As another year draws to a close, I’m taking a look back at my travel highlights of 2022. I’m so grateful that my life involves so much travel these days, and I never take it for granted. Most of my trips in 2022 were training trips or “FAM trips” as they’re called…trips that travel agents take to familiarize themselves with a destination, resort or cruise ship. My family and I also went on a wonderful vacation together in late spring.

The first quarter of the year was spent at home, but as you can see, once April hit, I was on the road nearly every month! It’s a good thing my job can travel with me, which it always does. (Taking an actual vacation is something that I need to work on for 2023.)

Here is a round-up of my travels in 2022.

April 2022

Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas

I travelled with three of my wonderful colleagues from Pure Magic Vacations to sail on board Royal Caribbean‘s Independence of the Seas for a 4-night sailing to the Bahamas. We had a wonderful time enjoying the ship and especially Perfect Day at CocoCay.

For our day in Nassau, we had the good fortune to tour the nearby Sandals Royal Bahamian and enjoy the amenities at the resort for the day, before heading back to the ship.

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World

At the end of the cruise, two of us headed back home, while Kimberley and I stayed in Florida for a few nights as guests at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Our goal was to really get good at using Disney Genie+ so we could advise our clients about how to use this ticket feature. The trip was a lot of fun. My family and I don’t do “open to close” theme park days when we go to Walt Disney World, so it’s always a different kind of fun when I go there with my friends who are also my co-workers and “park warriors”.

May 2022

Royal Caribbean Harmony of the Seas

In early May, my family and I went back down to Florida for a 7-night sailing on board Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Cruising has always been the ideal vacation type for our family, since it allows us to get some couple time in, some family time in, and allows our son to have a little independence on the ship. He especially enjoyed the rock climbing wall and making friends in the teen club on board. We had some delicious food on the ship! We especially loved spending time on the beaches at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, both of which are Royal Caribbean’s private island destinations.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

When the cruise ended, we drove to Walt Disney World Resort to stay for a few nights at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. We had a spectacular view of the Disney Enchantment nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom from our balcony.

During our previous vacation in 2021 at Walt Disney World Resort, we avoided time in crowds, which meant we didn’t get a lot of theme park time in as a family. This time, as deluxe resort guests, we enjoyed Extended Theme Park Hours at Magic Kingdom and I have to say, this was the best family vacation we’ve had at Walt Disney World, yet. Every child has a “perfect age” for a Disney vacation, and for ours, that seems to be 12.

July 2022

Sandals Royal Bahamian

Sandals Royal Bahamian was my destination in late July, and I travelled from Toronto to Nassau for a 3-night stay on a FAM trip. The resort was beautiful, with gorgeous beaches, spacious hotel rooms, a relaxing private island and amazing food.

At that time, it was still necessary to test for COVID-19 prior to cruising, so I did a virtual test in my hotel room so that I could safely participate in the next leg of this particular trip.

Disney Dream

When the Sandals FAM was over, I flew back to Miami, where I met up with my colleague Lisa from Pure Magic Vacations. From there we boarded the Disney Dream for an Agent Education Program with Disney Cruise Line. Our day on Disney Castaway Cay was especially enjoyable, as we toured the island, snorkeled in the lagoon and spent the afternoon in those crystal turquoise waters in Serenity Bay, the adults-only beach on the island. We had lunch there, as well. (Lisa had ice cream for lunch!)

We also really enjoyed a wine tasting at Pink Wine & Champagne Bar, which was excellent, both in terms of the presentation and the wine itself.

August 2022

St. Regis Toronto and a Jays Game

Several of us gals from Pure Magic Vacations got together in August for a Blue Jays game in Toronto, and we used the opportunity to share a room at one of the most luxurious hotels in the city: The St. Regis Toronto. We stopped there first to leave our bags, then walked over to Rogers Centre for the game. After the game, we headed back to the hotel, ordered some food and celebrated the return of travel with some local Thai food and a few drinks.

