This is the first time I come to Jungle Island at this location and it was okay. As soon as you go…read morein, you can still take pictures with parrot. This is a staple of theirs as I remember doing that as a child when it was called Parrot Jungle. However, the place seems to be falling apart and it was evident with red decorations falling off at the entrance. This is something that can easily be fixed. The children's play area is nice and pretty big. The treehouse, trampoline and the Beyhive were unique. The treehouse playground though needs a little bit more of an upkeep as part of the ground is lifting and things are falling apart. Seeing the animals was great. I fed a goat and enjoyed doing that but again some of those animals enclosures need more of an upkeep. The animal show at 11:30 AM is a little outdated. I would recommend changing it to make it more entertaining. Overall, if you come, don't have much expectations. It's a nice thing to do after you have done everything else in Miami.

What's firstly amazing about Jungle Island is how missable it is after driving by it on this island…read moreFOR YEARS. Just makes finally having visiting this venue so much more special with how incredible it is. Secondly, amazing is how big it feels despite its size and location (granted, I visited at night for a special event, so your mileage may vary) - though I admit, the exhibits seem too small for some of their fauna inhabitants. Third and finally, visiting it for said special event, Luminosa, was ABSOLUTELY wondrous. Made the visit absolutely worth it (even if my bus almost missed the stop). Plus, the staff is so kind and accommodating. We as a society need to invest and support spaces and places like this that not only offer incredible experiences, but also give back to all its visitors and urban spaces they inhabit - even if they're on a small, missable island (jajaja).

The Norwegian Escape truly lives up to its name--it's the perfect getaway packed with fun,…read morerelaxation, and nonstop entertainment for all ages. This ship is incredibly family-friendly, with tons of activities and programs for kids and adults alike, so there's never a dull moment. The entertainment was a total showstopper. Choir of Man was absolutely phenomenal and hands down one of the best shows we've ever seen at sea. Everywhere you turned, there was something happening--live music filling the atrium, lively game shows, and fun activities that kept the energy high day and night. The pool area was a blast, complete with waterslides and a super-cool grotto up at Spice H2O that felt like a hidden oasis. When it was time to slow things down, the spa was calm, peaceful, and incredibly relaxing. And let's talk about the Mojito Bar--hands down my favorite spot on the ship! It was the perfect place to sit back, sip a refreshing mojito, and soak in vacation vibes. Food lovers will be in heaven on the Norwegian Escape. There are so many dining options, but Cagney's Steakhouse is a must--the food is absolutely phenomenal. We loved having breakfast and lunch at Taste and Savor, where the menus always felt fresh and delicious. The Garden Café buffet offered an impressive variety, including lots of vegetarian options and even sugar-free desserts. My personal favorite? The spicy spaghetti--so good! Our stateroom was spacious and comfortable, and the balcony was the perfect spot to relax, enjoy the ocean breeze, and watch stunning sunsets glide by. From amazing food and top-notch entertainment to beautiful views and fun around every corner, the Norwegian Escape delivered an unforgettable cruise experience. We had an absolute blast and would sail on this ship again in a heartbeat!

This was the boat we took from Miami to Cozumel, Belize and Harvest Cay…read more The boat is a pretty good size with plenty to do and great food options! This is the boat that had the delicious Asian restaurant that had dishes inspired by a handful of cultures (Korean, Japanese and Thai). There was plenty to do on days at sea. Marc (With a C) was very entertaining and did a great job keeping everyone entertained!

We love adventurous and thrilling rides! This ride was an…read moreadrenaline pumping and screaming ride of a lifetime on a speed boat! Our boat was going about 40 mph and making wild turns on the water. A word to the wise, if you don't want to get wet, then sit in the middle area and not the back. You will see the Port of Miami, the Miami downtown skyline, Star Island and Millionaires Row, Palm Island, Fisher Island, South Beach and speed to the Atlantic Ocean. Time it right and you will see the sunset. The Captain and crew are awesome and will give you great info. This is definitely something you want to do in Miami! Adult tickets, age 12+ are $45 and kids 3-11 are $35. Parking can be found at Bayside Marketplace Garage. Check Groupon for specials. You can show up and board fairly quickly. There are plenty of restaurants at Bayside if you are hungry afterwards.

