Tag Archives: Dubai

Where to Travel?

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With the Sip Family limiting our travel to the United States – at least for the next few years – that begs the question: where should we visit? Here are some places the Sip Advisor would like to see:

Mexico

While that brief cartel issue blip caused me a little concern with travelling ‘down Mexico way’, that has all seemed to pass and we can consider some fun (and drinks) in the sun of our North American brother once again. An all-inclusive in a place such as Puerto Vallarta (a preferred destination for the Sip Family) is always a possibility, while we’ve heard good things about Mexico City and would also like to explore Tijuana more, many years removed from a craft beer and tacos tour we did of the city in 2018.

Scotland

While I’ve claimed to be retired from European travel, I’m willing to suspend that attitude for a sojourn to Scotland. It is where a good deal of my heritage/ancestry comes from, not to mention I’d love to follow one of the Scotch trails. It would also be great to see some of the major cities that make up the country, including Edinburgh and Glasgow. Hell, even (badly) playing a round of golf would be… well, frustratingly fun.

Ireland

I absolutely adore Ireland and it’s a place I’d like to share with the Siplings, as we have some ancestry from the country. This is another locale that I will waive my anti-European travel edict for. Sure, the trip would be very different to when our crew visited in 2016, prior to any kids coming onto the horizon, but I’m sure we could find a good blend of activities to satisfy adults and children alike.

Cuba

Mrs. Sip has been to Cuba before, enjoying the country on a 2009 girl’s trip, but I have never experienced the destination for myself. I think it would be a neat getaway, even if the all-inclusive resorts there aren’t up to the same level as other parts of the world. Seeing things from a different perspective and ideology would certainly be memorable.

Caribbean Cruise

You don’t have to do much to convince me to board a cruise. I love being able to see a few locations, while sailing the days away. The Siplings also enjoy cruises, particularly the kid’s clubs they have access to – and where we can leave them to revel in some rare adult only time. Everyone wins! There are many Caribbean island ports that I’d like to visit, in particular Jamaica, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands.

Japan

Mrs. Sip and I believe the Siplings would absolutely love Japan, thanks to their enjoyment of Pokémon, Nintendo and other media that comes from the country. Having spent two weeks there a decade ago, we would love to return and explore more, which is made much easier through the bullet train system. During that 2016 stay in Japan, we only saw Mt. Fuji from a distance on one of our rail journeys, so that’s something we’d have to cross off the destination list.

South Korea

Mrs. Sip and I had fun during our Busan cruise port stop in 2016 and would like to see more of the country. We found the people to be incredibly kind and helpful to us tourists and those are the type of places you feel better exploring, especially with young kids. Seoul would be a must-stop if we returned and I’ve become a big fan of many Korean culinary items, from soju to bulgogi and others delicacies in between.

Across Canada

For whatever reason, my own country kind of bores me. That said, maybe this is the time to explore parts of Canada and find some of its hidden gems. Mrs. Sip has broached the subject of travelling north, moving through our own province, before arriving at seldomly-visited capitals like Whitehorse and Yellowknife, perhaps getting to immerse ourselves in the Northern Lights. Also, as much as I hate Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a top tourist destination, while cities such as Montreal and Ottawa have much to offer. And let’s not forget about the Maritimes provinces and how much fun can be found amongst great people.

Australia/New Zealand

Mrs. Sip and I enjoyed our time in Australia and New Zealand in 2008 so much that we’ve always wanted to return. Showing the kids these countries is high on our list, but it takes quite the commitment – both financially and in time – to get there. Once you’re there, you want to stay a while and get to as much of the continent as possible, as you never know when you’ll get the chance to return. Mrs. Sip, who lived there for a few months, was sure she’d be back by now, but it just hasn’t happened yet.

Dubai

This playground for the young and old alike would be a lot of fun to experience as a family. Girl Sip was technically there – in Mrs. Sip’s tummy – when we did our babymoon cruise through the Suez Canal in 2017. I can see us having a ton of fun checking out theme and water parks, with the only downsides being how expensive these would be and the fact the United Arab Emirates is technically a dry country and finding a place for a drink is not as easy as the Sip Advisor would prefer.

Hastily Made Suitcase

  • Muddle Kiwi
  • 2 oz Gin
  • 0.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • Top with Mango Juice
  • Dash of Agave Syrup
  • Garnish with a Kiwi Slice

That wraps the list of places we could potentially travel to. In the end, we might not be able to do much at all for the next couple years, as a major construction project going on around our townhouse complex will cause a fair bit of financial strain and stress, limiting the Sip Family during some prime years for the Siplings. It is what it is!

