Take Flight Travel Co.

10/07/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE: CARNIVAL’S MINOR POLICY 🚨 NEWS YOU CAN USE!!!

Carnival’s minor policy effective October 1, 2026, specifically regarding guests ages 18–20.

Previously: Guests ages 18–20 could be booked anywhere on the ship as long as they were linked to a parent or guardian age 25 or older.

NEW POLICY: Guests ages 15–20 must now be booked within 3 staterooms of the parent, guardian, or qualifying adult to whom they are linked.

10/06/2026

𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥…
👀✈️

Having a passport is only 𝙊𝙉𝙀 part of being ready to travel internationally.

Before you book—or at minimum well before departure—check the 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

Depending on where you’re going, you may need to know about:

🛂 Passport validity requirements
📄 Visa or electronic travel authorization requirements
🎫 Proof of onward/return travel
📝 Required arrival or entry forms
💰 Other destination-specific documentation

And here’s the part people miss:

𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮—𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚.

Don’t assume that because your passport hasn’t expired, you’re automatically good to go. 😭

Before an international trip, I want you asking:

”𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚?”

Save yourself the airport panic. 😂✈️

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩? 𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬. 👇🏾

10/05/2026

🇸🇽 ST. MAARTEN WITHOUT AN EXCURSION
DIY 🇸🇽

Philipsburg + Great Bay Beach Day

St. Maarten is another one of those ports where you can have a really good day without booking an excursion.

Your ship docks at Port St. Maarten, and from there you can either:

🚶 walk into Philipsburg
🚤 take the water taxi
🏖️ spend the day at Great Bay Beach
🛍️ shop Front Street
🍹 grab food/drinks along the Boardwalk
🚕 or take a taxi farther out to Maho, Mullet Bay, or another beach

The port itself says Philipsburg is about a 15-minute walk or about a 5-minute water-taxi ride from the cruise terminal.

⚓ WHERE DOES THE SHIP ACTUALLY DOCK?
Cruise ships dock directly at the Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise & Cargo Facility / Port St. Maarten.

No tender required for the normal cruise call.

Right at the terminal you’ll find:
🛍️ Shops
🎁 Souvenirs/local crafts
🍹 Bars
☕ Cafés
🚕 Taxis
🚤 Water taxis
🚌 Local transportation
📸 Port photo spots
The port has a large taxi area and direct water-taxi service into Philipsburg.

🚶 CAN YOU WALK FROM THE SHIP?
YES.
Philipsburg is about a 15-minute walk from the cruise terminal.
But honestly?
If I wanted to save my legs for shopping and the beach, I’d probably take the:
🚤 WATER TAXI
It gets you into the Philipsburg waterfront in roughly 5 minutes.
The water taxi stops along the waterfront, so it’s an easy way to go straight toward:
🏖️ Great Bay Beach
🚶 The Boardwalk
🛍️ Front Street
🍹 Restaurants/bars

🗺️ DIY ST. MAARTEN PORT DAY
1️⃣ PORT ST. MAARTEN
Walk off the ship and take a few minutes to look around the port.
You can browse:
🛍️ Duty-free shops
🎁 Crafts
☕ Coffee
🍹 Drinks
But I’d save most shopping for Philipsburg.
⏱️ Spend:
10–20 minutes
Then either walk or take the water taxi into town.

2️⃣ 🚤 WATER TAXI TO PHILIPSBURG
This is probably the easiest option.
You get:
🌊 Harbor views
📸 Cruise-ship pictures
🚤 Quick transportation
🚶 Less walking before the actual walking starts
It drops you directly along the Philipsburg waterfront.

3️⃣ 🏖️ GREAT BAY BEACH
This is the big reason St. Maarten works so well DIY.
Great Bay Beach sits directly along Philipsburg.
So unlike ports where you need a taxi just to see sand, you can combine:
🏖️ beach
🛍️ shopping
🍹 restaurants
🚶 sightseeing
all in one area.
St. Maarten tourism specifically highlights Great Bay Beach as directly accessible from Philipsburg and the Boardwalk.

