Golden Cruise Pics

[surfnsun]

I'm sure you're not interested in all of the pics, but I thought some of you might enjoy seeing pics of the ship and islands.

A special note to wolfsnare - this is especially for you per your request. I hope you and your sister have a wonderful vacation!

Golden Cruise Pics (http://www.johnsonmen.us/peggycruise)

[surfnsun]

Forgot to mention, just click on the photo to enlarge...but I'm sure many of you probably already know that.

[wolfsnare]

Surfnsun
Thanks so much for sharing your pictures!!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif
Antigua and St. Lucia look wonderful!! Only 6 more weeks!!! Lisa

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Conquest 4/03
Victory 12/03
Golden Princess 4/04 Golden Princess 6/04

[Salty Dawg]

Surfnsun,

Thanks for posting the pics... we enjoyed viewing them.

[surfnsun]

SaltyDawg - glad you enjoyed them...a nice compliment from an experienced cruiser (of which we're not but hope to become one!).

wolfsnare - the hard part was deciding which one's to share out of seven rolls. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[CruiseFever]

Awesome photo gallery. I've not been to St Lucia but your photos make me want to!

Thanks

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[surfnsun]

Chris - St. Lucia was (obviously) our favorite. I know you're another experienced cruiser...what was yours?

[CruiseFever]

So far, of all the Caribbean islands we've visited I'd say Barbados but that's a tough question.

I took a poll here at home and the top three are Barbados, Martiniqe and St John.

Happy Cruising

Chris

www.LifeIsCruising.com (http://www.LifeIsCruising.com)

Next up:
Caribbean Princess 06/26/04
Star Princess 10/24/04
Diamond Princess 12/22/04
Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[surfnsun]

Thanks for your input. Yup, Barbados was great, but the pics didn't turn out as good. Thanks for your input. In the long run, I suppose any island is better than a day at work. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[auntieann]

Surfnsun,
We too enjoyed your pics. That will be our exact itinerary in less than 5 months. Nice picture of a balcony cabin too. What excursions did you take? Did you enjoy The Golden?
Thanks for sharing!!

Ann

Until Golden Princess
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[surfnsun]

Hi auntieann - Honestly, we didn't sign up for any excursions in advance. I know there are many excursions you can purchase ahead of time and I'm sure they're fabulous, but we just asked questions and winged it. In Barbados, we took a taxi to Bridgetown and saw some of the sights, then took another to many of the beaches and chose the one we liked. We did purchase the East Coast island tour of St. Lucia in the tourism center located in the building as your depart the ship and (obviously) got a great tour of the East Coast of St. Lucia. We heard there was horseback riding on Antigua (as most other islands) and asked the taxi driver to take us there. He took us to Miller's by the Sea, although Dickersons' also has riding. The local jockey charged us $40.00 total for one hour of riding. We did a lot of our heavy shopping at St. Maarten (hence the lack of island photos), although it was a spectacular island. My husband is a certified diver and talked me into (I was scared to death) diving at St. Thomas. I calmed down and really liked it! We enjoyed the Golden immensely. We liked Personal Choice dining for the flexibility. Glad you enjoyed the pics...hope I answered your questions. By the way, I notice you're from Alexandria. We live in Maryland and I work in DC! I love Old Town!

[auntieann]

Surfnsun,
Thanks for quick reply. You gave me some new options for our port tours.
BTW, I guess because I drive through Old Town everyday, I don't realize it's charm,
but I love Annapolis near the docks. Has Old Town beat any day.

Ann

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[zuggie]

Great photos, Surfnsun. We're doing the Golden in January. Tell me a little more about horseback riding in Antigua. Was that a ship excursion, or did you arrange that yourself?

[bikevegas]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing them. The wife and I are doing the Golden in October. She looks like a beautiful ship. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[surfnsun]

zuggie - We did not purchase a riding excursion through the ship. We got off the ship in Antigua and broused around the port area for a bit, planning on eventually taking a taxi to one of the beaches for sunbathing.
We asked the taxi driver about the various beaches and specifically one with riding. He recommended Miller's by the Sea. We negotiated the jockey from $50.00 total to $40.00 total. We asked about taking the horses into the water and he offered to let us ride bareback if we returned towards the end of the day (we rode at about 1100) when others were done riding. Unfortunately, it got too busy with others riding. I did hear another passenger talk about a riding excursion he purchased from the cruiseline (can't remember which island), and they did have the opportunity to ride bareback into the water. One of the advantages to purchasing on our own is we were alone without a large group of people. I suppose that's a matter of personal preference. Enjoy your cruise!

