Posts in MSC
Fly With Us To Dubai And Cruise Aboard MSC World Europa!

It’s been 10 months since my most recent blog post, Twice Upon A Disney Wish, and I’m jumping right back into sharing our most recent travel adventures with you, here, on My Cruising Family, the blog… but not before addressing the elephant in the room…

So, where have we been since Twice Upon A Disney Wish? Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Bermuda! These trips involved two new and exciting cruise ships… oh, and we even stayed overnight right here in New York harbor for the Christening/Naming Ceremony of a third new cruise ship. Those are the quick updates, but if you know me, then you know I get into details. So here goes…

Read More
Updates: The Whirlwind of Juggling as a Mompreneur

This blog post is yet another untraditional post in that it is more of a personal note to those of you who have been following My Cruising Family’s journeys thus far, and who have come to expect regular blog posts.  It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post as life has been feeling like a whirlwind.  Whew!  

Read More
Video Tour Of The MSC Fantasia

Just how big are cruise ships these days?  How do you even get around onboard such big vessels?  Can you walk from the front of the ship all the way to the back of the ship?  Have you ever wondered any of these things?  

Well, we hope to answer those sorts of questions through this blog post and video. 

Read More
CRUISE REVIEWS: OUR FAMILY'S MSC FANTASIA CRUISE

This was my second MSC cruise and my seventh overall cruise.  However this was the 1st time that we had booked a 14-day cruise!  Yes, FOURTEEN DAYS!  My mom, my husband, my 7-year-old son, my 3-year-old son, and I sailed together on the MSC Fantasia, from March 18, 2018 to April 1, 2018, roundtrip from Guadeloupe to Antigua & Barbuda, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts & Nevis, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Grenada, with multiple stops in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Kitts & Nevis.  We had two Fantastica balcony staterooms on Deck 10, right next to each other: 10208 and 10210.  We loved our clean and spacious staterooms!  We booked this cruise for the amazing itinerary!  I was a bit disappointed when a portion of the itinerary changed – the initial itinerary included Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Dominica; and St. Maarten/St. Martin.  After the damage caused by the 2017 hurricane season, those three ports were removed from the itinerary, and, instead, an extra stop in St. Kitts was added, as well as a stop in La Romana, Dominican Republic.  We made the best of it!  Truly, the itinerary was still FABULOUS!  We had a wonderful time!  The crew and staff that we dealt with the most, which were our room steward, wait staff and other dining room staff, and the photo team were consistently pleasant and really made this voyage GREAT! 

Read More
All-Inclusive, Caribbean, Caribbean Cruise, Cruise, Cruise Activities, Cruise Reviews, Cruise Tour, Cruisetour, Cruising, Cruising With A Child, Cruising With Children, Excursion, Excursions, Family, Family Cruise, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruising, Family Time, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globetrotting, Guadeloupe, Globetrotter, Island Hopping, Island-Hopping, Islands, MSC, MSC Cruise, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Air, Onboard Activities, Pointe-a-Pitre, Shore Excursion, Shore Excursions, Tour, Tours, Travel, Tropical Cruise, Vacation, Vacation Planning, Martinique, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, St. Vincent, SVG, The Grenadines, Bequia, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique Cruise, Guadeloupe Cruise, Trinidad Cruise, St. Vincent Cruise, Catamaran, Grenada CruisePeta-Gaye DanielBequia By Sailing Catamaran, Bequia By Catamaran, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Vincent, Bequia, The Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago, Maracas Bay, Maracas Beach, Maracas Beach Trip, Creole Bus Sensation, Grenada Cruise, Cruise to Grenada, Cruise to Trinidad, Cruise to Guadeloupe, Cruise to Martinique, Cruise from Guadeloupe, Cruise from Martinique, Cruise from Barbados, Cruise to Barbados, Cruise to St. Kitts, Cruise to Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis, Nevis, Discover Nevis and Beach, Relax on Bayahibe Beach, Be Live Canoa, Dominican Republic, Cruise to La Romana, Cruise to Dominican Republic, Family Cruise, Family Cruising, Cruising With Children, Cruising With a Toddler, 14 Day Cruise, 14-Day Cruise, 2 Week Cruise, 2-Week Cruise, Caribbean Cruise, 14-Day Caribbean Cruise, 14 Day Caribbean Cruise, 2-Week Caribbean Cruise, 2 Week Caribbean Cruise, Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe Tourism, how to get to Guadeloupe, Martinique, Martinique Cruise, Barbados Cruise, Barbados, Trinidad Cruise, Cruise to Trinidad and Tobago, Cruise to the Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesComment
Why I Unplug During Family Vacations

As I write this, I am some tens of thousands of feet in the air, on the way to Guadeloupe for My Cruising Family’s Spring Break 2018 cruise.  I will schedule this to automatically post on the My Cruising Family blog, and we will be enjoying a fun-filled, yet relaxing, family vacation. 

