shadowphoto

Just now, shadowphoto said:

To Daddy's cruise girl

Correction - the tour from Carnival :

Tour with Locals: Sightseeing & Lunch

It does not go to Monkeyland Jungle, but includes lunch, a demonstration of the cassava breadmaking process, and a pananoramic city tour.  Hope you consider joining this as it has gotten wonderful reviews!

Please email me at bjdamascus@aol.com

Looking forward to hearing from you!

On 8/23/2023 at 10:26 PM, daddyscruisergirl said:

Hi, Beth and Steve - I might be interested in doing this with you!  do you know approx pricing?

Hello again,

I can't seem to locate the email that you sent to me regarding this excursion.  Please email me again at bjdamascus@aol.com   We have actually decided to book the excursion through Carnival - they have one that goes to Monkey Jungleland and the Orphanage, and I haven't heard back again from the private guide.  

Hi "daddys cruise girl" from Kansas - will be great to have another person from the Midwest on board!  Would you please share your name?   The price will be approximately $99 pp if there are only 4 of us.  It will include entrance to Monkey Jungle, water, coke and Sprite.  The vehicle is a 13 passenger  minivan with ac.  If you're interested, can we communicate off list with more details as I don't read CC too much lately?  My email is bjdamascus@aol.com  Thanks! Beth

Hello,

We are also booked for this holiday cruise!  If anyone is interested in doing a private shore excursion with us in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic), please let us know.  We have contacted a private driver/guide - who we used back in 2010 - he is still in business and gets excellent reviews!

Our plan is to visit Monkey Jungle (for the jungle experience - not the zipline), and a girl's orphanage.  Let us know if you'd like more details.

Thanks.

Beth and Steve (Chicago)

Interesting... a cruise a minute for 24 hours!

I think I'll hang back and just be a spectator this time, but, good luck to all!

Steve

Hello,

I am working on our combined cruise scrapbook album (thought that this would be a good year to make some headway into it! LOL!).  I have kept the Cruise Compasses for all of our cruises, but cannot find those for Liberty of the Seas sailing from Dec 22-29, 2007.  If anyone has them, would you please scan the first page of each day and send to me at bjdamascus at aol dot com?  Also, who was the captain of the ship at the time?  Thank you SO MUCH for your help!  I really appreciate it!

Hoping everyone is enjoying the holidays, different as they may be this year!

1 hour ago, Professor Plum said:

Today we should have been up at stupid o'clock to do the dash to the airport 

 

LOL!  LOVE it!  "Up at stupid o'clock" - sounds like us many times.  We only live about 15-20 minutes from the airport, but given the numbers who travel through ORD, and given that we're usually travelling during peak times, I always allow 3 hours before flight departure for us to get to the airport, check in, go through security, and make our way to the gate at a leisurely pace!   So, for a 6 am flight, that means getting up at 2 am (yep, I move like a turtle in the morning), hope the cab arrives at 3, arrive at the airport by 4, check in, go through security, and then trudge through the airport to our gate - 99.9% of the time it is in another terminal, and the very very last gate of course!  Anyway,  I think I'll add "stupid o'clock" to my vocabulary!  Thanks!

On 3/27/2020 at 3:39 PM, sandycruzr said:

OK i know there are a lot more serious issues in the world right now.  Maybe  this is just a diversion for me from all the doom and gloom in the world right now. I know there are so many people that are suffering and extremely stressed about Coronavirus and all the effects of it both medically and otherwise. I sympathize, I really do. But, I have been in my house for 10 days now and I keep dreaming of being at sea! I feel so fortunate that my family is safe and well but my thoughts keep going back to the sea. Am I alone in this?  Am I suffering from cabin fever so badly that I am fixating on cruising?😎

Getting outside - even if for a little bit - each day - REALLY DOES HELP!  I am so grateful that this hit in my favorite season of the year, and it IS feeling, smelling, and looking like spring finally!

