Rock the Boat, Don't Tip the Boat Over! Fantasy 10/20-10/27 Completed Post #277!!

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by WDW Fan

We'll. have to plan for a 2014 cruise!

It's already in the plans over here ... just waiting for itineraries & dates!

[oybolshoi]

Our excursion meet time was 7:30AM this fine morning, so we had to be up and about early whether we wanted to or not. And let me just say, after closing down Remy the night before, neither Jay nor I wanted to be up at all. But the lure of catamaran sailing, and snorkeling, and more rum punch in the face was sufficient to get us out of bed ... that, and sixty four wake up calls in a row from Guest Services because our phone wasn't working properly and it didn't register that we were answering the calls even though we were.

That cloud of sleepy profanity that wafted up from Deck 8 the morning of October 24th and was spotted hovering over The West Indian Company Dock much of the day? Yeah, that was all ours.

Look at the sunrise ... it's the last time you'll see one on this trip!


Good Morning St. Thomas!


We booked the St. John Champagne Catamaran Sail and Snorkel for our St. Thomas port adventure; Jay really enjoys snorkeling and I love catamaran sailing and neither one of us has been to St. John. On our last visit to St. Thomas we kayaked through the mangroves and then watched a credit card self immolate while we went on a duty-free shopping binge at Havensight Mall. Seemed like something a little different was in order this time around.

Once our excursion group departed the Fantasy we climbed aboard an open-air safari taxi for a wild ride around the island to the marina where our catamaran was waiting. Who needs coffee when you're bouncing up and down and side-to-side with the fresh island air blowing the cobwebs from your brain? We wanted to take some pictures during the ride, but the bus was moving so fast that Jay was concerned that someone ... read: Brenda ... would drop the camera over the side of the bus where it would languish in the road-side brush for all eternity.

The walk through the marina was also something Jay and I enjoyed - this was a real marina and real people (not just tourists) live and work here. We saw people already opening up cafes and bars for business, watched a goat wander past a BBQ joint (still wondering if he was on the lunch menu), and walked past a number of moored boats and yachts on our way to the catamaran. I have always taken a great interest and pleasure in noting the various names people give their vessels ... my favorite from St. Thomas?

Fishizzle.



From the marina it was about an hour to sail over to St. John - the ocean was a little on the choppy side but nothing bad and everyone appeared to be having a good time. Our crew was young but obviously experienced and a lot of fun. They handed out snorkeling gear to everyone and provided some great background information about St. Thomas and the surrounding islands.

Headed out to St. John


Have I mentioned how much we love not being at work?


The other catamaran is waaaay behind us!


One of the most interesting things we learned on the sail to St. John was that there are private islands for sale in the area. One in particular has a six-bedroom, three-bath house, a guest cottage, a desalination plant, and underwater power cables that allow the island to have a source of electricity from St. Thomas. All this for the bargain price of $12 million dollars!

Within five minutes Jay and I had a viable business plan. Within another five minutes our dream of life in the tropics had gone sinking to the bottom of the bay. No capital; no business partners; no ambition.

We've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!

It's our new home!


History lesson at sea!


St John


Once we arrived at the private beach in St. John we had about 90 minutes to snorkel, swim, or sunbathe. I can't snorkel because I can't see without my glasses and no one makes a prescription snorkel mask in a minus 13 because if the sun's rays hit that baby in just the right way the sea would burst into flames. I usually hang out on the catamaran soaking up the sun and enjoying the quiet while the waves lull me to sleep. The crew offered to take me over to the beach but I declined, telling them I would get my beach time on Friday when the Fantasy visited its private island in the Bahamas. Perhaps I might have changed my mind if I'd been aware that pesky Hurricane Sandy was going to muck up everyone's plans. But I was blissfully clueless that morning and really enjoyed having the catamaran to myself.

Snorkeling Jay!


Private beach


Sea turtle came right up to the catamaran trying to escape the snorkeling hordes


Caneel Bay Resort ... too rich for our blood!


Look at the water!


On the sail back to St. Thomas the crew cranked up the playlist and let the alcohol flow. They were offering wicked rum punch or champagne ... and wicked Jay and Bendy asked for them to be combined which resulted in the hardest rum punch to the face I've ever had!

