MITSUGIRLYS extensive extra Sky review

[mitsugirly]

The first thing that we did after deciding to book another cruise was to check cruise critic and see if mitsugirlys had a review of the same ship/ports. We where so glad to see your Sky Bahama review. We love reading and seeing your adventures!

 

A couple of questions:

Have you ever done a dolphin encounter? I don't swim but my boys really want to touch a dolphin. Any advice?

 

How do you find out about excursions not sponsored by NCL?

 

Aww, I'm flattered. Thanks for such kind words. I hope you find what you are looking for.

 

 

Yes, we have done the dolphin encounter (review in my signature line, but not sure if the link to the pictures are working? If they aren't, let me know and I can't point you in the right direction). We did it at Chankanaab when my munchkin was 3 years old. So, I believe it was around 2011. Then my oldest daughter and her bf did it the year after at the same place. We thought it was AWESOME and they also let us do the manatees for free...so double awesome. They are always running specials on that site (dolphin discovery) for buy one get one for $1 and they are REALLY cheap compared to most ports and the cruise line and so simple to do. They had just a special that children under 10 were free with a paying adult but I think that's over with now. If I had my choice (and I have checked these swims out in a lot of different ports and seen the areas they are in), that's where I would go to do it.

 

 

How you find out about the excursions is exactly what you are doing...asking questions on here and reading the boards on what others have done or experienced. Do your research and pick the best place for you and your family. There's a lot of wonderful and helpful people on these boards. :)

[mommaof 3]

Hi, Wonderful review as always, although it doesn't look like the best cruise ever I always appreciate your sunny attitude and gorgeous pictures!

 

I have not been on here in quite some time..been busy with my first RN job.. But, we had a few "conversations" about nursing school last year, not sure if you will remember. I wanted to find out how your search is going? Are you willing to relocate? Is there a particular area of nursing you are interested in?

 

I know it can be really difficult to work so hard to go to nursing school and pass the boards and then find there is not a lot of jobs for new grads. Don't despair..it took me about 6 months after the boards to get a job. :) Thankfully it's an awesome one and totally worth the wait!

 

Best wishes! Julie

[mitsugirly]

Hi, Wonderful review as always, although it doesn't look like the best cruise ever I always appreciate your sunny attitude and gorgeous pictures!

 

I have not been on here in quite some time..been busy with my first RN job.. But, we had a few "conversations" about nursing school last year, not sure if you will remember. I wanted to find out how your search is going? Are you willing to relocate? Is there a particular area of nursing you are interested in?

 

I know it can be really difficult to work so hard to go to nursing school and pass the boards and then find there is not a lot of jobs for new grads. Don't despair..it took me about 6 months after the boards to get a job. :) Thankfully it's an awesome one and totally worth the wait!

 

Best wishes! Julie

 

Hi and thanks for checking in and the comments.

 

Yes, I try to make a "not-so-good" situation into a decent one. Otherwise it can spoil everything and that's no fun. It's hard for me to think of any vacation as a bad vacation. It sure beats being at home! :D

 

Yes, I kinda somewhat remember some of our conversation about nursing.

 

I graduated in May and passed boards in September. I continued to work at the hospital in the ER until November...applying for a total of 59 positions to be exact at 4 of the local hospitals (including mine that I have been at since 1984), 2 outlying hospitals in a different county, the VA hospital, a "select" program (which is at multiple hospitals but their "own" company within the hospital) and a few other places not hospital related. I DID NOT GET 1 FRICKEN PHONE CALL...NOT ONE from any of them including my own hospital. :mad: After so many years of dedication and the experience I had, especially in the ER and nothing. (Not to mention most of the people I had graduated with all got jobs within a few months even if they had never worked for the hospital...go figure).

 

Around the end of November, I got totally upset and decided not to return back to the hospital (at this point I was casual and could work when I wanted to). They JUST now considered me as "quitting/terminated" about 2 weeks ago :rolleyes: and took me off the payroll.

