Mitsugirlys FASCINATION with San Juan-review & pictorial

[sunbird21]

Bought my 17yrd son a ford focus and we love it. For being a person who "makes the best of everything even if it's a bad situation" you sure do complain a lot during your reviews. One can say the same about the "reviews!":rolleyes:

 

 

 

I think that she details the good and bad parts as they happen and throws in some satire with it which makes it entertaining and realistic. I don't trust reviews that are 100% perfect or horrible. Plus, it adds flavor to the storytelling aspect of the review, which I personally enjoy. Considering about 50k + read her reviews, I don't think I'm in the minority.

 

But to each their own- maybe stick with reviews that are more your style. I've written some detailed reviews and I tend to be very dry and also detail the good and bad, so mine are probably not for you either.

 

In any case, it takes a lot of time and effort to do these detailed reviews, what with writing and uploading photos, then inputting them on here, plus replying and interacting with people. I d it because I enjoy it, as do others here with the day by day storytelling reviews. It's because others take the time to do so that encourage me to do it, and I very much appreciate people who do these types of reviews.

 

 

IMO, they are the best because they let you really "experience" the ups and downs of the vacation, and give tips to make similar vacations easier on others.

 

Stacey

 

 

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[BALCONETTE]

Bought my 17yrd son a ford focus and we love it. For being a person who "makes the best of everything even if it's a bad situation" you sure do complain a lot during your reviews. One can say the same about the "reviews!":rolleyes:

 

She's just honest. I personally LOVE her reviews, complaints and all. They are massive, but VERY entertaining and VERY informative. I haven't been able to travel and probably won't until late next year. Her reviews are helping me plan a great cruise!!! Keep it up Mitsugirly!

[sunbird21]

I'm surprised you're awake and not passed out on xanax on your flight (I also hate to fly and rely on xanax or ativan).

 

Have a great cruise, I can't wait to hear all about it!!

 

Michelle

 

 

 

I actually tried Valium this time, as it acts quickly enough for takeoff but wears off enough to be coherent. I was under strict orders not to be too drugged to go out and explore Seattle today.

 

 

Sorry again Kim- you can ban me at any point LOL

 

Stacey

 

 

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[RiotAct]

Love your reviews - it feels like I'm right there with you!

 

Your description of the Seuss breakfast was hilarious!!! Thank God you all finally got your food, even if it was way late in coming out.

[Cafedumonde]

LOL, It's all in good fun. There was seriously something wrong with that car. I have drove a focus before. I almost bought one as a daily driver for my job. This one was super slow. It felt like it wouldn't make it up the hills most of the time. It was a piece of crap. It's also totally unacceptable for the car rental place to assign the same car to 2 people. That's not good business and I don't know anyone that would appreciate it. So yea, if the business and service is bad...I'm going to call it like it is.

 

Like I said, I do my reviews all in good fun. Otherwise it would be boring. I add in our experiences and humor with a little bit of sarcasm. If you haven't figured that out yet...I'm sorry. We make light of most things we do and laugh about them as they happen and afterwards. We constantly laughed about our "sports car that couldn't" every time we got in it.

 

Are you one that thinks every review should be "perfect" with no complaints and sugar coat things? Or do you expect them to be terrible so that you can tell them they complain a lot? :rolleyes: I do my reviews the way I see them and I have fun with them. Take it or leave it. :cool:

I cracked up laughing when I read your comments about the ford focus. Hysterical. We had a ford focus for six years and hated every minute of it. It was about 17 years ago that my husband went to the ford dealership and came back with a "great deal". That was the last time he went to buy car solo.

[mitsugirly]

Kim, just want you to know I'm still reading-you're keeping me company on flight to Seattle!!!

 

I apologize for any previous hijacking with all of the "other cruise" talk... I'll be quiet for the remainder LOL but just wanted to thank you for keeping me entertained at 30K ft!!!

 

I'm glad you liked Fascination so far- it used to be neon pink in the lobby, looks like they toned it down a bit. Glad they have watermark and Serenity though.

 

St Thomas day looked awesome!! I second trying out St John when you have more port time, but looks like you chose well.

 

Going back to catch up on last days posts now!

 

Stacey

 

 

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Now that's dedication! :D

 

Your hijacking is fine. I learn things this way for future cruises. I don't mind at all. That's what we're all here for! :)

 

I had wondered what the "pink" comments were about. I kept looking at my pictures thinking where's pink? I seen the pink in the place with the chairs pushed together that formed a flower. :p

 

I wish I had more for you to read while you're up in the sky. But, work is calling and I already have patients texting me about changing times. :cool: I'll definitely be back for more by at least 4pm.

