"MISCHIEF MANAGED" - Eurodam Jan 28 - Feb 4

[fann1sh]

This is rather late coming, and I'm not sure how many people are actually interested in a "vanilla" 7 day Caribbean cruise report.

 

However, I've had several nudges (not from my roommates, although they can nudge with the best). CCer's have also asked me how my friend, the now FORMER chemo patient, is doing. The answer to that is "so far, so good". Anyway, for those interested (apologies for large font size, but I'm cutting and pasting):

 

THE “MISCHIEF MANAGED” CRUISE

MS Eurodam, January 28 – Feb 4, 2012

 

Cast of Characters:

 

 

JAN – she's my best friend, but she's such an optimist, she'd find something nice to say about global thermonuclear war;

 

 

ARWEN – she's my best friend, but she's late for everything. Record and still champion: 48 hours...for a weekend;

 

 

SIAN – she's my best friend, and she's a storyteller, a real Celtic bard. But – Sian, not when the waitress is slammed, and her tray weights 50 pounds!

 

YOUR NARRATOR – a born fusser. If there's nothing to fuss about at any given moment, I'll fuss about that. Organizing this cruise (with 3 HAL newbies)? Herding cats.

 

The Mission:

 

 

Celebrate the end of radiation + chemo for Jan, “so far, so good”. HAL's 3rd and 4th pax free sale made sharing a quad look attractive.

 

 

The pre-cruise (Wednesday, January 25 to Friday, January 27):

 

 

1250 miles/2000 kilometers by car, from the Canadian border near Detroit to Fort Lauderdale. I drive this route every year as a snowbird, and with Dave Hunter's amazing book, “Along I-75” the route didn't hold that many surprises. Except:

 

 

Highlight: the comic cook in a Waffle House who kept stumping us with groaner jokes and riddles. But, when asked “What did the Pink Panther say when he stepped on an ant?”...we all sang in unison, to the Henry Mancini theme: “dead ANT – dead ANT – dead ANT, dead ANT, dead ANT, dead ANT....”

Well, okay....maybe you had to be there for it to seem that funny.....:

 

 

Lowlight: municipal revenue generating in Sparks, GA, aka: a speed trap. Beware the new Georgia state rules which tag $200 (!) onto the municipality's own prohibitive fees.

 

 

Highlight: excellent BBQ joint in Kentucky; and great Italian delivery from Guiliano's in the Harbor Shops, 17th St. causeway, Fort Lauderdale. Try the white Hawaiian pizza!

 

 

Highlight: the convenient mini Sun Pass for the Florida Turpike. Also, $10 tourist trap broad brimmed TURQUOISE hat – gorgeous, dahlink!

 

 

Lowlight: oh:dark hundred fire alarm + evacuation at Hyatt Place, Fort Lauderdale. A lot of fuss over a batch of burnt toast!

 

 

Highlight: Total Wines coupons which never expire, and a cashier who let me divide my order in two. $20 off - my case of assorted sparkling wines only cost $150!

 

 

Saturday, January 28 - Embarkation Day:

 

 

This went amazingly smoothly. Thanks to all the CC'ers who helped with suggestions.

 

 

Hotel paid shuttle was well worth $7 each. Rolled into the lobby just before 11 a.m., and almost immediately found we had a large van to ourselves. (No need to order a van/SUV taxi, then wait for it.)

 

 

Driver was super helpful with our mobility equipment for Jan, and large volume of luggage. Porters completed tags speedily for the checked bags. This made me very glad I hadn't tried to print luggage tags.

 

 

HAL landside agents made handicapped priority embarkation smooth, fast and pleasant. We we in our Main deck J cabin by 11:30!

 

 

Our stewards, Edi and Yus (Yussef) were flawless!

 

 

Edi took a bag laundry on E-day (unlimited plan = $49 for all 4 of us. Bargain!) and also hauled away 3 large emptied suitcases.

 

 

Confirmed our Pinnacle and Tamarind reservations, and made lunch reservations for Tamarind for the San Juan sail in. Stopped at the front desk to make sure they knew about Jan's mobility issues, and re-confirm the disembarkation wheelchair arrangements. A visit to the shore-ex desk resulted in arrangements for wheeled transport for Jan directly to our eggshell cabana on HMC day.

 

 

Lunch in the Lido was a mob scene. Finding a table was a real challenge, and hard on Jan, due to the amount of walking. (We probably should have visited earlier than 1 p.m.) However, once we got seated, lunch was a delight. We lingered.

 

 

I later heard I missed cinnamon ice cream, which was only served on the starboard side. Rats! (Made note to self – always check both ice cream lists!)

 

 

One neighbouring table had a group of women wearing tiaras. We discovered this wasn't a dress code commentary (!) but instead a birthday celebration cruise.

 

 

We also got a lot of attention at the life boat muster due to our own team T- shirts. Jan is a stone Harry Potter fan, so our bright coral T's read “Mischief Managed Cruise” on the front, with our names and the Eurodam's dates. On the back: “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” The fact we all giggled every time anyone pointed at the shirts probably made us even more conspicuous.

 

Dinner at 8: table for 8! Our wine showed up, chilled. One of the two couples we shared our table with were apparently scared away by our conversation – they never showed up again. The other pair seemed to understand that old friends jump from one topic to another, with no connection visible to outsiders. They managed to keep up (almost).

 

 

Jan and Sian went to the show, while Arwen and I decided to laze by the aft pool on the Lido stern, with large mugs of tea. It's one of my “first night at sea” rituals, and the stars, moon and clouds co-operated. We spent an hour or two star watching, with Orion high in the sky. A perfect end to a perfect day.

[jhannah]

Sounds wonderful! Makes me ready to sail again. BTW, is Jan going to London for the Warner Brothers Studio Tour? (Where the Potter films were staged and shot.)

[IRL_Joanie]

OK, with the photos up on the site, now I am putting the names to the faces and definitely I can "SEE" the personalities:)

 

I want more please:D

 

Joanie

[fann1sh]

Rest will be slower - still editing.

 

Jim, a Potter tour is "on the list". I think Universal in Florida will come first, though. I know she suffered in silence as we zoomed past Orlando on the turnpike. :-)

 

Joanie, none of those pix are me - smart women stay behind the camera. But, here's "more":

Sunday, January 29 - Day 2 – at sea

 

 

Many people shook their heads in horror at the prospect of 4 women sharing one small cabin (and bathroom). In fact, things went pretty smoothly. Lots of room in 3 large closets and assorted other storage meant everyone's stuff got stowed with no trouble. We've shared rooms many times in the past, and the relative close quarters really weren't a problem. Except....

 

 

With the upper bunk lowered over the two standard beds, there was about 23 inches/58 cm of clearance above the head of the beds. It became a game of “whack-a-mole”...with us as the moles. Sit up to go to the bathroom? Whack! There was a space a little less that 2 feet/60 cm wide next to the wall which was a “whack free zone” for me, with no bunk overhang. So, I quickly learned the wall was my best friend, and hugged it as I slept. Fewer whacks.

 

 

Sian preferred a different strategy. She used what looked like a tai chi crane dance move, as she very slowly unfolded herself from under the bunk. Personally, I can't take a full minute to get out of bed when I need a bathroom, but...whatever works.

 

 

 

(Another solution would be to have the bed made up with the foot as the head. However, this gives no headboard to lean against, and orphans the reading light. We're all avid readers in bed, so that wasn't going to happen.)

 

 

Also – only about 8 inches/20 cm between foot of the regular bed and edge of the unfolded sofa bed. First night - shimmy out of bed, stretch, then jeté over the sofa bed. I don't know about you, but I don't dance that well at 3 a.m.!

 

 

 

(This was solved on subsequent nights by having sofa itself made up as a bed without folding it out. Yes, the guest of honour slept on the couch. She claimed to prefer it, and none of us could argue her out of it.)

 

 

Additional room details: cabin is 14 feet wide, 15 feet long = 210 square feet, not 198 as listed on HAL website. (Metric – 19.5 square metres.) This main deck J is larger than the balcony cabins (if you don't count the balcony). Also, the square shape makes for better traffic flow than those long narrow rectangular cabins.

 

 

In the upper bunk, the distance to ceiling is 29 inches/74 cm = 6 inches/15 cm more head room than the lower beds. It also has its own reading light.

 

 

I went to breakfast in the MDR at 8:30 on my own while the others slept/ordered room service. Then I had “second breakfast” in the Lido at 9:30 with Arwen! (Am I part hobbit? Or does cruising make everyone do things like that?)

 

 

Next up: our first shopping frenzy by pool. “Everything's $10!” I bought a $10 turquoise shawl to match my $10 turquoise broad brim hat, plus a $10 glitter evening bag. Somehow, I'd forgotten to pack one. Also I got Jan a watch, since she forgot to pack a clock. It always makes me feel better when I'm not the only one who leaves stuff behind.

