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MITSUGIRLY decides to CONQUEST new ports-complete pictorial review


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I'm a new grandma again...my oldest son, Kenny, just had a baby this morning and I need to get ready to go up and see the new addition to the family.

 

 

 

Yayayay! Huge congrats :*!!

 

Hope to see pics of precious squishy lil one soon

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The store being robbed had to be so stressful for you guys. I'm so glad you were able to let it go until you got back and enjoy your vacation.

 

It looks like Sakari had a wonderful birthday. The island you visited was stunning. Thanks for taking the time to do the review. I'm loving it.

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Sakari is getting so grown!

Congrats to all if you in the new addition to the family!

 

Off topic, how are your eyes doing? A few cruises ago, you were having issues after having PRK done. How is it now?

I had lasik almost 6 years ago and need a slight enhancement to my right eye. Original surgeon wants to do PRK, but another surgeon (one of the top ones around here) told me he could and would relift the flap and redo the lasik.

I'm hesitant on the PRK because if what you went through...plus I've read about tons of pain and blurry vision for months!!

Would have gone the lasik route instead of PRK if you could have?

 

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Ok, I'm going to take a break. I need to get in the shower and get ready for the "day"...since it's already 2:30pm here.

 

I'm a new grandma again...my oldest son, Kenny, just had a baby this morning and I need to get ready to go up and see the new addition to the family.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed our day at Gibbs Caye and I will continue later today/tonight.

 

Thanks for joining.

 

Hey...congratulations!!!

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We plan on doing Gibbs Cay in August ...based on your experience would a 4yr old be ok ? Our 8 yr old , I'm not worried about but I'm a bit nervous for the little guy. Also is it super easy to be careful about the barbs ? Sorry It's out first time and know that with your experience you would have some great tips ! It does look so much fun !

 

 

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It's a beautiful ship, very different from other Carnival ships. Love the glass.

 

I distinctly remember you saying you each had a row on the plane and there was a pic of hubby but now I can't find it anywhere. Am I dreaming?

 

What do you mean by "each had a row" on the plane? I'm confused. We have always sat together on the plane (even if there are extra seats). Maybe you are dreaming? :')

 

Yes -- fisheye -- should have known.

 

Also, yes, that area to the right of the pier is relatively new.

 

I knew they had some chairs that way the first time we went there, didn't pay attention last time, but this time it definitely looked different (and bigger).

 

 

But looking back at the last picture I took there (from last year), maybe it was that big and they just didn't have any many chairs out (or clam shells).

 

 

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Wow! Ah-May-Zing!!!!!

 

Since it was our first time in Grand Turk I really wanted to explore the island. You told me that you got to hold a stingray but I guess I didn't "grasp it". But as they say 'a picture speaks a thousand words'. We should have come with you! Incredible clear.png?emoji-hearteyes-1689

 

Haha yea, you should have came with us. We had a blast and catching and holding that stingray was just crazy! She was so big and heavy, but gentle.

 

 

Congratulations Grandma and to all the family too!

 

Thanks so much!

 

 

Congratulations on the newest addition to your family!

 

 

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Thank you!

Yayayay! Huge congrats clear.png?emoji-blowkiss-1700!!

 

Hope to see pics of precious squishy lil one soon

 

Thanks! At least she held out for me to return from the cruise. :')

 

 

The store being robbed had to be so stressful for you guys. I'm so glad you were able to let it go until you got back and enjoy your vacation.

 

It looks like Sakari had a wonderful birthday. The island you visited was stunning. Thanks for taking the time to do the review. I'm loving it.

 

Yes, very stressful. The unknown and not being there took a bit of a toll on us but we tried to make the best of it.

 

 

Thanks for the comments and the island was very beautiful. Glad you are enjoying it.

 

 

Sakari is getting so grown!

Congrats to all if you in the new addition to the family!

 

Off topic, how are your eyes doing? A few cruises ago, you were having issues after having PRK done. How is it now?

