Category Archives: Caribbean

Nearly 700 pounds of suspected cocaine seized by the USS Milwaukee and Coast Guard law enforcement agents sits on the ship's flight deck Jan. 7, 2022. The seizure was made in the Caribbean Sea. (Danielle Baker/U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy seized what they suspect is cocaine worth an estimated $22 million during a recent interdiction in the Caribbean Sea.

The littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee was involved in the Jan. 7 confiscation, which totaled roughly 700 pounds, U.S. 4th Fleet announced in a statement.

It is a good feeling knowing that a large number of drugs will not make it onto the streets of America or our partners in the Caribbean, Cmdr. Brian Forster, the Milwaukees commanding officer, said in the statement Wednesday.

The littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee steams through the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 16, 2021. The Milwaukee and Coast Guard personnel onboard seized $22 million worth of suspected cocaine in the Caribbean Sea on Jan. 7, 2022. (Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy)

The operation began when a patrol plane spotted a suspected drug smuggling boat, and the Milwaukee was directed to intercept.

The ship deployed its MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter and a rigid-hull inflatable boat, according to the statement.

The Coast Guard detachment saw packages being thrown into the water and then gained control of the boat. Coast Guard personnel recovered the packages from the water and five people were detained, the statement said.

The Milwaukee had deployed to the 4th Fleets area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force Souths mission, which includes interruption of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean.

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Navy and Coast guard stop boat in Caribbean with suspected cocaine shipment worth $22M - Stars and Stripes

Most people fantasize about Caribbean destinations when they dream of paradise. To help highlight some of the Caribbean's best spots both popular and off the beaten path 10Best needs you to vote for the Caribbean's best resorts, beaches, attractions, bars, distilleries, golf courses and restaurants.

You can vote once per category, per day until voting ends on Monday, February 14 at noon ET. The winners will be announced on Friday, February 25.

Click on each category below to vote:

Caribbean travelers have no shortage of things to see and do Photo courtesy of iStock / Wirepec

There's more to the Caribbean than just beautiful beaches (though we love those, too). From waterfalls and caves to ziplines and historic sites, Caribbean travelers have no shortage of things to see and do. We asked a panel of Caribbean travel experts to nominate their 20 favorite attractions, and now we need you to choose the 10 best.

Vote: Best Caribbean Attraction

Help us name the 10 best Caribbean beaches by voting for your favorite Photo courtesy of iStock / zstockphotos

Beach junkies and sun lovers will find some of the world's most spectacular stretches of sand on the islands of the Caribbean. With so many palm tree-lined, silky sand expanses leading down to warm, azure water, it's hard to narrow it down to just 20. But that's the task we gave our panel of Caribbean travel experts. Now it's your turn to crown the Caribbean's best beach.

Vote: Best Caribbean Beach

The Caribbean could be called the beach bar capital of the world Photo courtesy of iStock / Lisa5201

Nothing says "vacation" quite like sipping a tropical cocktail while digging your toes in the sand. The Caribbean could be called the beach bar capital of the world, with countless places to sip the day away. We asked a panel of Caribbean travel experts to nominate their favorites, and now it's your turn to pick a winner.

Vote: Best Caribbean Beach Bar

Help us find the 10 best Caribbean golf courses Photo courtesy of iStock / valio84sl

Laid-back, fun, insanely beautiful these are a few of the phrases you could use to describe the experience of golfing in the Caribbean, and there are more choices than ever for teeing off in the tropical sun. Vote for your favorite Caribbean golf course once per day until voting ends on Monday, February 14 at noon ET.

Vote: Best Caribbean Golf Course

Unwind at these Caribbean resorts Photo courtesy of iStock / Christian Wheatley

Powdery soft sands, crystal clear waters, sumptuous accommodations and exquisite service characterize these top tropical escapes in the Caribbean, chosen by a panel of Caribbean travel experts as the best in the region. Help us crown 2022's Best Caribbean Resort.

Vote: Best Caribbean Resort

The rum is the only thing more popular than the beaches Photo courtesy of iStock / itakdalee

If there's one thing the Caribbean is known for as much as its beaches, it's rum. The spirit was first distilled on the islands during the 17th century when sugar plantation slaves discovered that molasses a byproduct of the refining process could be fermented into alcohol.

