Royal Caribbean Cruise: Labadee Haiti and Montego Bay Jamaica

Hi everyone,
Since I did a full review on my last cruise with Royal Caribbean which you can find by clicking HERE, I thought I would show you the photos of the ports we stopped in during that cruise. This post may also help some of us reminisce about warmer temperatures as the world seems to have frozen over here in Toronto.

The first stop was Labadee Haiti which is a section of the island owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. On Labadee they have the longest over water zip line in the world and there is a roller coaster that goes down the mountain. Aside from that there isn't much else to do besides stroll the local craft shops and relax on the beach.

The ship provided lunch for us while at the beach and the island was beautiful!

Labadee Haiti

Local dancers

It's hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago I was relaxing right here and now I am trudging through snow!

And another beautiful sunset while leaving the island

Montego Bay Jamaica

When pulling into the ports I got some lovely shots from the deck of the ship with the mountains as a backdrop!

Maragritaville is a restaurant right on the water where you can order food and big tropical drinks. This location was unique in that guests could go from the restaurant and jump right into the ocean to swim!

Red Stripe is the beer made in Jamaica

The photo below captures how Jamaicans make authentic jerk chicken! They slow roast the seasoned chicken over pimento infused wood and cover it with these tin sheets so they absorb all the flavor while staying juicy! I ordered a traditional Jamaican meal of jerk chicken, rice and peas and roasted yam. I also had Jamaican patties. I love trying the local foods when I travel.

While in Jamaica I also got some Caribbean made chocolate!

This was the first time I have been to Haiti and the 4th time I have been to Jamaica. Both islands are gorgeous! And now it's back to the cold Toronto winter...

If you have any questions about taking a cruise vacation feel free to leave them in the comment section below.

For more photos and travel information you can visit my travel page by clicking HERE

Syrc Style Handbags: Jewelry Review

Today I have another review just in time for the holiday season. While browsing online one day I came across a website called Syrc Style Handbags, a company that offers a variety of beautiful designer inspired handbags at great prices. Being the bagaholic that I am I browsed around the site for a while and came upon some fashionable costume jewelry. Syrc Style also has a etsy shop where they sell nameplate necklaces and custom jewelry which I think make great gifts. 

The piece I am going to review today is called the SilverHerringbone Chain Bracelet which retails for just $14.99.

When choosing jewelry I opt for a variety of pieces so that I will have something for every occasion. Sometimes I choose unique fun pieces and other times I choose simple elegant pieces. This bracelet is definitely simple and elegant.

I love the timeless pattern of this bracelet and when it catches the light it stands out beautifully. For the price, this bracelet is great quality, it feels very durable, looks more expensive than it is and has a nice shiny finish. I also like that the clasp is quite large making it easy to fasten and remove yourself. There are also 5 extra links on the end so you can adjust the size. The bracelet is 9" long x .25" wide and not bulky or heavy. I like that the woven pattern doesn't pinch the tiny hairs on your arm making it very comfortable to wear, it is also lead free.

I think this piece is quite versatile; it is nice enough to slip on for formal occasions and even compliments my diamond wedding ring. It is also great for every day wear and looks trendy when stacked with a watch or other bracelets.

You can also get this bracelet in gold if you prefer. Right now on the website if you use the code: baglove you will receive 10% off your order and there is a $5 flat rate for shipping. 

*I am not being compensated for any purchases made on this website*

 You can find Syrc Style Handbags on their website at: syrcstyle.com

and also on:

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FACEBOOK

PINTEREST

ETSY SHOP

**Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for a sponsored review courtesy of  Syrc Style Handbags. All opinions stated in this review are my own and based on my experience with the products. **

Julep Subscription Box Review

By now many people are already familiar with Julep's monthly subscription box, it is one of the more popular monthly beauty boxes and many bloggers, YouTuber's and beauty enthusiasts are already signed up. For me this is the first time I am trying out this box and to get it for free I used a coupon code I found online and paid $3.99 for shipping and handling. If you do use the code which is FREEFB you will be signed up for an ongoing monthly box unless you cancel it before a specific day.

When I went to Julep's website I took a short quiz in order to be matched up with a particular style. My style category is called Bombshell and there are specific products within that group that are suppose to be suited to my preferences. If you don't like how you are matched you can switch your style category at any time.

The first two items I received in this box were two stunning nail lacquers. One is a dark green with multicolored shimmer called Kendra. The other color is my favorite, a gorgeous gold with shiny flecks of glitter called Zelda. I have been searching for a gold nail polish like this for some time so I am quite happy with these colors. I also like the design of the bottles.

Both these shades are perfect for the Holiday and they are both different than anything I already have in my collection. I like that Julep recommended these colors for me because if I had picked them myself I would have ended up with a red, purple or pink polish which are colors that I already have in abundance. 

Also in the box was the Luxe Repair skin serum by Julep. This serum is "an age-defying, antioxidant rich serum that works rapidly to reveal smooth, radiant looking skin." contains "Rosehip seed oil to improve skin clarity and to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and post-acne marks. Green coffee bean oil to promote cell turn over and is ultra hydrating and works to rebuild skin structure from the inside out."  Since I just got this products I can't attest to any of those claims yet but after I test it out for a while I may do a full review. 

