"LIVE" from the Jewel- April 7, 2007

[jillybabes]

Kinda takes you back, doesn't it, Jill?:D

 

Radio, thanks for more pics of our favorite ship!

 

Jean: Not been on the Jewel yet, but it does take me back to one of our favorite places...

Radio: hope you had a Bushwacker at Paradise Point, they are the best:D

Later, Jill:cool:

[sleepless]

Thanks for the photo's of Frenchman's Reef. That is where DH and I spent our honeymoon many years ago. At that time the observation point was not there, nor did the pool area look like that with the waterfall. I do remember that they had this wonderful patio overlooking the ocean that had an outside bar - and light snacks or lunch could be served. DH and I sat out there under an umbrella for several hours thinking we were safe from the sun. We forgot that the sun moved, and we both received a terrible sunburn:eek: .

[Iamthesea]

Sleepless - Dh and I spent our honeymoon at Frenchman's Reef in 1979! :D I was just about to post the same as you. We enjoyed sitting out on the pool deck watching the small airplanes come in and the occasional ship come in, while having a Pina Colada! Lot's more peaceful back then. ;) Morningstar Beach was just outside our balcony room.

Thanks Radio!

 

We have been back to St. Thomas many times by ship and have always wanted to go back and see what Frenchman's looks like on land. We love cruising by the resort on the way in and out of the bay.

[luvalot]

This is great reading all of this as we are first time cruisers takinga trip on the Jewel for this itinerary in November, Just a quick question, but how do you get to use the hotel amenities (Beaches and this Mariott Frenchmans reef)?

 

Thanks again!

[Radio]

This is great reading all of this as we are first time cruisers takinga trip on the Jewel for this itinerary in November, Just a quick question, but how do you get to use the hotel amenities (Beaches and this Mariott Frenchmans reef)?

 

Thanks again!

 

Marriott's Morningstar Beach is open to the public, If you TA is on the same cruise with you, they can arrange for you to get a day pass at Sandals, if they do it in advance. If you call the Frenchmans reef, they may offer a day pass as well. I'm not sure if there is a cost. . .

 

Radio

[Radio]

Jean: Not been on the Jewel yet, but it does take me back to one of our favorite places...

Radio: hope you had a Bushwacker at Paradise Point, they are the best.

Later, Jill

 

Those Bushwackers are scary :eek: ... Here is a pic of what is in every Bushwacker.

 

I need to stay away from Bushwackers. . . :rolleyes:

They were selling this kit, at Paradise Point yesterday. . .

 

 

Radio

;)

 

 

.

[PH8]

Those Bushwackers are scary :eek: ... Here is a pic of what is in every Bushwacker.

 

I need to stay away from Bushwackers. . . :rolleyes:

They were selling this kit, at Paradise Point yesterday. . .

 

 

Radio

;)

 

 

.

They're selling those full size bottles for only $49.95???????Now that looks like a deal..........

[Iamthesea]

Marriott's Morningstar Beach is open to the public, If you TA is on the same cruise with you, they can arrange for you to get a day pass at Sandals, if they do it in advance. If you call the Frenchmans reef, they may offer a day pass as well. I'm not sure if there is a cost. . .

 

Radio

Next time we go to St. Thomas, we will go see if we can get a day pass for Frenchman's Reef.

 

I would post some of my FR honeymoon photos of the pool views, but they are all on slides and I haven't had them converted yet. I'm not really sure how to go about it. Do you know, Radio?:o

[sleepless]

Iamthesea, we were there in 1974. If memory serves me right, the Frenchman's Reef had just opened, either that year, or the year before. The hotel was the first "fancy place" in St. Thomas.

 

Two other couples, friends of our from work had also honeymooned in St. Thomas - it was cheaper then Hawii. They said to take only casual cloths because there really wasn't any place to go that was dressy. Our TA told us about the newly opened Frenchman's Reef, and said that indeed we could dress up a little there. They had a formal dining room, and this really neat buffet eating area. People did indeed dress up in both places. There was also a dance club there. We stopped in one night, and it was filled mainly with locals - they too were all dressed up in their pre-disco best. After exploring the island, it was indeed the only "fancy place". I am sure that has changed. I am sure that there are other nice places there.

