GAPearl's Second Valor Review- Solo Southern Caribbean Cruise! (2/24/13)

[alreadypacked]

Hi GA PEARL, Your reviews have more lives than a cat. lol, they are always popping up to the top. Love it !

 

Have to share my excitement with you as well as letting you know I will be rereading your reviews again and again.

 

You may recall my husband did not feel well on our last cruise in March on the Breeze. It had nothing to do with the ship, but his fatigue and mobility challenges. He decided and continued to say he was through with cruising, didn't want to do any more, that was his last. I was of course broken hearted since I love cruising. I do land trips without him, but would not feel comfortable cruising and leaving him here. WELL, DRUM ROLL PLEASE.

 

As I was on CC the other day reading a review of the Pride, he asked where I was this time. I suggested to him that we try the Pride since we are barely an hour and a half from Baltimore and the Pride is a Spirit class ship which we find easy to navigate.

 

He said, "IF you'll go to Puerto Rico, I'll go on a cruise !" I emailed our TA who found the perfect cruise for us. The Pride is repositioning to San Juan Nov. 30, 2014. After our cruise, it will be based in Tampa. WE are booked on the 8 day from Baltimore to Grand Turk, St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and San Juan ! We'll spend a few days post cruise in San Juan then fly back non-stop on Southwest to BWI. YES !

 

I'll be reading all of your San Juan adventures with new interest. Although with the mobility issues we will do more van tours vs walking around, I know we will have a wonderful time.

 

Have a great time on the Breeze. I know you will love it. Can't wait for that review.

 

I was thinking the same thing recently!

 

GAPearl's reviews go the distance! And rightfully so--she provides lots of detailed info, photos, and personality!

 

Way to go--looking forward to more!:)

[gapearl]

I was thinking the same thing recently!

 

GAPearl's reviews go the distance! And rightfully so--she provides lots of detailed info, photos, and personality!

 

Way to go--looking forward to more!:)

 

No one thinks that more than me, LOL! I'm sooooo ready to write the next review! :D

[angelofsin]

three cruises in a year. How the heck can you afford that many cruises? perhaps you got to put a brother to your cruise shopping tactics. And by the way what does OTS stand for?

[rob6465]

Angelofsin is right...I'd be straight with 2 cruises a year...lol

 

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Forums mobile app

[gapearl]

three cruises in a year. How the heck can you afford that many cruises? perhaps you got to put a brother to your cruise shopping tactics. And by the way what does OTS stand for?

 

LOL I get asked this quite often.

 

1- I make decent money.

2- My living expenses are very low. I bought a foreclosure and my mortgage is only $515 a month, and that's for a 3 bedroom, 7 year old house. I don't drive an expensive car and hardly ever go out. Plus I'm an extreme couponer. :p

3- I don't have to buy plane tickets since I work for an airline and fly for free.

4- I book way in advance, about a year, and make small payments. I bundle my travel insurance and prepaid gratuities in with the price of the cruise, so all of that is taken care of up front. Let's say your final total for all this is $1,000, and you give yourself 10 months to pay it off. Assuming you get paid twice a month, that's only $50 a paycheck. If you up that to $75 a paycheck, you can take that other $25 and buy on board credit. That's $500 you'll have in that 10 month time frame to spend once you get on the ship for drinks, casino, spa, etc.

5- I DON'T HAVE KIDS. ;)

 

Search around and you can find some good deals! OTS stands for Of The Seas. All of Royal Caribbean's ships end with Of The Seas.

 

Angelofsin is right...I'd be straight with 2 cruises a year...lol

 

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Forums mobile app

 

I'd be happy with 2 as well! I'm so blessed to be able to travel as much as I do. My friends tell me all they time they live vicariously through me. I also take land trips in addition to my cruises. I went to Punta Cana for my birthday back in June. Last year my only cruise was the Mediterranean cruise, but I did a couple of land trips to Aruba and Vegas. I seem to go somewhere every few months. LOL :cool:

[rob6465]

More power to you. Wife and I are almost the same as you. We don't go out much or smoke, drink, party. Our sail and sign bill has never been more than $250. We sail from home port of galveston..lol

 

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Forums mobile app

[gapearl]

More power to you. Wife and I are almost the same as you. We don't go out much or smoke, drink, party. Our sail and sign bill has never been more than $250. We sail from home port of galveston..lol

 

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Forums mobile app

 

LOL thanks! My sail and sign bill is usually pretty low too. On my last cruise, I was only up to like $80 on day 6. There are ways to travel and sight see for cheap. Just gotta do your research.