The last thing that was in the box was this cute little tote. It isn't a fabric tote but more like the reusable bags you would take to the grocery store, although still quite handy. The best thing about the tote is the beauty quote printed on it (See photo below)

Info about the Julep Maven subscription

*This beauty box cost $20 per month. For more info you can visit the site by clicking HERE

*Great box for nail polish lovers although you do receive other beauty items as well

*Maven members get 20% off and free shipping on Julep.com

*You can earn rewards points

*To cancel your subscription you have to call in before the 18th of each month

*Members can add products to their box starting at $4.99

I think this subscription is rather good, I like the polish but it would have been nice to see at least one more product in the box. I also tried to contact customer service and it took 15 days to get a reply via email which isn't great so the best way to contact them is to call in. Once I did reach them they were very courteous and quite helpful.

What do you think about this monthly subscription? 

Royal Caribbean Cruise Review: Liberty of the Seas

As many of you know I just got back from a wonderful vacation aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas which stopped off in Labadee Haiti and Montego Bay Jamaica. We were actually suppose to go to Falmouth Jamaica but we had to re-route due to high winds. This post will be a review on the cruise as well as some great photos.

This is my 7th cruise in 4 years and thus far the cruise lines I have been on include: Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line and now Royal Caribbean. I think cruising is a great way to travel because of the fine dining, entertainment, activities and you get to see more than one city, island or country all for one all inclusive price. Cruising is also the most pampering vacation you can take because everything is done for you, the service is fantastic and you don't have to lift a finger!

The Ship: Liberty of the Seas

The Liberty of the Seas can host an astonishing 4,000 guests and 1500 staff members on board. It is 15 stories high not including the staff quarters which is another 5-6 stories below sea level! This ship is the epitome of a floating city!  

The Cruise Compass

Every cruise ship has a lot to offer each day in terms of activities. On Liberty of the Seas the itinerary is called the cruise compass. The cruise compass is delivered to your room every night and it lists all the activities for the following day so you can plan out what you would like to do. There are also organized activities such as sports tournaments, trivia and game shows where the guests participate.

I also got some cute towel animals with my itinerary.

The Deck

One thing I loved about this ship was the layout. There was a lot of deck space, lounge chairs, a big screen to watch movies on and lots of swimming pools, bars and hot tubs. 

There are always movies being played, music, dancing, and deck parties going on that are a lot of fun. One of my favorite activities is lounging out on the deck at night in the warm Caribbean breeze and watching a movie under the stars!

 Beautiful photographs from the deck of the ship!

Another reason I love the deck of the ship is not only for relaxing but also for the beautiful views and photos I get from up there. 

Pulling away from the cruise port in Fort Lauderdale you can get some great photos of the coast.

From the side deck you can also get gorgeous photos of the ocean. I love being out on the open water with nothing but blue ocean surrounding me, it is very serene and peaceful. It is also one of my favorite places to lounge around because the side deck is usually very quiet and uncrowded. Some guests also report seeing dolphins although I have never been so lucky.

In the evening the deck is also the best place to get photos of the sunset!

Inside the ship

The Liberty of the Seas is beautiful on the inside. The Royal Promenade is designed like an outdoor street and looks a bit like a shopping mall. There are cute boutiques, cafes and restaurants that line the street as glass elevators whiz up and down the 15 stories and people sit out on patios munching on pizza and sipping coffee.

The inside of the ship was all decked out for Christmas!

Here is a view from above the street where you can see people shopping and strolling

Amenities

There are always things to do on a cruise. This ship has some of the best amenities at sea so lets review them!

Ice Skating at sea!

Yes, you read that correctly! On Liberty of he seas you can ice skate which is included in the price of your cruise. They also have amazing ice shows.

Rock Climbing

There is also a soccer court, tennis court and basketball court

A separate splash pad and pools for the kids

Casino for those who like to try their luck

Mini golf

The theater

This large theater is where I saw comedy shows, magic shows a Cirque du soleil type acrobatic show and even a full Broadway show!! 

The arcade

There is also a library, karaoke booths, sports bars, pubs, and an internet cafe.

Surfing

The gym 

Hot tubs

There are many hot tubs on board and a full spa 

Adult only area on the deck (night time)

More entertainment

One of the great things about this cruise was that the entertainers were fantastic! Along the Royal Promenade (the main street on the ship) they have full parades! The entertainers come dancing down the street to Soca music and there is a Caribbean parade with colorful costumes.

The ice skating show was my favorite, it was like acrobatics on ice! very impressive.

Dining and food

When you cruise food is in abundance, in fact many people gain quite a lot of weight on a cruise if they aren't careful. This is the the main dinging room. For dinner the cruise offers fine dining with a menu that changes every night. You can order as much or as little as you want and there are usually 3 courses with appetizers, main entree and desert. While on the ship the price you pay for your cruise includes unlimited food in the dining room, certain cafes and eateries as well as the buffets.

Room service is usually available free of charge but on this ship you do have to pay if you order anything after a certain time at night. There is a lot of food! and I thought the food on Liberty of the Seas was good. I would rate it 3/5. They did have a variety available but I found that some of the dishes lacked flavor. I like tasty food but since the chefs have to cater to such a wide variety of palettes they tend to under spice in my opinion. The deserts were fantastic!

The cupcake store was not included in the price of the cruise but they were only $2.50 each. I didn't buy one because there was so much free desert included that I didn't feel the need to buy more!

Bars, lounges, live music and night clubs

There are bars and lounges all over the ship if you are interested. They also offer live music in the lounges  throughout the ship and there is a club if you want to dance late into the night.

 I hope you enjoyed the photos. If you have any questions about taking a cruise vacation please leave a comment below.

I will have the photos of the stops we made on this cruise in Labadee Haiti and Jamaica up soon so stay tuned!