Middle Aged Drama Queen Goes BIG: Solo & Last Minute on the ALLURE!!!

[fldogmassage]

Coastal Rent a Car, right at the pier. After taxes and all it was $50 for the day (we had a Hyundai Elantra, a new one). Definitely the most comfortable and economical way for 4 adults to see the island.

 

We had previously stayed on the island for a week so we knew our way around pretty well (it's not that big!) and were used to driving, and more importantly- parking- in St. Maarten.

 

Thank you. When ever I am there I have to go to Zee Best Bakery and then spend the day at Maho. I think renting a car is the best way since I want to make a stop at the bakery, vs having to get a taxi 3 times.

 

Hopefully I remember my way around. Guess it would be hard to get too lost.

[Steppy08]

Thank you. When ever I am there I have to go to Zee Best Bakery and then spend the day at Maho. I think renting a car is the best way since I want to make a stop at the bakery, vs having to get a taxi 3 times.

 

Hopefully I remember my way around. Guess it would be hard to get too lost.

 

We did the same thing when we stayed on island! Stopped at Zee Best then to Maho... we spent 3 days solid at Maho (all planned around the flight schedules of the big aircraft, mind you)

 

This time we did a backwards tour of the island first to show my parents SXM (it was their first time). Orient Beach, Grand Case, Marigot (Serafina's does rival Zee Best), then Maho for 3 hours. We wanted to see a bit of the island first, and no interesting planes were due to arrive before noon... Did I mention that Steve plans every hour in St. Maarten around the flight schedules????

 

The rental agency was a breeze to deal with, we reserved online before we left for like $10...

[Buffettfan 225]

And now…the Vitality Spa.

 

The Spa…ahhhhh…..

 

 

I loved the spa. I love any spas, for that matter. And I used this spa extensively…not just for treatments (of which I had two – reviews & information to follow), but I also used the Thermal Suite and the Relaxation Room.

 

 

The Vitality Spa is huge, with solo and couples massage rooms, a youth spa, a thermal room, acupuncture, a mud lounge, and a thermal suite with a rain forest shower and steam chambers.

 

Here is a menu of the offerings, as well as the prices (that are always subject to change):

 

 

-------------------------------

 

As you can see, it can get pricey…on port days, they would often offer a special, that would look like this:

 

 

----------------

 

And GUYS, we don’t want YOU to feel left out, so here’s something for you:

 

 

-------------------

 

On boarding day (Day 1), there’s a special going on, as well:

 

-----------------

 

The Thermal Suite…which is actually located down a deck on Deck 5 – was relaxing…however, instead of large glass windows that overlook the ocean, they offer you a relaxing view of....doors…of the steam rooms. Bleh. I was disappointed in the Thermal Suite, having been spoiled on the Radiance class. However – I will say that it was a nice end to my day, relaxing on the heated chairs…it was normally empty (I would go every night from 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm).

 

 

 

 

The Spa would open every day at 8:00 am and close at 10:00 pm.

 

Never having been on a ship offering thermal, can you tell me if the thermal chairs, sauna & steam area are coed?

Just wonder if can enjoy area with my spouse together.

[SoCalTraveler]

Never having been on a ship offering thermal, can you tell me if the thermal chairs, sauna & steam area are coed?

Just wonder if can enjoy area with my spouse together.

The thermal suite is co-ed.

[mjldvlks]

Hmmm...growing up in Missouri - and going to the University of Missouri (Kansas City) - I can never, in good conscience, root for the Jayhawks...but I wish you luck! Until you possibly play the Eagles. . .

 

Actually I am a Wildcat -- I assume you understand that frequently means I have to be very flexible in who to root for.

[fldogmassage]

We did the same thing when we stayed on island! Stopped at Zee Best then to Maho... we spent 3 days solid at Maho (all planned around the flight schedules of the big aircraft, mind you)

 

This time we did a backwards tour of the island first to show my parents SXM (it was their first time). Orient Beach, Grand Case, Marigot (Serafina's does rival Zee Best), then Maho for 3 hours. We wanted to see a bit of the island first, and no interesting planes were due to arrive before noon... Did I mention that Steve plans every hour in St. Maarten around the flight schedules????