 

 

At 11 a.m. our roll call held a meet and greet in the piano bar. It was great to put faces to the roll call names. Jennifer from nearby Wallaceburg mentioned the February 1/St. Thomas ship's pub crawl – so, I immediately signed up.

 

 

A pleasant but uneventful lunch in the MDR was followed at 1:30 by our first team trivia. This event quickly became our daily “must do”. We missed the country with the most cows (India); the country with the driest desert, coldest ice field and longest mountain range (Chile); the largest opera house in the world (New York); the first children's show to first reach 2000 episodes (Howdy Doody); and the bonus question – the company which buys the most sugar and vanilla (Coca-Cola).

 

 

Not our best outing!

 

 

My next activity will have many CC'ers scratching their heads. I went back to the cabin....to watch a DVD.

 

 

Now, there are a heck of a lot of better things to do on a cruise ship than watch a video. However, before you dismiss me as a kook, I plead exceptional circumstances:

 

 

 

• The DVD was series 2 of “Sherlock”, the BBC 21st century reboot of the Holmes saga;
  
• I'm a Baker Street Irregular who devotes the same fervour to "the canon" as other people reserve for golf, or other more socially acceptable obsessions;
  
• I'd been waiting 4 weeks to see the new episodes, having been unable to find a clean internet download;
  
• and my roommate Arwen, who shares my Holmes nuttiness, had gotten the DVD from a friend, and was also viewing it for the first time.
  

 

 

Episode 1 of series 2 was wonderful...but, if you follow the show you already know that...and if you don't, you've already dismissed me as a kook! * sigh *

 

 

I then discovered there's one big advantage on a cruise over so-called-real-life that I'd never considered before. My brand new netbook began misbehaving in sleep mode and sent me into a tailspin. What to do? I realized there was techspert on tap, just a deck away. I went with my netbook in hand, looked pitiful, and he fixed the problem with a forced shutdown/reboot in a minute flat. Phew!

 

 

We all dressed up for our first main seating formal night. This wasn't as much fuss with 4 dames as I'd expected. But, as mentioned, we've all shared rooms before, and can bob and weave around each other pretty well. It helps that none of us are into 90 minute beautification sessions with the make up mirror. (With all of us over age 55, I'm not saying that makeovers wouldn't be a good idea. But with all of us over age 55, this quartet has shrugged it off as a waste of energy!)

 

 

We did stop to have a formal photo taken, and later paid the – yikes! - $40 to take it home.

 

 

Dinner was a delight, with everything in the MDR kicked up a notch. I know some people only see what they expect to see, but I honestly didn't notice anyone not dressed “formally” in the room. (Elsewhere, of course, but not in the MDR.) There were an unusually large number of 20something women in drop dead gowns, but fewer gentlemen in tuxes.

 

 

The night was so pleasant, we wanted to linger after dinner. We wound up in the Explorer's Lounge for brandy. The Adagio Strings played a number of classical offerings, including excerpts from “Merry Widow”, then surprised us with the theme from Disney's “Beauty and the Beast”!

 

 

From there, it was on to the piano bar, with Roger Carr at the keys. A very charismatic performer who sure knew how to work the room. This was only the second night, and he already had his loyal “regulars” grouped around the piano. Repertoire included Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, and Elton John - just about the right vintage for us. I thought of RuthC, and was tempted to challenge him with some older tunes, but those “regulars” looked like they'd carry us out on a rail...so I restrained that impulse.

 

 

Arwen created her own mischief by making the server hunt for the “DVD of crew show” listed on the bar menu. He finally found one in the neighbouring casino bar!

 

Back to cabin around midnight, when we all crashed.

[1of4]

Sounds like you had a blast! I, too, am a believer in inside cabins and I-75 Guide. Thanks for the headsup for new speedtraps!

[fann1sh]

Monday, January 30 - Day 3 – Grand Turk

 

 

Breakfast in the MDR at 8:30 with Arwen and Sian. In line to get a table, a group of 3 standing behind us was quietly chatting in not-France accented French. Discussion was the range of languages spoken aboard. Took a chance on a quick, “Bonjour – nous sommes Canadiennes”. Rewarded with smiles and greetings.

 

 

Our Texas breakfast companions were soon to be attending a 1950's themed birthday party. A lively discussion about costumes, especially poodle skirts.

