FReeps Ahoy 4 - Caribbean Cruise - Thread II

Cruise Coordinator - Bahama Mama | 03/05/2006 | DoughtyOne

[DoughtyOne]

  

Ahoy all FReepers!  Join the Fun!
  

FReeps Ahoy 4
      
  A fun-filled, Sun-Filled Caribbean Cruise!
  May 13 - 20, 2006

[MinuteGal]

Well, in the mad, mad, mad world of preparing for this cruise, I let the cut-off date (April 13) for pre-reserving a shore tour get right past me.

So, as soon as I can when aboard, I'll head for the shore excursion desk and book the expedition I'm interested in. I hope it won't be all filled up.

I'm signing up for the "Under Two Flags" island tour in St. Maarten.

I'm booking the Wednesday 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM tour of St. Maarten. It's tour # A-1. A description of this excursion is on page 82 of the booklet you have in your packet, titled "Caribbean Odyssey". This snappy tour lasts just the right amount of time for me.

The bus, van or whatever it is goes through some great scenic and panoramic territory on the Dutch side. Lots of breathtaking, stunning photo ops around every bend of the road.

Then the vehicle travels on to Marigot, the island's French-side capital. There'll be some free time to experience the town's European atmosphere, the quaint shops and chic little boutiques, sidewalk cafes or the open-air local market.

Or just chitty-chat bang-bang with freeper friends at a "Parisienne" waterfront cafe sipping cappucinos, gazing at the turquoise waters of the picturesque little port bustling right before your very eyes.

Ooo, la la, I think I will like this outing TRES BIEN!

The van or bus or whatever it is will take you back to the dock, or if you prefer, to Philipsburg (Dutch-side capital) for some independent shopping or sightseeing in the city.

This tour description sounds really, really good to me. And the price is right, only 29 bucks per person.

If any of you want to do likewise, we'll talk about it Friday night at the Hampton Inn or Saturday at the boarding lunch buffet. We might want to get a little group together for this tour.

Let us eat cake (and custard Napoleons and eclairs!)

Bahama Mama

[Bizzy Bugz]

My friend and I have already signed for the "Under two flags" island tour for 8:45. We have also signed for the "Best of St. Thomas" island tour at 8:45.
And we hope to have time for shopping also. And Oh I am so looking forward to relaxing

[MinuteGal]

Oh, c'est si bon!

We may even share the same wine bottle and petits four in Margrit.

Enchante!

Bahama Mama

[Bizzy Bugz]

OUI OUI, VIN ET FROMAGE

On my way to Atlanta and them home to finish packing
for the cruise
Will see everyone Friday at the Hampton Inn. We will
be arriving early in the afternoon. Will need some
rest. Age you know.

[MinuteGal]

Ahoy, freeper cruisers......if you'll be celebrating a May birthday, anniversary, special event or honor, etc. on this cruise, please post it here, or freepmail me at "MinuteGal". We want to share happy occasions with you as we merrily roll across the Caribbean.

Now, please......DON'T be shy about letting yer Mama know!

We embark on a Saturday, and Sunday will be Mother's Day. In addition to the regular drawing for the evening table prize, there'll be an extra drawing for a little Mother's Day treat. Only the ladies will participate in the drawing, whether a mom or not. Good luck, gals.....you'll love this prize.

Hint: The prize is smaller than a bread slice and will be perfect for a well-dressed, patriotic Freeperette to wear on the Fourth of July!

Bahama Mama

[poobear]

Well I logged in yesterday afternoon and saw your post.