 

The rental agency was a breeze to deal with, we reserved online before we left for like $10...

 

I picked the eastern route for Maho. I too have flown in just to go to Maho. Thank you I am going to book on line. Hope to run into you on the beach one day.

[petesweet]

What is the back story on HENRY?

Kathy

[Princess123]

Have just caught up with the rest of the review you wrote yesterday (am in UK so a few hours ahead) and rather alarmed to see a photo of what looks like my husband in your Chef Dwayne photograph (well maybe a younger, slimmer version!) which made me laugh out loud (yes, at my desk) and wonder how on earth he found time to visit St Maarten. By the way, I assumed you were going to name your perfume EPIC. Like the rest of your loyal followers, I really enjoy your reviews and your blogs.

[AF-1]

glad u didn't do the zipline; a good friend of mine did it and broke her leg in four places; I was lucky and survived; so you made a wise choice

 

Thanks for staying with me, everyone! After all the excitement of last night's Super Bowl, I had to take a breather and get some rest. Who knew we'd finally have a game in the last quarter?!!!

 

If you remember where we left off of our tour, we’re still on Deck 16…and we’re now alllllllll the way back in the back – or aft, in official ship talk.

 

If you remember Deck 16, we started out in the front….all slow and easy…in the zen-like Solarium…and because sometimes we adults need some liquid relaxation, we discovered two of the pool-side bars – the Sky Bar and the Mast Bar. I’m not sure about you, but after partaking of some liquid relaxation, I need food – and Deck 16 provides that, with not only Izumi, but the Windjammer. And, of course – after indulging in either the delicious Asian goodness of Izumi – or overindulging in the buffet of the Jammer – some activity is now needed.

 

<Snort. "Activity"????!! Who am I kidding?! The only activity I need on a cruise is arranging my pool towel on my lounger so that it's absolutely perfect. But indulge me...if you will...because it will help me segue into the next segment.)

 

Back to "activity." We will find that at the very back of Deck 16…where we discover two of the many items that make the Allure unique.

 

First – the double FlowRiders.

 

 

The port-side FlowRider is designated for stand-up surfing (minimum height is 58”), while the starboard-side FlowRider is designated for boogie boarding (minimum height is 52”).

 

There are posted times when the FlowRider is open:

 

 

 

You can also pay for private lessons; the rates are below:

 

 

 

Parents: If your kids are under the age of 18, you’ll need to sign a waiver for them. If they’re under 13, you need to stay and supervise them while they’re participating on the FlowRider.

 

I’ll just say right here that I did not – and will not – EVER do the FlowRider. Ever. Never. No way. No how. I have a terrible aversion to water in my face, and until they can design a way for me (and others like me, because I KNOW I’m not alone in this…um...phobia) to ride the FlowRider, without a single drop of water touching my face, it ain’t happenin’. Hubby Mike thinks I’m weird, but I’ve patiently explained that it’s no different than having a phobia of spiders or snakes…okay. Wait. Perhaps it’s a little different…but it’s still the same.

 

Anyway. I didn’t ride the FlowRider. You get the idea.

 

----

 

And secondly...there is the ZipLine.

 

Steve, on the ZipLine...

 

Ahhhhh, the ZipLine.

 

If you've ever felt the need to soar 9 decks high while cruising in the Caribbean, here's your chance....For a mere 82' that will feel like a few seconds, it's a rush like no other.

 

Of course...I wouldn't know this. Because I didn't do it. Nope.

 

After I saw how all you ZipLiners land:

 

Amy, at the landing....

 

...where you somewhat come in hard and then crash and smash into the foam, hoping against hope that you don't take out the RCI employee waiting for you...

 

...I decided that my broken foot would prevent me from doing this.

 

Oh. That's right. I neglected to mention that I was sailing with a BROKEN FOOT on the World's Largest Cruise Ship.

 

Yup. I broke my foot on December 19th, which is a long story in and of itself, but just know that I had no one to blame but myself and my complete lack of grace, and I was oh-so-priviledged to don a lovely orthopedic boot for several weeks...and although I had removed my oh-so-fashionable (NOT) boot for the cruise, I was still limping while traversing the miles and miles of corridors of the Allure...which was NOT fun, nor conducive for my healing.