Caribbean rum producers have spent the centuries since perfecting the process of distillation, aging and blending, and many of the world's best rums come from the Caribbean. We asked a panel of Caribbean travel experts to nominate their favorite distilleries, and now we need you to pick the top 10.

Vote: Best Caribbean Rum Distillery

From fine dining to seafood shacks along the beach, there's plenty to eat in the Caribbean Photo courtesy of iStock / Visionkick

The Caribbean is a melting pot of cultures and ethnic influences, and that diversity is reflected in its food. Culinary gems here range from fine dining to beachside seafood shacks serving up dishes good enough to make even the most discerning foodie swoon. We asked a panel of Caribbean travel experts to nominate their favorite restaurants in the region, and now we're calling on you to choose a winner.

Vote: Best Restaurant in the Caribbean

Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, February 25.

Read more:

What are the best spots in the Caribbean? Vote now - USA Today 10Best

Caribbean (Vax Before Travel)

The U.S Department of State issued various high-level travel advisories on January 18, 2022, for several Caribbean countries.

These countries include but are not limited to the following: Bermuda, Jamaica, Saint Kitts/Nevis, Saint Lucia, and SaintMaarten.

These Level 4 Do Not Travel Advisories are focused on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the latest SARS-CoV-2 virus variant known as Omicron.

Additionally, the State Department issued Level 3 Reconsider Travel Advisories for countries such as Fiji, French West Indies, and Costa Rica.

Furthermore, COVID-19 continues to disrupt the cruise industry.

On January 14, 2022, Royal Caribbean International announced that "as a result of the ongoing COVID-related circumstances around the world, and in an abundance of caution," it would cancel sailing on the ship Independence of the Seas after Jan. 22.

Earlier in January 2022, Royal Caribbean canceled planned trips on the Symphony of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas cruise ships.

With COVID-19 infections accelerating in the Americas and the detection of the Omicron variant in at least 42 countries and territories in the region, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne called on governments to ensure health workers have access to protective equipment and COVID-19 vaccines.

Overall COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean currently stands at almost 60%. Many countries, including Chile, Cuba, and Argentina, boast some of the highest coverage rates in the PAHO.

On January 12, 2022, Dr. Etienne stated in a media announcement warned that this new wave of infections wont be mild for our health systems.

In smaller island states, some hospitals were already strained by cases of the Delta variant, and now more hospitals face the prospect of being overwhelmed with Omicron cases, she added.

The PAHO Director also highlighted the rise in re-infections.

Over the past week, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have experienced hikes in new SARS-CoV-2 infections, and increases are also being seen in Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, and Martinique.

In Central America, Belize and Panama are reporting the highest incidence of COVID-19. And in South America, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay have increased cases by 300%.

The U.S. State Department suggests reviewing the U.S. CDC's specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers for each country. If you decide to visit these countries, consider enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and locate you in case of an emergency.

Additional travel vaccine information is published on this webpage.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes fact-checked research-based vaccine news.

See the article here:

U.S. Discourages Visiting Caribbean Beaches this Winter - Vax-Before-Travel

Beyond the yachts and private jets, Canouan provides a luxury vacation at a more affordable cost.

If you are one of the few savvy travelers who have heard of Canouan, its probably in whispers as a billionaires getaway in the Caribbean. The small, crescent-shaped island is part of the Grenadines chain and is around five square miles. Only about a thousand residents call Canouan home, and few tourists have yet to discover the island paradise. While that might give the impression that Canouan is only for the one percent, it is also a destination worth exploring for mid-market travelers looking for an alternative to St. Barts.

One of the reasons for Canouans air of exclusivity is that there are no direct commercial flights onto the island. While some wealthy travelers fly directly on a private jet to Canouan, you dont have to stow away in their Louis Vuitton luggage to access the island. The cheapest way to get to Canouan is to fly into St Vincent Airport (SVD) and then take the 3 to 4-hour ferry ride for about $20. However, most visitors book a flight to the BGI airport in Barbados and then hop a small plane for the hour or so flight to Canouans picturesque local airport.

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While there are plenty of gems to discover around Canouan, what is even more important is what you wont find on the island. There are no swarm of cruise ship passengers flooding the island every day and no tacky tourist shops with CANOUAN tchotchkes. The island may be surprisingly accessible for the mid-market traveler, but the island is far from the mass market.

