Carnival Miracle Journal with Pics - VD at Sea: The Miracle Cure

[jimbug]

I need more of this review, stat! :D

[vanislandcruisers]

OMG!!! I am actually speechless- FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!

What a crazy Crew you guys are!!! LOVE IT!!!:D:D:D:D

 

Jacqui - I think that is a first .... lol

 

This may be the best review EVER. Love reading about your adventures!

 

Thanks jimbug!!!

[vanislandcruisers]

Oh believe me, the adventures continued. We were just getting warmed up.

 

Yes we were!!!

 

Damned rowdy azzed neighbors!:D:p

 

Funny....we were saying the same thing about our neighbours;):D

[vanislandcruisers]

The 'cruise wedding', LOVE IT!! More please!!! :D:D

 

Thanks 4hunters!!!....Will have much more up later today

 

A fantastic review as usual Cousin! We really, really can't wait to see all of you in January!! Woot!

 

Thanks Di!!!......Can't wait to see you guys too!!!...gonna be a 'gooder':D

[vanislandcruisers]

I get all verklempt every time I think about how beautiful' date=' sacred and awe-inspiring the wedding was.[/quote']

 

Didn't think your 'verklempt' worked anymore;):D

 

I even wore my Charlotte Roller Girls shirt to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion and I was so honored to escort the bride down the aisle. I'm getting all choked up again.... now where did I put my lace-trimmed hankie?

 

Remember...Your hankie was wrapped around your toes

[vanislandcruisers]

The picture of Peewee dancing at the alter is killing me! Even with my good will gesture of Tebowing for the big guy before the ceremony I'm certain that after being witness to that ordeal I have zero chance of hanging out with him when I get to the other side

 

If anything he will want to hang out with you more...sure he recognizes 'Good Times' when he sees them...betcha he would LOVE your Buzz Lightyear Costume too;):D

 

At least you will be in good company. Pretty sure we are all going to hell for that one!:eek::D

 

Aren't we are going there in January???

Edited November 1, 2012 by vanislandcruisers

[vanislandcruisers]

Wow you guy's look like you had a whole bunch of fun,lol:D.I bet you guy's were a fun crowd to be around.I love the idea with the jell-o shooter's,if you don't mind i want to steal that idea from you,lol;):D.Me and my hubby will be going on the same itinerary you guy's went on but we will be going on the Breeze.

 

Thanks jaxcruiser23....We had a blast!!!....Always do with this buch...and Help yourself to the Jell-O Shooters...and Have a GREAT time on the Breeze!!!...it's a GREAT intinerary

 

I'm getting a little teary myself as I relive my cruise wedding. Good thing there were pictures, the details are a little fuzzy.

 

Allen, you made a great father-of-the-bride, and thanks to my MOH, Donna.

 

There was a rumor that a video was shot, but I have yet to see it.

 

Didn't mean to make you tear up Shelly...and from what I hear Coral has Video;) :D

[vanislandcruisers]

I need more of this review, stat! :D

 

 

Will have a bunch more up later today jimbug:D

[Timmys_mom]

I sent a link to this review to the groom. He showed his mom! :eek: :eek:

 

I have warned him that I will not be accepting any more "balloon animal", or "champagne wire and button" or "garbage bag twist-tie and plastic jewel found on the street" rings. The next one has to be for real-sies. (Jimmy if you are reading this remember, size 7.5 sapphire will do just fine.)

 

Review on, Jim. I'll know it is almost over when PeeWee drops his kickstand.

Edited November 1, 2012 by Timmys_mom

[WeBeCruisin']

Didn't think your 'verklempt' worked anymore;):D

 

 

 

Remember...Your hankie was wrapped around your toes

 

My "verklempt" works just fine, thank you, as long as I have peanut butter, a monkey wrench, lots of dental floss and a big container of glitter.

 

I had forgotten about wrapping the pink lace-trimmed hankie around my toes.... if they're going to be broken at least they can be stylish.

:)

[vanislandcruisers]

After everyone contributed $10.00 each we deposited $210.00 into the Machine and then we all tried our luck at “WWWHHHEEEEEELLL OFFF FFOORRRRTUUUNNNEEE”. Profit wise this hour was a bust unless you were Carnival, the Bartenders and Waitresses in the Casino, our Bride and Groom who had just ‘come up hearts’ minutes earlier or Pat and Vanna who I assume collected a few pennies in Royalties. Laughs wise we were all WINNERS. Amazing how superstitious different people are and what different ways people use to pull, prod or push the Arm or press, caress or start the Button on a Slot Machine and what they use to do it with for that matter and think it’s lucky. Conclusion #680: None of these methods were my Mom's Lucky Rabbit Foot.

