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Join 20 of your HW PC Brothers and Sisters on the GFMPH Caribbean Cruise Gathering

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Posted 2/7/2013 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you can make it, David.  It would be an honor to shake your hand.
Posted 2/7/2013 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
David, I just emailed to you the information and links to the cruise.  Hope you can make this GFMPH gathering.

Terry

Posted 2/7/2013 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Never to late for David and his Wife.
Posted 2/7/2013 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm … interesting.   When I opened the post to see what’s going on – guess what ads popped up?   “Last Minute Cruise Deals” from Cruise Critic and “Save up to 80% on unsold cruises” by Vacations To Go Hope David and Ed C can make it -- Tigerfan  
Posted 2/8/2013 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Terry - thanks for the info, under consideration. We were going to take our 2nd ever cruise this year anyhow, and it would have to be one late in the year. Already have funding for it in place. Will let you know.

david

p.s. at one time, all 3 of our kids lived in N.O, it was a parent's nightmare, by the time Katrina had did its damage, they had all moved back to SC. Was always afraid something terrible was going to happen to one of them
Posted 2/8/2013 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I remember when you took your first cruise and this will be totally different. This will be our 8th cruise and we have found that cruising with a group of friends is so much more fun. This will be the largest group we have cruised with and if past GFMPH gatherings are a gauge this will be the most gooderest of any cruise so far smilewinkgrin I sure hope you and your wife can make the trip.

The Caribbean in December will be like sailing on a lake (this is out third Caribbean cruise in December) and sea sickness should be non existent. The 3 ports we stop at are also a lot of fun and the 3 days at sea give us a lot of relaxing enjoying the ship time too.  For me one of the highlights will be cruising down the mighty Mississippi river through  its delta, something that can only be seen by boat. The New Orleans cruise port is located just blocks from the French Quarter and all the NO tourism highlights. New Orleans is one the most unique cruise ports in the Gulf region.

Post Edited (Water Guy) : 2/8/2013 8:20:25 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/8/2013 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Tigerfan,

That ad for Cruise Critic is an omen?  I am a member of Cruise Critic and have written several cruise reviews on that site. It is a great forum like HW for finding information on almost any cruise line or ship. They also have threads for most actual cruise departures called member roll calls. One has been started for our cruise and it can be found in the link below. Like HW members stay anonymous.

Cruise Critic Roll Call

 

Posted 2/8/2013 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Very familiar where the ship docks in NO, and hadn't thought about the part of going down the river to the Gulf, that would be fascinating in itself. I enjoy sea days, as I am more interested in the being at sea part on a ship than the actual destination. Weird, perhaps, but that was from being on ocean liners as a kid going back and forth from NYC to Europe, on the S.S. America, S.S. United States, USS. General Darby, and another ship.

Yeah, on our first cruise, we never even met a single other compatible couple, so we always dined alone, etc. Didn't mind that part, ended up being the honeymoon we never were able to have when we got married in 1974.

So if you see the "do not disturb sign" on our cabin, don't come a knocking!

david
Posted 2/8/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Purgatory. Do come and I totally understand your stand on privacy. Hey I got an inside cabin for a reason. It stay dark for dakine daytime nap. I believe with faith, that it really will be GFMPH for us all as we plan, look forward to, not worry about our interactions, just enjoy our time together, even when we are not. We are bruddahs and sistahs. I am not saying any thing you do not know. Lets do it.
Posted 2/8/2013 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
We went on a New Year's cruise out of New Orleans last year on he Carnival Elation. What a party! As for seeing the Mississippi River delta, it was dark by the time we got out of New Orleans. However, if you wake up super early, you can see it as we are entering the gulf.
Posted 2/11/2013 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
David,

I know about that compatibility issue on a cruise. On our very first cruise we cruised from San Juan on Carnival in the early 1990's back when you had an assigned table and seating times for diner. My wife and I got stuck with a table of 6. One of the couples were super religious and the first night requested that we refrain from drinking any alcohol while at "their" table. I told them absolutely no way and made sure I drank a lot of wine that night. I asked the DR manager if we could move to another table and was told the ship was at capacity and we had to stay there. So the second night I drank several martinis and got a little loud and that was the last time we saw that couple. The other couple were two spinster librarians and they were about as much fun as a wall. That is why we like to cruise with friends and like the NCL Freestyle of no set times to eat or set table mates. smilewinkgrin

Terry

Posted 2/11/2013 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Came off NCL's Jewel on February 3...did a weekend "cruise to nowhere" with my friend. She has sailed NCL several times; this was my first on this cruise line. I've done a total of 8 cruises (with #9 coming this November on Royal Carribbean) on Holland America, Cunard (Queen Mary 2...now there's a ship!!!), Carnival (twice - first time was terrible, second time was wonderful), and now NCL.

I told Terry that I'd give my take on the ship and NCL in general. Remember, this was only a 2 night cruise out of NYC in February.

Overall impression of the ship is it's lovely but the layout had us walking back and forth and up and down stairs alot to get to where we wanted to be. Staff were fine but we didn't see our room steward until we went looking for him on day 2.

