Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 17 St Thomas
We woke up at 7am to a beautiful sunny day.
Went up for breakfast at the buffet, then we met our tour guide with “Godfrey Tours” at 9am.
We were driven to the main shopping area of Charlotte Amelie and given 3 hours to spend shopping/sightseeing. The store clerks and barkers here are very aggressive. Everyone wants you to come into their store. Most of the stores were jewelery stores and we weren't shopping for jewelery. When I booked the tour we were given the option of 1, 2 or 3 hours of shopping and had I known I would have only done 1 hour of shopping. We then went on an island tour, stopping at various places to take photos, see the sites and learn a little history. Then it was on to Coki Beach for a 2 hour beach break. While walking on the beach, these people were waving at us and saying hi – neither of us recognized them. They were 2 couples (Cari & Chad and Cherly & Greg) from our flight down, who were also on the cruise critic message board. We stopped and talked for a bit and then this big dark cloud moved in and Wayne and I decided to go to the bar for a beer in case it rained. As we were ordering it started to pour. It rained long enough for us to get another beer. It was actually kind of fun sitting there watching it rain. When the rain let up we went and walked the beach. At 3:45pm the tour bus picked us up and continued the tour on the drive back to the ship. We were back on board by 4:10pm.
We met up with Cari & Chad and Cherly & Greg for some sushi, pizza and a drink since we all had missed lunch.
Wayne and I went for dinner around 7pm. Wayne had the smoked duck for the appetizer and lamb chops for the main and I had beef tenderloin with peanut sauce for the appetizer and beef stroganoff. For dessert we split the tiramisu and the bitter and blanc (a chocolate bread pudding). When we were done the waiters came by and sang happy birthday to me and had a piece of coconut cake. Wayne says he didn't have anything to do with it. I asked for something to cover the cake so I could take it back to the room and was told that no food could leave the dining room. When I said I was too full to eat it the head waiter found a cover and let me take it...
Wayne and I went walking around the ship. One thing we miss that we did on the NCL Jade - on the promenade deck you could walk completely around the ship but on the Victory you can't. This had been a great way to walk off dinner. There is really nowhere outside that you can walk except by the pool area which is really crowded and busy.
Tomorrow Dominica!
Went up for breakfast at the buffet, then we met our tour guide with “Godfrey Tours” at 9am.
We were driven to the main shopping area of Charlotte Amelie and given 3 hours to spend shopping/sightseeing. The store clerks and barkers here are very aggressive. Everyone wants you to come into their store. Most of the stores were jewelery stores and we weren't shopping for jewelery. When I booked the tour we were given the option of 1, 2 or 3 hours of shopping and had I known I would have only done 1 hour of shopping. We then went on an island tour, stopping at various places to take photos, see the sites and learn a little history. Then it was on to Coki Beach for a 2 hour beach break. While walking on the beach, these people were waving at us and saying hi – neither of us recognized them. They were 2 couples (Cari & Chad and Cherly & Greg) from our flight down, who were also on the cruise critic message board. We stopped and talked for a bit and then this big dark cloud moved in and Wayne and I decided to go to the bar for a beer in case it rained. As we were ordering it started to pour. It rained long enough for us to get another beer. It was actually kind of fun sitting there watching it rain. When the rain let up we went and walked the beach. At 3:45pm the tour bus picked us up and continued the tour on the drive back to the ship. We were back on board by 4:10pm.
We met up with Cari & Chad and Cherly & Greg for some sushi, pizza and a drink since we all had missed lunch.
Wayne and I went for dinner around 7pm. Wayne had the smoked duck for the appetizer and lamb chops for the main and I had beef tenderloin with peanut sauce for the appetizer and beef stroganoff. For dessert we split the tiramisu and the bitter and blanc (a chocolate bread pudding). When we were done the waiters came by and sang happy birthday to me and had a piece of coconut cake. Wayne says he didn't have anything to do with it. I asked for something to cover the cake so I could take it back to the room and was told that no food could leave the dining room. When I said I was too full to eat it the head waiter found a cover and let me take it...
Wayne and I went walking around the ship. One thing we miss that we did on the NCL Jade - on the promenade deck you could walk completely around the ship but on the Victory you can't. This had been a great way to walk off dinner. There is really nowhere outside that you can walk except by the pool area which is really crowded and busy.
Tomorrow Dominica!
Monday, May 17, 2010
San Juan Day 2 OMG what a wake up call!!!!!!!
At around 1:30am the emergency alarm went off at the Sheraton. An announcement came over the PA system announcing it was not an emergency and then it was repeated in Spanish. Wayne barely woke up but my heart was going a mile a minute. It took me a while to go back to sleep. Later that morning we hear the reason why the alarm went off – an EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!! Wayne's comment was he was disappointed that he slept through his first earthquake.
I got up around 8am and let Wayne sleep in. Showered and got ready and when Wayne woke up his cold was gone!! He felt so much better. We went up to the rooftop deck to see the Victory. Then we headed out for breakfast to a place I had read about (and Rachel Ray recommends) called La Bombonera. We had a Spanish danish called a Mallorca and it was filled with bacon, eggs and cheese with powdered sugar on top – it was wonderful! We also had 2 small pies which we split – one cheese and one meat. The meat one was really good but the cheese one (cream cheese I think) didn't have a lot of taste. This restaurant was very busy but had really fast service and the guy bussed our table while I was still eating.