[pg.]

Surfnsun, I too loved your photos, and i especially thought the black and white formal was a neat shot. The fact that it is black and white made it so much more interesting!

[surfnsun]

Thank pg! Golden had six or seven different sitting areas in the promenade area, all with different backgrounds, full length or not, color or black and white. We had several taken, as they got the people through the lines pretty quickly. In the end, our personal favorite was the black and white.

[auntieann]

Surfnsun,
Like to change the subject a little. Since you use the same airports we do, wondered how long you waited to book flights. We probably should have booked in April when we booked the Golden but we got greedy. Did you wait it out for low airfares or did you book right away. Not sure airfares will get any lower in late summer.

Ann

Until Golden Princess
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[pamyla]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I can't wait to go!!!

And what a small world, I work in DC too http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif I also like Old Town http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

How was your flight from DC to San Juan?

[surfnsun]

auntieann/pamyla - we booked the cruise kinda late...only 2-3 months out...so we didn't wait to book the flights. Took AA non-stop to/from BWI. I think I remember BWI is the only non-stop service from the three DC area airports. We paid $783.00 for both of us, includes taxes. Flight was about 3 hours and it was great. Movie and meal. Left at 0715 the day before the cruise. Spent the night at the BWI Marriott the night before to get that extra hours sleep and sorta start the vacation early...we just couldn't wait either! Marriott had a $109.00 weekend rate. We asked at the desk about leaving the car in their lot and they were accommodating...didn't charge us anything, although the reservations department will tell you the stay and park rate is $129.00. Shuttle from Marriott to BWI was quick and easy. Appears this is standard for most airport hotels at BWI and you can probably get a little lower rate elsewhere, but we're a Marriott Rewards member. Flight back didn't leave until 1730 on the return, so we had some down time in San Juan. Like I posted in another thread, you can take a taxi to the Barrachina Restaurant in Old San Juan and they will store your luggage for $5.00 while you see Old San Juan. The luggage is very safe there. Hope this is helpful info.

[pamyla]

Hi surfnsun http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Glad to hear you flights went smoothly. We have almost identical flight times to you except we're leaving out of Dulles. It's also direct and through AA.

Just curious, how crowded did you find the airport in San Juan at those times?
thanks again, Pam

[surfnsun]

Crowds were light. We got out of the San Juan airport quickly and wait for the taxi was short. On the return, we did check in three hours early and the crowd was really light, no line at all at check-in counter or security screening. We did notice the crowd got heavier about an hour after we checked in, but still not too bad.

P.S. Thanks for setting the record straight on the direct flight options.

[auntieann]

Surfnsun,
That is such a terrific idea. The amount you saved in parking covered the hotel bill! My son lives is an apartment in Chrystal City near Reagan National. I was going to have him run us over to the airport and then park our car in his lot but I think I would much rather have a direct flight http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif
These boards are so great. Gives you so many options that you didn't think about.

Ann

Until Golden Princess
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Surfnsun,
Thanks so much for sharing your pictures. They're great. I'm hoping to do the southern itinerary in the near future. My husband and I were on the Golden a month ago. It was it's last Eastern sailing. It's a beautiful ship.

Denise

http://www.gifs.net/animate/lmfinangel.gif

<MARQUEE direction=left width=33%>BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS 02/04/05<MARQUEE>

[Estelle]

Also enjoyed the pics. We will be on Golden in Europe next summer so enjoy seeing any pictures of her. Antigua and St. Lucia looked very nice - will have to consider those on our next Caribbean cruise.

Thanks again!

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Until the Golden Princess



Golden Princess July 2005
Mariner of the Seas April 2004
Celebrity Infinity September 2001
Disney Wonder June 2000

[NightOne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Denise28:
I'm hoping to do the southern itinerary in the near future.
Denise

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've been looking into the same thing since we already have the Western booked. Almost all the 7 day cruises go out of San Juan which is a 5 hour flight!!! (ouch)

Time until Sailing
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[surfnsun]

So glad you're enjoying the pics...I was a little apprehensive about sharing them. Sorry I didn't get more of the ship for you all, but I suppose some things are better left to the imagination. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif