ellcee Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 It's finally here!!!! Seven night cruise to Bahamas, St. Thomas and St Kitts. Harmony! Besides visiting a friend in Texas a bunch of times I haven't been away or on a cruise since Adventure in February of 2016. I've waited 11 months since booking. I'm super excited about everything. The When: Saturday, July 7th-14th. The Who: myself, my best friend and her husband, his friend and wife and a family of maybe 30. All ages covered here. The Why: Besides why not, it's a friend's birthday, that's where the insane amount of people come from. The How: I'm flying down Friday (July 6th) afternoon and have a hotel room near the cruise part....doing this alone. My bff and her husband are not the nervous type and will fly down day of. I'm spending 7 days with people, thrilled to have a day to myself. Some of the others are staying in the same hotel and are probably meeting for dinner, I may (definitely) skip out. The Plans: Bahamas. No plans. It's the only place I haven't been. I'll wander off the ship if anyone else does. Not thrilled with the times - I think 8-2. Meh. St. Thomas - RC excursion - St. John Beach and Snorkel. I think there will be five of us here. St. Thomas is one of my all-time favorite islands. St. Kitts. - one of my least favorite but this is probably because last time I did the volcano hike which was a huge mistake. I see now that RC now clearly states how strenuous this hike truly is. I don't know many people who can jog/run UP a mountain, but okay. No plans here, will taxi to a beach. The Room: Studio Interior with virtual balcony. I don't share well unless it's love. I would have loved a balcony but this was not cheap. I booked in August and the price has never once gone down, only up. Misc: Drink Package, yes. I'm not a fan of RC's coffee. I drink a ton of water and seltzer. I like my cocktails and love wine. I figure with so many of us it there will be lot of drinks all around. We've got some heavy weights on this trip - I am not one of them. We have Grease booked and one comedy show. I'm more of a planner and would have rather booked everything and then play by ear but I tried hard not be annoying with my group. Dinner plans: MTD but my reservations seemed to have disappeared. Sigh. 5 of us should be linked. The rest are family and we expect them to eat dinner together. I'll go and check when I arrive. I'd have liked to try some of the specialty restaurants but the group of 5 isn't interested. We'll see if I wind up trying out with others, by myself or not at all. VOOM Surf and Stream - yep. How else can I update this blog? For real, though, I need to be connected for my own self. Don't need to check work email but like to be available if anyone needs anything. My boss and I happen to both be away at the same time. Thoughts: Since there are so many of us I have a few concerns on how we're all getting along. Some of the other group is annoyed the 5 made other dinner plans. I'm not sure how so many of us can do everything together. I'm easy going for the most part but really enjoy alone time. Gimme a book and a chair and I'm good for hours. I have no tolerance for BS and will go off on my own if needed or wanted. Thoughts Part II: We've gotten off to a rough start. One of us was rushed to the hospital this weekend and since has been cleared to go but we're all a little worried for him. Another one of us is a klutz and spilled fresh hot effing coffee on herself and gave herself what looks like first and second degree burns. Thanks to Google images it seems like that's the worst of it. Also, don't look up images for third degree burns unless you want to be sad or sick to your stomach or both. Dummy. Also, OUCH. Let me know if you want a picture of something or info. Dunno if I know how to post pics so we'll see since I'll be on my cell phone. Instagram: Isalay76 - mostly dog pics but the plan is to actually post cruise pictures. This is Luna. She senses something is up and has been staring at me all week. This is pretty much the only thing I will miss. FlowBro Ty, Lovetocruise2002, accio7 and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 I have two dogs (one look like Luna) and they give me the look all week. Have an awesome time. I just came back from a cruise with my family. I found time to have time for myself. Next year the group is 50. Relax. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 Sounds like you have your cruise very well planned out! Hope the weather cooperates, have a GREAT time and don't let your crowd get you down! ellcee and iluvwineandtravel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Gadwa Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 Hope you have a great trip! You are on the right track........It's your cruise too! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 Have a great cruise @ellcee!!! It seems like it's been a long time coming! Looking forward to following. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 Have a great cruise! Hopefully your group will manage OK, but if not just step away for a bit; like @Guy Gadwa said, it's your cruise too! No need to let others drag you down. And don't worry about pictures, those can always be posted after you're back. ellcee and accio7 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 @ellcee--Have a great and safe cruise! Looking forward to your blog. If there is still space available, you may want to check out this fabulous excursion we took in 2016. It will change your mind about St Kitts and is well worth the reasonable price of $55. It relaxing, fun, educational and cultural. ENJOY!! If you google them, you will see MANY great reviews. Thenford Grey Grand Tour of St. Kitts is great! By Skid, May 30, 2017 in Shore Excursions Posted May 30, 2017 Took the Thenford Grey 6 hour Grand Tour of St. Kitts during our recent Adventure OTS cruise. We cannot say enough about how good it is. We were fortunate enough to have Thenford himself as our tour guide. He grew up on the island and while he was extremely knowledgeable and informative, he was also entertaining and funny. The tour included several stops and great photo opps, as well as beach time. He will, of course, make sure you are back to the ship in plenty of time. This was well worth the $55 per person cost, which includes admission fees to two attractions. He runs other tours as well which you may check out at www.thenfordgreytours.com accio7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 1 hour ago, JLMoran said: And don't worry about pictures, those can always be posted after you're back Yeah, what Joe said. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 @Skid Thank you!!!! I'll be passing along the info. This is a great idea and I've only heard good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Yippee ! Have a great time. Don’t stress about “the others”. After many group cruises I have found that it’s best just to let everyone do whatever works for them. Herding cats is no fun for anyone. ellcee and mom2mybugs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio7 Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Have a great cruise, Ellcee! Very sorry to hear about your friends/family members, best wishes on their respective recoveries. I'm sailing on Harmony solo in December 2019, so I'm always up for following a live review onboard this ship (I'm booked in a Studio Oceanview on Deck Four, you'll have to let us know how you liked your corner of the world!) Like you, I need my alone time although I do like talking to people while I'm vacation. I just am too darn stubborn to follow everyone else's itinerary, so I prefer travelling solo. Have you thought about dining at a specialty restaurant solo for lunch? This is what I am planning to do for my two upcoming cruises on Adventure and Harmony in addition to MDR dinner with assigned tablemates. Edit: Thanks to your blog title, I am really missing MSCL lmao; brings back memories of high school in the '90s! ellcee and Skid 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Have a great time! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 1 hour ago, accio7 said: Edit: Thanks to your blog title, I am really missing MSCL lmao; brings back memories of high school in the '90s! Right?! I just listened to a podcast with Claire Danes so it's been in my head. I'm right there with you. 1 hour ago, accio7 said: Have you thought about dining at a specialty restaurant solo for lunch? Probably not this cruise since I'm going in October and that's a truly solo cruise. Next time I feel the dining package will be worth it and I can try wherever I want. accio7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 It's always interesting to travel with long time friends. It seems traveling brings out the best (and worst) of some people. You never really know someone until you travel on vacation with them. Balconies are great without question but given the choice of taking more cruises or only sailing in a balcony cabin, more cruises wins every time. Looking forward to following along! Happy cruising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 2 hours ago, accio7 said: Edit: Thanks to your blog title, I am really missing MSCL lmao; brings back memories of high school in the '90s! 45 minutes ago, ellcee said: Right?! I just listened to a podcast with Claire Danes so it's been in my head. I'm right there with you. Ugh! We can't be blog friends anymore! Cannot stand Claire Danes! JK...We're probably all around the same age...group cruise one day would be fun...high school in the 90s...that is a time I would prefer to forget. lol ellcee, accio7 and Skid 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 2 hours ago, accio7 said: Edit: Thanks to your blog title, I am really missing MSCL lmao; brings back memories of high school in the '90s! Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said: high school in the 90s...that is a time I would prefer to forget. High school for me was the 80's, so Stranger Things is more my retro nostalgia jam, but I totally agree on the "High school; there's a time I'd prefer to forget, amirite?" part! accio7 and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said: Ugh! We can't be blog friends anymore! Cannot stand Claire Danes! lol, I don't like her either but I LOVED her in the 90's. Group cruissssssse! Lovetocruise2002 and accio7 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston Babe Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Looking forward to following @ellcee, I'm like you I can find a book a chair and just be by myself (no offense to my hubby). Make this cruise about you and just enjoy. Drama is not necessary on the high seas that you've been looking forward to! Have a great time! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Out of office: ON. About to drop puppy off. She gets a vacation as well. I drop her off at a friend's house - my friend has another dog and an entire family to keep her company. She loves going there. Taking a Lyft to JFK tomorrow morning. Last time I took a Lyft the driver dropped us off midway there to a hospital because he was having a diabetic issue. He literally dropped us in front of the hospital and drove himself down the road to the ER. I'm guessing he was okay. Very weird though. Lovetocruise2002 and accio7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Safe travels tomorrow!! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Peace be your journey. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 At JFK enjoying a wayyyyy overpriced breakfast and the tiniest coffee I’ve ever seen. Yolo. I’ve never allowed myself to write/type/say yolo before but I’m on vacation. henrysea13, JLMoran, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted July 6, 2018 Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Have a safe flight! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 Elbowed the whole flight. I said something before takeoff but she claimed not to speak English. She also sang the whole flight...and the lady next to her didn’t speak much English either so kept asking me things. It was bad enough that the people across from me let me off the plane before and told me to “run like the wind”. God bless them. Made it to hotel. Decent. The hotel Comped my taxi ride since I called and no one answered and they offer free shuttle from airport to hotel. in all honesty I didn’t ask which makes it even Better. Walked to market for wine and seltzer for room. Walked on treadmill for a bit. Met up with part of our party and shared said wine. All good now. Shuttle to port tomorrow morning at 10:30. JLMoran, accio7 and Lovetocruise2002 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Yikes! Glad to hear that all is better now. Tomorrow is cruise day!! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Have a fabulous day 1!! It seems a while since we've had a Caribbean Blog, so I'm really looking forward to travelling along with you. Harmony is definitely a big enough girl to find some solace, and I hope you don't have to seek it out for medicinal purposes! Bon voyage! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Cruise dayyyyyyyyy!!!!! Didn’t sleep well, up at 5:30. Plenty of time for sleep this week. Went on the elliptical for a bit at 6, showered and met up with friends for free hotel breakfast. Good moods all around. Walked over to shopping center for 3rd time and bought a few forgotten things. While this hotel is just okay (Hampton Inn) I picked it for its locality. I was able to go to supermarket, liquor store and dinner easily. There’s a nail salon here too which I wish I knew instead of frantically getting them done between work days. Almost ship time. We’re using the hotel shuttle. If I was alone I may Uber/Lyft/taxi but there are five of us so I’m going along with the crowd. Side note: there are only 20 something of us instead of 35-40. I was misinformed. accio7, JLMoran and Lovetocruise2002 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 accio7 and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Cruise compass out of order since one wouldn’t post initially. We made it on the ship easily. Shuttle from hotel was 10:30, we were on ship by 11:30. It could’ve been quicker but we had to wait for people. Braved Windjammer for lunch. Got to my room. On third drink. Drink package already worth it. Lovetocruise2002, hayley_bopp, Boston Babe and 9 others 4 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 22 minutes ago, ellcee said: On third drink. Drink package already worth it Well, it certainly sounds like you're enjoying your cruise......and you haven't even left port yet! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 47 minutes ago, ellcee said: On third drink. Drink package already worth it. 22 minutes ago, rjac said: Well, it certainly sounds like you're enjoying your cruise......and you haven't even left port yet! More drinks, the more entertaining "Operation Little Bear" becomes. Just hope the muster station is one that you can sit at... JLMoran and ellcee 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Tried to change MTD but couldn’t. Too many of us. Totally okay with it, ir is what it is. Guy was not the nicest though. My friend and I walked away, Walked to spa and made appt for hair tomorrow, cheaper than Cruise Compass. $69 instead of $79. Red carpet treatment for long hair. Worth it. JLMoran, Lovetocruise2002 and accio7 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 1 hour ago, ellcee said: On third drink. Drink package already worth it. My girl accio7 and ellcee 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayley_bopp Posted July 7, 2018 Report Share Posted July 7, 2018 Have a great cruise. Looking forward to reading your blog ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
accio7 Posted July 8, 2018 Report Share Posted July 8, 2018 Glad to hear that embarkation day is going well! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2018 Last night was a table for 15 for dinner. We had a rude rep trying to see if we could even bother and he basically said no...the table was ready for us and we were confused but happy. Our attendants were nice and friendly and bent over backwards for us for service. Dinner was pretty good tonight. No menu pic, too busy chatting. A few glasses of pinot Grigio Shrimp cocktail, Horseradish salmon and decaf coffee and cheese plate. Most of us were exhausted so we walked around and then went back to the rooms. Netflix and sleep. With all i drank i was never drunk, everything was spaced out. Lol. A few bottles of water and one coffee, drink package was smart. Today is Bahamas. Got my latte from Cafe Promenade and about to go to gym with a few of the group. Plans are to go to the Straw Market then lay by pool to nap and read. accio7, Lovetocruise2002, hayley_bopp and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted July 8, 2018 Report Share Posted July 8, 2018 30 minutes ago, ellcee said: A few glasses of pinot Grigio We can be friends again It sounds like you are having a great time! ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2mybugs Posted July 8, 2018 Report Share Posted July 8, 2018 I love your sense of humor... Taking everything in stride! Have a wonderful day! Jane ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2018 Pretty much did what I said I would for the day. Spent a while by the pool, went in, drank and read. walked the track for a bit after lunch at Izumi. Loved it and worth the extra $$. Had a hair appt for 5pm- they had a great deal onboard for $69. Wash, blowout, some treatments called Red Carpet. I was very excited to not do my hair for formal night. Unfortunately they overbooked and I had to cancel after 20 mins of waiting. When I made the appt I made it clear I had to leave by 545 for dinner- still needed to throw on the slightest bit of makeup and change in my dress. The lady took a color appt before me so there was no time. That means I had to run back to my room and wash, dry hair and still get ready. Not happy. Made it to formal night dinner on time but needed a few to relax. (I have a lot of hair) after dinner we went to Vintages for a few glasses of wine (I still had OBC so I tried some very nice and expensive ones that my package would my fully cover. Later we went to the smoking deck for cigars and chill. (None for me). The breeze was lovely. Left around 10:30 for casino. Overall beautiful day, still a little pissed about hair but that ruined nothing except the time I had to get ready. Lovetocruise2002, twangster, accio7 and 2 others 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellcee Posted July 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2018 Notable mentions for Day 2: one of us had to go to doc for anti biotics. Expensive but he already felt better by night time. A few of us went to Sorrentos - we are all from NY/NYC - no complaints. It did the job. No, not the best but not the worst! JLMoran, accio7, Lovetocruise2002 and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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