 

We walked down to the piers a couple of times. We saw all of the big cruise ships (not so big now). I new that someday I would be back to St Thomas on a cruise ship. I just didn't think that it would take 33 years.

 

Oh, well - the act of living our lives does sometimes get in the way of our dreams and ambitions. It is important to hold on to those dreams, because they sometimes do happen.

[Iamthesea]

If it were not for cruising, we probably would not have ever gone back. We always intended on going back to St. Thomas on our 10th anniversary, however as you said, life got in the way. :rolleyes:

 

I refused to cruise for years, then we took a split Disney land/cruise trip with the children. I fell in love with cruising! Our second cruise was the week of our 20th anniversary and the ship went to St. Thomas. I was so excited to see FR from our balcony! After four more cruises back to that island, I still get a thrill!

 

Do you remember your FR room having some wild decorating? Flowered wall paper, multi-colored bedspreads and colorful carpet?

 

I remember that dining room. We took all nice clothes for dining. We only ate one meal at the hotel and dined the other nights at Bluebeard's Castle, Chateaubriand in the Hill's and another French restaurant downtown. All fancy places... had my first escargot! We spent our first night at Pineapple Beach resort and switched to FR for the remainder of the week. PB was awful! On our first night at FR, we feasted off of a huge fruit/cheese basket that our TA sent us for her mistake in suggesting PB. That was our favorite meal of all! ;) ;) ;)

 

Thanks again for the memories, Radio! :)

[trishalee]

Another Frenchman's Reef lover checking in! We were also there when it was brand new, and we LOVED it. Like some others above, I got too much sun and ended with a terrific case of sun poisoning. Took their little ferry boat across the bay to a little local drug store, and the pharmacist gave me a prescription drug cream to use - God bless him! I really did look awful, but that cream saved our vacation!:eek:

[shipknotshore]

Jean: Not been on the Jewel yet, but it does take me back to one of our favorite places...

Later, Jill:cool:

 

Hi Jillybabes:

I'm the Jill that Jean was referring to. :p We cruised on the Jewel together on a B2B in Nov/Dec. and the photos that Radio has been posting really brings back memories.

[Radio]

Thanks for the nice comments.... Here are a few more pics of Frenchmans Reef. . .and othe St Thomas views.

 

I just returned from a Bridge Tour. I Will upload pics later today.

 

I received some interesting info....The Jewel will be heading to Europe, after this cruise. Since this is a Gas Turbine Vessel, that runs on Jet Fuel, it will cost almost 2 Million US Dollars for fuel ! ! WOW ! ! ! That might explain the high cost of European Cruises. . . .

 

 

Radio

 

Patio overlooking the Havensight Mall Area at the Marriott

 

 

 

Great Pool

 

 

 

Coral World Underwater Observatory

 

 

 

Paradise Point Gondola

 

 

 

Vehicle Ferry to St John's at Red Hook

 

 

 

.

[gkrebs]

that jetti of rocks at Coki Beach (the one looking towards Coral world) is a great place to snorkel and is free.

[debshomespun]

Love being able to sail along with you Radio! Brings back memories from our Jewel cruise back in jan/05.

 

Thanks so much for all the pictures and information! I am soooooo jealous!

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Thank you Radio!!!!

:D :D :D

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise,

Thanks for letting us tag along!!

***

[jillybabes]

They're selling those full size bottles for only $49.95???????Now that looks like a deal..........

 

It sure does Kathy:D

 

Those Bushwackers are scary :eek: ... Here is a pic of what is in every Bushwacker.

 

I need to stay away from Bushwackers. . . :rolleyes:

They were selling this kit, at Paradise Point yesterday. . .

 

 

 

Must be new I don't remember seeing this in December

 

Hi Jillybabes:

I'm the Jill that Jean was referring to. We cruised on the Jewel together on a B2B in Nov/Dec. and the photos that Radio has been posting really brings back memories.

 

So sorry about the confusion Later, Jill

[Radio]

Hello everyone!! Today has been a day of activities! !

