3-20-04 Eastern + OKW birthday

[Muushka]

I am also still rocking! I guess I still need that Bonine.

Our trip originated at OKW for my 50th birthday celebration. We had several friends join us for 2 days at a 2 BR and a studio for a Hobbit birthday celebration- where the birthday person gives the party and the gifts. We had a great time-and it was a great way to kick off the cruise. The hotel brought me balloons and a card from Pooh and friends. I thought that was nice.

This was my husband's first cruise and my second. After those rough seas, I am not sure we will ever cruise again! I thought we were cruising at a good time of year, but I guess bad weather can happen at any time. So many people said that on a big ship you do not feel the waves. While I know that any ship will feel waves 20 to 30 feet (which, as you know, we had one stormy night), we were surprised to be able to feel the rocking pretty much the whole trip. It seemed that the only time the ship was quiet was when we were at port. I did not get sick but my husband spent about half the trip in bed, and missed several meals.

Enough about that bad stuff because there was so much good.....

Our servers! They were wonderful. Antonia and Peter. Ahh Peter, who used the word 'excellent' with such pride (and tongue in cheek). They both were excellent. And to my surprise, when we parted, we happily hugged one another.

Our table mates. A grandpa and grandson duet (so cute) and another couple about our age. A pleasure to get to know.

Palo. Ahhhhh Palo. Everything everyone said about it is true-and then some. We had a dinner and brunch and high tea there. I am still dreaming about all the great dishes there.....

Dueling horns at St Thomas with QM2. Was that magical and fun or what????

The fact that the waits staff was not always trying to get you to buy drinks. At all the adult places we visited, we were not bothered at all and did not feel out of place for not having a drink in front of us.

The ship is absolutely beautiful. We had a verandah and were very glad that we did. We used it a lot and cannot imagine not having a least a port hole-of course the fact that I am claustrophobic may have something to do with those feelings!

We booked the Romantic Escape package. We enjoyed it and were glad that we did it. I am not much of a massage person, and will probably not get another one, but my husband enjoyed his.
There was a mix up on our champagne breakfast on St Martin day. They forgot to send it to us and by the time they realized they goofed, it was too late to get breakfast. They more than made up for it. The manager of sorts came to see us and offered us the concierge in-room dining options- which means that he gave us the restaurant menus for the rest of the week- all 3 meals. I thought that was a very nice offer, but we enjoyed our servers so much that we did not take advantage of it. When they brought us breakfast the next day, again they tried to make up for it. We had 9 plates for 2 people! And double drink orders. It was actually funny.
We took the people on this board's tip of bringing our champagne to Palo for dinner, and it worked out great. They switched it out for a cold bottle and served it with a smile. Those Palo servers are so nice.

We had cabin 6626 which was a very convenient location. Our room host Daniel was very nice. Lots of cute towel animals. And chocolate!

We really did enjoy the cruise, but to be honest, those waves on the 'violent storm', 'full gale', '20-30 foot seas' night were enough to make us not want to cruise again!

 

[deedee67]

Happy 50h Muushka! Thanks for writing the trip report. I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise despite the rough seas. I must admit that I am getting a little nervous after reading a couple of recent reports that describe high waves and rocking ships. I'm starting to feel queasy just thinking about it .

 

[staylor]

Thanks for the great report. DH and I have been on 6 cruises (various cruise lines) we've only had one that rocky. Don't give up on cruising, try it again. Just don't go during hurricane season either.
Staci

 

[disneylarsen]

I am with you on those waves I almost rolled out of bed a few times. I wonder... if very rough is 15-20 and high is 20-30 ft waves, what comes after that? Oh yeah, I don't want to know.

I have been on six other cruises and it has never been that bad. I hope that you give it another try.
Dawn

 

[Muushka]

Thanks for the birthday greetings and encouragement. I hate to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but time will probably help. I am already remembering so much of the good, and the 'rocking within' is slowly subsiding.

 

[Magicboundagain4]

Muushka

I too was on the March 20th cruise and Thursday night gale winds and 30 foot waves when it hit we were at Palo trying to enjoy a lovely exceptional meal while tossing and turning violently...It was an incredible and exciting night and it was my husbands favorite night...being able to feel a good deal of the power of the ocean in an incredible ship. Christoff at Palo said they have never had a storm like that before....the graph on the TV channel only went up to 50 and when we hit 30 I cannot imagine what 50 must feel like. There was not a lot of activities well attended that night and from what I heard lots of sick people as well....but Friday at Castaway Cay was picture perfect.....I will write a trip report later...but did want to comment on the storm. It was not hurricane season...storms do happen and It is not the norm I would travel again...quite an experience.

 

[strawberryblonde]

<font color=deeppink> Just now finding your report, so fun to read! Thursday night was something, I'm so glad we had seen Dreams at 2pm that day, we would have not been up to it that night. I am glad to know that what we experienced was not the norm as I would like to cruise again. DD(4) keeps asking when we are going to go back on "the mickey boat". I think I would like to try May next time. Are you starting to miss the cruise now that you have stopped rocking? </font>

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by strawberryblonde
<font color=deeppink> Are you starting to miss the cruise now that you have stopped rocking? </font>

Wrong assumption strawberryblonde! Believe it or not I am still rocking a little bit. It is so much better than it was, but not 100%. I know that tomorrow will be 2 weeks off the ship and all should be still by now, but.....

So, anyone had problems after almost 2 weeks?

I read all of your trip reports strawberryblonde, you and your family sounded like the waves didn't get you down! And yes, I do miss the ship-it was so beautiful.

 

[strawberryblonde]

<font color=green>I'm sorry you are still not yourself , all that motion can do a number on our inner ears. Here's hoping you are feeling great soon. I rocked for some time after myself, that was some trip! I am glad to know that those were high seas because I think we would do great with slightly calmer ones. If those wave were the norm we would have to think harder. Post when you are not rocking anymore, I'm quite curious how long it will take.</font>

 

[Muushka]

I agree strawberryblonde, if those seas were the norm, the cruise industry would fold! And I also agree that after doing that cruise and not getting sick (me anyway, poor husband is another story) I can do just about any cruise! I will probably seek medical advice of a doctor friend who has been on vacation for the past week. I will post his suggestion.

 

[dsncruise lover]

Happy 50th. Sorry about the rough seas. Hope you stop rocking soon. Thanks for the trip report enjoyed reading it.

 

[Muushka]

The rocking has finally stopped!

I did not seek medical advice because as the days went on it got better and better. At this point I would say it is done. Who could believe that it would last that long? Not me

 

[strawberryblonde]

<font color=darkviolet>I'm so glad that you are back to yourself now . Nearly a month, I wonder if that is a record ?</font>