[angelofsin]

LOL I get asked this quite often.

 

1- I make decent money.

2- My living expenses are very low. I bought a foreclosure and my mortgage is only $515 a month, and that's for a 3 bedroom, 7 year old house. I don't drive an expensive car and hardly ever go out. Plus I'm an extreme couponer. :p

3- I don't have to buy plane tickets since I work for an airline and fly for free.

4- I book way in advance, about a year, and make small payments. I bundle my travel insurance and prepaid gratuities in with the price of the cruise, so all of that is taken care of up front. Let's say your final total for all this is $1,000, and you give yourself 10 months to pay it off. Assuming you get paid twice a month, that's only $50 a paycheck. If you up that to $75 a paycheck, you can take that other $25 and buy on board credit. That's $500 you'll have in that 10 month time frame to spend once you get on the ship for drinks, casino, spa, etc.

5- I DON'T HAVE KIDS. ;)

 

 

Didn't know you were a june baby (I am as well).. I am jealous of the 515 a month mortgage.. I wish i had some money when the market tanked. i drive a ford fusion and will be driving that baby until the wheels fall off. I need to start booking in advance.. I booked my last cruise three months out and it was pricey (but I also had a balcony to myself.. first time cruising and wanted to spoil myself).. I don't have any biological children but I have enough nieces, nephews and god children to keep my pockets with lent in them.. but I guess I bet to start looking for my cruise for the 2014 season.

 

thanks for the advice..

[ch27088]

GApearl, did you take your cruise in August? I've been looking for and anxiously awaiting your review! :)

[gapearl]

 

Didn't know you were a june baby (I am as well).. I am jealous of the 515 a month mortgage.. I wish i had some money when the market tanked. i drive a ford fusion and will be driving that baby until the wheels fall off. I need to start booking in advance.. I booked my last cruise three months out and it was pricey (but I also had a balcony to myself.. first time cruising and wanted to spoil myself).. I don't have any biological children but I have enough nieces, nephews and god children to keep my pockets with lent in them.. but I guess I bet to start looking for my cruise for the 2014 season.

 

thanks for the advice..

 

I am indeed a June baby! And a Gemini so watch out! :eek: Actually the pearl in my username is from my favorite June birthstone. I was very fortunate to find my house when I did. Atlanta was FULL of foreclosures. I looked at houses super cheap that were way too big for just me! Another bonus was getting the first time home buyers credit. Part of that money booked my Freedom cruise. :D A last minute solo cruise in a balcony sounds pricey! But you had a great time and that's all that matters. Good luck planning your next cruise!

 

GApearl, did you take your cruise in August? I've been looking for and anxiously awaiting your review! :)

 

It's coming up in 23 days! Review will be started the day I get home! :D

[2 cruzen]

LOL I get asked this quite often.

 

1- I make decent money.

2- My living expenses are very low. I bought a foreclosure and my mortgage is only $515 a month, and that's for a 3 bedroom, 7 year old house. I don't drive an expensive car and hardly ever go out. Plus I'm an extreme couponer. :p

3- I don't have to buy plane tickets since I work for an airline and fly for free.

4- I book way in advance, about a year, and make small payments. I bundle my travel insurance and prepaid gratuities in with the price of the cruise, so all of that is taken care of up front. Let's say your final total for all this is $1,000, and you give yourself 10 months to pay it off. Assuming you get paid twice a month, that's only $50 a paycheck. If you up that to $75 a paycheck, you can take that other $25 and buy on board credit. That's $500 you'll have in that 10 month time frame to spend once you get on the ship for drinks, casino, spa, etc.

5- I DON'T HAVE KIDS. ;)

 

Search around and you can find some good deals! OTS stands for Of The Seas. All of Royal Caribbean's ships end with Of The Seas.

 

 

 

I'd be happy with 2 as well! I'm so blessed to be able to travel as much as I do. My friends tell me all they time they live vicariously through me. I also take land trips in addition to my cruises. I went to Punta Cana for my birthday back in June. Last year my only cruise was the Mediterranean cruise, but I did a couple of land trips to Aruba and Vegas. I seem to go somewhere every few months. LOL :cool:

 

Good for you to spend your money on things you love. I've had people ask me the same...we only cruise once a year due to having to fly. Sometimes the flight is as much as an inside cabin.:eek: without the good food!

I, too, am a fan! Can't wait to do more of the southern ports. Thanks for all your tips.

