5/27/06 "Il pochi il fiero i blabbermouths" We *will* sail again Part 13

[scuba diver]

Tonight I start my packing for our Thanksgiving cruise and it just does not seem the same without all of you.

I even had to find a scuba buddy from Southern California to share a dive boat. Sad day!

Sharon is, of course, all ready packed since she and Lisa are at the gym every night. This gives Matt and I plenty of time to get all of our stuff together.

I will be taking bottle or two of the Double Scoop wine to enjoy.

 

[BWVPam]

lucky you Jim. Wish I was getting ready for a cruise.

 

[BWVPam]

Here is one of Dale's graduation photos.

Will try to post another. I only have a couple scanned.

 

[BWVPam]

Here is another

Okay, the pictures look much better then they do before I reduced them and scanned them. I am really pleased with how they turned out.

 

[WDWLVR]

Pam - the pictures look great!

Jim - what line are you cruising with and what ports are you visiting?

 

[Dancind]

Nice pictures, Pam! Dale is one of those lucky people that's going to look about 18 for most of his life. Such a cutie.

OK, Jim, we know you are rubbing it in. Even though you seem to be complaining about packing, we're on to you. Have a good time anyway.

Stacey, I'm sorry. Maybe you could go somewhere else for Thanksgiving? I did that a few times, and if I could be anywhere else, I would.

 

[scuba diver]

Jim - what line are you cruising with and what ports are you visiting?

We are doing Holland America. Ports are Tortola, Grand Turk, St. Thomas, and their private island. I'm not thrilled about the private island because we have to tender. I'll miss just walking off the ship unto the island.

Only recently we realized that the kids have never been a cruise that was not Disney. This will be a new experience for them. They have checked out the room service menu and are please so far.

 

[kikipug]

Only recently we realized that the kids have never been a cruise that was not Disney. This will be a new experience for them.

We just had that discussion with our kids about our upcoming NCL Bermuda cruise... I also had to inform them that soda isn't free, and Christopher can't sign himself in and out of the club... (he'll be 11 at the time). With 22 of us going, I have a feeling they won't be spending as much time doing 'ship stuff' as usual... I think they'll want to hang with the extended family, as we hardly ever get to see them.

I just hope Mom feels like she's healthy enough to go...

 

[CajunGirl2]

Hi all. I've been away for a while ... been super-busy with work.

Pam, those were great pictures. Congrats to Ashley on her swim meet.

Hope that everyone that was ailing is doing better now.

Scubas, enjoy your Thanksgiving cruise. My family will be joining us "here". We're renting a house in the North GA Mountains. I hope the weather is nice.

OHMinnie, what happened to your Buckeyes? I've been giving a co-worker a hard time about those Buckeyes. He was all set to see LSU/OSU in the national championship. Our LSU Tigers are back on top! Trying to put the feelers out for SEC Championship tickets here at the GA Dome.

Hope everyone has a great hump day!
Ang

 

[mickeymo]

Speaking of OM,

How's HSM? Is it about time for performances? Pictures!!!

I don't remember the follow-up on Nick's audition as Christopher Robin, either...

Updates please!!! If you can ever put the car in park long enough to check in!!!

 

[ohiominnie]

I'm here. Still crazy busy. Between school and the blog and rehearsals, I'm busy busy busy!

No HSM performances yet. They don't start till 12/7. Rehearsals...well, they are the worst that any of my kids have ever had. The music woman is a witch! She has nothing good to say about anyone's singing and is always very critical. She monopolizes everyone's time so now they are behind on choreography and running the show. At this point they should be basically running the show every night and tweaking, but instead they are still learning basics. We'll see how it turns out. Btw, the music teacher did get a talking to from the director and also the head of the theater. So she's been better, but when the director is out of the room she reverts to witch mode.

As for Nick...he starts rehearsals tomorrow. First show is November 30th. They do it all in 10 days of rehearsals. Which is crazy, but at least it'll be over quickly! After he starts, he will have 28 performances!

Congrats to Ashley on lowering her times. And great shots of Dale!

Ok, back to school....

 

[WDWLVR]

OMG - did you guys see how the beautiful the castle is for the holiday season?

Can't wait to see it in person in just over 3 weeks!

 

[BWVPam]

Mary,

that is an awesome shot of the castle. Makes me wish I was going for the holidays this year.

