12/24/08 Christmas Cruise on the Wonder

[scuba.mom]

On another note, I read that Santa hands out a gift on Christmas day to the kids. What ages and does anyone know what kinds of things they do?

Santa has given out gifts to every child (under 18) on past Christmas Crusies we have taken. The gifts are by age range - ie small plush toy for the youngest group, radios to the club kids, visors to the teens, etc) But, you have to "see" Santa to get your gift. (The teens move past him quickly to the gift giving "elfs".) They keep track of who has and has not received gifts, so there should be enough for all of the kids.

 

[drag n' fly]

Ok it is official. I have cleared the schedule. We are now officially excursion free I even cancelled the Palo dinner and kept the Palo brunch I did keep the rasul however

 

[scuba diver]

Ok it is official. I have cleared the schedule. We are now officially excursion free I even cancelled the Palo dinner and kept the Palo brunch I did keep the rasul however

Giving up Palo's dinner?

My perfect cruise would be eating every dinner in Palos.

 

[drag n' fly]

Giving up Palo's dinner?

My perfect cruise would be eating every dinner in Palos.

I most certainly did...it is just food. I have a garlic allergy so I really won't miss it. We are only doing the brunch as we want to eat together as a family every night. The nice thing is I opened up a time for someone who really wants it and that makes me feel good

We will take the kids to Blizzard Beach while at WDW so they get to do a waterpark anyways.

 

[TXdeVille]

Ever since I saw your waterpark on the travel channel I have always wanted to go there What is cracked conch? What would be a good beach to go to?

I want to visit the one in Galveston (although not right now), South Padre, and the new one that will be going up in Kansas. It is a nice place. Used to be much quieter and more of a Texas secret.

I will have to defer the cracked conch answer to Brenda. I have never had any but I am a seafood gal and I have heard it is similar to other foods I like.

Annette, sorry to hear you cancelled the Palo dinner. I think you could have gotten away without garlic. I'm sure they make requests too. Must be kinda liberating to not have any excursions though.

As for the beaches, I agree with scuba diver. It has great info on the ports. That's where I found the beaches....Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach just to name a few. And a couple of the hotels let you buy a pass to the beach at their hotel for $15 or something like that. Can't remember the details but it's on there. I certainly want to visit the beach....it IS the Bahamas but really think we will lean towards the snorkeling.

Speaking of snorkeling....scuba diver and scuba mom....any ideas for an online source on snorkel vests? We have all our other gear and we would use them outside of just the cruise so thought we should just buy our own.

Hi Brenda! Just thought I'd give a shoutout to my former fellow Okie. It's been so long. It has been crisp and fall like up here in Kansas. Bet everyone is still swimming in their pool down there. Oh, Oklahoma, I do miss you so.

Swimming?!? Are you kidding?!? It's been in the 80's, lows in the 60's for at least a week. Granted that is probably hot by Annette's standards. I do miss parts of Oklahoma myself. Particularly southeastern. To go right along with northwestern Arkansas. So beautiful.

 

[scuba diver]

I want to visit the one in Galveston (although not right now), South Padre, and the new one that will be going up in Kansas. It is a nice place. Used to be much quieter and more of a Texas secret.

I will have to defer the cracked conch answer to Brenda. I have never had any but I am a seafood gal and I have heard it is similar to other foods I like.

Annette, sorry to hear you cancelled the Palo dinner. I think you could have gotten away without garlic. I'm sure they make requests too. Must be kinda liberating to not have any excursions though.

As for the beaches, I agree with scuba diver. It has great info on the ports. That's where I found the beaches....Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach just to name a few. And a couple of the hotels let you buy a pass to the beach at their hotel for $15 or something like that. Can't remember the details but it's on there. I certainly want to visit the beach....it IS the Bahamas but really think we will lean towards the snorkeling.

Speaking of snorkeling....scuba diver and scuba mom....any ideas for an online source on snorkel vests? We have all our other gear and we would use them outside of just the cruise so thought we should just buy our own.




Swimming?!? Are you kidding?!? It's been in the 80's, lows in the 60's for at least a week. Granted that is probably hot by Annette's standards. I do miss parts of Oklahoma myself. Particularly southeastern. To go right along with northwestern Arkansas. So beautiful.

Take a look at Divers Direct. I'm sure ebay would also have them.

 

[brendalee59]

There are other things to do. I would love to do Atlantis too but the cost certainly make me think twice. Besides, we have what is considered to be the best waterpark in the world practically next door. And much bigger.

Since we haven't been to Nassau, it was recommended that we do a walking tour, even if on our own. I think we might do the catamaran snorkeling excursion as well. AND OF COURSE CRACKED CONCH!!! Hopefully with Brenda....Time at the beach is high on the list too. And don't forget the shopping

You got it babe We will be eating it at least twice, just to get out fill, it will be another year before I get a taste of cracked conch again

Annette, cracked conch is conch (the meat from those pretty pink seashells you can hear the ocean in.) they pound it flat, then bread it and deep fry it ...yummmmmy can't wait to get me some.

Ahhh Andy, I see we have another conch lover

 

[brendalee59]

I just placed a big order on disneyshopping in the outlet store. I picked up a bunch of new clothes for the little ones for the cruise and hid them in the closet. We got both of the kids the toddler mickey digital camera too so they can take pictures while we sale. I can't wait to see their faces when they get them. Now I'll start searching for new stuff for me

Disneyshopping is the best! I got some stuff early this spring for the guys. and a jacket for me. Need to go back and check it out now that we are closer. DD wants an Ariel t shirt.