 

Here's a tip for you: Don't break your foot weeks before sailing on the World's Largest Cruise Ship. You're welcome.

 

Anyway. I digress.

 

When I saw how hard some of the ZipLiners were landing, I decided that in the best interest of my broken foot, it would behoove me to stay away from the ZipLiner.

 

Certainly the fact that I am petrified of heights had NOTHING to do with not riding it. Nope. Not at all. Nor the fact that I really had no desire to drop 9 decks, like a ton of bricks, if that teeny-tiny little harness should break while MOI was in it. That had NOTHING to do with it.

 

It was because I needed to protect my foot. Yup. Protection.

 

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

 

Anyhoo, here are the hours for the ZipLiner, in case you feel the need to fly:

 

 

Note that the minimum age for ZipLining is 6 years old; you MUST have socks and pants/shorts on...and your clothing must be dry. There is a minimum of 75 lbs and a maximum of 275 lbs to ride. Your pockets MUST be empty - and no cameras, no watches, and no glasses.

 

ON TO DECK 15!!!

[Zhane's mum]

Wow,this review is amazing..funny and informative,you have a gift for writing. I'm going to read your other reviews now :D

[Buffettfan 225]

And now...a break in our regularly-scheduled broadcast...

 

...for all of you dealing with the blizzard...and snow...and are dreaming of sand and sun and blue water:

 

 

 

That was where I was at in St. Maarten...just a few weeks ago....sigh.

 

I'm not known for my amazing photography skills, but I am pretty darned proud of that photo. ;)

 

This one is worthy of a screen saver for you. What beach in St.Maarten?

[ahecht]

^Grand Case

[KansCocoa]

 

Day #6: Sea Day

 

We are now heading back towards Ft. Lauderdale, and we’ll have two sea days to enjoy before we disembark. This is the perfect time to really explore the ship, if you haven’t already. As for me – today will be a somewhat slow-paced, relaxed day – while tomorrow, our last sea day, I’ll be enjoying the All Access Tour.

 

For breakfast, I head down to the Cafe Promenade for my usual Chai tea and white chocolate donut...but....what is this?

 

No William?

 

Sure enough...as I approach the counter, I don't see my usual friendly, smiling face ready to greet me with a cheery, "Good morning, Miss Sherri!" Perhaps William has the day off...shrugging, I place my order to the new guy behind the counter...who then looks at me in complete horror.

 

"What kind of tea did you want?" he asks.

 

"Iced Chai," I reply...wondering what the problem is.

 

Well...the problem is, that despite the fact that iced Chai tea is decidedly on the menu, this guy has no clue as to how to make one. He really IS a new guy. He looks at me for possibly some instruction, and I give him a shrug, saying, "I don't know, either...I just watch William make them every morning."

 

He has to go back behind a door and bring someone else out, and between the two of them, they manage to whip up something that looks pretty darn close to iced Chai tea. They hand it over for my approval, looking nervous as they await my verdict. I cautiously take a sip, and then give them a smile..."Nailed it!" I say, and they breathe a sigh of relief.

 

About that time, I hear, "Miss Sherri! Miss Sherri!" - and I look behind me to see William hurrying over across the Promenade....

 

He's all apologetic for not being behind the counter when I arrived, but I reassured him that all was well. And this is why I like RCI. For the most part, the service has always been outstanding...the employees go over and above to make sure the guests are comfortable and satisfied. Except for a few who shall remain nameless (I'm looking at YOU, Miss Cameron Diaz-twin, who couldn't be bothered to investigate - or even apologize for - the Stretch class gaffe), most employees DO care.

 

The weather is decidedly more brisk, as we’re making good speed on the open ocean…so, rather than Pool Slothing, I decide to spend my morning checking out the artwork onboard the ship – there’s a TON of it, especially in each stairwell – on each level – and it provides just the right amount of exercise to check it all out. Who needs Stretch Class when you can go on an Art Expedition?!