I had lasik almost 6 years ago and need a slight enhancement to my right eye. Original surgeon wants to do PRK, but another surgeon (one of the top ones around here) told me he could and would relift the flap and redo the lasik.

I'm hesitant on the PRK because if what you went through...plus I've read about tons of pain and blurry vision for months!!

Would have gone the lasik route instead of PRK if you could have?

 

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She is growing up so fast and thanks for the congrats.

 

 

The eye...eh. Good times and bad times. I only had 1 done and still waiting to do my other. When I first wake up, everything is perfectly clear. But the minute that I go to read anything close up (which I can now see close up with that eye) and I look at my phone or computer screen more than a few minutes, when I go to look away, it's completely blurry. I'm still using my right eye (with a contact) for perfect vision when that happens. I do know that my left eye was the worse eye and my right eye is my strong (main) focusing eye for distance. I elected to have the left (worse) done first and maybe that's the problem. I have also thought that the problem might be that I only had one done and the left is focusing so hard to read close up and it takes awhile for it to refocus again. I don't know. I'm torn about how I feel about it, but I'm still planning on doing the right to see if that's the problem or not.

 

 

I was told anything over 5 years, you have to have the PRK and lasik is no longer an option (it had been, I think, like 16 years since I had my lasik...so definitely not an option). Yes, I had some terrible pain, for months, couldn't see for over a month and had to be chauffeured around by family members to work. My last visit said I was 20/20, but I would bet that I'm no longer that. I'm just not sure. If I had the option...it would definitely be lasik all the way! Hubby had his done 1 week before our cruise in November and had perfect vision (actually 20/15) within days, no problems and is just amazed at the world today.

 

Yay! I just found this! I'm excited to get caught up!

 

Thanks and welcome.

Hey...congratulations!!!

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks so much for all the details/pictures! Great review so far!

 

You're welcome and glad you are enjoying them.

 

 

Congratulations!!! I saw the pics on FB this morning and wondered which child was the new Mom/Dad. Although the pink and blue cap gives no clue - girl or boy???

Just found this review yesterday and can't wait for more!

 

 

Thanks Robin! It's a GIRL! Kinlee and Kenny is the dad.

 

 

 

We plan on doing Gibbs Cay in August ...based on your experience would a 4yr old be ok ? Our 8 yr old ' date=' I'm not worried about but I'm a bit nervous for the little guy. Also is it super easy to be careful about the barbs ? Sorry It's out first time and know that with your experience you would have some great tips ! It does look so much fun !

 

 

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I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Yes, I think a 4 year old would be fine. It was pretty calm on that side and gradual decline in the water. They have the rays in shallow water as well. Super easy to avoid the barbs. The person who catches it will tell you all about them and have you hold them from the front. They are very gentle creatures and so neat and beautiful.

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So we took turns taking showers and tried our best to hurry. All aboard was 1:30pm and sail away was 2pm...and we all know that the buffet has wacko opening times and they close at 2:30pm...just in time for the rush of everyone getting back on the ship and hungry. GRRRR! I really don't understand these times they are open. It's never matching when people are hungry after a day in port.

 

Sakari decided she was going to do some drawings after her shower and waiting on us to get ready.

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We made it upstairs at 2:45pm and of course everything was closed.

 

I guess we are heading to the deli for lunch.

 

We were completely starved and Sakari really doesn't care for anything they serve there and said she was going to wait to eat with the kids at 6pm at Camp Carnival. We opted for hotdogs and grilled cheese. Of course once Sakari seen my grilled cheese, she decided she wanted some of it. Sigh. So my lunch consisted of a half a sandwich. Go me.

 

We were so hungry I completely forgot to take pictures until this...

 

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We went outside to sit for a minute and this immediately happened.

 

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We let her nap for about 1/2 hour and then woke her up and decided to explore a little more. She wanted to go play ping pong and had been trying every day but someone was on them.

 

She squealed with excitement when she seen there was an empty table.

 

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However, this was not a game of ping pong, it was a game of chase the ball. It was just too windy on the deck and daddy finally gave up.

 

Our new 9 year old is a shark now.

