguing..
Architecture of Chania
We walked near the water and the views of the Chanion Gulf were so beautiful.
Chanion Gulf
Once I saw these steps I knew I had to run down them real quick and dip my toe into the water - it was my last chance! When would I be on Crete again?! It was soooo refreshing on such a hot day.
Where locals dip their toe in - Chania Cruise Port
Wouldn't you love to visit Crete and spend some time in these beautiful waters?!
Beautiful waters surround Crete
Sailing from crete on Sun princess
Once we got back on Sun Princess we grabbed a little strawberry-topped donut snack and returned to our balcony for the sail-away views of Crete.
The views...
Sun Princess leaving Souda Port, Chania
... were just ...
Outstanding views Starboard on Sun Princess Greek Isles Cruise
so so so good!
Balcony Views from Souda Bay on Sun Princess
We couldn't get enough
Sailing away from Crete on a Mediterranean Cruise
of the views through souda bay
Cannot get over the views of Crete in Souda Bay | Greek Isles Cruise Travel Blog
dinner and Dancing in the Piazza
To wrap up a roller coaster of a day we grabbed a most random dinner from The Eatery on Sun Princess consisting of asian food and a dessert plate of greek sweets like baklava.
In the Piazza, the band was bringing out some smooth moves from fellow cruisers.
Day 5 of this Mediterranean Cruise on Sun Princess is a Sea Day so get ready for more cruise food pics and let us know if you think the food on Princess Cruises is good!
You will also like:
Sun Princess MEDITERRANEAN Cruise Blogs:
In this post we hope we gave you some helpful tips for visiting Chania Port Souda on a cruise and that we answered some questions you may have had such as:
- Is Chania walkable from cruise port?
- What to do in Crete from a cruise ship?
- Is Chania a tender port?
- What is the name of the port in Chania?
- What is the name of the cruise port in Crete?
- Is Chania Crete worth visiting? Yes!!
- What currency do they use in Chania?
Bring euros! The currency in Chania Crete is euro since Greece is part of the European Union. Cards are also widely accepted. Our favorite travel cards do not have foreign transaction fees either. ;)
In June we made a quick weekend trip to Lisbon for an assembly. We arrived at Sete Rios Bus Station in Lisbon around 3pm after a 3-ish hour bus ride.
The Uber ride from the bus station in Lisbon to our hotel in the Saldanha neighborhood was 3.88€
The Uber ride from the bus station in Lisbon to our hotel in the Saldanha neighborhood was 3.88€
Turim Saldanha Hotel
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Turim Saldanha Lobby | Lisbon Portugal Travel Blog
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We were absolutely famished after the bus ride when I remembered we had a few snacks left in our bag. A lovely family from Hawaii had been visiting Odemira when we happened to visit for a talk one day. They were sharing these little tastes of Hawaii with everyone we meet! Edible gifts are the best - such a fun way to share a piece of your homeland!
Diamond bakery hawaiian shortbread macadamia nut guava cookies
A tasty little treat, I'm always in favor of a shortbread. :)
Mauna Loa Dry Roasted Macadamias - Maui onion and garlic
These macadamia nuts were delicious and addictive. The Maui onion & garlic flavor was sooo good - highly recommend!!
We were eating these macadamia nuts when there was a knock on our hotel room door - an employee stopping by to help resolve an issue.
Once everything was sorted and we had done a room tour for you, we unpacked and were ready to walk to dinner - trying to find the best pizza in Lisbon!
On our walk to Forno d oro, we discovered the Lisbon Book Fair was taking place. (Feira do Livro Lisboa 2024)
94th Feira do Livro Lisboa 2024 | Lisbon Book Fair
If you're wondering how people dress in Portugal, I'd say this family is a good example!
Cute and comfy dresses paired with trainers or other supportive footwear are popular outfits among women and girls in Lisbon.
People on a whole tend to dress nicely in Portugal.
Cute and comfy dresses paired with trainers or other supportive footwear are popular outfits among women and girls in Lisbon.
People on a whole tend to dress nicely in Portugal.
What to wear in Lisbon
Spring time is one of the best times to visit Portugal because of mild weather, fewer tourists, better prices, and spring flowers, of course!
Jacaranda Trees in Bloom in June | Spring in Lisbon
These beautiful lilac/blue/purplish flowering trees in this Lisbon park are called Jacaranda Mimosifolia.
Aren't they lovely?
A red tourist sight-seeing bus in Lisbon behind a row of blooming Jacaranda trees
If you look to the right hand corner of the photo above, you can see the red hop-on-hop-off bus. Perhaps you'd like to rest your feet and let someone drive you around Lisbon sights for a day or two!
Lilac blooms of jacaranda trees line this Lisboa street in June
It's just so hard not to keep taking pictures of the jacaranda trees in bloom in Lisbon during spring time, but alas! finding the best pizza in Portugal is a mission that requires sacrifice, so onward we go on our journey to the pizzeria.
A pomegranate tree shades the ecoponto
Portugal Travel Tip: public Recycling and Trash
As you walk around Lisbon and Portugal in general, you will notice public recycling areas (ecoponto). The bins in this photo are actually on the small side. Here are some things to know about recycling in Portugal.
The bins are color coded and when you look at the packaging you want to recycle, it will indicate which color bin you need to place it in. Green (verde) is for glass, Blue (Azul) is for paper and cardboard, Yellow (amarelo) is for metal and plastic. Lixo means trash, as in regular garbage.
