February 28, 2009 Bushwacker Banditos Magical Cruise

[jbuckent]

WE ARE GOING ON ANOTHER CRUISE! The group my DH works in has a program that you can get nominated for doing an outstanding job and there is a committee that looks at all the nominations and picks a winner. Well this year DH was the winner and the prize is a cruise! Its a 4 day on I believe Carnival. He brought home a poster to tell us which is probably how they told him and on the poster is a big ship with the red and blue fin which I believe is Carnival right? End of April and goes to Naussa and I can't remember the other place, he thinks its their private island. So YAY! We get a free trip and DH doesn't even have to take vacation time! This one will be kid free so we can have even more fun! I'm so excited!

Then with the bounce back offer we should be getting I planned on looking into that, so I could be going on 3 cruises in 2009!

 

[mark_story]

I know that I am a little behind the times -- a few cruises ago I used to be one of the more frequent posters. But I am really starting to get psyched, so here's what I am looking forward to, in a sort of order:

1. Seeing Ron, Brenda, Kaylee and Emily. An hopefully boarding the ship with them. And having dinner with them every night. And getting loaded with them.
2. The feeling that you get when you first enter the atrium, the cast member announces your family name and you know that your ENTIRE cruise is in front of you.
3. Having breakfast delivered that first morning (and every morning that we can), sitting on the veranda and watching the blue, blue sea go by.
4. Seeing the look of wonder and magic (words chosen on purpose) in my childrens' eyes as they take everything in. There are a few precious moments on the boat in which I say to myself ("This is why I work my butt off all year long. This is totally worth it.")
5. Going out with Ron, Brenda and all of my new friends whom I have not met yet.
6. Having a drink at Signals, the outdoor bar on Deck 9 that is never crowded, but where you can have a drink in relative quiet and smell the sea air.
7. Palo brunch. Hard to be funnier than two years ago when we had "hairy man" on the deck, sunning himself right outside our viewing area.
8. Hanging out with my wife the first morning we can, ordering a drink before 12:00, getting a sunburn and feeling great.
9. Hearing the "dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum-dum" - "When you wish upon a star" intro before there is an announcement on the ship's PA system.
10. Getting to know our servers, who by the second day, will anticipate our every need.
11. That deja-vu feeling of seeing all of the wonderful things on the ship that you had forgotten that you loved, but having the memories come rushing bac.
12. Having a cigar on our veranda while reading a mystery novel.
13. Having a rum and coke-induced nap a couple of afternoons, disguised as a "family rest time" whem mom and dad are smashed and about to pass out.
14. Watching my beautiful children play in the pool with absolute glee.
15. Meeting all of the wonderful people on the first day and hacing so many people to say "hello" to all over the ship on the first day.
16. And finally, knowing that we are paying, albeit at a premium price, for a piece of magic that we will never forget. Honestly, when we are on our death beds, are we doing to say "I really wish that I had put that money in the bank?" Not likely.

No "what I am looking forward to" list would be complete without dreading that sinking, depressing feeling of being on the bus on the way back to the airport, praying for the next piece of magic to come sooner rather than later.

Mark

 

[ejkjmom]

so here's what I am looking forward to, in a sort of order:

1. Seeing Ron, Brenda, Kaylee and Emily. An hopefully boarding the ship with them. And having dinner with them every night. And getting loaded with them.
Mark

WooHoo!!!! WE are really anxious/EXCITED to see all of you as well!!!!! And yah..we will definitely be boarding the ship together with our #2 boarding pass!!! Heading straight to Parrot Cay for Lunch!!!!!!
Let the F-U-N begin!!!!!!!

Hoping that we can meet up the night before as well!!!!
Thinking Pizza and DRINKS poolside!!!!!!

 

[ejkjmom]

14. Watching my beautiful children play in the pool with absolute glee.

Mark

Don't forget watching your Beautiful wife poolside, after all she did get a new suit for this trip LOL!!!!

 

[Johnna_Story]

Don't forget watching your Beautiful wife poolside, after all she did get a new suit for this trip LOL!!!!

You are way too nice to me!!!!

 

[ejkjmom]

WE ARE GOING ON ANOTHER CRUISE!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! To both you and your husband, that really is exciting!!!!

 

[Dave and Micha]

Day 3 as a human oven beginning... still feeling like 7 kinds of horse turds, but encouraged that I was able to sleep a few uninterrupted hours last night. Maybe I won't die... but I'm milking it.

We have our West Caribbean tours all booked and are super excited to swim with the stingrays and hang out at Playa Mia in Cozumel! I can't seem to decide what to do in St Croix. In St Thomas we always did the snorkel/rum excursion, but think we might just hop a cab to Meghan's Bay and enjoy the beach. We've also contacted a couple of resorts to see if they have day passes. We really just want to sit on beaches as much as possible and soak up the sun.