 

Once we were done the Pull the ‘usuals’ hit the Blackjack Tables while the ‘other usuals’ hit the Slots. The rest stayed at the Bar and did what else was usual for this Group.

 

On this particular Cruise we spent a lot of time in the Casino and that’s because those of us that played Blackjack had some really Good Luck….and it started for me as soon as Small Boss and Madonna told me that they would pay for “one of my shots of Crown” in my Double Crown and Cokes in a Tall Glass with lots of Ice while I was playing at the Tables. Conclusion #681: Winning!!!

 

We didn’t go to any Shows this Cruise and unless one of the Comedians was the guy cracking jokes while sitting next to me at the Blackjack Table after our day in Aruba I don’t know if any of the Comedians were funny cause we didn’t go to any of the Comedy Shows either. Lynne, Peewee and I went to the Piano Bar one time other than for Cocktail Receptions and were joined by Dee, Tammi, and Allison and those 3 Ladies had gone one other night as well. Conclusion #682: According to the Ladies Brennan, the Piano Player in Sam’s Piano Bar, was very easy on the eyes. We could rate many Bartenders, Waiters, Waitresses and several different Bars this Cruise but could be described as ‘No Shows’ for everything else. Allen, who did not leave Ship in any of the Ports, did play a number of Trivia Games throughout the 8 days.

 

Between Allen, Trevor, Donna, Tammi, Coral, the 2 Dans, Dee and myself we did quite well at the BJ Tables during the Cruise with some doing better than others depending on how much they were wagering.. We did so well in fact we even had the Accountant amongst us start playing the last few nights. There was an Emergency Defibrillator on the Wall in the Casino just in case his Returns were not as expected.:D;):D Conclusion #683: Never saw Casino Chips on top of a Spread Sheet at a Table before. For Dee and I we were able to offset her Slot Machine Deposits, my Cash Advances at the Tables plus cover our activities in the 4 Ports the night before each Port - Conclusion #684: We consider ‘Hydrating’ an Activity. – without, for the most part, dipping into any of our ‘brought along’ Spending Money…and the last 3 nights and 2 days were even better.

 

This was the first Ship we had been on with the ATM like Carnival Kiosks. I believe you could check your $&$ Balance, we didn’t try as I’ll occasionally do that in the Cabin, and we really don’t know what else you could do on them…whether you could buy excursions, make Steakhouse Reservations, etc… but we found out we could make Cash Deposits on our $&$ Balance using the Kiosks. There was a Kiosk between the Casino’s Cashier’s Cage and the Elevator we used to get to our Cabin so we would stop at the Cage, Cash-Out and then make a Deposit at the Kiosk. We ended up making 5 subastantial Cash Deposits at that Kiosk, 3 deposits on 3 separate days and a ‘double deposit’ on another day. This was an 8-day Cruise and although our Total Charges rivaled our 1st Carnival Splendor Cruise which because of the Swine Flu turned into a 1 Port Day and 6 Sea Days Cruise our ‘Actual’ Final Balance Owing on this Cruise was the least of any Cruise we had been on including the 3-day Pacific Coast Cruise we took from Vancouver, BC to San Pedro, CA with Dan and Coral, their kids, Dee and Dan’s Mom and Dad and Dee’s boys. Conclusion #685: Jell-O is our new Lucky Charm.

 

We stayed in the Casino until just before 7:00pm before it was time to go up to the Cabin, grab my Dress Pants and Dress Shirt, go to the Laundry Room and create some well-defined new creases in spots that never had creases before on those two articles of clothing. Once back at the Cabin we poured a couple of drinks and had a drink and acouple of Jell-O Shooters on the Balcony with 'the Neighbours.'

 

We met everyone else back at the Casino Bar at around 8:00pm for a pre-Dinner Drink. Everyone looked GREAT this evening. It seemed like everyone in our Group was absolutely glowing this evening after having plenty of liquid refreshments throughout the day. So important to stay hydrated while travelling in the Caribbean.

 

Off to the Bacchus Dining Room we went and then over to Table #230 where I had a seat behind a Double Crown and Coke in a tall Glass with lots of Ice; Dee was sitting behind the Double Vodka and Soda in a tall Glass with lots of Ice to my right. 8:11pm to 12:06am on the $&$ Statement went exactly like this:

 

• 8:11 PM Mr. Lucky’s

• 9:18 PM Dr. Frankenstein’s (Dining Room Drinks for 2)

• 10:16 PM Mr. Luckys

• 10:37 PM Entertainment (Blackjack Advance for the 2 of us)

• 10:55 PM Mr. Lucky’s

• 11:04 PM Mr. Lucky’s

• 11:59PM Mr. Lucky’s

• 12:06am Mr. Lucky’s

 