4️⃣ 🌴 WALK THE BOARDWALK
The Boardwalk runs along the waterfront beside Great Bay Beach.
It’s lined with:
🍹 Bars
🍴 Restaurants
🏖️ Beach access
🪑 Loungers
🛍️ Shops
📸 Photo stops
The port describes it as one of Philipsburg’s biggest attractions and notes that it runs along much of the waterfront.

💵 COST:
FREE to walk

5️⃣ 🛍️ FRONT STREET
Now move one block inland to:
Front Street
This is Philipsburg’s main duty-free shopping street.
You’ll find:
💍 Jewelry
⌚ Watches
👕 Clothing
🎁 Souvenirs
🍹 Guavaberry products
🛍️ Duty-free shopping

Front Street and Back Street are the two main commercial streets running through Philipsburg.

Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth walking just to see the colorful architecture.

6️⃣ 🏛️ PHILIPSBURG COURTHOUSE / OLD STREET
For a little history and something besides shopping:
Stop by the historic Courthouse and Old Street.
St. Maarten tourism specifically highlights:
🏛️ the Courthouse
🌈 colorful Old Street
🎨 public murals

as some of the sights worth seeing while walking around Philipsburg.
📸 GREAT PHOTO AREA

7️⃣ 🍹 GUAVABERRY STOP
One of the more “St. Maarten” things to try is:
Guavaberry
You’ll find drinks, liqueurs and other guavaberry products around Philipsburg.
The tourism board specifically mentions Guavaberry Punch as a local favorite.

So I’d grab:
🍹 guavaberry drink
🥤 non-alcoholic version if available
🎁 small local product to take home
and keep going.

8️⃣ 🌮 FOOD + DRINK STOP
The Boardwalk is probably the easiest place to stop because you can eat with a beach view.
Look for:
🐟 Seafood
🌮 Caribbean food
🍗 Creole dishes
🍹 Tropical drinks
🍔 Casual lunch
☕ Coffee
Then decide whether you want more beach time or more shopping.

9️⃣ 🏖️ OPTIONAL: MAHO BEACH
This is the beach everyone knows because:
✈️ THE PLANES FLY RIGHT OVER IT.
But Maho is NOT walking distance from the cruise port.
You’ll need a taxi or local minibus.
Current official taxi guidance puts the cruise-port-to-Maho fare around $20 for 1–2 passengers, with lower per-person pricing for groups of 3–5.

⚠️ IMPORTANT:

If you go to Maho, give yourself a big return cushion.

Traffic around Simpson Bay/Maho can get congested, especially later in the day.

This is not where I’d test how close I can cut all-aboard time.

🔟 OPTIONAL: MULLET BAY

Want a better actual beach experience without the airplane spectacle?

Mullet Bay is another popular option near Maho.
You’ll still need transportation from the cruise port, but it’s more of a:

🏖️ swim
🌊 relax
☀️ beach
experience.

Official taxi guidance also lists Mullet Bay as a common fixed-rate destination from the cruise port.

🚕 WHEN DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED A TAXI?
You DON'T need one for:

✅ Philipsburg
✅ Great Bay Beach
✅ Boardwalk
✅ Front Street
✅ Old Street
✅ Courthouse
✅ Shopping
✅ Restaurants

You can walk or use the water taxi.

I WOULD USE ONE for:

🚕 Maho Beach
🚕 Mullet Bay
🚕 Orient Bay
🚕 Marigot/French side
🚕 Island tours
🚕 Attractions outside Philipsburg

St. Maarten taxis use fixed fares rather than meters, so confirm the fare before getting in.

💵 FREE THINGS TO DO

You can spend very little and still:

✅ Walk into Philipsburg
✅ Walk the Boardwalk
✅ Visit Great Bay Beach
✅ Browse Front Street
✅ See Old Street
✅ See the Courthouse
✅ Take beach photos
✅ Explore downtown

💰 CHEAP THINGS TO DO:

🚤 Take the water taxi
🥤 Grab one drink
🍹 Try guavaberry
🌮 Split a casual lunch
🛍️ Buy one souvenir
🏖️ Spend most of the day at Great Bay

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 KID-FRIENDLY?
VERY.