 

 

The unlimited laundry package has been a boon for us. The first embarkation day bag arrived back in 12 hours. Ditto our bag from yesterday. $49 for 4 people is a huge bargain.

 

 

I've visited Grand Turk before. I'm an avid swimmer, but I don't snorkel, so this stop had limited appeal for me. Still, I disembarked long enough to take photos of the lovely beach right at the pier, and buy some kitschy souvenirs on behalf of Jan. She'd decided to save her energy for San Juan, tomorrow.

 

 

She made the right choice. It was broiling hot, the wind died, and there was no where shady to sit. <shrug> Getting back on board the Eurodam felt like coming home.

 

 

Team trivia at 2 p.m. was a rout. We had half a dozen right answers which we crossed out for wrong ones. Never second guess!

.

The flower arranging session was interesting. I hadn't known HAL subcontracted this to Dianthus – its main facility is in Miami. Demonstration illustrated how working with oasis is different than just arranging in a vase, and I definitely picked up some tips.

 

 

First trip to Tamarind was delightful with a minor frustrating note. After confirming by phone my stored wine would be available for dinner, I was told a different story by the wine waitress, and handed the wine menu. The choices didn't look any more appealing than the last time I looked at the HAL cellar listings. After tipping her outrageously, she admitted it might be possible to find my wine. However describing it as “Spanish cava” resulted in a puzzled look. “Sparkling wine” wasn't much better. But, it appeared 5 minutes later – the perfect choice, a French blanc de blanc I'd forgotten about. However the wine waitress proceeded to twist the cork into shreds. The sommelier rescued her, and of course criticized the wine and its storage before pouring. <roll eyes>

 

 

A very, very minor annoyance to a wonderful meal. Reservations for 7:30 – emerged at 10:00. Do you want the menu course by course? Look it up. Just know: you MUST TRY IT.

 

 

Sane roommates went to the production show. Arwen and I stayed in the cabin and watched Sherlock 202 – Hound of Baskerville.

[sail7seas]

Great review.

What fun to read.

So happy you and your friends enjoyed! :)

 

[fann1sh]

Thanks, Sail. We did indeed have a terrific time.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday January 31 – Day 4 – San Juan

 

 

Lost an hour in the night, and it showed. My attitude to getting up for breakfast – “I don't wanna, you can't make me.” In a disgusting display of healthful vigour, Sian went swimming at 8. The rest of us lolled. I eventually dragged myself to the Lido for caffeine.

 

 

Team trivia at 10:30 - we (finally!) won. Canadian national sport – lacrosse – put us over the top.

 

 

Jan was doing very poorly today, in pain, with leg swelling. Decided to cancel Tamarind for lunch so she had more time to keep her feet up. I mourned the loss of the view at the sail in, but it turned out to be the right decision.

 

 

Since this was the Harry Potter “Mischief Managed cruise” I decided to hunt for my camera by pulling everything madly out of drawers while screaming “Accio camera! Accio, accio, accio!”

 

It worked!

 

 

Well, it worked along the same lines of: what you're looking for is in the last place you look....because then you stop looking. I stopped shouting “accio” when I found my camera (to the mutual satisfaction of both me, and my roommates).

 

 

Disembarked around 2 p.m. We were very concerned about Jan's mobility, but she came through like the trouper she is. Walked from the pier along the seafront to catch the free trolley which circles through the Old City at the stop before the cruise pier. The strategy worked, as we all found seats. Took the El Morro/fortress route, then got off and took the City Hall route. It was interesting to discover how many locals use the trolley for grocery shopping, and just getting from place to place. Lots of multilingual conversations. Sian wound up speaking French with a Montrealer, and Jan observed all the courtesies in Spanish.

 

 

At 5 p.m., we split up. Sian headed for Colon Plaza to admire the fountains. Jan, Arwen and I hailed a taxi for Fort Christobal, where Jan sat and admired the sea, and also people watched. Arwen and I explored the fort – and its bookstore. I bought a lovely miniature ceramic rendering of a “guardita” (guard station) framed in a shadow box, all Puerto Rican made. I hesitated quite a while, and am so glad I finally bought it.

 

 

Arwen and I climbed all over the fort, taking pictures from embrasures and generally having a terrific time. A music and dancing team was setting up in the main courtyard, and we were tempted to stay and watch the whole performance. However, it continued until 7 p.m., and we had Pinnacle reservations for 8. So, we left after the first number at 6:15, grabbed a taxi, and picked up Jan. Were back in our cabin around 7, where we rejoined Sian.

 

 

While our night in the Tamarind was excellent, our Pinnacle experience exceeded it in every way. In a word: “perfect”. Exceptionally warm and personal service. Every course was exquisitely prepared and perfectly served. Our waiter went above and beyond by having the chef prepare mushrooms for our alcohol-allergic party member with no wine used. Everyone's steak (and my lobster tail) were exactly as ordered. The crème brulee was – as always – so exquisite I ate every morsel.

 

 

We agreed no other specialty dining experience could top this one, so we cancelled our reservations for the last night at Tamarind. This evening might just be what we remember as the best highlight of the cruise.

[cruiseapril]

Enjoying your review and observations very much.

[fann1sh]

Thanks, April.

 

Wednesday, February 1 – Day 5 – St. Thomas.

 

 

“The fleet is in!” Eight (count 'em, 8) ships shared the piers and stood at anchor today. Knowing things would be busy, we had both a “Plan A” (ferry from Red Hook to St. John) and a “Plan B” (Amber museum and downtown shopping). We were “ready for anything”.

(Overconfidence always tempts fate.)

 

 

The relatively long walk to the taxi pickup point strained Jan from the get-go. We found a dispatcher, and got a cab to pick us up by the “mill” parking lot. We asked to be dropped at Hotel 1829, as we figured that might be the less stressful itinerary.

 

 

We were blocked by a parade at the straw market square. Gridlock. We got out to discover a press conference was underway. It announced the “real” Carnivale to be held in April. (Several islanders expounded hotly about the New Orleans Shrove Tuesday “imitator”!)

 

 

Disaster struck when we tried to make our way to Main Street, past the Post Office. A leg/wheel snapped off Jan's rolling walker, and she tumbled into the street. No serious damage to her, but the lack of a stable walker was a deal breaker for any and all excursions.

 

That put a new complexion on the day. Jan stayed in the park to watch the performers, while the 3 of us did a fast power shopping strike on main street. I hit Mr. Tablecloth for all the embroidered cotton items I can't get anywhere else, then visited A. H. Riise for Curacao and Mount Gay premium aged rum. Delivery direct to the ship made that order painless, and prices/assortment are still more than worthwhile for Canadians.

 

 

We returned to the square, to find Jan had discovered a statue dedicated to her ancestor, Bartholomew Gosnold. He evidently made a 4 day stop here before establishing the settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. As serendipity goes, this was about as good as it gets.

 

 

Also, all the performers for the Carnivale preview had danced by her, and even asked her to join a conga line. When she admitted about her recent tumble, she got an amazing response from the islanders. She was overwhelmed by the helpful attention, and said the whole issue had gone from a setback to a memorable highlight.

 

We were back on Eurodam in time for lunch. Crew members on the pier assured us engineering should have no trouble fixing the damage to the walker. I left it at the front desk, and signed a waiver holding HAL harmless if the repair subsequently failed. We hoped for the best, and returned to the cabin.

 

 

Jan ordered room service, and I joined her. Later, Arwen and I did some more power shopping at Crown Bay for a few last souvenirs for Jan's family.

 

 

Alas, it was not our day for winning team trivia. The honours went elsewhere.

 

 

It was wonderful to rejoin our tablemates for dinner. I eschewed wine at dinner on the grounds of having booked the pub crawl for later that evening. However, I began to flag, and decided a pub crawl sounded about as much fun as root canal at that moment.

 

 

I collapsed in a sleepy but happy heap in the cabin, while my roommates enjoyed the dessert chocolate extravaganza.

[RuthC]

I'm thoroughly enjoying your review. I give your four credit for staying in that cabin together. My first impression the first time I stayed in one, was that if I had to share it with three others, I would be jumping overboard.

Thanks for the pictures. Many times I've tried to picture it with the couch folded out. I always knew there wouldn't be much floor space, but now I know how little there is.

And thank you so much for the mention of Roger Carr. His does not sound like the best playlist selection.

[gelo7]

What a wonderful read......

[onthegogirl]

You write beautifully. Thank you for your postings. Sorry about the wine issue. I had something similar happen at the Tamarind on the Eurodam but after a fifteen minute search, they found my wine at the Canaletto. Hoping Jan continues to improve. You are all real troopers.

[Winters in NZ]

JAN – she's my best friend, but she's such an optimist, she'd find something nice to say about global thermonuclear war.[/quote]....and the microwave oven then becomes redundant.

 

Speed-traps in the south have always been an issue with snowbirds as well. It's unfortunate that police resources are deployed for this practice, for the sole purpose of augmenting the revenue of local counties or towns.

 

Excellent review!

[fann1sh]

Thursday, February 2 – Day 6 – at sea

 

 

The reason for last night's lack of energy became clear: I woke up with a sore throat and a fever today. I gulped gallons of tea, stayed close to the cabin, and used up fistfuls of facial tissues. Happily, my roommates were more ambitious. Arwen toured the ship, taking photos everywhere. Sian (who has a theatrical background) happily toured backstage.

 

 

My personal highlight was cinnamon ice cream in the Lido. My throat approved.

 

 

The walker was returned, fixed better than new. Thanks so much, HAL! Service above and beyond the rest!

 

 

Arwen and I started watching Sherlock 203 – Reichenbach Fall – but stopped halfway through to save the last bit for later. *sigh* Crazy fans. We didn't want it over, with another year to wait for more.

 

 

We all performed admirably at team trivia – 15 out of a possible 17 points. Alas – someone scored 16! <shrug> For those of you who are interested, a football/soccer goal is 2.5 meters high, and it's the middle fingernail which grows fastest.

 

 

I caught up on this blog, and continued to dose myself with home remedies, resisting a visit to the ship's doctor. Alcohol kills germs, right? So, champagne seemed called for. I sipped some while getting dressed for formal night.

 

 

The chef outdid himself with the escargot, surf and turf, and flour-less “chocolate decadence”.

 

 

I went to bed early to try to heal myself for our day at HMC.

[mamaofami]

What a great read. I'm so glad you four had such a good time.

[OVgirl]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories with us. Nice to see that 4 friends can actually survive a week in a J cabin. I will keep that filed for future reference.

[fann1sh]

Friday, February 3 – Day 7 – Half Moon Cay

 

 

Woke early, and I was feeling much better. Room service breakfast meant we were all ready to grab that first tender ashore.

 

 

It's so much fun to see HMC through the eyes of newcomers. Even though I'd described the turquoise water and fine sugar sand, there's nothing quite like discovering Half Moon Cay for yourself. We caught the tram, which dropped us off at the second set of washrooms. Waded through the ankle deep sand, and claimed the eggshell cabana, our little corner of paradise. Ahhhh!

 

 

Air temperature was around 77F/25C with water temp about the same. We quickly discovered that meant the air felt warm, and the sea felt....icy!

 

 

The cabana was a wise investment. There's nothing like being brought ice cold sodas (by handsome young “cabana boys”); fresh veggies and dip (by more eye candy “cabana boys”); being asked if we want more chips and salsa (I'll take the brunet “cabana boy” on the right – the rest of you can fight over the blond on the left); and being chided that we shouldn't go to the BBQ ourselves, it was their job to fetch whatever food we wanted. (*sigh* Do you think one of them would peel me a grape?)

 

 

Hey, what can I say? I lead a rich and fulfilling fantasy life. And no “cabana boys” were harassed in the making of this blog.

 

 

I crept back to the tender while others were napping after lunch. There was a dirty job to do back on the ship, and I wanted first crack at it.

 

 

It's called “disembarkation packing”.

 

 

I pitched everything on the bed, and started stuffing. Do you know that dirty laundry takes up much more space than clean? S' fact.

 

 

Just about the time I zipped up my last groaning bag, the team returned from the island, walking on air.

 

 

“I want to go back – tomorrow!”

 

 

“Isn't that sand amazing? I've never felt sand like that between my toes before.”

 

 

“And the water is so blue. Cold, but blue. I've finally swum in the Bahamas. Terrific!”

 

 

Then the three of them looked down at my stuffed luggage.

 

 

“What the H – E – double hockey sticks are you doing?”

 

 

“Packing,” I answered. “We get off the ship tomorrow.”

 

 

Three faces fell.

 

 

“I'm-not-going-they-can't make-me” came the quiet answer.

 

 

“In fact, they can.” I explained what “zero count” was all about.

 

 

“Nuts.” (Or something like that.)

 

 

The surveys were in our mailbox, so I sat cross legged on the bed filling in mine while frenzy whirled around me. Edi was summoned, found the three banished bags, and the scene in the room resembled circus clowns getting out of a mini car – but with the film running backwards.

