loveysbydesign Posted December 19, 2014 Author #251 Share Posted December 19, 2014 (edited) So we're sitting on the bus in the air conditioning and after about 10 minutes guess who shows up?? Our cruise group! Then the bus was full and off we went. We stopped at a few other stops, such as the local college, before getting to the beaches. The bus trip was an adventure in itself! The streets are so narrow, bumpy and packed with crazy drivers. At first it was kind of scary, but then we all had a blast! Once we got out into the country it was so beautiful and bucolic...and there was hardly any other cars. We stopped at Jolly Beach and some of our group got off, then it was on to Darkwood. I was glad we had decided not to go to Jolly beach as it looked busy and there were tons of vacation rentals and such right there by the resort/beach. So we're sitting up in the front and we are talking to the driver. We found out his name was Shelmore and that his friend from all the way back in Elem. school is the manager at the bar/restaurant at Darkwood. He was amazingly friendly and fun to talk to. Once we got to Darkwood, he made it a point to actually get off the bus and introduce us to his friend and make him promise to take good care of us! Since the bus only cost us $1.50 per person (what a steal) we gave him a generous tip! Edited December 19, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 20, 2014 Author #252 Share Posted December 20, 2014 So after I went to bed last night I realized I typed in the wrong bus driver name...his name was Bravo and his friend Shelmore was the manager at Darkwood Beach....that's what happens when I've been up since 3 a.m.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleveCruiser Posted December 21, 2014 #253 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Really enjoying your review, and the comparison aspect of it. Thanks for talking the time to do it. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txskier Posted December 21, 2014 #254 Share Posted December 21, 2014 nice review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 22, 2014 Author #255 Share Posted December 22, 2014 (edited) So we made it through the crazy journey from the port to Darkwood Beach. The view was just breathtaking, it was even more beautiful then I ever could have imagined! I felt like I was in a dream! We lock our KYSS bag to a chair (2 for $10) and then go take a dip! OMG it was the perfect temperature, I could have stayed in there all day. But I wanted to explore and took a walk down the beach where it was empty. Not that it was busy by the bar, only maybe 20 people were there. My view looking to the left towards the bar. My view looking to the right. Edited December 22, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinisthebest Posted December 22, 2014 #256 Share Posted December 22, 2014 (edited) I agree. Antigua is breathtaking. We went to Valley Church Beach back in August and I just couldn't believe how gorgeous it was. Pictures don't do it justice! Edited December 22, 2014 by cruizinisthebest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 23, 2014 Author #257 Share Posted December 23, 2014 More pics!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 23, 2014 Author #258 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Time for lunch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 23, 2014 Author #259 Share Posted December 23, 2014 (edited) Edited December 23, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherryleea Posted December 23, 2014 #260 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Thanks for posting this review! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toya268 Posted December 24, 2014 #261 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Loving the post...keep it coming!! I am getting so excited for the Breeze and I am not going until April 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewut Posted December 24, 2014 #262 Share Posted December 24, 2014 As long as it is not the theme from 'Frozen' I can live with it. The 'Frozen' theme seems to be everywhere. Oh Let it go, will you? Sorry, I just had to be a smart alec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesscruiser Posted December 24, 2014 #263 Share Posted December 24, 2014 All you need to do is go over and peruse the Disney boards where you can read postings from fans whose ring tones are probably the theme from "It's a Small World". hahahaha...... this literally made me lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BK512 Posted December 24, 2014 #264 Share Posted December 24, 2014 So after climbing out of the water and back onto the catamaran I was truly sad that we had to go back to the ship. The older kids and hubby would have loved to stay and snorkel some more too. Even though we were having a good time on the Breeze, the catamaran was better ;) Someday, when money is not a huge issue, you can charter a catamaran in the Virgin Islands for a week with a captain and a cook. Then your biggest decision of the day would be "Do we snorkel before lunch or after lunch today?" Or both. Best vacation I ever had, although I do love a good cruise! It's spendy, but so much fun...we took a group of 6 on a 60' catamaran that slept 10 people. Great food, open bar, blue skies, clear water, and a different beach to anchor off every night. Aaaahhhh..