For families I'd do:

Ship → water taxi → Great Bay Beach → lunch → shopping → water taxi → ship
Easy.
No long transfer.
No complicated sightseeing route.
And if the kids are into airplanes, Maho can be a fun add-on — just allow plenty of return time.

♿ MOBILITY / STROLLER NOTES

Philipsburg is one of the easier city/beach combinations.

You can reduce walking by taking the water taxi, and the Boardwalk gives you a relatively straightforward waterfront route.

For someone with mobility limitations:

🚤 Water taxi into town
🏖️ Great Bay / Boardwalk
🚤 Water taxi back
is probably the easiest DIY plan.

📸 BEST PHOTO STOPS

My picks:

🚤 Water taxi with ships in the background
🏖️ Great Bay Beach
🌈 Old Street
🏛️ Philipsburg Courthouse
🌊 Boardwalk
✈️ Maho Beach if you make the trip

⚠️ KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

1️⃣ YOU DO NOT NEED A TAXI JUST TO GET TO PHILIPSBURG.

Walk about 15 minutes or use the water taxi.

2️⃣ GREAT BAY BEACH IS RIGHT IN TOWN.

This is a true shopping + beach combo port.

3️⃣ THE WATER TAXI IS YOUR FRIEND.

Especially if it’s hot, you have kids, or you just don't want to use your walking energy before the day starts.

4️⃣ MAHO IS NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO WALK.

Take transportation.

5️⃣ TAXIS USE FIXED FARES.

They are not metered, so confirm the price before you get in.

6️⃣ ST. MAARTEN IS ONLY THE DUTCH HALF OF THE ISLAND.

The northern side is Saint-Martin, the French side.
You can visit both sides, but once you're going farther around the island, transportation and traffic become much bigger factors.

⏰ WHEN WOULD I HEAD BACK?

If staying in Philipsburg / Great Bay:

I'd start heading toward the ship around 60 minutes before all-aboard.
You're close.
No need to rush.

If at Maho, Mullet Bay or somewhere farther:
I'd start heading back at least 90 minutes before all-aboard — and potentially earlier on a heavy traffic day.

💡 IF I ONLY HAD 3 HOURS...
This is exactly what I'd do:
0:00
🚢 Walk off ship
↓
0:10
🚤 Take water taxi
↓
0:20
🏖️ Great Bay Beach
↓
1:15
🚶 Walk Boardwalk
↓
1:35
🛍️ Front Street / Old Street
↓
2:00
🍹 Grab food or guavaberry drink
↓
2:25
📸 Quick Courthouse/photo stop
↓
2:35
🚤 Water taxi back
↓
2:50
🚢 Walk toward ship
DONE.
Beach.
Shopping.
Food.
Photos.

No excursion needed.

Just St. Maarten 🇸🇽

Feel free to save, share or tag a cruising buddy!!

09/30/2026

Carnival Cruise Line 48 hour sale of $25.00 pp deposit ends tonight!

Contact me!

09/27/2026

HOUSTON… Costa Rica for $899 WITH round-trip air?! 👀🇨🇷✈️

Baby, I had to bring this one to the timeline. 😂

🌴 COSTA RICA GETAWAY
📅 Oct. 5, 2026
🌙 3 nights
🏨 Tango Mar Hotel Beach Spa & Golf Resort
🥐 Breakfast included
✈️ Round-trip economy air from Houston (IAH)
👥 Based on double occupancy
🔥 $899 PER PERSON

That’s $1,798 for TWO before applicable extras/fees.

Not in Houston? I can also check:

📍 San Antonio
📍 Dallas/Fort Worth
📍 Austin
📍 New Orleans
📍 Atlanta

Those cities will be priced separately.

⏰ Promotional offer must be booked by 10/2/26, subject to availability and change until booked.

👇🏾 Comment COSTA RICA + YOUR CITY and I’ll check pricing for you.

TakeFlightTravelCo TFTC

09/26/2026

Another anniversary getaway is in the works! 🥂✈️

Today’s proposal: an all-inclusive Punta Cana escape with flights, resort accommodations, airport transfers and options to make their anniversary extra special. ❤️

Do you have a birthday, anniversary or special occasion coming up in 2027?

Tell me what you’re celebrating and where you’d love to go!

