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debinnh
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Posted: Fri Jun 1st, 2007 02:17 am | 1st Post |
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I've tried to put it off and pretend that I am so casual that I can wait to the last minute and wing it. BUT I CANT! I NEED CRUISE PLANNING TALK! Is anybody out there? HELP ME!
Is so bad I've taken to playing WOW with my kids to pass the time on my computer. (World of warcraft you perverts, not whip em out wednesdays-Boston thing)
Anyway, I'd really like to talk to people about our cruise. Will any one share planning pains with me?
All I seem to find is beaches and bus tours. There has to be something else. For my DH at least.
I'm pretty much convinced Palm Island is the only thing to do on Aruba.
I have no idea about St. Kitts/Neivis. I used to know someone from Neivis, but lost touch with him, so I can't use him for suggestions. I remember he said it was a really laid back friendly place. Can any one vouch for that? Is it better than anything there is to do on St. Kitts?
Grenada? The only thing I know about it is it has a med school that is cheaper and easier to get into than US med schools.
Bonnaire? I want to snorkle in the very best place! But where is that?
By the time Nov comes rolling around I will need a vacation. I have already burnt through all of my other vacation days and will not take any time off this summer.
And my youngest son regrets not taking a cruise vacation this spring when I offered it to him (before we booked HI) and now he wants us to plan something for his spring break from college, since he can't come in Nov with us.
My 20 yr old is moving into his first appartment this weekend and I'm not ready to let him go and my 18 year old will be going to college 8 hours away come August. I should be happy my empty nest years are coming, but all it is doing is reminding me how old I'm getting and I'm not taking it well, so TALK TO ME DAMMIT!
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nhrich
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Posted: Fri Jun 1st, 2007 11:37 am | 2nd Post |
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We're going to be putting together some suggested excursions and sending them out over the next couple of weeks.
I think we're also going to do DePalm Island in Aruba.
Wow, Deb, you're going to have empty nest all at once. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, at least once you get used to it.
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Fri Jun 1st, 2007 04:29 pm | 3rd Post |
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| Your itinerary looks great! I've only been to one of your ports, Aruba, and that's been a while back. Maybe I can find some suggestions as well.
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Catnip
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Posted: Fri Jun 1st, 2007 04:46 pm | 4th Post |
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debinnh wrote: I should be happy my empty nest years are coming, but all it is doing is reminding me how old I'm getting
Aruba:
Nice island, but arid. We went on a bus tour there a few years ago, which was nice way to see the island. After that one bus tour, we usually just walk around in the shopping area close to the ship. They have a casino there and one enclosed shopping mall that is air conditoned, as well as lots of local vendors.
Bonaire:
Only been there once, back in the early 90's, so I imagine it's grown a bit. We went on a dive trip there and stayed at the Divi resort. Back then the "town" really wasn't very big and not much to do there. Be careful if you rent a car, as crime in pretty high there, with a lot of thefts both in cars and hotel rooms.
Grenada:
Only been there once. I heard the island tours were nice, but we just walked around the harbor area. It's really pretty & is a pretty good hike all the way around the horse-shoe shaped harbor. Lots of local shops and vendors. Nutmeg is their big crop and you can even get nutmeg ice-cream at one of the stores!
Nevis/St. Kitts:
Nevis is real tiny, without a lot to do there unless you go diving. We stopped in St. Kitts on a cruise many years ago and we liked it. Again, we did not do a tour, and we took a cab to the town area. I liked the stores there and still have a tote bag from St. Kitts. They are both very laid back and the people are friendly.
I don't have kids, so I don't have an empty nest, but I agree the years are speeding by at warp speed.......
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debinnh
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Posted: Fri Jun 1st, 2007 11:30 pm | 5th Post |
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Thanks guys. I feel better now.
Rich, Shoretrips has some interesting sounding tours on Grenada but they are priced as a group tour only? Actually, one tour of the island was offered only on April 7. Is this island too small and not visited enough for them to put together regular offerings? Could they put a tour together for us if we asked that would include the vendor market, and the rum factory with a stop at annondale falls if there is time? I don't remember how long we are there if this is feasable.
Cat: No wonder you can afford to cruise so much! No kids! Anyway, the nutmeg ice cream on Grenada sounds yummy! Did you know that fresh raw nutmeg is a halucinogen? I wonder how it affects the workers? Back in my younger deadhead days my friends would try to grate and munch on nutmeg when nothing else was around.  I love the flavor of nutmeg, but not that way!
Last edited on Fri Jun 1st, 2007 11:37 pm by debinnh
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sat Jun 2nd, 2007 12:58 am | 6th Post |
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| Deb, check out the regular Princess forum. I posted the C.R.U.I.S.E. awards for tours that might give you a little help. I'll dig a little on your ports as well and post anything I find in the Ports of Call forum.
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Catnip
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Posted: Sat Jun 2nd, 2007 03:56 am | 7th Post |
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debinnh wrote:
Cat: No wonder you can afford to cruise so much! No kids!
Did you know that fresh raw nutmeg is a halucinogen? I wonder how it affects the workers? Back in my younger deadhead days my friends would try to grate and munch on nutmeg when nothing else was around.
LOL!!! Yes, we can afford to travel quite a bit, because we don't have kids. Just figure what you spend on even one child each year, and that's extra money we can spend on traveling.
It's not a lifestyle for everyone, but it works for us! 
I did not know that about nutmeg. I don't care for the taste. Back in my wild teen years, picking psilocybin mushrooms from cow pastures was the big thing, and then make up a batch of mushroom tea. Groovy, man....... Last edited on Sat Jun 2nd, 2007 04:01 am by Catnip
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33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sat Jun 2nd, 2007 06:55 pm | 8th Post |
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| Deb, I put some links in the southern Caribbean forum for you to check out. St. Kitts/Nevis and Grenada so far.
