No exactly "cruise friendly" :-) but still one of my favorite movies.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
packages arrived today
the two dresses I ordered for the cruise, and two floral hair clips. they match the dresses perfectly!
Monday, December 28, 2009
dinner last night....
Met a friend for dinner last night. Went to a Mexican place called Cozymel, we drank frozen margaritas and ate nachos and tacos.....
and I found myself laughing out loud, because in less than 2 months I will be eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas in Cozemel.
and I found myself laughing out loud, because in less than 2 months I will be eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas in Cozemel.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
got our cabin assignment!
so today when I looked at the Carnival website, I saw that we have been assigned a cabin.
we booked fun saver, so Carnival got to pick the cabin for us.
we're in an ocean view cabin, category 6B, in the middle of the Riviera Deck.
should be a great cruise.
we booked fun saver, so Carnival got to pick the cabin for us.
we're in an ocean view cabin, category 6B, in the middle of the Riviera Deck.
should be a great cruise.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
lyrics of the day
When you see the Southern Cross
For the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a comin' day
For the first time
You understand now
Why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from
Is so small.
But it's as big as the promise
The promise of a comin' day
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Walk for the Cure?
Just read on Cruise Critic that on the last day at sea, the Carnival ships sponsor a Walk for the Cure event in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Participants pay $10 and receive a t-shirt, and are encouraged to walk one mile on the ship's jogging track.
Sounds like a plan!
Participants pay $10 and receive a t-shirt, and are encouraged to walk one mile on the ship's jogging track.
Sounds like a plan!
Cozemel...or Grand Cayman?
I'm not that big of a parrothead that I need to do more than one visit to Margaritaville.....
the one in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, is right by the pier.
the one in cozumel is further away, but is supposed to be "better".
the one in Georgetown, Grand Cayman, is right by the pier.
the one in cozumel is further away, but is supposed to be "better".
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
packing list
Last night the King advised me he has already started making a list of things he needs to pack.
glad he's so organized, but we're still 2 months out.
glad he's so organized, but we're still 2 months out.
Monday, December 14, 2009
attention fellow Parrotheads
I am thinking about a visit to Margaritaville when we make port in Cozumel.
phins up!
phins up!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
party time!
cousin's bat mitzvah was yesterday, it was a great party. I danced so much I had to take off my shoes.
had to buy a dress for the party. so now I've got an outfit for one of our formal nights on the cruise. can't wait to wear it again, I hope we'll have a chance to go dancing!
had to buy a dress for the party. so now I've got an outfit for one of our formal nights on the cruise. can't wait to wear it again, I hope we'll have a chance to go dancing!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
so I get an envelope from the Department of State
and I get all excited....
and I opne the envelope, and it's...my birth certificate. and a note that the passport was mailed under separate cover.
and I opne the envelope, and it's...my birth certificate. and a note that the passport was mailed under separate cover.
well, at least we have trip insurance
looks like we're not going to be able to change our plans so as to be able to fly down the day before the cruise. King Arthur tells me the TA says it's impossible. I told him the TA should have booked it for us that way in the first place.
I am fuly prepared to have to fly to Grand Cayman Island if we miss the boat.
please pray we don't.
I am fuly prepared to have to fly to Grand Cayman Island if we miss the boat.
please pray we don't.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Passport is on the way
I got an email from the State Department today, my passport has been processed and mailed.
welcome to winter
cold and rainy today...which is actually an improvement....it snowed a little last night.
I hate this weather.
what's keeping me warm right now is the thought of sitting on the deck of the Valor with a pina colada in one hand and a juicy romance novel in the other...
2 months. 2 long, cold, bitter months.
I hate this weather.
what's keeping me warm right now is the thought of sitting on the deck of the Valor with a pina colada in one hand and a juicy romance novel in the other...
2 months. 2 long, cold, bitter months.
Friday, December 4, 2009
still feeling nervous
the TA hasn't been able to book us a Saturday flight and stayover in Miami, and I am feeling more than a little queasy about flying on the day of the cruise in the dead of winter.
when I went to Disneyworld with my friend K in July 2008, she flew out of Long Island/Macarthur on a Wednesday morning. I had to work, and flew out of Neark Wednesday evening.
she got to WDW on time and had dinner in EPCOT.
I had a four-hour delay due to rain, and had dinner in the airport terminal.
no, I am NOT happy with the TA right now.
when I went to Disneyworld with my friend K in July 2008, she flew out of Long Island/Macarthur on a Wednesday morning. I had to work, and flew out of Neark Wednesday evening.
she got to WDW on time and had dinner in EPCOT.
