World Parrot Trust Announces 2017 Parrot Lovers Cruise

This year, the annual Parrot Lovers Cruise will be on the beautful Princess ship “Caribbean Princess” departing from Fort Lauderdale and cruising to Princess Cay, Cartagena Colombia, partial transit of the Panama Canal with stop in Colon; Limon, Costa Rica and Georgetown, Cayman Islands!

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They have some wonderful excursions planned including a special trip to the Ara Project site in Manzanillo, Costa Rica!

There are some discounts going on through the end of Feb.

Please Note:

  • Prices are subject to change and availability.
  • Prices are valid while availability lasts.
  • Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Single and 3rd person in room rates are listed above.
  • Prices quoted include a donation to World Parrot Trust
  • Bookings must be made through Carol Cipriano in order for passengers to be able to participate in the Parrot Lovers Cruise group activities and seminars

Carol Cipriano

Carols Travel Time

carolstraveltime@gmail.com

510-200-5665

  • Other accommodations are available such as Junior Suites, Suites, or Obstructed View Staterooms. Call Carol for availability.
  • Transfers are available for $19 per way per person from airport to cruiseport and back 
  • Paid gratuities and travel insurance can be added to your booking. Call Carol for details

 

Parrot Lover’s Cruise 2016 Announced

The annual Parrot Lover’s Cruise for 2016 has been announced by World Parrot Trust.  This year they have chosen a wonderful Southern Caribbean itinerary with two islands boasting endemic wild parrots – Puerto Rico & St Lucia!  I will be visiting these 2 islands in a few months on a land based trip so will have more details soon.  Start organizing your airline miles to get to the departure port of San Juan now!

wpt cruise

Set sail aboard the outstanding Carnival Fascination out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. With stops in St Thomas, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts and St Maarten, this cruise promises to be the best yet!

Cruise-goers will have a chance to explore the islands and local sights, attend onboard seminars by experts from the avian community, and possibly see parrots in the wild!

You MUST use the official travel agency to take part in the WPT activities.

Book Today!


CAROL CIPRIANO
Carol’s Travel Time
570.470.5006
Send email
parrotloverscruise.com

Early Saver Rates
in effect – contact Carol to learn more!

Grand Cayman Island – Shore Visit From 2008 Cruise

This was a cruise we did back in 2008 so I may be a bit fuzzy on the details but at least I still have the photos!  We were on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas doing a 7 day RT Miami cruise to Labadee, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios & Cozumel.

I do recall we had booked a diving trip that was cancelled due to bad weather so we were on our own.  We ended up taking a bus to a wildlife park that was called Boatswain’s Bay  back in 2008 but is now called Cayman Turtle Farm Island Wildlife Encounter.  It seems to have the same attractions as it did back them but they seem to be pushing the turtles more now.  Of course I was keen to see Cayman Parrots!  We did walk through the whole park, including the turtle farm but but spent most of our time in the walk-in aviary with some very friendly birds!

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Back in the day, people were constantly telling me to go to hell…………………so I finally did!

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Since we were using local buses, we headed back a bit early so had time to walk around the port area, check out some shops and watch some guy who was hawking photos with his macaws.

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Display only, unfortunately this painting wasn’t for sale!

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Cozumel – Shore Visit From 2008 Cruise

This was a cruise we did back in 2008 so I may be a bit fuzzy on the details but at least I still have the photos!  We were on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas doing a 7 day RT Miami cruise to Labadee, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios & Cozumel.

I do remember vividly trying to get someone to share a taxi to the Mayan ruins at San Gervasio and literally everyone from the ship just wanted to go to the beach!  So annoying!  We had to pay for the taxi ourselves, visit the ruins and had the taxi drop us at a museum afterwards.

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I really wanted to buy this but the museum wasn’t selling!

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Outside the museum was this cool exhibit of mini-ruins.

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I can’t believe we did such silly touristy things!

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We hung around the shops for awhile, this was by far the most tourist port we had been to!

