sunshower9

I tried to book specialty dining just now and it kept giving me an error when I tried to pay.  I finally gave up and booked through the app with no problems.

30 minutes ago, missholly24 said:

OMGGGG thank you for pointing that out! I just went and changed my booking. The Youtube video was wrong. I'm not sure how because that cabin has the carpeting of Havana on it and the person said it was Havana but you are correct, it is not. I moved to 6464. Corner aft. Kinda weird layout but it will work. I really want a private balcony but Havana access. I'm not a fan of the terraces that people walk. Not many options. Thank you! LOL...

You're welcome!  Glad you were able to change your booking.  The Havana area is so nice.  I always stay in a Havana cabin when I'm on a Vista class ship.

3 hours ago, missholly24 said:

Correct Vista aft deck 6 and 7 you will be almost eye to eye with the people in the hot tubs. LOL! 8 and 9 look great though, I just booked! I typed in cabin numbers to Youtube and watched cabin tours of the exact cabins. (For Vista) That helped me make my choice. ($50 per person deposits today!)

Only difference is that on Vista the aft balconies on decks 6 and 7 are Havana cabins, while decks 8 and 9 are not.  For that reason alone I prefer decks 6 and 7.  On Horizon, all four decks are Havana cabins.

On Excel class ships, none of the aft extended balconies have full privacy.  We stayed on deck 15 on Mardi Gras and it was partially covered, but if we stood at the railing people could look down on us. 

We had a lounger on Mardi Gras, and there are also loungers on the Havana aft extended balconies on the Vista class ships.

Have a great trip!  I did this itinerary on Horizon in May 2022.  I did that same walking tour in Curacao.  A guy named Rayay was our guide and he was great.  Learned a lot of history and I loved seeing all the street art, but it was quite hot that day.  Since you have a car in Aruba, may I suggest checking out Zeerovers for lunch, if you like seafood.  Freshly caught seafood, good prices, views of the water.  My husband still talks about wanting to go back there. 

12 hours ago, RoperDK said:

I wonder if it is "our" Melissa.  This was a couple of years ago at the Brass Magnolia on Mardi Gras.  She made our cruise special along with the BEST drinks!

That's her!  When I saw her full name on my receipt on Vista last week, it immediately rang a bell and then I suddenly remembered seeing her face before too.  My husband asked her what ships she was on before and she said she was on Mardi Gras at Brass Magnolia so I figured that was where I knew her from.  We asked her if she knew Jennifer from Mexico (another favorite) and she said they were together on Mardi Gras so I knew that was it.

When I got home, I looked back at my notes from my Mardi Gras cruises (I write notes/reviews of every cruise) and I had written down "Melissa from Brass Magnolia" as one of the notable team members I wanted to mention in the survey.  She's amazing!  She called me Martini Girl because that's what I would always order lol.

23 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Even if my DH was standing at the bar, I would grab both receipts and sign them, forging his signature.  I'm his "travel" secretary.😉

I always do the same thing.  It's usually just my first initial lol.

Did the steak and cheese taste better without the extra side of attitude? 😂

10 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

Maybe you had the other deli lady? Pirate mentioned there were two at one point.

I also pointed out that there were two yesterday. It's definitely the same lady. 

That's crazy that you still had an unpleasant interaction with the deli lady. She really did seem to be in a much better mood when I ate there yesterday. Just goes to show how different people can have entirely different experiences on the same cruise.

There's a 2nd person working the deli today. And the first lady seems to have a much more pleasant attitude. I even saw her smile lol.

19 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

We stopped into a store, and I got some new hideous sunglasses y’all! I can’t wait for Chris to see them when I get home. 😁

 

B is a Starbucks junkie, so we stopped for her to get her fix, then meandered back to the port. MSC Mera was arriving, and I got to admire her. I love how sleek and beautiful their ships are. Don’t worry, I’m still a CCL girl at heart, they’ll always be my first love, but I have become fond of MSC. 

Those sunglasses are horrible. I love them lol.

2 hours ago, pirate4me2 said:

 

Aw, sorry to hear about your excursion! What one was it? We have a catamaran sail & snorkel.

It was through an independent company, St. Thomas Adventure Tours. That was the one excursion I was most looking forward to,  because they guarantee that you'll see turtles. Oh well. We did end up doing the Sky Ride to Paradise Point. I just polished off a bushwhacker and it was unexpectedly strong. Now we're off to find some food. They have food here at Paradise Point but husband wants jerk chicken and rice and the lady at the ticket booth recommended a place nearby so we're going to check it out.

The steak and cheese is my favorite thing from the deli. I discovered it on my last cruise and now it's the only thing I get from there. The lady working at the deli now was also there in December and her attitude hasn't changed since then. She does almost kinda give me a sort of half smile when she sees me, but I also don't make any special requests so maybe that's why lol. I feel for her because she always seems to be the only person working and there are usually long lines of people waiting. They really need another person making sandwiches.

