DaCruzNut

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE !![/size]<]

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE !![/size]<]

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE !![/size]<]

Luckily for cruise ship passengers, the cargo operations are at the furthest end of Doge island, past the passenger terminals, so passenger traffic wasn't disrupted...

Gosh, I hope this won't affect the food quality. Of all the lines I've sailed (15), Celebrity, and its predecessors Chandris Celebrity and Chandris Fantasy, has always been my favorite, as far as food quality and service. Intitially, when the food was prepared, and served, by Apollo Ship Chandelers, and more recently, when they bought out a lot of Apollo's employees and went 'in-house.' They're the last line, with the exception of tiny Imperial Majesty (Regal Empress) that stil brews coffee from real coffee grind. All the rest use a liquid concentrate. My three favorites: Celebrity. A very close second, Princess. Ans, surprise, Carnival. My three least favotite: Costa....pasta and pizza get boring after the 2nd day. RCCI, which is a shock, since they own Celebrity. HAL....no comment; just bad!

I'll probably do 3-4. But, since I usually book them a week, or two, before I sail, I have none planned. Thinking that onbe will be a Carnival Western Caribbean. Of course, at least one will be on the regal Empress...

This one's for you, Frostyboy64...[/size]

One of my favorite stops, on Cozumel, is Chankanaab Park, just a short, ten-dollar (U.S.) taxi cab ride from the dock. The park was completely rebuilt in 1996, and has something for everyone. Admission is $10.00 (U.S.), for adults, and children are admitted free. The beach is less than spectacular, but more than adequate. There are palapas, on the beach, if you want shade. It’s appeal lies in the fact that the reef is just a few hundred feet offshore, and you can rent snorkeling equipment ($6.00 - U.S.) and scuba gear ($20.00 - U.S.) right on the beach. The snorkeling and diving is truly spectacular, with visibility 250 feet, on a “bad day,†and “Unlimited†on a “Good†one! Within Chankanaab Park is an Archeological Park, which used to be on another part of the island, and was moved to its present site during the 1996 renovation. A winding, jungle-like, trail winds through the Archeological Park, past replicas of Maya, Inca, Olmec, etc; structures and carvings, and leads to a recreated Mayan village. The park, also, contains a beautiful Botanical Garden, with hundreds of species of plants, and a large population of Iguanas. But, the centerpiece of the park is Chankanaab Lagoon, a gigantic sinkhole which connect to the sea through a number of underground tunnels. A large assortment of tropical reef fish also make their way into the lagoon, through the tunnels, and can be viewed from the path, and lookout points, which circle the lagoon. If you’re looking for an inexpensive, but really nice souvenir, or gift, check out Roberto’s Black Coral jewelry, in Sam Miguel, on 5th Street South. Go to the top of the main square, the Plaza del Sol, and turn right. Roberto’s is about three blocks south of the square, on the northeast corner. His work is, truly, extraordinary and his prices are ridiculously low. By the way, it IS legal to bring black coral into the U.S., if it’s considered “artwork,†and Roberto’s work fits the description. The Mayan ruin at San Gervasio has not undergone the major restoration that the Mexican government had completed at many of the other sites, such as Chichen Itza, Tulum, Uxmal, etc; and is of interest only to those who are truly interested in Mayan history. It was an important site, historically, since it held the temple of the fertility goddess, Ixchel, but a relatively small one. Unless you’re a real pre-Columbian history buff, I don’t recommend this stop.

OK, Cheryl, you got me on that one too....the other thing I can't resist are Carnival's hot dogs with kraut, and cheeseburgers. I pass on the prime ribs and New York strip steaks at dinner, so I can down a few dogs and cheeseburgers during the cruise...

My favorite is not a specific food, but a specific combination of foods. At home, I'm very careful about my intake of fat. I am, mostly a vegetarian, with a decent amount of chicken, turkey and fish thrown in. I will even, very occasionally, eat beef. I use egg beaters and eat turkey bacon. So, when I'm on a cruise, I always take one morning where I go to the breakfast buffet and eat everything, and I do mean Everything, I don't ever eat elsewhere. Now you know why I have to go on 3-4 cruises a year

The best snorkeling in the Caribbean may be the Cayman Islands, but the best snorkeling, and the #1 dive/snorkelDestination in the world is off the Florida Keys. It's a little known fact, but more people snorkel the Keys than anywhere else! I go down to mm100, about an hour and a half away, all the time. There are about a dozen, or more, independent scuba/snorkel tour operators, and they do two trips a day. You usually visit 2-3 different reefs. I've visited over a dozen reefs. The reef system is the third longest in the world and stretches from just off Miami past Key West...

