Captains and Officers at the Bridge

This is the Bridge where the Captain spends most of his time. The bridge serves as the navigational, command and control center of the ship.

Map used by Captain at the Bridge

View of the Bridge while arriving at port.

View of controls at the Bridge.

Here are some pictures of the engine control room. There are over 5000 alarms in the engine control room. The engine stretches the entire length of the ship filling up 10 compartments. The ship is equipped with backups for everything including backups for the bridge with phones, radios, backup generators etc.

Engine Control Room

Lots of alarms and garlic in the engine control room.

Did you know that cruise ships are superstitious? Apparantly having garlic in the engine control room is a good omen or something. I never could get a straight answer on that.

More engine control room

Laundy is something that is often overlooked when it comes to a cruise vacation. Mainly because you are on vacation and you don’t have to think about it! But you got to wonder… a cruise ship has got to produce a lot of dirty laundry what with all the sheets, table cloths, napkins, towels, etc. And how big does this laundry room have to be to take care of all this laundry? On average a cruise ship does about twenty loads of laundry a day. This doesn’t sound like a lot but when you factor in the the fact that one load of laundry can be up to 250 pounds- that’s an intense washing machine. That means about 5,000 pounds of laundry a day.

One intense washing machine.

Laundry press for sheets and table cloths.

Crew uniforms fresh from the dry cleaners.

Did you know that most cruises have a dry cleaning service available aboard? It’s fast, easy, pretty inexpensive and you don’t have to worry about losing your ticket because they will deliver it right to your cabin.

Chefs and cooks in the kitchen preparing food.

On average a person on a cruise ship will gain a pound per day. That means if you go on a seven day cruise you should expect to come home about seven pounds heavier. Now you know why I was trying so hard to lose five pounds before my vacation. And we can owe it all to these guys- the chefs and cooks for preparing all that delicious food. Oh and all the excessive trips to the buffets before and after dinner.

Lots of plates.

More food preperation.

You must be wondering… man when I go on a cruise I stuff my face silly! How much food does a cruise ship go through? Well on average a cruise ship will go through 400-800 eggs a day, 200 pounds of strawberries, 82 pounds of cookies, 1,000 pounds of potatos, 25 gallons of ice cream, and 6,895 liters of milk. Safe to say that’s a lot of food. The most popular ingredients used on the ship are flour, garlic, onion and salt. Most food is picked up at your original place of embarkation but they pick up fresh fish along the way.

I hope these pictures and information helped satisfy your craving for a look behind the scenes of a cruise ship. One last tidbit of information before we say adieu- You know one of the best parts of any cruise? The outstanding service you receive from the international (and national) crew. Aboard the Celebrity Mercury there were over 55 nationalities represented and over 800 crew members aboard. So remember to take a look at thier nametag and take a look at where they are from.

Do you misplace your cell phone constantly? How many times have you narrowly avoided dropping your mobile in a garbage disposal, toilet or off of a cliff? Do you find yourself wondering if there is a better alternative to putting your phone in your pocket or purse?

With the Wrist Cell Phone Carrier all of your problems are solved…except for your obvious lack of fashion sense. Just attach this bulky velcro laden bracelet to your wrist and you’re good to go. You’ll never have to look for your phone again, it’ll always be stuck to you.

For those of you that are interested, it’ll only cost $29.95 and any self dignity you may have left to get your own. Seriously I wish I had access to the numbers over at SkyMall. I’d really like to know how quickly these are flying off the shelf.

*Photo courtesy of SkyMall.com

As always the best part of any vacation is the food- and this vacation did not dissapoint. We ate some of our favorites and a few new ones along the way. That’s my best vacation food advice: Always be willing to try something new!

Pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries, Red Hot and Blue, Fairfax, Virginia

Fudge, Luray Caverns, Luray, Virginia

Turkey club, Old Town Grill and Cafe, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Grilled Shrimp Po Boy, Old Town Grill and Cafe, Fredericksburg, Virginia

BabyTravels lounging in cute highchair at the Old Town Grill and Cafe, Fredericksburg, Virginia

thebabytravels touching the cavern wall

If you find yourself in Virginia trying to decide on an activity to take your family to on a Saturday, especially one that is educational yet exciting enough that your kids won’t realize it, something that your oldest to your littlest and even in between will enjoy, then you really should look into a trip to the Luray Caverns. The caverns are just a few minutes off the scenic Skyline Drive- a breathtaking drive through Shenandoah National Park with amazing views.

I had never been to any other caverns prior so I really didn’t know what to expect. I figured there would be a plethora of stalactites and stalagmites to gaze about at and maybe a few surprises along the way. My expectations were definitely met and exceeded far beyond my imagination. The beauty was indescribable and the formations were unique and so visually appealing so much and every turn and corner offered up a new site and feature to admire.

My favorite part of the caverns was Dream Lake. While it was the largest body of water located in the caverns (even though it’s deepest point was only 18-20 inches), the part that made it so fantastic was that it created a mirror image of the stalactites that hung above it. It was so easy to be fooled by the illusion that you actually believed there were stalagmites and you had to look for the ripples in the water to assure yourself that it truly was a reflection. I think we spent about twenty minutes at Dream Lake and had to pull ourselves away from the magic and illusion it created.

Dream Lake, Luray Caverns

Another one of my favorite parts was the stalacpipe organ. Featured on Ripley’s Believe It Or Not , the organ works by tapping a rubber mallet on stalactites. Beautiful tones and music rang as the organ using stalactites as their pipes resounded through the air. The songs resonated with deep and rich tones with hauntingly beauty- the perfect background music as you take in the surroundings.

