What to Expect- Downtime

Not every second of the trip will be planned out around a BSB event, though I wish it was ;) Thus there will inevitably be some downtime. I did find that a majority of the time was spent either at a BSB event, or getting ready for a BSB event, which didn’t leave all that much time to relax. But I did have gaps of time that I had to fill with something.

During my downtime I would typically grab some food or a drink and just chat with friends. Another thing you can do if the weather was cooperating was to hit up the pool/hot tubs. Both of these activities had a high likelihood of spotting a BSB, which only made it that much more enjoyable. You could also go to the casino and try your luck at the tables or slots. If you like to shop, the cruise has several little shops onboard. If you enjoy sports, there was a basketball court on board as well, where Brian was seen playing with his son.

If you're feeling particularly healthy, you can hit up the gym or go for a nice walk/run around the promenade deck. Take in some of that lovely ocean air.

As for night life- there will be some sort of lounge or club with music. There will also several bars around the ship. Both of these can be a lot of fun. But just be warned that the ratio of girls to guys will be slightly askew. The Backstreet Boys also made frequent appearances at the club.

Another thing to consider is that we will be docked in Nassau for practically the majority of the trip. Another way to kill some time is to get off the ship and explore Nassau. I'll do a future post on things to do in Nassau.

A less fun, but practical idea- since the Backstreet Boys will be doing every event twice, it also presents a good opportunity to take a quick catnap while the other group has their event. Good way to catch up on some sleep while not missing anything.

BSB Related Activities During your Downtime

If you want to make sure eke out as much Backstreet as possible during your trip, here are a few BSB related activities to do during your down time.

• If you have a few hours to kill, I would definitely recommend taking a friend and a camera down the halls of the cruise ship and look at door decorations. Even if you don’t have a few hours to kill, I would highly suggest making time for this because I really enjoyed it.
  
• Another suggestion if you've got some time to kill- swing by the BSB merchandise store. Even if you don't intend to buy, still fun to look around.
  
• If you’re looking for a more relaxed activity, there’s nothing wrong with chilling in your cabin and putting the Backstreet Boy channel on. Normally I don’t like to sit in the cabin during the day if I can help it, but I can’t think of a better reason to stay there.
  
• Meet other fans. Lots of fun, cool people to meet around the ship. So why not meet some fellow BSB fans during your down-time?

I doubt anyone could ever be bored on a Backstreet cruise, but hopefully these ideas will make sure of that. Definitely not a shortage of things to do!

8 Things I Plan on Doing Differently for Cruise 2011

Looking back on the last cruise, I don’t have too many regrets, but none of us really knew what to expect since it was the first ever BSB cruise. Were they going to eat with us? Would they show up to the theme parties? What do you wear?

As we start to prepare for the next cruise, I learned a lot from the first trip that I'm going to try to do differently for the next one.

1. Get a New Camera: And plenty of extra batteries. I got so camera happy last cruise that I would drain my camera’s battery midway through an event. When I got home and finally looked through all of my pictures, I was slightly disappointed with the quality of some of the pictures so I’ve decided to invest in a new camera for this trip so I will have some nice pictures to share.
   
2. Take More Pictures without a BSB in it: I got so focused on the Backstreet Boys that sometimes I would forget to take pictures of the ship, me just hanging out with friends, everyone in their theme outfits, etc. There will be PLENTY of pictures of the Backstreet Boys at all of the events. So while I obviously want to take pictures of BSB, I dont want to stress about it and forget to take pictures of me and my friends.
   
3. Don’t go to Bed: Okay, I obviously have to allow some time for rest, but I felt like so much was going on from like 12-6am that I don’t want to miss. Not all of the Backstreet Boys were awake, but I know AJ made great efforts to hit up the club, knock on cabin doors, etc and I don’t want to miss out because I’m sleeping. I'm still kicking myself for leaving the club early that one night when AJ was still there. So moral of the story, I’ll worry about sleep when I get home!
4. Relax: At times I was so preoccupied with the Backstreet Boys and where they might be on the ship that I couldn’t always let loose and enjoy myself. I plan on relaxing a lot more and just having a good time, and who knows who might stroll by if I’m lucky.
5. No Expectations: While tough, I don’t think we can necessarily compare the first cruise to the second cruise because this cruise will be a full charter which I anticipate will completely change the dynamic of the whole trip. So I’m trying not to get my hopes up and assume it will be just like last year, because it will not.
6. Meet even more People: One of my favorite parts of the first cruise had nothing to do with the Backstreet boys, but rather with all the friends I met. I’d like to continue to push myself out of my comfort zone and meet new people. I also plan on asking for contact info this time because I forgot to do that last cruise and couldn’t find people after the fact. Oopsies! Hopefully some of those people will come again this year.
7. Plan for all Weather: After last year’s black and blue night, I realize I need to have a Plan B outfit in the event that its cold or rainy. Last year I had to throw on a sweatshirt over my meticulously planned black & blue outfit, which was disappointing.
8. No Gym Clothes: I was really just kidding myself on the first cruise and it took up too much space

So, anyone else plan on doing anything differently for the next cruise?

What to do Beyond the Backstreet Boys

For you first time cruisers, there are tons of activities that will be going on around the ship outside of our BSB bubble. I wanted to share a little bit more on what to expect during any lulls of Backstreet activity, though I hope there aren’t too many of those.

I also don't know if they will cut back on some of these activities due to us being there. However since it is only a partial charter cruise, the other half of the ship still needs to be entertained so I imagine they will still offer the majority of what they normally do.

Shopping
Lots of opportunities to shop on board from souvenir shops to art auctions.

Spa/Gym
If you want to keep in shape, the gym facilities are available to you along with various exercise classes such as body conditioning, indoor cycling, or yoga. They also have health seminars such as Burn fat fast, Puffy Eyes Seminar, or Eat More to Weigh Less. You may see me at that last class...

Casino
The slots machines and tables will be open as long as we are not in port, however they also have events such as Poker challenges, slot tournaments, or Hold’Em tournaments.

Pool
The Destiny has 2 pools and several hot tubs, which are open until it gets dark. During the day they may have fun events such as a hairy chest contest or belly flop contest. Always good for a fun time and some laughs.

Games and Other Activities
I’m slightly biased on these, as this is what my brother does, but I love participating in these events. Here is just a small sample of what you might expect:

Trivia games- And lots of them throughout the day including general trivia and special themes such as movie music trivia.
Bingo- Lots of good prizes here, but you have to pay to play.
Digital Scavenger hunts- Don’t forget your camera!
Name that Tune- Different themes such as 80’s. Maybe they’ll do a BSB themed one, though I think that might be too easy for us.
Karaoke- Just the place to have a few drinks and belt out some I Want it That Way!

Feature Shows
Now I’m not sure how this will work since the Backstreet Boys will be our entertainment. But they do have two production shows that are normally scheduled on the night of Key West and Cozumel. My brother was looking over the schedule and it currently lists “Partial Ship Charter, show changes” Thus we may not get a chance to see these shows, but you can typically expect singing and dancing.

They also have comedy shows, both PG and adult versions, but according to my brother they are pretty low key on the Destiny.



So much to do in so little time! I don't think I'll be getting any sleep for those 4 days.

Watching Your Weight on the Cruise

As I’m struggling to lose these last 10 pounds before we set sail, I thought it would be a good time to do a post on how to watch your weight on the cruise. It can be quite difficult to make healthy decisions; after all, you’re on vacation and want to have a good time. However by making a few healthier choices, it will help ease that inevitable regret once you get home.

I like to take advantage of the beautiful view and fresh air by going for a jog on the promenade deck. By jog, I really mean a brisk walk, but in my head it still counts. I would recommend going as the sunsets because not only will it be a little cooler but also because of the breathtaking view. If you’re more ambitious than I, perhaps you can go for the sunrise as well.

Rather than eating all of your meals at the buffet, try going to the main dining room instead. This will help with portion control since it’s not quite as extensive as the buffet. The other benefit of eating at the main dining room is that you will be eating slower as your meals are served in courses. This will cause you to feel fuller more quickly, and thus eat less. There will also be healthy options on the menu that are designated by a Spa Carnival symbol, which are lower in calories and fat. Check out more on special diets on the Carnival website.

Try grabbing some fruit for dessert to satisfy that sweet craving. There is so much fresh fruit available that it becomes a much easier choice to make. Though I must admit, the chocolate melting cake is to die for, so I recommend indulging at least once on that :)

The main problem that I face is that there is so much food available everywhere you turn, and all day long. While I don’t advise eating 6 meals a day, grabbing a light snack of fruit or yogurt before a larger meal will prevent you from overeating at that meal. Better to fill up on something healthy.

