MITSUGIRLY decides to CONQUEST new ports-complete pictorial review

[mitsugirly]

As we stepped on the beach, some guys approached us and at the entrance and ask if we wanted to rent chairs. I immediately told him we were waiting on another family and once they arrived, we'd get some. I wanted to check out the place first and see the best spot to claim as our real estate for the day.

 

I knew that the snorkeling was supposed to be toward the left facing the water. We first walked that way. But it didn't seem like the best place for swimming, which I knew Sakari would do most of the day. So an easy entry with sand would be a must. She immediately turned around and said "I wanna go down here" and headed in the opposite direction. But...she kept going. Going further than what I had originally wanted. The husband had to play referee at this point and said "We need a happy medium for the both of you girls. Just past the big rocks" which ended up being WAY past the big rocks. I lost the battle.

 

We stood there for a minute and he said "Why are we not getting chairs yet again?" I told him "I'm waiting on Kia (thrilled)". He said "We can't wait under an umbrella while relaxing on a chair facing the ocean?" LOL Ok, go get us some chairs then! And off he went in one direction while Sakari headed the opposite direction to the water. Yea, she's out there....

 

 

The vendor with the chairs came back with 2 loungers and an umbrella. They dug a hole, planted the sun blocker contraption and this was our view now.

 

 

Hubs immediately headed to the food stand to get some cold drinks... "Taste the Caribbean"...it kinda tasted the same as the US, except it had a better view to it!

 

 

 

Pelicans were everywhere here. It was fun to watch them dive into the water over and over.

 

 

I tried to stay turned around to watch for thrilled to arrive, but this caught my eye...the beach was lined with tents. A lot of them. I assume this is like a campground? Although it sounds amazing, I don't think I could do it...the sun is just too hot.

 

 

It was hot out and I headed for the water to check it out. It was amazingly refreshing and felt really good on this hot day. Sakari was busy putting on her mermaid tail (she was a peacock mermaid today...confused kid I tell ya...mermaid, nemo, peacock...she's just a mixture of all animals these days), and daddy was busy looking over us from the comfort of our new prime real estate location safe from the sun.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

And out she came...

 

 

 

I could have sworn it was a parrot fish jumping out of the water...

 

 

 

She immediately went after the diving pelican. She got really close before it actually took off.

 

 

 

 

Pirate ships off in the distance. Aaaarrrgggghhh! This is in the area to the left and where boats kept coming to drop off people to snorkel. I knew this had to be the location everyone was talking about on these boards when they said go out and to the left around the rocks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

It was probably about 30 minutes or more before Kia and family arrived. They must have really got tied up for awhile. We flagged her down, she got a chair, then tried to be unsociable by putting it behind us to the side. Oh no, you are stuck with me at this beach girlfriend...pull up that chair!

 

We sat around most of the day chatting it up, telling stories, discussing the cruise and ship, telling about our previous days in port and getting to know each other really well. The kids played and had a great time and Sakari and Kia's daughter had a blast. I felt like I've known them forever.

 

 

A few kite surfers showed up at our beach too.

 

 

The girls...

 

 

 

 

 

Building sand castles...or forts...or mermaid houses...who knows

 

 

We decided it was getting a little late and we should probably go check out the snorkeling. Since Kia has a munchkin too little to snorkel yet, we would rotate going out (even though the hubby fell in love with "little dude" and would have gladly watched him while we all went, but mommy refused) we decided that me and the girls would go out first.

 

Now I've been in situations before that I have been out snorkeling and my battery goes dead. I have a huge stock pile of 1) batteries and 2) sd cards...I will NEVER run out of anything again (not to mention back up camera's as well).

 

We were going quite a way down the beach, so the last thing I wanted to do was get out there and my battery go dead. I decided to replace the battery with a fresh one before leaving. For some reason, Sakari decided that she didn't want to even take her new camera with her.

 

We headed down the beach to the rocky area to go in.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

I hope you enjoyed that last beach picture...because guess what...it's the last you'll get!

 

We head out into the water and it was rocky in areas and you really had to be careful with the waves crashing and making some areas kinda dangerous to be in due to the water going up and down and the rocks sticking up. We would wind in and out of paths of rocks, trying to make our way over toward the boats/snorkeling. The water was a little stirred up in that area, due to the waves, and the sun wasn't really bright and shining at that point, I find some coral...point, shoot, nothing. Wait what? What just happened? Over and over I try...my battery is DEAD!! Are you serious? I charged all of these batteries last night...but this one is dead. Man, I was really wishing I would have just kept my other battery in there. I just couldn't believe this. Then knowing Sakari didn't have her camera either. Ugh!

 

We continued to wind around the rocks, going further and further out. Things got a little better with the snorkeling and we were close to being where the other snorkelers were, but I honestly didn't feel it was the greatest snorkeling. Yes there were some big coral pieces, but for the most part, I was just seeing a lot of rocks, small fish and sea urchins. I was not thrilled, I was not happy about the camera, I was not happy about the waves throwing me around, Michaela was struggling with a snorkel that was letting in water (I believe it's not a dry snorkel and that was the problem), she kept asking me to fix it, I felt so helpless and thought it's probably from all the waves and getting into the snorkel from the top. I could only suggest "hold your breath if you can". Sigh. I felt so bad.

 

We did see some really big brain coral, and lots of fire coral...eek! There was mostly surgeon fish and grunts, but I did see a white fish with 3 black spots. I have no idea what it was and I still need to try to look it up....if only I could have gotten a picture of it! Darn. I did see some of the biggest squirrel fish that I think I have ever seen and a lot all in one place. They were amazing.

 

Finally I think we had all had enough and turned around. We found a few sea urchins (the "friendly" kind) and the girls swam back to our place in front of the chairs..wait, what chair??? They wanted to show everyone and get their pictures taken with them... since I didn't have a working camera at that time and needed another battery.

 

 

I would find that the guys came by and collected all the umbrella's and chairs!!! I guess the hubs and Kia wasn't too happy about that because we only had them for about 2 hours. They ask the name of the company that runs it and the workers reply was "I don't know, I'm new"....yea whatever...get the heck outta here with that story!

 

So...it looks like we were forced to sit in the beach and sand for the rest of the time.

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Ok...heading to bed. We only managed to get 4 hours of sleep last night d/t painting the bedroom and I'm tired. I'll finish this day up tomorrow when I get up.

 

Hope you are enjoying still. :)

[RobertL88]

Looks like a party bus ready to pick up the cruisers that are willing to crawl back to the ship either right before sailaway or after in some cases.

 

 

 

Loving your review (will be on the Conquest in November) and this picture! Looks like a miniature city :) Could you please tell me what setting on your camera you used to take this one? Would like to see if my Olympus Tough (TG-4) has this setting too.

 

 

BewarenBewaren

 

 

BewarenBewaren

[valentinebaby1]

Loving your review! We're doing a very similar cruise on Conquest but not until April 2019, and they've replaced La Romana with Princess Cays...we were pretty happy with the change, and it extended our time in Curacao also. Originally when we booked it was going to be:

 

sea day

Grand Turk 7am to 2pm

La Romana 9am to 4pm

Curacao 1pm-11pm

Aruba 8am-4pm

sea day

sea day

 

Now the new itinerary is:

 

Princess Cays 9am-4pm

Grand Turk 12pm-7pm

sea day

Curacao 10am-11pm (13 hours!!)

Aruba 8am-4pm

sea day

sea day

 

I'm a night owl like you, so I'm really happy with the change in Grand Turk, and I think I'll like that sea day between the ports instead of 4 port days in a row. We're also going to Grand Turk this fall on the Glory and we're looking at doing a tour to Gibbs Cay so I was really glad to see your review and photos!

 

Anyway, enjoying your review, thank you for posting! I know how much work it takes to do it, so I really do appreciate it!

[Destaw71835]

I have to go to Aruba now. Your pictures of the beach are beautiful!

 

 

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[Kfamilycruise]

Kim, so sorry about your battery when you were snorkeling! That must have killed you! The other pictures of Aruba are so gorgeous! I keep saying we have to go the southern route! I just have to convince my husband that we don't have to go on the biggest, newest boats!!