 

Besides the sculptures and such, there’s some really cool photography and other media…my favorite was this series, done by British artist, Simon Lewis…it’s entitled “Observances – Air, Clouds, Rain, Stars, Dust, Night, Lilypads.”

 

Mr. Lewis did this in 2006/2007, and an explanation ensues:

 

“Observances are text pictures composed of short, evocative sentences that within the combination of typographic and color design, formulate the moments of romantic subjectivity and dimensional leaps characteristic of the artist.”

 

Well. I don’t know about all that – but I DO know, loving words like I do, that the literary soul in me loved these:

 

 

 

So that I don’t violate any copyright issues – shudder – I’ll just stop with those…but you get the idea. But here’s a challenge – to any future Allure cruisers, or those who have been on it already – can you guess where these are? Or can you find them?

 

This is such an amazing ship, that a fun idea would be to do a Scavenger Hunt onboard – to find these elusive, hidden treasures….

 

This is a close-up of another piece of art that I liked…

 

 

Now, granted, up-close, it doesn’t look like much…but if you step back, it becomes this:

 

 

See? It’s now a giant jellyfish or blob-thingy! So cool…

 

The elevator waiting areas aren’t left out, either…they each have their own unique touch…my favorite, as well as a lot of other peoples’ favorite, are the “Hanging Dresses” – but I’m sure that’s not the official name!

 

 

Now…I know that many, many posts back, one of the readers (Bill, I think??!!) commented that I should have been checking out the artwork on the ship.

 

Oh, Bill…ye of little faith.

 

You should have KNOWN that I’d be checking it out! I’m not going to let much get past me when I have an EPIC review in the works!!!

 

Anyway…on a rainy, cloudy or chilly day – it’s pretty cool to have an Art Hunt while onboard…be sure to visit each stairwell, each elevator bank, Central Park, the Boardwalk, etc…they all have their own unique pieces!

 

Soon…it was time for lunch…and I was meeting Steve and Amy at Vintages, for some delicious tapas….we’d enjoyed tapas in Barcelona last summer, and I wondered how Vintages would stand up….

 

Edited March 28, 2013 by KansCocoa

[truffles2]

Love those hanging dresses. We watched them being cleaned one day....bet the maintenance people HATE them!

[KansCocoa]

 

So…lunch at Vintages Wine Bar…besides the obvious wine, Vintages has an extensive tapas menu…several pages, in fact. There’s no cover charge, and you just pay a la carte for what you order.

 

I arrived at Vintages, and soon, Amy and Steve showed up…we were quickly seated inside, and Atanasov was our waiter.

 

Tapas are small plates – sample sizes, almost – that are meant to be shared amongst family and friends. We decided to order a good sample from the menu, so we could mix and match…

 

This first dish, Jamon Serrano, is sliced Serrano ham with crusty sourdough bread:

 

 

It was delicious! But I haven’t met a ham that I don’t like! In fact, I think I AM part ham – in more ways than one!

 

 

Next up was Aceitunas Verdes de Espana – which is green Spanish olives:

 

 

I am admittedly NOT an olive person. Normally, green olives are something that I do a “pick and flick” if I encounter them in a dish…pick them out and flick them over to Hubby’s plate. BUT…BUT…these olives were divine.

 

 

Soon, another plate arrived…Iberian Salchicha…which is assorted Iberian sausages served with crusty bread:

 

 

Loved this, as well…and I’m not keen on sausage. But this was flavorful…tasty…and filling.

 

 

Speaking of filling…we’ve only just begun on our Tapas Adventure, and we have a ways to go! Here’s a tip…don’t eat the bread – or eat very little of it – so that you can concentrate on all of the other tasty stuff! Here's another tip: go with friends. This is something you don't want to do solo...this is a sharing experience, for sure! Amy's parents joined us, eventually, but they'd just had lunch, so they watched the rest of us STUFF ourselves....speaking of stuffing, look at what's next:

 

Crab Croquetas…crab croquettes with Spanish paprika aioli:

 

 

Wow. These were fabulous…pretty much crab with anything is going to be good, but the crust on these was perfect.

 

 

Last (for me, anyway), was the Croquetas:

 

 

Holy smokes…these are rice croquettes simmered in meat sauce and stuffed with cheese....

