CruisnHallelujahs

I figured you must have been to Alaska! Thanks for posting your Alaska review. Will read through tomorrow. After seeing your Antarctica photos, if I had to choose just one, I think I know what it would be…the flight to the ship might kill me though.

Stunningly beautiful. Ditto what dcguy said. How would you compare this to an Alaska cruise? Your pics make it look a million times more impressive than the Alaska reviews.

Welp…maybe there’s a lot more interest being a new ship. Forgot about the need to get in the cruisenext line asap thanks for the reminder. Sorry he couldn’t help you out.

Enjoying your review! Love all this pics. Wondering if it’s possible for your concierge to get you a spot on the behind the scenes tour?

Yes, pescatarian…who also doesn’t eat shellfish, so variety in fish is appreciated. Was so looking forward to that first trout lol. That is a funny thought that maybe this is the special fish for those who ask for modifications. I did enjoy it very much, just not what I was expecting.

This really cracked me up. Had the exact conversation on Joy with the maitre d. looked at me like I was nuts thinking it was salmon. Same on getaway. It is my favorite “trout” dish on a ship though! The only thing better is the Salmon in La Cucina (without the ham). 😀

Nope! We went to Sete Cidades. Photos to come, when I have time. Four sea days in a row go by quick when you're on a ship! Understand completely. Have no idea where all that time goes. Would love to see your review when you return for an extended stay. Beautiful pics. Thanks for posting…I think I can see a fairy or is it a gnome in that first pic…

Enjoying your review. Wish I was still onboard any ship! Did you get to Fogo crater lake??

The captain said false alarm. Everyone is accounted for.

Turned the ship around…wouldn’t be seeing the sunset if they didn’t…

As I was writing code Oscar was called 😮

Did arrive early and sat in second row. Show was fantastic. Enjoyed it even more this second time. Would have been perfect if not for the woman next to dh passing gas continuously…taking her shoes off and putting them on dhs feet and then leaning on him. And of course the couple beside me who talked through the whole show and videotaped a large portion of it before being told by staff to stop. Still it really was fantastic!

Thank you. Will do. Doesn’t look bad at all. Hoping they open the waterfront back up.

Loving the stormy waves on this unplanned sea day. Sat on the waterfront reading and chatting with others who love the sea. Taste is usually closed for lunch on port days. Funny to find this my favorite lunch here. A few vegetarian choices on the menu. Jalapeño cornbread hush puppies and tomato soup were spectacular. My favorite dinner app so far was the samosas. Best I’ve ever had. Back to our balcony to read some more. Tonight is million dollar quartet again. Going to arrive early for a good seat…hopefully.

La Romana, Dominican Republic: the pool at port was stunning. With all the people in it, not so much. We just walked around all the port shops. Was stifling hot. Should have booked an excursion here. Was looking forward to the lazy River at Taino bay but that port has been cancelled due to severe weather. Puerto Rico would be our last port. We’ve been here a few times so slowly meandered around old town San Juan up to both forts. Sweltering hot again so glad I brought a parasol/umbrella.

Lol. We did pay for it the next day…so very tired. (I’m not old enough to be this tired after a late night!) He likes to be up early for breakfast. I don’t. But on this cruise it’s enjoyably nice and quiet when Taste first opens.

Falling further and further behind. Monday was Aruba. Walked to our favorite beach, Divi, across from divis golf resort. Took about 30 minutes. Smaller than the more popular ones but I think more beautiful and always has waves to jump. Then walked back past the cruise ship and onto our favorite restaurant/bar, the West Deck. DH had our sons favorite drink… a beergarita. This was the first night we went to buffet for dinner. Could not believe how quiet it was. Then went to meridian bar where we had a few martinis (best bar for them) and lost time chatting with other cruisers so didn’t get to entertainment we planned on so walked aimlessly til we came upon syd Norman’s where a line was forming. Decided to just get in line and see what it is…rock the pour house. It’s 8:45… must start at 9. Nope, this line is for the 10 pm show. DH does not want to stay for this at all (past our bedtime!) but the doors open and we all file in. It filled up instantly. We were pleasantly surprised to see our new b2b friends from meridian and they joined us. That hour flew by catching up on our similar experiences so we did stay for the show. Was a great time and glad after 20 some days we were able to get in lol.

Yesterday was Willemstad curaçao. Booked a last minute excursion because I wanted someone else to do the thinking for me. Hato caves and mambo beach was chosen. Bus ride showed parts of the island we hadn’t seen before and caves were just something different to do. Mambo beach was a surprise. Man made beach with lots of people. Were happy to have lounge chairs reserved for us. A bit more than an hour was too short for everyone. I’ve looked at resorts here and they all seem to have the enclosed man made beaches. (Like the one in front of ship dock) Glad we experienced it. Will help make future vacation decisions. Would not be happy if I was staying at the resorts there and bus loads of cruisers came to visit. Had a fun evening at karaoke. Hilarious people sitting around us made the night.

