OOh Thanks for the tip :(  Our trip will be in May, so hopefully it won't be bug season.   We will definetly bring bug spray just in case.

Hi There,

My partner and I went to Columbus Isle in December 2006.  Just a warning, make sure you take lots of bug spray, the strongest you can buy.

It was beautiful, however our time there was pretty much ruined by the bugs.

We came home covered in bug bites that lasted for 2 to 3 weeks and that was with the bug spray we used bought from Club med.

The Diving is awsome though.  We saw hammerhead and reef sharks, turtles and lots of other fish including some of the largest barracuda I have ever seen.

enjoy your 50th !

Hi Everyone !!

You can count us in.  We have two awesome cruises under our belts and have decided to try a resort at the recommendation of our friends. 

See ya around........

 Colette and Peg

Hi there,

I am thinking about this resort trip as a birthday present to myself. This will be my first olivia trip but I love the idea of the all inclusive resort package. Any words of wisdom for me before I decide to book a room?

Angela and I booked the Oceanfront room. This is our 2nd Olivia trip. We did the a cruise last Oct. We stopped in Cabo, Matzalan, and Puerta Vallarta. It was incredible. This time we wanted to do a "resort". We are from So. IN. We are already counting down the months and days. Can't hardly wait, I just realized it was the month of my 40th birthday!!!!! Looking forward to talking to everyone.

Ang/ Michelle

My wife and I are definitely going on this trip.  We booked a Deluxe Garden View room on Monday.   We both like the idea of having a balcony. 

 This trip looked like the ideal way for me to celebrate my 50th birthday! 

Only 14 months away.

The cruises are great!  The first one we went on was in 2005 on the same ship that is going on the Birthday bash.  We went to many of the places you will be going.  We both loved Half Moon Cay and Turks & Cacaos was beautiful.

Holland America has great ships.  It totally feels like traveling first class!   The food in the Restaurant is excellent.  The buffet food is OK for buffet food.  Each cruise we had a veranda w/ a balcony because my wife felt she would get claustrophobic w/ out being able to open a window.   It was really nice to be able to go out on the balcony.

One of the things I like best about the cruises is that you unpack once and then you are taken to all these cool places.   There is entertainment and plenty to do on the ship as well, you do not have to worry about getting back home at the end of the night.

I enjoyed my second cruise a little more than the first only because  I knew what to expect and did not get so overwhelmed w/ all the choices.   Even though we were on a different Holland America ship it felt very familiar.

We had been talking about going to a resort for our next trip w/ Olivia.  In August 2007, We got a 2 for 1 for Alaska, that was one place I always wanted to go.  The Alaska cruise was totally awesome!  That vacation was a very active one.  The weather was in the 60's-70's We went biking, hiking, sea kayaking and zip lining. 

I am ready for a relaxing vacation.  It looks like we will be booking this trip to Columbus Isle.  We are just trying to decide which room to book.

I am really looking forward to seeing your pictures.

Jeanne O 

Hello Jeanne O,

It would be a GREAT 50th birthday vacation...  Michelle & I went to Columbus Isles in May of 2006 with Olivia - what a blast!  We are thinking about booking this vacation again..  When I get a chance I will post our pictures from Columbus Isles here...  Our first vacation with Olivia was Ixtapa, I hear they have renovated the resort....  We also live on the East Coast (about 60 miles south of Boston), and flew from Logan - the flight was not that bad... 

Seeing that you have been on so many cruises - please give me the 411...  We have only done resorts but we are going to do the Birthday Bash in November...  Are the cruises really as nice as they say they are??? 

 Will post the pictures as soon as possible...

M. Jean and Michelle

I have been looking for someplace special to go for my 50th Birthday in May of 2009.  This trip looks like just what I was hoping for. 

I have already been on 3 cruises; Eastern Bahamas 2005, Western Bahamas 2006 and Alaska 2007.  I wanted to try a resort next.  I seem to remember Olivia going to Columbus Isle before and saying that it was one of their favorite locations. 

Xtapa looked awesome but I did not want to spend 20 hours in the air to get there.  Columbus Isle is off the east coast so the travel time is not as bad from Boston.

I hope someone will post that has been to Columbus Isle before w/ a review.

Jeanne