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Kris,
I just got back from the same exact cruise. I left on 3/24 from Logan
@6:30 am. We arrived in San Juan and were on the boat by 3. Then the
"fun" started.
The first night was a lot of fun. Seating for dinner was general
seating (first night only). After that point, we had late seating and
one of the best waiters anyone could ask for. Basically, the first
night we just ate, drank, and checked out the ship.
Monday - St Thomas. It was great. We did a lot of shopping in the AM
and hit Megan's Bay in the afternoon. The beach was great. The taxi
ride can be a little hairy, over the mountain, but well worth it. When
the waitress on the beach takes your drink order, you know that it is
going to be a great week.
Tuesday - St Martin - We only walked around the town, ate & drank, did
some shopping (do you begin to see a trend here?). THe exciting part
of this was two crew members busted for trying to smuggle heroin back
onto the ship. They had it in speakers they bought, but got caught. We
got held up in port for an extra three hours.
Wednesday - Dominique (should have been Antigua, but it has been
changed) - We did not get off the ship, but the other couple with us
took the tour of the rain forests. You leave port at 1 pm that day.
Thursday - Barbados - In the morning we walked around town - in the
afternoon we we on the Bajan Queen Rum Boat - YOU CAN NOT MISS THIS!!!
The punch is made with 151 rum and the beer was tainted with tequilla.
They serve Banks Beer (Barbado's local beer) and some people were
carried of the ship. You can snorkel, they have a rope swing contest,
loud music, and flowing achohol. I made it to dinner that night, but
that was after "a little nap"
Friday - Martinque - We hit the beach that day. I think it was called
Bacqua. Be careful not to let a taxi take you to the beach. Only ask
for a taxi to the ferry. It cost $2 each for that taxi to the ferry
and round trip ferry was $4. A taxi ride would have been $80. Also,
it is a very expensive island. A small bottle of water $3, a can of
Pepsi $3, and a hamburger $14.
Saturday, we were at sea all day. You have to get up early in the am
to insure a place on the Lido deck to catch some sun.
Sunday - You get off the boat by 10am, and we had a 6 pm flight back to
Boston. It was a long day carrying around liquor and a carry on. They
may tell you that you can check you liquor, but when it comes time, the
airlines won't take it. When I go again, I will make sure I take a
tour that last day.
Now - night time on the ship - great shows, some great talent, and
remember, plenty of food and booze all week long. There is activites
all day long, all night long. The casino's are fun, the crew is great,
I can not say enough good things about the whole week. It was an older
ship, the rooms are small, bathrooms are extremely small, but you are
not in the room much. You will never be bored. If you have any
specific questions, I will be glad to answer them for you.
Have a great time - as that is a given!!!
John
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| John,
Thanks for the info. It sounds like you had a great trip. I can't
wait. I have been on vacation before with the crew that is going, and
I think we are in for one wild week. I will need another vacation by
the time I get back. How did you dress for dinner each night? I
realize that 2 nights are pretty much "dress up" nights, but the rest
are casual. When people say "casual", just how casual do they mean?
Also, did you ever take liquor back on the ship from each port. Our
travel agent told us that that was one way of saving $$$ on liquor.
What time would you recommend getting up on deck to get a chair? I
hope it's not to early. What type of tours did they have in San Juan?
We are flying out around 6:00 p.m. too! Thanks for the info.....I
can't wait to go!!!!
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| Like everything, its pretty much what ever turns you on. As far as
"dress up", a suit and a dress for your SO are fine. Casual dress
other times is exactly that. You don't wear swimming suits or shorts
in the dining rooms. I guess I have worn jeans but I think you will
figure out what taste dictates very quickly (and if you don't like
it, do what you want to do - they don't have people walking the plank).
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| Kris,
As the previous note said, prety much wear what you want. Except for
formal nights, I wore Dockers and a short sleeve short. Lisa usually
wore a dress or skirt, but nothing dressy.
Liquor - in St Thomas you are allowed to bring 4 bottles home with you
and can also buy some for the ship. When you buy liquor on an island,
be sure to tell them what you want to take to the room, as you will not
get your take home bottles until Saturday. I brought six bottles home
and did not have a problem with customs. There is a possibility that
you would have to pay duties, but it is only 10% over your limit.
Chairs on Deck - Well, I woke up about 10:00, and could not get one
for a while. I finally got a chair probably around noon time.
Any other questions, just let me know.
John
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| Thanks for all the info....I can't wait, we got our tickets yesterday!
Only 10 more days to go. I have another question pertaining to dinner
seatings. Our travel agent told us that one of the problems we may run
into, being in such a large group, is that some of us may get bumped
out of the late seating. Did this happen on your cruise? Also, it
says in the brochure that you "can not" take any liquor onto the decks.
(to make your own drinks) Will this be a major problem if we do this
discretely. Our travel agent recommended we do in order to save some $$.
Just don't want to be in trouble the first day. :-) On your trip, did
you stop at the island of Dominica? They have added that to our
schedule for a half day on Wednesday, instead of a full day at sea?
It sounds like it's going to be a great vacation. Oh yeah, where was
your cabin? We just found out that ours are at the front of the ship.
I have heard that these rooms are the worst. This is where you can
feel the most movement of the ship....any comment?
Thanks again,
Kris
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| Hi Kris,
As far as the booze on the deck goes, I walked around the ship with my
own drinks, but it was not worth running back to the room to make a
drink everytime I wanted one on deck. BTW, to get a soda, it will cost
you $1.00, so you may want to keep this in mind, or buy some on an
island. But no one hassles anyone there.
The dinner, I wouldn't be too concerned. No one I spoke to got bumped
from what they wanted. We also opted late dinner, and you will find
that the older people and families opt for early dinner, the 20-40
crowd opts for later seating.
The room, we were in the middle of the ship, Empress Deck. The other
couple that went with us were in room E24, the front of the ship. There room
rocked; whereas we did not feel it at all. It was not bad in there
room, and you are not in the room enough to really care for the most
part.
Dominique, yes that took the place of Antigua, which took the place of
being at sea all day. I did not go onto the island, opting for deck
time.
Have a great time, and give us a trip report when you get back
John
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