 

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We decided to head down to the cake shop and the candy store to see if we could find Sakari a birthday cake. No luck at all. Darn. I promised to get her one when we returned home and reminded her that most kids would gladly forego the birthday cake for a cruise.

 

She headed up to the kids club at 5pm and they went to dinner at 6pm. I sure hope she had better luck than us getting food.

 

Along the way, we ran into Thrilled and she had a gift bag for Sakari for her birthday. How freakin nice is that? She didn't have to do that or go out of her way, but Sakari definitely loved it.

 

We headed to the casino to kill some time until the show that night was due.

 

Then we headed to the theater for the show: it said it was the 80's pop show, however, it ended up being a Rock Show. I over heard someone say they had cancelled the 80s show due the rocking of the ship. I'm not sure.

 

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After the show, we decided to go check out the food at the buffet before they....CLOSED...at 9:30pm. I feel like I'm starving on this cruise.

 

They had some spaghetti, baked potatoes, and egg rolls that all looked yummy. I topped it off with a salad, cottage cheese and cheese cubes. I was in heaven. I had finally got a full meal that was all yummy. You would have to roll me out of there after that meal.

 

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Before they closed, I ran up and grabbed a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of cottage cheese to take back to the room for Sakari when she got out of Camp. I knew she would be hungry again and we were determined not to have to eat pizza again.

 

We picked her up and went back to the room for her to eat.

 

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She was so excited to show me her present from Thrilled...an art set!! How perfect!

 

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Complete with a drawing from her daughter Michaela. She knows Sakari likes dragons and mermaids...so meet the mergon!

 

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We packed our beach bags for port the next day and off to bed we went.

 

END OF DAY 3

 

 

 

 

 

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I almost forgot...here's the glass rock that Sakari managed to find on Grand Turk. She was just at the beach swimming (when we were waiting for the boat for Gibbs Caye to arrive). This island seems to have a lot of this stuff. So if you are a collector...

 

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APRIL 18-TUESDAY: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC from 9-4pm

 

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I set my alarm for 8am and we got up and showered and headed to the buffet for breakfast. I think you know the routine by now...but guess what? I'm changing it up. The hubby and I discovered the omelette station had smaller lines than the regular lines and we would head there hoping for a better experience with the eggs. BOOM! We won! Delicious eggs this time around.

 

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Ahh, real eggs never tasted to good. It was a little more crowded this morning than normal, so I opted not to stand in the buffet line for all the "extras" because it extended on both sides and around the corner and down the hall.

 

I did discover the pastry "buffet" and these little tasty treats:

 

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I don't know what they are called, but they were yummy and I had a second since the only thing I had was an omelette.

 

We watched ourselves pull into La Romana and this is our first time here.

 

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We were off the ship a little after 9am, once it was cleared, and off to face the obligatory photos for my scrapbook

 

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...then to make our way out of the port.

 

Since this was our first time here, I had my research cut out of me. Some suggestions, on here, was to use Seavis Tours and head over to Saona, which is a little island. From looking at all of the pictures and stalking their social media page, I knew this looked like "my type" of island. I booked their "Saona Special", which included the boat ride to the island, your lunch and drinks, and a stop at a starfish sandbar. Yep, it sounded perfect.

 

The cost was $75 per adult and $50 per child under 12. They stated they had numerous no-shows in the past and now required deposits. Deposits are 20% of the total and the rest is due upon arrival.

 

The "tour" lasted from 9:45am until 2:15pm. The tour leaves from Bayahibe (which is about 25 minutes away) and you must take a taxi from the cruise port to there (which cost $15 per adult and $8 per child round trip). The instructions said the cab ride is arranged by "Taxi Casa De Campo", which is an independent company and we must give them a "tour code" to get this price.

 

There is a max of 26 people per boat and they can have up to 4 boats going out on the tour each day.

 

The included lunch consisted of pork chops, chicken, Dominican rice, salad, potatoes, pasta, fruits and french bread. Non-alcoholic drinks are water, orange juice (which was actually mango juice), cola (I later learn there was NO DIET), and sprite. There was a open bar with alcoholic drinks with rum mixes and beers.

 

I obtained a map from their site to figure out how to get out of the port (since it was our first time and I'm a "site" person) because I knew that time was of the essence when you factor in ship clearance at 9am, getting off by 9:15am (hopefully), time included in walking out of the port and to the taxi stand, and then a 25 minute ride to Bayahibe to make it there by 9:45am. Sounds impossible right? Or at least cutting it a little too close for comfort in my opinion.

 

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After getting off the ship, we started our journey to the taxi station. It was a bit of a walk and we all know when you do something for the first time, it seems even longer. "Are we there yet?" kept racing in my mind.

 

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Still trying to make it out of the port...

 

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Sakari immediately noticed all the carved birds they had in this port.

 

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I definitely knew there would be a battle of the "I want one" later when we returned.

 

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♫ Just keep walking, just keep walking ♪

 

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It looked like we had finally made it out to the area where they had the taxis.

 

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It was a huge area and I wasn't sure where to go. I stopped several times to ask along the way and was pointed to the end.

 

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There were plenty of tour buses lined up. They just weren't for us.

 

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I approached a lady with a phone in the turn around area and ask about our taxi. She told us to "hold on and I'll get your cab". So, we stood around waiting. About then, we ran into Thrilled and family, who was also going on a tour...but a dune buggy tour. I started to doubt my decision because a dune buggy tour sounded amazing and something "different" than a beach day. She had been waiting for awhile and was told to wait as well.

 

We waited...and waited...and waited...and several times went back up to ask about our ride only to be told they were "working on it".

 

Sakari was busy taking pictures of this adorable little munchkin that stole our hearts.

 

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It was getting late and I kept mumbling "we're not going to make it in time". It was already 9:45 and we were already supposed to be leaving for the tour and hadn't even made it there yet.

 

The hubby made a comment several times about how we should just go outside the port and catch a cab. There were plenty of cabs out there with the drivers standing at the fence, starring us down, and wanting our business. But, the only thing that actually stopped me was our $15/$8 pp round trip price and the fact that I watched a gentleman go up to one of the taxi buses and ask how much to get to _____ and their reply was $25 per person each way and they had 8 people in their party! $200 each way??? Are you serious?? That' s a $400 day just in transportation for them. I have no idea where they were going but I wasn't about to pay those prices!!

 

FINALLY, she told us to "come" and we followed....OUTSIDE THE PORT!! There ended up being 3 groups of people, going 3 different places.

 

Now we were outside the port with all of the other taxis.

 

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I snapped a picture of my watch when we pulled out (this is how I keep track of my time spent at places) and it was now 9:58am and we had no idea what groups were getting dropped off at what places along the route and what type of delay that would mean for us. I lady conducting the taxi stand said they stay in contact with the vendors/tour companies and they knew we were coming.

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Finally we were on our way...

 

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I was busy snapping pictures along the way and trying to take my mind off just how late we were. Thrilled and I were still chatting it up and I was still wishing I would have booked the dune buggy tour.

 

I gave a few "lessons" to Thrilled about taking pictures in "moving" vehicles...lol

 

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We stopped to let a family off to do a jungle river cruise. Then we were off again. The next stop was for Thrilled and family with their exciting dune buggy tour.

 

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Then we were the last to be dropped off.

 

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We actually only pulled around the corner and we were there. It was located at the same area, just around the bay and beach area.

 

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It was raining off and on and as you can tell by the pictures, pretty cloudy. It didn't look like a very nice day and that always brings you down a little when on vacation.

 

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As soon as we pulled up, a lady approached our vehicle and ask if we were the "family" and I told them yes. They said they had been waiting for us and was about to pull out. Everyone was already in the boats and ready to go. She said since it was a rainy day, we had the option to continue with the tour or back out but it was up to us. It was nice that they gave us the option. Kudos! Well, we were going to an island, around water, at the beach, we were getting wet, so what's a little rain. YES! We are going. She was happy to hear that and said everyone else on the tour elected to go as well.