For accommodation, travelers can choose to neither splurge on one of the luxury resorts or book an apartment stay. Since the island is so small, youre never too far from anything. Canouans rush hour is simply when turtles come out onto the road in the evening as it cools off, and you may need to carefully drive around them as they meander to their resting place for the night. Suppose you decide to rent an apartment instead of staying at a hotel. In that case, you can still get your palapa and pina colada fix by heading to Shell Beach, operated by Canouan Estates, and enjoy the perfect postcard beach resort while you eat lunch at the Shell Beach Bar and Grill.

There are luxury options abound on the island for discerning travelers seeking a world-class experience. The five-star Mandarin Oriental Canouan is the premier resort on the island, offering ocean-view suites starting at $880 a night. That price point comes with ample space, top-notch service, and access to their private jet. Even if you dont splash out for a suite at the Mandarin Oriental, heading to their Balinese-inspired spa is definitely worth the splurge. Theyve recently renovated two picturesque overwater bungalows in addition to the hillside rooms and offer spa treatments starting at $70.

The main draw of the Canouan is the nearby Tobago Cays, offering exceptional snorkeling and diving in the protected marine park. In addition to swimming with green turtles in the warm waters of the cays, the archipelago is home to five small uninhabited islands, including Petit Tabac, where Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp were deserted in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. But you dont have to be marooned to visit the islands. To experience the Tobago Cays, you could break the bank and rent a fully staffed yacht for the day or simply book a group snorkel trip to the marine park for less than $100 per person.

Back on the island, hiking up Mount Royal is Canouans most popular land-based activity. The free hike takes you to the highest point on the island, offering up panoramic views of neighboring islands St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and St. Lucia. Nearby, Canouans gorgeous (and often deserted) 18-hole golf course is designed by Jim Fazio. The 72-par course offers breathtaking views and is priced at $250 per player in the high season. Or, skip the golf and head straight to dinner at LAnce Guyac, a romantic nearby beach restaurant.

Courtesy of the Mandarin Oriental Canouan;

While Canouan isnt likely to see rapid development anytime soon, a Soho House Hotel has recently opened on the island, and small changes may be in store for quiet Canouan. But, as long as there are no direct flights, this Caribbean destination will stay off the itinerary for most visitors looking for a quick holiday getaway. Instead, Canouan will remain a voyage for both elite vacationers and the intrepid traveler seeking an off-the-beaten-track slice of paradise.

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Under-the-Radar Caribbean Island Canouan Is Actually Affordable - Fodor's Travel

The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita sounds like another entry into the canon of celebrities filming lighthearted travel shows with their parents. But this BBC two-parter was significantly more interesting than its title suggested.

Mother-daughter presenting duo Andi and Miquita Oliver were born in west London and although their family is originally from Antigua, both have struggled to connect with their Caribbean heritage.

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to explore their roots, the women set off on a soul-searching mission across the Atlantic.

Against the most turquoise of seas, they reunited with family members (both those who had always lived in Antigua and those who had relocated from the UK) and tried to make sense of their dual identities while exploring the history of Antigua and its sister island, Barbuda.

Both Olivers were, as to be expected, utterly charming natural, funny and admirably open about their own internalised racism. As Andi said, if everything in your life tells you that the way you look is wrong you start to feel like you are wrong.

On their respective quests to understand where they come from, and therefore who they are today, it was particularly moving to see Miquita glowing with happiness as she absorbed her surroundings and her ancestry, and admitted that her younger self had rejected her blackness, partly thanks to a lack of role models who looked like her.

Thirsty for knowledge, they learnt about the legacy of slavery, the Rastafarian movement, the devastation of Hurricane Irma and the British immigrant experience.

Their conclusion that being British women of Antiguan heritage was a f***ing great thing to be and the accompanying joyous, cathartic skinny dip in the bay in honour of Andis grandmother Mama, completed a beautiful, poignant and profoundly personal journey.

The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita continues next Sunday 30 January at 9pm on BBC Two

Thei on TVnewsletter is a daily email full of suggestions of what to watch as well as the latest TV news, opinions and interviews.Sign up hereto stay up to date with the best new TV.

Continued here:

The Caribbean with Andi and Miquita, BBC2, review: A profound journey into the British immigrant experience - iNews

A new initiative will catalyze seed systems development in Haiti and Senegal and sustainably deliver agricultural research outputs to farmers at-scale.