 

 

Oh. My. Goodness. Look at that cheese...just oozing out....it was SOOOO good.

 

 

I had to throw in the towel here and take a break…Steve and Amy pushed the envelope a bit further, by indulging in some Paella de Marisco – a traditional seafood, meat and saffron rice dish – but I couldn’t do it. Apparently, I couldn’t even take a picture of it – because I was pretty much in a food coma at this point, and we still had dessert coming.

 

Because – duh – you ALWAYS have to have dessert on a cruise ship. It’s a rule. Somewhere!

 

[KansCocoa]

 

Atanasov was good at clearing out plates and bringing new plates…tapas aren’t all brought at the same time…there’s a “pacing” involved, and he was good at knowing just the right pace…clearing away the food, he asked if we wanted dessert, and we said, “Of COURSE!”

 

Steve & Amy were picking up the food bill, and I offered to pick up the dessert tab. Generous of me, I know.

 

The dessert menu isn’t as extensive as the regular food menu, which is probably a good thing…in fact, the dessert menu was small enough, that I boldly proclaimed,

 

“BRING A PLATE OF EVERYTHING!!!!”

 

Woo hoo! Haven’t you always wanted to say that when dining out? Vintages is the PERFECT place to be so bold…because tapas are small, and they’re relatively cheap. You won’t believe how much I paid for one of everything…but we’ll cover that later.

 

In the meantime…let the dessert porn continue:

 

 

These were the Cheesecake lollipops…otherwise known as “Chupa Chups de Tarta de Queso.”

 

Yummy. Dessert on a stick. ANYTHING is good on a stick.

 

 

 

Here we have “Torta de Quesoy Fresas” – or strawberry cheesecake…as well as “Mus de Chocolate Con Ron” – otherwise known as chocolate panna cotta.

 

 

 

 

And finally, we had the following:

 

 

This is “Crema Catalan” – or citrus cream catalana…and “Mus de Pistacho” – or pistachio and nougat mousse.

 

 

 

Yum. All of these plates were delicious, and were the perfect sweet ending to the tapas feast we’d had. My check came to a whopping $12. Not bad. Not bad at all.

 

There was only one thing to do after a gluttonous lunch like that, and that was to take a nap. I didn’t want to nap in my cave, though – so I headed up to the Secret Deck, which was delightfully still secret:

 

See that neon knapsack? And cup? And Kindle? That's my stuff. I had it all to myself. And that knapsack was the perfect way to carry things onboard - such as my Kindle, suntan lotion, my camera, etc. Made out of nylon, so it could withstand water...just a tip.

 

It was nice to relax and chill here…again, if you aren’t fortunate to have an outside balcony, this deck – and the other secret decks – are perfect to hang out and watch the sea go by.

 

 

Soon, the Belly Flop Competition was being held in the Aqua Theater:

 

 

 

One of the contestants actually put both his arms behind him before flopping in…that takes guts. Or stupidity. Because really – no arms? To break the fall somewhat? There was also a 70+ year old contestant, which I thought was awesome. I liked Ken Rush’s outfit…that was great.

 

 

Late that afternoon, rain clouds moved in, chasing everyone indoors.

 

 

 

Even with that, this ship is designed to disperse the crowds….the Promenade got a bit crowded, but it wasn’t too bad, for the most part. Tonight was Formal Night, and I had a date with Steve & Amy and her parents…we were going to feast. Again.

 

Only this time…a MEAT feast.

 

[KansCocoa]

Absolutely loving your review. Making me want to take a solo trip so I can go visit a rum factory and not worry about anyone else tagging along, but I'll pack some wipes :cool: :D .

 

Yes...either pack the wipes or make sure the lid is completely closed on your bottles before they sack them up. ;)

 

 

 

 

1. Did they bring one plate for that whole table or one plate for the four of you?

2. And did they replenish the food if it's all gone and someone wanted more?

3. Did they insist that you dance?

 

1. One plate for the four of us...the people at the other end of the table had their own plate.

2. Yes, they would - but we didn't need replenishing. They will keep bringing it as long as you are still eating!

3. NO. Not at all. They encourage you - but they don't make you. Even if you're wallflowers, you'll have so much fun watching everyone else dance!