 

 

 

Hey, hey! Good to 'see' you. You didn't tell me that your next cruise will be in a 2 bdrm Haven suite (I see that in your siggy). Lucky duck! Can't wait to hear about that one

 

We are doing it up right for our 20th anniversary! I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures and tell you all about it. Only 45 days to go!

[momof4girls]

The $30 chairs and umbrella that you paid for were just taken away??? Do u think it's because they thought you had all left? I've never heard of that happening! Did they collect just yours or everyone's on the beach? I'm just shocked at that happening. Could u not go back and ask for them back? Sorry for all the questions. It's just NOT right!

[CamaCama]

 

I think 4/17 is pretty awesome (I picked that date for her delivery because my other daughters bday is also on the 17th...but September).

 

 

Will your daughter be going with you on the Alaskan cruise? I've been trying to convince Sakari for years to go on one. She wants to see the animals that we normally wouldn't see on a Caribbean cruise, but not being able to go to the beach might hinder things a bit.

 

We will take her and my younger daughter on the Alaskan cruise for sure! They would love it with all the animals and mountains, cold weather and seeing snow! We live in south FL (originally NYers but my girls were born here in FL) on the east coast so we are at the beach a lot and see palm trees every day.. Alaska would be a big change and so fun for us. Plus the girls will be 7 and almost 11 so much easier to travel with esp on an active cruise like that.

 

I hope you end up going on one before me so I can read a review on it LOL :D

[Thrilled2012]

 

We are doing it up right for our 20th anniversary! I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures and tell you all about it. Only 45 days to go!

Awesome!!

 

The $30 chairs and umbrella that you paid for were just taken away??? Do u think it's because they thought you had all left? I've never heard of that happening! Did they collect just yours or everyone's on the beach? I'm just shocked at that happening. Could u not go back and ask for them back? Sorry for all the questions. It's just NOT right!

 

I know you weren't asking me but I'll respond because Kim was snorkeling with the girls at this point and I was sitting on the chairs with her hubby. The guy came up to us and told us that he needed to take the chairs and umbrella. Why asked "why?" and he responded that they were closing (the chair/umbrella company, not the actual beach). They were taking everyone's chairs. Kim's hubby and I asked him why they didn't tell us when we first rented them that it would only be for 2 hours...and the guy just shrugged in response. I felt that they should have told us so we could decide if we wanted to spend the $ and/or offered a reduced rate since we would only be able to have them for a short period of time. I had to giggle when he told us that he didn't know the name of the company that he worked for. It really didn't matter though because there seemed to be only one chair/umbrella company working the beach. They have the monopoly and so I guess they can do whatever they want. Just beware if you go to Arashi later in the afternoon that you won't get to keep your chairs for long if you rent. :o

[Thrilled2012]

I was not thrilled, I was not happy about the camera, I was not happy about the waves throwing me around, Michaela was struggling with a snorkel that was letting in water (I believe it's not a dry snorkel and that was the problem), she kept asking me to fix it, I felt so helpless and thought it's probably from all the waves and getting into the snorkel from the top. I could only suggest "hold your breath if you can". Sigh. I felt so bad.

 

 

Oh no! I didn't know that happened. I purposely let her use my snorkel instead of hers bc mine is the better quality Cressi dry snorkel. She's never had trouble using it before, must have been the waves. I'm so sorry!! You should have sent her back to the beach to me so you could have some peace (and so she could fetch my camera for you to use or one of your extra batteries/back up cameras).

 

But in reality, I figured you might be missing B and him distracting you from your fun at all times. I thought I was being nice by filling the void and sticking you with my kid to distract you in his place. Yes, you can thank me for that at any time. ;p

[mitsugirly]

Loving your review (will be on the Conquest in November) and this picture! Looks like a miniature city :) Could you please tell me what setting on your camera you used to take this one? Would like to see if my Olympus Tough (TG-4) has this setting too.

 

 

 

Thank you and glad you are enjoying it.