These 7 drink orders and one Cash Advance at the Blackjack Table were interrupted only by lots of LAUGHS and a GREAT Meal in the Dining Room. We went the ‘didja’ route (as in did you ever…) – Carnival's version of food you always wanted to try but did not dare - ...... and shared a few orders of the Alligator Fritters amongst the Table - Conclusion #686: Past that thick Purse, Boot and Belt like Skin we found Alligator very doughy. Dee and I went a little more predictable with the rest of our Appetizers and Entrees with both of us having an appetizer-size Spaghetti Carbonara – my favourite -, splitting a Black Tiger Shrimp Cocktail before Dee opted for the Barbequed St. Louis Style Pork Spare Ribs – her favourite - while I went with a Surf and Turf by ordering the Broiled Maine Lobster Tail and Jumbo Shrimp and the Tender Roasted Prime Rib of American Beef Au Jus.

 

A Dance for Dee with one of our Assistant Waiters was followed by an order of Warm Chocolate Melting Cake with 2 SCOOPS of Vanilla Ice Cream for me and a Cappuccino for Dee before we bid Good Night to our Dining Room Team, headed up to the Cabin, where we saw our 2nd Towel Animal,...

 

 

...changed and then headed back down to Mr.Lucky’s Casino for a couple hour shift.

 

The fact that there wasn’t a 2nd or 3rd or 4th ‘Entertainment’ Charge on the $&$ Statement for this evening meant Dee didn’t make any Deposits to the Slot Machines. Tonight we got to know a couple of new Dealers to us very well; Dimitri from the Ukraine, who we nicknamed ‘Bull’ because he sported an amazing resemblance to a character by that name off of the old sitcom ‘Night Court’ - Conclusion #687: Just partially dated myself – and a Dealer we nicknamed ‘Ice-Zero’ because he started off cold before he heated up both with our Cards and with his rapport with us. Dee and I also reacquainted ourselves with Tristan, who was from India but spoke with a very English accent, who we had got to know on our 2nd Carnival Spirit Cruise. His nickname was ‘Aittain’, well because of the way he said ‘18’; Dee loved it.

 

A bunch of us made our way up to the 24-Hour Pizza around 12:30am for a slice which was appropriate because the entire day had ‘been one’ and after having our snack we headed down to our Cabins where we along with Dan and Coral, Donna and Dan and Lynne and Peewee had a Night Cap on our Balcony before turning in.

 

It was 1:00am and in only 6 hours we were going to be docked in Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos and neither Dee nor I had ever had a drink there before. Conclusion #688: Odds are that would be rectified by 7:30am …at the very latest.

[rickb]

That accountant sounds like a smart guy. :D:p

[jimbug]

Yay, I got my little "Jim and Dee" fix for the morning.

 

I have to ask...do you write as you go, or do you have it all written already? Do you start right when you get back and it takes you this long to get a substantial amount finished?

 

I'm just nosy. ;) You are so clever in your writing, I just wondered if it took awhile to put it all on paper (screen)!

[vanislandcruisers]

Yay, I got my little "Jim and Dee" fix for the morning.

 

I have to ask...do you write as you go, or do you have it all written already? Do you start right when you get back and it takes you this long to get a substantial amount finished?

 

I'm just nosy. ;) You are so clever in your writing, I just wondered if it took awhile to put it all on paper (screen)!

 

I take point-form notes on a photocopied Weekly Calendar as the Vacation goes along...For the first 4 Cruises I started as soon as I got back...1 Journal was not posted because it was a Cruise Critic Group Cruise;) but it was sent to all those involved:D ....however this is the 3rd Journal I have written since June for 3 of our last 4 Cruises + 2 Journals for our 2 Vegas trips (didn't do one for our little 3 day Pacific Coast Family Cruise)...Life got very busy for us

 

So to summarize I write as I go after we get back...and Thanks for the Compliment jimbug....gonna have to show Dee that someone thinks I am "clever"...lol

 

 

That accountant sounds like a smart guy. :D:p

 

I have heard that rumour too;)

Edited November 2, 2012 by vanislandcruisers

[auntiecruiser]

this is great!! loving reliving the cruise!!! Wedding was one of the best highlights!!!

[AuntieBon]

this is great!! loving reliving the cruise!!! Wedding was one of the best highlights!!!

 

It was special but must admit that the "good girl" in me was worried when security popped their head into the chapel. I knew it would be hard to explain to my family why I flew home early :o

[vanislandcruisers]

this is great!! loving reliving the cruise!!! Wedding was one of the best highlights!!!

 

Thanks Laurie!!!