 

[brendalee59]

Hi Brenda! Just thought I'd give a shoutout to my former fellow Okie. It's been so long. It has been crisp and fall like up here in Kansas. Bet everyone is still swimming in their pool down there. Oh, Oklahoma, I do miss you so.

Hi girl! I miss knowing you are just across town too. Not swimming in the pool here. They are coming to close it up next week. We had a really cool(almost cold) spell and the water never warmed up after that. We are now in that jacket in the morning, and shorts in the afternoon season.

 

[brendalee59]

Santa has given out gifts to every child (under 18) on past Christmas Crusies we have taken. The gifts are by age range - ie small plush toy for the youngest group, radios to the club kids, visors to the teens, etc) But, you have to "see" Santa to get your gift. (The teens move past him quickly to the gift giving "elfs".) They keep track of who has and has not received gifts, so there should be enough for all of the kids.

I can so see my teens doing that If I remember correctly, they do this in the morning. I doubt my two will get out of bed

Oh and you are so right. CC is a great place for port info.

 

[brendalee59]

Ok it is official. I have cleared the schedule. We are now officially excursion free I even cancelled the Palo dinner and kept the Palo brunch I did keep the rasul however

Ya know, You did fine. There really isn't that much to do in Nassau,that you can't do on your own. And CC is well so beautiful, you really don't need an excursion to have a blast.

 

[brendalee59]

I want to visit the one in Galveston (although not right now), South Padre, and the new one that will be going up in Kansas. It is a nice place. Used to be much quieter and more of a Texas secret.

I will have to defer the cracked conch answer to Brenda. I have never had any but I am a seafood gal and I have heard it is similar to other foods I like.

Annette, sorry to hear you cancelled the Palo dinner. I think you could have gotten away without garlic. I'm sure they make requests too. Must be kinda liberating to not have any excursions though.

As for the beaches, I agree with scuba diver. It has great info on the ports. That's where I found the beaches....Cable Beach, Cabbage Beach just to name a few. And a couple of the hotels let you buy a pass to the beach at their hotel for $15 or something like that. Can't remember the details but it's on there. I certainly want to visit the beach....it IS the Bahamas but really think we will lean towards the snorkeling.

Speaking of snorkeling....scuba diver and scuba mom....any ideas for an online source on snorkel vests? We have all our other gear and we would use them outside of just the cruise so thought we should just buy our own.




Swimming?!? Are you kidding?!? It's been in the 80's, lows in the 60's for at least a week. Granted that is probably hot by Annette's standards. I do miss parts of Oklahoma myself. Particularly southeastern. To go right along with northwestern Arkansas. So beautiful.

Lindsey and I have been to the one on South Padre Island. It is nice, but much much smaller than the one in New Braunsfels. However, it is so cool, there is only one slide you have to get out of the water and climb stairs for. But it is an awesome one Still it is nothing compared to the big one in NB. We haven't gone to the one on Galveston, but saw it. It's next door to Moody Gardens,and it looks to be very small as well. But small isn't always a bad thing.
I didn't know they are building one in Kansas too. Wish they would build one here. But then, we have White Water Bay in Okie City, and have never been. And it is a huge water park

Have a great day everyone! I'm off to see what trouble I can get myself into today. See ya round

 

[AndymanGA]

I dont think I have had Conch fried. We had it in Jamaica, Miami, and Key West. I think grilled each time but at my age I could be forgetting something

 

[brendalee59]

I dont think I have had Conch fried. We had it in Jamaica, Miami, and Key West. I think grilled each time but at my age I could be forgetting something

You guys are so good. We have only had it fried in the Bahamas, and had the conch fritters in Key West. Have to say the fritters were too spicy for me. I know, we should have ours grilled, but that's the southen gal in me....why grill when we can fry

 

[drag n' fly]

Sounds like pounded fried snails to me Sorry the redneck in me had to come out. I like crab....that's about it....ya Im a beef girl....go ahead throw a cow turd at me and laugh


Anyhooooo today is Friday! I appreciate my weekends so much more.... now that I work outside of the house \

Dh is in Denver for a week for the SPE conference so guess what that means..................... NO IRONING for a whole week

 

[AndymanGA]

I'm not a fan of snails but do like conch if prepared right. I do remember conch fritters somewhere that the conch was extremely tough.

 

[brendalee59]

I'm not a fan of snails but do like conch if prepared right. I do remember conch fritters somewhere that the conch was extremely tough.

I heard that too, which is why they call it cracked conch. They have to pound the crap out of it to make it tender....but crapped conch doesn't sound quite as yummy....

Have a Wonderful weekend everyone!

 

[drag n' fly]

oy

 

[AndymanGA]

Hkatmom
Cabin: 7004
Kids: Ds7 (on the cruise), Dd 21 months

My parents (and Hkatmom's)
Cabin 7006
Young at heart

 

[TXdeVille]

Cool beans! Thanks for the FE list.

Scuba diver and scuba mom....I have a question for you. I have been going back and forth about snorkel vests for me and DH. I will most certainly get them for the kids. I know DH and I can borrow one at CC as they will require them (they don't charge just for the vest, right?). Do you think we would need it around Athol Island or at a coral reef off the coast of Nassau? I am, of course, assuming you know the area. If not, let me know.

TIA!