Hi
Now, don't flame me, but I wanted to tell you about our trip which I guess I would grade a B-. Much of what happened we had no control over, which I'm the first to admit, but as this newsgroup tends to tell all good, you need to hear some truth that might be bad, too.
It was me (who has gotten sea sick in past), my husband, and DD5 and DD7. We had a midship cat 4 which was great and spacious for a family of 4.
We travelled to Cocoa Beach on Friday and got in about 1 to the RAddison which was great and that rate was spectacular (the FALL one). It was windy and a little cool, which should have been a warning. WE were able to go to Cape Canaveral and got on the last tour bus at 2:45 (remember this if you had planned late afternoon trips.). Had a great time there as husband is aero engineer. Girls liked it OK..probably would have been better a couple of years older and boys. Started taking my bonine that day as I read here it makes a big difference.
Had dinner at a crab place about 2miles down toward Cocoa on left which was pretty good, but a little pricey for the dumpy place (old gas station). The next a.m. went to Ron Jon's which is amazingly huge for a windbreaker for hubby (good thing we got it!), and hit Win Dixie after across the street for pop beer. We didn't really drink much of it as hubby decided mixed drinks were more his spped on boat and I didn't drink much pop. I mainly did coffee for free and drank sodas at lunch/dinner.
We got on board like 4th family and walked around and went to Parrot Cay for lunch. Let me tell you, food was really pretty great. That was one of the best parts for us. WEnt to deck party which was fun..new one which is related to kid's club stuff. Got my ressies for brunch Sun at Palo's and dinner Wed, and a massage Mon for me and couples on Castaway Cay. It was cutting it close to make lunch and leave around 12:30-40 to get the ressies, but I ate quickly. I actually was first in line at palo's and 3rd at spa, so managed to get all and make it back for dessert for lunch. We had APL dining, so went to animator's for dinner which is when the rocking started. The rocking was pretty awful (13-20 ft seas) until about Tues at St. Martin. I did eat dinner Fri, but was sick (nausea) at BF Sun, and then by Palo's brunch didn't eat but 3 things and made a deposit in their toilet (sorry to be so graphic). My husband loved brunch, and it all looked wonderful, but there was no way I could eat which crushed me. Missed the Dis meet and greet b/c of being sick. sunday night was just as bad, I spent most of Mon in bed, except for the massage. My girls had no problems and hung out at the pool and in the kids' club. DH was great and basically took over kid care. My kids are in daycare/school aftercare, and get along well with other kids. The 5yo loved the kid's club, the 7yo really didn't like it well. We took them the first night and they made friends, but I thnk she was a little bored. There are basically 2 big activities per day and a bunch of otherwise busy work. There were only certain times to play on the computer too, which DD7 would have done in the more boring times if it was available. They actually mentioned weather several times in the first 3 days and changed our course b/c of the weather. Staff members who I don't think were supposed to discuss it (several were pretty funny avoiding the subject when asked) finally said, "yes, this is pretty bad, but it's been worse..it's too bad b/c the previous weeks have been great." That just made me sad and mad! What can you do, though?
Skip to Tues...I'm feeling better We decided to do the Orient Bay. Got a van with several others and made it half way across the very sad island when they get a radio report, don't got there's sand blasting!! So they take us down a rickety road to Cocoanut grove beach which was in the middle of nowhere, and said, don't worry we'll be back. I looked at DH and said, "no way, we're going to Great Bay where we can at least see the boat." The water was murky from all the storms which they had had, and weather was sunny but not really warm. Got the girls' hair braided...dickered down to $20 per head for head band style. Got a del sol t-shirt for all and a nice crepe lunch at a little cafe off the beaten path. Lumieres dinner was nice and I finally ate. OUr servers were Andrej from Croatia and Karl from Jamaica. Very nice guys who did a good job. Does everyone know these guys make no salary and it's all commission from tips? Make sure you tip them well. Same for our cabin guy Geritch who was very sweet and helpful. The head server basically came over and introduced himself, but did not much except sing happy birthday to people as far as I could see. Saw HErcules which we all enjoyed.
St. Thomas was fun...much nicer island as all said. We went to Magen's Bay which truly is beautiful, but again the water not so clear due to bad weather there too. Managed 2 hrs of fun, and then complete down pour around 12:30, so back to the ship in wet clothes! I was beginning to feel like the Griswalds. Went to their shopping district which was nicer than St. Martin's for souvenirs/gifts.