I had a four-hour delay due to rain, and had dinner in the airport terminal.
no, I am NOT happy with the TA right now.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Photos of the Carnival Dream
She sailed out of New York this evening.
the photos aren't great, I took them with my cell phone. I work in jersey city, right across the Hudson from the World Trade Center site. Came out of my office at 5 PM and saw the Dream right in front of me. Practically ran after the ship shouting "take me with you!!!"
Click on the photos to enlarge.
This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
the photos aren't great, I took them with my cell phone. I work in jersey city, right across the Hudson from the World Trade Center site. Came out of my office at 5 PM and saw the Dream right in front of me. Practically ran after the ship shouting "take me with you!!!"
Click on the photos to enlarge.
This message was sent using the Picture and Video Messaging service from Verizon Wireless!
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Mayan pyramids, oh boy
the tallest structure at Altun ha is 54 feet.
that's like 5 stories.
today I walked up 6 flights of stairs, I climbed from track level to the street in the PATH station.
had to stop on almost every landing to catch my breath, but I did it!
that's like 5 stories.
today I walked up 6 flights of stairs, I climbed from track level to the street in the PATH station.
had to stop on almost every landing to catch my breath, but I did it!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
it's really going to happen....
the US State department cashed my check, my passport is in the mail.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
so my parents have booked a cruise
they're sailing on the Norwegian Gem in January, headed to the Eastern Caribbean. they booked a trip with their retirement group. ask my mom about the details, such as ports of call, and she's not sure where she's going....
Sunday, November 15, 2009
updates
passport finally ordered. should be here in 4-6 weeks.
still frustrated about hotel the night before -- especially since local weatherman is predicting a blizzard the weekend we're supposed to fly.
currently reading James Ferguson's"A Traveller's History of the the Carribean."
still frustrated about hotel the night before -- especially since local weatherman is predicting a blizzard the weekend we're supposed to fly.
currently reading James Ferguson's"A Traveller's History of the the Carribean."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Altun Ha
so the tallest pyramid at the site, the one you can climb, is 54 feet tall.
So I need to get in shape to climb it in February.
54 feet = maybe 5, stories, right?
the PATH station at Exchange Place is 6 stores below ground.
Maybe I shold start taking the stairs instead of the escalator in the morning.
So I need to get in shape to climb it in February.
54 feet = maybe 5, stories, right?
the PATH station at Exchange Place is 6 stores below ground.
Maybe I shold start taking the stairs instead of the escalator in the morning.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
frustration
travel agent tells us that she can't book us for a night in Miami -- there's nothing available for that night with the package we booked. but she's going to keep checking back with Carnival.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
OK, Cruise Critic folks, you've convinced me
Our plan was to lfy to Miami the day our cruise sets sail.
In February.
During Presidents' Day Weekend.
guess whose plans are about to change?
Yep. We're going to fly down Saturday and spend Saturday night in Miami, and sail on sunday without making ourselves crazy.
In February.
During Presidents' Day Weekend.
guess whose plans are about to change?
Yep. We're going to fly down Saturday and spend Saturday night in Miami, and sail on sunday without making ourselves crazy.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Mexican food ....
ate at a local Mexican place the other night. kept thinking that in just over 3 months I will be eating mexican food in Mexico. Can't wait to see Cozemel.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
more shore excursions!
Cayman Islands -- not only are we doing a ride on the Atlantis Submarine, we will also take a tour of the best of the island.
Belize -- we're taking a cruise on the Wallace river to the Altun Ha Mayan site.
Roatan -- a tour of the island -- the exotic, undeveloped East Side.
Cozumel -- a speed boat ride to Isla Pasion, where we can enjoy the beach and shopping in an open-air market.
Belize -- we're taking a cruise on the Wallace river to the Altun Ha Mayan site.
Roatan -- a tour of the island -- the exotic, undeveloped East Side.
Cozumel -- a speed boat ride to Isla Pasion, where we can enjoy the beach and shopping in an open-air market.
Labels:
Belize,
Cozumel,
Grand Cayman,
Roatan,
shore excursions
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
can you believe....
I am 49 years old and do not have a passport? and never had one?
the last time I left these United States, one could travel to the Bahamas on a cruise ship using one's birth certificate as ID. for canada, all I needed was a regular NYS driver's license.
how times have changed.
guess what's on my list of chores for the weekend?
the last time I left these United States, one could travel to the Bahamas on a cruise ship using one's birth certificate as ID. for canada, all I needed was a regular NYS driver's license.
how times have changed.
guess what's on my list of chores for the weekend?