 

I had a friend that I graduated with that put me in touch with someone she use to work for that started her own home health care agency and I started working for them in December. I have to admit I absolutely LOVE it. I have the same patients every week, I make my own schedule, I am not tied down to 1 location and get to travel around my home and pick my patients, I work whatever days I want (set up with my patients) and I get paid by the 1/4 hour (every 15 minutes) about $6 more than what they pay per hour at the hospital. Plus double that for opening a case. You can't beat that and I love my patients. I never thought I would like home health care, but I have seen a new light...not to mention I'm not standing on my feet the entire time either!! Plus the extra added bonus...I can take a vacation ANY time I want!!! Which means I don't have to compete with others at a hospital for the same dates! (I just now have to deal with Sakari's school schedule LOL) Of course with all this "good stuff" comes the bad...new start up company (less than a year in business) and there's some "flaws" and things you have to deal with while they iron out the problems. But...I'm dealing. :D

 

(On a side note, I did finally get 2 calls from one of the hospitals last month when I was not home. I called back, left messages and so on only to never hear from them again...I gave up for good).

 

I definitely want to relocate some day...preferably WHERE IT'S WARM!!! I will get out of this cold state some day!! I wouldn't mind doing community nursing...say for instance in the Caribbean...maybe Mexico. :D I'm just getting experience now and moving on.

 

How is your job going? Still loving it?

[mommaof 3]

So glad to hear you have found a home in nursing you are happy with! I am a big believer that you end up where you are meant to be. I applied for 300-400 jobs and ended up getting the very first one I applied for..go figure. I work 2 day shifts a week at a huge hospital in mother & baby, there are about 7,000 deliveries a year and it is hectic! But, I love the moms and babies so much I can't imagine being anywhere else. Cons: Vacations are a problem, I'm so low on the list it's almost impossible to get time off when my kids have it off and the holidays I have to work are heartbreaking. But, I'm sure you know all about that from your years in the ER! I've never been one to take my kids out of school for a vacation, but this may test my willpower on that!

 

You never know what the future holds, hopefully a nursing job in a warm climate for you! But, I am glad you have found a place and type of nursing you are happy with after the long, painful journey to become a nurse!

 

I see you are heading to Bermuda in a couple of months. We went a few years ago, and also love visiting Boston, please let me know if you need any suggestions. Beautiful island, and great snorkeling!

Edited February 11, 2015 by mommaof 3

[mitsugirly]

So glad to hear you have found a home in nursing you are happy with! I am a big believer that you end up where you are meant to be. I applied for 300-400 jobs and ended up getting the very first one I applied for..go figure. I work 2 day shifts a week at a huge hospital in mother & baby, there are about 7,000 deliveries a year and it is hectic! But, I love the moms and babies so much I can't imagine being anywhere else. Cons: Vacations are a problem, I'm so low on the list it's almost impossible to get time off when my kids have it off and the holidays I have to work are heartbreaking. But, I'm sure you know all about that from your years in the ER! I've never been one to take my kids out of school for a vacation, but this may test my willpower on that!

 

You never know what the future holds, hopefully a nursing job in a warm climate for you! But, I am glad you have found a place and type of nursing you are happy with after the long, painful journey to become a nurse!

 

I see you are heading to Bermuda in a couple of months. We went a few years ago, and also love visiting Boston, please let me know if you need any suggestions. Beautiful island, and great snorkeling!

 

I think I have found my calling...at least for now. ;) We'll see. I have a lot of different "ideas" of what I would like to do and I guess I'll just keep trying things, but enjoying this for now. One of the students I graudated with started in home health and has been there for 5 months and she was just offered a hospital job since she "now has experience". I kinda have to laugh at that since home health is nothing like the hospital and doesn't come close to anything like nursing in the hospital. But, we'll see how it goes. As for now, I'm no longer looking and the schedule "fits" for me.

 

I would LOVE to do maternity. That was MY thing in school. I scored the highest in that category, knew it the best, enjoyed it and always said it's what I would like to do. Heck, I did so well that on my final I could miss 53 questions out of 70 and still pass the class. :p So maybe some day.

 

I have been researching Bermuda for YEARS now...lol...saying I was going to go and then wouldn't. I'M GOING THIS TIME!!! I feel like I know the place inside and out at this point, but yet I still learn something new all the time. Boston however, I know nothing about. LOL :p

[cloudchaser pony]

We headed back to the room where I knew I would remain safe for the rest of the night. I couldn't risk any more screw ups and I was staying put.

 

We had a rabbit for a towel animal tonight and the room steward had used some of Sakari's animals in her creation that night too.

 

 

I noticed tonight that the water temperature went back and forth between hot and cold. It was very aggravating and I have only experience this on 1 other cruise and that was on the Epic back in 2010 when she was brand new. It would make for an interesting few days of hoping back and forth when it got cold and then back to hot.

