September 12, 2009 ~ Last Call for Tortola! Thread 2

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Here ya go... :wave:

Saturday Port Canaveral
Sunday At Sea Formal Night
Monday At Sea
Tuesday Tortola Pirate Night pirate:
Wednesday St. Thomas/St. John
Thursday At Sea Semi-Formal Night
Friday Castaway Cay
Saturday Port Canaveral :sad:

Thanks Karen. We should ask Jan to put this on Page 1.



Better not be too inebriated!!!:rotfl2:

The schedule is on page one.
Also links Jackie found to sites of interest on the islands are still below the list of DISers on post 1 in case anyone forgot but is doing research of sites to see, dolphin swims etc. So, I added Deb's hotels there.

;)
 
OK, here's what I found on St. Thomas:

1. Coral World Marine Park & Undersea Observatory – this amazing attraction is full of carefully-designed displays and exhibits that let you get up close and personal with the abundant marine life found under the ocean waters. A three-story underwater observation tower located 100 feet off shore lets visitors watch fish, coral and other sea creatures in their natural environment, while an 80,000 gallon glass-enclosed coral reef tank houses exotic sea life for easy viewing. There is also a tropical nature trail to explore, a garden aquarium, a children’s touch pool and an open-air pool that houses sharks and giant eels. If you can, try to catch one of the daily fish or shark feedings for an inside look at some of the wonders of the Caribbean deep!




2. Estate St. Peter Greathouse Botanical Gardens – A beautiful estate covering 11 acres, the gardens are the perfect way to explore the natural beauty of St. Thomas. You can follow one of several self-guided nature trails that wind through over 200 varieties of tropical plants and trees, an orchid jungle and an art gallery featuring works by native artists. The gardens are located 1,000 feet above sea level and a viewing deck in the gardens provides an amazing glimpse at over a dozen of the other islands that make up the collective [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]Virgin [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]Islands[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR].




3. Magens Bay Beach – Selected by both National Geographic and Conde Nast as one of the finest beaches in the world, you should definitely be sure to visit beautiful Magens Bay. This heart-shaped bay boasts calm turquoise-blue waters, an amazing white sand beach and many facilities for families, including picnic tables and easy rentals for water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling and swimming. A great place to relax and unwind after a day of sightseeing or hiking, Magens Bay is not to be missed.




4. Duty Free Shopping in Charlotte Amalie – St. Thomas is widely known as the best shopping spot in the Caribbean, and there is no better place to do your shopping than Charlotte Amalie. It is where nearly all the major [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]cruise [/FONT][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]ships[/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] dock and bargain-hungry passengers explore the wide variety of shops for great deals and unique items. Many duty-free bargains can be found, especially on goods such as perfume, liquor, electronics, [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]china[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR], jewelry and clothing. Many of these items can be found at prices that are 40 to 60 percent lower than in the United States, making it worth your while to pick up some things to take home. The waterfront area is a great place for hunting bargains – the old seventeenth century warehouses that used to hold rum, spices and other goods for trade are now home to a variety of shops with all sorts of shopping treasures.




5. Walking tour of Charlotte Amalie – There is more here than just good shopping - the color and charm of the Caribbean come vibrantly to life in this busy waterfront town. Travelers from all over the world used to flock to this old-world Danish port, as did pirates and sailors. At one time, St. Thomas was also the biggest slave market in the world. Old warehouses, once used for storing stolen pirate goods, have now been converted to shops. There are also many historic buildings, most of which can be seen on foot in about 2 hours. As a break from the shopping, try taking a walking [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]tour[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]
of the city's attractions. There are many intriguing landmarks and points of interest including Fort Christian and The 99 Steps, which were built from the ballast bricks of the tall ships coming from the old world (By the way there are actually 103 steps!) Be sure you to wear comfortable walking shoes, plenty of sunscreen and don’t forget your camera. There are many beautiful sports worth photographing – the town’s architecture reflects the island's culturally diverse past, so on your walk you will find Danish red-tile roofs, French iron grillwork, and Spanish-style patios.




