Capital Jazz Supercruise 2012

[pfunkbail]

True that, but you cant keep what you catch. I've never been fishing just for the "sport" of it. I love to eat fish.

[Hermitage1]

Greetings Capital Jazz Crusiers!

Hope that you are all excited because I am!!!

 

I have been reading with interest all of your posts and I must say to Ms 411, I honestly hope and expect that you will really enjoy yourself on this cruise. This is only my second one. I went last year for the first time. I had a fabulous time.

 

Actually, I did not listen to Hattack's advice last year about taking a nap in the middle of the day each day and ended up having a bout of the shakes by the Wednesday and got ill just in time for the 70's night and Sinbad's performance. My Problem - I was trying to see everything and did not want to go to sleep or take a nap.:-) (It was all so incredible to be amongst all of the talent on board and to be with people who were all just enjoying themselves) I just could not pull myself out of the bed because my body was so exhausted. I was fine by the next day and ready to go again. (Moral of the story......Make certain that you make yourself get some rest)

 

There is so much to do and see from the time that you rise in the morning until the time that you go to bed......in the morning. :-)

 

I found that the Island stops were the perfect way to relax my mind from so much activity. I have been to them all before so a bit of light shopping and a good meal at a local restaurant does me well and I am ready to mingle and listen to some more exceptional entertainment when we board the ship again.

 

It will all work out in the end and you will have a great time.

[hattack]

on our first SuperCruise (IV on the Liberty), my cabinmate who is a night owl ran out of steam on Wednesday night also and she missed the 70's party (which was off the chain) and most of Thursday. Last year she scheduled her 30 minute "rest" every day before we dressed for early dinner, so she didn't miss anything. However, we were both smart enough to take the following Monday off from our jobs and slept 36 straight hours when we got home on Sunday.

Last year was the first year of the Celebrity auction for charity. It was held at 11 am on one of our full days at sea and at the beginning there were not alot of folks in the main showroom but it started to fill as word spread....this was sooooooooo much fun and Patti Austin and Chante Moore were a hoot trying to get folks to bid higher..fyi Ken Ford went for $1250 and raised the most $$$$$$$....Patti actually raised more $$$$ then Chante!!!!!.it's all tax deductable and if you are the highest bidder you have dinner with them at the upscale steak house...returning cruisers from last year know about the auction and have been ear marking a portion of their normal charitable allotment for this cruise. You can also team up with other cruisers.? I bet this year the main showroom will be packed and I wonder how much Will Downing will go for...lol....

Capital Jazz provides many opportunities to interact with your favorite artists besides just autographs and pics...also every year there is a celebrity chef (G. Gavin, Big Daddy) that you can sample what they cook...

[Ms411]

Thanks, Hermitage. I'm sure I'll have a good time, and thanks for the sleep/rest tips. I don't nap well, so I'll have to figure out an alternate schedule, which is why waiting for the lineup schedule is killing me. I also know it's important to drink lots of water, or the heat will definitely drain you, so I need to pack at least one water bottle that I can refill with tap water. May also bring my portable fan for use on the concerts on the pool deck during the day. I've never hung out at the pool during a cruise, so this will be the first.

[hattack]

Lots of sunscreen and a wide hat that ties under your chin because the breeze off the ocean while the ship is moving is strong and the sun is brutal at 1pm..the best shade is right off the buffet where there are tables and an overhead but those spots go quickly and you will be looking up to the deck that has the musicians and the extra wide lido screen and the music will go over your head...second best spot is the pool or the hot tubs

If you notice the pics on the website, the open decks are packed (3000+) for the 1pm concerts but there is plenty of room to move around and dance and folks are not chair hogs (10 minutes before there is an announcement made about seats not occupied)...on SuperCruise IV when Chuck Brown performed the open decks were packed at 9 am for a 1 pm concert and whenJeffrey Osborne performed nobody moved until he sang the last note of his last song.

If you are not a fan of the group performing it's a great time to schedule a spa treatment or eat a nice leisure lunch in the MDR (both will be open and empty) visit the casino or onboard shops

Don't forget the Freedom has a close circuit tv system so you can watch the main shows in your cabin the next day (or very late that same night)

[Hermitage1]

I am ready this time! ;) I am going to nap just before going for dinner so that I can hang all night.

 

Ms 411, the water bottle is a great idea. Last year I actually brought with me the clear refillable bottles that you can get from GNC. They have a cap that has a charcoal filter on it so that you can sanitize the water as you are drinking it. But, I had no problem with the water that was on the ship. It was clear and delicious and I drank many a glass while up on the pool deck shaking my groove thing.

