Jonathan Buckley - The Magic for Less Travel

Jonathan Buckley - The Magic for Less Travel Sharing pics and posts about travel to help you have a Magical vacation wherever you go!

Wow! This was DEFINITELY worth the price of admission!The Behind the Waves tour was one of the coolest things I’ve done ...
08/20/2026

Wow! This was DEFINITELY worth the price of admission!

The Behind the Waves tour was one of the coolest things I’ve done on a cruise!

Nate and I got an incredible behind-the-scenes look at Utopia of the Seas and saw parts of the ship most guests never get to see.

We visited the bridge, the galley, the crew’s “I-95” corridor deep inside the ship - I loved going into the freezer at below zero temps in my short sleeves and showing off my Minnesota cold toughness - and backstage at the Royal Theatre. It was fascinating to see just how much goes on behind the scenes to keep a ship this huge running safely and smoothly. And we got to take pictures almost everywhere including on the bridge! Check out all my photos of this tour!

One of my biggest takeaways was an even greater appreciation for the crew members. There are SO many people working incredibly hard behind the scenes to create the vacation that guests get to enjoy every day.

I love this kind of stuff, so for me, the Behind the Waves tour was absolutely worth the extra cost. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

08/20/2026

Welcome to Perfect Day at Coco Cay! Although shuttles are provided, it’s a very quick walk from your ship to shore. Feel the vibe!

It was another Perfect Day at Coco Cay!
08/20/2026

It was another Perfect Day at Coco Cay!

All In is a fabulous show! Take a selection of great current and classic songs and add amazing singers. Then infuse the ...
08/18/2026

All In is a fabulous show! Take a selection of great current and classic songs and add amazing singers. Then infuse the show with multiple interesting, high-tech themes brought to life by outstanding dancers. It’s a formula for a great show experience!

After an amazing few days together at Walt Disney World and aboard Utopia of the Seas, we said goodbye to Sarah this mor...
08/17/2026

After an amazing few days together at Walt Disney World and aboard Utopia of the Seas, we said goodbye to Sarah this morning as she headed home to Minnesota.

I absolutely love traveling ANYWHERE with her, and we packed a lot of wonderful memories into this part of the trip — Disney, great meals, lots of laughs, Perfect Day at CocoCay and our first few days exploring this incredible ship together. I’m really grateful for all of it!

Now Nate and I are beginning another adventure: our first-ever back-to-back cruise!

We stayed right here on Utopia while one group of guests headed home and a whole new group came aboard. It has already been fun seeing how the process works — and getting a little extra time to enjoy the ship!

One of the things I love about being a travel advisor is getting to experience Disney, cruising and other travel firsthand. It gives me so much more to share when I’m helping someone figure out what resort, ship, itinerary or vacation style might be the best fit for them.

So Nate and I will keep exploring — and I’ll keep sharing what we learn along the way! Stay tuned! 😃

If you’ve been following our trip and a Disney or cruise vacation has started sounding pretty good, I’d be happy to help you plan one of your own. And if you’re not already following my travel page, I’d love to have you along for the rest of the adventure!

First dinner of cruise #2!One of the fun parts of doing a back-to-back cruise is seeing some familiar faces again! We r...
08/17/2026

First dinner of cruise #2!

One of the fun parts of doing a back-to-back cruise is seeing some familiar faces again! We requested Nicole, our same head server from the first cruise, because she was absolutely fabulous — and we were so happy to have her again tonight!

Another excellent dinner and a great way to kick off the second half of our Utopia adventure.

And YES! The food was every bit as good as it looks! 😋

Another fun perk of our back-to-back cruise!While we’re waiting for the next group of guests to board Utopia of the Seas...
08/17/2026

Another fun perk of our back-to-back cruise!

While we’re waiting for the next group of guests to board Utopia of the Seas, Nate and I have been taking advantage of a much quieter ship!

There are so many things to do onboard — table tennis, basketball, play areas and plenty more.

And for the record…I just beat Nate at table tennis!

It won’t stay this quiet for long, so we’re enjoying it while we can!

Yesterday was a Perfect Day at CocoCay!We purchased passes to Hideaway Beach, Royal Caribbean’s adults-only area, and we...
08/17/2026

Yesterday was a Perfect Day at CocoCay!

We purchased passes to Hideaway Beach, Royal Caribbean’s adults-only area, and we absolutely loved it!

The huge pool has a swim-up bar, and plenty of loungers with umbrellas for shade. There’s also a beautiful private beach to enjoy. Lunch is included with your admission - think burgers, chicken, fried shrimp and pizza. And the DJ kept a great mix of music going throughout the day.

It felt lively and fun without being overwhelming. Having plenty of places to relax in the shade - both in the pool and on the sand - was a huge plus for us.

We had a blast and I would definitely do Hideaway Beach again!

I also appreciated that Hideaway Beach allowed me to experience a fun, party atmosphere while also being able to find a place to rest and relax too. When you’re at Perfect Day at CocoCay, are you looking for a relaxing beach day or more of a pool-and-party atmosphere?

I love this ship! The Utopia of the Seas has so many amazing spaces, but Central Park is definitely one of my favorites!...
08/15/2026

I love this ship! The Utopia of the Seas has so many amazing spaces, but Central Park is definitely one of my favorites!

It’s hard to believe you’re in the middle of a cruise ship when you’re walking through this beautiful open-air neighborhood filled with trees, plants, restaurants and places to just sit and relax.

It has a completely different feel from the busy pool decks and Royal Promenade — and that’s one of the things I’m really enjoying about Utopia. And oftentimes you will find musicians who laying soft music to add to the ambience! There seems to be a spot for whatever kind of mood you’re in!

Could you see yourself relaxing in Central Park on a sea day?

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