Most people don't like grits because 95% have never had them cooked correctly. Like polenta or coos coos (spelling), grits take some attention and time. Up to 20 minutes and stir constantly and season throughout or they will taste like wood glue without the flavor ;D! 4 to 1 is the usual ratio. Salt and butter is a must while cooking. Some people like to add 1 part milk. To me that kills the corn flavor. Anyway, on to shrimp grits. I'm a 1 pot person, but there is nothing like a shrimp grits casserole right out of the oven with a browned cheese topping to make the mouth water. So without further ado,

Poobears Shrimp Grits Casserole

1 Cup Stone ground Grits (not fast cooking) Dixie Lily if you can find
4 cups generously salted water
1/2 stick Butter
10 oz cheese (jalapeno cheddar is a good twist)
2 cloves garlic smashed and finely minced
1 tbs lemon zest
4 eggs well beaten
1 pound fresh shrimp cleaned and cut into med pieces

Melt butter in boiling salted water. Stir in grits stir constantly and cook about 4 to 8 minutes, remove from heat stir in shredded cheese until thoroughly incorporated. Set aside to cool to lukewarm. Fold beaten eggs into grits mixture, add shrimp pieces, garlic (sweat garlic first for less kick) and zest. Top with a Parmesan, bread crumb and butter topping. Bake 30 minutes at 325 F.

mmm... Great for brunch with your favorite beverage.

BTW, you are correct regarding how they make white hominy. You can even buy it canned. Pretty bad stuff though.

[MinuteGal]

Our FReeper Beach Party on the islet of Princess Cay will feature Mother Nature in all her glory, sand, sun, sky, sea, palms, tropical fish, sea birds and a delicious buffet featuring an array of luscious tropical fruits.

To add to the flora, fauna and fun, it'll also be FReeper Critters Day. Right after the barbeque luau, we'll have a drawing for three different little freepin' creatures you'll be delighted to win and take home.

Bahama Mama will say no more, other than the care and feeding of these wee patriotically-dressed pets is nil, nicht, nada.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Freeper cruisers arriving on Saturday will want to be in line outside the Princess terminal around 10:30 AM. Those of us staying at the Hampton Inn the night before will arrive approx the same time in the morning.

Terminal doors open around 11:15 - 11:30. You should be through registration and security and in your cabin around 12:15 PM.

Don't be dismayed at the sight of the long line when you arrive. Princess is known for having one of the best organized and speediest embarkation/disembarkation processes in the cruise line industry once the terminal doors are opened.

Wear shorts or light, casual clothing. Wear a hat and have a bottle of water available in your carry-ons. It will be Florida-warm standing in line.

Each of you....please have your ID and ticket packet organized and at the ready. Do not, repeat, do not pack your documents in the luggage you check in with the curbside red cap.

Have a supply of small bills in your wallet for any tipping needs between the airport/Hampton Inn and your cabin.

There's supposedly a sign at the terminal that you don't have to tip the burly red caps. However, I'll slip mine a few bucks as I don't want my suitcases sent to the Greek Islands by mistake.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Once in your cabin, you may want to freshen up. Your luggage will arrive in your cabin sometime before 5:30 PM. However, if you've properly organized your carry-ons, you'll have what you need to freshen up.

Leave any unpacking or whatever till later. Head to the welcome-aboard buffet lunch right away. Your room steward will tell you how to get there.

This boarding buffet will be chaos as all passengers will be trying to chow down at once. It's a one-time occurence. Roll with it and start enjoying yourself.

There'll be spillover of diners out onto the deck which will be a nice place for us to find tables and chairs and eat together as much as possible. Try to save one other chair if possible for freepers as they come in.

Please wear your freeper name tag.....everyone look for the tags with the bright red cords around the neck. We'll do the best we can to find each other and the tags help immensely. Bahama Mama will be walking around on the lookout, also.

If we don't all hook up at lunch, we'll see each other at the sail-away dinner. Your dinner seating number will be on a card in your cabin when you arrive.

If you notice anything strange about your dinner seating, let Bahama Mama know right away. On one of our past FReeps Ahoy, a number of our freepers were marked down as first (early) dinner seating, when in fact we should have all been together at 2nd seating.

It took me almost two hours after boarding to wait down in the bowels of the maitre d's office to straighten that baby out. I was not happy, to say the least.