The ILCI-Caribbean-Atlantic Seed Systems Initiative (CASSi) led by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement (ILCI), in partnership with Seed Systems Group, Quisqueya University in Haiti and Institut Sngalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA) in Senegal will strengthen alliances between researchers and farmers to effectively get improved seeds into the market.

Haiti and Senegal are an ocean apart geographically but share two things in common: chronically low crop yields among smallholder farmers and a dependency on rain-fed, smallholder agriculture to supply the bulk of food and income. Climate change has posed additional challenges to delivering staple food security crops, with severe droughts in Senegal and frequent and devastating storms in Haiti.

Read more on the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement website.

Excerpt from:

New initiative catalyzes sustainable seed systems from Caribbean to the Atlantic | Cornell Chronicle - Cornell Chronicle

Pirates of the Caribbean debuted in 2003 as a commercially successful film despite low expectations. The adventurous and exciting swashbuckling plot combined with eccentric characters vastly contributed to the franchises victory at the box office. One of its major ensemble characters is the antihero, Jack Sparrow.

While Jack Sparrows unconventional personality is the main attraction, fans could also notice how he does not fit the Prince Charming category. Throughout the movies, he has been romancing different female characters who ended up becoming his old flame or newfound enemy. There might have been more, but heres a list of the captains known love interests:

These were the two ladies that Jack Sparrow met in Tortuga who both ended up having an affair with him. Jack proposed to Giselle by giving her a ring with red gemstone, and upon realizing that the man was serious about his proposal, she immediately dressed up for their wedding.

As she went to the dressing room, she saw Scarlett with the same ring. Furious and dumbfounded, and realizing that they were two-timed, both of them confronted Jack. The pirate received a resounding slap in the face.

Although Zoe Saldana did not make any recurring appearance after this, she made certain that it is something Jack Sparrow will never forget. Anamaria greeted Jack with a hard smack on the face, suggesting that they had a not-so-good history.

Anamaria was a great sailor, and her attempting to join aboard the Motley crew in the Interceptor was to remind Jack of what he stole and never returned. To pacify the enraged woman, he promised to give her the Interceptor as a replacement for the stolen boat.

It was clear from the beginning that Elizabeth Swann and Jack Sparrow have this strange chemistry. She tried to lure him into thinking that she fancies the pirate, which turned out to be just a part of her cunning plan.

Their relationship is indeed platonic (more like chaotic) even after she let him kiss her. After all the adventures that they have been through, both of them are still willing to sacrifice one another to save themselves. A classic example would be Elizabeth cuffing Jack Sparrow to the ship as a sacrifice to the Kraken.

Tia Dalma, or Calypso, is the sea goddess that sailors both loved and feared. It was implied that she and Jack Sparrow shared a romantic history due to her willingness to help out seafarers.

Although they did not totally brush through their short-lived past, Tia Dalma and Jack have no plans of rekindling their long-extinguished lovers flame. She, however, still show quite the amicable affection by accepting favors from the rogue pirate.

Despite all the aforementioned characters being Jacks old flames, Angelica is the only one that particularly received the status of a true love interest. The daughter of Blackbeard was introduced in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as a relentless pirate. Her only one goal in life is to save her fathers soul from eternal damnation.

She mastered the art of the con from when she and Jack engaged in both love and piracy affairs. While together, they both lie or double-cross each other. What a fascinating couple they were!

Read the original here:

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Jack Sparrow's Love Interests - FandomWire

Moeen Ali admitted the batting depth of the West Indies is scary after England withstood a late blitz from lower-order pair Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein to win the second Twenty20 by just one run.

England looked to be cruising to a series-levelling victory when their opponents crumbled from 47 for two to 65 for seven in pursuit of 172, with Moeen taking format-best figures of three for 24 at Barbados Kensington Oval.

But some bruising blows from Shepherd kept a flickering hope alive and even though that was extinguished midway through the final over, Hosein closed the show with three successive sixes off Saqib Mahmood.

Shepherd and Hosein, who came in at seven and 10 respectively, each clubbed 44 not out, the latter doing so from only 16 deliveries, as the Windies made the final result so much closer than it arguably should have been.

Obviously the game was done with three balls to go but with Shepherd still in and the way it went down, it never quite felt like we were over the line till the last ball, Moeen said.

Even though they were six or seven down for not many runs, they were never quite out of the game, theyre such a dangerous team. Theyve got so much talent, so much power.