6. Fort Christian – This fortress is St. Thomas’s oldest standing structure and has been designated as a national landmark. It was built in 1671, although the clock tower was added later, in the 19th century. Fort Christian has served a variety of purposes over the years – it was used as a jail, town hall, courthouse and church. Today it houses a museum featuring artifacts that help tell the story of the USVI from a historical and cultural perspective, as well as detailing the natural history of the islands.




7. St.Thomas Skyride – this unique attraction offers visitors a tram ride up to Paradise Point, 700 feet above sea level, where you can enjoy sweeping views of Charlotte Amalie harbor, especially impressive when many of the cruise ships are in port. The tramway operates six cars, similar to those used at ski [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]resorts[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR], for the short ride to the summit. At the top, you can not only take in the amazing scenery, but also visit shops and the popular restaurant and bar.




8. Mountain Top – Another scenic viewpoint worth the trip is Mountain Top. At the peak of St. Peter Mountain, this viewing spot is an impressive height of 1,500 feet above sea level, offering spectacular views of both the US and British Virgin Islands. In fact, National Georgraphic has rated its view of Magens Bay as one of the ten best views in the world. It also features a small shopping area for browsing and has the honor of being the home of the world famous Banana Daiquiri. It’s a wonderful place to poke around, relax and enjoy one of these delicious Caribbean concoctions, while you take in the amazing views and the beauty of the island.




9. Blackbeard’s Castle – This interesting structure was built in 1679 by the Dutch as a watchtower for the harbor of Charlotte Amalie. Located at the highest point on Government Hill, it served for many years as an excellent vantage point for Danish soldiers to spot enemy ships and protect Fort Christian from attacks. Originally named Skytsborg Tower, over the years it took on the name of Blackbeard’s Castle as a nod to the infamous pirate that sailed the surrounding waters in the early 1700’s. It is one of four National Historic sites located in the USVI.




10. Day trip to St. Croix or the British Virgin Islands – St. Thomas is also a wonderful stepping stone to some of the other nearby islands, including neighboring St. Croix and the BVI. You can easily spend a day on another island and return the same day by taking a ferry or even a small airplane. Regular ferries and [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]flights[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]
operate daily between St. Thomas and both St. Croix and St. John. Either of these places make a wonderful day trip. On St. Croix, you can experience the picturesque cities of Christiansted or Fredriksted, your choice of unspoiled white sand beaches and the only casino in the USVI. St. John in the BVI offers a wide variety of activities, including sugar plantations, hiking trails and lovely beaches and scenic locations. St. John is a wonderful place to explore if you want to experience the unspoiled outdoor beauty of the Virgin Islands.

Link to this has been posted on page 1 post 1. Websites related to cruise ports have been rearranged so are hopefully more useful as well as the website for the Tortola Dophin Discovery is now included instead of just being mentioned in posts from thread 1.

Jan :flower3:
 


YEAH now we have more YGITs.....I say YES....please do join us.

Oh what fun, Oh what fun, Oh what fun we're going to have!!!

So we'll have a DIS meet, the Champagne Girls, Shots Around The Ship and an OG/GIT/YGIT meet. It's only a 7 night cruise. I think we have filled it up already. hahaha:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:

OK--in post 1

.
 
You're not older than US. I don't think anyone is older than us.

Ian, Ian, Ian, Ian,

We HAVE HAD this conversation before. Several of us are or will be 60 or older by the time of the cruise.....

To us, you are just a young pup. :rotfl2:
 

Sounds wonderful!!! :thumbsup2 (With alcohol, please...):rolleyes:



Awww, Nan!!! Not so Queen of Mean after all!!! Unless you're also the Sovereign of Sarcasm..? :lmao: :lmao: Here's the facts: I'm older than you, have a 26 year old daughter and, by the time the cruise rolls around, will be nearer 50 than 40 - perfect YGIT material methinks... :faint:

ya sure...having a 26 year old doesn't mean you are all that much older and sadly, I'm on the downward side towards 50 after my upcoming bday in March. :sad2:

I missed out on the tequila tasting on the cruise we were on together. It was all booked up by the time I decided to sign up for it.

I would try to make to this one, or expect you, Nan, to reserve a spot for me.

Of course I would be solo. Sukie would be caffinating himself at Cove Cafe.

And just remember, there are also Fruity Fatty Boozy Drinks to be had.

ok pencilled you in for the extra tequllia

Nan... all I can say is

I'M YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE!!!!!

:upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow :upsidedow

(ok... so it's only by a couple of months...)

and your point????
 
ya sure...having a 26 year old doesn't mean you are all that much older and sadly, I'm on the downward side towards 50 after my upcoming bday in March. :sad2:

......

One of my favorite x-stitch projects was a turtle riding downhill on a bicycle and words saying:
OVER THE HILL AND GAINING SPEED

this is not the same picture, but imagine how fun to be able to google and find this:
Turtleonabicycle.jpg

 
It's sad but so far NOTHING looks appealing to me.

I also have a terrible little secret to share. I don't like beaches, well more specifically, I hate sand.

I blame my sister. I grew up about 2 or 3 blocks from the ocean. I can remember it as clear as yesterday. She took me to the beach and I got sand in my suit. She would not pick me up and made me walk home. My skin was raw by the time we got back.

I manage to cope with Castaway Cay, by plopping my butt in a hammock, or parking my butt in an inner tube. Let's face it, parking my butt ANYWHERE but on the sand.

Feel free to send hate mail to my sister. Who by the way is 65 and does not remember this major event in my life and how she ruined seaside resorts for her baby brother.

Older siblings send to do things like that and have ABSOLUTELY no guilt either...

Let's get NAN over there........she'll take care of her!

My big sister hasn't let me forget the fact that I caused us to leave the movie theater when seeing "Rock Around The Clock". I have no memory of this. :confused3

Ahhhhh... NOPE... My 3 older siblings (especially my oldest brother has NOT let me forget that I ruined their excursion out to see JUNGLE BOOK... apparently I hid in the bathroom (I don't recall)... It was years later (of guilt...) that I finally asked how old my brother was when we went... 12!!!! you know that means???? I WAS 3!!!!!! After that... I stopped feeling guilty...

BIG sisters seem to have one thing in common ... they have selective memory.

::yes:: ::yes:: ::yes:: ::yes::



OH and Jan... I found these for you...

Ian can you make a design for any of these for a t-shirt (yeah... not like I'm on this cruise or anything... but the YGITS need a theme...)

PRK25994-2.jpg


And Jan... I couldn't find another turtle (sorry Deb...) but I did find a frog...

PRK25992-2.jpg
 
This is the View from our Room...
Antigua09008.jpg


Balcony..
Antigua09007.jpg


Our Room...
Antigua09004.jpg

Antigua09006.jpg


Bathroom.. Huge Tub.. all it needed were Jets..
Antigua09003.jpg

Antigua09002.jpg


Ocean Side Beach..
Antigua09016.jpg


Bay Side Beach..
Antigua09020.jpg


Frog or Rock? You decide..
Antigua09059.jpg
 
This is a tree I thought was really interesting..
Antigua09065.jpg


At 4pm.. Tea, Finger Sandwhiches & Cakes were served in the gazebo (sp)
Antigua09066.jpg


Clouds set in when we were TRYING to watch the sunset..
Antigua09057.jpg


Old Historic Base.. Cannons still set up, but the pics are kinda dark..
Antigua09051.jpg

Antigua09050.jpg


Views from the Hill.. They take you up by Golf cart..
Antigua09041.jpg

Antigua09040.jpg

Antigua09037.jpg


Tallest Peak of the Island.. A cell phone tower is on the top.. Oh and it is called Mount Obama or will be..

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) — Antigua plans to give the new U.S. president its "top" honor on his birthday: Renaming its tallest peak Mount Obama.
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer says the Caribbean nation will rename Boggy Peak, as it is currently known, on Aug. 4 to mark President Barack Obama's 48th birthday.

He first announced the plan in November in a congratulatory letter to Obama but didn't say when it would happen. He revealed the date on Tuesday.

Spencer said he joined "people of color all over the world, and indeed all people" in celebrating Obama's inauguration.

Boggy Peak rises 1,300 feet over Antigua's southern point and is popular with hikers.

Antigua09060.jpg
 
Lovely photos Stacey, thanks for posting. Is one of the sinks in the bathroom bigger than the other? Is that for the lady or the man?;) :lmao:

It's sad but so far NOTHING looks appealing to me.