Wed was Palo's for dinner which was wonderful...Kita was our server and she was GREAT. Portabella mushroom and chocolate souffle...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. PRobably the best night of all for us. Thurs mainly sitting around pool. Funny thing...pool got evacuated drained b/c "code Winnie the Pooh." (figure it out?) Went to Disney Dreams at 2:30. OUr "little girl" was a short adult...is it the same for everyone? It was fun figuring out who was whom in Hercules from Disney Dreams.
Friday was Castaway Cay which was a lot of fun. We did the massage at 12:30 which was great as all week b/c of weather we were late getting into ports. The people who had 10 o'clocks were in trouble b/c we didn't get off the ship until 10:30. DD7 was finally enjoying the Kid's club (after we read her the riot act and told her to try to find fun stuff to do....which she did, of course), and really enjoyed it on the island. I liked the adult only beach as there weren't tons of people there. We quickly came back after massages, though and spent the rest of the day with the girls. This was there favorite place. The massages were very good but pricey...I live in ATlanta where they go for 50-75$..on the ship, it was 89$ plus tip and on the Cay...115$ each! Anna was great at the Spa. Couldn't talk hubby into Surial. What a dummy! Finally saw "the Rookie" Friday by taking the girls who fell asleep. We enjoyed it.
Saturday we were back and had early BF, so got out the ship about 8:30. The only problem we had was the Raddison/Avis shuttle had no rhyme or reason as to who got on first. There was a line, but the vans came to the end of the line and the end of the line guys got on first! I finally said, "we were next." after it happened twice, and made the people who snuck in get out of the van. They didn't look happy, but got out b/c they knew they were wrong. There was a Disney guy there who really didn't make people behave.
So, overall....crapppy weather...nothing I can do about that which lead to me being sick (no one else got sick, luckily).
Great food/great service/great ship.
Kid's club a little overcrowded b/c of spring break..600 kids on ship, and not for all kids...be warned.
Islands were OK..also mainly weather related.
Would I do a cruise again..probably not, but I think we had as much fun as we could with the situations that arose.
This is just one person's opinion, and I thought it was important for all who are thinking about it to read all different scenarios as this is a very expensive vacation. Maybe just flying to the islands might be better for those like me who tend to get sea sick.
That's all
Now, don't flame me, but I wanted to tell you about our trip which I guess I would grade a B-. Much of what happened we had no control over, which I'm the first to admit, but as this newsgroup tends to tell all good, you need to hear some truth that might be bad, too.
It was me (who has gotten sea sick in past), my husband, and DD5 and DD7. We had a midship cat 4 which was great and spacious for a family of 4.
We travelled to Cocoa Beach on Friday and got in about 1 to the RAddison which was great and that rate was spectacular (the FALL one). It was windy and a little cool, which should have been a warning. WE were able to go to Cape Canaveral and got on the last tour bus at 2:45 (remember this if you had planned late afternoon trips.). Had a great time there as husband is aero engineer. Girls liked it OK..probably would have been better a couple of years older and boys. Started taking my bonine that day as I read here it makes a big difference.
Had dinner at a crab place about 2miles down toward Cocoa on left which was pretty good, but a little pricey for the dumpy place (old gas station). The next a.m. went to Ron Jon's which is amazingly huge for a windbreaker for hubby (good thing we got it!), and hit Win Dixie after across the street for pop beer. We didn't really drink much of it as hubby decided mixed drinks were more his spped on boat and I didn't drink much pop. I mainly did coffee for free and drank sodas at lunch/dinner.
We got on board like 4th family and walked around and went to Parrot Cay for lunch. Let me tell you, food was really pretty great. That was one of the best parts for us. WEnt to deck party which was fun..new one which is related to kid's club stuff. Got my ressies for brunch Sun at Palo's and dinner Wed, and a massage Mon for me and couples on Castaway Cay. It was cutting it close to make lunch and leave around 12:30-40 to get the ressies, but I ate quickly. I actually was first in line at palo's and 3rd at spa, so managed to get all and make it back for dessert for lunch. We had APL dining, so went to animator's for dinner which is when the rocking started. The rocking was pretty awful (13-20 ft seas) until about Tues at St. Martin. I did eat dinner Fri, but was sick (nausea) at BF Sun, and then by Palo's brunch didn't eat but 3 things and made a deposit in their toilet (sorry to be so graphic). My husband loved brunch, and it all looked wonderful, but there was no way I could eat which crushed me. Missed the Dis meet and greet b/c of being sick. sunday night was just as bad, I spent most of Mon in bed, except for the massage. My girls had no problems and hung out at the pool and in the kids' club. DH was great and basically took over kid care. My kids are in daycare/school aftercare, and get along well with other kids. The 5yo loved the kid's club, the 7yo really didn't like it well. We took them the first night and they made friends, but I thnk she was a little bored. There are basically 2 big activities per day and a bunch of otherwise busy work. There were only certain times to play on the computer too, which DD7 would have done in the more boring times if it was available. They actually mentioned weather several times in the first 3 days and changed our course b/c of the weather. Staff members who I don't think were supposed to discuss it (several were pretty funny avoiding the subject when asked) finally said, "yes, this is pretty bad, but it's been worse..it's too bad b/c the previous weeks have been great." That just made me sad and mad! What can you do, though?
