April 4, 2014 Wonderful Caribbean Cruise

[mom4fun]

Hi, Just booked today. I have asked to join the face book page. Looking forward to getting to know you all. Mia

 

[sweetlovin']

Hi, Just booked today. I have asked to join the face book page. Looking forward to getting to know you all. Mia

Mia!!

So glad you are joining us

 

[sweetlovin']

Wrong thread...

I need sleep

 

[sweetlovin']

31 weeks

 

[sweetlovin']

I am headed out of town, so please be patient in joining Facebook for the next few days.

 

[sweetlovin']

30 weeks peeps

 

[AussieMumma]

Wow 30 weeks doesn't sound like very long at all

Can someone remind me when we can start booking our port adventures and Palo etc? I know we have to be paid in full but I can't remember how many days out we can start booking.

 

[sweetlovin']

I'm only a silver member so I can book excursions Jan 4th. If you are a gold or platinum member I think you can book farther out.

 

[AussieMumma]

We're silver too so will be the same, thanks

 

[sweetlovin']

29 weeks!!

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Hello all,

Amy and I just B2B with this and the 4-night Bahamian on April 9th. We get 9-nights at a couple hundred less than a 7-night and only one airfare. So I was able to sell it to Amy as a $1000 savings on 2 cruises and we will be Gold when we finish.

So looking forward to Grand Cayman (never been), Cozumel (never been), Castaway Cay (4th time), Nassau (3rd) and Key West (2nd). Our plan is to tour Grand Cayman maybe do a port tour of the reef. On Cozumel we are going to try http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCookingClasses.html and maybe so off the strip shopping. Castaway Cay will be the 5K, lunch and chilling on the empty ship. Nassau is the major shopping expedition for us. Key West we hope to see some more than last time since we wasted too many of the 5 hours checking the shops (don't need if you have Nassau) so maybe the Butterfly Conservatory or Hemingway's House.

Looking forward to two FEs, two Pirate Nights, and two formal/semi-formal nights. Should be easy to spot use because I hope to be kilting it up most of the cruise. If someone could let me know how to sign up for the FB page and FE list?

Looking forward to seeing everyone out there.

As a side note Amy and I are looking to team up with another group for dinners. We are child-free by choice and enjoy sharing a table with some adults without kids for rounds of the dining rooms. We've done this before and it's alwas been enjoyable sharing conversations during dinner.

Jim

 

[sweetlovin']

Hello all,

Amy and I just B2B with this and the 4-night Bahamian on April 9th. We get 9-nights at a couple hundred less than a 7-night and only one airfare. So I was able to sell it to Amy as a $1000 savings on 2 cruises and we will be Gold when we finish.

So looking forward to Grand Cayman (never been), Cozumel (never been), Castaway Cay (4th time), Nassau (3rd) and Key West (2nd). Our plan is to tour Grand Cayman maybe do a port tour of the reef. On Cozumel we are going to try http://www.cozumelmycozumel.com/Pages/CozumelCookingClasses.html and maybe so off the strip shopping. Castaway Cay will be the 5K, lunch and chilling on the empty ship. Nassau is the major shopping expedition for us. Key West we hope to see some more than last time since we wasted too many of the 5 hours checking the shops (don't need if you have Nassau) so maybe the Butterfly Conservatory or Hemingway's House.

Looking forward to two FEs, two Pirate Nights, and two formal/semi-formal nights. Should be easy to spot use because I hope to be kilting it up most of the cruise. If someone could let me know how to sign up for the FB page and FE list?

Looking forward to seeing everyone out there.

As a side note Amy and I are looking to team up with another group for dinners. We are child-free by choice and enjoy sharing a table with some adults without kids for rounds of the dining rooms. We've done this before and it's alwas been enjoyable sharing conversations during dinner.

Jim

Welcome to the group Jim and Amy

I think Aussiemumma is going to head up the FE for both cruises.

I started the Facebook group. Here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/629917523707262/

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Thanks for the welcome.

If any of you wish to join us in the class let me know before we contact to set it up. The more the marrier!

Jim

 

[AussieMumma]

Jim, what sort of shopping is there in Nassau? I don't know much about the area at all and have heard from others that have been there that it's not the safest of places to walk around?


FE Group Just a reminder that if you want to be a part of the Fish Extender group please message me on here or Facebook with your cabin number (if known) and the details of your travel party (e.g.. Mum, Dad and kids, boy or girl and ages).
Some people like to get organised early with their gifts so if you are interested then please let me know.

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Jim, what sort of shopping is there in Nassau? I don't know much about the area at all and have heard from others that have been there that it's not the safest of places to walk around?

