November 12, 2005....7 Night Eastern...Who Else?

[DIS NURSE]

Oh, that sounds like fun Jessica! Have a great time....and yes, I would love to hear all about the Cozumel situation.

Hope you are able to relax and enjoy......without Hailey. I know that can throw a mom off a little.

 

[barkley]

have a great time! i'de be interested to hear what celebrity is like-from the commercials they don't look too kid friendly so we've never realy looked into them (not that we will be cruising anytime in the near future).

well, we have a projected date to put the house on the market-march 16th! we can get the few small repairs done by then, the gardener will have the "crop circle" in the back yard re-sodded (the home of the former above ground pool) and i will be done de-cluttering and moving some of the extra furniture into the garage. so come that date start crossing fingers and toes for us!

once we enter into a contract i'll be packing like a crazy woman and lining up a rental house (idealy with a LARGE garage so i don't have to pay for a storage locker) where we can sit and decide which states to physicaly check out for the REAL move (btw-house for sale-what parts of arizona should we look at for some snow in the winter, not as much "pure desert"?). anyone else with suggestions of a nice state that offers good SMALL communities (think the type not likely to experience major growth) with good schools, accessable top medical services, and some good colleges/universities-idealy with actual SEASONS start throwing suggestions our way-it will be much appreciated .

 

[DIS NURSE]

I vote for Flagstaff, Arizona

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Did any of you take the Yoga classes on Board - Suggestions please - I am getting psyched for our May cruise....This time, "drugs" as I refuse to lose a day to the ship rocking.....

 

[DIS NURSE]

I took Bonine several times while we were on board. No side effects and it got me through the bad parts....especially that one night that even the stage performers were tripping and tipping! Remember that?

Sorry, didn't do yoga. Did some spin classes though!

I am soooooo going to want to hear about your Double Dip!
Do you still think you are going to Cozumel?
I kinda' doubt it. Don't kill me for saying that.

 

[awoltoday]

Did any of you take the Yoga classes on Board - Suggestions please - I am getting psyched for our May cruise....This time, "drugs" as I refuse to lose a day to the ship rocking.....

I would stick with the beer tasting myself. Much more fun

 

[chip&dale&fun]

We will do beer tasting - not to worry....

And I will take one of the sea-sick helpers - need to try them before we leavet o see how I feel.

I read about the spin classes maybe.....still Yoga on the beach does sound fun....

Time to get excited - about 3 months to go......wheee......

 

[PrincessHaleysMom]

Just back from my 4 day cruise. Cozumel is in ok shape. We spent 2 hours with a local taxi driver riding around the island looking at what is open and how the island looks.
A few of the beaches are in pretty good condition - Paradise Beach is in excellent shape and it's free to get it! The snorkeling and diving was "amazing" from what the people that did it told me.
In town, the main shopping area is pretty much back to normal.
Most of the hotels are still closed - a few have just recently (like in the past 3 weeks) reopened. Parts of roads are totally wiped out - the docks are pretty much under water and not expected to be rebuilt for at least a year. We saw no one even working on them when we were there - and as the local guy said, everything is slow to get fixed. In his opinion, they are in better shape than the mainland - he said the Cancun area is filled with a lot of crime - he won't even take the ferry over there anymore.
The people of Cozumel are desperate for visitors to start filling the streets again. They said a "good" day used to consist of 7-10 ships in port - now a good day is 4. There were only 2 when we were there on Saturday - and they said some days they only have 1.
Tendering was easy - took quite a while to fill up the ferry from the ship to shore, but the way back was fast.
I have some pictures if anyone wants to see - any questions, let me know! It's not a bad place to spend the day - plenty to go and do - just not ready for people wanting to come stay (in my opinion!).

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Thanks so much. I will pass this along to our May cruisers.

May I ask how you docked? Did you tender? Was it easy - cramped?

thanks...

 

[PrincessHaleysMom]

Thanks so much. I will pass this along to our May cruisers.

May I ask how you docked? Did you tender? Was it easy - cramped?

thanks...