 

Well Said! Apparently "Shark Fan" is not a "Mitsugirly" fan! I love your writing. We all want to know what works & what doesn't. Keep up the good work. Maybe we'll cross paths someday. BTW Love your tat. I'm looking to get my Mother's "Love Always, Mom" signature tattoo. I just have to decide what to put with it and where to place it.

 

 

Thank you and it's ok. Everyone doesn't have to be a fan and I certainly don't ever mean to offend anything. I guess I struck a nerve. Not intentionally of course. That's so not me and I think almost everyone around here knows that about me.

 

Can I ask the "love Always, Mom" tat you are thinking about...is it done in your mothers handwriting? I have some writing that my mom did and was going to do the same thing. She passed away when I was a teenager and buried on my 18th birthday. I wanted to do this in her memory. But...I didn't even get my first tat until I was in my 40's. So it's still on my "want" list.

[mitsugirly]

Wow, that seems unnecessarily harsh and rude. She tells what happened during her trip, and if crappy things happen, she's going to report it. And some of it is pretty comical (sorry, Mitsugirly, I'm sure it's not all comical at the time it is happening, LOL). But she still manages to have a great time, that's kind of the point.

 

Can't wait for more of the review!!

 

Usually it is kinda comical at the time and we laugh after it just happened. I don't let anything spoil my fun. There were a lot of ups and downs with the service at various places this time, both in PR and on the ship, but this was probably one of best cruises/vacations we have had!

 

I think that she details the good and bad parts as they happen and throws in some satire with it which makes it entertaining and realistic. I don't trust reviews that are 100% perfect or horrible. Plus, it adds flavor to the storytelling aspect of the review, which I personally enjoy. Considering about 50k + read her reviews, I don't think I'm in the minority.

 

But to each their own- maybe stick with reviews that are more your style. I've written some detailed reviews and I tend to be very dry and also detail the good and bad, so mine are probably not for you either.

 

In any case, it takes a lot of time and effort to do these detailed reviews, what with writing and uploading photos, then inputting them on here, plus replying and interacting with people. I d it because I enjoy it, as do others here with the day by day storytelling reviews. It's because others take the time to do so that encourage me to do it, and I very much appreciate people who do these types of reviews.

 

 

IMO, they are the best because they let you really "experience" the ups and downs of the vacation, and give tips to make similar vacations easier on others.

 

Stacey

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thank you Stacey. I appreciate your nice comments. I'm just being me and have a quirky sense of humor. I take the good with the bad and just roll with it. :p I mean what can you do? I'm not a complainer in the sense that when something happens I go running to the department head or the owner or whatever. I don't like to get people into trouble. That's why every time something goes wrong, I'll tell about it, I'll give my experience, but you won't see me demanding to talk to the head to get someone in trouble. Everyone has "off" days and I respect that.

[mitsugirly]

She's just honest. I personally LOVE her reviews, complaints and all. They are massive, but VERY entertaining and VERY informative. I haven't been able to travel and probably won't until late next year. Her reviews are helping me plan a great cruise!!! Keep it up Mitsugirly!

 

Thank you. I appreciate it. :)

 

I actually tried Valium this time, as it acts quickly enough for takeoff but wears off enough to be coherent. I was under strict orders not to be too drugged to go out and explore Seattle today.

 

 

Sorry again Kim- you can ban me at any point LOL

 

Stacey

 

 

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LOL, this is quite entertaining as well. I would probably freak out if I took anything prior to flying. I'm a zombie if I take any type of medication. They'd have to carry me off in a stretcher. :eek:

 

I would never ban anyone. :) (Not that I have the authority to in the first place :D)

[mitsugirly]

Love your reviews - it feels like I'm right there with you!

 

Your description of the Seuss breakfast was hilarious!!! Thank God you all finally got your food, even if it was way late in coming out.

 

Thank you. I appreciate it. Seuss was an interesting time, both with the service and the people we sat with. :eek:

 

I cracked up laughing when I read your comments about the ford focus. Hysterical. We had a ford focus for six years and hated every minute of it. It was about 17 years ago that my husband went to the ford dealership and came back with a "great deal". That was the last time he went to buy car solo.

 

My youngest son actually took his drivers exam in my friends focus and I drove it around for awhile. It wasn't bad but it sure wasn't anything like the one I was driving this time around. :eek: I think the tranny was going out on this rental. It would clunk when I took off at any stop. Then be fine...but was just so darn S-L-O-W!