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
cold out today
we barely had a summer this year, and now it's autumn and unseasonably cold.
four months until the cruise. 7 days in the sun.
I can't wait.
four months until the cruise. 7 days in the sun.
I can't wait.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Carnival Valor facts
Total Staterooms - 1,487 Decks - 13 Passenger capacity - 2,974 Total crew - 1,180 Tonnage - 110,000 Registry - Panama Ship size - Large | |
Sunday, October 11, 2009
formal night planning
I'm trying to decide how formal we should go for the two formal nights on our trip.
I've got two really great gowns, a spaghetti-strap black gown with beading on the bodice and a matching jacket, and a blue gown, also with spaghetti straps and a matching jacket, with beading all over the gown and the jacket. I wore the black one for my older daughter's bat mitzvah and the blue one for younger daughter's bat mitzvah.
Significant other owns a tux but really doesn't want to pack it.
This could get interesting.
I've got two really great gowns, a spaghetti-strap black gown with beading on the bodice and a matching jacket, and a blue gown, also with spaghetti straps and a matching jacket, with beading all over the gown and the jacket. I wore the black one for my older daughter's bat mitzvah and the blue one for younger daughter's bat mitzvah.
Significant other owns a tux but really doesn't want to pack it.
This could get interesting.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Premier Cruse memories
We sailed on a Premier Cruise on June 29, 1987. Flew down from Long Island that morning (it was a Monday) to Orlando, picked up our rental car and drove to Port Cananveral, where we boarded the ship. When the ship retruned to Port Canaveral on Friday, we toured the Kennedy Space Center before driving back to Orlando for our Walt Disney World vacation.
Accomodations: inside cabin with a queen bed and a sofa bed. our cabin steward knew it was our honeymoon (our travel agent sent us champagne) and instead of just leaving chcolates on our pillows, he'd make whole patterns on the bed with the wrapped candies.
Ports of Call: our first port was Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday. We did two shore excurions. the first was in the morning, we took an auto tour of the island, saw Nassau, ruins, Paradise Island. Had lunch in (of all places) Burger King. went shopping in the Straw Market (learned how to bargain with the vendors) and a liquor store (had to buy run!). In the evening we went to a night club for Calypso music and frozen tropical cocktails.
second port of call was Wednesday -- Salt Cay, a private island owned by the cruise line. we spent the day at the beach, went snorkeling. we were told to wear t-shirts in the water. I listened -- when we went before lunch. after lunch I left the shirt on the beach. got the worst sunburn of my entire life! when they served lobster in the main dining room I couldn't eat it....the lobster and I were the same color.
shipboard activities: formal night included a photo opportunity with teh captain as well as one with Mickey Mouse. there was a reception for honeymoon couples during the cruise as well. one night there was a costume party...I dressed as a pirate (the ship had accessories for that) and King Arthur put a pillow on his back, under his shirt, and went as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. during the day at sea (Thursday) we played board games, had a trivia contest, swam in the pool, and the king did some skeet shooting.
it was a short curise, but it was lots of fun.
Accomodations: inside cabin with a queen bed and a sofa bed. our cabin steward knew it was our honeymoon (our travel agent sent us champagne) and instead of just leaving chcolates on our pillows, he'd make whole patterns on the bed with the wrapped candies.
Ports of Call: our first port was Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday. We did two shore excurions. the first was in the morning, we took an auto tour of the island, saw Nassau, ruins, Paradise Island. Had lunch in (of all places) Burger King. went shopping in the Straw Market (learned how to bargain with the vendors) and a liquor store (had to buy run!). In the evening we went to a night club for Calypso music and frozen tropical cocktails.
second port of call was Wednesday -- Salt Cay, a private island owned by the cruise line. we spent the day at the beach, went snorkeling. we were told to wear t-shirts in the water. I listened -- when we went before lunch. after lunch I left the shirt on the beach. got the worst sunburn of my entire life! when they served lobster in the main dining room I couldn't eat it....the lobster and I were the same color.
shipboard activities: formal night included a photo opportunity with teh captain as well as one with Mickey Mouse. there was a reception for honeymoon couples during the cruise as well. one night there was a costume party...I dressed as a pirate (the ship had accessories for that) and King Arthur put a pillow on his back, under his shirt, and went as the Hunchback of Notre Dame. during the day at sea (Thursday) we played board games, had a trivia contest, swam in the pool, and the king did some skeet shooting.
it was a short curise, but it was lots of fun.