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And yet another Margaritaville!

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This time I let the man talk me into a silly photo with the macaws.

100_9869 100_9874 100_9875Back to the ship one last time!

Our First Ocho Rios Visit From 2008

As I mentioned before, we had been to Ocho Rios on a previous cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas in 2008.  I had found out about the Enchanted Gardens online and we also had to do the touristy things – Dunns River Falls and the market.  We DIY’d the day.  We took a bus to and from the falls.  Then we hired a taxi to Enchanted Gardens and kept the driver for the return trip and had him drop us off at the market.  We walked through the town and visited some small shops as well, then had the traditional jerk chicken in a local non-touristy restaurant, then hit the Margaritaville and back to the ship.  Very few cruisers DIY in this port but being experienced travelers we had no problems at all!

Dunn’s River Falls

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Enchanted Gardens

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The little Olive-throated Conure on the end was the one I named Tiki.  The guide said he didn’t have a name so I gave him one!

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Ocho Rios Market

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Parking $100 per hour!  Glad we walked!

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Local restaurant – great jerk chicken!

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Shopping center near the cruise ship and Margaritaville

100_9446 100_9448 100_9450 100_9452 100_9453 100_9455 100_9458 100_9459 100_9460 100_9461Adding to our collection of parrot t-shirts!  This was a huge ship, at the time it was one of the largest cruise ships in the world but it has since been surpassed.

 

Private Birding Shore Excursion – Ocho Rios, Jamaica

This was our second time visiting Ocho Rios on a cruise ship.  On the first visit (which will be covered on a separate post) we did all the touristy things – Dunns River Falls, the market and finished at the Enchanted Gardens which has a beautiful walk-in aviary.

Princess Cruises has a number of shore excursions but none of them are suitable for birders.  We arranged a private tour with top birding guide Wendy Lee.  She can be contacted by email at wendylee@cwjamaica.com and you can see another review of a land based birding tour with her on Trip Advisor.

We disembarked with trepidation as the weather was already drizzly.  Wendy was right there waiting for us and said she would do her best in spite of the weather.  I was prioritizing the 2 endemic parrot species – Yellow-billed Parrot and Black-billed Parrot.  Wendy took us to a grove of trees and sure enough the parrots were there, albeit very soggy parrots!  I did my best with the photos but I kept having to cover my camera from the rain.

IMG_6010 IMG_6013 IMG_6018 IMG_6038a IMG_6052 IMG_6054 IMG_6069 IMG_6072 IMG_6089 IMG_6098 IMG_6100 IMG_6106 IMG_6110aWendy had planned to take us somewhere else after the parrots but she said the road would be very dodgy because of the rain and the birds would be hiding anyways.  She offered to take us to her wildlife rescue instead to show us some birds rescued from poachers.  We saw a Cattle Egret along the road.

IMG_6118 IMG_6120 IMG_6123 IMG_6124 IMG_6132 IMG_6133The rain had eased off a bit as we headed back to port, getting a glimpse of the ship as we went over a hill.  The final stop was the Enchanted Gardens with the fabulous walk-in aviary.  This seems to be the best-kept secret of Ocho Rios as hardly anyone ever goes there.  The guide showed us around and since we had limited time due to the ship schedule, we only wanted to see the aviary.  We spent some quality time playing with the birds.  They give you food and the birds will climb all over you.  I think it was around $20pp to visit the gardens.

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After the tour, Wendy dropped us at the shopping centre near the cruise ship dock so we could visit the Jimmy Buffets and grab some parrot themed t-shirts.  We then walked back to the ship.  It turned out to be a great day in spite of the rainy morning!

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Bad photo of some jerk chicken we shared at Margaritaville.

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Two of these Dr Bird paintings are now gracing the hall between the kitchen and our home aviary!

IMG_6202Somebody else on the ship bought this – wish I had seen it first!

