Ahoy all FReepers! Join the Fun!
FReeps Ahoy 4A fun-filled, Sun-Filled Caribbean Cruise!
May 13 - 20, 2006
Posted on 03/05/2006 8:33:11 AM PST by DoughtyOne
Hey, who's that cute guy?
Something about that beard of his always fascinated me and I don't like beards!
That's most probably why they couldn't fix them correctly on the first cruise. Love them though especially with scrambled eggs and bacon.
A friend sent me some stone ground grits and they are the best yet. Lots of butter and salt and pepper, yummy. Those who can eat shrimp (I'm allergic) should try Shrimp and Grits a Charleston original and staple. Yummmy,Yummy.
You can take cooked grits (yellow or white) chill, fry and serve with syrup. Or just fried or baked or toasted. In Italy its called Polenta.
My favorite poem.
This is like cream of wheat, (yeck). Also can be served as polenta if you are Italian.
Corn Meal Mush
A traditional breakfast dish
1/2 cup Cornmeal
2-3/4 cups Water
3/4 teaspoon Salt
Sprinkle cornmeal into boiling water, stirring constantly. Add salt and cook for about half an hour. Serve with sugar and cream.
It does look like fun.
On the morning of our freeper beach party, we go at our own leisure to a designated salon on the ship where beach-going passengers wait for their number (or color) to be called. Thence to the deck where tenders are boarded for the trip to the beach.
I suggest wearing sturdy beach shoes. If the water is choppy, it's better to have some good sneakers on rather than thongs when transferring from the ship to the bouncing tender.
Also, while the cruise lines' beaches on the various out-islands off Nassau are manicured, the islets are basically rocky formations. This means that walking along the water's edge and into the water itself can be tough on the tootsies from stones and shell/coral pieces. You will be happy you brought some footwear you can wear on the sand and right into the water itself.
You can use your ship's card to purchase adult beverages on the beach. Your unlimited soda card is not good there. Bring a few bucks cash for drinks if you wish, and also for the native crafts displays if you see some little souvenir that you like. I hear there's native straw market stand or two with some interesting items. The native stands require cash.
You can use your ship's card at the kiosks and huts run by the cruise line itself. These shops sell touristy stuff and a lot of things sold on the on-board shops. I plan on looking but not buying at the company stores on the beach. The prices are too high, so I recommend by-passing them.
I hear the ice-cold Strawberry Daquiris on the beach are renowned and quite delicious. You may want to splurge on one in this beautiful, relaxed setting chatting with your freeper friends.
Beach towels are supplied by the ship so don't worry about packing any on this trip.
Your Bahama Mama will leave early to try to stake out a spot for our group. I'll see if I can find an area with some shade.....and with proximity to the buffet area, the washrooms, the steel band, and, of course, the tiki bars.
I'll attach the American flag I'm bringing to a chair or palm tree or something....so look up and down the beach for the good old Red, White and Blue.....'cause that's where we'll gather. I'm bringing duct tape with, of course, heheheh.
You don't have to stay all day at the beach. Sometimes it's better to get there early when it's a little cooler. Many people then have the tropical buffet and maybe a little swim....and then beat it back to the ship. The tenders run constantly.
We'll have a drawing for our FReeper Creatures prizes as we eat lunch in the pavillion. You don't have to be present to win. Then stay or go as you will.
I imagine a lot of us will stay at least a little longer because it's so much fun just lounging and talking on the beach.
I love the beach and the sand and the sun and the sea and will probably stay there under a date palm until the last sea gull is hung.
Bahama Mama
"Five forks" rating....compliments to the chef.
"One fork" rating, the chef walks the plank.
The head chef is Italian, so I don't know. But maybe he's from southern Italy, so there's hope.
Bahama Mama
You are right on target, but I use a bit more salt... Yummmm I am dying here thinking that I could have gone on this cruise as things turned out.. %$#@%^().. :)
If he is from Southern Italy, Calabria for instance, he won't know Polenta, or grits from polo divots.. he is from rich Red Sauce, Pasta country... LOL
Hi Leni! I'm just popping on to wish all of you a special Bon Voyage! Hope you have a spectacular cruise and I'm looking forward to the after-cruise thread, wish I could join you. Maybe someday...
Please ping me if you get a ping list going for the pictures etc. Thanks!
Alas, there won't be a ping list for the apres-cruise photos and comments. I just don't have time right now to put one together.
No matter, we're going to keep the current thread open and running during the cruise It may be that some freeper cruiser may want to post a "live report" from the ship's internet cafe during the voyage. It's pretty expensive to do so, so there may or may not be a live report.
However, every once in a while during the cruise week freepers should click as usual on the FReeps Ahoy red "4" on top of the "latest posts" page to see if anything is going on.
The cruise is from May 13-20. After our freeper cruisers disembark, fly or drive home to their various states, get unpacked and settled in, the pictures should start being posted. They should be interesting, fun and worth waiting for.
Bahama Mama
To those arriving at the airport, the Hampton Inn courtesy phone for requesting the complimentary shuttle van to the Inn is near the luggage pick-up.
I'm told there are four phones for the four different Hampton Inn locations in Ft. Lauderdale.
BE SURE to use the one that's marked "Hampton Inn Airport-North".
The address of the Inn we're staying at is 2301 SW 12th Ave.
The Inn's phone number is (954) 524-9900.
Bahama Mama will make the arrangements for the shuttle van to take us to the dock on Saturday morning.
I'll leave my room number at the desk if you can't find me in the lobby. Ask the desk clerk for "Free Republic Cruise Chairman".
Now is the time for any further questions on any aspect of this cruise. I'll not be able to answer questions after Wednesday night. Post your question here or freepmail me at "MinuteGal".
Bahama Mama
In case of emergency, the phone number of the Caribbean Princess is 1-900-329-7447.
The caller must have at the ready the name of the ship and the exact name you booked under plus your cabin number.
Please email or leave appropriate info with a relative, friend or neighbor.
Bahama Mama
Leni, I got your mail and everything is packed. All systems on go. All basics packed. Too many appointments this week, however will get thru them and be on the plane Friday morning and will be at the Hampton Inn Friday afternoon. In time for a good rest before Saturday morning. I think that I am getting too old for this.
Looking forward to a great week.
See ya Friday in the Hamptons.....oops, at the Hampton.
Have a good flight.
Bahama Mama
How nice of you.
You have been turned...LOL
*smooch*
Check your FR mail for disguise...
I have already started the fund for the Cruise to Nowhere 2007. The good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be on this one.
Some friends of mine just got back from a week long cruise and had a blast.
Great website by the way.
So blow ye winds, hi ho
A rovin' we will go
With a mighty roar we'll leave the shore
So let the ship's band play, ay, ay.....
We're off on the bounding main
And we won't be back again
Till the week is o'er and our tan is sore
Like our FR withdrawal pain
WHOO HOO !!!
Three days and counting!
Bahama Mama
Check in once in a while because a freeper cruiser or two may post "live" to this thread from the Caribbean Sea utilizing the Internet Cafe aboard ship. It may not be possible, but we'll find out.
When we sailors return, watch this thread for great after-cruise photos and commentaries.
Now your Bahama Mama is going, going, gone.....heading for Fort Lauderdale tomorrow morning. I'll talk to you right here again in about 8 days or so.
Thanks to all you wonderful freepers for your participation on these happy cruise threads the past three months. It's certainly been fun.....and there's more to come. Don't go away, LOL.
FReeps Ahoy!
Bahama Mama
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.