StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 #1 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I've debated the last couple weeks on whether I should take the time out to write this, but I find that even though we don't have a cruise booked (and may not for awhile) I keep coming back to Cruise Critic and read, so why not. Plus I need to share all the fun our Angry Bird had on his vacation. For anyone not familiar with Angry Birds.... it's a game you can play on say Ipad or a touch screen phone. Basically the pigs stole the birds eggs, and the birds are all angry and ticked off and they go after the pigs by using a slingshot and shooting themselves at the pigs. My husband became an Angry Birds addict and one day I got him this bird. I felt so bad for it with it's sourpuss face all the time.. we took it on our cruise to try to cheer him up. So I guess I'll start at the beginning. We live about 3 and a half hours from the Port of Miami, so we don't have any of those cool hotel or out the window of the plane pics.. or even any "house in the snow" pics... so instead we got some shots of us packing and getting ready.... Gotta get all the scuba gear packed Loading the car! And we are off!!!!! Check out that stinkin pig... stalking me on my vacation! We arrived at the Port around 10:30. I'll be honest, we were just too darn excited to wait to leave our house. We were out the door about 6:45 am. We were in Ocean Suite 7238 so we were lucky and got to wait in the VIP lounge until around 11:30 when they walked us on the ship... here's a pick of angry bird chillin with us in the VIP lounge... He's still looking angry.. probably at having to wait. to be cont...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truchattycathy Posted June 20, 2011 #2 Share Posted June 20, 2011 This is too cute! Great review so far. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted June 20, 2011 #3 Share Posted June 20, 2011 That is one angry looking bird!!! :D ...Sounds like you had a good time. I have to admit I play online computer games, so that game sounds right up my alley Good review. thanks .. now you do know you will have to book another cruise, even if its the furthest out date like april 2013. book it a rate you can cancel, but it gives you something to shoot for. I know you want to book again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rnvattes Posted June 20, 2011 #4 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Love this!!! :d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryssa Posted June 20, 2011 #5 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hi April, How much dive gear do you guys bring with you? We bring everything (other than tanks + weights) when we go on dive trips, but I'm not sure it's worth it to drag it all on the plane, then on the ship, to dive for 2 or 3 days. My husband will dive all 4 ports but I will spend at least 1 with my family. We might not book our dives through the ship so that means dragging it into to taxis to get to dive shops. Hmm... What do you think? I really love my computer, so that means bringing my reg set because it's a console. Also love wearing my own wetsuit because nobody has peed in it. So I guess my only issue is the BC... and the fins, boy are they heavy! Thanks for any advice you can give! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JordanZ Posted June 20, 2011 #6 Share Posted June 20, 2011 lol this had me laughing. cant wait to read more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #7 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I gotta say.. This was my third cruise and DH's fourth... so far I've never had to wait in a line to get on the ship and I think I like it that way. The first cruise was a friends wedding cruise for which we were first on, and the last two have been in suites. There are some nice perks to getting on the ship early... one being that you can be one of the first ones in line at the desks. This time we did the Behind the Fun Tour and we were the second in line when the shore excursion desk opened. Another perk is that you have your pick of tables to veg at on the Lido deck while waiting for your room to open, and minimal lines for food... I sampled the burrito bar, the fish and chips and some desert while DH got himself some burger heaven..... DH and I dive and had a lot of carry on stuff. I don't recommend taking much on since you have to lug it with you until your room opens, but we like having our own equipment so we suffered. We found a table in the rear port corner of the buffet area and just chilled there (eating all kinds of yummy things) until the rooms opened. Here's the bird settling in and checking out Miami.... And eating my Burrito! Time flew by as we people watched and our rooms were open at 1:32 (two miunutes are added because they are never really prompt are they). We unpacked and chilled in the room until the muster drill... More to come... I do have to add here that we did the unthinkable... some of you probably need to turn your head in horror at this point because what you are about to see could ruin your whole world.... I don't mind sharing it here, but I need to put that disclaimer up before you see this next picture.... BAD BIRD!!!!!! LOL!!!! What u gonna do... I also bought drink tickets that