09/22/2026

I asked AI to turn my personality into a cartoon character—and why did it capture me so well? 😂💖

Confident. Colorful. A little sassy. And always ready to point you toward your next adventure! ✈️🌍

The mascot is still auditioning for the job, but Cartoon Sheccka is officially approved! 😂

What do y’all think—did they nail it?

I want to see yours prompt in comments

09/22/2026

🌴 CANCÚN ALL-INCLUSIVE ESCAPE! 🇲🇽✨

This isn’t your basic hotel room—we’re talking about a spacious Junior Suite with an ocean view at Dreams Natura Resort & Spa Cancun! 😍🌊

📍 Cancún, Mexico
📅 December 8–12, 2026
👥 2 adults
🛏️ Junior Suite Ocean View King
🍽️ All-inclusive meals, beverages and snacks
🌊 Beautiful ocean views
💰 $1,655 total for two adults
✨ That’s only $827.50 per person!

Want to complete the package? Flights and airport transportation can be added, and payment-plan options may be available. ✈️

Comment CANCUN or send me a message for booking details!

Follow Take Flight Travel Co. for more travel deals, luxury escapes and unforgettable experiences. ✈️🌴

Pricing and availability are subject to change until booked. Rate is based on two adults and does not include airfare, transfers or travel protection unless added.

09/20/2026

09/20/2026

You'll soon be able to sail Carnival's largest Texas ship for four days. That's a first — and there's a reason behind it. 🚢🤠

Carnival opened its 2028-29 Galveston schedule for booking on September 17, and Carnival Jubilee is switching to a mostly short-cruise program.

⚓ THE NEW SAILINGS

🛳️ **Four-day Western Caribbean** — select Thursdays, calling at Cozumel with two sea days. 20 departures from April 27, 2028 through April 26, 2029.

🛳️ **Five-day Western Caribbean** — select Saturdays and Mondays, calling at Cozumel and Progreso. 42 departures from April 17, 2028 through April 30, 2029.

Longer options don't vanish entirely, but they get thin:

📅 A six-day sailing on October 29, 2028 to Cozumel and Isla Tropicale in Roatán
📅 An eight-day Bahamas cruise on April 1, 2028 to Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay and Nassau
📅 An eight-day Western Caribbean on April 9, 2028 to Cozumel, Isla Tropicale and Montego Bay

🔄 WHY THE SWITCH

This connects directly to Carnival Tropicale, the line's fifth and final Excel-class ship, which arrives in Galveston in April 2028.

Tropicale takes over the six and eight-day itineraries. Jubilee moves to short cruises. Two Excel-class ships in one Texas port, splitting the market between long and short.

🚢 A 183,000-TON SHIP ON A FOUR-DAY CRUISE

Worth pausing on what this actually means.

Carnival Jubilee is 183,521 gross tons carrying 5,228 guests at double occupancy — BOLT the roller coaster, the full waterpark, six themed zones, dozens of dining venues.

Historically that scale of ship ran week-long itineraries. Four days wasn't the plan.

Now you can sail her Thursday to Monday. For anyone who's wanted to try an Excel-class ship without burning a week of vacation, that's a genuinely different proposition.

📈 AND IT'S NOT JUST CARNIVAL

This is an industry-wide move to reach younger travelers who can't take a full week off:

🎢 Carnival is adding short cruises on Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral in 2027
🚢 Norwegian is adding short Bahamas sailings on Norwegian Aqua from Miami in 2028

Big ships, short trips. That's the direction.

🤠 THE FIGHT FOR TEXAS

Here's the bigger picture forming in Galveston.

Carnival has dominated Texas for more than 25 years. It's about to have two Excel-class ships there.

Royal Caribbean is coming hard. Icon of the Seas moves to Galveston in 2027, and the line is eyeing a proposed new terminal next to its existing one. Michael Bayley said on an earnings call that the company expects to "own the Texas market."

Margaritaville at Sea arrives in October 2027 with its new flagship Beachcomber.

That's three lines making serious moves on the same port inside eighteen months. Galveston is already the fourth-busiest cruise port in the country, and the reason is simple: tens of millions of people across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana can drive there.

Nobody wants to lose that market. Carnival moved first.