On 3/27/2020 at 7:20 PM, Pinboy said:

Cruise Withdrawal ???  Really ???

Feeling " bummed "  over missing a drink ??

I'd rather think how lucky I am to have cruised , will cruise again in the future , pass some time on CC and could absolutely care less when our next cruise will be. 

How about the people that have lost their jobs, can't pay their rent , have little money for food , are taking a " beating " on the Stock Market, or are or have family or friends that are sick with this virus. 

Trust me, they are not having " Cruise Withdrawal " .

IMO--- At a time like this , to have " cruise withdrawal "  is quite selfish.

Where I am it's cold , windy, and we have been quarantined since we returned to Canada.  

I couldn't agree more.  We cancelled a Bahamas cruise three days before Princess shut down operations.  Were we disappointed - not really.  My first reaction honestly was "OMG - the entire travel industry is in a state of upheaval".   But, then I began thinking of more and more "groups" who have been affected (including those mentioned above).  As an educator and former teacher, my heart grieves every day for the teachers (the extra amount of time and effort they are putting in to facilitate e-learning is mindboggling),  the students all over the world who are doing the best they can with e-learning, the students who will be graduating this year (in particular from high school) who have essentially lost the best semester of their high school career,  parents, etc.,etc.   I have started a list of what I am accomplishing with what I am calling MY "Gift of extra time".  Although I am working from home, it is no where near as demanding as so many others....dh kids me that I am getting a taste of the retirement life... albeit with many restrictions these day!  LOL!  I wish there were something I could do for so many who are suffering, but pray that my own sheltering in place and prayers are of at least some help.  So, for me, although I grieve for many, I am rejoicing over my unexpected GIFT OF EXTRA TIME!

First cruise on Vision of the Seas 2003 - inside passage Alaska.  It was so exciting to experience our first cruise with 6 new friends, 5 of whom were also on their first cruise!  We were likes kids in a candy shop - wide eyed and blown away by the fabulous food, service, and entertainment.  So many memories through the years - we've lost count of the number of cruises we've taken.  As others have mentioned, the crew and the friendships formed with other people are what keep us coming back for more.  Our favorite ships:  Empress, Monarch, Grandeur, Navigator, Enchantment, Splendour, and of course our first - Vision.  Our favorite Caribbean cruise - hands down - CUBA!  Did sailed twice on Empress last year - over July 4th and for Thanksgiving.  Empress is definitely a tiny ship with a BIG heart!    We did the last sailing of Monarch years ago and were sad to see her go as we had sailed on her three or four times prior.  Many have mentioned crew member who go out of their way for the passengers.  Brenda, who was our dining room waitress on Grandeur was so kind.  She not only personally brought dinner to the cabin of one of our tablemates who wasn't feeling good, but she also made a special effort to get vidalia onion tart (anyone remember that sinfully delicious appetizer that is no longer on the menu?) for us one night.  That was about 6 years ago, when the east coast as well as the Midwest were visited by the Artic snows and temperatures!  Brenda was SO excited because it was snowing as we pulled back into the port of Baltimore for disembarkation!  As we were getting off the ship, she stood there waiting with anticipation to get off the ship because she had never seen snow!  I asked her if she had any warm clothes (mind you, we are from Chicago, and I had 4 layers on at the moment and was freezing!).... she said - "Yes, someone gave me these gloves."  Well, they were those little "cheater" dollar store gloves that don't offer much warmth.  Anyway,  3 years later we were back on Grandeur.  As we stepped up to the check in potium at Chops, she looked at us and said "I know you!"  The moment I saw her nametag, I remembered her!  She had been promoted to maitre de at CHOPS!  I asked her if she actually DID get off the ship that year in Baltimore, and she proudly responded "OH YES!   I wouldn't have missed that for the world!!!!"   

We'll be on Explorer for the Snowbird Migration cruise in October - wondering what Royal is doing for it's 50th anniversary celebration?