A World Away at Hawks Cay

March 9, 2010 by Melanie  
Filed under Florida, Southeast, The Americas, The Florida Keys, USA

*All travel expenses for this stay were paid by Hawks Cay Resort, but all opinions are my own

4374038684 6e00060c1c 300x287 A World Away at Hawks Cay

The Gulf-side gazebo at Hawks Cay Resort

Sometimes getting away from work and reconnecting with the world (and each other) is as simple as a sunrise turning to denim-blue sky, water green as sea glass, and the quiet slap of the Gulf of Mexico against a wooden dock.  Welcome in a pod of cetaceans, a flock of pelicans and a freshly mixed mojito, and you’ve got yourselves a perfect Florida Keys escape at Hawks Cay.

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All Aboard the Crown Princess, Pt. 2

Continued from All Aboard the Crown Princess, Pt. 1

*All travel expenses for this trip were paid by Princess Cruises, but all opinions are my own

The Crown Princess

The Crown Princess

I just spent a week aboard the Crown Princess on my first big-ship cruise, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida through the Western Caribbean.  I brought along my dear friend Samantha (also a cruise newbie), and while the sailing was billed as the Romance Summit, for us it was our first-ever Valentine’s Day away from our husbands. Now that the ground has (almost) stopped moving when I stand still, I feel ready to reflect on our week at sea.  For all you other cruise virgins out there, I continue with our adventures onboard: Read more

All Aboard the Crown Princess, Pt. 1

*All travel expenses for this trip were paid by Princess Cruises, but all opinions are my own

The Crown Princess docked in Port Everglades

The Crown Princess docked in Port Everglades

I just spent a week aboard the Crown Princess on my first big-ship cruise, sailing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida through the Western Caribbean.  I brought along my dear friend Samantha (also a cruise newbie), and while the sailing was billed as the Romance Summit, for us it was our first-ever Valentine’s Day away from our husbands.

Now that the ground has (almost) stopped moving when I stand still, I feel ready to reminisce on our week at sea.  For all you other cruise virgins out there, here we go:

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Settling in at Hawks Cay…After Quite a Day

February 20, 2010 by Melanie  
Filed under Florida, Southeast, The Americas, The Florida Keys, USA

IMG 39935 225x300 Settling in at Hawks Cay...After Quite a DayFresh (in a manner of speaking) off a week aboard the Crown Princess, I’ve just arrived at the Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys to rediscover my land legs, unwind in a gorgeous poolside room with dark woods and soft fabrics…and frolic with dolphins.

After the day of travel I’ve had, it’s a complete joy to be here.

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An InterContinental Valentine

IMG 3194 225x300 An InterContinental Valentine

Valentine treats from Jin Patisserie at the Intercontinental L.A.

Adam and I won’t be together on Valentine’s Day this year.  I’ll be on the Love Boat (that is, the Crown Princess) and he’ll be, with any luck, skiing down a mountain.  So when the InterContinental Los Angeles offered us a little Valentine’s getaway this past weekend…it felt like kismet.

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