Donovan Travel - November Travel Column

Taking in the Big Apple for Thanksgiving

Who doesn’t love a parade? And in November that means the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as much a holiday tradition as turkey with all the trimmings.

Started in 1924 by department store employees, using animals from the Central Park Zoo, the parade has grown into a 2½-mile procession of giant balloons, colorful floats and marching bands from around the country. Except for a brief hiatus during World War II, it’s become an annual event.

The 88th parade steps off at 9 a.m. Nov. 27 at 77th Street and Central Park West, ending at noon in front of Macy’s in Herald Square, at 34th Street. Approximately 3.5 million spectators will line the route. For the best viewing, head to the beginning.

To get a behind-the-scenes look, watch the helium-filled balloons being inflated from 3 to 10 p.m. the day before near the Museum of Natural History. This year’s balloons include Snoopy, who’s appeared in 33 parades, more than any other character.

But that’s just the start of festivities in New York over Thanksgiving weekend and beyond. It’s a magical time, a chance to see the city all decked out in its finery.

Since 1931, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been part of New York’s holiday celebration.

In early November, the tree arrives on an oversized flatbed truck, with a New York Police Department escort, and is lifted into place by a giant crane. (Last year’s tree was a 76-foot Norway spruce donated by a Connecticut family.)

The lighting ceremony takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3. While you can see the tree day or night, it’s best viewed in the evening, when the 45,000 lights and Swarovski crystal star on top truly shine. The Christmas tree remains up through the first week in January.

Rockefeller Center isn’t the only place to see New York City sparkle.

Department stores, including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, unveil their window displays in November, and they often have playful, seasonal themes, such as letters to Santa.

Also by November, Manhattan’s holiday markets will be open. At Bryant Park, on 42nd Street, you can watch ice skaters and sip hot chocolate while browsing through more than 125 shops selling unique gifts, including clothing, jewelry, decorative items and more.

No visit to New York is complete without a taste of the city’s cultural offerings.

Late November is a perfect time to take in two holiday attractions: the high-kicking Rockettes in the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” and the graceful dancers of the New York City Ballet in “The Nutcracker.” In addition, many Broadway shows have special Friday matinees the day after Thanksgiving.

For a different track, try the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, a 20-minute ride from Grand Central Station. Running from Nov. 15 to Jan. 19, it features model trains winding their way past more than 150 miniature New York City landmarks.

To learn more about what New York City has to offer at Thanksgiving, contact your Donovan Travel consultant at 401-942-7700 or visit us online at www.donovantravel.com.

Three New Cruise Ships Set to Excite Travelers

Taking a cruise remains a popular choice for fall travel and with more than a dozen ships launching over the next two years, consumers will have even more options.

In a nationwide survey, 1,054 Travel Leaders Group agents picked the new ships that have them most excited. Their top three: Quantum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean); Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises); and Norwegian Escape (Norwegian Cruise Line).

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, with a capacity of 4,180 passengers, will set sail in November out of Cape Liberty, N.J., for her inaugural season. She’ll travel throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas before departing in May for a new homeport of Shanghai, China.

Designed as the world’s most high-tech cruise ship, Quantum passengers will track their luggage via smartphone, make purchases with the tap of a wristband and enjoy Internet access matching the fastest broadband connections onshore.

New attractions include North Star, a jewel-shaped glass capsule attached to a mechanical arm that rises more than 300 feet above the sea; RipCord by iFly, a skydiving simulator; and SeaPlex, an entertainment complex with bumper cars, roller skating and a circus school. Continuing its tradition of presenting Broadway musicals, Royal Caribbean will welcome “Mamma Mia!” onboard.

In place of set mealtimes, Quantum of the Seas will offer Dynamic Dining. Passengers can make reservations online, choosing from 18 restaurant concepts including collaborations with celebrity chefs such as Britain’s Jamie Oliver.

In April, Viking Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, will debut the 930-passenger Viking Star, its first oceangoing vessel.

During her maiden season the Viking Star will travel to Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as the western and eastern Mediterranean. Ports of call will include cosmopolitan cities and destinations that appeal to vacationers interested in history, art and culture.

