Irishlinny Posted December 17, 2012 Author #26 Share Posted December 17, 2012 OK, that was a workout...let's share a fishbowl Painkiller! Back in Miami You just cannot beat the open aft Lido! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 17, 2012 Author #27 Share Posted December 17, 2012 END OF CRUISE #1: I have never done a B2B cruise before, but the general consensus from those who have is that you get walked off the ship, turn in your Customs form, get a new S&S card, and walk back on. Not so, this time! There were around 180 of us doing the B2B, and we were told to meet in the Ovation Theater at 9. We sat there for about an hour while they were trying to get Customs clearance or something. They finally led us off the ship and after climbing up a very long (not functioning) escalator, we walked a little way and then had to walk back down a long flight of stairs (huh??). My ailing knees were NOT happy. Then they put us in a room and began giving out our new S&S cards. Then we sat and sat and SAT! More Customs nonsense I think...who knows. Finally they let us back on the ship...I think it was close to noon. FAIL. But it was certainly nice to just be able to jump right back into cruise mode without having to wait for luggage, unpack or figure out the ship! We spent the first sea day hanging out with assorted Funatics and having a good time. Meeting up with friends who just boarded...aft deck 11...more comfy seats! Ron Pass' 10th Anniversary with Carnival...some of our group decorated his piano in tin foil (Alex the waiter to the right) Why was Kokomo Man disrobing?!?! OK, as Scarlett would say, tomorrow IS another day! Be back as soon as I can with more shenanigans....:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cupcrazy Posted December 17, 2012 #28 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Thanks for the review & pictures. Too bad it took so long to get everything figured out for the people doing the B2B. But the best thing is you got a second week on the ship and that's awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hill6 Posted December 17, 2012 #29 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Great job Linny. Very odd on the muffins and the other food issues. The door panels on Pride of America are like the ones on the Breeze except they are white. I agree that it definitely adds to the tropical feel. I hope they get the noise issues worked out. Can't wait to read more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floatingaway2525 Posted December 17, 2012 #30 Share Posted December 17, 2012 WOOOHOO!! Lovin' this, Linny!:D Happy reunions are the best!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhcpchika1 Posted December 17, 2012 #31 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Fab review! Excited for the rest :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydog123 Posted December 17, 2012 #32 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Thanks so much for the quick reply to my questions regarding the balconies. I enjoyed your review and pictures very much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare crewsweeper Posted December 17, 2012 #33 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Aahh! Linny! Ya started yesterday and I missed it:( Gettin' caught but though!:) Loved hangin' with you guys! And yer right...Desi and her team were great in the MDR! Best meal/service I had there was when I crashed your table one night:D. Looking forward to the rest! Rum On! Crew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PathfinderEss Posted December 17, 2012 #34 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Enjoying your review, and love your photo's, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceB Posted December 17, 2012 #35 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Wonderful start to your B2B review, love the pictures and the details! Can't wait to read more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vivavegas Posted December 17, 2012 #36 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Loving your review Linny and the pictures too! So much fun to see everthing through another's eyes. Thanks!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #37 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Thanks all, for the encouragement! It's hard to follow some of our supreme reviewers, but am giving it my best shot. I won't take credit for most of the pics, though...Dave takes most of em because I have Shaky Paw Syndrome! Let me try to get some more posted before some other life thing jumps in front of me! SEA DAY FUN Buckets, Bananas & Monkeys, OH MY! And along came a BEE! Hey! We clean up nice despite a day of shenanigans! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #38 Share Posted December 18, 2012 GRAND TURK: A bunch of us decided to go up to one of my favorite places, Jack's Shack! It's much more relaxed up there than being near the port and Margaritaville, IMO, but if you love a good crazy party, stay at MVille. Had a great time hanging out at Jack's (yes there was alcohol involved!), enjoying the beautiful water (the beach there is much nicer than near the port), and playing with Topher (Jack's awesome clam-digging dog). Jack and his wife, Janet are great folks...we always have a good time there. We reluctantly headed back to the port and what a sight awaited us....a line to the ship which went all the way back to the port area! That was really not fun waiting in line for an hour...no clue what in the world was going on, but it was NOT pretty! They had 2 entrances open and then finally opened a third. At one point Butch came out to talk to us and apologize (nice touch). All I could think of was if this was going to be the way it would be getting back on at all the ports, but thankfully it wasn't anywhere near that bad for the rest of the trip. Grand Turk from the ship Deb and Topher...Jack's swimming, clam digging dog Topher taking a dip Time to find some clams! The usual suspects... The first time I've seen horses on the beach here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #39 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Nice Cat! Aussie Aussie Aussie! The HAL ship next to us. Funniest thing...there was a guy on the HAL ship, probably in his early 50's, shouting from their Lido deck to us..."HELP ME! HELP ME! I'm single and stuck on this ship!" Too funny. Poor guy should have done some research on CC before choosing HAL!;):p Look at these adorable little chocolate mice that our friend, Ward, bought for all of us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #40 Share Posted December 18, 2012 That night (Monday) Butch came on the intercom to let us know that we had turned around and had to meet up with a Coast Guard helicopter to do an emergency evac. This was a first for us. The helicopter arrived a little after midnite and hovered just off our balcony. We saw it lower a rescuer and then go over the aft Lido. After a bit, it