[allie3490]

I just wanna say I love your reviews. You are such a fun family - reminds me of us when we cruise. Although I don't cruise NCL or Carnival and don't have much interest in their ships I always read your reviews for the ports info, humor, and family stuff.

 

Your little girl is adorable and your older one reminds me of myself when I was a bit younger. You seem to have a great relationship with your kids that's great to see.:)

[sunbird21]

Now that's dedication! :D

 

Your hijacking is fine. I learn things this way for future cruises. I don't mind at all. That's what we're all here for! :)

 

I had wondered what the "pink" comments were about. I kept looking at my pictures thinking where's pink? I seen the pink in the place with the chairs pushed together that formed a flower. :p

 

I wish I had more for you to read while you're up in the sky. But, work is calling and I already have patients texting me about changing times. :cool: I'll definitely be back for more by at least 4pm.

.

 

 

LOL you're entitled to your time away[emoji4] I'm sure there will be plenty to catch up on!! No prob re: other post(can't multi quote on Tapatalk) I'm glad the info is useful but don't want to be too annoying.

 

I'm not a great flyer, hence meds, and Xanax does work but leaves me pretty groggy. As a nurse I'm sure you can relate to self tut rating the dosage and I think my Valium dosing may have done the trick.

 

I have to laugh at your Dr Seuss experience- I went to one and the service was a bit off as well. It's definitely one you do for the kidlets!!

 

And I'm glad your daughter and grandson arrived without any mishaps!! Congrats on reaching Gold status- used to get a past guest party and a couple other mini perks but they went away[emoji26]

 

Stacey

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited September 9, 2016 by sunbird21

[NightOne]

Stacey (sunbird21) & Kim (mitsugirly) Girl's Only Cruise in the future.

 

Just sayin'

 

:D

[bigdawgmatty]

Stacey (sunbird21) & Kim (mitsugirly) Girl's Only Cruise in the future.

 

Just sayin'

 

:D

 

 

Yesssss....my two favorite reviewers tearing it up! That would be fun.

 

 

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[KatEnz]

Wow! You were able to read all of my reviews in only a week? :eek: I don't even know if I could do that unless I didn't eat and sleep. :D Thanks so much for enjoying them enough to read them all. I really appreciate it.

 

I can't imagine living in PR for several years and not being able to get back and visit. The place is just amazing! I'd have to find an excuse to go back yearly just to visit relatives. :D I will definitely put the Manati on my list as well as the beaches that you mentioned. Thank you for this information. (I just looked this up and that beach is beautiful and the way it's in a circle shape is pretty darn neat!) When I looked up Guanica, I found a neat beach that also said "gilligans island" All of these places are the opposite direction from where we were so that would be neat to explore the other side.

 

Isn't Costa Rico where they filmed Jurassic Park? I would love to go there as well.

 

Okay, maybe the NCL reviews I read in a little more than a week, before I started on the Carnival reviews. Your reviews were basically my go-to "books" I was reading every time I had a chance. I was in total cruise research mode. Ha.

 

Yes, I hope you get to visit other parts of PR. Honestly, I love San Juan's history and it's a beautiful area, but not for beaching. I always tell people to rent a car and head out to explore what the rest of the island has to offer. So many beautiful beaches.

 

One of the Jurassic Park movies was filmed in an island that is part of Costa Rica. Never made it there, but after doing a Google search it's now on my bucket list. =)

[mitsugirly]

I just wanna say I love your reviews. You are such a fun family - reminds me of us when we cruise. Although I don't cruise NCL or Carnival and don't have much interest in their ships I always read your reviews for the ports info, humor, and family stuff.

 

Your little girl is adorable and your older one reminds me of myself when I was a bit younger. You seem to have a great relationship with your kids that's great to see.:)

 

Aww thank you. Glad you enjoy them. Some day I'll make it back to your line. It's been since the 90's when I was on RC.

 

I have an awesome relationship with my kids. Kendra is my best friend and she'll tell you the same. My kids have always been very close to me and they tell me EVERYTHING...every little detail of every little thing whether I want to know or hear it or not. That's just how we have always been. I'm so happy to say that I have never experienced some of the other rebellious things that I have seen their friends and parents have to endure. I'm one lucky mom!

 

LOL you're entitled to your time away[emoji4] I'm sure there will be plenty to catch up on!! No prob re: other post(can't multi quote on Tapatalk) I'm glad the info is useful but don't want to be too annoying.

 

I'm not a great flyer, hence meds, and Xanax does work but leaves me pretty groggy. As a nurse I'm sure you can relate to self tut rating the dosage and I think my Valium dosing may have done the trick.