The fact they bat all the way down to number 10 makes them extremely dangerous. For them to lose by one run, its actually quite scary, their batting line-up is very scary.

Were glad to get the win but we could do a lot of things better. It is a lesson for the guys. We know we havent even played that well there and we still won the game.

Jason Roy had earlier top-scored for England, who lost the series opener 24 hours earlier by nine wickets when they were bowled out for 103, with 45 from 31 balls as the tourists posted 171 for eight after batting first again.

Reece Topley marked his first T20 international in six years with an early wicket and a run out and then after spin twins Moeen and Adil Rashid had put the squeeze on in the middle overs the left-arm seamer held his nerve in the penultimate over, yielding just eight runs to leave the Windies needing 30 from the last six balls.

Mahmoods first delivery was called a wide while Hosein was left unimpressed when the second one was not and took any frustration out on Englands fast bowler with two fours and three sixes in a final over that yielded 28 runs.

Youve got to go through this to get better and Im sure hell be taking this as a lesson, Moeen said of Mahmood. Hopefully he can learn from it but hes got so much ability.

Its good for a young batter to fail a little bit and a young bowler to get hit because you can only learn from that. Im sure hes going to do that. Every single one of us in this team has gone through the same thing.

While this five-match series is now all square with one win apiece, a gripping conclusion means the Windies can take more than shred of comfort despite their defeat.

Asked where the balance of power lay ahead of the next game on Wednesday, Moeen replied: If we were 2-0 down, they would certainly be taking all of the momentum. But I think both teams will be pretty happy.

We know we can play better and they know that they really put us under pressure here, particularly at the end. But for most of the game we dominated.

They can take a lot of positives and confidence from this but we did win the game so they will be very wary that we are going to try to perform better. I think its going to be a very tight series.

Link:

England in the Caribbean: Moeen Ali admits West Indies batting depth 'scary' - Cricket365.com

With the growing number of Omicron cases throughout the world, so too have cases increased on cruise ships across the industry.

In an effort to improve the care of those crew members completing quarantine, Royal Caribbean has designated the Serenade of the Seas as a hospital ship for those who have tested positive for covid-19.

What's it like onboard? News stories have sensationalized the poor conditions onboard cruise ships, however, this does not seem to be the case currently.

Martina, a Royal Caribbean crew member onboard the Serenade of the Seas has provided a glimpse into her day to day experience, showing us what it is really like to live and work on a quarantine ship.

Recording her experience during a week of sailing, crew member, Martina, who is from Argentina, gives her opinions and interviews crew members as the Serenade of the Seas sails from its current homeport of Tampa to Cozumel, Roatan and Belize.

The ship takes on fuel, food and mail in Tampa before it voyages out to pick up and transfer crew members. Serenade of the Seas takes on infected crew members who have tested positive for Covid-19 but are largely asymptomatic.

Once the crew completes their 10 day isolation period, they can leave. Some stay the night in a hotel before going back to a ship or others take an early vacation prior to their next assignment.

Talking about the transformation of Serenade of the Seas from a ship for leisure travel to caring for crew members, Martina explains the importance of their mandate, to relieve the pressure on the amount of Covid Cases around the fleet.

She also notes that there are a number of challenges in caring for quarantining crew along with cruise passengers. Onboard the hospital ship they get the care they need from medical staff and guest services, along with good food.

Normally crew live in compact quarters on cruise ships, so this gives them the opportunity to spread out, along with separating them from the healthy crew members.

Photo byThe Curious Lens of Martina from Argentina

Martina sat down with 4 crew members from the Adventure of the Seas who had finished their isolation period and were now enjoying a couple of days off before returning to work.

She prefaced the interview by acknowledging that on some occasions, quarantine conditions could have been improved and it was tough managing crew and passengers on an operational ship.

The process on Serenade of the Seas now seems to be running more smoothly, based on feedback.

During the informal discussion, the crew members had high praise for their treatment onboard the ship, adding that the food was amazing.

On a ship with no passengers, they have more cabins and access to more spacious rooms, including some with balconies. The staff chime in saying it was great to get fresh air, a significant improvement from windowless cabins, and they did not have to share rooms. One lucky crew member was quite pleased to have received a junior balcony cabin.

There was also more staff/resources to take care of them since there were no guests onboard. Frequent check-ins from guest services and the medical personnel made them feel well cared for.

Many have speculated as to the impact on crew jobs, due to the Serenades reassignment.