Let's see, there was Carnival, Chandris Fantasy, Commodore, Discovery, Dolphin, NCL, RCCL Tropic, Costa, Majesty, Premier, Celebrity, HAL, Princess, Imperial Majesty...I think that covers it... Amazing how many aren't around anymaore and most of the others are under the Carnival umbrella.

I know I've posted this one before, but it perfectly illustrates my favorite type of ship shots. I love to take pix of the interior of the ship, especially little "nooks..." This one is the Promenade Deck of the Regal Empress...

Joey- I understand the wine aspect, and, honestly, don't know the answer. I still liken it to the local movie theater. I like Chuckles, and most theaters don't have them. Still, I can't use that as an excuse at the theater. No candy means no candy, period, even if they don't carry the kind you like. You can't bring a bottle of your favorite soda to a restaurant besause they don't serve it. Now, I do know a Mexican restaurant that doesn't have a liquor license, and they invite you to bring beer for your dinner. But, that's different. The 'no liquor' rules have been in effect since I began cruising, but most lines 'looked the other way.' Now that fuel costs have more than doubled (the single biggest expense the cruise lines face), and other costs risen, the lines are tightening up. I also undertand the other point of view. A Somalier on a cruise once told me that it's a waste to order a good wine on a ship! The things a wine needs to keep are the proper temperature, lack of light and to be kept still. Motion for a bottle of wine is fatal! The sediment keeps sifting through a bottle of wine in motion; and. try keeping wine still on a moving, rolling, pitching ship. He told me to always order the cheapest bottle....

DANCIN' WITH YA', ROSE!!![/size]

In all honesty, I fail to understand this entire discussion. Try taking alcoholic beverages into you local stadium during a football, or baseball game, or an arena during a hockey, or basketball game. No way! Not because you might get drunk, and fall overboard.... Why, you can't even take harmless candy into the theater when you go to a movie! A business has the right to dictate, within reason, what you may bring and has the right to ban anything which they sell on their premises. Thechnically, you could NEVER bring booze onto a ship you were sailing on. I remember that rule from 1989, when I first began to cruise. However, the cruiise lines, sometimes, made the mistake of looking the other way, setting a bad precedent, so when they started to enforce the rules, the passengers got all 'up in arms.' The cruise lines rely on 'onboard revenue,' especially alcohol sales, and including photos, shore excursions, gift shops, casino, etc; to keep fares low. What you pay for in booze, you save on the fares. If everyone brought their alcohol aboard, the fares would go up. It's interesting to note that I pay, now, almost the same fares I paid 16 years ago! I may have a different slant on this, because I'm not a big drinker. In fact, on my recent 3-day Regal Empress cruise I had two drinks; one each night at the piano bar. So, the rules don't really effect me one way or the other....

CONGRATULATIONS!!![/size] That's terrific, Rose! We're all waiting to do the doc dance with you!

Thanks for the review; very informing. Glad to hear of the refurishment! When I was on the Fascination, earlier this year, she really needed it! By the way, are they still doing the show where the 'taxi' goes from B'way show to B'way show? It's one of my favorites and I must have ssen it 6-7 times, or more....

Thanks for the review; very informing. Glad to hear of the refurishment! When I was on the Fascination, earlier this year, she really needed it!

Great shots! I have passed the Pirate Museum a zillion times and have always wondered if it was worthwhile to visit. I searched for your review and the newest one I found was from your June cruise... I guess everyone takes this shot.....

Have a fantastic time and raise a frozen thingee for us

Hope you have a GREAT cruise!!!!

Have a fantastic cruise and come back to tell us all about it....

Tell Mom I wish her a speedy recovery!

I discovered CruiseCrazies on Sept. 7, 2002, and never posted on the other cruise boards I had been active on until then. When you find the best, why bother with the rest?