By the way, do you see the tree behind those recycling and garbage bins? Do you know what it is?
It's a pomegranate tree! So cool that in a few months, right on the side of a Lisbon sidewalk will be fresh pomegranate fruits!
The bins are color coded and when you look at the packaging you want to recycle, it will indicate which color bin you need to place it in. Green (verde) is for glass, Blue (Azul) is for paper and cardboard, Yellow (amarelo) is for metal and plastic. Lixo means trash, as in regular garbage.
By the way, do you see the tree behind those recycling and garbage bins? Do you know what it is?
It's a pomegranate tree! So cool that in a few months, right on the side of a Lisbon sidewalk will be fresh pomegranate fruits!
Lisbon is a city of hills. You will get your steps in, with ease!
It's really hard to get a sense of it, but this was quite an uphill walk. When you travel to Lisbon you need to pack good walking shoes. The best travel shoes or sandals would not only be comfortable and provide anatomical support, but also have no-slip soles because the beautiful little tiled sidewalks can be quite slick!
My mom just did a multi-brand side-by-side try on of the most popular comfortable footwear for women and this brand is her hands down favorite to date.
Finally we made it to the popular Forno d'Oro pizza restaurant in Lisbon!!
Outside Forno d'Oro, a popular Lisbon Pizzeria
You can read our dedicated post about our experience at this pizzeria to get our full restaurant review!
With bellies full of delicious Neapolitan pizza and tiramisu, we started the walk back to our Saldanha hotel.
A motorbike parked in the weeds of a Lisbon sidewalk | Traveling Through Food Portugal Travel Blog
Remember earlier when I was trying to capture how steep the hill was? Maybe this picture gives you a better idea.
Walk carefully on the calçadas, tiled sidewalks, of Lisboa
I happened to look into a store window we were passing by and see this little bear t shirt and it reminded me of my Abuelita. ❤
And have you ever seen pearl hangers like this before?
A kitsch bear shirt hangs in the window display of a Lisbon shop
As we were enjoying the walk and the Lisboa book fair was still open, we decided to take a stroll through it.
At the entrance of the book fair you can go along the right side or left side. There were sooo many publishers here.
Entering the Lisbon Book Fair 2024 | Lisbon Travel Blog
As this is a travel blog with a food focus, I have to show you a few of the fair foods in Portugal and their respective prices.
This food truck called Capricciosa sold Rolotini's (pizza rolls) for 7.5€. If you get the "Menu" it's a combo including a pizza roll and a drink for 8€.
Farturas are a popular fair food in summer in Portugal and you will see little stalls pop up along the beach boardwalks as well as events like this book fair.
What are farturas?
Some describe farturas as a Portuguese dessert which combines everything you love about a funnel cake with a churro and as I type that out I'm wondering how it is that we still haven't tried these for ourselves?!
Farturas, a popular Portuguese fair food | Portugal Food Blog
Growing up in an area where summer sweet corn is abundant, you don't realize how good an ear of corn is and how many people don't have access to such a simple summer time pleasure. That makes it a real novelty item.
Here at corn club you can order some gourmet corn for 5€
Corn for sale at a Portuguese fair
Of course this classic moment came immediately to mind.
There was a large seating area set up at the Lisbon book fair where you could enjoy your fair foods while looking out over Parque Eduardo VII.
Lisboa's Parque Eduardo VII at night
As we left the book fair, I had to stop and take a picture of this incredible mural at the espaço Porto Editora | Bertrand Editora. What a detailed piece of artwork! I couldn't help but think of my talented Italian friend and illustrator Miriam who at times creates works in this style!
An incredible mural at Lisbon Book Fair
Apparently there were various scheduled talks and discussions during the Lisbon book fair. I was surprised to stumble upon live music. We stopped and listened for a few minutes.
Live Music at Lisbon's Book Fair
Portugal really has a lot of family friendly events like this and most of them are free or very affordable!
You're never far from something interesting to see whether it's the sticker collection on the back of a street sign or beautiful tiles adding character to a building.
On day two of this weekend in Lisbon we had our scheduled assembly program all day. The hotel had little chocolate umbrellas at the reception the night before and I saved mine for a hearty breakfast. ;)
A milk chocolate umbrella candy compliments of Turim Hotels
We Uber-ed to the program and I have to remind you that while your default mode may be to pull out your phone to pass the time in the car ... YOU'RE IN LISBON! Look around! =) There are lots of interesting things to see, beautiful architecture etc.
Intricate details in the architectural style of this Lisbon building
After a day of learning and socializing we were ready to eat! We discovered a unique restaurant in walking distance from our hotel - an Armenian Restaurant!
Ararate Armenian Restaurant in Lisbon
At this restaurant I ate something that I consider to be a perfect food. :) Check out all the Armenian and Georgian foods we tried in our Ararate Restaurant Review.
It was now day 3 and we had a 12pm hotel checkout with a 12:30pm bus scheduled. We had plenty of time so we decided to check out the popular and very cute brunch spot Hygge Kaffe.
Hygge Kaffe - a cute and instagrammable brunch spot
If you love aesthetic food pics and trendy brunch dishes, check out our review of Hygge which my dad described as "honest and sincere". =)
We nearly missed our bus, our uber drop off time was 12:28 for a bus that leaves at 12:30. So we ran as fast as we could and just barely made it on in time.
We spent the bus ride catching our breath, filled with gratitude for everything that made this such a special weekend.
Crossing Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon | Bus Window View
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