My Caribbean Cruise

January 28-25 I went on a fabulous Caribbean Cruise with my sister, Julie, and some other friends. Following is a trip journal. You can also view my pictures via KodakGallery.

Sat. 1/27/09

7:30 pm Off to LAX. Kelly picked me up, then we picked up Caryn and Julie on the way. (Kelly is my girlfriend and my roommate for the cruise. Caryn and Julie have been friends since grade school.)

10:45 pm Boarded our flight. A real “Boarding Nazi” was in charge! No lallygagging permitted.

Sun. 1/28/09

On the flight, I took an antihistamine and slept ‘till about 4:15 am when a crying baby woke everyone up. It was 7:15 am ET.

9:30ish am (Atlantic Standard time, 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time) Landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Took a cab to the Marriott to meet up with Mike and Sarah, friends of Julie’s (who are newly engaged!)

Ate lunch at a café and then took a cab to the port and started the boarding procedure.

1:15 pm On board the “Adventure of the Seas”. The ship is beautiful and huge. First stop was a lounge for some liquid refreshments. It’s HOT in the Caribbean. Not a big change for us Californians, but Mike and Sarah live in Boston.

2:15 pm In our staterooms, and got settled in. We were all on the same deck and not too far spread apart. Naptime… this has been a long travel day/night.

6:30 pm Windjammer Café for a “pre-dinner.” Our dinner wasn’t going to be until 9 and we couldn’t wait. Food is always readily available on a cruise ship.

9 pm Dinner. I had shrimp ravioli. Yum. Excellent service from Joseph, our waiter, and Anna, our assistant waiter. Head waiter, Larry, stopped by, too, to make sure we liked our table (we had requested a change of table earlier).

10:30 pm Headliner show: Comic Tony Duro. Funny guy! Lots of travel humor.

Midnight: ZZZzzzz...

Mon. 1/19/09 AT SEA

9:30 am Breakfast @ the Windjammer. Soooo many choices at the buffet! Kelly and I attempted to eat healthy and not overeat. It’s hard!!!

11ish am Sunbathing and reading on the ship’s deck.

12:30ish pm Kelly and I got smoothies and found Caryn and Julie at the Solarium.

1:15 pm Kelly and I went to the gym for a workout. Showered in the locker room with normal-sized showers. The shower in our cabin is miniaturized!

3:30 pm Kelly, Julie and I go to a wine tasting event. Good stuff.

4:30 pm Kelly and I visit the Blue Moon Jazz Club and order Lava Flows, the drink of the day.

7:30 pm Met the gang at the Captain’s champagne Reception (though we never saw the Captain).

8:00 pm “Name that TV Tune” in the Schooner Bar.

8:30 pm Dinner. I had Sea Bass.

10:45 pm Headliner Show: Dominick Allen (formerly with Foreigner). The beginning and the end of the show were extremely cheesy! But the middle was good so I’m glad I stayed. Kelly did not go, and the rest of the gang left after the cheese.

11:45 pm back to my stateroom… Kelly is MIA! I wondered if I should go look for her. I really didn’t want to be part of one of those news stories about missing cruise ship passengers...

12:30 pm Kelly arrives at the room after making friends and having several night caps! She was very entertaining in that state. It was probably 1:30 by the time we went to sleep.

Tues. 1/20/09 ARUBA

8:30 am Disembarked to catch a bus to our snorkeling tour.

9:30 am Onboard “Mi Dushi,” our sailboat whose name means “My Sweetheart.” About 50-60 passengers. We made three snorkel stops, one at a sunken shipwreck. We didn’t have the best sea life viewing, but had a fun time. There was a rope swing from which you could launch yourself into the water. I passed on that, due to my recent rotator cuff and carpal tunnel injuries. Had an open bar on the way back Didn’t pass that up!

3:30 pm Into Orangestaad for shopping. Got some t-shirts.

5:30 pm VERY tired – back to the ship for a snack and a nap.

8:30 pm Dinner – Garlic Shrimp, scallop risotto, chocolate mint cake

10:30 pm Watched a bit of a “Love and Marriage” game show, but it was boring so we left.

Midnight: ZZZzzzz….

Weds. 1/21/09 CURACAO

8:15 am On the dock to meet our tour called “Discover Curacao.”

8:45 – Noon: Tour- Historical museum; wild flamingos; Hato Caves (fascinating); and a Curacao Liqueur factory. Got some chocolate liqueur.

