Vision of the Seas~B2B~Spanish Immersion~Feb. 8th & 15th~My Diary

[maxs mom]

This beach is also known as Surfside Beach and is across the street from the old Talk of the Town resort. It is also next to the airport. We were treated to some planes landing occaisionally.

 

 

There is free Wi-Fi here but we couldn't get it to work at first. We finally suggested that they reset the router and voila! It worked. It was pretty good all day, but went down a few times.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our day here. We had comfy chairs. We relaxed, read, swam.....the water was so refreshing. We ordered lunch and it was brought to us. The beach boy was there to bring us anything we wanted. This is my new favorite place in Aruba!! It's not as fancy as the AMBR and the beach is not as big, but I really liked it here a lot.

 

 

I think Julie was really relaxed!!

 

 

So was I!!

 

 

 

 

They had great music playing all day. In the morning it was a little more mellow, but as the day went on it got a little more lively, especially when a lot of the ship's crew got there. This is a favorite spot for them. but it never got extremely loud or annoying. Great music all day and lots of fun and relaxation.

[kleo30]

Jane, I always enjoy your reviews and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[maxs mom]

We enjoyed Amstel Brites.

 

 

The food was good here. Lots to choose from. I had a grouper sandwich.

 

 

This was the resident of the boat that was anchored just off shore.

 

 

Great place......I think we will go back next week!

 

[maxs mom]

It was a perfect beach day! I think our total bill including chairs and all we ate and drank came to $56. When we were ready to leave, we walked across the street to the Talk of the Town resort and hailed a cab. Very easy.

 

 

 

 

 

[maxs mom]

Jane, I always enjoy your reviews and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

[maxs mom]

Back on the ship, we got ice cream and showers and rested until it was time to get ready for the evening. Sunsets are always so beautiful when leaving Aruba.

 

 

In the CL we visited with newly Pinnacle member, Frank. He was telling us about his wife would be joining him on the next leg.

 

 

As always ....it was good to see Betsy every night!

 

 

It was Italian night in the dining room....our least favorite. Will have to remember to go to a specialty restaurant on this night next week. As we were waiting for our table this evening....we were entertained by this little girl who kept running between the two Purell stands and getting some on her hands each time. She must have done that about 15 times!!

 

 

Tonight I got a salad and lasagna.....both good and one of my all time favorite desserts.....sticky bread pudding.

 

 

[maxs mom]

The casino beckoned once again after dinner tonight, but first we watched all the dancing in the centrum. They were having a large time!

 

 

In the casino.....I headed straight for those same machines again.....I'll never learn.....but there are not too many to pick from in this casino. Everything is old. I put another $20 in the same machine I almost broke the night before. One spin and that thing went crazy. The third row just vibrated and vibrated and wouldn't stop! The attendants told me I had to stop breaking their machines!! So they gave me my money back and I put it in the only other machine of this type that wasn't broken. I think I won about $19 more.....so I cashed out and went to bed. Not pouting this this time!

 

[maxs mom]

Thursday ~ Feb. 13, 2014 ~ Curacao

 

Up early again.....gonna be another beach day, so we had to get out there early!

 

When I went up to the CL for coffee I noticed that we were docked on the Inside.....right in town! We've never been on a ship that docked on the Inside before......we've always docked on the Outside. This was so cool......we just towered over all the buildings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[berylde]

I think I read somewhere that sometimes when there are shows in the Centrum, they shut down the Centrum elevators. Is this true?

If it is, how would we get to the CL?

[maxs mom]

We didn't have to think about what to do here! We have been going to the same beach for years and years. We always ask the taxi driver to drop us off at the Lion's Dive Hotel (this is right next to the Sea Aquarium). The cost of the taxi is always $20 no matter how many people you have.....so it's always good to share a cab here.

 

We walk through the hotel and down on to the beach there. We walk to the right a little ways and find chairs under the trees. This all belongs to the hotel and we rent our chairs from them. This beach is right next to Mambo Beach.....but we prefer the Lion's Dive because it's not as crowded and it is quieter. The reason for this is the chairs are more expensive here. we pay anywhere from $9 to $12 a chair to be able to sit here. At Mambo the chairs are $3. Mambo is nice, but there is more shade at LD and the cruise ship excursions go to Mambo.....that means crowds and I hate crowds. Someone WILL find you and collect money for the chairs.

 

OK....so we get all settled in here and I notice this nice new beach bar and grill! Great!! Food and drink just a few steps away!! We were last here Christmas of 2012...and my goodness.....they have done a lot of work here since then. Many, many improvements on this whole stretch of beach. I was impressed.

 

It was a beautiful day AND they had very good free Wi-Fi. We were enjoying everyone's snow pictures from home and delighting in sending them our beach pictures!

