DaCruzNut

jbond- I have to agree with you with regard to Barbados. It's my second favorite, for sheer beauty, and very close ot my choice of St. Lucia... The north coast is specially spectacular.

Uruguay-Yonkers

I WANNA' GO!....I WANNA' GO!...I WANNA' GO!....I WANNA' GO!... I WANNA' GO!....I WANNA' GO!...I WANNA' GO!....I WANNA' GO!...

YIPPEE! YIPPIE! HOORAY! CONGRATULATIONS!

We have a number of them leaving from Miami/Port Everglades, and they're lots of fun. One, "Discovery," is a full day/evening cruise, and goes to Freeport, Grand Bahama. It's only about 65 miles from Ft. Lauderdale. They serve 3 (bffut) meals, with an optional sit-down dinner; have a pool, band, evening show, and, of course, a gigantic casino! The SeaEscape is on a real (small) ship, also, and offer two daily sailings. Then there are a number of the "Sea Cruz" type.

My favorite "port" is actually two ports, close to each other, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. I know a lot of you will disagree, and have no great love for Jamaica, but for me it's a different story. Living in South Florida, I have a lot of close contact with Jamaicans, at work and on a personal level. Jamaicans are a proud people, just as we are proud of our country, and have a beautiful island to be proud of. They consider Bob Marley to be just a step below G-d, and revere him throughout the island. When a bunch of us American tourits descends on them, and treats them as inferior, in their own home, they, rightfully, take offense and "give it back, Mon..." When I visit, I give them a big smile, a little Patois, and wear an old, faded, Bob Marley t-shirt. I get treated like a best-friend! Forgetting the walk up Dunn's River Falls, which is interesting and a "must" on your first visit, there are so many things to see and do, on the island. The river rafting on the Martha Brae, or Rio Grande, is one of my favorite things to do, in any port. The slow, leisurely, glide through the forest, on a raft built for 2, watching the tropical foliage, birds, and other animals, along the way.... ...and the ride from the port, a little over an hour, gives you a look at the "real" Jamaica, as you pass through the countryside, and small towns. You can see the Blue Mountains on one side, and the sea on the other. If you're a Bob Marley fan, and love his music, you can immerse yourself for a few hours on a trip to Nine-Mile. They take you in a "60's" bus, complete with a roof full of (artificial) fruits and veggies. The inside is totally decorated with "Marley," and the sound system probably cost more than the bus. You then get to tour the homestead of the Marley family, where Bob was born, and spent his early years. Bob Marley's crypt is here, in a specially built "temple." WARNING: As you get off the bus, at Nine Mile, there will be a number of Rastas, selling the "holy weed." They will tell you that you must partake, if you are going to the Marley House.... (P.S. They ask $0, but will take less....) Next time your in Jamaica, try joking with the native people, and being "fun," and see what happens.

HOORAY! HOORAY! DOIN' THE DOC DANCE... DOIN' THE DOC DANCE... DOIN' THE DOC DANCE... DOIN' THE DOC DANCE... DOIN' THE DOC DANCE... DOIN' THE DOC DANCE...

I'm sure you will get several different answers, since People often do the same thing for different reasons. One of the reasons that people do a back-to-back is to enjoy a 14-day cruise. To some, even the 10-11 day cruises that are offered are too short. Many ships leaving South Florida alteranate an Eastern-Carribean, and a Western, on a weekly basis. By booking a back-to-back you get two separate itineraries and a full two week cruise. Sometimes people develop an affinity to a particular ship. I had such a relationship with the Britanis... I sailed on her 12 times, over a 4-year period, and wound up going twice in the same month, once. I'm sure you will get more replies, with different reason.

What is your choice for the most beautiful Caribbean Island? I'm not talking about which is your favorite all-around port, but just the prettiest. My favorite ports are Mexico(Mayan Coast) and Jamaica, for a number of varied reasons. Jamaica is a beautiful island, but not my #1 pick. St. Thomas was pretty, 15 years ago, but its popularity as a port has changed all that... In fact, whenever we wind up at St. Thomas, I grab the first ferry to St. John. My choice for the most beautiful island is St. Lucia. the Pitons are probably the most-photographed single island feature in all of the Caribbean, for ggod reason. The two massive extinct volcanoes, rising out of the sea, are unrivaled. Marigot Bay is one of the prettiest I've seen. The drive-in volcano, waterfall with changing colors, mineral baths, and the entire island, in general, from the rainforest to the mountains, is magnificent. What's your choice, and why?

The F.T.A.A. (Free Trade Are of the Americas) Conference is being held in Miami, this week. It was scheduled to go through the week-end, and the demontration area is right near/at the Port of Miami. Akthough the conference ended early (today), and the 'demonstrations' were kept well under control, it was too late to bring the ships back to Miami. As a result, all of the cruise ships scheduled to leave from Miami, this week-end, have been re-routed to Port Everglades. So far, 18 ships are scheduled...

For me, there is nothing like a sunset over the Caribbean from the deck, or balcony. I always ty to catch several on each cruise. I'd probably enjoy a sunrise just as much, but have never managed to wake up quite that early....

BON VOYAGE! Have a GREAT cruise!

I'd go for it! I've sailed her and still like her size. Smaller than the mega-ships and larger than the older ships. She's the perfect size for 3-4 night cruises.

Due to a "mistake," I had both assigned (late seating) and PC, when I sailed on the Grand. Being pretty "traditional," I went to my assigned seating on the first two evenings. On the third night, I decided to try PC, and never went back to my assigned seating. To my surprise, I truly enjoyed it! By the way, their breakfast buffet is a killer!!!! Best at sea.

Have done several two-nighters and enjoyed them very much. It is, certainly, a good way to "test the waters....." Have a great cruise and let us know how you enjoyed it.