Edited March 28, 2013 by KansCocoa

[KansCocoa]

I'm really glad to find out that we get some time to spend at the beach looking around.

 

BTW, is that a clock I saw in one of your photos between the two iPod/Iphone docking stations on the desk? If so, no need to bring a little alarm clock onboard Allure?

 

You'll enjoy the tour, then - it was fun...and different! As far as the clock, that IS a clock...if you were going to bring an alarm clock to only know what time it is, then no, you won't need an alarm clock. However - note that the clock in your room doesn't have an alarm. It is just that - a clock. And it plays your iPod/iPhone music. I relied on the alarm on my iPhone, and I put in for a wake-up call every morning. So no, DON'T bring an alarm clock! ;)

 

Sherri,

 

Where do you get your Cruise Comfy, and pretty too, dresses?

 

Why, first, thank you! They are comfortable, for sure!

 

I get them at a variety of places...I love shopping at boutiques so that I can get unique stuff that no one else has...but I also like Dress Barn. I have had some of those dresses for a long time, but they're pretty timeless, and they're all made of knit. I can wad them up and pack them, and I NEVER have to worry about wrinkles! They're also all wash and dry - in the sink. It's important to have non-wrinkle, washable stuff that you can grab in a second when you go on a last-minute cruise! ;)

[KansCocoa]

Sherri, true confession time: I NEVER log onto CC when I am at work. I have a very demanding job. However, I needed a break from the drama so I figured a quick peek wouldn't hurt. Lo and behold I see you updated your review. As I was reading through your St Maarten excursion, I literally busted out laughing when I saw the rum factory. My boss wanted to know what was so hilarious. I confessed and he read it as well and we laughed together.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a big fan of your "Adventures" blog and of course your cruise reviews.i booked a Med cruise for September based on your wonderful review with your DH and Klingons.

Keep up the great work and please consider writing a novel. The only authors that make me laugh as much are Janet Evanovich and Sophie Kinsella.

 

Thank you for such a wonderful comment! This made me smile...I'm glad you and your boss could laugh...at my expense. ;)

 

Oh, you are going to have such a fabulous time in September! And even if it's not the perfect trip - what trip is, actually?! - you can always laugh about it later.

 

What type of camera do you use? Do you need release waivers from the people you shoot? You must copyright them so you have no worries about people using your photos w/o permission. I'm asking this, because I took a shot of a woman carrying a ice chest on her head in Roatan, and felt very guilty about snapping it before asking permission.

 

I really enjoyed your rum adventures! Even DH was laughing. Sorry the bottle wasn't sealed. It's interesting how our mental pictures of the excursions don't often old up to what we all see.

 

Please keep you Europe review in your signature. We booked a TA/Europe next year, and I want to study it.

 

What type of camera do I use?

 

Whatever one is lucky enough to be working at the time. ;)

 

Seriously. I DO have bad camera karma. On this trip, I had to alternate between a Canon cheapshot and my iPhone camera...because I couldn't get the memory card on the Canon to convert the photos when I tried to upload them. I was so frustrated!

 

As far as release waivers, no, I don't use them. EXCEPT for when I'm deployed with the American Red Cross...that is a policy we have with the ARC. As someone explained later on here, I'm just posting the photos for a fun review to help others when they cruise...this is kinda' what's stopping me from doing a book. If I were to write a book - and sell it - I wouldn't be able to use half the photos I've taken, because I don't have release waivers from the subjects in my photos.

 

My European link will always be on my signature - as that is the FIRST EPIC review I wrote... :)

[KansCocoa]

I can't believe you were there, we found this ourselves last time we were on the island, I just finished the last of the rum this weekend! (it was hidden and not for general consumption - far too good for barbarians!)

 

The Europe review was great, I was at most of your ports but did not have most of the experiences you did. I did search for the perfect gelato though.

 

Hope you get the sinuses "fixed" and keep travelling, I love reading about your adventures.