The bar will come to you!


Punch it!


Usually on an excursion like this the crew will offer to let guests "drive" the boat. I am not one to let such an invitation go ignored ... and so I captained the catamaran for a few moments while enjoying some more punch. I love the island life!

I have no formal training - this is all natural ability


What's worse? Drinking and boating or texting and boating?


Look Ma, no hands!


The rest of our day was a true study in laziness, at which we excel. We cleaned up, had some lunch, and spent two hours in the rainforest room sleeping before being awoken by our attendants for the couples villa we'd booked.

I think we had the couple's choice, which was just about two hours. We received a lovely foot bath and foot and leg massage followed by 30 minutes of time to ourselves which we spent in the hot tub. Then we each had a Thai Poultice Accupressure massage (nice, but a little hard on me with my fibromyalgia ... those pressure points can be a real killer), and then another 30 minutes to relax on the verandah with some fruit and hot tea.

This was one of those things I'd been wanting to try for a long time and Jay is nothing if not an indulgent husband who happens to like being pampered on vacation almost as much as I do. We really enjoyed it but aren't sure that we would book it again, since it's a pretty pricey experience. And the hard sell from the attendants at the end of the treatment is obnoxious - no matter how often you indicate that you don't want to purchase a suitcase full of Elemis products they just don't want to take no for an answer ... until you scream it in their faces with a slightly maniacal glint in your eye while waving around a steaming teaspoon.

St Thomas from our private spa villa


Leaving St. Thomas that afternoon ... weather already looks bleh


Fresh fruit and hot tea .... ahhhhh!


One thing of note that happened during our massage was that Captain Tom made an announcement about our change of plans due to Hurricane Sandy. Instead of docking at Castaway Cay on Friday we were going to sail past Cuba and up the Florida coast - the storm was forecast to be in the Bahamas on Friday and it was going to be too dangerous for the ship to dock there.

Jay and I were so unplugged on this cruise that we didn't even know there was a hurricane forming in the Caribbean. We both lifted our heads and asked our attendants at the same time, "There's a hurricane?"



It's our new itinerary ... say hello to the socialist paradise of Cuba while you're hugging its shores!


We decided to skip our dining room assignment this evening because we were so tired - Jay and I paid a visit to Novak at Skyline, gave him some of our private bourbon stash so he could try something new, and then ordered room service for dinner while downing the bottle of pinot grigio we still had from our first day on the ship. We ended up missing all the Halloween festivities that night but from what I've heard we really didn't miss all that much. I think we must have both fallen asleep by 11PM and we slept hard that night - one of the best nights sleep we had during the whole trip!

Please enjoy our final picture of the day - two amazing drinks from Skyline: The St. Pete Sling made with Russian Standard Original, King's Ginger, Honey Syrup, freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juices, jasmine tea, and a souvenir glow cube; and the Aquincum made with 901 Tequila, Grand Marnier, freshly squeezed lime juice, paprika rim, and a souvenir glow cube.

You may notice in the picture below that the glow cubes are missing. That is not a mistake. We don't like glow cubes; they are a waste of valuable alcoholic space in a glass that has limited capacity. Jay and I asked Novak to substitute our respective glow cubes with more alcohol and he charmingly obliged us. Now that's service!

St. Pete Sling and Aquincum


Coming soon ... a very busy, boozie day at sea!! Thanks for reading!

[PNO4TE]

Loved the update, B. Thanks for taking the time to write this!

[Scouter]

Originally Posted by wendym

I never normally eat seafood but if there is ever a place to try it it is Remy! Expensive meals but so worth it. And the champagne is just served over ice - like Brenda it wasn't my favourite.

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

Great minds!

Originally Posted by wendym

L
Yannick was an amazing server and made great recommendations - I'm not good with seafood but he got me to try things!

Good to know. I might THINK about trying a bit, I don't know what's harder.... getting past the seafood smell or the mental image of how ugly fish and other seafood is But I would agree that if ever a place to try it I would bet they would do the best with it

[Scouter]

Originally Posted by zweihund

Wonderful update, as always.

I LOVED the Collette. Lionel's not a champagne guy so I got to drink his too. We did opt for a single wine pairing, to share, and that was a nice way to sample a lot of new things....needless to say, between the extra cocktail and half a pairing, I left Remy pretty darn happy.