 

Yes, this was shot with the TG 4 and most of the Olympus camera's have this setting. It's under the "Art 6" setting on the camera and it's called Diorama. It's really easy to get the miniature "tilt shift" pictures if you are standing on a high deck on the ship and looking down. Enjoy! :)

 

Loving your review! We're doing a very similar cruise on Conquest but not until April 2019, and they've replaced La Romana with Princess Cays...we were pretty happy with the change, and it extended our time in Curacao also. Originally when we booked it was going to be:

 

sea day

Grand Turk 7am to 2pm

La Romana 9am to 4pm

Curacao 1pm-11pm

Aruba 8am-4pm

sea day

sea day

 

Now the new itinerary is:

 

Princess Cays 9am-4pm

Grand Turk 12pm-7pm

sea day

Curacao 10am-11pm (13 hours!!)

Aruba 8am-4pm

sea day

sea day

 

I'm a night owl like you, so I'm really happy with the change in Grand Turk, and I think I'll like that sea day between the ports instead of 4 port days in a row. We're also going to Grand Turk this fall on the Glory and we're looking at doing a tour to Gibbs Cay so I was really glad to see your review and photos!

 

Anyway, enjoying your review, thank you for posting! I know how much work it takes to do it, so I really do appreciate it!

 

Thanks for the comments and glad you are enjoying the review.

 

Your new Conquest itinerary sounds wonderful. I think I would like that one better as well! I hope you have a wonderful cruise! I wish they would stay longer in all ports.

 

 

I have to go to Aruba now. Your pictures of the beach are beautiful!

 

 

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Yes, it is a beautiful place! Although we only went along one side of the island, we didn't really see any poverty areas (which I'm sure every place probably has), but it was amazing there. I want to do a land vacation there in the future to explore more.

 

Kim, so sorry about your battery when you were snorkeling! That must have killed you! The other pictures of Aruba are so gorgeous! I keep saying we have to go the southern route! I just have to convince my husband that we don't have to go on the biggest, newest boats!!

 

 

 

We are doing it up right for our 20th anniversary! I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures and tell you all about it. Only 45 days to go!

 

 

Yes, my battery dying was pretty devastating to someone like me. I guess I'm just grateful that it wasn't the most amazing snorkeling to see at that point. I had considered going back out again when Kia went on the next round, but I think I talked myself out of it and after she decided not to go, I was good with that. It was quite treacherous getting out there with the waves and rocks.

 

 

Definitely do the Southern route when you can. It's so worth it.

 

 

45 days to go!!! Woo Hoo! I hope you have an amazing cruise and 20th anniversary!

 

The $30 chairs and umbrella that you paid for were just taken away??? Do u think it's because they thought you had all left? I've never heard of that happening! Did they collect just yours or everyone's on the beach? I'm just shocked at that happening. Could u not go back and ask for them back? Sorry for all the questions. It's just NOT right!

 

No, the hubby and thrilled plus her youngest son was still there on the chairs. They came and collected everyone's chairs on the beach. Pretty much told them to move and they were taking them. They were a little ticked that we had paid all this money and then only had them for a couple of hours. That's why they ask the guy who their company was (to complain) and they wouldn't give any information. I mean at that point, even the restaurant area was still open. They should have never done that at those hours. It was a little after 5pm when they took them. The restaurant/snack shack didn't close until probably around 6:30pm.

 

 

 

We will take her and my younger daughter on the Alaskan cruise for sure! They would love it with all the animals and mountains, cold weather and seeing snow! We live in south FL (originally NYers but my girls were born here in FL) on the east coast so we are at the beach a lot and see palm trees every day.. Alaska would be a big change and so fun for us. Plus the girls will be 7 and almost 11 so much easier to travel with esp on an active cruise like that.

 

I hope you end up going on one before me so I can read a review on it LOL

 

I bet they will have a blast! I know us northern people who experience snow every year can't wait to get out of it and long for places with palm trees, like Florida. We always forget that people from southern states that don't get snow sometimes thinks it's amazing.

 

 

I will definitely have to talk my family in to it.