Friday, October 9, 2009
So we booked the cruise!
After much discussion and trepidation, we made the decision and booked a cruise.
A little background is in order.
I will celebrate a milestone birthday on February 18. Yes, I will reach the half-century mark in 2010.
I have one daughter in college, and one who will graduate from high school in June and start college next fall. I am facing an empty nest and the next phase of my life.
I will also, G-d willing, celebrate my 5 year mark in February -- 5 years since my cancer diagnosis, five years since my surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
And I am celebrating the rebirth of an old relationship. I would never have believed it. My significant other is my ex husband. for purposes of this blog I shall call him "King Arthur", after the T.H. White book, The Once and Future King. We got engaged on 2/14/86, and our very bitter divorce became final on 2/14/96. Until quite recently we hated each other, but in the last few years we've become friends....and now lovers...once more.
So a few weeks ago, I turned to King Arthur and said "I want to go away for my birthday. I want to celebrate it someplace that is NOT HERE."
New York can be horrible in the winter, I am not a snow person.
So we discussed Orlando, FL (I am a Disney freak!). We discussed Cancun. We discussed Acapulco.
And then we settled on a cruise.
We're sailing on the Carnival Valor on 2/14. It's a seven day cruise from Miami to the Western Caribbean. Ports of Call include Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel.
We put the deposit down today.
This is not our first cruise. The king and I took a cruise on our honeymoon. We did a four day cruise to the Bahamas on the Premier Cruise line in 1987. The ship (billed as The Big Red Boat) sailed out of Port Canaveral, visited Nassau and a small private island called Salt Cay, and then returned to Port Canaveral. The package also included admission to the Kennedy Space Center, hotel accommodations on International Drive and three-day admission tickets to Walt Disney World (there were only 2 parks at the time, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT). Premier was the official cruise line of WDW at the time, it was prior to the existence of the Disney Cruise Line, so we sailed with Disney characters.
And neither of us has been on a cruise since.
though I have been to WDW again. Many times. In fact, I've become a little obsessed with Disney vacations. So a cruise will be a welcome change.
So I joined Cruise Critic. And felt instantly at home -- it's just like all those WDW planning boards I've joined over the last 10-11 years.
So now the real planning begins.
I am so excited.
A little background is in order.
I will celebrate a milestone birthday on February 18. Yes, I will reach the half-century mark in 2010.
I have one daughter in college, and one who will graduate from high school in June and start college next fall. I am facing an empty nest and the next phase of my life.
I will also, G-d willing, celebrate my 5 year mark in February -- 5 years since my cancer diagnosis, five years since my surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
And I am celebrating the rebirth of an old relationship. I would never have believed it. My significant other is my ex husband. for purposes of this blog I shall call him "King Arthur", after the T.H. White book, The Once and Future King. We got engaged on 2/14/86, and our very bitter divorce became final on 2/14/96. Until quite recently we hated each other, but in the last few years we've become friends....and now lovers...once more.
So a few weeks ago, I turned to King Arthur and said "I want to go away for my birthday. I want to celebrate it someplace that is NOT HERE."
New York can be horrible in the winter, I am not a snow person.
So we discussed Orlando, FL (I am a Disney freak!). We discussed Cancun. We discussed Acapulco.
And then we settled on a cruise.
We're sailing on the Carnival Valor on 2/14. It's a seven day cruise from Miami to the Western Caribbean. Ports of Call include Grand Cayman, Belize, Roatan and Cozumel.
We put the deposit down today.
This is not our first cruise. The king and I took a cruise on our honeymoon. We did a four day cruise to the Bahamas on the Premier Cruise line in 1987. The ship (billed as The Big Red Boat) sailed out of Port Canaveral, visited Nassau and a small private island called Salt Cay, and then returned to Port Canaveral. The package also included admission to the Kennedy Space Center, hotel accommodations on International Drive and three-day admission tickets to Walt Disney World (there were only 2 parks at the time, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT). Premier was the official cruise line of WDW at the time, it was prior to the existence of the Disney Cruise Line, so we sailed with Disney characters.
And neither of us has been on a cruise since.
though I have been to WDW again. Many times. In fact, I've become a little obsessed with Disney vacations. So a cruise will be a welcome change.
So I joined Cruise Critic. And felt instantly at home -- it's just like all those WDW planning boards I've joined over the last 10-11 years.
So now the real planning begins.
I am so excited.
Labels:
Carnival,
Cruise Critic,
Disney,
Premier,
Valor
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