Weddings | Las Travel Blogueras

This is the Happiest Couples Retreat…And The World’s Largest Cruise Ship

November 20, 2016 by Andrea S. Filed Under: Andrea, English, Travel, Weddings

First impression was…WOW. Followed by…WHAT IN THE WORLD…and then…I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. And this was only in regards to Harmony of the Seas‘ luxurious interiors and gravity-defeating architecture. It took us a little while longer to be completely in awe about the better-than-Broadway entertainment (which, by the way, includes a water theatre!), the indoors Central Park, the Ultimate Abyss, the Flowrider, a zip-line, and their own merry-go-round. And yes, they also threw in a 100% bionic bar, just in case we were running out of things to write home about.

¿Quieres leer esta historia en español? Haz clic aquí.

First things first, Harmony of the Seas is the ultimate champion on every single category we could think about. Harmony of the Seas is taller than the Eiffel Tower, and over 6 times the length of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Infographic by Royal Caribbean – Harmony of the Seas

The world’s largest cruise ship can host 6,780 guests at a time, and 2,100 crew members – that’s almost 9,000 people! There are 2,747 staterooms, 18 decks, 24 guest elevators, and seven “neighborhoods.” If you are thinking this is starting to sound like a small city, then you’re getting a pretty accurate picture of what it is to be on board. We thought Las Vegas when we first walked in through the Promenade, only to discover Central Park and feel immediately in New York City. If this is what the future looks like, a magical place with all of our favorite cities just a few steps away from each other, please sign us up!

We have included in this post our favorite spots on Harmony of the Seas. And yes, the list is pretty long! At the Boardwalk, we got a hot dog and a beer at 4pm (because we could!), and stood in line for the King of the World Carousel (insider’s tip if your guy likes beer – the best beer selection is actually at the small food stand by the carousel). We strolled in Central Park and ate a salad for lunch, a little bit nostalgic about our days living in New York. We marveled at the robots preparing our drinks at the Bionic Bar, and then we walked to the Aquatheater, where the world’s best extreme-sports athletes performed high-flying feats in The Fine Line. In another life, where Dan and I are actually sporty on our vacations, we would have been daring enough to scream on the zip-line and be brave enough to try the flowrider. But for now, we packed seven, amazing romantic dates in just two days! And that is not a small feast at all.

The Day Date

With only two days on board, we tried to maximize our time, and we knew it was going to be a tough balance between two of our favorite activities – doing nothing (pool, reading, spa) and doing a little (eating, drinking). On board, our most amazing day date was actually with James Beard Award winner Michael Schwartz, who also owns Michael’s Genuine and Harry’s Pizzeria back at home. On Harmony of the Seas, he presents 150 Central Park, where seasonal, farm-to-table fare sourced from small South Florida farms feels (and tastes) like the ultimate treat. As he hosted a wine and cheese pairing for us, we had the chance to ask him all kinds of questions…his secret to his amazing burrata and peach salad? Fresh peaches. Right.

We learned two other incredible facts after that lunch as well… One, I really like ice wine and, two, ice wine has over 30% alcohol. Note to self – eat more cheese.

Dan and I having fun on Harmony of the Seas.

Photo by Travel Blogueras- Wine and Cheese Pairings with Michael Schwartz at 150 Central Park

Photo by Travel Blogueras- Wine and Cheese Pairings with Michael Schwartz at 150 Central Park

Photo by Travel Blogueras- Wine and Cheese Pairings with Michael Schwartz at 150 Central Park

Yes! This happened! So excited to have met Michael Schwartz aboard Harmony of the Seas.

The Night Date

We started our night at Boleros, Harmony of the Seas Latin-inspired bar and lounge. They have a live Salsa band every night, so you can guess it was a popular spot from the get go. I’m hoping one of these days Dan and I can actually dance salsa, but for now, we enjoyed the mojitos and watching the more seasoned guests who were not too shy to show off some mad skills on the dance floor (jealous!). From Boleros, we headed towards one of the most popular attractions on the ship – the Bionic Bar. Here, mixology meets technology as two robotic bartenders powered by Makr Shakr engineer the perfect cocktail! We ordered them on a tablet near the bar and then we were able to release the finished drink with our room card. Pretty amazing.