were delivered to us the first night.. and we bought way more drinks then we ever made. Sometimes I think it's just for the thrill of doing it! hahahahah After the "packed like a bunch of sardine muster drill" we explored the ship.... and got ready for dinner. We were on deck 4 of the Golden Dining room. I think it's hilarious that we had a table for two (without asking) but our table was literally 3 inches from the one next to us. Really? Why not just connect them and call it a day. It wasn't even really next to a window because it was covered and outside there was deck and lifeboats. I do have to say, for the most part we enjoyed our meals... It wasn't as good as I remember it on the Valor, but it was good. Our head server was a lady from Croatia. I'm not going to say her name here, but I will say that she was very nice with a "harsh" look about her... so we nicknamed her "Frou Forbisino" (think Austin Powers) for the week... The service staff was very efficient and did a good job... they have the best memories I've ever seen. I'll be adding more pics of our dining room staff soon... no more food porn available though... We did the welcome aboard show that night and called it a long day... Had to get some sleep before Half Moon Cay... or as Angry Bird likes to call it... PARADISE!!!!! To be Cont... tomorrow (sorry) gotta go to bed to go to work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #8 Share Posted June 20, 2011 That is one angry looking bird!!! :D ...Sounds like you had a good time. I have to admit I play online computer games, so that game sounds right up my alley Good review. thanks .. now you do know you will have to book another cruise, even if its the furthest out date like april 2013. book it a rate you can cancel, but it gives you something to shoot for. I know you want to book again. I DOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I DO WANT TO BOOK AGAIN!!!!! BUT.... I'm holding off a bit.. I am thinking Breeze, 8 day southern... Summer 2013... Trust me. We will be cruising again. (just probably not next year, long story) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loves2run Posted June 20, 2011 #9 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I can't wait to read the rest of your review. We were on the same cruise as you. Also, I was an Angry Bird addict for a brief while, but I had to quit cold turkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwabob Posted June 20, 2011 #10 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Awesome review set up...I saw the title and just had to check it out since both myself and my GF have become addicted to Angry Birds for the last few months. I almost bought her that plush toy for her birthday in March. You taking lots of pics with the angry bird is awesome! I also saw a Bucs shirt in there, so I figure you can't be too far from the Tampa Bay area...Go Bucs/Rays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalaDragonflyLady Posted June 20, 2011 #11 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Very cute idea! I'm enjoying your review and POV of the angry bird, what a riot! Too bad you don't have a waterproof version you can take diving with you :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #12 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Hi April, How much dive gear do you guys bring with you? We bring everything (other than tanks + weights) when we go on dive trips, but I'm not sure it's worth it to drag it all on the plane, then on the ship, to dive for 2 or 3 days. My husband will dive all 4 ports but I will spend at least 1 with my family. We might not book our dives through the ship so that means dragging it into to taxis to get to dive shops. Hmm... What do you think? I really love my computer, so that means bringing my reg set because it's a console. Also love wearing my own wetsuit because nobody has peed in it. So I guess my only issue is the BC... and the fins, boy are they heavy! Thanks for any advice you can give! HAHAHA.. hear u on the wetsuit!!!! I'm not sure how much advice I can give about the plane as we have never taken our gear on a plane before. I think I would definately have to get a hard suitcase for that.... my clothing suitcase was crushed on one side when it got to our stateroom. We carried on the ship in the Akona backpacks pretty much found a spot on the Lido deck and chilled until the rooms opened... everything except tanks and weights, including shorty wetsuits. It's not as hard to carry with the backpack... and our other carry on was on wheels. I am also not sure if I would bring it all if we didn't have the suite. I felt so much better knowing I could soak my stuff in the tub and set it on the balcony to dry. The shower wasn't going to cut it for my BC and regs.... I didn't think getting our gear on and off the ship (except for maybe a dive knife, which we didn't bother with) was bad. We booked with Carnivals dive excursions. I was pleasantly surprised that they weren't as bad as I've heard. We only did dives in St. Thomas (Decent) and Grand Turk (AMAZINGNESS!) but I will say the dive op's gear looked good if that's the way you go.... I just like using my own stuff for reasons you've already mentioned. Out of 20 of us from the ship that did the dives maybe 7 or 8 actually brought their own stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #13 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Awesome review set up...I saw the title and just had to check it out since both myself and my GF have become addicted to Angry Birds for the last few months. I almost bought her that plush toy for her birthday in March. You taking lots of pics with the angry bird is awesome! I also saw a Bucs shirt in there, so I figure you can't be too far from the Tampa Bay area...Go Bucs/Rays! BUCS SEASON TICKET HOLDERS BABY!!! :) There is a pic of Angry bird drinking out of a bucs Tervis Tumbler.. I'll have to find it.. we are in North Port in Sarasota County! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommiemudd Posted June 20, 2011 #14 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Glad you did the review! We cruise on the Liberty in October! Can't wait for the rest of your review!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjcruiser Posted June 20, 2011 #15 Share Posted June 20, 2011 LOL, great reading the review and pictures. The angry birds are becoming very popular!!! All of the carnival, and boardwalk games along Jersey Shore Towns now have them as a prize!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shwabob Posted June 20, 2011 #16 Share Posted June 20, 2011 BUCS SEASON TICKET HOLDERS BABY!!! :) There is a pic of Angry bird drinking out of a bucs Tervis Tumbler.. I'll have to find it.. we are in North Port in Sarasota County! Well...looks like you actually got to see all the games last season :D unlike the majority of the Bay Area... (on a side note, I'm a USF season ticket holder...little bit easier on the budget) North Port is a great place though, nice quiet place that I used to have a few customers in. Your review also makes me miss being in the water quite a bit. I've had my open water since I was in high school, but I sold off all my nice Zeagle gear when I got laid off a few years back and haven't been on a dive since :( ...all I got left is my nice scubapro wetsuit and a couple dive knives (that for some reason I find myself using way more around the house than I ever thought I would). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #17 Share Posted June 20, 2011 WTH.. lets do HMC.. since I'm here and thinking about it!!! I would like to add that on the first night of our cruise someone was taken extremely ill and they actually made the decision for the Coast Guard to send a Helicopter out. If we had turned around and gone all the way back we would have missed HMC, but we just ended up an hour behind schedule. But we also stayed an hour later at HMC because of it so no loss. I have no idea how that person is... or what happened, nor do I expect too know, but I hope they are recovering well. It was actually just before the Welcome Aboard Show that Jen Baxter (who I loved btw) started making annoucements about it and staying off the balconies and decks.... Needless to say .. on to HMC.....We live in Florida.. on the Gulf Coast... I was born in Sarasota near one of the worlds best beaches, Siesta Key, and I live 20 minutes from Venice or Englewood beaches. Do you know how many times I went to the beach last year just to sit on the beach and swim... 0. We are just not beach people.. it's too darn hot, the sand is sticky, I feel sticky and yucky afterwards... give me a pool anyday... Knowing that.. when you read about how amazing and beautiful Half Moon Cay, Bahamas is... know that it is true! OMG FREAKIN BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! We were looking to explore a bit and get back on the ship.. because a beach day is not our top 10 things too do. We also ended up taking our snorkle gear off the ship just in case we could find something good in the water. We were lucky because we got to the Venetian Palace super early and got tender ticket 2.... I would recommend getting there early because I heard there was massive back up later on.... so much so that they added an extra hour to our St. Thomas time too to make up for it! We got on the island and it was beautiful. WOW.. the water was like a freshly chlorinated swimming pool (with salt)... DH and I walked down to around cabana 10 and set up camp at a grouping of chairs no one was at. We spent awhile in the water, and I really think they took barrels of bleach and just bleached everything. We saw bright white crabs, flounders and other fish, but everything was WHITE.... it was kinda eerie honestly... I don't recommend snorkeling from shore... dont' waste your time. Nothing to see here, move along. So DH grabbed a hammock (no one else around to fight for it at all!) and fell asleep, while Angry Bird and I got a Pina Colada Monkey Head and relaxed. It was an amazing day and I didn't want it to end. Lunch was awesome.... there were pavillions set up in a maze of large bushes and chickens running around.. HOW DO YOU BEAT THAT! Who stole my Corona!!!! This pic is kinda pink because I forgot to change the underwater settings on the camera.... This is the life... If I see HMC on an itinerary in the future it will definitely be a PLUS! TO BE CONT... TOMORROW FOR REAL THIS TIME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobocai Posted June 20, 2011 #18 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Great Idea!!! I was