Sometimes I get lucky

Sea Princess departing St Maarten

Normally, I'm a lousy photographer, but if I take enough, I'll sometimes get lucky with one or two, and that was the case on my cruise last week aboard the Emerald Princess.

As our day in St. Maarten was drawing to a close, so was that of the folks aboard a couple of other ships. I managed to capture a nice photo of the Sea Princess, as she was leaving the island at sunset. Wish I could have captured the sound as well, as Sea's speakers were blaring 'Britannia,' and her passengers were singing along and waving gleefully. It was one of those moments that happens on sea voyages that you just don't get to enjoy anywhere else... almost magial.

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Grand Turk!

Today is Grand Turk, the government seat of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Last year when we arrived, this beautifiul spot was in the throes of recovering from a devistating hurricane, and the evidence abounded... but the people of Grand Turk were doing a marvelous job of
rebounding. Their spirits were hopeful as they welcomed the cruise ship visitors, and we had a wonderful time on a snorkeling excursion, led by a great guide. I had wanted to do my part to help, since we were one of the first ships to arrive, after an extended port colsure, so I saved all my souvenir shopping for that day. I was glad I did, as each vendor seemed to be extra apprecitive of each and every sale.

I am anxious to see this port again...



Cruising tip: Your Sign and Sail card is your onboard lifeline. It unlocks your cabin door, records your exit from the ship in port, and admits you back on board to sail away. It is also you on board money... you pay for everything with it. So it is of utmost importance to keep it both secure and handy at all times. I'm using a embellished yellow lanyard - which is just one of many choices for card holders that you'll find at Cruise Ready Store.

Please feel free to browse through all of them while I'm sailing. And, if you find one you like, your decision will be made, and you can complete your purchase after I return on Sunday.

Emerald Princess to Call at St Thomas Today

Cruise Ships in the harbor at St Thomas.

This photo was taken from the hilltop at the top end of the sky lift, several years ago, when we visited there on the Mariner of the Seas. (Center ship in the photo) I hear the recent fire severaly damaged the tourist area at the Hilltop. I am thinking of once again snorkeling at Trunk Bay, so, I probably won't make it up there to see for myself. But I will try to gather some first hand intelligence from some of my shipmates, and report back on my return.

EDIT: We docked at the new cruise pier at CrownBay, rather than at Havesheight, so we were not near the sky ride to Paradise Point, where the fire was.

Emerald Princess: St Maartin

Today, the ship is scheduled to dock in St Maartin. Although some people love it, this is not one of my all time favorite ports, so I'll probably stay on the ship, treating this as a bonus Sea Day, hanging by the aft pool, and spending some quality time with my good friends Sue and Dickie.

Last year, on the Crown Princess, I stayed on the ship during our stop in Jamaica, which I really do like, but just felt like staying aboard. I wore my All Ashore T shirt from Cruise Ready Store, and got quite a few smiles and a couple of comments. It's a nice conversation starter. The bartender got quite a kick out of this shirt last year ... I think I'll try for an encore.

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Cruise Shirts at Cruise Ready Store

Emerald Princess at Sea

Today is the first of our two scheduled Sea Days, and I plan to spend the entire day relaxing by the aft pool, sipping cold Diet Coke - and maybe an occassional foo foo drink, and doing a lot of visiting and laughing with my dear cruising friends from Cape Coral.



I just LOVE Sea Days, which inspired me to design this little magnet. It reads "May all your days at sea begin and end just perfectly."

Since there probably won't be anything of note to relate, I'll take this opportunity to remind my readers of some of the products at Cruise Ready Store that will once again be available for sale once the cruise comes to an end.

One of my best sellers lately has been sarong style swim suit coverups. SEE THEM HERE

And, with Christmas coming, it would be a nice time to surprise the gentleman cruiser in your life with a nautical tie clip or cuff links. I have several styles for you to choose from, including this anchor tie clip, which also has matching cuff links. While any of these men's formal accessories are great for cruise formal night, they would also make a nice addition to your guy's suit or tux for any gala evening during the holidays.

For the ladies, there is a selection of evening bags in various colors, styles and prices. Any of our evening bags will make a nice, useful addition to your lady's accessory wardrobe. You'll find them in the evening acessories department.

Cruise Ready Store is presently open for browsing only. The store's purchasing functions will be re-enabled when I return on Sunday evening.