 

All the glasses in the room were still dirty and they were the same glasses from the day before. I had only 2 towels tonight and 2 wash cloths. Earlier my daughter had left her beach towels and didn't realize it and I had picked them up for her and brought them back to the room. So, we basically had 5 beach towels. They were GONE and we only had a total of 2 beach towels. So now not only were we down a towel but my daughter was down 2 towels as well...and we were headed to the beach tomorrow.

 

I decided to get things ready for tomorrows adventures and Sakari decided to do some drawings.

 

It looks like a my little pony, but I'm not sure if that's what she was going for or if it's just something she created in her head.

 

 

 

Kendras bf was "stuck" at the casino (he plays cards) and she found out he had entered himself in the tournament....which meant he would be out all night and either win big or lose a lot of money. The following day...we would learn that he lost about 2 grand that night. (He's a big gambler and wins a lot and loses a lot...he's always at the casino here in town, so yea, I'd venture to say he has a gambling problem). Just saying...

 

Off to bed we went with a wake up call scheduled for 7am tomorrow. We had decided we were going to Melia in Nassau and since it's not an actual excursion, but a place you just show up to, we weren't on any time restraints for getting there, but yet didn't want to waste the day and money do so. Yea, we'll sleep in until...7am. :D

 

 

 

know that pony very well it fluttershy from my little pony friendship is magic :D

[mitsugirly]

know that pony very well it fluttershy from my little pony friendship is magic :D

 

 

Thanks for the name cloudchaser pony. I went and looked it up and I'm pretty amazed that she had so much detail when drawing it down to the butterflies on the hind end. :eek: She amazes me with her memory of things. :)

[perfect match]

I FINALLY made it back here to read this review! I got right to the Sun review, but then got a bit caught up in researching and planning my own upcoming cruise, our first on RCI. Like you, we enjoy trying new ships and cruise lines.

 

We visited Paradise Cove about 10 years ago. About the only similarity between our experience and yours was the slippery rocks that made it so hard to get into the water. In our case, we started out at low tide and it was really bad. Later in the day, once the tide had come in some it was a whole lot easier to get going. We had no megaphones, no artificial reef to swim around, it only cost us about $2-3/pp or so since we had our own snorkel gear, and the staff was much nicer than anyone you encountered. We also saw a LOT more marine life than you did. Not the best snorkeling I ever did, but srill plenty to see. Seems to me like they have been heading in the wrong direction since we were there.

 

Sorry you had such bad luck with the weather. That does change a lot about your cruise experience. You and your family did handle it well as I figured you would. One of the things I have always liked about reading your reviews is the great attitude you have and your ability to enjoy what you actually get to do instead of complaining about what you didn't.

 

As I have been reading, I also checked your signature and I see a countdown for a Pride cruise in there before your Bermuda cruise. I guess I should start looking for a Pride review in a couple of weeks. :cool: It will be close to our Independence cruise though, so I may have to wait until after we get home to start reading. :D

[mitsugirly]

I FINALLY made it back here to read this review! I got right to the Sun review, but then got a bit caught up in researching and planning my own upcoming cruise, our first on RCI. Like you, we enjoy trying new ships and cruise lines.

 

We visited Paradise Cove about 10 years ago. About the only similarity between our experience and yours was the slippery rocks that made it so hard to get into the water. In our case, we started out at low tide and it was really bad. Later in the day, once the tide had come in some it was a whole lot easier to get going. We had no megaphones, no artificial reef to swim around, it only cost us about $2-3/pp or so since we had our own snorkel gear, and the staff was much nicer than anyone you encountered. We also saw a LOT more marine life than you did. Not the best snorkeling I ever did, but srill plenty to see. Seems to me like they have been heading in the wrong direction since we were there.

 

Sorry you had such bad luck with the weather. That does change a lot about your cruise experience. You and your family did handle it well as I figured you would. One of the things I have always liked about reading your reviews is the great attitude you have and your ability to enjoy what you actually get to do instead of complaining about what you didn't.

 

As I have been reading, I also checked your signature and I see a countdown for a Pride cruise in there before your Bermuda cruise. I guess I should start looking for a Pride review in a couple of weeks. :cool: It will be close to our Independence cruise though, so I may have to wait until after we get home to start reading. :D

 

Glad you were able to make it back to finish the review. I have such fun with them...although I think they "may" be getting just a tad too bit long these days and I seem to drag it out a little longer than some like. :p I have decided that the next one I do, I will make sure that I have everything ready prior to starting it so it doesn't take forever to do and maybe that will help out a lot.