[gapearl]

Good for you to spend your money on things you love. I've had people ask me the same...we only cruise once a year due to having to fly. Sometimes the flight is as much as an inside cabin.:eek: without the good food!

I, too, am a fan! Can't wait to do more of the southern ports. Thanks for all your tips.

 

Cruises and shoes. That's where all my extra money goes. I don't know which I love more! :p

 

I can't ever quit my job. I haven't bought a plane ticket in 7 years. LOL For people with families of 4 or 5 or more, that's a lot of money!

 

Thanks for reading! :)

[2 cruzen]

I know...I keep threatening to retire after 33 years of working as a speech therapist, but this cruising "hobby" of mine keeps me working! Now we want to start taking our little grand daughter...once she learns better table manners. She's only 3!

[gapearl]

I know...I keep threatening to retire after 33 years of working as a speech therapist, but this cruising "hobby" of mine keeps me working! Now we want to start taking our little grand daughter...once she learns better table manners. She's only 3!

 

33 years? Yeah, you definitely put in your dues! It's going to be a fantastic trip when you're able to sail with the little one! :)

[ch27088]

 

I am indeed a June baby! And a Gemini so watch out! :eek: Actually the pearl in my username is from my favorite June birthstone. I was very fortunate to find my house when I did. Atlanta was FULL of foreclosures. I looked at houses super cheap that were way too big for just me! Another bonus was getting the first time home buyers credit. Part of that money booked my Freedom cruise. :D A last minute solo cruise in a balcony sounds pricey! But you had a great time and that's all that matters. Good luck planning your next cruise!

 

 

 

It's coming up in 23 days! Review will be started the day I get home! :D

 

 

Wonderful I will be checking Cruise Critic for your review each day. Have a wonderful trip...eat, drink, and be merry!!!

[gapearl]

 

 

Wonderful I will be checking Cruise Critic for your review each day. Have a wonderful trip...eat, drink, and be merry!!!

 

Thank you so much! I sure will! :D

[faroozi]

How much in advance did you book your hike with Spencer Ambrose before the cruise? And did you pay him before you left on the cruise or the day of your hike? Thanks for the great review!

[gapearl]

How much in advance did you book your hike with Spencer Ambrose before the cruise? And did you pay him before you left on the cruise or the day of your hike? Thanks for the great review!

 

I booked about 3-4 weeks in advance and confirmed a couple days before as well. I paid the entire amount the day of the hike, but I don't remember if I paid at the beginning or the end. Good luck if you decide to make the hike as well! Thanks for reading!

[angelofsin]

 

I am indeed a June baby! And a Gemini so watch out! :eek: Actually the pearl in my username is from my favorite June birthstone. I was very fortunate to find my house when I did. Atlanta was FULL of foreclosures. I looked at houses super cheap that were way too big for just me! Another bonus was getting the first time home buyers credit. Part of that money booked my Freedom cruise. :D A last minute solo cruise in a balcony sounds pricey! But you had a great time and that's all that matters. Good luck planning your next cruise!

 

 

 

It's coming up in 23 days! Review will be started the day I get home! :D

 

I am a late June baby, which makes me a cancer by definition. The way I look at it you were prepared when the opportunity arose. I have lived in this world long enough (all of my 31 years) and some people are never really ready for opportunity when it comes (but let me get off my soapbox). A vacation is a good way to spend a tax refund. I booked my first cruise with some of my bonus money thus I was able to afford a balcony on such short notice. For the record I never thought three months out was short notice but with you and others telling how they are booking things a year out, I see that I was drastically late to the party (and I am not usually a tardy person). With that small fortune I spent to go on that cruise I was going to have a good time even if it killed me!! glad to say I had a great time on the cruise (officially hooked to cruising) and I am looking to book a cruise for 2014 just trying to figure out if I want to do the Caribbean or Alaska.

 

I am looking forward to your next review!! Hope you have fun on your cruise.

[renebfl]

thanks for all the info Going on Thanksgiving.

[BDAN8V]

gapearl, I just want to thank you for such an awesome, amazing, comprehensive review of your experience.

 

This has been a hell of a thread to read through, but in a good way! With my better half turning me onto the boards/forum here, I have spent SO much time reading through this thread. Your very open and unbiased review has been amazing, thanks SO MUCH!

 

Only problem is, with only a few days to sail, I ca't seem to get much work done! I keep gravitating back to this thread and I feel like mentally, I am already checked out, lol!

 

I can't match your amazing blogging, but, I can do it with pics. I fancy photography as my most serious hobby and I plan on being "that guy" onboard. I will not be without one of my cameras and plan on doing a pretty comprehensive photo tour upon return.

