September 22, 2007 -- WESTERN

[FatCat]

On the note of the passports. Do most people bring their passports with them when they go on a shore excursion?

Most likely not at Castaway Cay or Key west but for the other islands?

 

[papa]

Most people do not from what I have seen. One of the little waterproof boxes that is on a lanyard that they sell on the ship is what we use. We take our driver's license with the photo on it and our key to the world card in order to be able to re-board the ship. Some people take their passports ashore in order to have them stamped in a foreign port. Mike

 

[FatCat]

So I have been reading about the Beer Tasting.

Apparently it is $10 and you get 4 Full (12 oz) beers.

Sounds like a good gathering idea.

My vote would be to try to get to the first beer tasting available on a Day at Sea day.

I know you can look at old navigators to try to get an idea of when they will be. Not sure how true the schedules hold though.

Any thoughts???

 

[papa]

I have updated the album of Phoenix our youngest grand daughter and Katie our oldest is in their too. http://TnPapa.smugmug.com/gallery/2685242/1/160810482 Mike

 

[CustardTart]

Great photos, Mike! Those girls are such cuties...

As I've just been able to book Palo brunch, shore excursions and spa stuff online, that means there can only be

105 days left until we cruise!!!
​

We're so nearly in double figures now...

 

[Lucky Penny]

Great photos, Mike! Those girls are such cuties...

As I've just been able to book Palo brunch, shore excursions and spa stuff online, that means there can only be

105 days left until we cruise!!!
​

We're so nearly in double figures now...

Karen,

We just made our reservations too!! HOORAY!!!

105 Days!!

Here's what we've scheduled -

Key West on our own to include the Mel Fisher museum, key lime pie, margaritas and the southernmost point (thanks for the reminder, Mike!)

Nothing scheduled for Monday (at sea), but plan to sign up for one of the tastings (Margaritas or beer) and a lot of relaxing!

Grand Cayman - shipwreck and reef snorkel in the morning, spa in the afternoon and dinner at Palo

Cozumel - relax and shop in the morning, Atlantis sub expedition (2.5 hours) in the afternoon. We thought about Tulum, but didn't want to commit to the whole day, so decided to save that one for the next cruise We'll be excited to hear what you and Richard think about it, Karen!

Thursday (at sea) - Palo brunch, more tastings? (martinis and wine come to mind)

Castaway Cay - Ray's Stingray Adventure at 10, Parasail at 12:30, Cabana Couples Massage at 3.

I'd better start thinking about what to pack ...

 

[CustardTart]

Congratulations, Penny! Was a little over-excited this morning and didn't elaborate on our choices!

Day2/Key West: We're booked to experience the Palo Brunch for 11am as this is our actual 25th Wedding Anniversary and we thought we'd celebrate before touring Key West...

Day 4/Grand Cayman: We've opted for the Thriller Sand & Sea Adventure as it sounds a speedy way to experience GC and gives us time to potter around in Georgetown before all aboard at 4pm... At 5.15pm, we're trying the Couple Choice Spa experience, so we may be too mellow for dinner that night...

Day 5/Cozumel: We've booked the Tulum Ruins excursion - it's a long day BUT we're really excited about it and figure we have time for nap before dinner upon our return...

Day 7/Castaway Cay: We're all set for the Tandem Parasailing at 10.30am and the Couples Cabana Massage at 3pm...!

It feels really exciting now...

 

[eva]

Congrats to those that were able to get all the reservations they wanted today! We opted not to do the Romance Package and have to wait another 15 days. Hope we are able to get those coveted Palo reservations on line. I don't look forward to running to Rock N Bar D the first day.

The Beer Tasting is a must for DH. And I am sure that I will be there too. But we already have a Margarita Tasting Meet set up for Monday. Don't know if I could handle another tasting the same day. If they are spaced out enough, we would be game.

I can't believe it is only 105 days to the cruise! Since we are leaving home two days prior, I have another countdown that is at 103 days!

Not long before we hit double digits!

 

[CustardTart]

...The Beer Tasting is a must for DH. And I am sure that I will be there too. But we already have a Margarita Tasting Meet set up for Monday. Don't know if I could handle another tasting the same day. If they are spaced out enough, we would be game...

If I remember rightly, Eva, there's a Beer Tasting on both At Sea days! So if you feel like attending the Margarita Tasting on day 3 but don't want to overdo things, there's always another chance to try out those ales on day 6!

...I can't believe it is only 105 days to the cruise! Since we are leaving home two days prior, I have another countdown that is at 103 days! Not long before we hit double digits!

It's very exciting, isn't it!??! We fly out on the 21st so our vacation begins at 9am with a non-alcoholic cocktail in the LGW Virgin Atlantic lounge! I'm hoping to get a complimentary pedicure! I've pre-booked our seats and just can't wait...

 

[eva]

If I remember rightly, Eva, there's a Beer Tasting on both At Sea days! So if you feel like attending the Margarita Tasting on day 3 but don't want to overdo things, there's always another chance to try out those ales on day 6!

It's very exciting, isn't it!??! We fly out on the 21st so our vacation begins at 9am with a non-alcoholic cocktail in the LGW Virgin Atlantic lounge! I'm hoping to get a complimentary pedicure! I've pre-booked our seats and just can't wait...

I'm sure we will have to do the beer tasting on Thursday. I don't know if I could take two tastings in one day. Especially if we add a couple of BBC's by the pool.

