When that urge strikes (and believe me, it will strike), you’ve got to be prepared with a plan of action. If you mention the idea of a “family reunion” to your family members without a plan, you’ll most likely end up with mayhem on your hands. The next thing you know you’ll have relatives camping out on every square inch of your floor, piling your sink sky high with dirty dishes, and making executive decisions with your remote control. In addition, you’ll become far too acquainted with the health problems and bodily functions of some of your senior relatives (Who knew that toenail fungus was so prevalent?).
Cruise ships are the perfect setting for a family reunion. This is neutral territory, so people don’t feel they are imposing on others. It levels the playing field and takes away the control that can sometimes come into play when reunions are held on a family member’s “turf.” Plus, the best part is the cruise line does all the work - the cleaning, the cooking, and the entertaining. All your family members have to do is relax and enjoy their time together. Plus, lest we forget to mention one of the most important factors - the variety of activities onboard the ship and at the various ports of call is a perfect fit for groups who want to do some of their activities together and some separately. In other words, you’re not trapped in “family reunion” bedlam the entire time. You can take a breather at one of the many bars or lounges onboard your ship, catch a current movie in the ship’s theater, put on your dancin’ shoes for the disco, try your luck at the casino, or simply hide out in your stateroom and order complimentary room service.
Adventurous Guests on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
The activities onboard their ships are endless, and you can spend all day rock climbing or ice-skating if you desire. As you spend your days on deck soaking up the sun or swimming in the pools, you will notice it could not be more casual, and you will fit right in wearing your comfortable sports clothes and resort wear.
The Eastern Caribbean offers relaxing white-sand beaches, and gorgeous turquoise waters. If your looking for a Caribbean adventure, you will find yourself parasailing high above, where you can easily view stunning mountains and unspoiled beaches as far as the eyes can see. For the nature lovers, you can spend the day having hours of fun at the Dolphin Encounter.
Philippines Surfing
With 7,107 islands, the roaring Pacific Ocean bordering the eastern coastline and the South China Sea on the western coastline and attracting more typhoons than most neighboring countries, Philippines surfing is alive and well. In fact the Philippines are not a new surfing destination, with surfers enjoying the waves here since at least the sixties, maybe even earlier. Let’s face it who wouldn’t want a perfect left or right hander all to yourself.
Philippines surfing can be both temperamental and seasonal, it is important to know when the best time to come is or you may be disappointed, nothing worse that a surfer without surf.
Diving Philippines
The water temperature diving in the Philippines, is similar to diving in your warm bath at home. It is absolutely divine. A balmy 22 C to 25 C during the cooler months of December to March and 25 C to 28 C during the warmer months of April to November. Water temperatures like these, gives you the opportunity of diving in the comfort of lycra skin suits or 3mm wetsuits. When you are use to diving in 5mm and 7mm steamers or even dry suits, this type of diving is pure heaven.
Statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism indicate that scuba divers visiting the Philippine Islands, return for an average of 10 trips each. If this is not a high recommendation on the quality and health of the scuba diving industry in the Philippines, then I’m not sure what is.