Photo by Travel Blogueras – the Bionic Bar on Harmony of the Seas

Photo by Travel Blogueras – the Bionic Bar on Harmony of the Seas

Photo by Travel Blogueras – the Bionic Bar on Harmony of the Seas

After a little while, we headed towards the Royal Theatre to watch one of my all-time favorites, Grease. We learned that Royal Caribbean International is the first cruise line to feature fully licensed, Tony Award-winning Broadway productions, and not only that, they were also able to license the songs from the movie as well. The result? A true Broadway-quality show on the sea. Bravo!

Photo by Royal Caribbean – Grease

Bon Voyage!

If you think we covered a lot here, surprise! There’s still a lot more to do! The gym was state of the art and I’m kind of upset I only went once. We also didn’t get to experience the spa, or go to the rest of the restaurants…we didn’t even play mini-golf! I don’t think I mentioned it before but yes, they also packed a mini-golf area, by the flowrider. In short, we’ll be coming back soon! I know Dan will kick my butt at ping-pong, but there’s a fair chance I will win a dance off at Boleros. And, if everything fails, we’ll hang out at the hot tub drinking margaritas until it’s time for dinner (or breakfast!).

¡Ahora también en español!

Dan y yo hemos tenido la suerte de poder considerarnos ¨cruceristas¨ expertos. Después de nuestro primer viaje inagural con mis padres hace más diez años, hemos estado en más de 15 cruceros, viajando por el Caribe, así también como por América del Sur. Pensamos que ya no podíamos ser fácilmente sorprendidos en la materia de vacaciones en el mar … hasta que descubrimos el barco de cruceros más grande del mundo, Harmony of the Seas, de Royal Caribbean.

La primera impresión fue … GUAU. Seguido de … ME ESTAS BROMEANDO … y luego … NO PUEDO CREERLO. Y esto fue sólo en lo que respecta a los lujosos interiores y la maravillosa y casi mágica arquitectura y diseño de la nave. Nos tomó un poco más de tiempo para estar completamente impresionados por el entretenimiento a la Broadway (que, por cierto, incluye un teatro de agua), un Parque Central interno como el de la mismísima Nueva York, el Abismo, el Flowrider, y un carrusel. Y sí, también nos sorprendieron con un bar 100% biónico, por si acaso nos quedabamos sin cosas para escribir a casa.

Hay tanto que hacer a bordo de la nave que literalmente uno puede permanecer en ella durante siete días seguidos y todavía estar perdiéndose de hacer ALGO.

En números

Primero lo primero, Harmony of the Seas es la super campeona en todas las categorías de cruceros imaginables. Harmony of the Seas es más alta que la Torre Eiffel, y más de 6 veces la longitud de la Torre Inclinada de Pisa.

El crucero más grande del mundo puede albergar 6.780 pasajeros a la vez y 2.100 miembros de la tripulación, ¡casi 9.000 personas! Hay 2.747 camarotes, 18 cubiertas, 24 ascensores para huéspedes y siete “barrios”. Si estás pensando que esto está empezando a sonar como una ciudad pequeña, entonces estás consiguiendo una imagen bastante precisa de lo que es estar a bordo. Pensamos en Las Vegas cuando entramos por primera vez por el Promenade, sólo para descubrir al Parque Central y sentirnos inmediatamente en la ciudad de Nueva York. Si esto es lo que va a ser el futuro, un lugar mágico con todas nuestras ciudades favoritas a pocos pasos de distancia entre sí, por favor, apúntenos ya.

Lo que no te puedes perder

Hemos incluido en este post nuestros lugares favoritos en Harmony of the Seas. Y sí, ¡la lista es bastante larga! En el Boardwalk, nos dieron un perro caliente y una cerveza a las 4 de la tarde, y luego nos montamos en el carrusel más contentos que cualquier niño a bordo (secreto para ti si a tu chico le gusta la cerveza – la mejor selección se encuentra en el pequeño stand de perros calientes justo al lado del carrusel). Nos paseamos por el Parque Central y comimos una ensalada para el almuerzo, un poco nostálgicos los dos sobre nuestros días viviendo en Nueva York. Nos maravillamos de los robots preparando nuestras bebidas en el Bionic Bar, y luego caminamos hacia el Aquatheater, donde los mejores atletas de deportes extremos del mundo realizaron hazañas de alto vuelo en The Fine Line. En otra vida, donde Dan y yo somos realmente deportivos en nuestras vacaciones, nos hubiéramos atrevido a gritar en el zip-line y ser lo suficientemente valientes para probar el flowrider. Pero por ahora, hemos empacado siete, sorprendentes citas románticas en sólo dos días. Y eso no es una pequeña hazaña en absoluto.