 

[justmestace]

We are doing Holland America. Ports are Tortola, Grand Turk, St. Thomas, and their private island. I'm not thrilled about the private island because we have to tender. I'll miss just walking off the ship unto the island.

Only recently we realized that the kids have never been a cruise that was not Disney. This will be a new experience for them. They have checked out the room service menu and are please so far.

Jim...you'll have to report back to me about Tortola. We're going there on Norwegian (the Jewel) in December.

Friends of ours just got back from a Holland America cruise. They said they were glad they didn't take their teens, because it was a LOT of old people. Lots of wheelchairs and walkers. Hey! I'd fit right in!!

So far, our kids have done two non-DCL cruises, both on Norwegian, and have enjoyed it pretty much as well as Disney. They managed to find kids to hang out with and the activities the teen clubs did were fun for Jared.

 

[justmestace]

Mary, that IS a pretty picture. The castle at Disneyland has never looked that pretty. The decorations are always wonderful there, and I wish we were going this Christmas, but it's not been that pretty that I can remember.

I take it back. I'm glad we're not going this Christmas. I wouldn't be able to walk around or enjoy most of the rides. Never mind......

 

[scuba diver]

I also had to inform them that soda isn't free, ...

That's it. New cruise line....new rules. At least I can still bring wine.

 

[scuba diver]

Jim...you'll have to report back to me about Tortola. We're going there on Norwegian (the Jewel) in December.

Friends of ours just got back from a Holland America cruise. They said they were glad they didn't take their teens, because it was a LOT of old people. Lots of wheelchairs and walkers. Hey! I'd fit right in!!

So far, our kids have done two non-DCL cruises, both on Norwegian, and have enjoyed it pretty much as well as Disney. They managed to find kids to hang out with and the activities the teen clubs did were fun for Jared.

I can give you the report on Tortola right now. GREAT DIVING! The only part of the port/island I see is enroute to the dive shop. After that it is just blue water, reefs and fish.

I asked the kids today what they were looking forward to on the cruise and they both responded, "better food". I don't know where they get that from.

Since it is Thanksgiving week there are lots of kids on this cruise. I hope not to many because that is what I am looking forward to....a cruise without lots of kids running around.

 

[justmestace]

I can give you the report on Tortola right now. GREAT DIVING! The only part of the port/island I see is enroute to the dive shop. After that it is just blue water, reefs and fish.

I asked the kids today what they were looking forward to on the cruise and they both responded, "better food". I don't know where they get that from.

Since it is Thanksgiving week there are lots of kids on this cruise. I hope not to many because that is what I am looking forward to....a cruise without lots of kids running around.

I have to agree that I'm old enough now that a cruise with less kids doesn't bother me either.
We're hoping that the Jewel has better food than the Sun did. At least it has more restaurants, so therefore, more to choose from.

Our plan for Tortola is to take a taxi to Brewer's Bay and snorkle from shore. Didn't want to pay a fortune to take a boat out, and since it's Christmas Eve I wasn't sure how many would be running anyway. Sounds like most of the people (who post on Cruise Critic) are going on the excursion to The Baths @ Virgin Gorda. Our plan was to avoid that crowd.

 

[justmestace]

That's it. New cruise line....new rules. At least I can still bring wine.

Really?? They don't let us do that on NCL or Princess. I don't even think I'm going to take Pepsi on. I may have to search it out in some of the ports, though...it's a 9 night cruise!
No Pepsi for 9 days???

 

[CajunGirl2]

I have to agree that I'm old enough now that a cruise with less kids doesn't bother me either.
We're hoping that the Jewel has better food than the Sun did. At least it has more restaurants, so therefore, more to choose from.

Our plan for Tortola is to take a taxi to Brewer's Bay and snorkle from shore. Didn't want to pay a fortune to take a boat out, and since it's Christmas Eve I wasn't sure how many would be running anyway. Sounds like most of the people (who post on Cruise Critic) are going on the excursion to The Baths @ Virgin Gorda. Our plan was to avoid that crowd.

When I went on that sailing trip 11 years ago, we left from Tortola. It was a different experience than being on a cruiseship. We island-hopped on the sailboat & dropped anchor whenever we wanted to snorkel. We spent a good time at The Baths. It was a lot of fun but can get crowded. If you look at this map, we pretty much traveled to all of these islands.

http://www.moorings.com/Destinations.aspx?Destination=TOR

Ang