Martina spent some time explaining how the conversion to a quarantine ship has affected the crew since they were no longer serving guests. Going home doesn't meet losing your job," she said.

The Serenade of the Seas was scheduled to go into to dry-dock for refurbishment in a couple of months. So, for some, they were given the opportunity to take an early vacation.

For those with more time left on their contracts, they were given the option to reassign to other ships.

Although there have been some issues in the past, Martina says that we need to celebrate when the right decisions are made". And that the strategy of having a separate quarantine ship has improved the overall conditions for staff.

Although the media portrays these ships negatively, most of the crew Martina spoke with were asymptomatic and just needed to wait out their quarantine time. Being on the Serenade of the Seas made that process much easier and more comfortable.

Time on the ship also provides the opportunity to provide booster shots to crew members for enhanced immunity. Royal Caribbean already requires staff to be fully vaccinated.

You can see all of Martina's videos and enjoy her behind-the-scenes videos on her YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe!

Original post:

'It was a pleasure being here for the quarantine': What it's like to be on a cruise ship quarantining crew members - Royal Caribbean Blog

Im onboard Harmony of the Seas this week for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise. As this is my first time on an Oasis-class ship, I wanted to try out all the free signature activities this ship has to offer.

From water slides to a zipline and rock climbing, there was no shortage of things to do during my time onboard and I found myself trying a new activity every day.

A unique activity only found on Oasis-class ships is the Ultimate Abyss. The Ultimate Abyss is a pair of two 70ft high slides (150 feet above sea level) located in the aft of Harmony of the Seas. The slide departs from the Sports Court on deck 15 and slides down to the Boardwalk neighborhood on deck 6.

The Ultimate Abyss is not a water slide, but is a dry slide in which you use a mat with a pocket for your feet and hold on to a handle. As there are two slides side by side, you can race to the bottom with a fellow passenger.

The slide starts by climbing through the mouth of an entrance designed like an anglerfish predator, with 35 teeth, two eyes, and a photophore (light source to attract prey). The entrance has a glass floor and views of the aft below, which gets your adrenaline pumping even before the slide starts.

This was probably my favorite new activity that I tried! The ride takes an average of 13 seconds from top to bottom as you twist and turn through a tunnel with sound effects, music, and lights. It was much more thrilling than I imagined it would be and I found myself wanting to do it again as soon as I reached the bottom!

I liked the fact that it wasnt a water slide, so I didnt have to wear a swimsuit in order to try it. Plus, the slide brings you to an entirely different neighborhood on the ship! Who needs elevators when you have the Ultimate Abyss?

The Ultimate Abyss has a minimum height of 44 inches and a maximum weight of 300 pounds.

Harmony of the Seas has three water slides which comprise what is called the Perfect Storm water slides. These are one of the most popular activities onboard Harmony of the Seas, and for good reason. They are thrilling, tall, and a fun activity for guests of all ages. I had actually never done the water slides on any Royal Caribbean ship, so I was excited to try them out.

The first slide I tried was the blue one on the Cyclone and Typhoon slides. These are the yellow and blue racing slides on Harmony of the Seas which twist and turn several times as you race to the bottom.

To be honest, this slide made me feel uneasy as it was mostly pitch black and I had no idea where I was going and for how long I would be sliding down. It made me pretty claustrophobic and panicky! Because of this, I decided to skip trying the yellow slide. Other guests and especially kids seemed to be enjoying the Cyclone and Typhoon slides, though!

Next up was the Supercell side, otherwise known as the toilet bowl. This yellow and green-colored slide takes you on a couple twists and turns before sliding you into a giant toilet bowl. Once in the bowl, you will slide around a few times before falling into the middle.

I much preferred the Supercell slide over the Cyclone and Typhoon slides. I liked how there were no pitch black sections of the slide, so it was not as disorienting. The slide has both clear and rainbow-colored sections before sliding you into the bowl, where you are in the open air again. It was actually a ton of fun so I did it three times in a row!

Who ever thought you would be able to zipline on a cruise ship? Oasis-class ships are the only Royal Caribbean ships to have a zipline. The zipline flies 9 decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood on Harmony of the Seas and spans 82 feet from start to end.

When you arrive at the zipline station, a staff member will put a harness on you and guide you to the launching area.