If you go to the buffet, scope out the entire room first and then decide what you want. I then like to grab a dessert plate because they are smaller, and thus I will put less food on them. And don’t forget to put some veggies on the plate!

Cruises generally have really nice gym facilities and a plethora of classes to take. I like trying a new class that I generally can’t do at home. It’s a great way to try something different and keep the workout fresh.

My motto on a cruise or outside of one is that I would I would rather eat my calories than drink them. Thus the majority of what I drink is water and the occasional lemonade. All those sodas and cocktails will add up on the calorie count and you won’t even realize it.

If all else fails, maybe the idea of running into a Backstreet Boy at the gym and watching him lift weights will get me motivated enough to actually work out... Yup that will do the trick.

What to do First on the Ship

It can be quite overwhelming to step onto a cruise ship, particularly if it’s your first time. Meanwhile, you won’t be able to go to your cabin right away. The cabin stewards are still getting your room turned over from the prior cruise that just left a few hours before. Definitely keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you want to check your luggage or carry it on with you. So you can either lug your bags around for a few hours, or risk not getting them until several hours later. But seeing as you can’t go to your room, here are a few things that I like to do when I first get on board until they let us to the cabins:

1. Breathe a sigh of relief. All of the planning and traveling is done so start the festivities by grabbing a pretty drink with an umbrella and let the vacation begin!
   
   
2. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably be hungry if you’ve been waiting in the terminal for a while. Why not grab either a quick bite to eat at the buffet or make your way to the main dining room and enjoy your first meal. Just remember that you will not be the only one with this mindset, thus I can guarantee the buffet will be crowded. Make sure you scope out a table with your friends BEFORE you go get your food. Otherwise it can get quite chaotic. This first meal will be the most crowded, but it should only get better after that.
   
   
3. Make your way to the concierge desk in the main lobby or a lounge and grab your copy of the Fun Times, Carnival’s itinerary of activities for the day. You can figure out what you want to do for the rest of the day and ensure you don’t miss out on any fun activities!
   
   
4. While you’re still in the main lobby, you may want to check out the excursion desk and book any excursions if you haven’t already done so. Depending on what you had in mind, your chosen excursion may fill up quickly, so it’s best to book early. However if you still haven’t decided, you may want to hold off as they will likely have an excursion talk which you can attend and ask questions.
   
   
5. Ok, so you had lunch and figured out what you want to do for the rest of the day, but since you still can’t get to your cabin- why not take a tour of the ship? You can either go exploring on your own, or participate in an organized tour. Carnival will typically offer tours of the ship, which is a good opportunity to see all of the ships highlights.
   
   
6. While you’re making your way around the ship, be sure to check out the spa/gym and see if there are any treatments/classes you may be interested in. The popular time spots (ie before dinner on formal night) and popular classes will fill up. So if you wanted to get your hair done for masquerade night, I’d recommend you book early.
   
   
7. When you hit the main dining room, check out that night’s dinner menu. Maybe it’s because all I can think of is food…but I actually like to do this every day. Knowing that I’m having prime rib for dinner will keep me in check the rest of the day. Now I’m not sure if we will have assigned seats for the BSB cruise or if its open seating. From what I understand, I just know we all have late seating. If we do have assigned seats, you may want to scope out your table so you know where to go later that evening. Otherwise it can be chaotic having 1,200 people not knowing where they’re going. I also like to check out my table in the rare event that the location or table size isn’t what I wanted. You can always speak to the maitre’ d and put in a request for a seat change. This is also a good opportunity to speak to the maitre’ d if you have any dietary restrictions.
   
   
8. While the shops and casinos are typically closed until later that evening, you may want to take advantage of the fact that all of the children’s areas are open to adults those first few hours. If you are bringing children or are considering taking them on a future cruise- swing by Circle "C", Club02, or Camp Carnival depending on your child’s age. You can get a sense of all the activities that are available and more specifics on the programs. Or you could not have kids, like myself, and just like exploring. Word of caution- luckily the ships designers are aware that not everyone wants to be around children on the cruise so these areas are typically tucked away in more remote parts of the ship and can be tricky to get to.
   
   
9. Get in those last few phone calls before we set sail. Your phone should still be fine when we’re at port, though don’t quote me on this. I just know my brother will always call me from Miami on the ship. And since I get those phone bills, I can be pretty sure there are no roaming fees, just bad reception when he is on the lower decks.

Hopefully by you the time you get through all of this, the cabins will be open. If not…you can always try sneaking in ;)