Had a great time. The speed and pivots were cool, not too harsh, and the ride wasn't bumpy. Someone…read moresuggested sitting front-right for taking pictures, which worked out well. We parked at a lot on 4th and Biscayne, then it was a short walk to the dock behind Bayside Marketplace. We arrived about 20 minutes before boarding, so we were within the first 10 people to board. Would definitely do it again.

I loved the tour I…read moream a Miami native and don't usually patronize tourist attractions. We were a group of 12 for my friends's daughters' birthday.. I cannot praise our tour MC enough. Nancy was so funny and entertaining, I would do the tour again. The rundown of the mansions owned by the rich and famous in Hibiscus, Palm, Star and Fisher Islands, with additional narrative was hilarious! I highly recommend this tour, whether visiting Miami or living here!

Found Bayride Tours on Groupon and decided to try the Mojito Sunset Cruise definitely a great…read morechoice! Our boat was delayed by about 30 minutes, but it honestly wasn't an issue. The location has a nice strip of outdoor restaurants and bars, so the wait was actually enjoyable. Once aboard, they take a photo of you before departure, which was a nice touch. The bar is located on the lower level and offers a variety of mojitos, daiquiris, margaritas, and small snacks. I ordered a Long Island, and it was nice and strong lasted me the entire cruise! During the ride, we toured past celebrity mansions and took in beautiful views while watching the sunset. It was such a peaceful and scenic experience. Overall, a relaxing and beautiful time. I would definitely recommend!

This was the second time I did one of River of Grass Adventure's boat tours. Both times, my guides…read more/ boat Captains were great. They are passionate about the Everglades, preserving it, and really love what they're doing. For about hour, we zipped and stopped around the park, through channels in between the high saw grass, over grassy flats, and within a few canals dredged many years ago. The fresh air felt great and I think maybe my blood pressure eased for a few moments. We saw wildlife, including a peregrine falcon, other birds and of course, many alligators, either resting on the grass or swimming off to do whatever it is they do. The guides I think know pretty much where to find the alligators, some of which have names. River of Grass is one of the first swamp tours west of Miami off of highway 41 past the casino. The boats take you pretty far into the Everglades where you don't see or hear any civilization, only the quiet rustle of the grass, i.e. when the engines are not powering the boat thru the glades (why can't they make a quieter engine?). The pictures I took really don't do it justice.

What an absolutely unforgettable experience! The airboat ride through the Everglades grass was…read morebeyond amazing--we saw alligators and crocodiles up close, which was thrilling and fascinating at the same time. Robert was our guide, and he was incredible: knowledgeable, engaging, and so great with the kids. He made the entire ride fun, safe, and educational. My kids had an amazing time, and honestly, I had the best time ever--it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would 100% recommend this airboat ride to everyone. If you're visiting, this is a must-do!

We spent over a week road tripping through Florida and on our way out of the state we drove past…read moreBuffalo Tigers Airboat Tours. It was late in the day and we had tried to do some Airboat Tours earlier in the week but we were traveling with our dog and they were not dog friendly. We decided to stop just to check and luckily for us, not only are they dog friendly but they were doing one last tour before the sunlight was gone. Our guide Fabian was awesome. He was super chill but informative and really did a great job. Especially considering that is was late in the day and he was only able to find one alligator. He definitely tried a lot of spots and it was clear that there would normally have been more wildlife to look as so even he seemed a bit disappointed but he definitely made the most of the birds and other wildlife that we did spot. There was a second alligator and even a baby gator when we arrived at the makeshift village stop that we watched swim in the water a bit. I really liked that Fabian was upfront about the fact that the "village" was just a replica for tourists and not really a relic. He also joked that he has a TV and it is nothing like how native people live today. We had a really nice time on the tour but it is incredibly loud and we spent some of the tour putting our headphones over our dogs ears to protect her from the sound. The office workers warned us about the noise though and they were so sweet they even offered to let her stay in the office with them while we took the tour. I definitely would not take her with us again if we did another tour, but only because I worried about her little ears. She did super well with everything else, including the gator being so close to us and getting on and off the boat. We spent well over $100 after tip on the tour for two people and a dog and it lasted about 45 minutes but I really feel like the experience was well worth the price and the employees here were just so friendly and kind. I highly recommend stopping here and taking a tour with this company.