Skip to Tues...I'm feeling better We decided to do the Orient Bay. Got a van with several others and made it half way across the very sad island when they get a radio report, don't got there's sand blasting!! So they take us down a rickety road to Cocoanut grove beach which was in the middle of nowhere, and said, don't worry we'll be back. I looked at DH and said, "no way, we're going to Great Bay where we can at least see the boat." The water was murky from all the storms which they had had, and weather was sunny but not really warm. Got the girls' hair braided...dickered down to $20 per head for head band style. Got a del sol t-shirt for all and a nice crepe lunch at a little cafe off the beaten path. Lumieres dinner was nice and I finally ate. OUr servers were Andrej from Croatia and Karl from Jamaica. Very nice guys who did a good job. Does everyone know these guys make no salary and it's all commission from tips? Make sure you tip them well. Same for our cabin guy Geritch who was very sweet and helpful. The head server basically came over and introduced himself, but did not much except sing happy birthday to people as far as I could see. Saw HErcules which we all enjoyed.
St. Thomas was fun...much nicer island as all said. We went to Magen's Bay which truly is beautiful, but again the water not so clear due to bad weather there too. Managed 2 hrs of fun, and then complete down pour around 12:30, so back to the ship in wet clothes! I was beginning to feel like the Griswalds. Went to their shopping district which was nicer than St. Martin's for souvenirs/gifts.
Wed was Palo's for dinner which was wonderful...Kita was our server and she was GREAT. Portabella mushroom and chocolate souffle...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. PRobably the best night of all for us. Thurs mainly sitting around pool. Funny thing...pool got evacuated drained b/c "code Winnie the Pooh." (figure it out?) Went to Disney Dreams at 2:30. OUr "little girl" was a short adult...is it the same for everyone? It was fun figuring out who was whom in Hercules from Disney Dreams.
Friday was Castaway Cay which was a lot of fun. We did the massage at 12:30 which was great as all week b/c of weather we were late getting into ports. The people who had 10 o'clocks were in trouble b/c we didn't get off the ship until 10:30. DD7 was finally enjoying the Kid's club (after we read her the riot act and told her to try to find fun stuff to do....which she did, of course), and really enjoyed it on the island. I liked the adult only beach as there weren't tons of people there. We quickly came back after massages, though and spent the rest of the day with the girls. This was there favorite place. The massages were very good but pricey...I live in ATlanta where they go for 50-75$..on the ship, it was 89$ plus tip and on the Cay...115$ each! Anna was great at the Spa. Couldn't talk hubby into Surial. What a dummy! Finally saw "the Rookie" Friday by taking the girls who fell asleep. We enjoyed it.
Saturday we were back and had early BF, so got out the ship about 8:30. The only problem we had was the Raddison/Avis shuttle had no rhyme or reason as to who got on first. There was a line, but the vans came to the end of the line and the end of the line guys got on first! I finally said, "we were next." after it happened twice, and made the people who snuck in get out of the van. They didn't look happy, but got out b/c they knew they were wrong. There was a Disney guy there who really didn't make people behave.
So, overall....crapppy weather...nothing I can do about that which lead to me being sick (no one else got sick, luckily).
Great food/great service/great ship.
Kid's club a little overcrowded b/c of spring break..600 kids on ship, and not for all kids...be warned.
Islands were OK..also mainly weather related.
Would I do a cruise again..probably not, but I think we had as much fun as we could with the situations that arose.
This is just one person's opinion, and I thought it was important for all who are thinking about it to read all different scenarios as this is a very expensive vacation. Maybe just flying to the islands might be better for those like me who tend to get sea sick.
That's all