 

It was special but must admit that the "good girl" in me was worried when security popped their head into the chapel. I knew it would be hard to explain to my family why I flew home early :o

 

There was Security???.I only saw Security once;), maybe twice:rolleyes: on the Cruise...and that was in the Casino, if I recall correctly:D

[vanislandcruisers]

Cabanas, Suck ‘N Blows, Jack’s Shack, an Early Night and a Stranger in the Night

 

Grand Turk, Grand Turk, Grand Turk. What can I say???

 

In 8 Cruises together Dee and I have had two 7:00am – 3:00pm Port Stops – once in Cabo San Lucas with many of these same ‘People’ and this day in Grand Turk….and both have produced the exact same Results. LOADS and LOADS of FUN!!!!… and I mean LOADS because of the ‘People’….. a very, very early ‘Night, Night’ for me … And I don’t blame the ‘People’, people…..and Dee maintaining ‘Normal Cruise Operating Hours’. Conclusion #689: She’s a ‘People’ person…especially these People!!!

 

I got up about 6:00am and did my best to separate my top eyelids from my bottom ones, then onto extricating my bottom and upper lips off of my teeth before making my way to the Shower to try and wash the day before off …. and get ready for our 1st Port Day….and Dan and Coral’s 1st EVER Day In the Caribbean. Once I was ready I woke Dee up and headed out on the Balcony to see what I could see.

 

Besides Ninja Dan, Donna, Lynne and Peewee what I saw first was the beginning of a bright Sunny Day with blue skies, a very beautiful Island and that water colour that when we see it makes Dee and I relax like nothing else seems to be able to do. Dan and Coral came out on the Balcony just after Dee and we could tell by the looks on their faces when they saw with their own eyes for the first time what we meant when we tried to describe the Caribbean to them after previous trips. Conclusion #690: They LIKEY!!!

 

 

See you soon Jack!!

 

 

Soon enough we were joined by Tammi and Allison and for a few minutes we all just stood there and took in the view…and then had a round of Jell-O Shots..

 

After packing up the day's necessities including a couple of Rum Runners into our Knapsack we, along with Dan and Coral, made our way up to the Lido to grab a quick snack, some Milk for me to coat my stomach and a Coffee for Dee to get her started - Conclusion #691: Apparently the Jell-O was Decaf - before heading down to the Gangway, having our ‘Welcome to Grand Turk…’ picture taken....

 

 

...and then made our way off the Ship.

 

WOW!!! – this Port was beautiful!!!

 

 

 

[vanislandcruisers]

A bunch of us – Donna, the 2 Dans, Coral, Lynne, Peewee, Bonnie, Tammi, Allison, Allen although he was AWOL, Dee and myself – had rented 3 Cabanas though Carnival.

 

 

The Cabanas are located adjacent to the Margaritaville Pool....

 

 

 

 

 

... and we all arrived, after making our way through the Port Area, at our ‘Homes away from Homes’ shortly after 7:00am. Drink and Menu Services were provided by the Margaritaville Staff ....

 

 

and the Staff were very attentive.

[vanislandcruisers]

More Grand Turk Pics - Port Area

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vanislandcruisers]

We were joined by the Pool soon after by Rick and Laurie, Cindy, and Wisconsin Laurie and then later on in the day’s festivities by Shelly, Jimmy, Trevor, Angie and Sharon who had rented Golf Carts and done an Island Tour on their own.

 

Note: For the benefit of those of you who have not been to Grand Turk and may do so in the future I have borrowed some pictures from the ‘Golf Cart’ers’ to give a quick idea of what they saw and for something completely different than what we did for the first part of the day.

 

Jimmy after experiencing the bliss of ‘finger-sucking matrimony' from his new ‘Cruise-Bride’ the day before had now been relegated to ‘Back-of-the Golf Cart’ Status by his 'Cruise-Bride' of 1 day, Shelly, and Sharon.

 

 

Trevor and Angie..."Angie, I'll close my eyes and you steer"

 

 

Knowing these 2 I can only assume this was their first Tourist Stop of the day...

 

 

They saw Grand Turk Wildlife...

 

 

 

[WeBeCruisin']

That accountant sounds like a smart guy. :D:p

 

He's very smart and a great guy. His lovely wife is sort of mean to old people, though. :rolleyes:

Edited November 2, 2012 by WeBeCruisin'

[WeBeCruisin']

 

There was Security???.I only saw Security once;), maybe twice:rolleyes: on the Cruise...and that was in the Casino, if I recall correctly:D

 

Was that when they came into the casino to arrest you? :eek:

[vanislandcruisers]

More of the Golf Cart Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and true to form Angie found a Shopping Center

 

[vanislandcruisers]

Was that when they came into the casino to arrest you? :eek:

 

They just wanted to talk...just say "Hi":D