No docking since the docks are under water - it will be a year at least before any ship can dock (from what I was told). We tendered in a large ferry - not cramped - plenty of fresh air and very comfortable and FAST!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Thanks - still underwater....what a mess.....We are scheduled to go there at the end of May on the first Double Castaway Cay Cruise.....our posters are not sure we will make it....Perhaps we will - thanks again...

 

[DIS NURSE]

Glad you had fun Jessica and thanks for that review.
We leave for the Mexican Riviera in about 2 weeks.....landing in Cancun and then south near Playa del Carmen.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Update for those of you who are repeat cruisers...

The reservation system gets booked up almost instantly.

Palo's were all gone by 3:15 the night of the 90 day release.

Excursions - many gone by 3:10 the night of the 75 day release.

Not at all like what we experienced.

Just passing alone the hint.

This is the first 2 stop to Castaway Cay so we have lots of repeat cruisers....still, zip, gone.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Had a fun night last Thursday - Sam was out of town and I was driving back from a meeting, so I was thinking about a new semi-formal dress. We had so much fun with our discussions for the November trip, I thought I would share.

Of course, I could have shopped after the Christmas sales (na) or Valentine's day (nope).

Of course, there was much mall walking, trying on of this one and that, this is too big, this is too small, this is black (do not want black - who said that before), this looks like a nightgown and it is how much (shock). T

But - found one in the off-red colour I was looking for - quite by accident, on the fitting room return rack....and it fit!!!!! Yipppeee.....now, should I splurge for red shoes??????

Take care all....

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Happy ST. Patrick's Day All!!!!

 

[chip&dale&fun]

And flying fish - Theses were are escorts to the dive site this weekend. It has been a while since I posted on this thread...Hope all is well with everyone, and I will share my dive report --- Barkley DH - it is beautiful right now..

Despite the early hour, we had 12 to the boat and 3 crew enjoying the beautiful sunrise and FLAT seas. 1-2 feet on the way out...But, we were deterred, after 3 bottlenose swam with us for a ways, a pod of 30 spotted joined our boat for a run up the coast. The captain dropped 3 divers, with cameras, off for a swim and spent time turning and circling so they would stay with us. There were several young, so cute and of course the show-offs....Stumpy was there - so called because his dorsel fin was bitten off....And everywhere were flying fish --- wheee.....

Oh yes, diving....Dove the flower gard and the trench off Palm Beach - both reefs. Visability was 40 on the first dive about 20 on the second. I had on new gear...had a bit trouble adjusting but it worked out well. Our dive instructor was with us.....tug, tug, pull pull and what the heck is he doing back there....Turns out I do not need the 16 lbs Sam, suggested or the 12 pounds I started with, but only 8...Not sure the BCfits right but at least I am upright...

The reef fish were out in spendor...An 8-10 foot green morrey eel - and my favourite of the day was the spotlifht parrotfish... I did not take the camera - wanted to focus on the new gear...a good idea.

Saw the largest angelfish which was proably a spadfish ever...and schools and schools of ????? yes, fish id is next on the list...Lobster were everywhere, guess they know the season is overm and purple fans waving in the breeze. Stingrays swimming by - way to fast to catch.

The crew was great....The second dive they said the seas were "July" flat, of course it was still cold in the water...And I like the boat..

FYI - Sam's manatee shots are on the scuba board site.....look for olddiver (ok - his name, not mine...)

Take care all...

 

[awoltoday]

WOW! That sounds fantastic! What new equipment did you have?

I finally found Sam's pictures. They are VERY impressive!

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=all&ppuser=54969

 

[Barkley's DH]

Sounds like a fab dive. Thanks for posting CD&F. AWOL. Thanks for finding the scubaboard site. I look forward to viewing the pictures.

 

[chip&dale&fun]

I know I shall blunder the spelling of the names here - but --- I have an Atomic Regulator with a Oceanic Dive Computer - and a ladies Zeagle BC...I also have cute little shortie aluminum tanks...still earing the same ole fins....that might be the next upgrade...

 

[chip&dale&fun]

Sounds like a fab dive. Thanks for posting CD&F. AWOL. Thanks for finding the scubaboard site. I look forward to viewing the pictures.

Hey - did you change your siggie - must go investigate the latin.....