I'm pretty sure I enjoyed dinner. I do remember thinking it hilarious that everything came with foam. Like, EVERYTHING. lol

That's a great idea! I wouldn't have thought they would let you do that
Something I should have tried the other night at The Melting Pot as Bob ordered a beer flight and I a wine flight, then they gave us a complimentary champagne glass each for Bob's birthday.... Whoa! I awoke to a massive hangover complete with migraine, had to call in sick, because I was really sick! Had I thought of just asking to share with Bob, would have been better

[Scouter]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

Rose ... you're not supposed to laugh at Nancy's comments ... you're supposed to laugh at mine. WAAHAHAHAAAA!!!

OOOOhhhhh! Sorry!
I hadn't read the Bendy rulebook! Did not know!
Please excuse me just this one time, it will never happen again!

(Nancy.... I'll send you private message laughs at your comments, LOL!)

[Scouter]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

I have always taken a great interest and pleasure in noting the various names people give their vessels ... my favorite from St. Thomas?

Fishizzle.

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by PNO4TE

Loved the update, B. Thanks for taking the time to write this!

Thanks Ellen - I appreciate you taking the time to read!

Originally Posted by Scouter

Good to know. I might THINK about trying a bit, I don't know what's harder.... getting past the seafood smell or the mental image of how ugly fish and other seafood is But I would agree that if ever a place to try it I would bet they would do the best with it

They do have a fair number of meat options on the dinner menu so you could avoid the seafood that way if you want.

Originally Posted by Scouter

That's a great idea! I wouldn't have thought they would let you do that
Something I should have tried the other night at The Melting Pot as Bob ordered a beer flight and I a wine flight, then they gave us a complimentary champagne glass each for Bob's birthday.... Whoa! I awoke to a massive hangover complete with migraine, had to call in sick, because I was really sick! Had I thought of just asking to share with Bob, would have been better

Poor Rose ... they probably didn't give you a very good champagne and then mixing that on top of wine would be enough to set you off if you're sensitive. Th nice thing about Remy is they will let you share those wine pairings, like Erica said. V&A lets people do that as well.

Originally Posted by Scouter

OOOOhhhhh! Sorry!
I hadn't read the Bendy rulebook! Did not know!
Please excuse me just this one time, it will never happen again!

(Nancy.... I'll send you private message laughs at your comments, LOL!)

WAHAHAHAAA!!!! You know I don't have a rulebook ... I just like messing with you guys!

Originally Posted by Scouter

Your sarcasm has been noted ... and is much appreciated!

[wendym]

Thank you for another great instalment! We were disappointed you didn't make dinner as we were forced to drink the bottle of Rosa Regale we took ourselves!

[Scouter]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

Your sarcasm has been noted ... and is much appreciated!

Never even met you yet, but I just love you!

Keep up the great work!

[Dixielady908]

Great updates....you have me really thinking about doing Remy...it looked really good. Have to give it some serious thought.

[Jennifer48]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

I have always taken a great interest and pleasure in noting the various names people give their vessels ... my favorite from St. Thomas?

Fishizzle.

DH & I did the Couples Villa on our honeymoon and I have to agree, although it was a great experience, we wouldn't do it again, too pricey.

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

You may notice in the picture below that the glow cubes are missing. That is not a mistake. We don't like glow cubes; they are a waste of valuable alcoholic space in a glass that has limited capacity. Jay and I asked Novak to replace our respective glow cubes with more alcohol and he charmingly obliged us. Now that's service!

So smart!

[cntkg1]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

WAHAHAHAAA!!!! You know I don't have a rulebook ... I just like messing with you guys!

I love being fought over.

B, great update! I loved the pics of you "captaining" the boat. There's just never a dull moment with you guys.

[ukintheus]

Subbing to follow along.... How I missed a TR that has all the vital ingredients of food, booze, booze, booze...and naps is beyond me....but I'm here now. Loving it so far.

[Amy7979]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

History lesson at sea!

We had the same crew (or at least this guy) on this excursion while sailing on Carnival Miracle (I know, I know, we were onboard for a wedding) this past June. He was awesome!