[Ms411]

Thanks, Hermitage. I'll look for those bottles.

[Soukous]

go to their website..click on contact us...click on their Facebook page..lots of comments and daily updates

This year we have 4 full days at sea, which means there will be sooooooo many activities to choose from..the good news is that we will receive the tentative performance schedule in the next few days, which will allow you and your husband to plot out a daily game plan ...most artists will be performing in multiple venues (unannounced as well as their schedule performance)thru out the week, and most of the artists will be with us for the full 8 days....the "key" is to pace yourself to last the full 8 days and to plan a daily 20-30 minute "down time (nap) during the late afternoon so you can "hang" all night and when there are multiple performances at the same time, to catch alittle of each..the "toughest seat" to get is the Underground Lounge (room holds about 250), but if you catch the second half of the set, you should be able to obtain a seat...several of the artist will have a Q&A session in the atrium where they often perform a few songs and other artists will drop by to do a song with them..the other "gem" is the late night piano bar (hosted this year by Jarrod Lawson) where you never know who is going to show up....I will be glad to share pics at the end of the cruise for artists you may have missed...If you or your hubby are fans of Nick Colionne, let me know (I belong to his fan club "Connections" and we usually have a gathering with Nick during the week that you can come as my guests)

Your "hubby" is really going to enjoy himself

I did look at the comments on FB, thx. I'm just waiting on the booking number so I can go online and complete our FunShip Pass registration etc. I wanted to try the Fishing excursion with Nick Colionne we both enjoy fishing alot. However, say we do catch something (only been deep sea fishing once) I'm not sure what to do with it (can't cook it). Anyway no worries.

 

I appreciate you offering to include us with the fan club gathering with Nick Colionne, I'd really like to do that he seems like a very down to earth guy and I bet you all have a great time.

 

Well, I'm putting our bags together now and this is one part of travelling that I don't like so it's not good to wait until the very last minute although I feel like I should have starting pulling it together a long time ago. We're on the downslope now and I can't wait!

[Soukous]

It's a little more than a month away, and not a peep from Capital Jazz. If I were looking to book my excursions through them, I'd be going crazy. We won't be the only ship in St Maarten that day, so there's a possibility some on-island activities may sell out. They said they were going to offer a horseback riding excursion in St Maarten, but there's only one stable that I know of, and they only have so many horses.

 

Go ahead and jump on me for "complaining" but like I said earlier, I'm posting my opinions about Capital Jazz, and since this is America, I'm entitled to freely voice my opinion. People who may be considering a jazz cruise in the future should have more than just the over-the-top raves from other posters.

@411, I've already reserved my space for Captain Alan tour in St.Maarten as we discussed. I'm glad I took care of that. Did you schedule anythng for Antigua? Trip Advisor had comments on Dickenson and Runaway Beaches (I think). I'll see what is listed on the excursions when I register for the Funship Pass.

[Ms411]

Soukous, of course we're already booked for everything. Doing island tour with Gordon and it goes to a beach where you can snorkel. I'm going to walk the mile to the beach, though, from Devil's Bridge.

 

We like to meet locals, so even if it's just our guide, we will have met someone.

 

You're welcome to join us.

[Ms411]

Oh, and BTW, I sent all the tours we reserved a reminder early this week, and I'll do one again before I get on the ship.

[Soukous]

O.K. Does "Gordon" have a website I can view? My husband is having problems with his legs right now hopefully they won't bother him and we can join you if it's not too much walking.

[Ms411]

Soukous, sorry to hear about your husband's legs.

 

I don't think there's much walking. I chose this tour because of the snorkeling beach. Antigua boasts of having 365 beaches, but I want to see QUALITY as opposed to QUANTITY! The beach on this tour is one of the few that's often recommended for snorkeling.

 

Here's Gordon's website for the tour we booked.

 

http://www.tourguidegordon.com/BestofParadiseIslandTour20092010.htm

 

I've already been to some of the stops on his tour, but it's always good to see how they've changed. My companions haven't been to Antigua, so it'll be new to them. Gordon is also recommended by someone I know personally.