 

I have to laugh at your Dr Seuss experience- I went to one and the service was a bit off as well. It's definitely one you do for the kidlets!!

 

And I'm glad your daughter and grandson arrived without any mishaps!! Congrats on reaching Gold status- used to get a past guest party and a couple other mini perks but they went away[emoji26]

 

Stacey

 

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I hope your flight was good and you have a wonderful cruise on the Pearl sailing on 911 :eek: :D I did that 2 years in a row (Epic and then the Spirit). Then I had a "end of the world" cruise as well. (When everyone was talking about the world ending that year...the day it was supposed to end, I was sitting on the beach in Cozumel (Nachi Cocom) with a drink in my hand. :p Yea, I would say I wasn't too stressed out about it. :D

 

We've always had a wonderful experience at Seuss. This was just off. Maybe the waiter was new. I don't know. He seemed a little frazzled. But it's ok. It just made us hit the casino up and little later than expected. #wherestherollingsmileywhenyouneedit?

[mitsugirly]

Stacey (sunbird21) & Kim (mitsugirly) Girl's Only Cruise in the future.

 

Just sayin'

 

:D

 

LOL that would be fun. :D

 

Yesssss....my two favorite reviewers tearing it up! That would be fun.

 

 

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That would definitely be fun. We might have to bring my grandson B to have some entertainment. :eek:

 

 

Kendra and I have talked a lot of times about an all girls cruise. But when I say I want to cruise with "my girls" ....I mean my girls (Kendra, Sakari, Courtney and Michelle)...not my grandson and Kendra says she would have to take him because I would be taking "sissy" (Sakari) and it wouldn't be fair. Um, sissy is my girl, so...makes sense to take her. She'd probably never talk to me again if I didn't. :eek:

[mitsugirly]

Okay, maybe the NCL reviews I read in a little more than a week, before I started on the Carnival reviews. Your reviews were basically my go-to "books" I was reading every time I had a chance. I was in total cruise research mode. Ha.

 

Yes, I hope you get to visit other parts of PR. Honestly, I love San Juan's history and it's a beautiful area, but not for beaching. I always tell people to rent a car and head out to explore what the rest of the island has to offer. So many beautiful beaches.

 

One of the Jurassic Park movies was filmed in an island that is part of Costa Rica. Never made it there, but after doing a Google search it's now on my bucket list. =)

 

 

Right, I'd have to find the Jurassic Park area...Sakari is a dinosaur freak. You should see her collection. She can name every one of them. When I say "Hey, there's a spitter" she corrects me "Mom, that's a Dilophosaurus and people who say spitter only say that because they don't know what they're called." Yea...well, I'm one of those people! :rolleyes:

[pghsteelerfan]

Bought my 17yrd son a ford focus and we love it. For being a person who "makes the best of everything even if it's a bad situation" you sure do complain a lot during your reviews. One can say the same about the "reviews!":rolleyes:

 

Complaining or just being honest? I've been on several cruises now but still look to other reviews for ideas for our next, whenever that may be. I prefer honesty in reviews so I have a better idea of what to expect. I'd especially hate to be a new cruiser getting my first experience and having it be a let down because every review I read was by someone who had the "perfect cruise". As for the reviews where everything was terrible? No interest because I find them hard to believe. Have you ever taken the time to write a review? They take a lot of time, time that those writing could be spending time on other things, and for others to criticize is just rude.

 

Mitsugirly, thank you for all of your time and effort. I know you've got your family, your job, and school - I still don't know how you have the time to do these awesome reviews, but I sure enjoy them and the ideas I get for "next time".

Edited September 9, 2016 by pghsteelerfan

[mitsugirly]

So we bolted out of the Seuss event and Sakari wanted to go "play with friends". We took her to the kids club and promised since today was a sea day, we would be heading to the water park after picking her up.

 

Time had already been wasted and I was ready to win some mulla! Momma needs a new cruise. Come on big money.

 

I headed for my Zillion Gators and I ended up winning the major progressive. I sure wished I would have hit the big money button and won thousands!

 

 

 

This machine was constantly hitting the minor progressive, which randomly comes up. I probably hit it maybe 6-7 times on this cruise.

 

We spent about an hour in there and then headed out while I was still ahead of the game. I didn't want to press my luck at that point. Winner but not enough for a cruise...actually by about $2k or more and I'll be able to book another. hehe

 

We headed to the Cherry on Top and I got Sakari some teeth rotting goodness for later. She had been eyeballing a few things in here, so I did the mix and match expensive candy for $125.99 a pound and walked out broke. Well, there goes my winnings from earlier. Oh well. I guess I'll have to head back to the casino tonight.