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenseib Posted December 24, 2014 #265 Share Posted December 24, 2014 I am loving the review and pictures. That drink of the day at darkwood sounds yummy. The beach is so gorgeous! On a foggy morning here I could really go for some bright sunshine and beaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 24, 2014 Author #266 Share Posted December 24, 2014 So after climbing out of the water and back onto the catamaran I was truly sad that we had to go back to the ship. The older kids and hubby would have loved to stay and snorkel some more too. Even though we were having a good time on the Breeze, the catamaran was better ;) Someday, when money is not a huge issue, you can charter a catamaran in the Virgin Islands for a week with a captain and a cook. Then your biggest decision of the day would be "Do we snorkel before lunch or after lunch today?" Or both. Best vacation I ever had, although I do love a good cruise! It's spendy, but so much fun...we took a group of 6 on a 60' catamaran that slept 10 people. Great food, open bar, blue skies, clear water, and a different beach to anchor off every night. Aaaahhhh..... That sounds amazing! Maybe for our 25th anniversary!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 24, 2014 Author #267 Share Posted December 24, 2014 (edited) I am loving the review and pictures. That drink of the day at darkwood sounds yummy.The beach is so gorgeous! On a foggy morning here I could really go for some bright sunshine and beaches. ITA! It has been rainy, foggy and dreary here in PA. Looks like we'll be getting thunderstorms later...crazy stuff for Dec. Last year this time it was very icy! I'm spending the day baking and making lots of treats for our party on Sat! Edited December 24, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrigley80 Posted December 24, 2014 #268 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Love your pics of the beach in Antigua. That is one port in the Caribbean that we have not been to and it looks amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #269 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Hi everyone...with so much going on over Christmas it has been crazy here! hope you are still following along! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinboro cruiser Posted December 28, 2014 #270 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Hi everyone...with so much going on over Christmas it has been crazy here! hope you are still following along! Still here, on the Breeze again next month and the Disney Fantasy next Sept. Haven't cruised Disney in 14 years and can't wait to try it again Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #271 Share Posted December 28, 2014 So after a good lunch we headed back out to the water to enjoy it some more before heading back on the bus to the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #272 Share Posted December 28, 2014 (edited) Soon it was time to dry off, get changed and head back to the ship :( The one great thing about Darkwood Beach is that the bus stop is right next to the bar/restaurant. The view from the bus stop!!!!!!!!! We all gave Antigua a BIG thumbs up!!! Edited December 28, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #273 Share Posted December 28, 2014 (edited) We got back on the ship a little before 4, got showers and then enjoyed the sunset off our cove balconies. I walked around and took some more pics., before heading up for dinner at 5:30. Edited December 28, 2014 by loveysbydesign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #274 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Once we got to dinner, Dejan and I Komang were so excited to see us and asked us why we weren't there the previous night. Dejan said he missed us...awe, so sweet! We loved our servers! Instead of calling us the Hartley family they called us the "Water" family, as we all drank 2-3 glasses of water at dinner each night! View from the glass elevators. Dinner was Italian night, plus the usual things you could get every night! We thought it was extra yummy! Ok, time for a comparison.....we found the food on the Breeze to be a bit better than what we had on the Disney Dream...but on par with what we had on the Disney Magic. Now I don't know if that is because the Dream was a shorter 4 night cruise, instead of the 7-8 night ones we took on the Disney Magic and Breeze or not! As far as service, we found the Breeze to be amazingly better than what we had experienced on either Disney ship. We found that the servers on Disney seemed much more rushed and frazzled. On the Breeze they never seemed that way. On Disney the servers did not really seem to be enjoying their jobs, it was more like they were just going through the motions and trying to just get everything accomplished. On the Breeze our serving staff seemed to be having a good time while on the job! Also on the Breeze our kids, esp. our youngest got lots of extra attention, special treatment and smiles from our servers. They seemed to really enjoy having the kids at their table. On Disney it was kind of like...I have an entire room full of kids so who cares. Now I know this will vary depending on what servers you have no matter what ship you are on, I am just sharing our experiences! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loveysbydesign Posted December 28, 2014 Author #275 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Love your pics of the beach in Antigua. That is one port in the Caribbean that we have not been to and it looks amazing It is just the most beautiful place I've ever been to! I would love to go there again! Hopefully you'll get there someday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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