came back and hovered...wow it was really LOUD! It repeated this process a couple of times and then left...the whole process was fascinating. The next morning Butch came on the intercom to let us know the guest had been transported to the hospital and was getting the care he/she needed...that made us feel good to know they made it there...praying that all went well afterward. As a result, we would not be going to La Romana that day. It made our group a little sad, as we had a really good excursion booked with Seavis, but it was far more important that the person got the medical attention they needed. So we enjoyed another sea day (always fun with a bunch of good friends!), and were told that instead of arriving in Curacao at 2 the next day, we would be arriving at 9 a.m.! As a footnote...when we went to dinner that night, Ken Byrne was talking to our table and told us the poor Guest Services people had been raked over the coals for 4 hours straight by people complaining and demanding things for missing the port. I cannot fathom how people can really be that rude and inconsiderate when a person needed urgent medical attention...it really burns my butt! I am sure they would feel differently if it was a member of their own family. OK, rant off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #41 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Bonus Sea Day...Red Frog, here we come The hot tubs are a good size! Yet they're all smooshed together! (Poor lady in blue probably was sorry she ever got in there! LOL!) Our fearless leader loves to dance with the waiters! This little girl was ADORABLE and ended up being the star of the show every night after this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreezingInMichigan Posted December 18, 2012 #42 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Linny, Great review as always! :) ~ Sheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandgnat Posted December 18, 2012 #43 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Great review! Sure wish we could of joined you but my cousin got married Dec. 1. We are going on the Breeze Feb. 2, to take some of Dad's ashes one year from the day we lost him, and to celebrate my sister's 21st anniversary of her 29th birthday. Her husband will be 55 on the same day, Feb. 9th. Sounds like we will love this ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerrytens Posted December 18, 2012 #44 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Keep up the great work Linny! Lovin' it:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #45 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Linny, Great review as always! :) ~ Sheryl Thanks, Sheryl! We loved her much better than the Freedom! You and Chuck will have to check her out! Great review! Sure wish we could of joined you but my cousin got married Dec. 1. We are going on the Breeze Feb. 2, to take some of Dad's ashes one year from the day we lost him, and to celebrate my sister's 21st anniversary of her 29th birthday. Her husband will be 55 on the same day, Feb. 9th. Sounds like we will love this ship. Wish you could have joined us, too. You will love her...and what better way to remember your Dad. I plan to do the same with my Mom's ashes. Hope married life is treating you well!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #46 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Keep up the great work Linny! Lovin' it:D Mir, you're such a good audience!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #47 Share Posted December 18, 2012 OK, soldiering on to Curacao! CURACAO: We had not really made any big plans for this port, as we were getting in mid-afternoon. We had just planned to wander about and see the sights near the port. Had we known we would be there from 9 am until 11 pm, we could have made some great plans! We didn't rush to get off the ship. When we did, we headed over to Rif Fort, which is a very cool old fort which has been converted to some shops and restaurants with a huge courtyard in the middle. From there, we passed by a row of little souvenir stands along the road which leads to the Floating Bridge...decided to save purchases for the way back. The Floating Bridge is very unique....it floats (obviously) and has engines attached to it that move it out of the way when a ship needs to come through. Our very own Kokomo Man was on the bridge when it started moving...and he was snapping pics all the while. When we reached the other side of the bridge, we opted to take an open air taxi/bus/truck for a tour. We went by the Floating Market, took a tour of the Curacao distillery (with yummy free shots!), and saw quite a few different types of neighborhoods. Stopped at a gift shop which had gorgeous views and then headed to a very nice beach club for about a half hour. We were given the option to stay and be picked up later, but none of our friends were staying so we headed back. It was a good tour...the guy narrating spoke a number of different languages, so he did the whole thing in English and Spanish...he had a good sense of humor, too, so it was fun. I realized afterward that I never got the name of the company...one of many DUH moments for me. I really enjoyed the island...the architecture is beautiful and the people are very warm and friendly! When we got dropped off, we decided to head back to the ship...it was enough walking for me. Some of our folks headed back out later in the day, dressed in an assortment of Christmas adornments to be in the spirit of the island's celebration of Christmas. It was a beautiful night with a full moon...there was actually more than one, but that is not fit for prime time!:eek: Sailing in Port area Very cool pool at a nearby resort...I forgot the name (stinks getting old!)...maybe one of our readers will remember! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #48 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Really didn't expect to see a Denny's here! We love hummingbirds! Heading toward RIF Fort...some little shops & condos along the way Outside Rif Inside the courtyard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #49 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Cool Steve and Christmas decorations Loved these little "shops" on the way to Floating Bridge...so NOT Diamonds International! And there were steel drums to boot! Floating Bridge Where's Whale Tail? The pontoons of the bridge...and don't ya just love the colors of the buildings?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishlinny Posted December 18, 2012 Author #50 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Other side of the bridge There's Kokomo Man (orange shirt) snapping pics as the bridge moved away Not a great shot of the Floating Market...we were moving too fast. Mainly fruits and veggies, but other items as well Such interesting architecture! Cheers! Yummy shots! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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