 

This thread has been an AWESOME tool for both myself, and better half who started off a little apprehensive about the cruise thing, but has had many questions/concerns addressed through this thread. Thanks for your great work and detail oriented review, it has been priceless.

 

Maybe oneday we will have the chance to be shipmates, until then, keep up the great work!

[gapearl]

 

I am a late June baby, which makes me a cancer by definition. The way I look at it you were prepared when the opportunity arose. I have lived in this world long enough (all of my 31 years) and some people are never really ready for opportunity when it comes (but let me get off my soapbox). A vacation is a good way to spend a tax refund. I booked my first cruise with some of my bonus money thus I was able to afford a balcony on such short notice. For the record I never thought three months out was short notice but with you and others telling how they are booking things a year out, I see that I was drastically late to the party (and I am not usually a tardy person). With that small fortune I spent to go on that cruise I was going to have a good time even if it killed me!! glad to say I had a great time on the cruise (officially hooked to cruising) and I am looking to book a cruise for 2014 just trying to figure out if I want to do the Caribbean or Alaska.

 

I am looking forward to your next review!! Hope you have fun on your cruise.

 

My first few cruises were last minute, but this back when the single supplements were much cheaper than they are now. When I took my first cruise 6 years ago, I called Carnival (and Royal Caribbean for the record, and you see who won lol), gave them my dates, told her I don't care where it goes or where it leaves from, just give me your cheapest cruise. It was two weeks before sailing, 4 day Baja Mexico on the Paradise from Long Beach for $279, including taxes, port charges, and any single supplement. Deals like that just don't exist on Carnival any more if you're a solo cruiser. My second cruise was booked 3 weeks out, and my third and fourth about a month out. But then came the 200% single supplement, and I started to become interested in longer (and more expensive) cruises, so I had to start booking early. Like you, I usually use my tax refund on my vacations. It's a little extra money so I figure why not?

 

Thanks for the well wishes. We have 154 people in our FB group and still adding more every day. I think this is going to be an even better cruise than the last one! 16 days and counting! Be on the lookout for the next review soon! :D

 

thanks for all the info Going on Thanksgiving.

 

You're welcome, thanks for reading! Gobble gobble, have a great Thanksgiving cruise! :)

 

gapearl, I just want to thank you for such an awesome, amazing, comprehensive review of your experience.

 

This has been a hell of a thread to read through, but in a good way! With my better half turning me onto the boards/forum here, I have spent SO much time reading through this thread. Your very open and unbiased review has been amazing, thanks SO MUCH!

 

Only problem is, with only a few days to sail, I ca't seem to get much work done! I keep gravitating back to this thread and I feel like mentally, I am already checked out, lol!

 

I can't match your amazing blogging, but, I can do it with pics. I fancy photography as my most serious hobby and I plan on being "that guy" onboard. I will not be without one of my cameras and plan on doing a pretty comprehensive photo tour upon return.

 

This thread has been an AWESOME tool for both myself, and better half who started off a little apprehensive about the cruise thing, but has had many questions/concerns addressed through this thread. Thanks for your great work and detail oriented review, it has been priceless.

 

Maybe oneday we will have the chance to be shipmates, until then, keep up the great work!

 

Hi! First, welcome to Cruise Critic! You see already these boards are so addictive. I appreciate you taking the time to read through this looooooong blog, lol. I hope you have a BLAST on your cruise! Is this your first one? By all means, be "that guy" with the camera. I sure am "that girl". I take pictures of EVERYTHING. I figure I might never get to come here again and see this or do that, so take all the pictures you can. Last two cruises, I had about 2,500 pictures by the time I got home. Hopefully when you return you'll come back and share some with us! :D

 

BTW, are you from Hawaii?

[chill6x6]

Hey gapearl!

I so enjoyed your write up. I've read thru it several times. FILLED with LOTS of great info! I've got THIS VERY itinerary booked coming up Nov 17th and guess what??? I'm doing it

 

SOLO!

 

:D:D

[gapearl]

Hey gapearl!

I so enjoyed your write up. I've read thru it several times. FILLED with LOTS of great info! I've got THIS VERY itinerary booked coming up Nov 17th and guess what??? I'm doing it

 

SOLO!

 

:D:D

 

Awesome Chuck! You'll have a great time!!!!! :D:D:D Thanks for stopping by!!!

[Cruiser 2 too]

I'm almost as excited as I'd be if I were going on your next cruise! Can't wait to read your review and see your great photos.