10-Oct-2009 - Eastern Magic St. Croix

[Schachteles]

My 9 year old DD got sick on Thursday night and had to stay in the room till we left Saturday. We were supposed to parasail but it got cancelled anyway because of the wind so we didn't feel too disappointed. I heard we got to Castaway Cay late on Friday because someone was sick and had to be picked up around San Juan in the middle of the night. Concierge confirmed it. Poor people.

WOW that is very interesting!!

 

[LimoFam5]

My 9 year old DD got sick on Thursday night and had to stay in the room till we left Saturday. We were supposed to parasail but it got cancelled anyway because of the wind so we didn't feel too disappointed. I heard we got to Castaway Cay late on Friday because someone was sick and had to be picked up around San Juan in the middle of the night. Concierge confirmed it. Poor people.

Are you are friends from check in line??? Did we take your cat. 5 room? If you are my hubby told me about your daughter, is she feeling OK? We are at AK now and my hubby and I had a fever Sunday night but we are ok now. Being sick sucks. Hope you guys are all doing well.

 

[TexasGirl]

So what did everyone do on their excursions? I was esp wondering what everyone did in St. Croix?

 

[Palmfam]

So what did everyone do on their excursions? I was esp wondering what everyone did in St. Croix?

We were on our own beach tour!!
St Croix-we went to Hotel on the Cay. Relaxed on the beach of the resort.

St Thomas-we went to Coki Beach. It was fabulous!! Very pretty.

Castaway Cay-went to the beach. It was an earlier day. We headed back to the ship around 1. All 3 kids were tired and needed naps.

I'm so sorry to hear your husband was ill. That stinks.

Booked #8. Awesome!!!

 

[bluecasbah]

We had such an amazing time!


Blue Cashbah/imonaboat..you were the best SM. My son loved everything!! Truly fabulous!!

I'm glad you enjoyed everything!

As for the trip, it was amazing, I kinda came down with a cold the last 3 days. My son got home and had a stomach flu the day after we got back. Thank goodness it didn't happen on the boat. It was so great to meet so many amazing people...and if you didn't already know, I got engaged "on the boat". Woo hoo!

 

[winotracy]

I'm glad you enjoyed everything!

As for the trip, it was amazing, I kinda came down with a cold the last 3 days. My son got home and had a stomach flu the day after we got back. Thank goodness it didn't happen on the boat. It was so great to meet so many amazing people...and if you didn't already know, I got engaged "on the boat". Woo hoo!

Congratulations on your engagement! When and how did he propose?

 

[Palmfam]

I'm glad you enjoyed everything!

As for the trip, it was amazing, I kinda came down with a cold the last 3 days. My son got home and had a stomach flu the day after we got back. Thank goodness it didn't happen on the boat. It was so great to meet so many amazing people...and if you didn't already know, I got engaged "on the boat". Woo hoo!

No, we did not know?!?..um hello..you can't just say that and disappear..we need details and photos, please!!!!

Congrats!!!!!

 

[Anj]

PalmFam, BaxFam and Jaxsmom08 - what a delight it was to be included in the FE exchange by you. I had no idea how thrilling my girls would find it. You made our trip so special, you have no idea and I can't express my thanks enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you! They loved everything you dropped off and we've been listening to the CD all week in the car (with 3 kids, we're in the car a lot). What a great way to remember the trip.

 

[Anj]

Sounds like a lot of people got sick. Our tablemates, 3 of 5 of them were sick within the last couple of day of the cruise and we noticed a lot of people coughing. My daughters got sick once we got home, my 4 year old and 6 year old with a stomach virus of some sort.

We ended up doing no excursions at all. In St. Criox, we just walked to the beach at the end of the pier and the kids had a great time, even when it rained. At St. Thomas, my older girls didn't want to leave the ship, so DH, myself and our little one (19 months old) walked around the port area shops for a couple of hours and went back to the ship. Castaway Cay, our excursion was cancelled (like many) due to the swells. But we had a fantastic time on the beach, was that ever gorgeous, eh?!