La cita de día

Con sólo dos días a bordo, tratamos de maximizar nuestro tiempo, y sabíamos que iba a ser un fino equilibrio entre dos de nuestras actividades favoritas – no hacer nada (piscina, leer, spa) y hacer un poco (comer, beber) . A bordo, nuestra cita más increíble fue en realidad con el ganador del premio James Beard, Michael Schwartz, que también es dueño de Michael’s Original y Harry’s Pizzeria en casa. En Harmony of the Seas, él presenta 150 Central Park, donde la comida es de temporada, así también como procedente de pequeñas granjas del sur de la Florida. Como él fue nuestro anfitrión de un almuerzo de lujo de vinos y quesos finos, tuvimos la oportunidad de hacerle todo tipo de preguntas … por ejemplo, sabes cuál es el secreto de su burrata y ensalada de melocotón? Melocotones frescos. Claro que sí. Super simple, ¿no?

En este almuerzo, también aprendimos otras dos cosas increíbles… Uno, me gusta mucho el vino de hielo y, dos, vino de hielo tiene más de 30% alcohol. Nota para la próxima vez – comer más queso. (Vino de hielo es ice wine en ingles.)

La cita de noche

Comenzamos nuestra noche en Boleros, el bar inspirado por la música y tragos latinos. Tienen una banda de salsa en vivo cada noche, así que puedes suponer que era un lugar popular desde el principio. Espero que uno de estos días Dan y yo realmente podamos bailar salsa, pero por ahora, disfrutamos de los mojitos y viendo a los otros huéspedes más experimentados sacarle el brillo al piso de baile. ¡Con un ritmo! Desde Boleros, nos dirigimos hacia una de las atracciones más populares de la nave – el Bionic Bar. Aquí, mixology se mezcla con la tecnología y dos camareros robóticos te sirven el cóctel más perfecto. Pedimos en una tableta cerca del bar y luego pudimos liberar la bebida terminada con nuestra tarjeta de habitación. Bastante impresionante.

Después de un rato, nos dirigimos hacia el Teatro Royal para ver uno de mis shows y películas favoritos, Grease. Nos contaron que Royal Caribbean International es la primera línea de cruceros que cuenta con producciones de Broadway con premios Tony, y no sólo eso, también pudieron de licenciar las canciones de la película. ¿El resultado? Un verdadero espectáculo de calidad Broadway en el medio del mar. ¡Bravo!

¡Buen viaje!

Si crees que cubrimos mucho aquí, ¡sorpresa! ¡Todavía hay mucho más que hacer! El gimnasio era uno de los mejores que he visto hasta ahora, y estoy un poco molesta que sólo fuimos una vez. También no pudimos experimentar el spa, o ir al resto de los restaurantes … ¡ni siquiera jugar mini-golf! No creo que lo mencioné antes, pero sí, también hay una area de mini-golf, cerca del flowrider. En resumen, ¡tendremos que volver pronto! Sé que Dan me dará una patada en el ping-pong, pero tengo una muy buena oportunidad de ganarle en el baile en Boleros. Y, si todo falla, podemos también pasar el rato en el hot tub tomando margaritas hasta que sea hora de cenar (¡o del desayuno!).

Best tips for couples aboard Harmony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean.

Best tips for couples aboard Harmony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean.

Best Hotels for Honeymoons: The Royal Hawaiian

October 10, 2016 by Andrea S. Filed Under: Andrea, English, Places, Travel, Weddings

One of our favorite vacation destinations is Hawaii. And we are saying this today, after spending a full week in Honolulu…for the first time ever!

We planned the whole trip around The Royal Hawaiian, the iconic pink resort that rests on the shores of Waikiki since 1927 and is said to be responsible for a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. In fact, The Royal Hawaiian was one of the first hotels established in Waikiki, and, over its 90 years of history, it has been host to a wide array of celebrities and world dignitaries (and, well, us, the Travel Blogueras!). The hotel’s facade is made out of concrete stucco, as inspired by Spanish and Moorish styled architecture. Inside, we were delighted by its rich history, wood-carved interiors and fastidiously curated…pink! We loved the pink in the wallpaper, the chairs in the lobby, the rugs and much more. They even had a full pink store that only sold pink artifacts and gifts.

There’s something about being on the beach, surround by pink, in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with the most amazing food and weather that well, just screams out ROMANTIC. We took long strolls by the shops, lounged around the pool, had drinks overlooking the sunset (every single day!), and could not help wondering…okay, how could we possibly move here? And I’m not talking about moving to Waikiki, though that would be pretty awesome, I’m talking about moving to The Royal Hawaiian altogether. Did I mention they also offer free yoga classes at their manicured gardens twice a week? Oh, and they even gave us PINK robes. Can a girl really ask for anything else? (Another trip to The Royal Hawaiian, maybe??)

We were extremely fortunate to have had the comprehensive and kind advice of Ayaka, who patiently answered all our questions and gave us great recommendations for things to do, see and eat around Ohau (thank you Ayaka!). We will be posting in the next few weeks more about Hawaii, especially our top restaurant list and itinerary, so stay tuned, as we thought Ayaka’s list was too good not to share with you guys. In fact, we wish we had an Ayaka at every single hotel we go to!

In the meantime, here’s our top 5 list of favorite things to do around Waikiki for couples in their honeymoons…

GET A FLOATIE. ESPECIALLY A PINK FLAMINGO ONE.

We know, we know. This is supposed to be an ADULT vacation, but, trust us on this one, everyone has one. And we mean it. We were hesitant to get one and we truly waited till the very last day, and well, we were sorry! We had the most fun we ever had at a beach just by trying ride the waves using a ridiculous orange, donut-shaped floatie. We laughed so hard our ribs hurt. And, we stayed on the beach till it was so dark we couldn’t see our faces. Now, that was so romantic I’m kind of sad we are 11 hours away from it!

WALK TO DIAMOND HEAD, AND BACK

This honestly took us 5 full hours of non-stop walking. We got rained on maybe three or four times. But we ran into the most ridiculous characters (there was a little angry man who complained that girls on Instagram only care about taking selifes, well, duh!), a botanical garden, and the most amazing ice cream truck which served ice cream made solely from bananas and acai. Yum.

ISLAND VINTAGE COFFEE

It’s just a few minutes from The Royal Hawaiian, on the second floor of the complex. The place gets crazy packed after 7:30am so you have to wake up and get going! We fell in love with their acai bowls and an iced coffee drinks made with macadamia and coconut syrup. You can buy coffee beans to take home too!

HAVE AN ACAI BOWL FOR BREAKFAST

The acai berry is actually from Brazil, but for some reason, Honlolulu adopted it as theirs, and we loved them for it, so much! The acai bowl is served pretty much anywhere, and has the consistency of a thicker smoothie, with granola, bananas and strawberries on top. It’s just sweet enough to get you you going in the morning, and also works very well for a carb-loaded snack in the afternoon. And it’s purple!

This was by far one of our favorite experiences on the island. In ancient times the Hawaiian people came together to celebrate momentous occasions, these gatherings were called ‘Aha‘aina (which translates to gathering for a meal). The Royal Hawaiian is located on sacred grounds and they have created a modern, yet timeless Aha Aina, A Royal Luau, to honor the land’s majestic history through food, song, stories, hula, and culture—a true celebration of The Royal and its heritage. Waikiki’s only oceanfront dinner show transforms the traditional island experience in grand Royal Hawaiian style every Monday evening.

We didn’t have the chance to actually see it on the beach, as it happened to rain on our only Monday there, yet, we had such an amazing and fun experience, we highly recommend it. As you can see, below, we could not stop taking pictures!

Dan had a great time with the open bar and all the authentic Hawaiian pork you can ever eat! I was, personally, a fan of the poke, which is one of our new dishes that we make now at home.

Finally, the fire performance is a can not miss. Ever. We were happily surprise, too, to see him on the Today Show the very next day. #onlyattheroyal!

Do you have stories about The Royal Hawaiian or Waikiki to share? Drop as an email if you are interested in becoming a guest blogger with us!

Mahalo!

Andrea&Dan

Affordable Wedding Venues in Memphis, TN

September 8, 2016 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Weddings

Affordable wedding venues in Memphis, TN. You found it! Looking for that perfect venue that doesn’t break the bank in Memphis, Tennessee and the surrounding areas? Looking for an inexpensive wedding venue in West Tennessee? I know that researching all the price info might not be the most fun part of wedding planning – I feel ya! As I’ve been researching that ideal spot, I’ve gather together a list of all the event spaces I have been able to find that have fees at or below $5,000.

Woodruff-Fontaine House: This incredible French-Victorian home was built in 1870 along “Millionaire’s Row,” and lovingly restored in the 1960s. It features carved cypress woodwork, stained glass, hammered tin ceiling details, and pristine period furniture throughout. Price? The rental fee ranges $500–3,000 depending on the space reserved.
Cedar Hall: Built in 1846, this three-story antebellum mansion still has its original spiral staircase, perfect for a bridal descent and some great photos. The venue is also a bed and breakfast, housing four antique-appointed rooms on the second floor, including a suite that’s used by the bride and her entourage for pre-wedding primping. Price: Wedding packages start at $5,000 and vary depending on the package chosen, time of day, and guest count.
Davies Manor Plantation: Just down the lane from Davies Manor is Hillwood, a modern facility ideal for weddings, receptions, social and business gatherings for up to 400 people. Tours of Davies Manor can be booked as part of your event. Price: The venue rental fee starts at $2,200.
Woodland Hills: Woodland Hills is a part of a rich history of service with Southern Flair. It’s a peaceful country setting, close to the city. This historic plantation estate is in the pretty town of Cordova, on a pastoral plot of land surrounded by ancient trees and verdant fields. Price: The venue rental fee starts at $1,800 and varies depending on the space reserved and the guest count.
NOAH’S Event Venue: (Coming soon!): Opening in 2017, NOAH’S of Memphis will be the preeminent event venue in the Memphis area. The building will be constructed to host a variety of events ranging from weddings to business conferences to life milestones and celebrations. Just 25 miles from downtown Memphis and only 15 miles from the Memphis International Airport, NOAH’S of Memphis makes it feasible for all attendees to join in the celebration. Price: The venue rental fee ranges $627–7,534 depending on the day of the week, space reserved, and number of hours required.

Let’s keep this list going, so if you have another recommendation of venues that should be added, please let me know below in the comments!

Practical Honeymoon Destination Ideas

August 8, 2016 by Amanda T. Filed Under: Weddings

Looking for practical honeymoon destination ideas? Look no further! While some people plan to take 2 weeks to explore Europe for their honeymoon, it seems to me that most people just want the opportunity to relax and unwind after your wedding, right? Who wants to be coordinating even MORE things after you just finished coordinating the biggest party of your life? So, I’ve pulled together a list of my favorite trips that I’ve taken recently that would be make really good options for practical honeymoon destinations!

Practical Honeymoon Destination Ideas

Sip wine in Napa Valley: Why not spending your honeymoon enjoying great views and tasty wine? With all the tour options, you can easily book a few and then let your guides handle all the coordinating for you! You can read about my recent “couples” trip there to see what we recommend putting on your agenda.
Drive up the Pacific Coastal Highway: Does driving count as planning? For those who find cruising in a car a relaxing way to spend their time, this is a great option! I would recommend starting in LA and working your way up to San Francisco. The only coordinating you would need to do would be deciding which lovely Bed and Breakfast to stay in on the way. I recently did this with my fiancee and we are counting down the days until we can return!
Be a kid in Orlando: Depending on the time of year, the parks in Orlando might actually be a stress-free way to spend your honeymoon! I would avoid the summer months, but if you can land an off-month and plan to visit during the week, this is defintely a great option for a honeymoon!
Relax in West Palm Beach, Florida: Looking for a beach get-away but want to avoid the stress of Miami? I love the West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area that gives you the best of both worlds! I recently took a road trip there and you can see why this would be a great place to chill!
Spoil yourself at Isla Mujeres Resort: We recently enjoyed an amazing weekend at the Palace Resort at Isla Mujeres and it would make a perfect honeymoon spot. Besides the amazing views, its all-inclusive, so that means no planning!

Do you have any other recommendations of practical honeymoon destination ideas? Let me know in the comment section below!

This is the Happiest Couples Retreat…And The World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Harmony of the Seas in Numbers