We had no issue. We went to all the "approved" shops of course since we were loading up on the freebies. You want to go this route definitely go to the sales talks they hold on the ship and get your coupons. Being fair they do get a kick back from these shops but they are nice shops and they do make it worth your time.

Now saying that we also like to get off the list and check out a few of the other shops. We also went to the straw market and it's ok for trip gifts. I always make a beeline for the Tortuga Rum Cake shop. Not only are the cakes awesome but you have a perfect chance for a photo op (let's have a contest on getting their pirate on ) -

We have been to Nassau twice. The first time we did the Ultimate Trainer at Atlantis. It was worth the money! But it will take all day. Don't count on doing anything else. You play with rays, sharks, dolphins and sea lions. Some you just feed, some you swim with, some are just photo ops and then you get the Full Monty with the dolphins!

The second time we went on the fort and zoo tour. While the marching flamingos and feeding the birds is cute the rest of it is really lame. Especially the "tour" which was a constant commercial and the fort which was tiny and the "guide" spent more his time working tips than giving us info. The Queen's Straircase was nice and made for some nice shots.

Jim

 

[AussieMumma]

Thanks for the info Jim. I think DH and I will just get off the ship this day and do a bit of shopping and most likely leave the kids in kids club (we struggled to get them out last time). Definitely need a photo at the Tortuga Rum Cake shop! We just re watched all of the POC movies over the past four weekends
We live on the coast and have a place called Underwater World just 10 minutes away that has sharks, rays sea lions etc, and our Seaworld is only two hours away, we visit there often so I don't think we'd spend the money to do that sort of thing over there.

 

[AussieMumma]

Don't know about anyone else doing B2B, but I keep forgetting which cruise is stopping where and in what order, so I thought I'd post the April 4th Itinerary here and then do the same on the other thread so I/we have something to refer to


Friday 04-Apr-2014 PORT OF MIAMI 4:00 PM
Saturday 05-Apr-2014 AT SEA
Sunday 06-Apr-2014 GRAND CAYMAN 7:30 AM 3:30 PM TENDER
Monday 07-Apr-2014 COZUMEL 9:45 AM 5:45 PM
Tuesday 08-Apr-2014 AT SEA
Wednesday 09-Apr-2014 PORT OF MIAMI 7:30 AM

 

[Kilted Candyman]

Thanks for the info Jim. I think DH and I will just get off the ship this day and do a bit of shopping and most likely leave the kids in kids club (we struggled to get them out last time). Definitely need a photo at the Tortuga Rum Cake shop! We just re watched all of the POC movies over the past four weekends
We live on the coast and have a place called Underwater World just 10 minutes away that has sharks, rays sea lions etc, and our Seaworld is only two hours away, we visit there often so I don't think we'd spend the money to do that sort of thing over there.

If you are just doing shopping I would think most kids will have more fun on the ship. Actually if you read a lot of previous cruise posts you'll see lot of people from the forums who've been there before don't leave the ship. They take advantage of the empty ship and relax. Amy and I do the same on Castaway Cay.

I realized I never answered what type of shopping is in the port The main drag is for jewelry. At the other end is the Straw Market. Interspersed among the jewelry are misc shops such Cariloha, a bamboo clothing store. Rather like their sheets and socks.

As I am FAR from an expert here is a decent link of recommendations -

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=3

I didn't know about the Pirates of Nassau. Going to have to check that out...

http://www.pirates-of-nassau.com/

Jim

 

[sweetlovin']

Don't know about anyone else doing B2B, but I keep forgetting which cruise is stopping where and in what order, so I thought I'd post the April 4th Itinerary here and then do the same on the other thread so I/we have something to refer to


Friday 04-Apr-2014 PORT OF MIAMI 4:00 PM
Saturday 05-Apr-2014 AT SEA
Sunday 06-Apr-2014 GRAND CAYMAN 7:30 AM 3:30 PM TENDER
Monday 07-Apr-2014 COZUMEL 9:45 AM 5:45 PM
Tuesday 08-Apr-2014 AT SEA
Wednesday 09-Apr-2014 PORT OF MIAMI 7:30 AM

Thank you!! I am so confused as to which is which

 

[sweetlovin']

This cruise we are going to do the dolphin swim at Grand Cayman and the horse back riding in Cozumel. Julie has spoken

I kid; this is the point of taking each kid on an individual trip even years. They get to pick and plan excursions and I get to pay and play. No thinking or planning on my part. Odd years, I plan huge ridiculous trips with a lot of thought, planning, and research. I really appreciate the plan free years.