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Full Transit Of The Panama Canal

There are 2 ways to do a Panama Canal cruise – full transit from Pacific to Caribbean or vv; or you can do a partial transit where the ship enters one side, usually the Caribbean, goes through a lock or two so you can see what it’s like and possibly stop for shore excursions.

Here’s an idea of what to expect in the way of shore excursions on a Panama Canal cruise.

Full transit 

Stop in Colon (sometimes tagged on to a full transit)

Partial transit with stop in Gatun Lake

Partial or full transit with stop in Panama City (Fuerte Amador)

The day before we were due to go through the canal, I noticed some ADULTS doing crafts with construction paper and cardboard signs.  It turned out they were making signs to wave at the photographer as we went through the canal.  I decided to join in!  Of course I had to feature a bird on my sign.  I’m sure a 5 year old would have done better but I liked my finished product anyways!

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The full transit we did in April 2011 went from Pacific to Caribbean with only a 3 hour stop in Colon so no time to go out.  We were told to stay in the shopping centre for our own safety.  We arrived at 5pm so it would have been too late to go anywhere else anyway.  During the transit, our fantastic port lecturer, Dr Thomas Ryan gave a fascinating and detailed commentary as we went through the canal.  We saw a few birds flying overhead but not very good views.  If you have a stop in Panama City, I recommend going to Soberania NP (Rainforest Center).  We did end up going there in August 2013.

We entered the canal at dawn.  In the following pictorial you will see the pilot boats, Bridge of the Americas, banks of the canal, a few odd birds and ships we passed including another Princess ship.  You can see the locks opening and closing with water levels going up and down and the Princess photographer down below aiming his camera at the people like us on the balconies.

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What To Do On Sea Days

Most cruises that have suitable itineraries for birders will be longer and visit more remote areas.  This means more sea days as you cruise from one port to another.  Since this isn’t a specialist cruise blog, I’ll just offer a few ideas if you are trying to convince your spouse/partner/family/friend to join you on a cruise.  First I’ll remind you of what birders should look for in a cruise itinerary if you haven’t seen the first post already.

Cruises can be very cost-effective because your food and entertainment are all included.  Ships do have alternative restaurants that you have to pay for but the main dining room with full service and a self-service buffet are always included in your rate.  There’s a wide variety of entertainment including full on production shows, headliners, comedians and more!

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Most Princess ships have a huge movie screen called MUTS where they screen recent feature films by the pool.  Popcorn is served by waiters and they have blankets if you get chilly.  On our cruise, they screened the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton live!  I had to get up at 4am but what a way to watch the royal wedding!

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Passengers are often invited to join special occasions such as this anniversary celebrating the different brands of Carnival Corporation.  I don’t remember what they were celebrating exactly but I do remember that cake!

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If you are a member of the cruise line’s loyalty program you will be invited to a captain’s cocktail party.  You can take photos with the captain and have a drink or 2 on the house!

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Penny slots used to be a great way to manufacture spend.  Load money at the casino onto your cruise card and put it in the slot machine and play a few spins. Then cash out – I mean for actual cash.  You pay for the cash at the end of the cruise with your miles/points earning credit card.  This was good back in 2011, I hear that some cruise lines now charge a fee to do this so you’ll have to check on this.

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The crew talent show is always fun!

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How old are these people trying to catch the balloons?  Feel like a kid again!

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Choose whether you want a table for 2 or to join others for dinner.  It’s up to you!

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Traditional Baked Alaska parade!

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Towel animal demonstration – you will probably find one in your room each night as you get back after dinner and the evening show.

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Overview of the Coral Princess pool, we spent a lot of sea day time in the jacuzzi.

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Champagne fountain and formal nights!

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Another production show.

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Balcony cabin – nice if you can afford one, even nicer if you get upgraded to one!

IMG_4822What I didn’t photograph but really enjoyed were the port lectures.  We had a really good lecturer, Dr Thomas Ryan who gave informative, educational and thoughtful lectures………….and not one mention of Diamonds International!  Cruises with more exotic ports do tend to have better port lecturers – authors, naturalists, historians.  Caribbean cruises just have shills for jewelry shops so don’t bother!