 

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She rushed us out of the taxi and over to their "office" (I want to go to work at an office like this daily). We paid up our balance and signed some papers and was told to "rush to the boat".

 

 

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Sakari was busy taking pictures of animals of course...

 

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It looks like Sakari spotted things I didn't. I have no idea where she found this sculpture of remora fish, but I'm glad she has somewhat of an eye for things.

 

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We raced across this beachy-bay area and I thought my legs were going to fall off.

 

"Come, come, hurry"

 

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We were told that they keep in close contact with the taxi people in port and their last call to them to see if we were there resulted in being told "No, there isn't anyone left here for your tour!" SAY WHAT?? That's why everyone was in the boats and ready to pull out when we arrived. They were told we were a "no show" is the term they told them. UGH! GRR! It was the taxi stand that had us waiting for about 40 minutes for a taxi!!!

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YES! We had made it. On the boat we went. According to my time stamp on my camera, we were pulling out at 10:33am. This means the tour was 45 minutes late...the exact time we were sitting at the taxi standing waiting for them to get our taxi.

 

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Part of the boat had a cover over it and I opted to sit there with Sakari while the hubby went several seats up (without the cover). Eh, it's raining, it's not like it's going to matter since the sun isn't out and you're not going to get hot or burned more.

 

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However, when it started raining again, being out in the open might have hurt a little more with having your face pounded with the rain water.

 

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We stopped along the way and the tour guide pointed to some rocks that were caves. He explained that these caves were full of water and something about it being processed for x amount of their drinking water on the land. (Sorry, my mind was still in shock from almost missing our tour that I can't remember all of the details).

 

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Sanoa Beach was in site at 11:04am. So it's basically a half hour boat ride, including the stop along the way about the caves.

 

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Sakari was busy taking pictures of this adorable little munchkin that stole our hearts.

 

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My little "ham". LOL, just like Sakari....we've got them trained to say the word 'smile' and they pose and then in the blink of an eye they are back to playing and life as usual. Love it! This is obviously one of his "posed" smiles (I'm working on getting him to make it look more natural lol.....but Sakari is a natural photographer!! Way to go lil mermaid!)

 

I snapped a picture of my watch when we pulled out (this is how I keep track of my time spent at places) and it was now 9:58am and we had no idea what groups were getting dropped off at what places along the route and what type of delay that would mean for us. I lady conducting the taxi stand said they stay in contact with the vendors/tour companies and they knew we were coming.

This was one of the most frustrating things ever!! Not the fault of ProExcursions or Seavis Tours but definitely one of the worst organized taxi companies I've ever encountered!!! Ugh!!

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I was busy snapping pictures along the way and trying to take my mind off just how late we were. Thrilled and I were still chatting it up and I was still wishing I would have booked the dune buggy tour.

 

I gave a few "lessons" to Thrilled about taking pictures in "moving" vehicles...lol

 

We stopped to let a family off to do a jungle river cruise. Then we were off again. The next stop was for Thrilled and family with their exciting dune buggy tour.

 

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OMG, you have no idea how grateful I am to you for showing me the settings on this godforsaken camera! I have missed so many wonderful picturesque opportunities in the past because I didn't know how to really utilize an Olympus TG camera's settings. Thank you!!

 

LOL, I LOVE this pic of us. I am stealing it for my shutterfly photo album (if you are ok with that?) because it shows my desperation to make this dune buggy tour that my munchkins were so looking forward to! My photo albums are much like your reviews, with minute by minute commentary so even though its far from the most flattering pic (in my own defense, we were told to wear clothes that we wouldn't mind throwing away afterward because of the mud and river water that dune buggies kick up), I'd love to include it?

Edited by Thrilled2012
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Whew, sorry about the delay. There's a lot going on here at my house and my kids just left.

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We usually cruise during Sakari's Spring Break since there was one year that we didn't do/go anywhere and it just about killed me knowing everyone I knew actually "got out of town". I said "never again" and I meant it. So, Spring Break is always a given time for us and for some reason, we always end up on Carnival for that cruise. This time would be no different. However, this year her Spring Break was a little late compared to others and all the previous years.

