RFFC: The Ports!

Taking a Run For Fun Cruise(RFFC) gives you the opportunity to run in exciting locations. During the port stops, you also have a chance to explore the places you are visiting either on your own or with a group excursion. Lets take a look at where RFFC can take you in 2015!

RFFC Caribbean February 2015- There is still time to book last minute to take a romantic Valentines Vacation with RFFC! Booking Info found here.

The February cruise starts out in Fort Lauderdale which will be a warmer climate for a lot of folks! You have the option of participating in the A1A Marathon which offers a 5K, Half Marathon and Marathon on February 15 (Sunday). Come in a couple of days early, enjoy FLL's nice weather, take the water taxi around to see the sites or head to the beach! Board the Regal Princess on the 15th (after the race) and be on your way to 3 Caribbean ports.

Wake up Feb 16 to Princess Cruise Lines private island, Princess Cays. I have never been to Princess Cays but I have been to RCCLs private island in the Bahamas and boy is it beautiful! It is so peaceful, the beach is plentiful and you can just relax. RFFC has something special planned for you at Princess Cays, take part in the Princess Cays Team Challenge and the Bahama Mama Relay!

With a day at sea under your belt, you will feel refreshed as you take on a 5K along Charlotte Amalie Harbor on Feb 18. Enjoy the rest of your day taking in some of the beautiful beaches that the USVI have to offer. Magen's Bay is often listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the world. Interested in more adventure then relaxation? Try SCUBA Diving! We took a Discover SCUBA class at Coki Beach Dive Club during our visit and had an amazing experience. If you have never seen the world underwater, I highly recommend it!

 Take a dive in St. Thomas

On the 19th, sail away to St. Maarten, the smallest two island nation in the world! That's right, you are in for a 2 nation treat with half of the island being French and the other being Dutch! Begin your morning with a 5K or 10K along the beautiful boardwalk. Ready to take on a full day? Visit Maho Beach where you can see the planes landing at SXM airport, a fun family adventure. Visit the French side of the island for lovely shops, cozy little restaurants and fantastic beaches. We spent a day roaming the shopping on the Dutch side ending up at a lovely beach bar and finished our day in some lovely loungers.

 A beach bar along the Board Walk in St. Maarten

RFFC Alaska June 2015- This cruise to Alaska will surely be filled with adventure, book today!

Begin your journey in Seattle where you can take part in the Rock N Roll Seattle Half or Full Marathon on June 13! Enjoy the rest of the day/ night exploring such an amazing city! All Aboard June 14 to head out to a ton of amazing port of calls in a place truly different than the rest of the United States.

Ketchikan is the first stop June 16. RFFC has partnered with a local running club for a morning run. Alaska's 4th largest city, Ketchikan offers salmon fishing, native totem poles at the Totem Heritage Center, visit Alaska's Rainforest Sanctuary or wander around the picturesque Alaskan town.

June 17 sail towards the Tracy Arm Fjord. The views will most definitely take your breathe away. Keep your eyes out for an array of wildlife that call the Park home including harbor seals, wolves, bears and many birds. Continue on to your next stop in Juneau. RFFC has teamed up with  Ultra Marathoner Geoff Roes for a run you wont forget in Alaska's capital. Afterwards, take in a whale watching tour, dog sledding, Glacier Gardens and more in this city with an abundance of area to explore.

*Photo via Princess.com

June 18 lands you in Skagway, a town that began with the Gold Rush. Take the railway to experience the Yukon, stay in town to learn the history of the Gold Rush, or take a flight to see the beauty of  Skagway from above.

June 20 fulfills the Jones Act  by stopping in Victoria, BC Canada. Enjoy a night time run before seeing some of what Victoria has to over. Check out the beautiful butterfly gardens or Beacon Hill Park, visit the Craigdarroch Castle, or have a drink or two at an in town pub.

In choosing the Caribbean or Alaska, you can not go wrong with a Run For Fun Cruise. The ships are beautiful, the planned activities are plentiful and the ports just WOW you.

Make sure you visit RunForFunCruise.com for additional information and to get any questions you may have answered. Don't forget to tell them that LIVE from the Lido Deck sent you.