Today, though, I will be glued to the television watching our new president be inaugerated. He's got a tough job ahead of him and we are encouraged that the whole world seems to be behind him... regardless of party or politics, it is nice to have people want you to succeed.

 

[ejkjmom]

Good Morning!!!!!!!

Don't know if any of you are staying at the Radisson....but the rates have dropped since I booked a while back!!!!! There is a thread over on the main boards I was reading and they were talking about it.

So I checked, and YEP they did come down in price!!!! I am now getting our room for $90.00 a night, with the AAA rate!!!!!
That is $50.00 less than what I had booked it for!!!!!

There I go saving Ron $$$$ again LOL!!!!! He always says the more I save the more he worries...because I have to spend BIG to save BIG

 

[Johnna_Story]

Dave - sorry you're so sick. Hopefully it will all get out of your system by the time of the trip. We too are checking about day passes at some resort on St. Croix. One of them is "soon to become a Renaissance", so I'm hoping it's soon like in the next 3 weeks soon, so I can maybe use some Marriott points for a day pass. And we too will cab it to Megan's Bay on St. Thomas. DD and I went last trip (the boys went on the submarine) and LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I can't wait to get back there.

By the way - did you ever find a meet thread for the week prior to ours? And are they even close to being as cool and as much fun as we are???

And yes - it's a big day here in the Nation's Capital. The whole city is closed so Mark and I are off work. My sister is downtown in the crowds on the mall (near the Smithsonian Castle if any of you are familiar), and friends with connections have tickets for the ceremony so they are close to the Capitol. They are so excited and are keeping us posted via facebook and twitter. I didn't vote for Obama, but I agree that everyone is excited about the change, and ready to give him a chance.

So - politics aside, it's a great day in American History, and I'm looking forward to witnessing it - from the comfort of my couch of course!

 

[Dave and Micha]

I think that was the nice part of today... whether people voted for him or not he has tried to reach out and be inclusive. After seeing it and hearing the speech I am inclined to be very hopeful. Time will tell.

So here is a really important question I asked on my Facebook page...
Does anyone else think Anderson Cooper looks like Bevis ? I keep waiting for Wolf Blitzer to shout out... "Shut up Bevis, heh he heh"

 

[ejkjmom]

So here is a really important question I asked on my Facebook page...
Does anyone else think Anderson Cooper looks like Bevis ? I keep waiting for Wolf Blitzer to shout out... "Shut up Bevis, heh he heh"

I LOVE Anderson!!!!! Not so crazy about Bevis LOL!!!!
So no.... I see no resemblance LOL!!!!

Hope you both are feeling better!!!!

 

[jbuckent]

Anyone know where we will be docking in St Thomas?

 

[vanessa3198]

So here is a really important question I asked on my Facebook page...
Does anyone else think Anderson Cooper looks like Bevis ? I keep waiting for Wolf Blitzer to shout out... "Shut up Bevis, heh he heh"

He does look like him!!

"I need TP for my bunghole.."

 

[donmil723]

Jennifer--that is so wonderful for you and your DH!!!! A free cruise...WOW! Congrats!

 

[Dave and Micha]

Too funny you guys! TP for my bunghole...hahahaha

Well... seems like the antibiotics are working... I don't feel like total crap anymore...woo hoo! Imagine...for 4 days I wasn't even excited for our cruise!?!?!

Free cruises are the BEST! We've been on Carnival, and while it will be a totally different experience than Disney, we're sure you'll have fun! Can you choose any of the 4 night ships or has it already been chosen for you?

 

[mark_story]

Got some really good advice on St. Croix yesterday, via Sue Ellen, our travel agent at Dreams Unlimited. Will post soon.

But for the time being, I am posting to whine that it is 16 degrees and I am going to walk Prince, the German Shepherd.

Are we leave yet? ARE WE??

Mark

 

[DMMarla07860]

I can't wait to be sitting on one of these

 

[donmil723]

Are we leave yet? ARE WE??

Mark

 

[jbuckent]

Free cruises are the BEST! We've been on Carnival, and while it will be a totally different experience than Disney, we're sure you'll have fun! Can you choose any of the 4 night ships or has it already been chosen for you?

We went on Carnival several years ago when I was in my early 20's and it was a blast! Hopefully I can go back to that age once again without the kids! Everything is already planned, the cruise, the date, everything. Its actually a 3 day after I looked at the dates closer, and someone on cruisecritic was able to give me a very good guess that we will be on the Imagination. So now right in the thick of my Disney planning I have been checking out Carnivals site as well. It really is quite crazy!

 

[jbuckent]

Got some really good advice on St. Croix yesterday, via Sue Ellen, our travel agent at Dreams Unlimited. Will post soon.

Please do!