Need help on excursion name and port!

[lsmac]

Ok, I know I read a report on an excursion that involves riding on a pirate ship and snorkeling and includes lunch. But now I can't find where I read that report! waa...
Anyhoo, does anyone know which excursion this is? Which cruise, Wonder or Magic, and Which port?

Thank you Thank you Thank you...if you can answer this.

Lisa

 

[mommasita]

This sounds like the Jolly Roger. I know in September they had it in Antigua. Looked like fun. I saw this on the magic...

 

[Jimbo]

Or it could be the Doubloon cruise in St. Thomas, although the lunch was chips and salsa. We did this last week and it was tons of fun.

And FYI - We took the Jolly Roger excursion in Antigua many years ago, and it was definitely a "booze cruise" with unlimited rum punches made with 151 rum. We had fun on that one too, although we all got plenty hammered.

 

[lsmac]

Ok, The Jolly Roger sounds familiar, but so does the Doubloon. Does the Magic/Wonder still offer the JR? Or has anyone been on the Doubloon?

Lisa

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Ismac- I just booked the Doubloon this morning for the Magic Eastern in January.

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.doubloon.com/

Jimbo- did you have kids with you when you did it last week? We are taking DS9 (who will have a blast!) and DD5 (whom I am concerned about) and was wondering how it would be for them.

Were there mostly adults onboard or a mix of families and singles? Sorry for all of the questions, but I am curious!!

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Jimbo-

It also sounds like we need to eat before we board, too right?

I don't know if chips and salsa would hold us for 3 1/2 hours of sailing and snorkeling!

MFM

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by lsmac
Ok, The Jolly Roger sounds familiar, but so does the Doubloon. Does the Magic/Wonder still offer the JR? Or has anyone been on the Doubloon?

Lisa

We were on both.

The JR is an Antigua excursion, so it's only available if you stop in Anitgua. When we took it we went to a beach. You could swim to the beach or take their launch. It was NOT a snorkeling trip. Afterwards they broke out the rum punch, and we all got liquored up in a big way. Things got pretty wild, with loud music, limbo contests, etc. Note that this was NOT a DCL trip, so maybe they tone it down based on the clientele.

One funny thing... as soon as we got to their "deserted" beach, vendors started appearing through the trees. They were selling hair braiding, T shirts, art and crafts, etc. It wasn't pushy, it was just funny to see the vendors appear from out of nowhere.

The Doubloon is a St. Thomas excursion. It IS a snorkeling trip. The snorkeling was OK, not great. They served drinks on the way back, but it never got near as rowdy as the JR. The boat is much smaller than the JR, so no dance contests.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by mickeyfanmom
Ismac- I just booked the Doubloon this morning for the Magic Eastern in January.

Here is a link to their website:

http://www.doubloon.com/

Jimbo- did you have kids with you when you did it last week? We are taking DS9 (who will have a blast!) and DD5 (whom I am concerned about) and was wondering how it would be for them.

Were there mostly adults onboard or a mix of families and singles? Sorry for all of the questions, but I am curious!!

We took our DD and her husband, plus our two granddaughters, 10 and 7. None of them had snorkeled before, and they were all a little nervous. But the Doubloon staff gave a nice instruction on how to snorkel, and they stayed with us while we were in the water. Once they got comfortable being in the water, everybody had a great time.

It was all DCL guests on board (about 60 or so), so it was almost all families. Each of the kids got a chance to take the wheel on the way back, and our 10YO was just thrilled with that. Soda, beer and banana benders (be careful!) were included, and freely available. Chips and salsa were served, but that was it for food.

Everybody has to get a tattoo with their logo on the way back (although I'm sure you could skip it). Then they take a picture of each of you and post it on their website. It really was a whole lot of fun, and the pictures should prove it!

Here's DW and I from the Doubloon website:

Our 10YO granddaughter:

Our 7YO granddaughter:

DD and our Son-in-law:

 

[dmensing]

Originally posted by Jimbo


One funny thing... as soon as we got to their "deserted" beach, vendors started appearing through the trees. They were selling hair braiding, T shirts, art and crafts, etc. It wasn't pushy, it was just funny to see the vendors appear from out of nowhere.

Jimbo:

As I was reading this portion of your post, I couldn't help envisioning the movie Field of Dreams. Did you hear any voices in your head saying, "If you come, they will sell it." ?

Thanks!
Dan.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by dmensing
As I was reading this portion of your post, I couldn't help envisioning the movie Field of Dreams. Did you hear any voices in your head saying, "If you come, they will sell it." ?

How funny! That's just what it was like, now that you mention it! Except instead of cornstalks, we had palm trees.