Disneyland Resort Agent Education Program

In late August, I flew from Toronto to Los Angeles, where I met up with my colleague Caitlin for an Agent Education Program at the Disneyland Resort in California. This was more of a formal training event alongside other travel professionals from across North America, and we participated in a number of workshops that were very helpful.

This was my first time ever visiting Disneyland Resort. I found the whole place felt simultaneously new and familiar, which was an odd but fun sensation. Disneyland Park is the only Disney theme park that Walt Disney himself walked through, and walking in his footsteps felt very special.

One of my favourite parts of being a travel advisor is touring hotels, and this trip didn’t disappoint, as we were able to tour all three onsite hotels at Disneyland Resort, as well as several of the Good Neighbour Hotels in the area.

When the Agent Education Program ended, Caitlin and I headed to Universal City, where we stayed as guests of The Garland Hotel. We took a full-day tour of Los Angeles, visiting sights such as Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, Griffith Observatory and of course, the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

We also spent a very hot day at Universal Studios Hollywood before settling in at Antojitos for a margarita before heading back to enjoy a relaxing evening by the pool at the Garland. There was a heat wave taking place during our time in Los Angeles and Anaheim, but the heat in California is a dry heat, very different from the heat and humidity of Ontario, Canada in the summer. Which brings me to the next leg of our trip.

September 2022

Walt Disney World Resort Agent Education Program

Next, Caitlin and I flew from Los Angeles to Orlando to join our agency for its annual Agent Education Program at Walt Disney World Resort, as guests of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. We were greeted with more extreme heat, but this time, it featured the Florida humidity! For the next three days, we were treated to more tours of refurbished rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as well as rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort & Gran Destino Tower.

Visiting Walt Disney World several times a year is always a privilege, but having the benefit of touring these newest rooms and attractions with my colleagues is always so important to the level of service we offer our clients.

October 2022

Norwegian Prima Inaugural

In early October, my husband Graham and I first drove to Buffalo, then flew from there to Newark so we could spend a night pre-cruise in one of my very favourite places, New York City. Graham was suffering through a back injury, so I ended up wandering Central Park and midtown on my own after we checked in at the Sheraton Times Square.

The next day, we boarded the brand new Norwegian Prima for a four-night cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship is absolutely beautiful, brand new, and every space on board seems to showcase views of the ocean. I’m not exaggerating when I say that sailing out of New York was one of the travel highlights of my life!

On our day in Halifax, Graham was unable to join me for our excursion due to his back problem, but I hopped on the tour bus that took me out to Peggy’s Cove, then back to Halifax for a hop-on-hop-off tour bus. Exploring the city was a lot of fun…I had never cruised to a Canadian port before, and I enjoyed being able to sit in a Canadian pub and spend Canadian dollars on a local craft cider. I also loved walking through the botanical gardens and stopped off a the cemetery where many unidentified victims of the Titanic disaster are buried.

December 2022

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

In early December, my colleague Tricia and I flew together down to Orlando for one night at Walt Disney World, to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. We spent the afternoon at EPCOT before a quick stop at our hotel for the night, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, to freshen up before hopping over to Magic Kingdom for the evening.

The party was wonderfully festive, with lots of holiday treats, character sightings and a very impressive nighttime spectacular fireworks show with projections on Cinderella Castle.

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas Inaugural

The next day, after a delicious breakfast at Steakhouse 71, Tricia and I headed to Port Canaveral to meet up with our other friend and colleague Kirsten, to board Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas for a 2-night sailing down to Perfect Day at CocoCay. The ship was so large, we didn’t manage to get around to see the entire vessel. We did get a tour of the specialty restaurants upon boarding, as well as several staterooms, including the Ultimate Family Suite, which did not disappoint. We enjoyed a beautiful dinner at Wonderland, a very delicious and memorable experience.

Now that 2022 has come to an end, I feel so grateful to be surrounded by these opportunities, supportive colleagues and friends. I’m really looking forward to 2023 and the travels that it brings, and it won’t be long before I’m back on a plane, headed back to the most magical place on earth.

Did you travel in 2022? What was the highlight of your trip?