We headed back to the hotel to pack and at 11am checked out and headed to the Victory. There were a few people in line and lots of cabs picking up people leaving the ship. A porter took our luggage and we headed to the VIP lounge (nice perk that came with our suite). No lines, we had our key card in minutes but then we had to wait in the VIP lounge for everyone to get off before we could get on. At 12:20 they came to get us VIP's and we passed a room full of people to board the ship. We were number 8 & 9 to get on the ship.
First thing we did was buy a FunShip drink and toast our trip (and my birthday). Then we went off to get reacquainted with the ship. Took lots of photos and walked around. We stopped for a small bite to eat (mainly fruit) and at 2pm went to see if our room was ready. It was so we dropped off our stuff and went back out to explore San Juan. We had a lovely day walking around. I bought a pair of sandals to match a dress I had brought with me and Wayne bought a Panama Hat.
We got back onboard and our luggage had arrived! We unpacked and rested a bit and then headed for dinner. We went to the dining room and I had the shrimp cocktail and the sweet & sour shrimp and Wayne had the gazpacho and the steak. We both had the warm melting cake and Wayne had the cheese plate.
Wayne's note: I knew I would need my fix, so I got a coffee card at the coffee bar so I could have Latte's and cappucino's in the mornings. You get a deal if you buy them in advance, and I knew I would be drinking them.
Photos to follow.
Sorry I am a day behind but I am stealing wifi because it is too expensive on the ship :)
I got up around 8am and let Wayne sleep in. Showered and got ready and when Wayne woke up his cold was gone!! He felt so much better. We went up to the rooftop deck to see the Victory. Then we headed out for breakfast to a place I had read about (and Rachel Ray recommends) called La Bombonera. We had a Spanish danish called a Mallorca and it was filled with bacon, eggs and cheese with powdered sugar on top – it was wonderful! We also had 2 small pies which we split – one cheese and one meat. The meat one was really good but the cheese one (cream cheese I think) didn't have a lot of taste. This restaurant was very busy but had really fast service and the guy bussed our table while I was still eating.
We headed back to the hotel to pack and at 11am checked out and headed to the Victory. There were a few people in line and lots of cabs picking up people leaving the ship. A porter took our luggage and we headed to the VIP lounge (nice perk that came with our suite). No lines, we had our key card in minutes but then we had to wait in the VIP lounge for everyone to get off before we could get on. At 12:20 they came to get us VIP's and we passed a room full of people to board the ship. We were number 8 & 9 to get on the ship.
First thing we did was buy a FunShip drink and toast our trip (and my birthday). Then we went off to get reacquainted with the ship. Took lots of photos and walked around. We stopped for a small bite to eat (mainly fruit) and at 2pm went to see if our room was ready. It was so we dropped off our stuff and went back out to explore San Juan. We had a lovely day walking around. I bought a pair of sandals to match a dress I had brought with me and Wayne bought a Panama Hat.
We got back onboard and our luggage had arrived! We unpacked and rested a bit and then headed for dinner. We went to the dining room and I had the shrimp cocktail and the sweet & sour shrimp and Wayne had the gazpacho and the steak. We both had the warm melting cake and Wayne had the cheese plate.
Wayne's note: I knew I would need my fix, so I got a coffee card at the coffee bar so I could have Latte's and cappucino's in the mornings. You get a deal if you buy them in advance, and I knew I would be drinking them.
Photos to follow.
Sorry I am a day behind but I am stealing wifi because it is too expensive on the ship :)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
We are in San Juan!
The view of the New York skyline from our gate at the Newark airport.
Our flights here were great and we arrived on time.
Beautiful views of Puerto Rico on our approach to the island and saw a rainbow.
The weather here is warm and a bit muggy and wonderful.
Wayne is not feeling much better and the flight bothered his ears. He took some cold meds and had a nap after we checked into our hotel.
Our hotel is the Sheraton OSJ and it is right across the street from the cruise pier so in the morning we will just have to walk across the street to board the Victory.
Our room is small but lovely with a very comfy bed.
We went out for a walk around old San Juan. We saw a lot of the same sites we saw when we were here with our kids in 2007. There was an outdoor market and lots of people walking around. We stopped and bought some wine since we are allowed 1 bottle each to take onboard but you have to take it when you first go on.
Back to the hotel to freshen up and then we met some of my cruise critic friends down in the lobby. We then walked to Barrachina (birthplace of the pina colada). There were about 35 people all from the cruise critic message board. Wayne and I both had a pina colada and we split 3 appetizers for dinner. There were flamenco dancers dancing while we ate.
After dinner we wandered around – the temperature was wonderful. Wayne did say he was feeling better (I think the rum in the drink helped). The long day of traveling caught up with us and we went back to the the hotel.
Tomorrow we board the Victory!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Our journey has begun!
My sister Diane arrived at our house to house/pet sit (thanks Di), I finished last minute packing and then we were on our way. Arrived at the hotel around 8:30pm. Wonderful room with a jacuzzi tub in the room.
Poor Wayne is feeling terrible. He has been fighting a cold the last few days, so the first thing I did was make him a NeoCitron. I think it will be an early night for us since we have a 5:30am wake up call. I hope he feels better tomorrow.
Poor Wayne is feeling terrible. He has been fighting a cold the last few days, so the first thing I did was make him a NeoCitron. I think it will be an early night for us since we have a 5:30am wake up call. I hope he feels better tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Upgraded to a suite!!
We had booked a balcony cabin with an extra long balcony. Carnival called wanting to know if we wanted to upgrade to a suite. The price was too high so I turned it down. Then I kept an eye on prices. When prices dropped I called Carnival back and they offered a suite at a much better price so we upgraded!!
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