 

Thanks, Mary! That rum was GOOD, wasn't it??!! Very tasty...and as you said, far too good for barbarians! OMG - it's too SMALL for barbarians! Can you imagine a GIANT busload pulling into that place??!! When I go back to St. Maarten, I'm going to go back and restock on the rum and the hot sauce. Hubby says its the best hot sauce EVER. Sigh.

 

So, you didn't set off any alarms at Michelangelo's David??!! Good for you! Did you find the perfect gelato? Share, please, where, if you did!

 

I am praying the surgery fixes things, as I'm so frustrated at being "grounded." I've had to cancel too many adventures!

 

Your entire review is fantastic, and has made me want to jump right onto the Allure - after our Med cruise this summer of course....but this post here has me almost in tears laughing at my desk. You truly have a way with words! Thank you for sharing your vacation experiences and I'm so glad you have several more cruises planned! :D

 

 

Oh, I see - laughing at the funny drunk woman who was licking her fingers on the bus! I get it...! ;)

 

Enjoy your Med cruise...I WISH I were going back!

 

Top Chef cruise is coming up...I need to take the Oasis cruise off of my signature. We've decided to spend 10 days in NYC this summer for our vacation, after my time there for Hurricane Sandy. I fell in love with the area, and want to show it off to Hubby and Klingon Daughter. We are going to be doing some AMAZING food tours (of course!) while there, so I'll have to write a review on my "regular" blog. I hope you follow along!

[KansCocoa]

Looking forward to Rita's it looks like a lot of fun, we have it booked the same night night on our cruise. Though we will not be able to stay for the full two hours as we have reservations for the Prohibition Party at 10:30 that night and we need to get into costume for that party. :D

 

Bill

 

I hope you stay so you can at least enjoy dessert and the dancing! (Just wear your Flapper stuff to the Mexican fiesta - set a new fashion statement! I'm actually kinda' serious - it's dark in there, people are drinking anyway, and no one would care!)

 

 

Actually I am a Wildcat -- I assume you understand that frequently means I have to be very flexible in who to root for.

 

I like you now.

 

Hee hee.

 

Hubby is a Wildcat. I told him on our first date that I would never have dated him if he'd been a Jayhawk...but a Wildcat is cool in my book. ;)

[Buffettfan 225]

 

 

Laughter is the best medicine...I'm glad to help! But isn't it true? A SCALE on a cruise ship???!! WHAT were they THINKING??!! I had nightmares every time I went into the gym and had to walk by that...horror.

Only use for a scale --to weigh my post cruise luggage! -we used to weigh our bags in spa before we had a digital scale. So there is one use only IMO.

[KansCocoa]

What is the back story on HENRY?

Kathy

 

Henry is just so darned cute that he has pretty much an Unofficial Henry Fan Club....! Really not much of a backstory - but if you see him, you ALWAYS smile! :D I've actually gone on some cruises where I never see him - and that's a sad thing....

 

Have just caught up with the rest of the review you wrote yesterday (am in UK so a few hours ahead) and rather alarmed to see a photo of what looks like my husband in your Chef Dwayne photograph (well maybe a younger, slimmer version!) which made me laugh out loud (yes, at my desk) and wonder how on earth he found time to visit St Maarten. By the way, I assumed you were going to name your perfume EPIC. Like the rest of your loyal followers, I really enjoy your reviews and your blogs.

 

Oh, that's funny - your Hubby's Doppelganger in my photo!

 

And EPIC...that would have been EPIC! You're right, too!

 

Dang...I need to go back and rename my perfume. Do a get a do-over???!!!

[KansCocoa]

glad u didn't do the zipline; a good friend of mine did it and broke her leg in four places; I was lucky and survived; so you made a wise choice

 

YIKES!!!! I knew that landing looked a little...hard. And abrupt!

 

 

Wow' date='this review is amazing..funny and informative,you have a gift for writing. I'm going to read your other reviews now :D[/quote']

 

Thank you, Zhane's Mum! I'm glad you are enjoying it...and yes, go back and read the others...start with the European one first. ;)

[KansCocoa]

This one is worthy of a screen saver for you. What beach in St.Maarten?

 

As someone said, this is in Grand Case...it's behind the restaurant that we had the cooking demonstration at.

 

A very clean and pretty beach - and EMPTY! There was hardly anyone on it!