LOS - TA - April 2-16, 2011 MIA-BCN - TRIP REPORT

[cer10lee]

i am very much enjoying your report, the good, the bad and the ugly. i love all the pictures too.

 

DH and I are doing the westbound TA this October, and we have devoured all your posts this morning. Thanks! Can't wait for more.

[foxesden1]

I should be working on my cake.. but I am going to upload a few pixs.. :p so much more fun!

 

 

Made with real cream.. need I say more?

 

 

Loved these doors. They were all over Spain. :D

[foxesden1]

Lunch

 

 

The shellfish was fab. 22E for the three of us.

 

At this point let me insert this photo.

 

 

Miss Em was taken with spirit of Flamenco. A man seet up a one man band.. and started to play Flamenco music, Miss Em was driven by the beat of the music to do a improv dance. During lunch. If I had a hat, I would have put it out beside her, maybe she might have made some money.. ;)

 

For the remainder of the cruise, my daughter became "Karla" the Flamenco dancer. You might have seen her show in Boleros? :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Miss Em's Pasta was da bomb. Really. Super. Pasta made fresh on the spot...

[foxesden1]

 

A kid in a candy shop...:D

[Cardex]

Loving your review!

I am doing a TA next spring and really enjoying reading about your trip - the good and the bad.

[tright]

Just want to thank you for taking the time to write this review. I am loving it and the pictures are great!!!

[Super Grandma]

I hope you continue with your review. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing.

[earn]

Taylor,

 

Great to read this review. I have been so busy working for the last few days I hadn't managed to log on. Now tonight I was planning to have an early night, but it is now after midnight. the memories have just come flooding back. Sailaway, Slot Pull, Cabin Crawl with lunch (or without if you are Stewart!), Gordon the cruise director, great food in Windjammer and MDR, Peter and his luggage, the Murder Mystery afternoon etc etc etc.

 

What a blast we had. I don't think I will ever be on a cruise with so many nice people every again. Keep it all coming, but meantime I am going to hit the hay! Hope Miss Em and David are well.

[basebare]

Foxden1, Love the review and all the pictures! We are leaving in about a month for a week cruise out of Barcelona. Cannot wait and your review is certainly helping our enthusiasm!!!

Patti

[blacksheep2]

The review as I see it is someone telling the truth about what happens on vacation-she is not complaining -just telling the facts. I hope the cruise line reads this. We are former RCCL cruisers who went to Carnival because of cruise mates and are now going back to RCCL becasue of issues much like these on Carnival. Thank you for an honest review-not saying that all the issues happen to everyone but it is how they are taken care of by the people in charge-just like a business.

[foxesden1]

thanks everyone, on my way out the door - girl scout event, more later :D

[Sharon Sails]

Your daughter and the other little girl are ADORABLE in these pics! No wonder everyone wanted photos...

[foxesden1]

Your daughter and the other little girl are ADORABLE in these pics! No wonder everyone wanted photos...

 

 

They you, they did looks sweet!

 

 

And now life can return to normal. I will try to upload the last few days of my trip report over the weekend. BUT I have two birthday parties to fit in, so it will not be until night time.

 

Thanks to everyone who has hung in.. :D

[East Bay Skiers]

THANK YOU so much for the wonderful review! :) Love, love, all your pics.:) Your daughter is so adorable! and very photogenic!

We are doing the west bound TA in Oct. It's great to have a preview!:D:D I'm really enjoying it!

[earn]

Taylor, the cake look great. Do you do imports to Scotland?

[foxesden1]

sure send me a ticket! LOL

 

sorry guys, I so meant to get all pix uploaded this weekend.

 

:D

[earn]

Just read my message, and obviously I meant export for the pedants amongst you!!!!

[baggal]

I was away for the weekend and was worried I missed the last installments. Please keep them coming. Your food photos are the best!

[foxesden1]

You have not missed anything, just back from the Dr. with miss em. she has a ear infection.. not sure how much I will get done today.. maybe she might sleep? :D <G>

[valarson5]

The little girls in the matching dresses = adorable!! OMG --All that food --- did you happen to notice if the fitness center was crowded? I am on LOS in Sept -- thanks for your review!

[foxesden1]

I don't think so, people were walking a lot, I can tell you that.

[Magicat]

Love your review, we will be on the TA in October. Just of curiosity - did you ever live in Brampton , just asking because of your screen name !

[foxesden1]

Cadez.. Sorry, Found some more pix!

 

 

The Church we went to in Cadez (the great coffee shop was outside to the right. The beach was behind the church to the left.

 

 

 

 

 

[foxesden1]

 

We had lunch at the far back, and dinner at the cafeteria andalucia, please what ever you do ...

 

do not order this..

 

 

If you must eat here, get the pasta and ice cream. (both very good!) and skip the first place all together. :rolleyes:

 

 

A few hours at the beach (wonderful..!)

 

 

followed by a wonderful stroll back to the ship.

[foxesden1]

 

Karen from our CC meetup was so thoughtful and brought Miss Em a gift of bubbles. Perfect for playing outside our room. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

I am sure I am missing a sea day, sorry, if I find it I will tag it on to the end!

 

Once again I will be doing two reviews for one day. Miss Em and I hung out in Malaga, and David did a land tour to alhambra (I have already been).

 

Malaga - Em and I.

 

Okay, I have to say that RCL is out to make money. The sea day before we arrived, they were selling ride all day passes to and from town for $8.00 each. So $16.00 for Miss Em and I. I asked if there was no other way to get into town, and I was told no. The bus or a 40min walk (we were at the far end of the pier and there was lots of road work.. )

 

So we disembark - I have Miss Em's stroller with me, and opt not to take the free short bus to the port, because it is full, and I do not want to take up extra space from all the able bodied people on the bus.

 

10-15min later I arrive at the first port, to get our bus. Only to find, that you can in fact buy a city bus pass for under $2.00 Serves me right for not doing my homework in advance.

 

The bus drops you off at the top part of the town, lots of shops, walking, parks, and horse and buggy rides.. (you see where this is going don't you.. ) Well Cinderealla MUST take a horse and buggy ride - it was 40E for the two of us.

 

And in truth, it was worth every penny. The tour was great, it went to the far right of the town (great beach btw) around the bull ring, post office, etc. But the look of delight on my DD face? Priceless. She felt like a princes, and loved it.

 

We disembarked, and then walked to a cafe in town. (To the left of the horses). I was less them impressed with the service - We arrived at 10 and were not done till 11:30 We ordered two drinks and some toast with ham. I know Europe is not in a rush, but this was just bad service. Bad table by the door - three waiters "serving us". Bad bad bad.