This airboat tour was absolutely incredible. The respect and…read morereverence for the wildlife and land we were encountering was nothing short of beautiful. We had chilly, overcast weather, so it was unclear if we would see any wildlife activity. We saw multiple gators, birds, and even a turtle along the way. Seeing them, without feeling as though we are harming or disrupting their existence, made me feel very good about our presence there.

The Empress is the smallest in the RCCL fleet, and maybe the oldest, with a recent total remodel…read more But some ports just can't handle the massive ships. The Empress is one of the few that is sailing to Cuba right now. Which I highly recommend seeing, and by ship it was just perfect. The itinerary allowed for two full days and an over night in Havana and time in Trinidad and Cienfuegos and the opposite site of the island. By doing it by ship you don't have to try to figure out airline flights in and out and which hotel is the most modern. But you are able to step off the ship just like walking out a hotel and enjoy the cities. The ship docks in the heart of the towns or you are tendered in. The rooms are a bit smaller, my was 20 square feet smaller. But didn't really care. It was always clean and freshened up twice a day with ice, water and clean towels. Sleep and shower is all you need a room for- get out and discover the WORLD !!! There is always plenty of choices on the 10th floor buffet or finer dining in the main dining room on the 5/6th floors- I recommend any time dining, you can eat when you are hungry. Several bars, a couple of small swimming pools, and a Megatron screen on deck to entertain you while on board. As well a a different show every night in the showroom. Cruising is a great way to discover and sample the world. Unpack once, wake up in a new city each day, and travel at night while you sleep. And I would easily sail this ship and itinerary again. PS- accepting new travel companions all the time, only requirement- a sense of adventure.

The idea of the cruises that you go to relax well for sure after 860 cruise from Miami to Cozumel…read morethe cost of the Ma The idea of the cruise is that you go to relax well for sure after a 60 cruise from Miami to Cozumel, Costa de Maya. There was certainly adequate time to lay around under the sun under the first deck with the only pool on the ship, seeing as this was the smallest ship available for this line I took it with a grain of salt what I didn't expect was how awful the food actually was, despise it being plated beautifully and served with grace and timing the flavor profile was watered down substantially so much that I typically enjoyed the buffet more than the places that made you pay. We did not opt for the alcohol package which I thought was a smart move on our part: (A) the ships alcohol by the bottle were so cheap! I'm talking 1L bottles of grade stuff! (B) the ice you got straight from the bar in drinks dissolved almost instantaneously anyways. Now if you tried to order a drink anytime on the cruise without getting the beverage package or alcohol package they would automatically charge an 18% gratuity keep in mind that the price is already jacked up to double what you would pay on your homeland. I'm talking nearly $28 for the total of two margaritas with the %. Some servers walked around the pool to give you extended bar service but if you requested a water with ice you would wait either half an hour or never get it at all. Rohit was kind enough to show me on two separate days. 750 people onboard with a 24 maximum room pool and 100 maximum people on deck chairs with only 10-20% of space taken up to be only forgotten after being approached for money. Rohit approached ME. then promptly forgot. If I had went out of my way to find him that's a different situation to me. But professionally if you go out to someone you should fulfill that request. I was taught to treat the CEO and the janitor the same.. but clearly they did not have that same training towards guests. Everyone on the ship and off the ship try to squeeze you for money and I always gave you a very expected but they don't care if you already paid for gratuity before you book the cruise. Also, when you first book the cruise online even though the ad says $500 there is going to be about a $200 tax involved The Wi-Fi package was an extra $122 per person and the Wi-Fi was better towards the top of the ship versus on the bottom. Luckily, this was a learning cruise for me. Also, you would think you could dig your toes in the sand, we didn't land anywhere near the beach. Not unless you paid north of $60 for the ride there and back, if you didn't book an excursion they would corral you into a spot with more of the same cheaply made souvenirs you can find in your local store or eBay. There are no street food vendors or locals near you. Also, they are so inauthentic in costa mayo and Cozumel that they will not accept peso over there US dollar. Very disappointing. Back to food, the last day the servers requested our feedback and I obliged. I waited for the manager to give me scripted responses with no real help. Waste of time.