Sip Trips #104: Babymooning (Part 2)

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Yesterday, we took a look at the first portion of our Rome to Dubai babymoon cruise, with stops in Rome, Naples, Athens, and Santorini. Today, we make our way through the Suez Canal to Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, with many ships hijinks in between:

While our ship was brand-spanking new with some great updates to behold, I missed some of the charms of the older vessels in the Princess Cruises line. For example, the Explorer’s Lounge has been replaced by the Princess Live Studio. This is where many trivia events take place, respectively, but the studio is lacking tables, so there’s no surface to write on. Even worse, there’s nowhere to rest a drink… heck, the place doesn’t even have a bar, which is practically criminal.

Also, the Skywalker’s Lounge – home to the Elite/Platinum Lounge – is gone from the newer ship design and so the lounge time for loyal guests now takes place in a windowless room of the ship, with servers having to travel some distance to hook passengers up with the daily drink special. As a result, one of my favourite parts of the day on most cruises, was only attended twice by me and Mrs. Sip. The experience just didn’t feel special at all.

Fix Your Own Drinks

Another missing piece from other ships we’ve sailed on was the line’s Crooner’s Martini Bar. Apparently, we weren’t the only guests to notice, as a few days into the cruise, the Juice Bar was turned into a pop-up Martini Bar each evening. On its opening night, we dropped by for their Tropitini (Bacardi Oakheart, Malibu, Creme de Banana), which was very tasty and far better than a health smoothie.

As we docked in Aqaba, Jordan, I tallied my 50th country visited. With a Rob Roy ordered in the Elite/Platinum Lounge, I was also able to cross off country number 50 that I’ve drank in. This is a feat I’m very proud of and just may make the cut to be immortalized on my headstone: Here lies the Sip Advisor… he drank EVERYWHERE!

That evening, as Mrs. Sip and I were checking out what the buffet had to offer, we were stopped by the team selling shots of Limoncello and souvenir shot glasses. Eventually, they coerced me into buying a glass and shot for $3. Then, the lead of the group offered to give me a second pour on the house, if I downed the concoction right there. That was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Before I knew it, I was four shots deep – one for me, one for Mrs. Sip, one for Baby Sip, and one just for the hell of it – and I had still only shelled out $3.

Shots You Take

The next day brought the British pub lunch that seems to occur at least once per cruise voyage. I paired my delicious fish and chips with a Blue Moon, which got the ball rolling on it being a beer day. Afterwards, while laying in the sun and watching Queensland vs. New South Wales (National Rugby League) on the pool deck with a horde of Aussie passengers, I delved into a bucket of Heineken beers, which all made for an entertaining and relaxing afternoon.

With my stock of mixers depleted at this point, I purchased cans of Tonic Water and Barq’s Root Beer. For whatever reason, I was really craving a Gin & Tonic (perhaps I needed to stave off scurvy) and after getting a couple lime wedges from the pool bar, I had all the ingredients needed to make some really good beverages for myself.

Nearing the end of our cruise, we attended the Captain’s Circle Party, which is hosted for Elite/Platinum passengers and provides free drinks. I had a few beverages here, but they weren’t of the best quality, as usual for this event. We did however win a bottle of champagne, amongst hundreds of entries. As soon as they said Mr. and Mrs. I knew they were going to announce our names, since Mrs. Sip isn’t drinking much at this point.

Champ in Champagne

We were also invited to a Farewell Cocktail Party, as the ship’s captain was also taking leave in Dubai. Hosted in the Hollywood Pool (an indoor, adult’s only area they unsuccessfully tried to turn into a night club setting in the evenings) this was an absolute drinkfest for the Sip Advisor. With Mrs. Sip’s help, I grabbed a few really good Cosmos and Gimlets, as well as some other treats.

Upon arriving in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it was time for Mrs. Sip and I to sadly disembark the cruise. While Dubai was an absolutely fascinating place to visit, drinks are pretty difficult to find. I did manage to have one cocktail at our hotel’s bar, the Double Decker Pub. I ordered the Eldery Flower (Elderflower-infused Gin, topped with Lime, Apple and Cranberry Juices), which was very refreshing, but expensive (45 Dirham = approx. $16 CDN) . It was worth it, though, as consuming drinks in “dry” countries is a guilty pleasure of mine.

That wraps up our babymoon, our last big trip before we move from a family of two to three. I can promise all you little sippers, though, that the fun is far from over!