 

 

 

Oh no! I didn't know that happened. I purposely let her use my snorkel instead of hers bc mine is the better quality Cressi dry snorkel. She's never had trouble using it before, must have been the waves. I'm so sorry!! You should have sent her back to the beach to me so you could have some peace (and so she could fetch my camera for you to use or one of your extra batteries/back up cameras).

 

But in reality, I figured you might be missing B and him distracting you from your fun at all times. I thought I was being nice by filling the void and sticking you with my kid to distract you in his place. Yes, you can thank me for that at any time.

 

 

Ahh, no big deal. I just felt bad because she was struggling to keep water out of it. She managed to hold her breath when snorkeling and we were constantly coming up because of the waves trying to throw us into the rocks. They were having a good time and especially when I handed her the first sea urchin. I came up with one and ask if she had ever held one and the look in her eyes when I placed it in her hand was priceless.

 

 

I had thought about going back for another battery, but it was just too long of a haul and I wanted to make sure that there was actually something worth taking pictures of out there first. With the water churned up, it just wasn't worth the haul there and back. I figured if you went out on the next round, I'd suck it up and go again for some pictures, but secretly glad I didn't make that trip again when you decided not to.

 

 

Nah, B knows this is what I do at each beach. He's fine with it and would rather just chill on the beach and let us girls have all the fun. (y) The less movement from him, the better his is. :')

[mitsugirly]

So after returning, and putting another battery in my camera, then getting pictures of the girls holding the sea urchins, thrilled decided not to go out and experience the "tossing of the humans around the rocks" experience and I figured it was time to take some pictures of my scuba girl before I forgot. Once again, this is something new for me and I needed to remember this each time.

 

The sun was starting to set a little and I thought this was the perfect opportunity.

 

 

I thought this looked cool how the red bouncing off the scuba girl made the sand look reddish in front of her.

 

 

 

 

 

I noticed the lighthouse off in the distance. I was thinking what great pictures that would make from up there.

 

 

The beach was starting to clear out a lot (although I didn't think it really got that crowded there...like some other popular beaches do), so it was the perfect opportunity to take more pictures of the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the restaurant area. I thought it was pretty nice up there and it was also an actual building with a deck and picnic tables to eat at. I know this beach used to be just a beach with no amenities and this place was recently built. But I didn't picture it being this nice. I had just pictured a little shack with food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

I always love finding rocks by the shore and taking pictures of the water crashing over them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

Seeing a cactus on the beach is a new experience for me. It seemed odd, but yet very cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

There's our chairs!!!

 

 

 

 

About this time, thrilled's son, Xander, has discovered that he buried one of his trucks in the sand and he can't find it now. The hubs and thrilled started dancing in the sand and praying to the sand Gods to help them find it. I found it so amusing the way they looked at the time and wish I had captured more from the beginning when it absolutely looked like more of some ritual they were doing. Dragging feet, bouncing up and down, going in circles in about a 10' radius around our camp...great times! As long as they were moving, Xander knew they were on the hunt...although they were just talking up a storm during the whole time, but movement meant they were still looking.

 

I2VOVAVcSqk

 

We all joined in on the hunt, but it was a hopeless case. The truck was gone. Sucked up by the sand gods, only to be found by the chair people some other day when they go to dig a hole for another cruisers umbrella.

 

 

The sun was continuing to set and it was beautiful out here. Too bad the clouds obstructed the sunset some. I can't believe we stayed this long. I'm so glad thrilled was with us because otherwise, I would have probably left by now. I'm not used to sitting on a beach and watching the sunset. Great experience.

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

You don't get many opportunities to take sunset pictures with palm trees when you are on a cruise and I was taking every opportunity I could.

 

 

 

 

We noticed that the restaurant area was closed up now and a swarm of beach-goers were heading to the parking lot. There were a lot of taxi's coming and going. Awesome. We started to slowly pack up our things.

 

 

 

We had to drag the girls out of the water...never an easy thing to do for me, but I left that up to thrilled because I knew if her daughter came, mine would follow...and it worked. But only for a minute and then they both went back out. LOL

 

But, eventually we were all packed up and headed for the parking lot. It was getting dark and the sun had set behind the clouds.