Just got back from a short 3 night Bahamas cruise to Great Stirrup Cay on the Norwegian Getaway and…read moreoverall I had a really good time. The ship itself is great. The layout is easy to navigate and it never felt overwhelming. The staff were friendly and attentive throughout the cruise. Embarkation was quick, easy, and efficient which immediately put things on a good note. A huge plus was that we were the first ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay. Not having to tender anymore made a big difference. Being able to walk straight off the ship instead of waiting around for boats made the island experience much smoother and more enjoyable. The Vibe Beach Club was absolutely worth it. Great drinks, amazing staff, and true VIP service. It was relaxing, not crowded, and easily one of the highlights of the trip. I also really appreciated how many quiet areas the ship has. There were plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces to sit and relax without feeling packed in, which is something I really value on a cruise. Food was a bit mixed. Cagneys and the main dining room were both good and consistent. The buffet was just ok with limited selection compared to other NCL ships. Sugarcane had good drinks but the menu was pretty limited as well. My main complaints were the pools not being heated since the water was very cold and the dueling pianos show only being offered once with not nearly enough seating. I love that show and it really should have had multiple performances. The performers themselves were excellent though. Overall I had a great time on the Norwegian Getaway especially after my last nightmare cruise on the Norwegian Epic. This cruise felt relaxed, well run, and exactly what I wanted from a short Bahamas getaway and I would definitely sail the Getaway again.

Wasn't terribly impressed…read more Embarkation was fairly easy, even though your computer system went down for 20 minutes while the big crowd tried to check in. You staff in the terminal was nice and helpful The stateroom was adequate. We like inside staterooms due to the darkness of the room during the day and loving a good nap on vacation. Unfortunately, we were in room 8104 and it was the loudest room I have ever been in on a ship. It was crazy loud, including what sounded like some kind of ship repair going on with banging for hours and a loud saw cutting something (maybe a grinder?). Ridiculous amount of noise, day and night. I won't blame the ship for the drunk girls at 3:00am shouting in the hallway and banging on a door. Our room was serviced once, in three days (Fri-Mon). The food was disappointing to say the least. I have Celiacs disease and your food safety is awful. The only place I saw in the buffet that even mention gluten was in the Gluten Free Bakery section. Not a single other thing mentioned any allergy warning to gluten. I saw sporadic mentions/listings of nut and milk allergies throughout the buffet, but that was not consistent at all. I spoke with no less than 10 staff members about gluten in certain dishes, and not a single one even knew what I was talking about. Your food safety and allergen training is either awful or non-existent. I somehow ate some gluten and spent all day Sunday in horrible pain after beginning the horrible process on Grand Stirrup Cay, vomiting and other "fun" activities, leaving the island to come back and be in pain all day in my stateroom. Even if all that wasn't the best, the food was mediocre. I ended up eating eggs and bacon for breakfast and whatever chicken I could find to eat. The steak at the main dining room was passable at best. Another less than favorable review is the fact that you don't offer free drinks in the casino. I am sitting there betting a $60-$100 a hand at a table and being asked to pay $25 dollars for a bourbon and a Diet Coke. That is ridiculous and I would never have booked the cruise had I realized that in advance. What a terrible policy. Disembarkation was fine. We waited around for an hour or so before getting off the ship. I would like to give a shoutout to Anita, the bartender at the Mojito Bar. She is funny, engaging, delightful, and a great bartender. She was the highlight of an otherwise not-so-great cruise. The Ice Bar is a very "cool" experience, but the check-in was very hectic and took too long. The advertised $15 cover charge was actually $20, not sure how that happened. But I would recommend it and the bartender was very nice. The inside is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this ship or NCL. This was my first and probably my last cruise on NCL.