Woke up to a rainy day in Grenada. Have never been here so decided to buy the rain poncho and explore a bit before the early all aboard of 1:30. Followed the signs inside port building to historic district. This worked out well (though felt like going nowhere) when we exited at the base of stairs to st George’s fort. Climbed stairs to the top to discover there was no opened entrance but did have great views and led easily to the town center. Also beautiful flowering banana trees. Lots of damage from hurricane Ivan. One church looked to be in complete ruins but when I opened the door there was a woman working there and we were astonished to find it modernly renovated. Street signs just a tad confusing…which way to go? Dinner was at LeBistro where the Dover sole is my go to. DH had the duck. Sat on the waterfront outside syd Norman’s for a few songs. (Never there in time to stand in line for a seat) Then to headliners for newly aboard comedian Sean Corvelle.

Kingstown St Vincent seemed quite impoverished. Strolled down the streets and came upon a Salvation Army tent service. Found St George’s cathedral and Kingstown Methodist Church, which was built by freed slaves. Was surprised to find services going on in each on a Friday morning. Walked down their street market. Went in a pharmacy to buy a few things and headed back to the ship. Went for a lap swim in the empty kids pool in the afternoon. Checked out the slides. Was surprised there was no tube slide…my favorite on other ships. I really don’t like going under water at the end. Finally an adult went down the mildest one and she didn’t go under. Maybe another day I’ll give it a go.

Thank you 😊

Barbados we planned to do on our own so went for a leisurely breakfast at Taste. Had my breakfast of champions. Left ship around 10 am and walked to Daiquiri beach. About a 30 minute walk. Sat on beach taking in the beauty and swam in the crystal clear water. On way back to ship walked around the fish market and found where the locals like to eat. Back on ship for lunch in osheehans by 1:00 then went back out to walk around the pier shops. While sitting on balcony the Evrima pulled up. The Ritz Carlton yacht. Wonder how that compares to the Haven. 😮 I do like having all the entertainment options that NCL offers so not for us yet ha. Dinner in Tropicana where I was all fished out so ordered the baked ziti with extra marinara and Parmesan. I absolutely love their marinara so adding extra makes it perfect. Seem to have hit the food wall so no dessert for us tonight. So tired so just went to the comedy at 7:00 and then back to the room. Jim was very entertaining and spot on that this audience just wanted to be in bed early. Lol

Woke up early yesterday for Antigua and headed to buffet for quick breakfast. Nice and quiet at 6:30 am. Said hello to Don who really does swim early every morning. Thought it would be difficult getting off the boat for 8:45 excursion meeting on the pier. We were very early and had no line getting off ship. Two boats were used for catamaran and lobster lunch cruise. We were on the second one. Captain pointed out all the sights on way to two beach stops. Said Georgia Armani owns the estate pictured here. Water was calm clear and beautiful to swim in at both locations. Lobster lunch was in between while sailing on the boat. I substituted for fish but everyone seemed to enjoy their lobster. They set up tables and chairs for everyone which they should advertise. No one needs to secure their spot early for comfortable eating. Would highly recommend this tour. A wonderful day on the water. Made it back for dinner at ocean blue, sat in for a bit at karaoke in Syd Norman’s and then illusionarium for broadway unplugged.

Tuesday went to 1:00 Neil and Ashley illusionist show in theater. Thoroughly enjoyed. Then late lunch at buffet since we thought dinner would be late. I think everyone else had this plan as well with the sudden rush to buffet. Port days make for busy days. My review is falling behind. First port was St Thomas. Arrived late (think after 4pm) and did not hear announcement with instructions for getting off ship so went down and joined the very long line snaking through, I think, deck six. The line went surprisingly very quickly. Probably thanks to the stairway being roped off so people couldn’t just zipper in from the stairs. Saw the clouds. Did not bring umbrella. Walked to town climbed the 99 stairs (103 I was told is the actual number) and found blackbeards castle. Sad that it is still closed from a couple hurricanes ago. I think it is for sale and would be a great investment for anyone looking… there used to be a pool at the top with bar and restaurant with a spectacular view. Headed down the stairs to walk through town hoping to shop a bit. Then the rain started. Not a light rain mind you. DH was committed to walking back but right next to me was a covered taxi. I hopped in and he followed. Lol The women we chatted with in the open air taxi were a fun bunch. We still were soaked but arrived to ship quickly. Being an American island took our phones off airplane mode. Ladies in taxi said they still couldn’t text. We shared that shutting down and rebooting usually solves this problem. Being drenched and exhausted decided to change quickly and dine at taste. Had chatted with cc Patrica on phone but hadn’t met. With enough info I saw someone who fit the description and decided to say her name as she went by. How fun that it was actually her and she was so delightful to quickly chat with. Hope we really can get up the nerve and do the ropes course together! Arrived at the theater just in time to get what appeared to be the last two seats together. Very much enjoyed the uptown boys.

Also looking forward to hearing what they replace old shows with. Didn’t know how we would find a TA with all those sea days but we loved it. Hard getting back into full gear running around every port!