 

We picked the munchkin up from the kids club and headed back to get the bathing suits on and up to the water park we went.

 

There were PLENTY of chairs. This was definitely a different experience. I'm so use to their being NO chairs or places to sit at any of the water parks, but this ship was just amazing and it always seemed like very little people even though it was completely sold out. I'm seriously loving this!

 

Sakari and B headed to the water slides and would continue to race each other over and over.

 

 

 

 

 

They were having a blast.

 

 

 

One thing that I have noticed with this cruise...it is EXTREMELY hot this time around. I don't know if it was just the time of year we went or if it was because this is the furthest south into the Caribbean we have ever been and it's always like this ???

 

Anyhow. I had A LOT of issues with my cameras. The heat would constantly fog them up. Especially going from inside to outside and back. I would even experience fog just coming from the land to the water and back. I was always wiping them off to get it to stop. I ended up with a lot of pictures with fog. This would be one of them.

 

 

 

 

Then we have the water spots as well. LOL

 

 

 

 

[rguy123]

Another enjoyable review

 

 

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[mitsugirly]

I still had a view from the 2nd row (no the front row was not completely full, but we needed 5 chairs together so...we opted for the 2nd. Actually I should have said 4 chairs because there's no way you are ever going to drag Sakari out of the water).

 

 

 

 

 

 

The birds were still following us. I think they followed us the entire cruise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NightOne]

We headed to the Cherry on Top and I got Sakari some teeth rotting goodness for later. She had been eyeballing a few things in here, so I did the mix and match expensive candy for $125.99 a pound and walked out broke. Well, there goes my winnings from earlier. Oh well. I guess I'll have to head back to the casino tonight.

 

Is that a typo or do they seriously have candy that costs $125.99 a pound ???

 

:eek::eek::eek:

[KatEnz]

Right, I'd have to find the Jurassic Park area...Sakari is a dinosaur freak. You should see her collection. She can name every one of them. When I say "Hey, there's a spitter" she corrects me "Mom, that's a Dilophosaurus and people who say spitter only say that because they don't know what they're called." Yea...well, I'm one of those people! :rolleyes:

 

If you're ever in Oahu, Hawaii, then you should take her to Kualoa Ranch. They also filmed Jurassic park there, I believe the 1st one and the last time I was there (about 5 years ago) they still had the huge foot imprint from one of the dinosaurs in the movie. It was really cool to see. They also took you to other spots where the movie was filmed. Actually a really cool experience and the ranch was unbelievably beautiful.

[mitsugirly]

A short complied video of the kids sliding. I always forget to do video for some reason.

 

cGwEOXSKzsc

 

Kendra disappeared at some point (with her implying that she was going potty). She didn't return for awhile and when she did, she looked like she had raided the buffet. She had several plates, which looked good, and we decided we had worked up an appetite as well. We headed down to the buffet for some lunch. We had to promise Sakari that we would immediately come back to the water park once we were done eating.

 

 

 

We headed back to the water park for awhile and Kendra decided to head back to her room. She probably needed a nap or something. That girl does more napping on cruises than anyone in the family does at home or on vacation.

 

We stayed until the sun was going down and Sakari ran into a friend that said she was changing and headed to the kids club and ask Sakari to come. Back to the room we went to get dried and dressed.

 

 

 

Sakari headed to the camp and we headed back to the casino. Can you tell I like the casino? No, I don't need intervention. I swear. We have 2 casino's here by us and the first year they opened, I went twice to one of them and 0 times to the other. The second year I went maybe 3-4 times. This year I have probably been maybe 5 times to each. I just like to play slots on the cruises for some reason.

 

This would be THE GAME...like I said earlier. Everyone wanted this game.

 

 

 

The hubby was doing good tonight, but I ended up losing my winnings from earlier in the day. Oh well. Win some you lose some but I was still really ahead of the game for the cruise.

 

We headed to the comedy show after awhile. It was ok. We laughed. He kept it real, which made it funny. Kendra went to the Diva show instead. She said it was good.

 

 

 

We decided it was time for dinner and went to pick up Sakari. She didn't want to leave. Oh my. This is amazing. This doesn't happen often and especially on NCL anymore. I think she just likes the change up with Carnival now. They were having a pillow fight. So, I decided to come back at 10pm to pick her up.

 

Then we all headed to dinner at 10pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mitsugirly]

Back to the room we went to find this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got a snap from Kendra and B got a frog

 

 

I packed our beach bags for tomorrow and off to bed we went...SUPER excited for tomorrow to come. It was a new port for us...BARBADOS!!!