Nicole DiMercurio - Travel Agent with Main Street And More Travel

One of the benefits of a tender port is unique views like this taken while heading into Santorini ☀️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Today is the last day of an awesome 20% off sale with Celebrity! There are some great deals. For example, for just $750 per person, you could sail on a quick 5 night luxury getaway to the Caribbean. This sailing in October is for an inside stateroom on a ship that’s been completely renovated, bow to stern. The fare is all-inclusive with drinks, Wi-Fi, and tips so there is nothing to worry about once you board! Reach out to me today if you want to take advantage of this great sale! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How neat is the Magic Carpet on the Celebrity Edge? It is much larger than it seems and is a great place to hang out with a cool drink and a perfect view. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Such a beautiful ship and always a welcome sight at the end of a long port day! Celebrity hands out cool towels as you re-board and I looked forward to them so much after a July day in the Caribbean!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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On my recent Celebrity Edge sailing, we ate in the main dining rooms every night and I was absolutely blown away by the food. I've sailed other cruise lines and the food does not compare and would almost be equivalent to specialty restaurant quality on those other lines. The pasta was handmade and you could tell! These pictures are from different meals but include an appetizer of fried brie, short rib pasta entre, and a baked Alaska. If you have any questions about dining on Celebrity, comment below!
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One of the things I love about the Celebrity Edge is all the small nooks where you can just pull up a seat and relax. This is tucked away on deck 5 outside of Eden! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Clear and calm water is all you can ask for when it comes to a port day! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of my favorite activities on any cruise ship is daily trivia! It is hard to beat on the Celebrity Edge though when hosted in Eden, look at those views! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What is your favorite cruise activity?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There are so many options for excursions in Nassau, but a good option that is within walking distance to the port is the British Colonial Hilton! You can purchase a day pass that gives you access to their beautiful beach and pool, plus a food and beverage credit. The water was crystal clear and perfect for floating!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Princess Cruise Lines is often considered one of the top options for Alaska cruising! The reason for this is their land-based lodges throughout Alaska, for a seamless sea-to-land experience. Additionally, Princess sails through Glacier Bay and the incredible College Fjord, where you can see 5 glaciers! Like Disney, Princess offers round-trip sailings, and similar to Celebrity, they also offer one-way sailings starting or ending in Alaska. In Alaska, you can extend your time by choosing a variety of land tours in Princess Lodges, or travel through Alaska on your own.
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All three of the cruise lines that I've discussed sail Alaska from May to September. The cost of the fares range for each line, so there is the budget to fit your travel group. The Alaska cruise I went on was one of my favorite vacations, so please reach out with any questions or to start planning!
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Another great option for cruising through Alaska is Celebrity Cruises! Celebrity offers a wide variety of itineraries. Like Disney, some Celebrity sailings go out of Seattle or Vancouver for round-trip cruises with stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway, Sitka, or Icy Strait Point. There is also a scenic cruising day to Dawes or Hubbard glacier. Many of these ports offer whale-watching excursions, which is an Alaska cruise highlight. Another alternative is to take a one-way trip that starts in Vancouver, Canada, and ends in Seward, Alaska (or you can start in Alaska and end in Canada). This is a great option if you want to add on a land portion in Alaska. Celebrity does offer land tours, or you can do it on your own. Celebrity has all-inclusive rates, so you will be sailing through this gorgeous landscape in luxury but not at a luxury price.
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Celebrity sends a variety of ships to Alaska, so if you prefer large or small ships, you will have options! The downside to Celebrity is that the National Park Service only grants a few cruise lines a year access to Glacier Bay and Celebrity is not one of those. Princess Cruise Line is allowed to sail into Glacier Bay and I will be covering them tomorrow!
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Disney Cruise line is a great Alaska cruise option for families and if you like the touch of Disney at sea! The Wonder sails up to Vancouver every summer for 7-day voyages that go to Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway or Icy Strait Point. All the sailings also include a scenic cruising day to Dawes Glacier. There are of course magical touches that no other cruise line provides, like character meet-and-greets, immersive dinner shows, and Disney musicals in the theater.
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The downside to Disney is that they only offer round-trip sailings out of Vancouver, so if you want to spend some extended time on land in Alaska, this is not the line for you. With that being said, I stayed in Vancouver a few days before my sailing and it is a wonderful city to explore.
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If you're interested in cruising to Alaska, follow my posts this week as I compare three popular lines that sail to Alaska! I will also be posting pictures and videos from my incredible Alaska cruise a few years ago in my Stories! Tomorrow, I'll be sharing what a Disney Cruise to Alaska is like. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you hear about the change coming to Disney World and Disney Land? FastPass+ is officially being retired for a new system in both parks. At first glance, the system can be a little confusing, so I've broken it down below! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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✨All guests will have access to Genie, which will aid in planning your day with forecasted future wait times, select virtual queues, dining waitlists, and a virtual assistant⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ For $15/day per guest, you can add on Genie+ which includes the popular PhotoPass and a new concept called "Lightning Lanes" which will feel very similar to FastPass+. the exception is that these passes are booked day-of and not months in advance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ The third new feature is Individual Attraction Selection where you can schedule times to ride high-demand rides as an add-on and skip the lines. The pricing for these individual rides is not known yet. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If this all sounded confusing, it actually allows for a lot of flexibility for those special trips to Disney. As a travel agent, I am happy to help you work through it as well! Reach out to me with any questions and to start planning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Who else is so happy that fireworks are back 🙋‍♀️ Happily Ever After is one of my favorite shows, but I’m excited to see the show Disney has ready for the 50th!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We are getting closer and closer to Disney's 50th-anniversary celebration! I've included some highlights of the celebration below. Comment and tell me which one you are looking forward to most!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ A new Magic Kingdom nighttime show called "Disney Enchantment" featuring fireworks and projections that go all the way down Main Street⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ EPCOT's new nighttime fountain show, Harmonious⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Animal Kingdom's new daytime show called "Disney KiteTails", which will have 30 foot long kites of Disney characters dancing over the water⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ Eight new, golden statues places around Magic Kingdom of some of our favorite characters including Mickey and Minnie!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you know that Disney's private island has welcomed back cruisers this summer? The Disney Dream has restarted sailing! Even if you do not want to sail this year, it is time to start planning for 2022 trips! The good news is that Disney Cruise Line has really flexible policies of a refundable deposit. The deposit is 20% of the cruise fare, but fully refundable up until the final payment (which ranges from 75 to 120 days before departure).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So if you’re thinking of booking a Disney sailing, you can do so with just a refundable deposit for now! Reach out to me to start planning and so I can get you the best price and category for you and your family.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Skyliner quickly became one of my favorite ways to get around Disney World! It's pretty much an attraction within itself! Have you gotten on the Skyliner yet?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Caribbean mountains are just so beautiful. One of the many reasons that I love cruising is because you get so many beautiful views while out on the water that you would not necessarily get on land! Why do you like cruising?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Spaceship Earth is getting a nighttime makeover for the 50th-anniversary celebration, I cannot wait to see it!◻️⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

One of the best parts about Alaska cruises is the variety in itineraries! Whether you choose Disney, Celebrity, or Princess, the itinerary and budget to fit your family is there. For example, both Celebrity and Princess have one-way routes to or from Alaska so you can easily tack on a land portion, including incredible stops like Denali National Park. Or you could go round trip on any line out of either Vancouver or Seattle (sometimes even San Fransico!) All three cruise lines have their 2022 Alaska itineraries out, and Princess is publishing the 2023 trips this Wednesday! Reach out to me to start planning your perfect trip to Alaska!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of the best Epcot festivals is up and running this year! The Food and Wine festival is going now through November 20th. There are so many good options but don't miss my favorite from last year, the Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese at the Alps booth (opening October 1st next to Germany)!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Rooftop Garden on the Celebrity Edge is such a unique space on the ship with plenty of nooks for hanging out. It is actually elevated above the main deck, so you can see out to sea! The only drawback is that there is very little shade here, definitely an evening spot!
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Halloween is officially here in Disney! Even though it is only August, Disney After Hours Boo Bash starts tonight and runs several nights a week until October 31st. This will be a fun after-hours event with trick or treating (my fave), complimentary. ice cream and other snacks, character cavalcades, and best of all, low ride wait times!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Aulani is such a beautiful resort! The lagoon is the perfect place to spend the day. It is a protected lagoon which means there are not a lot of waves, which makes it perfect for the little ones! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Celebrity Edge boasts one of the longest pools at sea! These pictures don't do it justice, this pool is long and deep while being perfectly cool on a hot Caribbean day! There are plenty of loungers to go around and the white chairs at the edge of the pool can go to the shallow portion so you can lounge while partially in the water. When you need to cool off even more, the pool bar made one of the best frozen margaritas that I've had!
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Cafe al Bacio quickly became one of my favorite spots onboard the Celebrity Edge! The coffee shop is on all Celebrity ships and features specialty coffee included in the all-inclusive fare and even fun coffee cocktails for the perfect afternoon drink! The pastries are included in the cruise fare too, and are perfectly delicious!
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The Celebrity Edge is such a unique ship with a departure from a lot of traditional cruise elements in style, but still a traditional cruise feel!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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