What is the LGW Virgin Atlantic Lounge? Why non-alcoholic cocktails? A Mimosa is nice that time of day. Remember, while on vacation, it is always 5:00 pm somewhere! Just be sure to pace yourself, or you'll be asleep by dinner time!

Well, I have to go. We are heading over to our open air mall. My favorite shop has swimsuits on sale. I think I will at least look. Not sure if I dare to put one on yet!

 

[Bareacuda]

Boy... you are all chatty the past few days!

Trip Report of Finding Nemo...

It is AWSOME.
The subs are re-designed for a bit larger seats. But not much.They are now electric. The paint job beautiful. If they added orange it would look like my OC2. But much LARGER.
It's the story like the movie in the begining. There are very few animatronic creatchers, and the big twist is... the show is done on many underwater screens. So you see several screens at one time showing different scenes. Very 3-d effects.
I was sitting in the sub with my face almost plastered in the porthole like one of the kids. I giggled and screamed like one
It was too bad that we were able to ride it only once, I think I would have done it 3 or 4 times on Thursday.Now the monorail is fully working over the lagoon. I can forget the seagulls. 3 seagullls sit on a buoy and will watch you and they talk... "mine...mine...mine"

And a surprise report: Priate's Lair in place of Tom Sawyer's Island.
Nice little change since I was at DL in February. A cute interactive Priate show with Capt. Jack. You have to do the caves and grab for the treasure... there a surprise at each one. The island is more interactive then ever before. I really like it better.

End Of Trip Reports...pics may follow...later.

The trip to Tulum is great. Our bus had have A/C and rode like a dream. I guess we were lucky. And we would do it again...Im not sure what we are doing this week ... I guess I have more looking to do.

Lucky me I get to do ressies for the frist cruise tonight!

We're leaving our passports with Guest services. When immagrations come on the ship, they stamp all passports GS have. If I would have given ours to GS when we did the Panama Repo in 05. I could have had Panama and Cauacao and Mexico. Abit of good info too late

The Other Ann

 

[CustardTart]

What is the LGW Virgin Atlantic Lounge? Why non-alcoholic cocktails? A Mimosa is nice that time of day. Remember, while on vacation, it is always 5:00 pm somewhere!

It's the airline lounge at London's Gatwick airport - very plush and nice to spend time in whilst waiting for your flight. And sadly the non-alcoholic cocktail's necessary now I have to restrict my alcohol intake due to meds...

Good luck with your swimsuit hunt..

... Trip Report of Finding Nemo...

It is AWSOME.
The subs are re-designed for a bit larger seats. But not much.They are now electric. The paint job beautiful. If they added orange it would look like my OC2. But much LARGER.
It's the story like the movie in the begining. There are very few animatronic creatchers, and the big twist is... the show is done on many underwater screens. So you see several screens at one time showing different scenes. Very 3-d effects.
I was sitting in the sub with my face almost plastered in the porthole like one of the kids. I giggled and screamed like one
It was too bad that we were able to ride it only once, I think I would have done it 3 or 4 times on Thursday.Now the monorail is fully working over the lagoon. I can forget the seagulls. 3 seagullls sit on a buoy and will watch you and they talk... "mine...mine...mine"

And a surprise report: Priate's Lair in place of Tom Sawyer's Island.
Nice little change since I was at DL in February. A cute interactive Priate show with Capt. Jack. You have to do the caves and grab for the treasure... there a surprise at each one. The island is more interactive then ever before. I really like it better...

Sounds great, Ann! Can't wait to see it...

 

[papa]

103 days. We are planning on leaving the 19th or 20th and drive down. So we have either 100 or 101 days until we leave. Mike

 

[papa]

For anyone enjoying the delicious lobster or crab on the ship think of all the hard work the fisherman have done to catch it. I enjoy watching the Discovery channel here in the US and they have a show called the Deadliest Catch. It is about crab fishing in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. Here is a link to the website http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/deadliestcatch/deadliestcatch.html

I know that a lot of the lobsters and stuff are probably raised on farms, but this series is very interesting. Mike

 

[Bareacuda]

Great Show huh Mike. Dh watches almost all day Saturday.

There's a show with lobster fishing too. Saw it yesterday. My only remark...
Bring on the butter and lemon!

 

[papa]

Can't wait to see you ladies dance like they do on the Mojito commercials. I think that you have to do that dance while doing the mojito tasting onboard. I could not do it without popping the screws in my spine. Mike

 

[FatCat]

Deadliest Catch Rocks!!!

I cannot remember if there is King Crab on the cruise.
I know I saw lobster and stone crab.

My wife is soley going for the Creme Brulee from Lumierres/Tritons.
We found that if we ask for it in Parrot Cay we can get it because the kitchens I assume are connected.

 

[Bareacuda]

You can make a request the night before.
Dh gets escargot every night.

 

[FatCat]

Wow did not know you could make a request for each night.
That is pretty cool.

On the same note I saw another table ask for a dessert from Palo in the main dining room.

Has anyone ever done this?

 

[eva]

FatCat, I'm with your wife. Creme Brulee is my favortie dessert. But there are a few others that I will definitely have again on the ship. I won't miss the chocolate soufflé or pana cotta from Palo. Palo is one night that I will order two desserts.

Karen, Sorry about the restrictions with your new meds. Yikes! That will be tough on the cruise with all those great drinks. Maybe you can order a number of them without the alcohol.

Mike, I don't think I have ever seen the Mojito commercials. Are they pretty funny?