NCL does not provide those little bottles of shampoo, lotion, and bars of soap for the shower. What they have are soap and shampoo wall dispensers like you'll find in a gym. If you want a bar of soap, you need to book a suite (yep...that's what my room steward told us when I asked him for a bar of soap which he gave me even though I wasn't in a suite). We booked a mini-suite that slept 4 (with balcony). The room was way too small for 3 or 4 people and was tight for just the 2 of us. There is one electric outlet in the bathroom for electric razors and toothbrushes only...and the outlet is high up above the sink. There is another outlet by the desk area and we always bring a 4 outlet surge protector to plug in at the desk area...this is where we plugged in our cell phones, charged the digital camera, and my hair dryer. Closet and storage space were ample but, again, layout was a bit awkward (closet was next to bed and there was about 24" of legroom between the closed closet door and the bed). Walking around the beds was always tight but overall the cabin was fine. Just know that NCL's cabins are smaller than some other cruise lines and even though we had a mini suite, the room would have been considered a "regular" balcony cabin on most other cruise lines.

We ate in the Tsar dining room the first nite, and had no problem getting a table for 2 at 6:00 pm. When we came out of the dining room, there was quite a line waiting for a table. Second night, we ate a Chin Chin (an Asian Fusian restaurant with a $15 surcharge per person). Food and service in both were fine.

The one very positive thing about NCL and this ship was that the 2 evening shows we went to were the best I had seen at sea! The second night's show was entitled Cirque Bijou and it was over-the-top incredible. Better than anything I saw on Queen Mary 2 or Holland America, and these are considered premium cruise lines.

During the day, lots of "selling" going on but then again we were a captive audience as our entire time on the ship was spent at sea. Note that days at sea means the buffet area (The Garden Cafe on deck 12) is a mob scene...went in there for a quick breakfast the first morning and ate my oatmeal standing up because there were no seats available. Part of the reason why the Cafe was so mobbed is that we were sailing outside NYC in February so there really was nowhere else for people to go...you either eat or gamble. Speaking of gambling, the casino is very nice but for those who have problems with cigarette smoke, it is very smoky in the casino. Lots of card tables and slots for those who are interested.

The pool area is very nice with quite a few hot tubs. In fact, the pools were actually open when we sailed last week...they were heated for this voyage and people used them (yikes!!!).

Fitness Center was OK...treadmills and the usual cardio machines plus weights. Not large but each treadmill came with a lovely view! Library was also very nice, as was the spa.

We're not big alcohol drinkers but I did have a glass of Blackstone Merlot in the dining room: $10.50 (including automatic gratuity). Kind of steep but we were still in U.S. waters so stuff still was taxed.

Went to the duty-free shop: booze and cigarettes are very, very cheap here for those who wish to buy. In NY, you'll pay over $92.00 for a carton of cigarettes; on a cruise outside U.S. waters, you'll pay closer to $35.00 for a carton.

I think you guys will have a great time...after all, you'll be on a cruise and there really is nothing like it.
Posted 2/11/2013 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Sephie,

Thank you for the critique of the Jewel and NCL. My wife and I have been on 6 cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America (3) and Celebrity. Our favorite has been Holland America but they have also gone to the soap dispensers on our last cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam in 2011 and offered no bars of soap. I think the electrical outlet issue is true for most cruise ships we have been on and we always take an extension cord so we  have more out lets.  This will be our first cruise on NCL as we are so tired of having to pack suits and formal dress for 2 nights to impress no one. I also am tired of being stuck with terrible table mates and having to eat when the ship wants not when we are ready, all things that NCL doesn't do. I have also heard that their entertainment at night is consistently rated as the best. Their newest ship the NCL Epic has a 2 year contract with the Blue Man Group and they perform on every cruise to standing room audiences at no extra cost. We were in Vegas 2 years ago and a seats to the Blue Man Group Shows in the back of the theater were over $75 each. smhair

Too bad you can't join us on our cruise this year but maybe down the road.

Posted 2/12/2013 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I couldn't handle an inside cabin. loved having the picture window (not port hole) on the carnival fantasy ship, and being on a lower deck, we loved watching the water going by and seeing the sky. room was much bigger than we had imagined, especially for the price.

only thing I bought in the "shop" onboard, was a watch. $20. and when they went on sale, there had to be 100 plus greedy shoppers clamoring to get one! I was astounded. Very rude people, like those on Black Friday sales. Had to beat off a few with my cane. Got the watch I wanted out of sheer principle, have worn it twice and it sits on my book case, lol. Didn't mention, I cant stand wearing watches, rings, or jewelry. Just had to prove to myself that I could fight the crowd. Never again.