LOL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly333 Posted June 20, 2011 #19 Share Posted June 20, 2011 I just downloaded google chrome because it said I could play angry birds if I had it free. So now I have a new browser. I tried the first couple of levels. .. see what you started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyder209 Posted June 20, 2011 #20 Share Posted June 20, 2011 This is hilarious. My co-worker is also an angry bird addict. I showed him this review and now he really wants one. Where did you find it? He said he wants to make the angry bird eating your burrito his desktop background! Btw loving the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinJenF Posted June 20, 2011 #21 Share Posted June 20, 2011 So far all we have is a bunch of pictures of a packed car, and of 2 people - all of which with a Photoshoped stupid looking bird.. WHO CARES?? DON :eek: Wow Don- why don't you move on! No one made you read it. WHO CARES what you have to say anyways? I think this is the best review ever!!! I was LOL at your Angry bird (Which is REAL and not photoshopped DON!) I love that you included your Angry Bird in your pics and I can't wait to see the rest!!! I have spent more hours than I care to admit playing that game!! Sometimes I get SO frustrated I want to throw my iPod out a window!!! I need a cruise and should take an angry bird with me!! Thanks for the review and keep it coming. I love it!!!! My fav pic is the Angry Bird in his Snorkel gear :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #22 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Good Morning- time for the first sea day this morning... this one will include pics of the ship (and the birds jaunt around the ship). BUT FIRST... I have some issues to address before I continue.... Firefly- HAHAHA Glad you're playing!!! It seems all easy sometimes.. but the trick is to get three stars! My husband is SOOOO much better then I am.. He gets three stars left and right... i stink... Spyder- I got the the bird at a music store in our mall where I live called FYE. They have all the angry birds there in varying sizes and colors! :) I would try googling it and I'm sure your co-worker could find some!!!! LOVE the idea of the burrito pic on the background... Don- sorry you don't like the review. I am doing my best and I've never written one before. Unfortunately there do seem to be at least 4 different kinds of people that do like this review... A) The people who are generally happy in life B) People who don't come home every night at 1 am drunk and nasty C) people who are smart enough to know that there is a real stuffed angry bird in these pics and it is not photoshopped and D) people who have other things to do then troll around and try to get a reaction. Unfortunately those are a lot of people... so I'm going to continue with my review and recommend that if anyone doesn't fit the afore mentioned criteria they discontinue their reading and continue with their miserable existences.... Thank you.. and now back to the review.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #23 Share Posted June 20, 2011 So.. Half Moon Cay day is over. :( I wish I could transport myself there right now.. but it's time to move on. Sea Day #1!!!! Some of the pics you will see will be of the ship today because we went on Angry Bird photoshoots around the ship. DH and I are trivia people... so we also hit up every trivia game and bean bag competition we could on sea and port days. I will say the schedule was weird on the Liberty for the trivia, and some stuff was printed in the Funtimes that were listed in the wrong venue.. or the venue was listed on the wrong deck and the game was supposed to be in another place. It was a bit disorganized. I also have to add that 3 round "Super Trivia" is a joke... Our team showed up all three times, we were winning after rounds one and two handily... then during round three a nearly completely new group of people played against us and happened to win the entire thing that day. Lesson learned... when it comes to Super Trivia.. only go the last day. It's only a game but it's a bit disheartening when stuff like that happens.... In any case we walked away with nearly 7 medals and only two ships on a stick... they love the medals on the Liberty!!!! ANGRY BIRD Around the Liberty photo shoot!!!! Playing Bean Bag toss These chandeliers were sooo pretty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StingRaysfan Posted June 20, 2011 Author #24 Share Posted June 20, 2011 CREEPY JESTERS!!!! The only thing on the ship that creeped me out This night was also "elegant night." Everyone was dressed beautifully... Most ladies in cocktail or formal dresses, and many men were in at least suits. We took some pictures but didn't like how any of them came out so for the first time we passed on buying any pics. I'm gonna cut this day off there.. it was pretty laid back... so I leave you with a shot of Angry Bird... in the casino... TO BE CONT Later today... ST. Thomas!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smeck Posted June 20, 2011 #25 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Great review don't let the negative folks ruin it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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