We ended up staying on west coast time, so our port times were limited as Natalia did have big naps by late afternoon. So we got up and off the ship later than the majority and we were back on the ship earlier than all aboard time, except at CC (where we tried to stay out as long as possible, as Natalia napped on a lounger).

We did do the martini tasting, DH did the beer tasting and the girls and I did the Mad Hatter tea. DH liked the beer tasting and we enjoyed the Mad Hatter tea, especially the cookies.

 

[Anj]

Sounds like a lot of people got sick. Our tablemates, 3 of 5 of them were sick within the last couple of day of the cruise and we noticed a lot of people coughing. My daughters got sick once we got home, my 4 year old and 6 year old with a stomach virus of some sort.

We ended up doing no excursions at all. In St. Criox, we just walked to the beach at the end of the pier and the kids had a great time, even when it rained. At St. Thomas, my older girls didn't want to leave the ship, so DH, myself and our little one (19 months old) walked around the port area shops for a couple of hours and went back to the ship. Castaway Cay, our excursion was cancelled (like many) due to the swells. But we had a fantastic time on the beach, was that ever gorgeous, eh?!

We ended up staying on west coast time, so our port times were limited as Natalia did have big naps by late afternoon. So we got up and off the ship later than the majority and we were back on the ship earlier than all aboard time, except at CC (where we tried to stay out as long as possible, as Natalia napped on a lounger).

We did do the martini tasting, DH did the beer tasting and the girls and I did the Mad Hatter tea. DH liked the beer tasting and we enjoyed the Mad Hatter tea, especially the cookies.

 

[DenverVal]

All of our group managed to stay healthy and had a great cruise.

We snorkeled in both St Croix and St Thomas. Being from a landlocked state, we don't get the opportunity much, and I really enjoyed both locations, loved seeing turtles, fish and coral. I was beat when I returned from the St Croix excursion, but did stroll the port shops in St Thomas in the pouring rain, looking for a magnet and a pin. I'm not much of a shopper.

DD16/17 had a very nice birthday onboard. She was thrilled that we'd be in Animator's Palate on show night for her birthday, and our servers presented her with a beautiful cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, and she opened a few gifts back in the cabin.

I rarely saw DD14 - she headed for the stack and stayed there all day whenever possible. She was selected to be a contestant for Mickey Mania by getting the CM's attention - yes, she DOES have healthy lungs! My DD and our good friend were the Purple Plutos, and won the competition with 550 points

We tried valiantly to become contestants on Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer, but alas, nada. We had a fairly large group, and volunteered our knowledge during the Ask-the-Audience lifelines loudly and enthusiastically. One of the questions was really off-the-wall weird and we were discussing it quietly amongst ourselves. One of the CMs flashed us a 3 with his fingers and told us to make some noise when the contestant decided to ask the audience. Yeah, we made a ton of noise, the contestant won the round, and collected her prize. Our CM smiled at us and set Who Wants to be a Mouseketeer pins for all of us on the table, then made sure we knew the next ask-the-audience question too. That was more fun than sitting in the hot seat!

We rebooked onboard for Alaska in 2011. DD14 is very excited because apparently a bunch of her new friends from the stack are also on the same sailing.

 

[Meredith71]

I am sorry that we did not get to meet up with you all on embarkation day. It was a little crazy that day. We were meeting my mom, sister and her 2 girls that afternoon as well. They drove in that day from Georgia and we flew in the night before.

We rented a car in St. Croix and drove around a bit. We went to Chrisiansted but did not stay long. We went to Cane Bay next and stayed about an hour. It was much smaller than I thought it would be. We drove up into the hills looking for a Geo Cache for my sister but did not have any luck. Then we went to the Rum Factory and had a great time and walked back on board with a lot of rum.