[vivavegas]

You guys must be getting super excited with your cruise just around the corner!:) Hope everyone has a great cruise! I'm getting a little envious since I've got to wait til' January for my Smooth Jazz Cruise! ;)

[hattack]

Vivavegas....did you see next yeat's fall lineup out of the west coast for your Smooth Jazz Cruise!!!!!!!!! awesome!,!!,!, as is the fall line up for the Soul Train Cruise

 

Too many great full charter music cruise....not enough $$$$$$$$ or time...we are already booked for SuperCruise VII in Nov of 2013

 

Have a great time on your cruise in Jan 2013

[vivavegas]

Vivavegas....did you see next yeat's fall lineup out of the west coast for your Smooth Jazz Cruise!!!!!!!!! awesome!,!!,!, as is the fall line up for the Soul Train Cruise

 

Too many great full charter music cruise....not enough $$$$$$$$ or time...we are already booked for SuperCruise VII in Nov of 2013

 

Have a great time on your cruise in Jan 2013

 

I did see the west coast lineup and would love to go! But I agree with you, there's not enough $$$$$$$ or time for them all!:) Gotta go check out the lineup for the SuperCruise VII..;)

[pfunkbail]

Of all the cruises I've been on< this is the most anxious one I know! I can't wait.

[hattack]

line up for SuperCruise 7 will be announced in December...if past line ups are any indication, it should be another incredible offering of musical Gumbo (straight ahead jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, gospel, comedy, 70's funk, 60's old school r&b, neo soul, reggae,, international British soul supergroups, go-go etc.).....

The formula tends to be artists who are

- 1/3 fan favorites, who have perform on previous SuperCruises or Capital Jazz Festivals and are requested thru guests feedback surveys

- 1/3 artists who have never performed on a SuperCruise or CJ Festival, but are requested on guests feedback surveys

- 1/3 "up and coming" (Underground Lounge) neo-soul artists who gain valueable exposure both to guests and fellow established artists on the SuperCruise...would not be surprise that several of the Underground Lounge artists performing on this years SuperCruise will be on a track on a future Kim Waters, Gerald Albright, Boney James CD

- every year there is "lagniappe" (artist or musical styles one would never expect to see on a music cruise (i.e, Three Mo Tenors (opera), Step Afrika (step dance Troupe from Howard University)..last year on the Liberty we were treated to Tony Award winner Savion Glover tapping to George Duke's original compositions (incredible)

Formula works, ship is usually 80% sold out before line up is announced

[MSNICK$$]

Hattack..in your experience when will the Carnival booking numbe be sent. I"m getting a little anxious tha we have not received this information yet.

 

Vivavegas....did you see next yeat's fall lineup out of the west coast for your Smooth Jazz Cruise!!!!!!!!! awesome!,!!,!, as is the fall line up for the Soul Train Cruise

 

Too many great full charter music cruise....not enough $$$$$$$$ or time...we are already booked for SuperCruise VII in Nov of 2013

 

Have a great time on your cruise in Jan 2013

[Ms411]

According to CJ's facebook page, we should have everything by the end of this week.

[hattack]

thanks Ms 411...it will be a good Sunday afternoon activity for me to do the Funpass, since my beloved NO Saints play at night...I'm interest to see the daily performance schedule so I can pack

[Ms411]

Still looking for someone to join us on an art gallery tour in St z Martin. If not, I have to plan something else. My St Martin friends are expecting me to hike, but my cabin mates aren't hikers. Let me see if I can get somebody to show them the French side while I go off by myself...

[Hermitage1]

Hi Ms 411,

Do you know of an easier way to go to the french side then by the taxi's at the cruise dock? A friend of mine told me about a ferry, but I am not sure that is an option from the cruise port.

Our plan is to go over there by private car early and come back early. I was there in July and noted that it seemed fairly easy to get a car from the terminal to the french side for about $70. My TA warned me that we need to get over and be on our way back fairly early since there can be severe traffic jams late in the day. I have done the dutch side more times than I can remember so I am really looking forward to exploring french.

:-)

[Ms411]

Hermi, I've never seen or heard of a ferry from one side to the other. It's either car rental, taxi, or bus. Remember we'll be in port late, and I think there's only one other ship, so traffic shouldn't be that big an issue.

 

Booked my air today which is one of my least favorite things.

[hattack]

make sure when you receive your FunPass enrollment packet this weekend that you review the daily performance schedule of the artists. Last year FourPlay performed on the lido deck at 4pm while we were in port and not schedule to sail until 7 pm. (due to their touring schedule which required them to leave.for Europe that evening). By having the performance schedule in advance, folks were able to adjust the time they returned to our ship from their excursions.

It was fun to watch the expressions of the guests on the other ships in port as they were sailing away looking at 3000+ SuperCruisers on the pool desk enjoying live jazz with FourPlay.