We enjoyed our time in the cabin, as we took naps and fooled around anytime we felt like it. Big believer in the open dining bit, wouldn't want to be confined to a specific time, not with my on again off again appitite issues.

david
Posted 2/12/2013 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
David, may I suggest you and Peg splurge on a balcony...John and I cruised for years in inside cabins and occasionally an outside one with a window. Two years ago, for our 30th anniversary, we went on a Carribbean cruise out of NYC (Carnival Miracle) and had our first balcony...an aft balcony (no wind and lots of privacy). It WAS WONDERFUL! We just booked a 60th birthday cruise for me this November on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas...9 days Eastern Caribbean...and again booked an aft balcony. Balcony cabins are a few dollars more but can be so worth it, especially on sea days when you can sit out there, read, snooze...and at night, who knows what can be done on that balcony!

Have a great time everyone...
Posted 2/12/2013 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
The wife and I love to cruise yeah We are planning one but not sure when, this could fit right in our "wheel house." I'll be in touch.
Posted 2/12/2013 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
That would be great DaSlink

Cajun Jeff
Posted 2/14/2013 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
 

Da Slink,

This will be the most gooderest GFMPH Cruise ever if you can join us, yeah let me know if you need any more information.

Terry

Posted 2/14/2013 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone have any thoughts on pre and post cruise lodging? Needs to be in walking distance of the Quarter I think.
Posted 2/14/2013 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone have any thoughts on pre and post cruise lodging? Needs to be in walking distance of the Quarter I think.
Posted 2/14/2013 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
You want to be in the quarter. That is very close to the ship dock.

I will do a bit of research for you guys. Will post later.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 2/18/2013 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
 

We now officially have 10 cabins booked for a group of 20 of our brothers and sisters for the first ever GFMPG Cruise Gathering. The cruise gets more gooderest everyday.

 

 

For anyone still on the fence about booking this cruise. I have been informed that due to the problems this week on the Carnival Triumph a lot of people already booked on Carnival ships in both Galveston and New Orleans are cancelling their cruises and re booking with NCL which means our cruise could book up faster and cause an increase in fares. You can book now for $250 per cabin deposit and lock in your fare but cancel anytime up to September 7th for a full refund of any deposits. smilewinkgrin

Contact me if you are now ready to book.

Terry

Posted 2/18/2013 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Almost had my wife talked into our first cruise but now that theres been that one that tipped with the spanish captain and killed a bunch and then 5 died on a lifeboat being lowered and now the carnival cruise that was so nasty with feces and urine smell they slept on top in the pouring rain she wont go on one at all.

Im gonna keep trying to talk her into one though.
Posted 2/18/2013 8:13 PM (GMT 0)

logoslidat said...
PeterdisAbelard, Welcoming you and yours to our shores on the 10th/ 11th. I am at you service if you wish. Please feel no obligation Aloha Nui Loa

Someday, brother, we must meet. I don't think we did this time, although I can't be sure. I don't know what you look like, nor you me. On your island it is difficult for a resident to go two days without running into some tourists (since we are everywhere) and it is impossible for tourists to avoid running into a lot of Hawaiians. If I did bump into you I was the bald guy in the stupid-looking hat. I do appreciate you arranging for the perfect weather. We had a wonderful time.
Posted 2/18/2013 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Cruising tips for PC forum members:

Trimix travels fine on airplanes with blue ice packs in an insulated lunchbox inside your checked luggage.

There is no freezer compartment in the mini-fridge/mini-bar in your cabin but if you pull out the little bottles of booze and sit the blue-ice packs on that top shelf they will freeze (for the trip home). Put the booze back before you leave so you don't get charged for it.

If you book lots of excursions that involve a high amount of activity -- hiking, climbing, parasailing, riding horses or small boats, etc. -- then expect to be one notch more incontinent than you are at home. I use one pad a day at home but used three a day on vacation.

For snorkeling trips, on the way out you can wear a pair of lined swim trunks with a "Guards" pad inside. When you get to the place where you will be swimming remove the pad and put it in a plastic bag in your wife's purse. If there is no privacy on the boat the best time to remove your pad is just after the masks and snorkels have been handed out -- just casually jamb your hand in your pants, pull out the pad, wrap it up and stow it; people will be too busy fiddling with their equipment to notice. If you give in to embarrassment, and wait until everyone else is in the water, the tour guides will be watching you and your chance to avoid detection will be over. Wear a tee shirt while swimming. It helps keep the sun off your back and, on the trip back to the ship, it will drip, keeping your shorts wet enough that a bit of leakage won't be noticed.

Kayaking: I hadn't planned on swimming but the kayak had other ideas. The right way to go kayaking is probably to treat it exactly the same way as snorkeling (above) and remove your "guard" just before you launch the boat and make sure to get wet enough to hide any leaking. The day I kayaked across Hilo bay and into the mouth of the Wailuku river I hadn't planned on swimming so I wore a Guards pad inside a pair of Depends pullups under my bathing suit. That was a mistake. The wife and I capsized the kayak three times -- once trying to slip between the waterfall and the rocks, once trying to shoot the two-foot drop waterfall going back down the river (we portaged up), and one last time in the middle of the bay when we were swamped by large waves. By the time I got back to my cabin the absorbent material my various pads had soaked up about a gallon of sea water and pushed its way out of the fabric that contained it. I had a pasty substance a bit like poi dripping down my legs. But I still had fun.
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