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

You Are Cordially Invited........

FREEPS AHOY 4 COCKTAIL PARTY !

Monday, May 15 (at sea day)

5 PM - 6 PM
Explorers Lounge, Promenade Deck

"FEATURING THE FAMOUS FREEPER GAG-GIFT DRAWING!"

Complimentary Open Bar for One Hour. Unlimited Cocktails. Snacks

(Nice Casual)

Unlimited Fun!

SEE Y'ALL THERE, MATES !

[Graybeard58]

Please wear your freeper name tag.....everyone look for the tags with the bright red cords around the neck

The answer is probably already posted somewhere but when will these name tags be passed out?

[MinuteGal]

I'm bringing the name tags with me, Graybeard. The Hampton Inn gang will get theirs Friday night. The Saturday arrivals will get them at the lunch boarding buffet.

Your room steward will show you how to get to the buffet.

A word here about getting around on this huge ship. It will take you a day or two to get oriented. Actually, some poor souls never DO get oriented and they're just as confused on the last day as on the first, LOL.

One problem is the atrium that soars many stories into the ether zone from the midship lobby. This means that to get from point A to point B on some decks you may run into a dead end, i.e., the atrium.

You'll have to take the elevator up to a floor that runs over the atrium top......and then take another elevator down to your original floor to continue your trek.

Never fear.....navigating the Princess will soon become second nature for you.

You'll find a deck plan in your cabin to tuck into your tote bag. There's plenty of signage in the halls and by the elevators and staircases. Staff and stewards are all over the place. They'll cheerfully point you to the right direction.

Just remember to give yourself extra time to get where you want to go if a fixed time is involved, like dinner. You'll get the hang of things shortly.

Remember to bring some little post-it note pads with you to stick on your mirror so your cabin partner knows where you're going to be if you want to go somewhere and your partner isn't around.

Bahama Mama

[hoosiermama]

Thinkng of you all and wishing I were joining you! Have (at least one) chocolate martini for me!

[MinuteGal]

Oh, Molly, I wish with all my heart you were going. You're such fun to be with. And you were such a help to Bahama Mama on our last voyage.

Hope to stop in and see you in your lovely Indiana home on one of my trips north.

Thanks for your bon voyage.

Au revoir....till we meet again

( Pssst, folks....here's a recommendation: See Hoosiermama's profile page ! )

Bahama Mama

[Bizzy Bugz]

How will I know where to go for the evening entertainment? We always depended on you. You always knew the best places to go.
However, since you cannot go this time I will just have to have the chocolate martini for you.
I will surely miss you and will be thinking about you.
Marsha will post some pics for me when I get home.
Edith

[MinuteGal]

Hi, you have email.

Bahama Mama

[Syncro]

If you looked like that you had better stay out of West Hollywood!

You would be taken for the opposite of what I know you to be!

239 posted on 01/21/2006 3:34:35 AM PST by dalereed

You got that right! LOL

(I just did that to show Leni what a female Syncro would look like...

This is (was) the real me on the last cruize:

Shoot, I meant to fix that tooth thingie...

There that's better!

[dalereed]

If you looked like that you had better stay out of West Hollywood!

You would be taken for the opposite of what I know you to be!

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for the pic of the real you, Syncro.

Oh, swoon........

Bahama Mama

[Syncro]

Wow good picture!

Hey Syncro, a little birdie told me you are into this.

Well the little birdie was right! I'm looking for volunteers this time around:

We didn't quite get this high...

But it was choppy out there that day and we did catch some air! My passenger held on tight to the love handles and we bounced around like crazy! It was the most fun I had on the last cruize. That island visit rocked!

[Syncro]

Well thanks Leni!

And thanks for enjoying my sculptures back in the first thread.

Unfortunately I am not going to be on this Cruize as I had planned.

Some personal business make it undoable at this time.

I am sure all of you will have a grate time!