St. Thomas we did the morning Doubloon Sail and Snorkel. Then we ate lunch on the ship during the rain and went to town later to shop.

My son was one of the contestants on Who Wants to Be a Mousketeer. I went up with him and he had some hard questions. I knew all the answers before he went up. I felt a little silly being stumped. He did win his round though.

My sister and I also went to the Martini Tasting. We went on Sunday. She was the one that made the Martini.

We had a great time. We booked a dummy cruise because we were not sure what we wanted to do next or our schedule.

Meredith

 

[DenverVal]

We were on the early Doubloon sail and snorkel too. I loved our location and I was the last one to get out of the water.

 

[TexasGirl]

We were on the early doubloum snorkel too. We had a very good time...except on the way there when my DD got sea sick.

 

[Meredith71]

Texas Girl, Were you sitting in the back of the boat? I think you and I talked. You talked about bring Dramamine. I remember your daughter. It was a little rough. Our kids were feeling a little off as well. I kept getting them Sprite. We were a group of 8 sitting on the Port side and some in the middle. It was myself, my husband, my sister, my mom and 4 kids (3 girls 10-12, and 1 boy 7). My son sat in the front on the way there. We enjoyed it too. I loved seeing the turtles.

Meredith

 

[DenverVal]

Both my husband and daughter helped to raise the sails, DH on the way there, DD on the way back. I wish I'd known who the DISers were! We had candied ginger with us, and did have to use it on the second night when we were doing a lot of rocking. It tastes nasty, but it really does work like magic, and fast.

 

[Anj]

Meredith, we were at that martini tasting! Your sister and the fellows behind you (we were behind them) made the afternoon. My husband and I sat by the window.

 

[PaigerPoo]

Both my husband and daughter helped to raise the sails, DH on the way there, DD on the way back. I wish I'd known who the DISers were! We had candied ginger with us, and did have to use it on the second night when we were doing a lot of rocking. It tastes nasty, but it really does work like magic, and fast.

Hey Val! We were on the snorkel tour with you in ST Thomas as well...our DS and your DD raised the sails together on the way back. We were at the front of the boat...what a fun excursion!
WHAT A GREAT TRIP! I cant count how many fun memories we made, and we are lucky to have met so many cool new friends! St. Croix is permanantly etched in my mind...at least what I can remember & pirate night...AWESOME! I had a blast at karaoke muddling my way through Janis Joplin...thanks for the support!
PalmFam, Thanks so much for the SM gifts! Loved them...especially because we didnt get a chance to souvenier shop in St Thomas...worked out perfect! Sorry to hear the item you brought didnt make it...but you got my curiosity up regarding what it was!
All the FE's were GREAT! I felt totally outdone and I hope noone felt I jipped you! It was my first FE!
We did rebook!! We're headed to Mexico in March 2011. As Jac says, "Somethin to look forward to!". DenverVal, I believe my son has been talking to your daughter about the Alaska trip...he's begged me to switch itineraries because thier "gang" is all aboard with you..not happenen...im a warm water Gal!
Guess thats all for now...just finished carving pumpkins as you may notice from my avatar!!! Im still on board emotionally!!
Hope to see you all again soon!
Paige

 

[DenverVal]

LOL! Leia says "Hi Gaige!" And "Awwwwww!" regarding the itinerary change. Apparently there are a bunch of their group on our sailing. And in that case I have several pics of your family - Leia pointed you all out to me, though your son is on the other side of the sail and somewhat obstructed. Happy to send them to you if you like; PM your email address.

I cruised some of the west coast of Mexico on the first Panama Canal cruise. I'd rather see someplace I haven't been yet - Alaska!

 

[TexasGirl]

So tons of us were on that St. Thomas pirate snorkel. Yep, my daughter was the 9 year old blond that...pardon....puked in the bucket.

We rebooked on board for March 2011 Mexican Riveria.