Passengers on the intimate, light-filled ship can choose from five categories of all-veranda staterooms and restaurants offering global cuisine as well as local specialties, with plenty of opportunity for al fresco dining.

Among the ship’s highlights are a Scandinavian-style spa; two pools including a glass-backed infinity pool cantilevered off the stern; venues for musical performances, lectures and a cooking school; and a two-deck Explorers’ Lounge offering dramatic views.

Norwegian Escape, with a capacity of 4,200 passengers, is the largest ship to date from Norwegian Cruise Line. Beginning in November 2015, she will sail to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and to the Bahamas from her homeport of Miami.

The Escape offers a range of staterooms including Studios, cozy spaces for solo travelers; and Norwegian’s signature “ship-within-a-ship” complex, The Haven, ultra-luxurious accommodations that come with a personal concierge and include a private restaurant, pool and spa.

Two innovations popular on its sister ships will be incorporated in the Escape: The Waterfront, a quarter-mile promenade of shops, bars and restaurants; and 678 Ocean Place, three decks of dining and entertainment, including Norwegian’s largest-ever casino, with 357 slot machines and 28 gaming tables.

For information on these and other cruise options, contact your Donovan Travel consultant at 401-942-7700 or visit us online at www.donovantravel.com.

Caribbean Destinations Among Fall’s Most Popular Destinations

With the arrival of cooler weather, it’s no wonder that four specific spots in the sunny Caribbean are among this fall’s most popular international vacation destinations, according to a survey of 1,054 travel agents associated with Travel Leaders Group – that’s in addition to Caribbean cruises ranking first among fall’s top international “destinations.”

Among land-based destinations, Cancun, Mexico, is number 2, followed by Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (8); Montego Bay, Jamaica, (9); and Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya in Mexico, (10).

All offer a variety of hotels and resorts along white sand beaches, beautiful turquoise water and activities for all ages ­– whether their interests run to recreation, shopping, sightseeing, nightlife or just sitting back and relaxing.

Cancun, on the Yucatan Peninsula, is Mexico’s largest tourism resort area, with a 17-mile beachfront Hotel Zone. New attractions include Xoximilco Cancun, where visitors enjoy traditional music and a Mexican feast while traveling along canals on gondola-like boats; and Xenotes Oasis Maya, which offers tours of limestone pools fed by subterranean springs. Cancun is an area rich in marine life and ancient history. Go snorkeling or take a glass bottom boat tour for a close-up look at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, teeming with exotic fish. About two hours west are the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Punta Cana, located in the eastern Dominican Republic, faces the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for more than 40 miles of stunning beaches, luxurious resorts and golf courses designed by some of the game’s greatest names. To experience the area’s natural beauty, visit the Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park, with more than 500 species of plants and 11 lagoons. And the waters off Punta Cana provide some of the world’s best deep-sea fishing. Events this fall include the Punta Cana Poker Classic, Nov. 4-9; and the Merengue & Caribbean Beats Festival, Nov. 22.

Christopher Columbus sailed into Montego Bay in 1494 and since then “Mo Bay” has grown into a bustling city, welcoming visitors with an easygoing vibe. Explore Jamaica’s history at a sugar cane plantation, or take a downtown walking tour with a stop at the new Montego Bay Cultural Center. Spend time browsing the “Hip Strip” of shops and clubs on Gloucester Avenue; go swimming at Doctor’s Cave, founded in 1880 as a sanatorium and now one of the island’s most famous beaches. Get a taste of some of Jamaica’s finest cuisine during Restaurant Week, Nov. 14-22.

Playa del Carmen, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya and just south of Cancun, is an old fishing village that has become one of the country’s newest resort destinations while preserving its small-town charm. It’s also the location of Mexico’s only PGA Tour event, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Nov. 10-16. Tourism in Playa is centered on the “Quinta Avenida,” or Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian walkway lined with shops, bars and restaurants. For music-lovers, Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny headlines the free Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Nov. 27-29. Riviera Maya hosts the Cancun Challenge Men’s and Women’s NCAA basketball tournament Nov. 25-29.

For help planning a Caribbean vacation, contact your Donovan Travel consultant at 401-942-7700 or visit us online at www.donovantravel.com.