 

 

“Are we done yet?”

 

 

“Is there still stuff in the room?”

 

 

“Yes.....”

 

 

“Then we're not done.”

 

 

The discard pile grew, and the spare folding bag was pressed into service.

 

 

Amazingly, no one had come by the cabana to help me finish the champagne. I'd been urging the roll call for weeks. What, you guys don't understand “free booze”? Two extra unopened bottles? The horror.

 

 

Finish them at dinner? Somehow, disembarking with that much of a hangover didn't appeal. A bag was prepared to hand to our wine waiter discreetly, along with his nightly tip.

 

 

The master chef dinner was still being served on Eurodam. I gritted my teeth, and thought longingly of those cancelled Tamarind reservations. But, honestly? My 3 newbies really enjoyed the whole production. Especially the baked Alaska parade. Maybe I need a refresher course in “fun”?

 

 

Back to the cabin with light hearts. Were “we” packed? “We” were not. That is, one of us was not. We talked over the cruise highlights, and waited to put our bags out together (so we could find them together the next day). Ten o'clock. Eleven o'clock.

 

 

“Are you going to finish closing that bag?”

 

 

“Eventually.”

 

 

Midnight.

 

 

“Is the bag ready now?” (Yes, I'm a mother hen!)

 

 

“Almost.”

 

 

“They have to be out by 1 a.m.”

 

 

“I know.”

 

 

At 12:30 I snapped. “I'm putting out the other bags NOW. I hope yours doesn't wind up in Poughkeepsie.”

 

 

“I'll just be another minute.”

 

 

Was the tardy one the chronic procrastinator? NO.

 

 

“Sian, the other bags are gone.”

 

 

THAT got her attention! We caught Edi in the passage, lassoing bags. He performed one final “above and beyond” service – finding our bags, and putting the last one with the rest.

 

 

To bed, to sleep – one last night of the gently rocking waves.....

[startwin]

What a great read - thank you:D Can't wait for the next installment.

[emailingann]

Patricia -

 

We were on the same cruise! I am loving your write up! I know our paths crossed on the day you all won the Trivia because that was the only day my sister and I played and I remember that question about La Crosse!

 

And those Tiara women wore those crowns all week!

 

I totally agree about the Pinnacle Grill....loved it and would have eaten there every night. I think the tamarind was a little over hyped. The service really dragged on for me.

 

I wish you would post a few more pics so I could see who you are....

 

Thank for sharing all this...brought back great memories of losing to you!;)

 

Ann

[CowPrincess]

Fannish, what a wonderful review. Thank you SO MUCH. There is just something wonderful about a road trip/pyjama party with one's dearest friends, and that "something" shines through in your report!

[Shiraz]

I am really looking forward to reading this but must dash off at the moment. I'm listening to Goblet of Fire on my iPod due to getting hooked via another girlfriend [she had surgery + chemo also] -- we are silly HP fans!! We went to the Deathly Hallows II premiere this summer and were nearly the only ones at the AMC theater (unbelievable!). My daughter is manager at competing theater chain in our city and they were partying hardy all the way to the bank. Love your narrative and can't wait to get back to read more!! I had to check this thread, having recently learned to what Mischief Managed refers! Maybe one day we will round up some gal pals and follow suit, your jaunt sounds great! (I'm just home from E-dam 2/18 sailing and am working on the review as the glow slowly wears off -- although the cruise was "brilliant"). I'm very much on topic on the thermal suite, Love in Any Language disembark song, and engine vibration threads. ;)

[fann1sh]

Thanks all, for the positive feedback. I'm away from home (Florida!), working on my netbook, and having trouble posting pix. So, Ann, I've changed my avatar to a group shot. Hope you have a good magnifying glass!

 

Never did finish my D-day commentary, so will type that up, with an epilogue. Probably won't get posted until tonight - off to do grocery shopping next. Peace River harbo(u)r shrimp for dinner!

[hpf]

You all seemed to have a great time even in your cramped quarter's.

 

Thanks for your terriffic report. It's so nice that you were able to get the walker's wheel fixed. Having fallen myself in St Thomas on my last cruise I'm sure Jan's dignity was hurt just as much as the walker. Hope she continues to heal, and I'm sure she will with great friends like you to help her.

 

Helen

[Assateague Island Princes]

More.....please:o????

 

I'm loving this Patricia. Heck, I don't care if you make stuff up, but please, please, please don't let your next post be your last;).