 

 

 

Once we got to the parking lot, there were only a handful of people there. There were a few kids on a 4 wheeler and 2 teen girls just sitting around.

 

 

[mitsugirly]

 

We seen a taxi van pull up and a family getting in. The hubby went over to ask the driver about more taxis and I think he replied they usually aren't coming here this late unless someone called for them. He ask the driver if he could call a taxi for us and he said he would. However, a taxi never came.

 

We knew it was probably a good thing that we still had about 4 1/2 hours before we were actually considered a "no-show" back on the ship (it was almost 7pm).

 

We started to worry...just a little, because we weren't really seeing any more traffic coming and going at Arashi. The only traffic we seen coming completely passed us by and was heading toward the lighthouse. I guess if I'm going to be stranded, this is definitely the port I would want to be left behind.

 

After awhile, we ask the teen girls if they were waiting on a taxi and they said no. I ask if they were locals and they said yes. So the interrogation began..."Do taxi's come here this late?" "Where can we get a taxi?" "Where is the bus stop?" "How far from here is the main road?" "How far is the next beach where the bus stops?" "Where are you parents...don't you know bad things can happen to pretty young teens at beaches when they are alone?"....no just kidding, I didn't say that, but thought it.

 

I wasn't getting very encouraging answers from them. They didn't think cabs came there that late. They don't think the bus runs there, but it does down the street. They tried to give walking directions to the bus stop, but they were a little confused about which way to turn....wait, you live here? I ask if they could call a cab...since one of them had a cell phone in her hand. She said "I don't know how to do that". Ugh! She did tell me that if I had a number, I was welcome to use her phone, but how would I know numbers to cabs.... (then it hit me just last night...the cab guy gave me his card when he first dropped us off at the beach and told me I could call him for a ride back if needed...I didn't even remember this at the time and could have called him...I just wasn't thinking straight I guess).

 

So as desperation set in, the hubby found a lady walking in the parking lot to her car and explained our situation. She said she was happy to take us to the cruise port, but she had a very small car and there was a rule of no more than 5 people. Is this a rule for everyone and just not taxis? She said she could call her boyfriend, who had a truck and had just left the beach, to turn around and come back to pick the rest of us up. How nice is that???

 

About that time...the bus pulled up and a sigh of relief came over us! The hubs ran up to confirm that it was a bus, going to the cruise terminal, and we all cheered!

 

 

 

Then we were off....

 

[JenERRN]

This made my Day!!

[mitsugirly]

Very beautiful homes along the way...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I made sure to sit on the left side so that I was able to get my picture of the Aruba sign on the way back.

 

The hubby and I were watching where we were at and then we hit the roundabout and knew it was right after that except.....the bus turned. Wait what? What just happened? He was going a different way! Ugh. I wouldn't get my Aruba sign picture after all. He turned at the shopping mall, that we had planned on going to that night, and was heading toward that little town area.

 

 

 

However, it was really neat to see that area. It looks like there's a lot to see and do there and plenty of food as well.

 

 

 

I was actually glad that we went that way when it was all done and over because it made me realize that I would actually really love to come here for a vacation and stay.

 

The hubby giggled and said "There's your Aruba sign"...so I took a pic.

 

 

Not the sign I was looking for...but it would have to do.

[mitsugirly]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

There's those little house thingys by the port...anyone know what they are? They would light up different colors and were cute.

 

 

We arrived at our destination and I then realized this was the bus terminal that we would have walked to had we taken the bus earlier that day. Not too bad of a walk and I'll know next time.

 

 

So...which way do we go? The hubs pointed up

 

 

 

According to my picture time stamp, we were back at the bus terminal by 7:31pm.

 

We were slowly walking back to the cruise ship, because we really weren't in a hurry (other than being hungry, covered in salt and sand, but that's a part of being beach bums in every port), and I knew I must get my magnet and tee before heading back to the ship.

 

We searched at the little huts along the way and found a really cute magnet that I felt was a little different than what you see in most ports with the beach scenes.

 

 

Sakari decided she wanted this...

 

 

 

Some of the stands were open and others were closed.