TravelStream™ news feed for member jaimib on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jaimib en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:47:00 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1230067380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1230067380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1230067380/tpod.html Sat, 12 Jan 2008 14:47:00 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

EMBARCATION: Smooth. Only snafu was that the travel agency failed to provide luggage tags and we had to track down the porters to tag our luggage. Everybody was friendly and helpful and the lines were short and moved quickly. Tip - pleas be prepared for the metal detectors - no one wants to be behind the person stripping down because they are wearing all metal belts etc.

Once on board: RCI has changed its procedures and blocks off the doors to the cabins until 1pm. So no going to your cabin until then regardless of whether or not it is clean. This was not an issue. Our cabin was nice. A balcony on the right side of the ship. (yes after all my cruises i don't know my port from my starboard) I'm watching the sunset as I type this. Our Cabin attendant, Annoup, is great. He informed us that we were his only Americans - all the other passengers he was working with were from England.

We were continually meeting our fellow cruise critic members as we boarded and met up with them after a nice salad with turkey in the Windjammer. They had an extensive array of burgers, hot-dogs, pasta, soup and other foods as well.

Then we had the obligatory Muster Drill -

was tricky as our station was a bit far away from our room - did not make sense.

We always end up with hundreds of pictures. We will upload a few for you here.

We watched sail-away at Dizzy's - it was GREAT!





















As soon as the ship started under the bridge, we all leaned up to get pictures.


The ship made it under the Verazanno Narrows - as always it looked like it would not make it.





]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199506020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199506020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199506020/tpod.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:08:31 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

Here are the Beers Andy Sampled on the trip
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199158800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199158800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199158800/tpod.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:23:35 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda

We went on our own to Miguel's Island Adventure - Prickly Pear Island- it was a magical place that was not diminished by the off and on rain showers. The adventure of finding the launching site of the single engine canopied motorboat added to the charm but made the trip not one for the faint of heart. We entered the boat from the water and took a choppy ride to the island. From there the island which was about one block by two blocks large provided sandy beaches, nice snorkelling and panoramic views. We were treated to a lunch of curried conch, rice and peas, salad, bbq chicken, grilled snapper, and grilled lobster salad. Rum punch, ting (grapefruit soda) and fruit juices were also offered. Snorkelling instruction was provided upon request as were chairs and umbrellas.

This was a Formal Night on the ship and we ate in the regular dining venue, Columbus. Have I mentioned that our waiter, Victor, was one of the best waiters I have had cruising? - Food was fair. But we had eaten so much that day I'm not sure I cared what was put in front of me. Deserts were extra pretty and noisemakers and hats were put on all the tables. We handed out glow necklaces and light up pins to our tablemates.

New Years offered a variety of venues and I think that Andy and I sampled them all. Free champagne was handed out - don't ask me about the quality as I had the obligatory amount for the toast then put it down. The Schooner bar with Daniella & Pete & Eleni was fun with a video feed of the Promenade - We headed to the Aquarium Bar to meet Andy's parents. We decided to head to the Promenade which was too crowded for me and we ended up at the pool deck with Diva & Fam. - Stars out and a steel band playing was quite romantic and amazing! we returned to the Aquarium bar but Andy's Parents were gone so we headed back to the Schooner bar and hung with all our new CruiseCritic friends.

All in all it was a pretty good new years eve and no one had to drive home but Captain Erik!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245980/tpod.html Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:29:34 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Atlantic Ocean, Antigua and Barbuda

We did not know the details but we saw the helicopter come and take the passenger to puerto rico. We had gone much further up the coast and around 3-4 o'clock the ship turned around and headed back towards puerto rico where the coast guard met our ship at around 10:00. We were told later that the passenger was ok. However by the next evening we hit severely bad weather causing the huge ocean liner to be buffeted about like a small motor boat.Coast Guard Medevacs Female Passenger from Cruise Ship Explorer of the Seas



SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - A HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew medically evacuated a woman from cruise ship Explorer of the Seas at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, approximately 100 nautical miles north of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

Tanya Snyders, 47, from Walden Mass., was on a cruise with her family when she began suffering from stomach pains and required immediate medical attention ashore.

Coast Guard controllers coordinated a rescue helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla to conduct the medical evacuation. Once on scene with the Explorer of the Seas, the helicopter landed on the cruise ship helicopter pad where the helicopter's rescue swimmer and members of the cruise ship's medical staff boarded Snyders onto the aircraft. The Dolphin helicopter crew transported the patient to Air Station Borinquen, where she was transferred to awaiting Emergency Medical Services personnel, who in turn, transported Snyders to the Good Samaritan Hospital, Aguadilla to receive further medical care.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199473380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199473380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199473380/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:06:25 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

We were delayed by 5 1/2 hours getting to the port home. They let us stay in our cabins until 10:30 rather than making us leave at 8:30. They added an additional show in the theatre and kept all the stores open longer. They even issued an additional compas for Day 12.5. Many of our fellow passengers were inconvenienced as they needed to change their flights or find overnight accomodations.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199419020/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199419020/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199419020/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:00:56 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Atlantic Ocean, United States

Following our delay due to the helicopter evacuation, we hit a storm that could not be avoided with strong headwinds and waves as high as 18 feet. They put barf bags in baskets attached to the railings of the stairways. I was glad I took my dramamine. Otherwise, we had our slot pull pool. we put in $20 per person and wound up with $15 per person. But it was nice to get together with everyone.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199332260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199332260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199332260/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:52:33 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Atlantic Ocean, Antigua and Barbuda

Andy's birthday was celebrated in Portofinos with some of our cruise critic friends and my inlaws - we then followed it with time in the Schooner bar.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199245680/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:50:02 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Atlantic Ocean, Antigua and Barbuda

Casual Day at Sea
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199072160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199072160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1199072160/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:40:41 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

We arrived at St. Kitts to fickle weather. We coordinated with several of our fellow cruisers and shared a bus to cockleshell beach where we found a heard of cattle, several free roaming goats and numerous monkies. The beach was beautiful except for the other tourists who were rude and often oblivious to the natural beauty around them leaving bottles and debris behind them. The local reggae bar looked like it might be nice if it were not tourist season. However it was prohobitively expensive. A bit further down the beach we found the Lion Rock Bar where the coolest rasta man cooked us a great lunch and everyone had beer or lion punch accented with fresh grated nutmeg.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1198898940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1198898940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jaimib/rccl_eos-07-08/1198898940/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:35:50 -0500 Explorer of the Seas - Holiday Cruise - December 23, 2007 through January 4, 2008

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Bridgetown, Barbados

After scouring reviews we decided we would head to Crane Beach Hotel for a nice day. However, upon arriving at Bridgetown, the taxicab driver argued with us that the beach at Crane was only for body surfers and the walk down the cliffs would be too difficult for my inlaws. They all got nervous and we agreed with the driver to go to a beach he would take us to - he did not mention the name - when we got there - I realized that this was one beach I did not want to go to - Monkey Bar Beach - it was crowded and the catamarans and motor boats and jetskis came right up to the beach and the swimming area - we were surrounded within inches of the next beach goers and constantly smelled fumes. Chairs costs $5 each as did umbrellas.
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