Olivia Cruise: Caribbean Equality and Leadership Cruise

Port Call: Feb 7 – 8 2014 – Half Moon Cay

Our last and final port call was at Half Moon Cay.  Where is Half Moon Cay?  You ask … well, it is in the middle of beautiful no where!  I have never heard of Half Moon Cay before the cruise, and now I can’t wait to go back.  The island was so remote that all Olivia Traveling Ladies had to be boated to and from the ship.  Talk about paradise.  Half Moon Cay was saved for last for a reason.  The water was crystal clear, the sand was as smooth as silk and the air smelled of peaches and mangos on a hot summer day.  It was and absolute little slice of heaven with a helping of “I wish I could stay here forever!”  In fact, that is what the sign said as we walked up to the board walk.  Even though I am sure every Olivia Lady took a picture under that sign, we just had to get a photo as well.

As we walked up to the beach, I recall throwing my stuff down and making a b-line for the water, head first.  It was a bit chilly, but once I got use to it the water felt like “Life” all around me.  At one point a school of tropical fish swam right through my legs.  At first I figured it was seaweed, then when I looked to brush what I thought was seaweed off of my leg, I saw several eyes looking up at me.  It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen before.  The coral reef was vibrant and the ocean floor was smooth.  Olivia Travel provided a BBQ lunch for all of us to enjoy together on the boardwalk.  There, I saw several huge roosters with their babies.  I tried to get a picture, but they were too fast for me to keep up with. The next day, was the trip back home.  This cruise with all of the memories, photos and new friends made Olivia Travel delivered all that was promised our Honeymoon Cruise would be, and so much more.  Thank you Olivia Travel, we look forward to our next travels together.

For more information go to Olivia Travel

 

 

Half Moon CayHalf Moon Cay

Olivia Cruise: Caribbean Equality and Leadership Cruise

Port Call: Feb 6 2014 – at Sea

The on ship activities were just as much fun as the port calls. Olivia Travel makes sure that all of your needs are met. On our way to the next port call, the Equality Cruise ensured to stimulate our minds with enthusiastic discussion forums, educational documentaries and cultural events. While at sea, there was a screening of “Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement” which brought everyone to tears. It is a true story of love, laughter and inspiration. After the showing there was a question and answer forum from Edie Windsor herself. Talk about an inspirational person, Edie Windsor is a social justice pioneer and it was an honor to hear her story.

Later on that night, there was a comedy show with Gina Yashere. She was hilarious. Gina Yashere is from London via Nigeria, and funny as all get out. We had a chance to meet and chat with her for a few minutes. Her accent was beautiful, as she is inside and out. At sea promised to be a good time, and a good time it was. Even at sea, Olivia Travel makes sure that all of your needs are met.

For more information go to Olivia Travel

Gina Yashere, Comic (Middle)

Gina Yashere, Comic (Middle)

Jenice & DJ Rockaway

Jenice & DJ Rockaway

Ship Writings on the Wall

Ship Writings on the Wall

Ship Violinist

Ship Violinist

MS. Westerdam Cake

MS. Westerdam Cake

Olivia Travel Staff

Olivia Travel Staff

Olivia Travel Sign

Olivia Travel Sign

Olivia Cruise: At Sea: Feb 2 2014 – Feedback and Review

Olivia Cruise:  Caribbean Equality and Leadership Cruise

The excitement and fun continued through the night and on until day 2 of our equality and leadership cruise.  The theme for day 2 was: Show Your Roots.  We all wore shirts or outfits that displayed where we were from.  I wore a “California” shirt and my wife wore a “Louisville University” shirt.  The theme was an “opportunity to represent your hometown, to get to know other Olivia ladies in your community.”  This themed day allowed for many interesting conversations to be had.  The highlights of the day included:

Activism in Action:  The Importance of Creating Your own Future Through Political Participation.  This was an extraordinary summit that allowed for an open dialogue with a panel of “heavy hitters” such as Representative Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, the Democratic National Committee Chair; Aditi Hardikar, Director of the LGBT Leadership Council at the Democratic National Committee; and Claire Lucas, Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnerships, USAID.  The discussion was enlightening and invigorating.

The entertainment of the evening was the hilarious Vicki Shaw.  Vicki Shaw is not only super funny, but also super down to earth.  I had the opportunity to meet her while in the elevator going to dinner that night.  Then while at dinner, we sat right next to Meredith Baxter, the mom from Family Ties and her wife.  Both of these beautiful women of the LGBT community graced me with a photo, can you say amazing!.  The music group, Antigone Rising preformed in the on ship’s night club, Crow’s Nest.  Antigone Rising was outstanding and amazing to listen to.  There were events for “solos” and a “Sisters at Sea” mixer.  Not to mention, all of the other hour-by-hour events.  There was always something to do, people to meet and excellent food to eat.

Feedback:

Olivia Travel is all about exclusivity, which being said you are paying for customized entertainment, a charted ship or entire resort full of women and the ability to “Feel Free.”  But, there are some items that you may want to bring with you.  During our travels with Olivia, we knew that we would want to bring many items that we normally used on a daily basis.  Olivia Travel provides a list of other items you may want to bring with you and I highly recommend you bring the following items with you:  Air Born (Supplement Drink) packages, anti-bacterial gel, cold medicine, headache Meds, a case of water or water filter bottles, Lysol wipes/spray and/or allergy medication.

The Olivia Staff Feedback: The staff was great and informative.  Many times if I “Looked” lost they would help or assist my wife and I with finding and figuring out where things were or where we were going.  We met many of the staff members and ALL of the staff were beautiful and sweeties to my wife and I.  Love the “Artist” staff and had a blast when staff members invited me to “dance” in the front of the stage before many shows.  One staff member, a beautiful black woman with short hair put my wife and I in FRONT row seats for one of the shows.

For more information go to Olivia Travel

 Jenice

Jenice Armstead with Vicki Shaw, Comic

Jenice Armstead with Vicki Shaw, Comic

Meredith Baxter

Jenice Armstead with Meredith Baxter, Actress