We had so much fun exploring the caverns, taking the well done and entertaining self guided audio tour, gazing at the ever-changing formations and breathing in the freshest and cleanest air.  It’s a place we look forward to visiting again someday and bringing all our children to see and experience.

Pluto's Ghost, Luray Caverns

Arches National Park

Did you know that this weekend kicks off National Park Week? What the heck is that you ask? It’s an awesome week where the National Park Service waives fees for entrance at all 392 of their National Parks! It runs April 17- April 25 and chances are you live near one- so get out and enjoy the outdoors and the beauty of this great country! Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon- yup all free! Save yourself $25 bucks! What better way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22)?

For more information on National Park Week visit the National Park Service’s website.

Reid counting sheep on an airplane

I am not the world’s best sleeper regardless of the circumstances. I have had trouble sleeping at night as far back as I can remember. I’m very sensitive to noise, light and other disturbances (mainly all of the thoughts racing through my mind). Because of that I often suffer from insomnia and tend to be grouchier then the average person in the morning. On the other side there is Reid, who falls asleep at the drop of a hat and can sleep through a space alien attack. Yup- suffice it to say it can be pretty frustrating to be married to such a good sleeper when you are a crummy one!

Because of my sensitive sleep habits, sleeping on planes does pose an issue. Granted, I was in the process of getting better and was starting to find it MUCH easier to some Z’s on planes and then BabyTravels came along, but that is a whole different story. Anyways, I wanted to share some of my sleeping on airplane tips for those who may still be struggling. Keep in mind theses tips are things that help me, so if you have your own suggestions please share!

Bring a U-Pillow. These bad boys have saved my life on many plane rides. It’s really the standard of my plane sleeping strategy. Can you imagine sitting in the middle seat on a red-eye and trying to sleep without one of these magnificent life-savers? Near impossible. You can wear them the traditional way, use it to lean against the window, or if the person in front of you is not reclining their seat (never happens) you can put it down on the tray table and sleep face down with your face in the hole.

Make a sleeping playlist. Before leaving home create a playlist on your preferred music device of songs that you know are soothing and can put you to sleep. One of my friends growing up told me that the best music to fall asleep to is music you don’t know- that way you won’t find yourself singing it in your head. Some great classical or instrumental music may do the trick as well.

Choosing the right seat. Well I rarely have any say about where my seat is when I board a plane but if I did- I would first decide what my priorities are. If it’s most important for it to be darker and quieter I would choose a seat as close to the bulkhead as possible (or even better first class). However, if it’s more important to me to be able to spread out I might choose a seat toward the back of the plane because less people are likely to choose those seats and you may just find yourself with an empty seat next to you or even more lucky to find two empty seats next to you. Use caution because it will be noisier toward the back because of lavatories or galleys (it really depends on the layout of the plane) and most flights these days are overbooked, which means less empty seats, even in the back.

Positive thoughts, relaxing your mind, loose clothing, bringing a blanket, and using sleeping pills are also tips and suggestions I have heard from others. But it really just depends on your personal sleeping style and taking the time to plan out what is going to help you relax and snooze on your flight.

Yes- you need to get your baby a passport if you plan to take them to Canada or Mexico. The exception to this may be if you are driving- they may take a birth certificate for little ones under two years old if both parents are present. If both parents are not present, you will need a notarized letter along with the birth certificate. A passport will still be easier and safer. Plus you don’t want to take any chances.

So how does one obtain a passport for the munchkin? It’s pretty similar procedure as if you were to obtain one for yourself.  Download the application form, fill it out, bring all the documents needed with you, and head to one of the 9,000 passport acceptance offices across the country. Many of these include local post offices.

Important things to know:

Both parents must be present at the passport office to sign the papers. If for some reason there is not another parent or the parent is deceased you must have documentation to prove this. If this isn’t possible you will have to explain why in the special circumstances box. If one of the parent’s can’t be there for other reasons you need a notarized letter explaining the statement of consent.

Passports tend to take 4-6 weeks to arrive (although BabyTravel’s only took a few weeks). If you need it sooner than the 4-6 weeks you can purchase a rush passport with expedited service. It costs more that way but it should come in two weeks. If you want to up your chances of getting it quicker- head to a regional passport center. There are only 14 regional passport centers and they operate by appointment only.

Make sure to bring your government issued birth certificate NOT a copy. It needs to have the red registrars seal and signature. You also need to bring two passport photos with you. A lot of passport centers will do this for you but it is an extra cost. If the center does not provide this service- a lot of drug stores or photo centers will.

It’s cheaper to get a baby passport than it is an adult passport (but not much). They also only last 5 years for children 16 and under- not like the 10 that it does for adults.

Lines may be long- so expect a wait. Make sure your baby is fed, napped and changed. Bring toys and books to entertain while you wait.

For instance, when I got back from my first cruise I wrote a blog post about cruising for the first time- packed with information I wish I had known before I left. To make it easier for those who are looking for information, I created this roundup of all my favorite travel tips and advice. Look through it- there may be something that interests you.

How to do Disneyland in a day

Three reasons you shouldn’t travel

Staying in a hostel 101

Tips for first time cruisers

When to use a travel agent

How to enjoy Las Vegas when you lose all your money gambling

Why buy a timeshare?

How to make tight airline connections

Avoiding road trip disasters

Rental car tips

How to get Broadway tickets for cheap

Who offers the best hotel rewards program?

How to visit Paris and keep money in your pocket

How to sleep on an airplane