Eastern Caribbean: Fist Stop, Princess Cays

Princess Cays is not actually an island unto itself, like the some of the other private islands belonging to various cruise lines. Rather, it is a private area on the souther part of Eleuthera Island, in The Bahamas. Eleuthera is a long and narrow island situated about 50 miles east of Nassau, and lies on the eastern side of the Great Bahamas Bank. The name means "free" or "freedom" in Greek, and is said to be the site of the oldest democracy in the western hemisphere. It was in the mid 1600's that a group of Bermudan Puritans set out in search of a place to establish a community based on religious freedom, and it was then that Eleuthera got its present name.

Our first full day aboard the Emerald Princess, we'll be calling at Princess Cays, the private destination of Princess Cruise Line, where there's plenty of sun (take sunblock!) and sand. And, of course, my favorite - water, beautiful water! It's clear, warm, and oh, so inviting . . .

The snorkeling is decent there, too. And, although the coral has seen some damage, expecially closer in to thoe beaches, there are always plenty of fish to be seen! The currents are fairly gentle, making beach snorkeling easy, and I hear that, a bit farther out, the diving isn't half bad, either!

For a luxurious day, rent one of the private bungalows. But do so early- as soon as excursions open up on line in advance of your cruise date. There are only a few of them, and they book up quickly! You'll have a fan, an airconditioning unit, AND a waiter to bring you drinks and lunch. A swim or snorkel in the morning, lunch delivered to your own little bungalow at miday, and more water in the afternoon. It doesn't get much better than this!

This 'day at the beach' brought to you by

Novelty sunblock Necklaces at Cruise Ready Store

Sailaway Today

Sailaway day has finally arrived, and I'll be boarding the beautiful Emerald Princess in just a matter of hours. Once again, I am really looking forward to a week of care-free days in the beautiful Caribbean.

And today, once again, I'll have the opportunity to legitimately wear one of the special Cruise Ready Store products: the Bon Voyage to Me T shirt. I love wearing this shirt - not only because it means I'll once again be revelling in the smell of the sea air and the feel of the warm Caribbean waters, but also because it's kind of neat to wear my own design and to see the smiles on the faces of those who notice it.

Once the cruise is over (sigh) and I am back to work, with Cruise Ready Store open for business again, you, too, can have a Bon Voyage to Me T shirt to wear on YOUR next boarding day.

Until then, I'll be posting about the ports we'll be visiting. Tomorrow: Princess Cays.

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Good luck, and happy cruising
from Cruise Ready Store!

Carnival Legend hits Enchantment of the Seas

Collision in Cozumel
Night before last, the Carnival Legend (homeport Ft Lauderdale) collided with Royal Caribean's Enchantment of theSeas (home port Tampa) in Cozumel. The guilty party was apparently a strog gust of wind, which pushed the Legend into the stern of the Enchantment, despite the efforts of a harbor tug to prevent the incident. Both ships sustained minor damage, and both cruise lines say repairs will be carried out with no disruptions to current or future itineraries. A passenger on the Enchantment filed a short joural entry about the event.

This cruising news brought to you by

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CCL to Discontinue Calls at Antigua

UPDATE: It now appears that this information applies to the Carnival Victory only, and not other CCL ships that call at Antigua, such as the Carnival Freedom.
Starting the first of the year, if you want to cruise to Antigua, it will have to be on a cruise line other than Carnival, as the fun ships are dicontinuing their calls at that southern Caribbean port, effective January 2010. They'll be visiting St. Maarten instead.

As far as I can tell, you can still cruise there with any one of a number of other lines, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. It's a port we really enjoyed on our cruise aboard the Serenade of the Seas a few years back, so I'm glad that the option is still open.

This news brought to you by Cruise Ready Store

Fly on a 'Busy Day' and Pay More

If you are flying to or from your cruise on certain dates,be prepared to pony up an extra $10 per ticket. On Thanksgiving Sunday (Nov 29), and the two days following New Years Day (Jan 2 and 3), at least five airlines will charge the 'busy day' fee. Those airlines who have (so far) added the new fee are: American, Delta. Northwest, United. and U.S. Air. Of course, it's not out of the question that at least some of the others will follow suit.

This travel news tidbit brought to you

by Cruise Ready Store

Touring the Monarch of the Seas

I am very excited to report that we have signed up through our travel agent to go on a tour of the Monarch of the Seas when she is in port for her turn-around on the 25th of this month. We'll be aboard several hours, AND get to have lunch. They will kick us off before she sails ... without us. (sob)
I'll take my camera along and try to get a photo of her to post.