 

For me, it started out with a Bridge Tour at 10AM. . . The 2nd Officer Marie-Josee Tremblay from Canada, was the person giving us the Bridge Tour. She was delightful, and very informative. The 1st Officer was also on the bridge (Sorry, I didn’t get her name). There was also a Quartermaster there as well, watching the Horizon for safety.

Then it was off to the Casino for some daily offerings to the Casino Royale. There were deck games, Pool Games. The shops all had big sales. There was the “Captains Corner” (this was called “Nautical Notes” on Grandeur).This talk was very nice. It is a chance for all passengers to ask questions that they wanted to know answers to. The Captain was there along with the Hotel Director, Staff Captain, and the Food and Beverage Mgr.

 

Later in the day, there was a backstage tour, which was very enlightening. They opened the door to the inside world of how sets are made, how the contracts work, and the day in the life of a Dancer, Singer, and Stage Hands. . . We were given a tour of the backstage area, and video control booth.

 

Tonight is the 2nd Production Show, “City of Dreams”, which I have heard might be one of the best shows at sea. Today seems like the end of the cruise; however we still have a Port of Call tomorrow!! I am looking forward to Nassau. . . I am not sure what I will be doing there, I will play it by ear (hmmm…I think I have used that phrase before . . .)

 

Tomorrow, we should be at the Pilot Station by 11AM, and be docked in Nassau shortly thereafter. Our current position is 22.03.61N / 72.14.49.439W. We are just north of the Turks and Caicos with a heading of 306, and we are sailing at 20.5 knts.

 

The ocean today is like a big lake. It is very smooth, and the Production Manager has suggested that he has never seen the Atlantic Ocean as calm as this.

 

Here are some pics of the Bridge Tour, and other areas of the Jewel of the Seas ! !

 

Thanks for tuning in! !

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

A view from the Bridge

 

 

 

 

Comfortable Seating on the Bridge

 

 

 

2nd Officer Marie-Josee Tremblay and Radio ! !

 

 

 

View from the Starboard Side of the Bridge

 

 

 

The Captains Corner in the Coral Theatre

 

 

.

[Radio]

Here are a few more pics from the week. . .

 

Radio

 

The Pit Stop Sports Bar (lots of Golf and Soccer shown on dozens of tv's)

 

 

 

 

Coral Theatre

 

 

Solarium

 

 

 

Solarium Seating

 

 

 

Windjammer Cafe

 

 

.

[Deborito]

Thanks Radio for the great tour. We have been looking at taking a cruise on the Jewel for about a month now, because of your great reports, we have booked a cruise for Feb. 23, 2008. :D It is the same itinerary except we are stopping in Tortola instead of St Johns Antiqua. Have you been to Tortola, if so how do the two places compare? Thanks again. Debbie

[jillybabes]

Thanks again Mark for the wonderful pictures...When in Nassau tomorrow stop in at Atlantis to make a donation:D , why should Casino Royale get all the $$$$:p , or there is always Senor Frogs;) ...Later, Jill:cool:

 

[SherriZ366]

Mark -- enjoying your pictures and reviews. We sailed JOS Eastern Itinerary in 2006 and I loved have that extra day!!!

[knots4crewzing]

Radio thanx soooo much for your wonderful review and beautiful pics.The Jewel is one beautiful ship! I wish she would sail out of Bayonne.I can only hope. Have a wonderful time.

 

Looking forward to your next "LIVE"

 

Liz

[nlcentralchmps03]

Radio,

 

Outstanding as usual.

 

Enjoy Nassau tomorrow!

[Radio]

Radio thanx soooo much for your wonderful review and beautiful pics.The Jewel is one beautiful ship! I wish she would sail out of Bayonne.I can only hope. Have a wonderful time.

 

Looking forward to your next "LIVE"

 

Liz

 

Thanks Liz, I wish that a Radiance Class ship would make it up the Chesapeake Bay to my home port of Baltimore.

 

My next "Live" report will be in June or July 2007. . . Maybe Alaska ? Maybe Freedom in the Caribbean ? Maybe Holland America or Princess ?

It doesn't matter. I will be going again soon. . . .

 

But I still have Fri, Sat, and Sunday for this one. :D

 

Radio

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: