Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

* TEXAS Cruisers *

fun and breezes 2

By fun and breezes 2,
in Cruise Rituals

Recommended Posts

Texarribean Chick

Texarribean Chick

Posted
Posted

reminds us of Prom Night. LOL. Just kidding - DH and myself always dress for both nights.

The first formal night I go in full length gown and he is in tux. Second formal night we tone it down a little and I'm typically in shorter length "little black dress" and DH in dark suit. We enjoy it; but if the day has been long (too much sun and libation) and if DH is feeling lucky in the casino - we typically go change into something more comfortable after the show before hitting the casino. How about you? Chick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
oldmedic

oldmedic

Posted
Posted
Thank you for your reponses to the questions.

 

New question: Formal night or skip it? Who likes to dress up for dinner? Who likes to keep it casual?

 

we enjoy dressing up.... good chance to wear the kilt...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fun and breezes 2

fun and breezes 2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hi Karen;

 

The items in my avitar are Old Time Texas law enforcement badges.

 

regards

 

Scott

Scott, thank you for explaining. How did you start with collecting the badges?

Thank you for your reponses to the questions.

 

New question: Formal night or skip it? Who likes to dress up for dinner? Who likes to keep it casual?

 

We dress for formal night. My clothes are easy to pack, but DH's suit always confuses me. I haven't found the best way to pack a suit yet.

 

Karen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
oldmedic

oldmedic

Posted
Posted
Hi Karen;

 

The badges are for a group called SASS (Single Action Shooters Society.) You shoot weapons from the mid to early 1800's and also dress in period for the competitions. Good group of folks and a lot of fun...

 

regards

 

Scott

 

we also enjoy costume dress... my wife is a member of the Texas Historical Commission, and we always dress for Dickens on the Strand in Galveston each December...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fun and breezes 2

fun and breezes 2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hello Fellow Texans!

 

I just found this thread. I am anxiously waiting for our fourth cruise in August to Alaska.

 

Jamie

Hi Jamie, We are looking forward to the Caribbean in a little over a week, and then Alaska in September on the Golden. I see you have been on that ship before. Which ship will you be sailing to Alaska on?

 

Karen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jiminw

Jiminw

Posted
Posted

well, I am sitting on the Constellation waiting for tomorrow to come. This is the last night and I am a little home sick. (I'll get over that real quick) It has been a glorious 11 days. Dont have alot of time to tell ya all about the cruise. (on board minutes are expensive). But as soon as i am home I will let you know how everything went.

I will be back with you in a few days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TexasJam

TexasJam

Posted
Posted
Hi Jamie, We are looking forward to the Caribbean in a little over a week, and then Alaska in September on the Golden. I see you have been on that ship before. Which ship will you be sailing to Alaska on?

 

Karen

 

Hi Karen

 

We are on the Diamond in August.

 

Did a Pacific coast repositioning cruise on the Golden before. Awesome trip, started in Vancouver, with stops in Victoria, Astoria, San Francisco, Catalina Island, and ending in Los Angeles. Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge was a highlight.

 

Jamie

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Texarribean Chick

Texarribean Chick

Posted
Posted
Hi Chick, Where will you be cruising?

 

Hey Karen - we are booked on the CCL Liberty out of Miami June 6th. It's a new itinerary and we thought we would check it out. Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. The only place we have never been is Grand Turk, so we are excited about that.

Actually, we gave up St. Maarten (our favorite port) just to try something new.

We are also booked on the Ecstasy out of Galveston for New Year's Eve this year! Really happy for that one too. We have been waiting for a very long time for New Year's to fall on the 4 day tour. Everyone have an awesome weekend!

BTW - if anyone has ever been to Grand Turk or San Juan DURING THE DAY, any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We have always been to San Juan at night and just did the typical casino - bar scene. Are the beaches any good there? Chick.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fun and breezes 2

fun and breezes 2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hi Karen

 

We are on the Diamond in August.

 

Did a Pacific coast repositioning cruise on the Golden before. Awesome trip, started in Vancouver, with stops in Victoria, Astoria, San Francisco, Catalina Island, and ending in Los Angeles. Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge was a highlight.

 

Jamie

 

After Alaska we have added a 3 day Vancouver to Los Angeles, but no other ports between. I wonder if it will sail under the Golden Gate? I would have liked to add the ports you stopped at but couldn't handle that many days away from home. I've never been to Catalina, what did you think?

 

Hey Karen - we are booked on the CCL Liberty out of Miami June 6th. It's a new itinerary and we thought we would check it out. Half Moon Cay, San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. The only place we have never been is Grand Turk, so we are excited about that.

Actually, we gave up St. Maarten (our favorite port) just to try something new.

We are also booked on the Ecstasy out of Galveston for New Year's Eve this year! Really happy for that one too. We have been waiting for a very long time for New Year's to fall on the 4 day tour. Everyone have an awesome weekend!

BTW - if anyone has ever been to Grand Turk or San Juan DURING THE DAY, any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We have always been to San Juan at night and just did the typical casino - bar scene. Are the beaches any good there? Chick.

 

Grand Turk is suppose to be fantastic for snorkeling. Do you snorkel? We went to Grand Turk last November. I can't give you much information because they had so much damage from the hurricane that went thru about a month prior to our arrival. The residents were still without electricity at the time. The cruise port had just reopened. The ocean colors were beautiful. The pool area built by CCL was operational, but many trees had been damaged and the landscape work was still being done. All we saw was the shopping area. I wasn't impressed but that isn't a fair review because they had been damaged so badly.

Karen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jiminw

Jiminw

Posted
Posted

HERE IS MY TRIP REVIEW. IT IS LONG !!!!!!!!!!

 

we arrived about 12:00 on April 6 for the cruise. Took a cab to the port which cost $12 for the two of us. Went straight into the terminal and there were no wait at all. The hubby, James, could not believe it. Upon entering the ship we were welcomed with glasses of champagne. We went to the room, explored the ship and got internet minutes. First day you get 20% more when you buy a package. Did the usual...muster drill and sail away. Time passed quickly and it was time for dinner. We dress and made way to meet our table mates.

 

We had a table of 6, no it was 7 or was that 8. The table was so crowded with dinnerware and flatware we could not tell. But there was only 6 of us. So we pulled two chair away from the table and shoved the dinnerware for the two extras aside. We dine with a lovely couple, Jean and Gene (LOL) from Colorado, their son, Michael and granddaughter, Rebecca. This was the only night they showed up. So the other 10 nights it was James and I at a table of 8. This was very uncomfortable. But we enjoyed the food. Had great waiter and ass. waiter.

 

The Seaside grill was different. It was fashioned alot like the Carnival cruiseline grills. Less crowded. They had a pasta area. (you choose your type of noodles, sauce and veg. and they cooked it right there for you). They had a large salad area. There was a sushi area and very small dessert area and lots of areas to get coffee,milk, tea, punch, or lemonade. Apple juice and passon fruit juice was avail also. Very few cooked veg were avail. There was nuts,cheese,fruit, ice cream with your choice of topping. Hot dogs, hamburger, tacos,nacho, etc were avail by the pool. Also pizzaria and sandwiches. ALL were very good.

 

The entertainment was different. a piano player, two vocalist, a hypmotist, a quartet of men singer (no music), Perry Grant (singer & piano player) and the dancers. Around the ship in the bars were a string trio, perry grant and the disco.

The crowd was a much older (not quite as old as Holland America) and very layed back. very few children. Very few teens. The staff was wonderful. Very personal.

 

1st day at sea was the cruise critic party at 10am. Which I missed due to an allergy reaction that cause swollen eyes. (they were shut) this disappointed me. But on Day 2 all the critic members were invited to tour the navigation deck. We were given 10-10:45 am. the next group toured at 11-11:45.

 

They started a scrapbook activity on this cruise. It was a pilot program to see how well it would do. It was well attend, instructed and we did great projects. All cruise related. This was the highlight of the 5 seadays for me.

 

1st port was Grand Cayman. We could not dock at the reqular spot due to high waves. Only three of the ship were allowed. Carnival, Princess and Us. We tendered and were bused for $5 into town. We took a private cab tour. We went to the turtle farm, Discover Dolphins, Hell, and stopped and the first baptist church. Let me explain the last one. My husband spoke there several years back and wanted to say hello to the new pastor. The other 5 riders said it would be ok. We stopped in GeorgeTown and shopped then back to the ship. It was a beautiful day.

 

2nd Port was Cartegena, Columbia. It was not recommened to go on your own and we did not have a private tour set up so we did the port shopping and went back to the ship. It was a nice day.

 

3rd port was Colon, Panama. We took a private tour of the canal locks. Our guide was named "Austin". I thought he was perfect since that was a texas name. Ha. I loved seeing the canal. Not at all what I thought. It was another beautiful day.

 

4th port was Limon, Costa Rica. We did a private tour ($40each). We had planned to go with JJ tours. But we missed him. We were to dock at 10 am. Someone on the ship had to be evaluated due to health problems. We had engine problems because we went full speed to meet with the medical ship. The engine could not be repaired at sea. Be got off the ship at 9 am and jj was already gone. Or so we were told. We went with "crocodile adventures" Vanessa was our guide. She was wonderful. Our tour included Limon City, Tortuguero canal, Coastal Highlights, and banana plantation & factory. We stopped at a roadside fruit stand and sampled all the fruits. I had cold coconut water in a shell, and tasted the fruit from a chockolet tree. We went to Rancho Cedar Valley Canopy and ziplined. (this was a blast) and ate at a beach cafe. We could swim if desired. The food was wonderful there.

 

5th Port was Cozumel, Mexico. We went to El Cids on a day pass. It was pre arranged at $50. (normal is 65) all the food, drinks and snorkling you want for the day. They had free wirless internet. There was a pool, sauna, and whirlpool for your enjoyment. We shopped at the port and returned to the ship.

 

GETTING off the ship was a breeze. waiting on customs and getting baggage was long as usual. Cab fare back to the airport $18. This guy did not run his meter. Just guessed. I was not happy about that. He was on the phone the entire time and drove like a bat from hell.

 

Well, It was a long review but So much happened I felt I could not leave out a single item. LOL.

 

PS. Got home to alot of mail from...cruise lines....hahahaha. Hubby said "we need to go on a cruise. Have been on one in a while" See I told you the home sickness wouldn't last long,

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jiminw

Jiminw

Posted
Posted

Texarribean Chick

I been to San Juan and we did a tour of some caves there. It was great. I think it was $10 entrance fee. Cant really remember tho. We had a rental car. It was really fun. It was on the North west side of San Juan. Cant even remember the name of the caves. there is a large sink hole near them that is several miles wide.

 

Hope that helps

Link to comment
Share on other sites
houcruzer

houcruzer

Posted
Posted

Hello to my fellow Texans!

 

We live in Houston and are Diamond members with Royal. Going on Conquest for the first time in September. REALLY wish Royal would bring a ship here year round but may find we love CCL after September...who knows?

 

We try and cruise twice a year....used to go 3 times back when Rhapsody AND Splendor were here. We sailed Ecstasy several years ago before we went exclusively with RCCL. We are looking forward to our Conquest cruise to see how we like CCL after so many Royal trips. I hope it goes well as we really like sailing in the fall and, of course, there isn't a Royal ship in Galveston then anymore.

 

Glad to see so many neighbors posting here.

 

hc

Link to comment
Share on other sites
waiting4acruise

waiting4acruise

Posted
Posted
Jimi thanks for the review. No, it wasn't too long. Sounds like a perfect vacation and so so much fun. I am getting ready to leave Saturday and can't wait! We will be sailing 14 days in the Caribbean.

 

Karen

We are going on the Ecstasy Thursaday. We are already packed and want to go now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fun and breezes 2

fun and breezes 2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hello to my fellow Texans!

 

We live in Houston and are Diamond members with Royal. Going on Conquest for the first time in September. REALLY wish Royal would bring a ship here year round but may find we love CCL after September...who knows?

 

We try and cruise twice a year....used to go 3 times back when Rhapsody AND Splendor were here. We sailed Ecstasy several years ago before we went exclusively with RCCL. We are looking forward to our Conquest cruise to see how we like CCL after so many Royal trips. I hope it goes well as we really like sailing in the fall and, of course, there isn't a Royal ship in Galveston then anymore.

 

Glad to see so many neighbors posting here.

 

hc

Thanks for joining our group? Anyone have any information on the Conquest to pass along?

 

We are going on the Ecstasy Thursaday. We are already packed and want to go now.

 

Yeah!!! I know the feeling.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...