After an 8:30 a.m. boarding, the ship departed Ft. Lauderdale at 10 a.m.; it returned about 11:30 that night. Amazingly, everything was included in the $99.99 per-person price. That included meals, drinks (alcoholic and otherwise), activities, live music and dancing.
So it occurred to me that this might be a terrific idea for a break from our summer doldrums. Especially if you have visitors on hand to entertain and might need a break.
“It was a wonderful way for our whole family to spend the day,” she said. “They had something for everyone, so the adults all enjoyed it as well as the kids.”
Eleven-year old Tara and her cousins spent their time playing Wii games in the ship’s arcade and watching movies when they weren’t playing in the pool. Adults could try their luck at slots, blackjack, roulette or craps tables. The entire group would then rendezvous for the all-you-can-eat breakfast and dinner buffets.
“We spent a few hours shopping in Freeport, but there were other things to do there,” Sheehy-Moritz said.
Indeed. Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island, offers parasailing, bike tours, dolphin swimming, jet skiing and fishing along with beaches and casinos. However, the layover in port lasts a bit less than four hours so scheduling is best done in advance.
On the return trip, passengers have a choice of video music hosted by a DJ or live music and dancing. The Latin band in one of the lounges gets everybody moving to their beat.
“The party atmosphere is what makes these cruises really popular,” said Discovery representative Anthony Parker. “Our deck parties feature games like the hula hoop and limbo contests.”
Seems to me, this beats sitting around watching the boob tube to stay cool.
For more information, call (800) 259-1579. Passports are required. Rooms can be reserved for an additional fee.
Full ARTICLE HERE