 

[lsmac]

Jimbo,
Thank you for all the info. And what a lovely family! Sounds like the Doubloon is the one I am thinking of! Do you think this appeals more to older or younger children? Reason being I have a 15 year old and wondering if he would get into it or think it "stupid".

Lisa

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by lsmac
Jimbo,
Thank you for all the info. And what a lovely family! Sounds like the Doubloon is the one I am thinking of! Do you think this appeals more to older or younger children? Reason being I have a 15 year old and wondering if he would get into it or think it "stupid".

Lisa

I suppose it depends on the 15YO. I know that when I was 15, if someone put me on a sailboat in the Caribbean, let me snorkel and generally have a good time, it would have been about the most awesome thing that had ever happened to me. So I'm pretty sure that he'd like it. It looked like everyone on our trip did.

And thanks for the compliment.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Jimbo-

Great pics! You all look like you are having such a great time. It makes me more confident about booking this exursion.

I heard about those "Banana Benders" from someone else! Sounds like they are so yummy that the alcohol sneaks up on you!

When you say the snorkeling was just ok, is it because you didn't really get to see too much? DH and I have been snorkeling in Hawaii and Mexico and saw tons of fish! But the kids don't have anything to compare it to so may not be as disappointed.

I like the tattoos. I think that my son especially will get a kick out of that. He loves pirates!

On the Disney description of this on the website, it says that you get to help raise the sails- did you get to do that? I think my son would love to feel that he was a part of a pirate crew!

Thanks for all of the information and for the great pictures. Ismac- thanks for starting the thread. I posted on this topic before, but never got as good of info as from Jimbo!

 

[lsmac]

I suppose it depends on the 15YO. I know that when I was 15, if someone put me on a sailboat in the Caribbean, let me snorkel and generally have a good time, it would have been about the most awesome thing that had ever happened to me. So I'm pretty sure that he'd like it. It looked like everyone on our trip did.

Quite true! I am more than ready for a sailboat in the Caribbean and one of those banana benders too!

Thanks Jimbo for the great info!

Ismac- thanks for starting the thread.

You are welcome! This board is a great place to get any and all questions about the cruise answered..sometimes you have to post more than once.

Lisa

 

[mickeyfanmom]

 

[NJ Cruisers]

mickeyfanmom - we are taking our DS5 on the Doubloon Sail in 2 weeks. From what I've heard, the 5 year olds have a great time on this excursion. I'll try to remember to let you know if that's true when we return.

Diane

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by mickeyfanmom
Jimbo-

Great pics! You all look like you are having such a great time. It makes me more confident about booking this exursion.

I heard about those "Banana Benders" from someone else! Sounds like they are so yummy that the alcohol sneaks up on you!

When you say the snorkeling was just ok, is it because you didn't really get to see too much? DH and I have been snorkeling in Hawaii and Mexico and saw tons of fish! But the kids don't have anything to compare it to so may not be as disappointed.

I like the tattoos. I think that my son especially will get a kick out of that. He loves pirates!

On the Disney description of this on the website, it says that you get to help raise the sails- did you get to do that? I think my son would love to feel that he was a part of a pirate crew!

The other thing about the banana benders is that the crew comes around with pitchers of the stuff. As soon as DW took a drink out of her glass, someone would top it off. DW doesn't even remember getting her picture taken. I had a beer instead.

We saw a lot of fish, and got to snorkel over a sunken ship, which was great. It wasn't very colorful, and there was very little coral, so that's why I thought the snorkeling wasn't so hot. No one else seemed to mind, though. And also, we didn't go to Turtle Cove, their usual destination, because of water conditions.

We sat in the middle of the boat, and were asked to help raise the sails; adults on the way out, the kids on the way back. Plus the kids all got an opportunity to steer the boat on the way back. They thought that was pretty cool!

BTW - They don't go all that heavy on the pirate theme. They fly the Jolly Roger, and everybody gets one of those tattoos, but that's it. It had more of Jimmy Buffett vibe, to be honest with you. That was OK with me, and nobody else seemed to mind either.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks Jimbo!

My DH is a huge Parrothead, so he will love the Jimmy Buffet vibe going on!

My son would just like to help with the raising sails, steering etc so that will work out great!

NJ Cruisers- you'll have to let us know how it works out!

Ismac- I saw another thread that you were still deciding on whether to go on the 7 day or not. If you decide to do St. Thomas it sounds like you'll have to fit this in. I think that adults, 15 year old DS's and kids alike would all enjoy an excursion up this alley.

Good luck with your decision!

Thanks again Jimbo for the info and look forward to your report when you get back NJ Cruisers!

PS- I know what you are talking about with the colors and coral Jimbo. But since my kids don't have anything to compare it to they should enjoy it anyway. Thanks again!