Anyway, my St. Thomas excursion just got cancelled because of rip currents so I have no idea what to do today. Maybe I'll do the Sky Ride since I've never done it before. 

I found you (and Mama and B)! 😁 Nice meeting you all. Loved the glasses!

I'm headed to the terminal now. Almost time to get this party started!

10 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

We sound like 2 of a kind, oh my goodness!!

 

Our crew did decide to meet up and head out at 6 am, so I am HOPING we get to Cape Canaveral by 4 pm to enjoy dinner and just let down after the drive. But, that depends on traffic, potty stops, a Buc-ees stop (2 in the crew have never been and have decided that we HAVE to stop this time), and our stop at our favorite horse supply store in Jacksonville, FL. You know what, I am gonna say we will probably make AWFUL time after re-reading all that. I bet we land about 5 or 6. LOL. 

 

Pre-cruise chores.....bah humbug! I am eyeing my list and trying to decide what I can just "forget" to do and leave for the hubby. 

Yes, Buc-ees!  Stopping at Buc-ees is part of our cruise tradition.  Usually by the time we need to get gas we're already near Buc-ees, so it all works out and I also get yummy snacks in the process lol.

43 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

I gotta admit, we ALWAYS eat at Fishlips when in Cape Canaveral. We went one time to Grill's, and I was disappointed....I just love Fishlips so much. Grills wasn't bad, it just wasn't "my" place! 

 

I say you should tell the hubby nope, going to Fishlips tomorrow, and we can meet up. I'll be wearing my "awful" glasses! 😂

I was already kinda hoping to convince him to go to Fishlips anyway.  I would actually love to meet up, but I don't know what time we're getting to the hotel tomorrow.  That depends on what time I wake up in the morning.  Which depends on what time I'm done with all my pre-cruise household chores tonight.  Which depends on how much procrastinating I plan to do today lol. 😂

48 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

Pre-Cruise Hotel:

 

After debating if we wanted to drive down overnight Friday to save some PTO time, or start the shenanigans early and drive down a day before and book a hotel for the night, we all finally agreed to do the less-stress route and drive down and book a hotel. Whew, that is my preferred method….get up super early Friday morning (eeeek, B isn’t a morning person, and neither am I…poor mum!), make the trip to FL, stop at my favorite horse supply store in Jacksonville, and get to Cape Canaveral in time for a late lunch/early dinner at the port. Fishlips, here I come!! 🙂

 

I booked us at my new favorite Cape Canaveral pre-cruise hotel, Home2Suites. It is always super clean, has a nice pool, and is in a great location. The address is 9004 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral, and sometimes they have a Park & Cruise package available. Unfortunately for us, it was sold out by the time I made our booking. Oh well, that is what you get for procrastinating!

I love Fishlips!  Korean nachos and a Bermuda Triangle....mmmmm! 😋  I could eat there every time I'm in Cape Canaveral but my husband wants to try someplace new tomorrow.  We ate at Zarella's last time and it was really good.

We're staying just down the street from you, at Springhill Suites.  I usually stay at Springhill or Homewood Suites with the park & cruise package.

I've done both.  I prefer Mardi Gras because 1.) I like sailing from Port Canaveral, 2.) I hate sailing from Miami, and 3.) I like the decor and the bars better on Mardi Gras.  Aside from the slight differences already mentioned above, they're the same ship. 

18 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

@sunshower9

@JLewinFL

@Cricket551

This is me! I think my crazy “vacation sunglasses” that embarrass my mom (B has yet to see them) so bad are pretty unique. 😂

If you're wearing those awesome sunglasses on the ship, I'll definitely be able to find you! 😂

Did you know that this cruise was originally scheduled to go to St. Kitts instead of St. Thomas?  That was the main reason why I booked it because I've never been there before, but right after I booked they changed the itinerary.  

58 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

Im sure pics of me will appear here, so I will be recognizable. 🙂

If I see you I'll be sure to say hello! 🙂 

11 minutes ago, pirate4me2 said:

Hey, I (well, me and my girls) are in the Havana too! I'll be the one drinking Cuban iced teas made with Diet Pepsi (so I feel less guilty). 

Oh awesome!  I'm sure we'll see each other, even though we may not know who the other is. 😂  I might try that Cuban iced tea.  Or maybe I should just stay in my lane with the Daiquiri Clasico lol.

1 hour ago, pirate4me2 said:

Yay, maybe we will run into each other! I'll post a pic of myself so maybe you will recognize me 🙂

 

I also have the Cheers package (whoop whoop!) so if I'm not in the Havana area, you'll likely catch me at a bar too. 😂  I can't wait for this trip!