 

I know a lot of people praise Paradise, but it just wasn't the place for us. I was disappointed in every way from the service and mean people to the beach to the snorkeling. But, it was at least an experience with the family and we did make the best of it and I enjoy spending time with my family no matter where we are. I have read a lot of reviews in various places that have complained about the rudeness of the staff, so I do know that this does happen and not only to us. Very sad. :(

 

I did get a message from the owner (who I had corresponded with several times prior to our cruise) who had read my review on TA. He did reach out to me about the review wanting to know what day we were there so that he could determine who the rude worker was. He also offered to bring us back free of charge and personally show us around and give us a good time. It's great to see them try to rectify something that went wrong and I give him props for that. But, I honestly don't think I would want to return back to this place even under those circumstances. The place just wasn't appealing to me for some reason even outside of the rudeness. There's too many other places that I'm interested in seeing and trying out. We will be back in Freeport on this upcoming cruise in 8 days but it's such a short time that we will be there that it wouldn't even be worth it as well.

 

This is honestly the only cruise we have had bad weather. Yes, we have pulled out and it has started raining a few times on sailaway or has been cold and raining when we came back into port, but never during the cruise. It definitely makes for a difference mood and experience. But I have been very lucky. Hopefully my luck will return on my upcoming cruise. :D

 

Have a great time on your Independence cruise. Some day I will make it on the Oasis or Allure. It's something I have always wanted to do. :)

[Lisalk12]

"We made it up to the security check in and they ask for our ship card and our ID's. Yikes! ID's?? I didn't bring our ID's! They told us we would not be able to enter without them. I think my heart just ended up in my throat. Of course we had the kids with us that could go get our ID's from the room and bring them back, but man what a hassel. They told us to step over to this guard station and talk to them about it. About that time I'm digging in my bag and felt something...it was our ID's. I forgot that I had put them in there from the previous day when they said we would need them and didn't. Whew...we made it and caught up to the family."

 

My boys do not have picture ID's. Did everyone 15 and under have to have an id along with their ship card? I had planned to leave the boys passports in the safe on the ship and not have to worry about carrying them around with us.

[ilovewdw]

I just wanted to say what a great review this was. Hubby and I sailed the Sky sans kids in 2012. It was nice seeing her again through your report! I'll look for more of your reports to keep me entertained until my next cruise. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!

[BrendaInToronto]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for this review. My husband and I are sailing on the Sky for the first time at the end of June. I really enjoyed your review, especially the pics. :)

[mitsugirly]

 

My boys do not have picture ID's. Did everyone 15 and under have to have an id along with their ship card? I had planned to leave the boys passports in the safe on the ship and not have to worry about carrying them around with us.

 

Well, since we don't have anyone that's a teen, I couldn't answer you for sure. But I would think ID's for any adults. Hopefully someone else can answer that for sure for you.

 

I just wanted to say what a great review this was. Hubby and I sailed the Sky sans kids in 2012. It was nice seeing her again through your report! I'll look for more of your reports to keep me entertained until my next cruise. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!

 

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I definitely have tons of reviews. :D

[mitsugirly]

Just wanted to say thank you so much for this review. My husband and I are sailing on the Sky for the first time at the end of June. I really enjoyed your review, especially the pics. :)

 

Thanks for the comments. I hope you have a wonderful time on the Sky and great weather. She's very pretty and I loved the decor. :)

[grimsgirl13]

My hubby and I are going on our first cruise together (I have been on 1 prior in 2001) and will be on the Sky on Oct 19, 2015. I really enjoyed reading your review of her and the Sun. I feel like I am reading a book and getting to know the characters. It is awesome. Do you remember what they charged for the professional pics that you bought? Just trying to plan ahead! Thanks again.

[mitsugirly]

My hubby and I are going on our first cruise together (I have been on 1 prior in 2001) and will be on the Sky on Oct 19, 2015. I really enjoyed reading your review of her and the Sun. I feel like I am reading a book and getting to know the characters. It is awesome. Do you remember what they charged for the professional pics that you bought? Just trying to plan ahead! Thanks again.

 

 

Off the top of my head I don't, but I have all of my receipts and will look it up for you.

 

I know on the 7 days cruises, they offer packages...like buy 10 pictures for a certain price (which is a discounted price compared to purchasing them 1 by 1). However on the Sky cruise, they didn't have a package like that but "said" after you purchase so many you got whatever free...but they didn't specify that they had to be all the same sizes...so I got screwed (on the 7 day cruises picking 10 pictures, it didn't matter what the sizes were). :(

[grimsgirl13]

Thank you very much! We will do a 7 day cruise next I think! We are in Colorado so getting away from the cold sounds like a plan! Lol

[mitsugirly]

Thank you very much! We will do a 7 day cruise next I think! We are in Colorado so getting away from the cold sounds like a plan! Lol

 

 

Does the Sky offer a 7 day cruise now? :confused:

[grimsgirl13]

Oh no!!! I mean after our Sky cruise on another ship. It's still doing the 3 and 4 day Bahamas.

[mitsugirly]

Oh ok gotcha.

 

I just pulled out my bag of stuff from the Sky.

 

The regular pictures (like they take of you around the ship, at dinner, in the port) are $12.95 each. The picture they take of you when you are getting on the ship (they will put multiple different backgrounds behind you..the ship in the day, the ship lit up at night) are $19.95.

 

I hope that helps. :)

[grimsgirl13]

Thank you so much! That does help alot! :-)

[mitsugirly]

Thank you so much! That does help alot! :-)

 

 

You're very welcome. Have a wonderful cruise on the Sky. :)

[goofygal531]

Hi Kim!

 

Absolutely love your reviews! You are my "go to" for all excursions!

 

I know exactly how you feel! Our Sunshine cruise was awful! Record cold weather in Florida, 32 degrees! Nassau was even chilly - I then realized Nassau is NOT in the Caribbean, it's in the Atlantic! I will never cruise in February again! The weather just ruined the cruise.

 

I have a question if your don't mind. What time do you recommend flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport when sailing out of Miami? We are not "run to the gate" types and prefer to debark the ship on our own by 8am. We've learned it's the most peaceful way to end a cruise.

 

Thanks to your wonderful reviews I'm looking forward to discovering Blue Lagoon, Chakanaab and Maya Cay.

[mitsugirly]

Hi Kim!

 

Absolutely love your reviews! You are my "go to" for all excursions!

 

I know exactly how you feel! Our Sunshine cruise was awful! Record cold weather in Florida, 32 degrees! Nassau was even chilly - I then realized Nassau is NOT in the Caribbean, it's in the Atlantic! I will never cruise in February again! The weather just ruined the cruise.

 

I have a question if your don't mind. What time do you recommend flying out of Fort Lauderdale Airport when sailing out of Miami? We are not "run to the gate" types and prefer to debark the ship on our own by 8am. We've learned it's the most peaceful way to end a cruise.

 

Thanks to your wonderful reviews I'm looking forward to discovering Blue Lagoon, Chakanaab and Maya Cay.

 

Aww thanks for the compliments. I appreciate it and glad I can be of some help to others when trying to plan.

 

I vowed that I would never sail the Bahamas again in the winter months. It's just not worth it to me since we are beach bums.

 

I have an upcoming cruise this weekend on the Pride out of Baltimore, thinking this is spring, I should be good. I'm starting to doubt that now since 2 of the ports are still Bahamas and they have been reporting temps around 72...still not as warm as I would like it to be. So, I'm thinking only Caribbean cruises for me from here on out no matter when we go (well, except for our Bermuda cruise coming up in June and I would like to plan an (gasp) Alaskan cruise some time in the future as well). :eek:

 

We always book air flight any time after 12 noon coming out of Miami to FLL and never had any problems except this last and that was due to our transportation service. We would have had plenty of time had they been there either waiting to pick us up or been on time. We watched so many others being picked up and leaving as they exited the ship. But "normally" anything after noon has worked well with us with plenty of time to spare. :)

 

 

I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise with great weather and a lovely time at the places you have decided to go to while in port. :)

[Luvmypups]

Great review again! Can't wait to read your next one for the cruise you are currently on.

 

It seems like we have always had issues with our stops in the Bahamas too....cool rainy weather, can't go to the private island, or the time in port is too short for the money you would have to pay for a good excursion.

 

You really need to try the Oasis or the Allure, I know Sakari would love it!!

 

Hope you're having a great time!