12:15ish Dropped off in Willemsted. The Punda side is best for shopping. We ate lunch and shopped for a while. The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge crosses the port channel to Otrobanda (“The Other Side”).

3:00ish pm Back to the ship. Got pizza for a snack. Used the Internet Café to check email (at 55 cents/minute! Yikes.)

4:00ish pm Showered and dressed for the evening.

5:30ish pm Kelly and I went to the Blue Moon to play “Pass the Pigs” and have a cocktail. Mike, Sarah, Julie, & Caryn eventually showed up, to.

8:00 pm Jewelry Store to see if we won a diamond in a drawing. Nope

8:30 pm Dinner: Baked Brie with asparagus and other veggies.

10:15 pm Back to Blue Moon lounge for nightcaps

11ish pm TV and bedtime.

Thurs. 1/22/09 AT SEA

10:00 am Breakfast at the Windjammer

11 am -12:20 pm Sunbathing on the top deck. It was extremely windy! 30 mph gusts. I wanted to read but had all I could do to keep my hair out of my mouth.

1:00 pm Met the gang for lunch in the dining room. Talked to a couple from Michigan. Lots of folks on the ship were from places with frigid winter weather!

2:00 pm Chacha class with Kelly! Lots of fun and good exercise.

6:00 pm Sunset on deck; dressed for dinner

7:30 pm Ice show! Yes, there’s an ice skating rink onboard! It must be hard to keep your balance with the rock and sway of the ship. Several skaters fell.

8:30 pm Dinner: Panko Crusted Fish

10:45 pm Headliner Show: The Nelson Brothers – twin sons of Ricky Nelson. They did a great tribute to him. There were also clips of "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (their grandparents).

1:00 am To bed

Fri. 1/23/09 KELLY’S BIRTHDAY!! ST. MAARTEN/ST. MARTIN

9:00 am Met gang and went to the dock

9:30 Bus tour began:

Scenic overlook

Marigot - shopping spot on the French side. Got some Mango Splash Rum Jumbie for the Garcias (and some for myself!). Shopped at a flea market (got a fridge magnet).

Noon – 3 pm: Orient Bay Beach – beautiful spot with turquoise waters. Lunch served at Boo Boo Jam’s – chicken, ribs, salad, fries, and beer. Sunned on the beach and splashed in the waves. Took a walk and saw a few sights on the “topless” portion of the beach. Like our tour guide said, the ones you wish were nude aren’t, and the ones who are, you wish they weren’t!

3:00 pm Back on the bus for a scenic ride home

4:00 pm Shopping on the dock. We’re collecting charms from Diamonds International (special promotion).

4:30 pm Back onboard; visited Internet Café one last time.

5:00 pm Down time; shower and dress for evening.

7:00 pm Headliner Show: Jackpot – A Tribute to Las Vegas

8:30 Dinner: lobster night! Wonderful.

11:00 pm Crew Show – Various crew members show off their hidden talents for our enjoyment. Some were quite impressive.

Midnight: to bed.

Sat. 1/24/09 St. Thomas (last day of cruise)

8:30ish Kelly leaves to meet her aunt (who lives in St. Thomas) for the day.

9:30ish went into shopping center in port with Julie and Caryn. Saw Kelly and met her aunt. Kelly told us about a jewelry store with deep discounts due to closing. Had to check it out. Julie got a ring. Caryn almost got some earrings.

11ish back to ship to eat, start packing, and get ready for snorkel cruise.

12:15 meet group on deck for cruise. Took a pirate ship to Turtle Cove, which is part of a little island off the shore of St. Martin. Lots of turtles and a fair amount of other sea life to view. Loved the ride on the boat, sailed most of the way back.

3:30 More shopping in St. Tomas when we returned. Caryn went back for the earrings but still couldn’t bargain a good enough price. I got a few souvenirs for gifts, and a $4 abalone shell ring for me... my big jewelry expenditure for the trip.

4:00 pm back on board. Priority was now on packing and getting ready for the end of the cruise. Luggage had to be outside our cabin door by 11 pm.

7:00 pm Headliner show: Randy Cabral –comedian, juggler. Fun!

8:30 dinner… can’t recall what.

10:00 pm to rooms to finish packing, put luggage out, and turn in

Sunday 1/25/09

8 am arrived back in San Juan, Puerto Rico… disembarked… flew home. The end of a marvelous vacation!