 

I started searching cruises available and knew that I wanted something "new" again...new ship, new ports with the ports being the priority. For several years we went back and forth between the Western and Eastern (with the Western being the most traveled) and for the last several years, we have been trying to do "new" (to us) ports...such as Southern and Bermuda.

 

At this point, I didn't care WHICH ship, as long as it went to any new ports. I came very close to doing a cruise before, that went to the ABC islands (something I have always wanted to do), and ended up booking something else that was new for us. I couldn't find an ABC cruise this time around, so...I settled for A & C and whatever else came with it.

 

We decided on the Conquest: Grand Turk (already been there a few times now and enjoy it) and 3 NEW PORTS FOR US!!! La Romana, Dominican Republic, Aruba, and Curacao!!! I was super excited to experience these places. I knew nothing about the Conquest and had never been on that class ship, but knew that others seem to like it a lot. So...we booked.

 

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BOOKING INFORMATION:

 

I recently discovered something I didn't know about for a few years now. This REALLY benefits us and I wish I would have learned about this earlier. But, better late (my late, not Kendra's type of late) than never.

 

My husband owns his own business (a store that sells bikes, blades, scooters, skateboards, penny boards, wake boards and long boards....because even though you can't tell these days, he used to be a bladder and was really fit and it's his passion...so they always say work in something you are passionate about and you will succeed). We have a Southwest Business card that earns points. Ok, this is nothing new. HOWEVER....I recently found out (using a good old google search for something else I was trying to figure out using points) that SW has Carnival gift cards! SCORE!!!! I had no idea. In the past, I have been frantically and impatiently waiting for the Carnival gift cards to show up randomly on Verizon to purchase them at a discounted price and then other times I have went to my local grocery store to 1) purchase the cards using my credit card to earn cash back on the cc, then 2) earning free gas using the points from the purchase (I once had free gas for...I think it was 3 months and 2 days)...but NOW...whoa...we are taking it to an entirely different level now!

 

So, I used some of our points to purchase the gift cards to pay for our cruise. THEN I purchased more gift cards to use as OBC on the ship. So what does this mean you might ask? IT MEANS FREE CRUISING!!!!!!!!!! Yes! I have found a way to cruise for free now!

 

It doesn't get any better than that....or does it? Well you are about to find out!

 

Next....Since we also earn so many points, we also fly for free. Every time we reach 110,000 points in a year (which we can do in a month) you get a "companion pass" and the companion will fly for free for the rest of that current year PLUS the following year until December, potentially getting almost 2 free years of flying. Sam is my companion (he claims these benefits comes to him with the ring on his finger) and Sakari and I book using all the points. Basically, we each pay $5.60/pp to fly (imposed 911 fee you HAVE to pay).

 

Summing this up so far...

1) Free cruise

2) Free OBC for everything we do while on the ship

3) Flying there and back for free.

 

It can't possibly get any better right?

 

Moving on...

 

A little more research revealed that there were also certain hotels that you could either buy gift cards for or gift certificates. Well whatcha think 'bout that? I would also be able to purchase the certificates for my hotel stay=free again!

 

Life doesn't get any better right?

 

Well, yea that's about right for now. At least until I find other ways to beat the system. (I have also found gift cards and tickets for places like Sea World and Universal Studios and we have also been using points for those for mini vacations as well).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

So I purchased mounds of Carnival gifts cards, booked the cruise and purchased more for the cruise.

 

P4240005%20copy-L.jpg

 

 

Oh yea, the other good thing about these cards and purchasing them using SW is that their office (that ships the cards) is located here in my state and once it's processed, I receive them within 2 days.

 

Once my cruise was booked, I was off to research each port and find new ideas for our water-loving family to experience. That's usually where the fun begins. :D

 

 

 

I just love these Cards. Used them for my last cruise and they had to send me a Check for the Credit Balance on my account.

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