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jun 4th, 2007 01:14 am | 9th Post |
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debinnh wrote: Rich, Shoretrips has some interesting sounding tours on Grenada but they are priced as a group tour only? Actually, one tour of the island was offered only on April 7. Is this island too small and not visited enough for them to put together regular offerings? Could they put a tour together for us if we asked that would include the vendor market, and the rum factory with a stop at annondale falls if there is time? I don't remember how long we are there if this is feasable.
Could be that there aren't enough visits for them to offer a lot. I do know that they're very particular who they offer tours with on the islands, though.
We're only in port from 9 to 2. The tour they have that does the market and falls is 5 hours, so we wouldn't even have time for that.
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debinnh
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Posted: Wed Jun 6th, 2007 06:04 am | 10th Post |
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I noticed some of the times in port are short. Maybe this will be one of the islands we either just wander around town or take a ship excursion. We'll see.
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debinnh
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Posted: Sat Jul 21st, 2007 12:24 am | 11th Post |
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Ok, is anyone ready to start planning this trip yet? My husband refuses to get excited about it, so I need someone to plan with me.
I think a few of the islands will be snorkel/beach/bar days. St. Thomas I'm doing the heavenly days catamaran with the group. We are planning on doing the glow in the dark kayaking Fri or Sat evening.
anyone have plans?
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Catnip
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Posted: Sat Jul 21st, 2007 03:03 am | 12th Post |
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Are all the FOMT's still going?
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33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
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debinnh
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Posted: Sat Jul 21st, 2007 03:39 pm | 13th Post |
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since I have been banned from even viewing CC, I dont' know. Rich, BAMA, others? has anyone dropped out?
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Catnip
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Posted: Sat Jul 21st, 2007 06:48 pm | 14th Post |
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Holy cow! I didn't know our resident TA was going to be a FOMT!!!!!
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33 previous cruises..
Next up: Celebrity Solstice 1-09/Jewel of the Seas 3-09/ QM 2 11-09/ Queen Victoria 1/10
**Triangles Are For Losers!**
When only cops have guns, it's called a "police state"
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erby2283
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:30 pm | 15th Post |
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I'm excited but still looking for a cabinmate! Keep your fingers crossed. I think Rich told me I have until 8/20 to find a date! Otherwise, I will be canceling.
I don't want to cruise with a stranger so I'm playing the guilt trip card with my friends right now :0)
Last edited on Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:32 pm by erby2283
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:33 pm | 16th Post |
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debinnh wrote: since I have been banned from even viewing CC, I dont' know. Rich, BAMA, others? has anyone dropped out?
Jane cancelled this weekend. Once we get the final payments for the Liberty group taken care of we're going to get the excursions for this one sent out.
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:35 pm | 17th Post |
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erby2283 wrote: I'm excited but still looking for a cabinmate! Keep your fingers crossed. I think Rich told me I have until 8/20 to find a date! Otherwise, I will be canceling.
I don't want to cruise with a stranger so I'm playing the guilt trip card with my friends right now :0)
Alright...find someone already! 
Here's some ammo for you. Your friends REALLY don't want to have to deal with you if they won't go with you (especially the week of the cruise). 
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:35 pm | 18th Post |
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Catnip wrote: Holy cow! I didn't know our resident TA was going to be a FOMT!!!!!
Scary, huh?
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erby2283
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:45 pm | 19th Post |
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You'd think it wouldn't be that hard to find someone to go. Especially when I've told them that I could front the money for the cruise and they could pay me back $100 a month or something like that.
I asked my friend Melinda to go Friday night. She's gonna check her finances and get back to me. Good thing about her is that her husband works for the airline so she can get free airfare and get mine for 10% of regular price. So I told her I'd cut her a break on the cruise price if she gets me discounted airfare.
DOESN'T ANYONE WANT TO CRUISE WITH A 32 YEAR OLD SINGLE CHICK??
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Previous Cruises:
Crown Princess 11/07
NCL Jewel 11/06
NCL Jewel 11/05
NCL Majesty 11/04
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:48 pm | 20th Post |
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Just compare the 10% discount airfare with what you can get on your own.
Guess you can tell how much I trust the airlines, huh? 
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erby2283
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 04:55 pm | 21st Post |
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nhrich wrote: Just compare the 10% discount airfare with what you can get on your own.
Guess you can tell how much I trust the airlines, huh?
Well from what she told me, I would only have to pay 10% - so if the flight was $400, I would only have to pay $40! But I think she's mistaken.
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Crown Princess 11/07
NCL Jewel 11/06
NCL Jewel 11/05
NCL Majesty 11/04
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nhrich
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Posted: Mon Jul 23rd, 2007 05:00 pm | 22nd Post |
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erby2283 wrote: nhrich wrote: Just compare the 10% discount airfare with what you can get on your own.
Guess you can tell how much I trust the airlines, huh?
Well from what she told me, I would only have to pay 10% - so if the flight was $400, I would only have to pay $40! But I think she's mistaken.
Could be right...10%, probably plus the taxes, but it's probably 10% of the full-price fare. I misread it as 10% off.
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 03:09 pm | 23rd Post |
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| Lets get this thing started. There is a sister roll call on the dark side but we need to start another one here.
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nhrich
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Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 03:14 pm | 24th Post |
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It'd been nice if you'd put the cruise date (November 10) and not just the month, Bama.
We're there!
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Wed Jul 25th, 2007 03:15 pm | 25th Post |
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nhrich wrote: It'd been nice if you'd put the cruise date (November 10) and not just the month, Bama.
We're there!
11/10/07
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