On prior vacations, I did not even take my laptop because of my deep-rooted, genuine, desire to unplug, breathe in the fresh Caribbean air, and have not a care in the world, except to admire God’s handiwork and connect even more as a family. 

Read More
My Cruising Family's Anniversary!

January 19, 2018.  Today marks 5 years since My Cruising Family’s first family cruise. 

Sidebar… It’s funny because my first cruise – not a family cruise – was in 2005, prior to becoming a mother and prior to meeting my husband, yet it was on Disney Cruise Line, which is probably the first cruise line that comes to mind when you hear the words “family cruise.”  I’ve got to let you know that Disney is loads of fun for adults without children, as I experienced it first-hand in 2005.  Nevertheless, I now say that that Disney Magic cruise, being my first cruise, was a sign that I’d be loving family cruising years later, and that I’d be a resource for all things related to family cruising. 

So, back to January 19, 2013.  My husband, our then 2-year-old son, and I sailed on the Carnival Dream’s 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary.  Little did we know then what we know now, and what we put into practice as we now usually sail as a family of four or five. 

Read More
5 Commonly Asked Questions

In an effort to assist those who are considering, planning, or already booked a cruise, I have answered many questions regarding cruising.  In answering those questions, I caution that there are some things that all cruise lines have in common, but there are other areas in which each cruise line differs.  Here, I have included a list of five commonly asked questions, as well as a list of some cruise lines and the corresponding links to how they address each question. 

Read More
Caribbean Cruise, Cruise, Cruise Activities, Cruise Tour, Cruisetour, Cruising, Cruising With A Child, Cruising With Children, Excursion, Excursions, Family, Family Cruise, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruising, Family Time, Family Travel, Family Vacation, MSC Cruises, MSC, MSC Cruise, Onboard Activities, Shore Excursion, Shore Excursions, Tour, Tours, Travel, Tropical Cruise, Vacation, Vacation Planning, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, RCI, CCL, NCL, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, HAL, DCL, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruise LinePeta-Gaye Danielkids club, children's club, ships, fleet, stateroom, staterooms, family stateroom, family staterooms, suite, suites, onboard youth program, onboard children's program, onboard kids program, onboard kid's program, onboard kids' program, gratuities, tips, service charges, automatic gratuities, automatic service charges, automatic service charge, gratuity, pre-paid gratuity, pre-paid gratuities, prepaid gratuities, prepaid gratuity, drinks, drink package, drink packages, cruise drink package, cruise drink packages, Beverage Package, Cruise Beverage Packages, Cruise Beverage Package, excursions, excursion, tour, tours, cruisetour, cruisetours, cruise ship excursion, cruise ship excursions, independent excursions, independent excursion, cruise line policy, cruise line policies, viator, shoretrips, shore excursioneerComment
CRUISE REVIEWS: Our Family's MSC Divina Cruise

Although this was my 5th cruise, this was my first MSC cruise, and I loved it.  My mom, my husband, my 6-year-old son, my 2-year-old son, and I sailed together on the MSC Divina, from March 25, 2017 to April 1, 2017, from the Port of Miami to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Nassau.  We had two Bella staterooms on Deck 8, one room across the hall from the other: balcony stateroom 8251 and inside stateroom 8253.  We had a wonderful time!  The crew and staff were generally very helpful and cheerful.  Our stateroom steward, Lynyrd, was excellent in keeping our rooms in order and providing any requested services, such as

Read More
Getting To and From Guadeloupe

Our family is looking forward to cruising from Guadeloupe on our most port-intensive cruise yet, so I was quite concerned when I realized that the round-trip cost that I was finding for flights between New York City (NYC) and Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) was over $2000 per person!  That doesn’t include checked bags, and we are traveling as a family of five! 

