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the simplest things


JGB

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Having just returned from a cruise I can say that there were many wonderful experiances. But one of the things that I enjoyed most out of the many many activities and events was having a cup of joe out on the balcony at first light. The smell of the ocean air the cool breeze and the peace....

John
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My favorite "ritual" if you will - is the last night - when everyone else is really living it up I go up to the front of the ship and feel the wind in my hair and smell the salt air and feel like I am alone in the universe. It is so quiet and so beautiful there without lights from a near by city to spoil the view of the stars and to hear the ocean. No one is ever there and I can just stand there for hours.

I remember when I was on the Fascination coming back from Barbados there were several lightening storms off in the distance - it is a sight I will never forget in my life.

Carnival
Fantasy 11/91, Ecstasy 1/98, Fascination 11/99, Paradise 2/00, Imagination 4/02, Ecstasy 5/03, Paradise 10/03

Royal Caribbean
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


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Boy, that about says it all. I did that as well on the Sensation last year.

Just stood there seems all you could hear was the splash of the waves and the sky above and you felt that it was just you and that big ship out there all alone. I got goose bumps, then thought what if we hit a big wave then over I go and no one would know where I went or where I was. So at that point made my way back inside.

But it was so awesome for those few minutes. Unless you've done that at night like you said with know one else around it's hard to desribe the feeling that you get and how touched you are all of the sudden by the creation of it all.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;09;25;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Victory New York to Canada 09/25/2004 Cruise

Victory Cruise New York to Halifax

Carnvial Sensation 2003

Carnival Fantasy 1993
***So Glad To Be Back Cruise Again


[img]http://d21c.com/AnnesPlace/Summer3/Ship.gif[/img] Carnival Victory New York to Canada
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Ginaducey:
Thanks for your post, your colorful description enticed me to create the same Last Night memorymaker ritual. Can't think of a better way to end 7 wonderful days on my cruise.
Pryd

Glory 5-22
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The morning coffee and the evening nightcap out on the balcony were 2 things that I absolutely loved.

Also, finding a quiet spot somewhere on the ship and watching the sunset (I wanted to experience the sunrise as well but too many evening nightcaps on the balcony...)

Carnival Legend 02/04

Our Cruise Pics
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These next nine days cannot pass quick enough!

pryd - I am glad that I can help give you a new ritual as well [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. For me that just sums up the entire trip and it really does make you feel like you are part of the entire universe. Oh I am getting goose bumps thinking about it!!!!!

Carnival
Fantasy 11/91, Ecstasy 1/98, Fascination 11/99, Paradise 2/00, Imagination 4/02, Ecstasy 5/03, Paradise 10/03

Royal Caribbean
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


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I get teary eyed just thinking about how I feel when I get into port and see the ship. The feeling is awe, excitement and amazement and one of gratitude that I can afford to get on it.
When we are out at sea...well, then I can't understand how anyone could be an atheist...(not trying to start a fight here...just stating my opinion). Being on the water does something to my soul and nothing else on this earth could ever give me that feeling of total euphoria.
My husband and I enjoy our early mornings on the ship...while most are still sleeping, we get up to that morning air and enjoy tea on deck and just stare out at that ocean and when I do, I always make a wish that when I die, that heaven is an island and I am surrounded by water.

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends
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Absolutely. My hands down favorite time onboard is early morning while most the pax are still sleeping...the quiet, the peacefulness, the seas that resemble glass, and the solitude you don't usually get on a ship with 2000+ other people, is easy to come by before 6:45 or 7.....((sigh)) [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]


Militant Breastfeeding & Homebirth Proponent-Sandra Carmichael

Mardi Gras 6/79
Mardi Gras 6/79
(back to back cruises)
Celebration 8/02
Splendour of the Seas 3/03
Jubilee 7/03
Conquest 1/04
Celebration 1/04
Elation 2/04
Elation *coming again* 1/05
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This is an awesome thread...we need to keep this going.

I believe in Miracles
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MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends
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I'll share something I wrote in September, on my last night at sea:


The sea
How enchanting it is to me
The waves' rise and fall
Ecstatically enthrall

Enchanted isles abound
With beauty and wispy sound
Waves gently kissing the shore
How could I ask for more

Alas, the last night
With the stars shining bright
I feel like a lucky girl...and
At the bow I shout "I'm Queen of the World!"

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003
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Beautiful, Cotton. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends
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Well thank you, thankyouverymuch! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003
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Although mine is still yet to come,
I'm very glad to hear that I'm not the only dreamer here.

Y'all have described what I was looking for on my first cruise.
Very happy to know that I CAN find it, somewhere, sometime, on the ship..
Thank you.

Sensation 5/15/2004
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All of your experiences make me even more grateful and excited that I surprised my husband by upgrading our cabin to a balcony. I know we're going to have our morning coffee out on the balcony and probably a few nightcaps out there, too!

There really is nothing like the feel and smell of the salt breeze of the ocean when you're sailing off into paradise. That's why I think cruising appeals to a certain set of people, and those are natural water-seekers. I love the water, and I always have, and I can't imagine living the rest of my life and never setting foot on another ship/boat/dingy/raft. It's part of what makes me ME!!

Lisa [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[b]Monarch of the Seas - 1994
Royal Majesty - 1996

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Until VICTORY is ours
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My favorite cruise tradition started on the Glory. I'm a night owl and usually rolled in around 2 or 3 am. My friend Pam didn't really care about my lack of sleep [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] and every morning came to wake me up around 5:30 or 6:00 am so we could watch the sunrise. We do this every morning and I couldn't imagine missing out!

Kristi - [email="kristikae@aol.com"][img]http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/Atom.gif[/img][/email]
"No shoes, no shirt, no problem..."
Fantasy 3/95, Fascination 12/01, Conquest 1/03, Glory 9/03, Conquest 1/04, Mariner 9/04, Miracle 2/05
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Cotton: That is so beautiful! You should send that in to one of the cruise magazines or something!!!

Lisa: Yes I agree - to me being on the ship is not about having the best cabin or how fancy my formal dress is or anything like that - to me it is not about status - it is so about the entire experience! That is why my favorite island so far has been Dominica. It is so unspoiled and so pure and the experience of climbing the falls at the Emerald Pool touched me so.

We hired our own driver and did not go to Trafalger (sp?) Falls like the ship offered and it was the most amazing experience. No one else was there and our driver took us on the best tour - he took us to all his friends! We ate fresh fruit and local produce at a road side stand his friends had (they owned a farm right there) and we were able to taste everything the island produced and yes they said we could give a donation if we wanted - and after that experience I wanted to. They told us about the area and history and well everything.

Our drivers name was Cooper and he made us feel like we were truly his guests and not just tourist off a cruise ship.

Cruising can be such an emotional and spiritual experience!

Carnival
Fantasy 11/91, Ecstasy 1/98, Fascination 11/99, Paradise 2/00, Imagination 4/02, Ecstasy 5/03, Paradise 10/03

Royal Caribbean
Sovereign of the Seas 4/04


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You know while looking out over the sea I have had manny thoughts and of course at times no thoughts. But one notion that I have had is that the scene i am looking at has been there for thousands of years(millions?) and will be there for thousands more.

John
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On our last cruise, I went out on the balcony in the middle of the night, it was completely quiet, and I just leaned my arms and head down on the railing, and Thanked God that I was even alive to experience the beauty of it all. There is NOTHING like being out on the ocean at night.

[email]Suep366394@aol.com[/email]
[img]http://www.bigotis.com/Glory/woodstock-28.gif[/img]
NEXT UP~SENSATION 5/6/04!
MARINER~ 9/19! MIRACLE~FEB 13,2005!
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All of the above reasons are why we cruise!!!
But the thing that I enjoy most,after I'm home, is reading my journal that I wrote during our cruises. It doesn't need to be long - just notes on what we did that day , what fantastic food we were served in the dining room, etc, etc It's as much a special memory as the photos--
happy cruzin!

Carnival Destiny 4/00
Carnival Victory 4/02
Carnival Legend 5/7/04

till our next cruise on the Legend
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[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Life is good!! Nothing more beautiful or relaxing than just watching the ocean go by. I myself take too many things for granted..thanks everyone for putting things in perspective.


~gina~ [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

11/20 Ecstasy cruise [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;11;20;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
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I enjoy just hanging out on deck and staring at the stars. They are so bright when you are on a cruise ship. I like to check out what the moon will be on my calendar before the cruise, full mooon, last qtr moon, etc. If it is a new moon I am bummed because there is not a moon at all! We have had a balcony once and I absolutely loved it and am doing a balcony again this June. It is definitely worth the exra money.
Jerseycam
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I like to contemplate what it must have been like for our forefathers,and all the explorers.It is rather intimidating on a large ship.Can you imagine what it was like before?

Cathy
NCL-Starward 1982
NCL-Seaward 1986
NCL-Norway 1992
Carnival-Celebration 1996
Carnival-Jubilee 2001
RCI-Rhapsody 1999
RCI-Rhapsody- 2003
Grand Princess or Rhapsody ?
2004


[img]http://heathersanimations.com/Fish2/netdiver.gif[/img]
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We take a small portable telescope on each cruise because the stars are so bright and vivid without the lights of civilization. We go to the pool deck or above and set up. Usually, practically noone is around. You feel like the dark ocean and the bright night sky form one vast sea where you are drifting with the current. The air with the evening breeze feels as thick as water and you float over the waves...

JV
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A starlit night at sea is one of the most tranquil and mind healing experiences anyone can ever enjoy!

Being an airdale in the Navy aboard a carrier during Vietnam, we spent two months at sea at a time without ever coming into a port. I worked a 7PM to 7AM shift unless we were at battle stations. So when there weren't any night flight operations I would go and eat my lunch/dinner/breakfast around midnight and then go up on the flight deck.

Then to the bow of the carrier and climb down into the bow nets which were about 6 feet down from the flight deck surface. Laying there in the net you could only hear the waves being cut by the bow of the ship and maybe hear a few flying fish splashing about. There were stars glowing like street lights up in the Heaven above and the florescent colored waves adding to the visual delight! It was the best therapy anyone could ever need to relieve the stress from work!

Cruise on!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;4;25;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Until the Elation sails !
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