RFFC: The Ships

For a lot of cruisers, the ship they choose is part of the destination. Some people never step foot off the ship until they are debarking, choosing instead to enjoy the amenities on board. Now on a Run For Fun Cruise, you wouldn't do that but the ship is still important ;)

The RFFC Caribbean Cruise will be sailing on the beautiful Regal Princess which is less than a year old! The ship, which debuted in May 2014, will be visiting Princess Cays, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Joining the RFFC Alaska in June? Enjoy the Ruby Princess as she sails past glaciers stopping at picturesque wilderness destinations. On the days you aren't island hopping you will be treated to some great entertainment and dining choices!

Traditional and Anytime Dining Rooms are available along with both Specialty and Casual Dining restaurants. Sabatini's offers Italian dining while the Crown Grill was voted one of the Best Steakhouses at Sea by USA Today! Traveling with the kiddos? How about Pizza, Hamburger & Hot Dogs, and Gelato? The Regal Princess and Ruby Princess have enough options for everyone's palette!

Eaten your fair share of lobster and shrimp cocktail and ready for a show? Princess Cruise Lines is ready to deliver. Enjoy the Princess Theater for top of the line musicals. If you prefer to wind down check out a movie under the stars. Just getting your evening started? Head to one of the many lounges for a drink, win big money in the Casino or party in the dance club until you are ready to retreat to your stateroom.

Rooms are a plenty on both the Regal and Ruby Princess with both ships having 19 decks. The Ruby offers 1542 staterooms while the larger Regal Princess offers 1780. Take your pick of a secluded interior room, a balcony with a view or a variety of suites to match your exact taste. The rooms are gorgeously decorated and offer plenty of room for single cruisers, couples and families alike.

As the Regal Princess is newer, it offers top of the line options. Princess has unveiled the Princess @ Sea Messenger service which allows you to message fellow cruisers on board, coming soon to the fleet. The Watercolor Fantasy turns the top deck pools into a sound and light show that is sure to get some oohs and aahs from the crowd.  Check out the SeaWalk for a unique view of the ocean, with glass panels extending 28 feet for an amazing experience during the day and an exciting walk at night as the panels change colors. Princess LIVE! is a TV studio of sorts that offers comedians, culinary demonstrations and game shows.

Remember that you must book directly through Run For Fun Cruise and let them know LIVE from the Lido Deck sent you :)

Want to take an EPIC Runcation? RUN FOR FUN CRUISE

You may be wondering what a Runcation is... By definition, it is a weeding. Well, that is nothing do to do with Runcation I am talking about! A Runcation is vacation where you go running! My first Runcation will be to Walt Disney World in February where I will be running the Disney Princess Half Marathon.

Now I love to travel but cruising is my favorite way to travel. I have found a Runcation that suits both my needs, Run For Fun Cruises. I came across Run for Fun Cruises a couple of months ago but was disappointed to find that it was the same week as my half. I followed them on Twitter to stay up to date with future cruises and found that they were offering another trip in June!

The RFFC is offering two trips in 2015. The first in February is for the beach bunny interested in running around the Eastern Caribbean. This 7 day cruise onboard the Regal Princess runs from February 15-22 and offers stops at Princess Cays (cruise line private island), St. Thomas,  & St. Maarten. This cruise offers fun in the sun, sand and the chance to shake off the winter blues.

The second sailing on the Ruby Princess is for the cruiser looking for adventure. Join RFFC June 14-21 sailing from Seattle to Alaska including a stop to see the Tracy Arm Fjord! Other stops include Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway & Victoria, BC Canada. This cruise offers amazing once in a lifetime wild life excursions!

Now what makes these cruises a Runcation? You go on fun runs of course! Each cruise starts out with an optional Half or Full Marathon. The A1A Fort Lauderdale Marathon or the Rock & Roll Seattle Marathon take place the Saturday before the cruise departs. Then, throughout the cruise, the RFFC team has set up group runs on board and in port to take in the sights!

Look for upcoming posts that go into greater detail on the RFFC, ports of call and the ships being sailed!  For more information visit Run For Fun Cruise's site. Call or email them for more information, just don't forget to tell them that Amanda Causer with Live from the Lido Deck sent you!