I also have a terrible little secret to share. I don't like beaches, well more specifically, I hate sand.

I blame my sister. I grew up about 2 or 3 blocks from the ocean. I can remember it as clear as yesterday. She took me to the beach and I got sand in my suit. She would not pick me up and made me walk home. My skin was raw by the time we got back.

I manage to cope with Castaway Cay, by plopping my butt in a hammock, or parking my butt in an inner tube. Let's face it, parking my butt ANYWHERE but on the sand.

Feel free to send hate mail to my sister. Who by the way is 65 and does not remember this major event in my life and how she ruined seaside resorts for her baby brother.

Neither John nor I like beaches. Well, we like to walk on them for a while, but get bored out of our minds just lying there. We coped when the kids were little, but I hated the sand getting everywhere, and I can only go swimming when my feet are firmly placed on the ground!!!:lmao:

I do like Castaway Cay, but can't stay there all day. The extras help, like good toilets, the food and 'free ice cream' etc, but we still end up back onboard early to mid aftrenoon.

Well it is official Joe and I will not be taking this cruise. We have been asked and accepted by our good friends to join them on a cruise to Alaska to celebrate my girlfriends 60th b/d. We will be taking that cruise the end of August and by the time we get back home just couldn't see ourselves trying to get ready for this cruise. Sorry:sad: that we will not be getting to meet e/o this time around but hopefully we will meet sometime in the future.

I'm sorry you won't be with us on this cruise. However alaska and a celebration sounds great!!!

The schedule is on page one.
Also links Jackie found to sites of interest on the islands are still below the list of DISers on post 1 in case anyone forgot but is doing research of sites to see, dolphin swims etc. So, I added Deb's hotels there.

;)

Thanks Jan, you're a star!!:thumbsup2

Ian, Ian, Ian, Ian,

We HAVE HAD this conversation before. Several of us are or will be 60 or older by the time of the cruise.....

To us, you are just a young pup. :rotfl2:

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:
 
Neither John nor I like beaches. Well, we like to walk on them for a while, but get bored out of our minds just lying there. We coped when the kids were little, but I hated the sand getting everywhere, and I can only go swimming when my feet are firmly placed on the ground!!!:lmao:

I do like Castaway Cay, but can't stay there all day. The extras help, like good toilets, the food and 'free ice cream' etc, but we still end up back onboard early to mid aftrenoon.

It's nice to know that we're not alone.

We tend to be back on the ship mid-afternoon as well from Castaway Cay. Besides the sand, I'm not very good at sitting (or lying) in one place for very long. I tend to get very fidgety.

Not sure if you knew about this, but I raised quite a stink regarding Castaway Cay during our PC trip.

We went to get lunch, and as you might know, Sukie is vegetarian. The response we got was awful. Sukie was told that he could eat potato salad and bread, or they might be able to do a veggie burger for him fried in the beef fat of the regular grill.

We went to the ship and had an equally awful experience.

To say I went bizerk would be an understatement. I complained to guest services and I DEMANDED that the head chef call me. I told them that I did not pay for a cruise, on a cruise line whose prices skew much higher than their competitors, to be told that my partner should eat potato salad. I told them if that was the case, we could have spent our vacation in the deli section of our local supermarket.

I really laid into them, saying that it was not their job to decide make value judgments but to accommodate guests dietary needs, and would they be so dismissive if it was a medical issue?

The funny thing about all this is that Michelle sent me a photo someone took at Cookies on Castaway Cay, and off to the side of the snapshot is a LARGE sign that says "Ask About our Vegetarian Options."


And now, off to work.
 
It's nice to know that we're not alone.

We tend to be back on the ship mid-afternoon as well from Castaway Cay. Besides the sand, I'm not very good at sitting (or lying) in one place for very long. I tend to get very fidgety.

Not sure if you knew about this, but I raised quite a stink regarding Castaway Cay during our PC trip.

We went to get lunch, and as you might know, Sukie is vegetarian. The response we got was awful. Sukie was told that he could eat potato salad and bread, or they might be able to do a veggie burger for him fried in the beef fat of the regular grill.

We went to the ship and had an equally awful experience.