Other things to do on a ship include trivia, karaoke competitions, bingo, ballroom dance lessons, tours of the bridge and exercise classes.  There really is something for everyone!

San Juan Del Sur Shore Excursion

For this port, Princess didn’t offer a specific birding excursion, nor could I find anything independent so we went with a mainstream shore excursion that I thought might bring us into contact with birds incidentally.  It visits the Masaya Market, Masaya Volcano and colonial city of Granada.

Your full-day, moderately active shopping and sightseeing excursion begins at the pier where you will board your comfortable, air-conditioned transportation and journey forth out of San Juan del Sur. Travel through the lush, tropical landscape as your knowledgeable guide points out areas of interest and regales you with the history of this exotic and mysterious country.

Visit the magical city of Masaya to explore its world renowned market. Nicknamed the “city of flowers” Masaya is the capital of Nicaraguan folklore and is known as the birthplace of the area’s best painters, singers, poets, artists and crafts people. So it’s only natural that is should be home to one of the largest crafts markets in Central America ? The Masaya Market! Shop, browse or even engage in some good-natured bargaining at the collection of shops and vendor stands that offer the very best value and quality in arts, crafts and culture. Among them: leather products, delicately embroidered clothing, wood carvings, Indian art and hand painted ceramics with traditional pre-Columbian designs.

Continue your journey to Masaya Volcano National Park. Established in 1979 this national park is a marvel of nature with its two towering volcanoes, lush forest and a crater lagoon. Your transportation will take you near the still active Masaya Volcano, once the object of veneration by indigenous peoples, for an up-close look at steaming fumaroles.

Take a break from your exploration to enjoy a complimentary buffet lunch at a local restaurant. Indulge in a traditional Nicaraguan meal that includes chicken medallions, sea bass, rice and beans, and dessert.

Step back in time as you visit the picturesque, colonial city of Granada, located in the shadow of the towering Mombacho Volcano on the shore of Lake Nicaragua (one of country’s largest freshwater lakes). Founded in 1524 by Spanish Conquistador Hernandez de Cordoba, Granada’s historic churches and convents have withstood the test of the centuries including invasions from English, Dutch and French pirates. Enjoy a delightful and informative guided tour of the grand Convent of San Francisco, now a museum housing an ample collection of pre-Columbian statues unearthed on local volcanic islands.

Stroll the Parque Central, the city’s social, cultural and economic hub, where local artisans and vendors offer their beautifully crafted products for sale. Take time to marvel at the timeless beauty and historic legacy that has been preserved in this amazing city prior to your scenic drive back to your Princess ship.

San Juan del SurThis port is served by tenders so you want to get down to the tender dock asap as they become crowded quickly.  Usually people who book a ship’s excursion get priority.

IMG_5214 IMG_5213 IMG_5212The market proved to have lots of bird themed artworks and I bought several nice paintings and some feather art.  The feathers are not from endangered species, most are from chickens or feathers found on the ground.

IMG_5124 IMG_5125 IMG_5126 IMG_5127 IMG_5128 IMG_5129 IMG_5132Next stop was the Masaya Volcano.  Some people chose to climb to the top but I chose to let my lens do the walking.

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IMG_5140 IMG_5142 IMG_5143 IMG_5145We had lunch at a touristy restaurant but the food was still good.

IMG_5146 IMG_5147 IMG_5148 IMG_5149 IMG_5150 IMG_5153After lunch we went to Granada had had a tour of the city and the convent-museum.  There was a folk dance show in the main square that was pretty cool!

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IMG_5203a IMG_5204a IMG_5205 IMG_5174We then drove through the town of San Juan del Sur and took the tender back to the ship.

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Watching the sun set as we sail away from San Juan del Sur.  The big movie screen (MUTS) movies under the stars is where I watched the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

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