I felt confident in doing the zipline until it came to the point where the crew member clipped me in and told me to start. At this point, it really hit me that I was about to fly through the air! As you take your feet off the ground and start flying to the other side, though, you realize that its actually a lot more fun than it is scary.

I enjoyed the zipline overall, although it was a short experience so Im not sure I would wait in a huge line for it. The zipline itself only takes around 10 seconds, but I think it is still a fun activity to try at least once on your cruise. Be sure to wear laced shoes or bring socks to borrow shoes, as non-lace tennis shoes, such as sandals, are not allowed.

Passengers must be at least 52 tall to ride the zipline and weigh between 75-275 pounds.

The next activity I tried was rock climbing. I go to a rock climbing gym at home and climb a few times a week, so this is always my favorite sports activity to do onboard. Royal Caribbeans rock climbing walls have routes with varying levels of difficulty, making it a fun activity for any fitness level.

There are two rock walls on Harmony of the Seas which are located in the Boardwalk neighborhood, overlooking the Aquatheater and wonderful views of the aft.

Before you go to the rock climbing wall, make sure you have socks and are not wearing a bathing suit. My recommendation is to wear a t-shirt and shorts to ensure you have the proper attire on for climbing. The staff will give you rock climbing shoes and harness before clipping you into the wall!

I went up the wall twice in a row to get a quick workout in and was blown away by the 180 degree view of the ships wake from the top of the rock climbing wall.

My one complaint with the rock climbing wall is that the colorful holds on the wall are not properly tightened. When you grab many of the holds, they turn slightly. This is not ideal because you can unexpectedly fall when you grab something or when you put your foot on a hold.

The rock climbing wall is available for guests 6 and older and guests must be able to fit into the harness. Socks, dry clothes, shorts, or pants are required.

Located in the Boardwalk neighborhood on Harmony of the Seas is a colorful, intricately-designed carousel that seems to transport you back in time. Animals of all kinds line the carousel and it is an activity available during both the day and evening onboard.

I thought the carousel was fun, although it is geared toward small children so it wasnt the most thrilling activity I tried. For children, though, I think that the addition of a carousel on a cruise ship adds to the family-friendly environment created on Harmony of the Seas.

Guests must be at least 42 inches tall to ride the carousel without an adult. If under 42 inches, an adult must be standing next to the child and have their hands on the child at all times during the ride.

The Flowrider surf simulator is a common activity on Royal Caribbeans ships, but it is one that I had never tried before. Harmony of the Seas has two Flowriders in the aft of the ship.

I had never tried the Flowrider because I wasnt sure I would be very good at it. While I took surfing lessons several years ago, I was not exactly the most skilled surfer out there (and thats an understatement). However, I figured that after six Royal Caribbean cruises, it was finally time to give the Flowrider a chance.

As a beginner, I started off by boogie boarding. The staff give you a very brief introduction into how to hold the boogie board and how to launch into the water. As soon as I launched, I was nearly overtaken by the water rushing all around me and I kept getting sent all the way to the back of the Flowrider instead of boogie boarding around the middle.

To be honest, I was pretty bad at this and cannot imagine being able to surf standing up on the Flowrider! That being said, I did not wipe out and send the boogie board flying away, so I was pretty happy about that. It was fun, although it wasnt my favorite activity which was probably due to my lack of skill. I think I will have to try it again in the future, though!

Be sure to wear a swimsuit to the Flowrider and be aware that there is the slight possibility of a loose swimsuit falling off as the water rushes around you. I would recommend a one piece swimsuit to avoid any potential mishaps youve been warned!

Guests must be at least 52 inches tall to use the Flowrider.

Harmony of the Seas has an ice rink onboard in Studio B, where the ships figure skating cast perform impressive ice skating shows throughout the cruise. During the day, though, the ice rink is often open for free skate sessions where passengers can test out their skills on the ice.

Guests must sign up for an ice skating session by heading down to Studio B when sign ups are listed in the Cruise Compass. When you arrive at your scheduled time, the staff will give you skates and a helmet and you are free to skate in any way you like.

I really enjoyed my time ice skating onboard as it was something I definitely dont usually do at home. It is also a great indoor activity to do when the weather outside is not cooperating. There are rails on the side of the entire ice rink so if you are a beginner you can hold onto the side.

Parents must supervise minors at all times at the ice skating rink and must be on the ice with children under 6.

See more here:

Trying out the free activities on Harmony of the Seas - Royal Caribbean Blog