To say I went bizerk would be an understatement. I complained to guest services and I DEMANDED that the head chef call me. I told them that I did not pay for a cruise, on a cruise line whose prices skew much higher than their competitors, to be told that my partner should eat potato salad. I told them if that was the case, we could have spent our vacation in the deli section of our local supermarket.

I really laid into them, saying that it was not their job to decide make value judgments but to accommodate guests dietary needs, and would they be so dismissive if it was a medical issue?

The funny thing about all this is that Michelle sent me a photo someone took at Cookies on Castaway Cay, and off to the side of the snapshot is a LARGE sign that says "Ask About our Vegetarian Options."


And now, off to work.

That is so very poor in this day and age. :sad2: I wouldn't have thought Sukie was the only vegetarian onboard either.

Did you get anywhere with your complaining? Too late for you for Castaway Cay that day, but you might have helped others. We will see in September.

Perhaps a mention before our CC day might be an idea. Though I really think you shouldn't have to.
 
Stacy, thanks for the photos!

Jan, thanks for keep us organized!

......and now, once again, I'm behind schedule.....off to the shower....
 
That is so very poor in this day and age. :sad2: I wouldn't have thought Sukie was the only vegetarian onboard either.

Did you get anywhere with your complaining? Too late for you for Castaway Cay that day, but you might have helped others. We will see in September.

Perhaps a mention before our CC day might be an idea. Though I really think you shouldn't have to.

Yes, I did get somewhere. After that they were falling over themselves to accomodate Sukie. Although it completely ruined Castaway Cay for us and cut our day short.

It's also nice to see that they have made some changes as this photo that Michelle found shows:

CruiseNYE2008B609.jpg
 
Frog or Rock? You decide..
Antigua09059.jpg

Loch Ness Monster on vacation... :)

It's nice to know that we're not alone.

We tend to be back on the ship mid-afternoon as well from Castaway Cay. Besides the sand, I'm not very good at sitting (or lying) in one place for very long. I tend to get very fidgety.

Not sure if you knew about this, but I raised quite a stink regarding Castaway Cay during our PC trip.

We went to get lunch, and as you might know, Sukie is vegetarian. The response we got was awful. Sukie was told that he could eat potato salad and bread, or they might be able to do a veggie burger for him fried in the beef fat of the regular grill.

We went to the ship and had an equally awful experience.

To say I went bizerk would be an understatement. I complained to guest services and I DEMANDED that the head chef call me. I told them that I did not pay for a cruise, on a cruise line whose prices skew much higher than their competitors, to be told that my partner should eat potato salad. I told them if that was the case, we could have spent our vacation in the deli section of our local supermarket.

I really laid into them, saying that it was not their job to decide make value judgments but to accommodate guests dietary needs, and would they be so dismissive if it was a medical issue?

The funny thing about all this is that Michelle sent me a photo someone took at Cookies on Castaway Cay, and off to the side of the snapshot is a LARGE sign that says "Ask About our Vegetarian Options."


And now, off to work.

I expect nothing less from you Ian... that is why we haven't yet gone to war over that unfortunate incident... potato salad indeed...

That is so very poor in this day and age. :sad2: I wouldn't have thought Sukie was the only vegetarian onboard either.

Did you get anywhere with your complaining? Too late for you for Castaway Cay that day, but you might have helped others. We will see in September.

Perhaps a mention before our CC day might be an idea. Though I really think you shouldn't have to.

See Below...

Yes, I did get somewhere. After that they were falling over themselves to accomodate Sukie. Although it completely ruined Castaway Cay for us and cut our day short.

It's also nice to see that they have made some changes as this photo that Michelle found shows:

CruiseNYE2008B609.jpg

And doesn't that look like a nice NEW sign...::yes:: ::yes::

KERMIT!!!

Or maybe Champ??? Jan... do you remember Champ???
 
I feel like a Giddy Little School Girl :hyper: I can't wait for the Meet & Greet with Metallica & Concert tonight!!!! :cheer2:

I haven't seen them in concert since I was in my early 20's.. Last time I personally met them was when I was 15... :faint:

oooooooooooooohhhhhhh I am soooooooo excited!!!! :upsidedow


Hubby keeps teasing me about my "date" with his best friend :sad2: I think he forgets that his best friend and I have known each other since High School so I had first dibs on him :rotfl:
 
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