 

 

 

 

This is the new beach bar and grill. They had only been open for a week!

 

 

I tried a local beer called Chill. It was pretty good.

 

 

[kayehall]

Join us Max'smom. I am also scheduled for the repo. Your review is making me excited!!! Never been to Curacao or Aruba. And it's been along time since I visited Grand Cayman. My son was 4 1/2 and he is now 18. I think in Aruba, I would like to see the island. Did you hear of any good recommendations for an island tour? And then maybe go to your beach. It looked nice. In Curacao, we are trying to arrange for a cat but not having too much luck. I will keep checking back with your review!!!

[maxs mom]

I think I read somewhere that sometimes when there are shows in the Centrum, they shut down the Centrum elevators. Is this true?

If it is, how would we get to the CL?

 

LOL!!! Yes they do. So what you have to do is take the inside elevators to deck 9 and then walk up to 11. Had to do that a few times. BUT the Centrum elevators were kind of quirky all the time and sometimes.....no matter what time of day it was.....would NOT go up to 11. So we got some exercise. At those times it would stop on 10, so we only had to walk up one flight. It wasn't a big deal, but they need to get that fixed. And, darn......I forgot to mention that on my comment card.

[maxs mom]

Join us Max'smom. I am also scheduled for the repo. Your review is making me excited!!! Never been to Curacao or Aruba. And it's been along time since I visited Grand Cayman. My son was 4 1/2 and he is now 18. I think in Aruba, I would like to see the island. Did you hear of any good recommendations for an island tour? And then maybe go to your beach. It looked nice. In Curacao, we are trying to arrange for a cat but not having too much luck. I will keep checking back with your review!!!

 

OMG.....if you told me I had to take a tour of some place......you could just shoot me!!! BUT I think you could just arrange something right there when you get off the ship. There are plenty of people there willing to take you just about anywhere and show you anything you want. But for me.....I just like to get out to the beach just as quick as possible. Good luck with that! I love Catamarans! Hope you can find something.

[maxs mom]

OK.....so back to the beach. It was just a perfect day!! We had lunch from the new bar and grill and ate on the beach. We both had paninis that were delicious, but decided that next week, we would just split one.

 

 

More shots from this wonderful day at the beach!

 

 

 

 

 

[TravelerThom]

Gee, why is that UNC shirt Duke blue?

 

Thom

[maxs mom]

This is Mambo Beach......home of the $3 chairs.....just on the other side of the new bar and grill.

 

 

 

This is Mambo's Bar.

 

 

They have a pool.

 

 

 

This is the nice new shopping area that they have built behind the beach. Nice stores......not junky places!

 

[maxs mom]

Gee, why is that UNC shirt Duke blue?

 

Thom

 

Ha Ha Ha, Thom!!! Actually.....it's kind of a dark grey! Nice try!

[maxs mom]

So many neat things to photograph.....right from our chairs!

 

 

 

 

 

Ahhhhhhh........another perfect beach day!!

 

[BoyntonBeth]

Jane,

 

The timing of your review is perfect. Really helps to get me ready to fly to PTY on Friday. And, as usual, I'm really enjoying your insights.

 

You probably won't be finished before I leave, so I'll have to find some free wifi to follow you for my last minute pointers!

 

Were you on the inside in Curacao both times? That makes such a difference. Probably the only thing I didn't like in Curacao was having to walk to get to the place where I wanted to walk.

[Con5421]

Jane great review

[maxs mom]

Jane,

 

The timing of your review is perfect. Really helps to get me ready to fly to PTY on Friday. And, as usual, I'm really enjoying your insights.

 

You probably won't be finished before I leave, so I'll have to find some free wifi to follow you for my last minute pointers!

 

Were you on the inside in Curacao both times? That makes such a difference. Probably the only thing I didn't like in Curacao was having to walk to get to the place where I wanted to walk.

 

Beth,

 

No.....unfortunately the second week we docked on the Outside. Are you staying in PC the night before? Where? You will probably have some good Wi-Fi at your hotel. I'll try and go as fast as I can!!

[maxs mom]

Jane great review

 

Hey There!! How was your cruise?!

Edited March 4, 2014 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

We left the beach at 1:30 today, but that was too early. We decided that we would stay longer next week. So it was back to the ship for our usual afternoon routine. Loved docking downtown!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fisherlady48]

Your review is right on time. So glad you mentioned this in FB as I would not have found it.

 

My Mom and I are doing the last "Cultural Cruise" in April then the rep to FLL. Can't wait. I am so enjoying your review.

 

Thanks.

 

Kathleen

[maxs mom]

More shots from the ship in Curacao.