CRUISING THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN ON BOARD THE NORWEGIAN PEARL -- The ship doesn't stop in Kokomo.
But our travels have taken us to the kinds of island paradises the Beach Boys were crooning about with their hit song.
Mike and Chassity McIntyre at a waterfall at Samana, Dominican Republic
We've discovered the secret to the dream vacation.
Start with a tropical setting and perfect weather. Add some elegant dining and great entertainment. Throw in a perfect mixture of recreation and relaxation. And top it off with some great friends to share in your adventure.
Such is the life on a Caribbean cruise -- and rest assured it never gets old.
For the third straight year, we've been fortunate enough to host a group of winter-weary sun-seekers. After exploring both the eastern and western Caribbean in week-long cruises, this year's journey is a nine-day affair into the exotic south.
This trip was certainly one to remember. Here's an overview:
DAY 1 AND 2 -- It's the perfect start to our trip, with our first night and entire second day spent on board the ship at sea. It's a great chance to get familiar with our glorious 14-storey new home and the 27 guests who have joined our group.
The Pearl's maiden voyage was just a year ago, meaning the ship has still very much a new look and feel to it.
No expense seems to have been spared, with a variety of eye-popping features, including a massive two-storey video screen in the main vestibule, a 1,000-seat theatre that wouldn't look out of place on Broadway, an upscale nightclub that Hollywood starlets would want to be seen at, and even a four-lane bowling alley.
There's also a fully equipped gym (free of charge for all guests), a luxurious spa, two large pools and four Jacuzzis on the main deck, a basketball and tennis court, running track and climbing wall.
There are 12 different-themed restaurants. We'll eat dinner five nights in the main dining room with our large group, enjoying five-course meals each night. Our other nights are spent sampling the other fare, including Mexican and Teppanyaki, in which the dazzling show put on by the chef nearly equals the great food.
At night, there's plenty of ways to unwind, including a variety of shows -- musicals, Cirque du Soleil-style acts, a Second City comedy troupe, a magician, a juggler/comedian and even a former soap opera star who's taken his variety show to the high seas.
DAY 3 -- Our first port of call is Samana, Dominican Republic. Known for its lush, green mountains, the stop is somewhat controversial. That's because the poverty is readily apparent upon leaving the ship, which doesn't sit well with some cruisers we later speak with.
Personally, we loved it. Without a formal excursion arranged, we explore the city on our own, hook up with another Canadian couple and grab a cab for an impromptu tour.
It proves to be a good move. Our very friendly, knowledgeable driver takes us into the heart of the rainforest and brings us to a native family ready to be our guides for a nature hike of sorts.
With children holding our hands to avoid slipping on the rocks, we get a close-up view of the local plants and crops, including cocoa and sugar cane. Our trek ends at an amazing waterfall, where we share in some fresh coconut and pose for pictures.
We then head to a local beach where tourists are sparse, the sand silky smooth and the water warm and inviting.
DAY 4 -- This is the day we've been waiting for. Tortola, the largest of the British Virgin Islands, has been circled on the calendar for months. That's because we have a date with the dolphins.
And what an experience it was. We spend nearly an hour in the water with these amazing creatures, learning the various vocal cues and hand signals, watching them perform a variety of tricks and then getting a wild ride on their bellies, culminating with a kiss.
The cost was high, about US$169 per person, but this goes down as one of those "priceless" experiences you've got to try at least once in life.
DAY 5 -- St. John's, Antigua, is our next stop, and we don't waste the opportunity to see as much as possible. While on board earlier in the cruise, we sign up for a rainforest hike (about US$50) that proves to be quite the adventure.
Two straight hours are spent climbing uphill, while our tour leader seems to take great pleasure in telling us all about the snakes, large spiders, hornets and poisonous trees that populate the area.
We finally make it to the top of the 1,300-foot peak, providing a breathtaking view of the island of 70,000 people.
DAY 6 -- This day is all about relaxation. And what better place to do it than on a long, winding, sandy beach that backs onto the Malibu Rum factory, meaning the air is filled with the sweet aroma of the native nectar.
We mix some fun with the sun, renting a Jet-Ski and taking a high-speed spin on the ocean.
DAY 7 -- We've been promised some whales, and yet more than an hour into a stomach-churning boat ride on the ocean nary a one has been sighted.
We're in St. Lucia, having got off the ship and quickly transferred to a smaller vessel that has left a few passengers bent over the side, having fought a losing battle with the ocean's waves.
Just when it seems like the excursion might be a bust, they begin to appear -- first one, then another, then several more. Pretty soon the boat is surrounded by what seems like a couple dozen pilot whales. We're almost close enough to touch their blow holes.
DAYS 8 and 9 -- All good things must come to an end. We spend our final two days on the ship as it turns back towards Florida.
The weather, which has been truly amazing, takes an interesting turn in the early afternoon on our final day as we listen to a live reggae band serenade us by the pool.
In the distance, dark clouds move in. Suddenly, the largest rainbow we've ever seen begins to consume the sky. Then it stretches out into the water, growing another segment moments later that completes the half-circle.
We snap a few pictures, then run for cover as the skies open up and the rain comes down. It doesn't last long, with the sun back out within the hour.
It's a magical way to end the cruise.
FINAL THOUGHTS -- We're hooked on cruising. It's the perfect trip for people who want paradise but don't want to stay grounded in the same place for a full week, as you do in an all-inclusive.
We can't wait to go again.
Free Press justice reporter Mike McIntyre and his wife, Chassity, will host a 10-day Panama Canal cruise next January on board the Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas. Only a limited number of spots are available and cabins are going fast. For more information, contact Paula at Renaissance Travel at 942-5000 or e-mail Mike at mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca.
"Aruba, Jamaica
oooh I wanna take you,
Bermuda, Bahama
come on, pretty mama,
Key Largo, Montego
baby why don' t we go?"
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