Read More
Caribbean, Caribbean Cruise, Cruise, Cruising, Diverse, Diversity, Family Cruise, Family Cruise Line, Family Cruising, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Globetrotter, Globetrotting, Island Hopping, Island-Hopping, Islands, Land Vacation, MSC, MSC Cruise, MSC Cruises, Travel, Tours, Tour, Shore Excursions, Shore Excursion, Tropical Cruise, Vacation, Vacation Planning, Flights, Pointe-a-Pitre, PTP, JFK Airport, SXM, Air Antilles, Norwegian Air, JetBlue, Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe Cruise, Kids Sail Free, Martinique Cruise, Martinique, Travel PlanningPeta-Gaye DanielPointe-a-Pitre, PTP, Guadeloupe, JFK Airport, Norwegian Air, Air Antilles, JetBlue, Spring Break, Airline, Airlines, Flight search, Guadeloupe flights, SXM, Martinique, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises, Guadeloupe Tourism, Caribbean, Tropical Vacation, Family Cruise, Family Vacation, Family Travel, Black Family Cruise, Black Family Travel, Black Family Vacation, African-American Family Travel, African-American Family Cruise, African-American Family Vacation, Trinidad Cruise, Grenada Cruise, Dominica Cruise, Martinique Cruise, Barbados Cruise, St. Lucia Cruise, Cruise to Guadeloupe, Cruise to St. Lucia, Cruise to Barbados, Cruise to Trinidad, Cruise to Tobago, Cruise to Trinidad and Tobago, Cruise to Grenada, Cruise to Dominica, Cruise to Martinique, Cruise from Martinique, Cruise from Guadeloupe, Fly to Guadeloupe, Fly to Martinique, cheap flights, how to get to Guadeloupe, Southern Caribbean Cruise, Southern Caribbean, MSC, MSC cruises, MSC Fantasia, MSC PoesiaComment
Why We Love MSC Cruises!

Cruising is our preferred way of traveling together as a family, as I truly think that it is the best vacation value, or in other words, the best bang for your buck, if researched well, and I love to research cruise options.  It was through researching cruise options that I initially came to admire MSC.  MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company, as it began as a shipping company, but MSC has, at present, become the world’s fourth largest cruise line.  The basic information the cruise line provides on its website and in its literature is already impressive.  Add to that, we have now cruised with MSC and are booked to cruise with them again after enjoying a wonderful first MSC experience earlier in 2017.  Here are a few of the reasons we love MSC.  

Read More
Cruise, Cruising, Family Cruise, Family Cruising, Family Travel, Family Vacation, Travel, MSC, MSC Cruise, MSC Cruises, Children Sail Free, Kids Sail Free, Loyalty Program, Loyalty Rewards, Loyalty Club, Diverse, Diversity, Family Cruise Line, Cruising With A Child, Cruising With Children, Why Cruise?Peta-Gaye DanielMSC, Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC Divina, MSC Fantasia, MSC Opera, MSC Musica, MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, MSC Armonia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Lirica, MSC Magnifica, MSC Preziosa, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Splendida, Status Match, MSC Voyagers Club, Voyagers Club, Cruise Loyalty Program, Cruise Loyalty Club, Cruise Loyalty, Children Sail Free, Kids Sail Free, Sail Free, Cruise Free, Cruise Deal, Cruise Deals, Swarovski Crystal Staircase, Swarovski Crystal Stairs, Cruise Itinerary, Cruise Itineraries, Exotic Itinerary, Exotic Itineraries, Cruise Beverage Package, Cruise Beverage Packages, Cruise Drink Package, Cruise Drink Packages, Beverage Package, Drink Package, Drink Voucher, Drink Vouchers, Cruise Drink Vouchers, Cruise Drink Voucher, Antilles Cruise, Caribbean Cruise, Cuba Cruise, Cruise Cuba, Cuba, Mediterranean Cruise, Mediterranean Vacation, Africa Cruise, Cruise Africa, Africa, South America Cruise, South American Cruise, Cruise South America, Cruise from Guadeloupe, Cruise from Martinique, Cruise Photos, Cruise Portraits, MSC Cruise Portrait, MSC Cruise Portraits, Cruise to Guadeloupe, Cruise to Martinique, Cruise to Grenada, Cruise to Dominica, Cruise to Trinidad, Cruise to Tobago, Cruise to Trinidad and Tobago, Cruise to Barbados, Cruise to St. Lucia, Cruise to Jamaica, Cruise to Grand Cayman, Cruise to Puerto Rico, Cruise to Nassau, Cruise to Cozumel, Cruise to Tortola, Cruise to St. Vincent, Cruise to the Grenadines, Cruise to St. Maarten, Cruise to St. Martin, Tropical Cruise, African Cruise, Cruise to Africa, Cruise from Dubai, European Cruise, Scandinavian Cruise, kids sail free, Cruising With a Toddler, Cruising With Children, cruise loyalty program, favorite cruise line, best cruise line for familiesComment
Why Cruise?

Why cruise?

For our family, the answers are simple, and can be summed up in one word: value

As a mom, I value family time.  As Peta-Gaye, I value travel.  I have been blessed to merge these two values into one amazingly convenient experience over and over again through cruising.  With deals like MSC Cruises’ Kids Sail Free, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free-At-Sea Offer/3rd and 4th Guests Sail Free, the overall cost of a cruise for a family of four or five can be quite affordable, and certainly valuable if one thinks of all that family will be receiving during the cruise. 

Read More