I'm on board - for whatever that's worth.
I've been here all along, lurking in the torments of panic as my balky computer wouldn't connect me with this new thread. I see you all carried on admirably in my absence.
Thanks, DoughtyOne, for the smooth segue into Thread Two.
Segue-ing right along, I want to announce to any newcomers to this cruise thread as well as those still undecided about our maritime freeper adventure to make that quantum leap and sign on.
There's still almost two months till embarkation, but the ship is filling up rapidly. You must get your oar in pretty quick....like this coming week....or you may be left standing forlornly at the dock while your dream ships sails away without you.
Phone our mermaid travel agent, Wanda, at 1-800-266-1167 (PST) Monday. Tell her you're with the Free Republic group. She'll arrange everything hassle-free for you as she has been doing these past two month for our very satisfied and delighted freeper cruisers. She'll find a nice sunny cabin with picture window overlooking the sea just for you.
Bahama Mama
The Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove Boat!
Bahama Mama will put in a request to him on behalf of our group as soon as we board. You'll all be notified if we get permission. The tour, if approved, will be on a sea day.
Generally, you are shown around the bridge by a senior officer or two plus the Quartermaster of the Watch. If he's not otherwise occupied, the Captain will join us for handshakes and a photo op. Questions will be patiently answered. The 180-degree panoramic view of the sea from about 15-18 decks up is phenomenal in itself.
Joining our FR group for this tour is optional. But for some of you it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was on the bridge on one of the Holland America ships, and it was awesome. Don't miss this, peeples.
You'll have to check the schedule you get every morning in your "Princess Patter", but I believe on the last sea day, you can attend a cooking demonstration. Very informative and funny, too. Two chefs (not connected with the ship except by contract) put on a great show!
The demonstration ends with a tour of the galley. Here you can see how thousands of meals are prepared on a ship (and that's just for dinner!). Seeing the cleanliness, the compactness and the amazing use of space in the galley is an experience in itself.
Freepers, there's still time to sign up for this cruise. You can't get a vacation anywhere at this price with so many activities and informative opportunities to chose from.
Freepmail me at "MinuteGal" if you want a personal answer to any question about booking.
Bahama Mama
Be sure to read everything in your pre-cruise information booklets thoroughly.
I suggest you start a "cruise tablet" and take notes of the tips here that will be of use to you. It'll be too difficult to scroll back at the last minute to find things you forgot to remember.
If anyone has good tips on packing, what to bring, etc., please post them here. They will be appreciated by all.
Bahama Mama
When you pull up to the Princess terminal curb, a redcap will take your luggage. Be sure each luggage has a ship's tag on it. You'll receive these special tags in your final packet. Fill them out and attach before you leave home.
Often you will not have enough tags for your luggage. The redcap at the curb will give you blank ones to fill out. Have a pen at ready.
Make sure you also have your own personal tag on each luggage piece. I add my email addy to the personal tag info.
For carry-ons, I use a light-weight but roomy duffel bag to hang over my shoulder. I also have a shopping bag-looking tapestry bag I carry. It has little wheels that come down so I can roll it when necessary. It's also lightweight. I find the airplane rolling suitcases too heavy for me, even the smallest ones.
Ladies, dump the purse for embarkation time. You don't need to carry a useless item. In the duffel bag I have all personal/breakable items I want to keep close to me.....sun glasses, small throw-away camera, keys, wallet, required ship ticket and ID's, cosmetics and comb, cash and travelers checks, my jewelry in a baggie, a couple of cookies (you'd be surprised how they come in handy), a bottle of water, prescription pills....you get my drift. (I use baggies for most of this stuff. Makes things easier to find and grab out of the duffel bag).
In my rolling "shopping bag", I carry things that I may need right away upon entering my cabin, or things that may get crushed or broken.....straw hats, deoderant, shaver, change of shirt or shoes (your luggage may not be in your room yet), wine, champagne & soda pop (padded) a baseball-type cap for men, travel alarm clock, etc. Remember, your checked luggage gets stacked like cordwood before it's loaded on the ship.
Make sure you have your own personal tags on your carry-ons, also. Limiting youself to two carry-ons makes sense in a lot of ways. Keep them light. It's a long walk from the terminal to your cabin.
You'll find your suitcases more quickly at disembarkation time if you wrap colored luggage straps around them. J.C. Penney stores carry them in the luggage departments. If you don't want to buy any, use bright-colored yarn or cloth ribbon tied through the metal rings. My straps are day-glo lime green.
I read somewhere that you no longer have to tip the redcaps taking your luggage at the curb. Apparently they have "no tipping" signs posted. Maybe one of our freepers who have sailed from this terminal can help out here. Otherwise, $1 tip per piece handled is standard. Do not count in your carry-ons.
If you need a wheel chair to take you to your cabin or you have other special needs, there is a desk inside where you will be taken care of. Just ask where to go.
Have enough small bills ready for anything that comes up. A van driver that takes you from a motel or the airport should be tipped. I also tip my permanent room steward $10 right away.....that is, after I check to make sure I have ice. He will also empty your fridge of the usual mass of beverages-for-sale upon request. He will also bring you feather pillows upon request. Tipping a nominal amount to a room steward at the onset is done by seasoned travelers for obvious and good reasons.
Any questions, post them here or freepmail me at "MinuteGal".
HELPFUL TIP......sounds goofy, but pick up some $2 bills when you're at the bank for travelers checks. You'll use them a lot and they're bulge-friendly in your wallet.
Bahama Mama
You can still get a cabin for this freeper cruise. If you're on a budget consider an inside stateroom. They're still available for under 900 bucks. Try staying at Disney or other resorts for that price. There's no comparison, taking into account unlimited food all day, each day........entertainment of every possible kind, stops at beautiful islands, a luau beach-day with steel band , white sand and azure water, plus a moveable feast of scenes, sights, sounds and sensations every single day. Cruises are a great way to take an economy vacation if you know the ropes and have a little will-power.
Inside cabins are very compact, but have all the amenities such as TV, safe, fridge, etc. Queen or twin beds. Plenty of storage space. Many regular, seasoned travelers deliberately choose inside cabins so they have money to spend elsewhere on the voyage.
You really shouldn't care all that much about a smaller cabin.....you're mostly in there only to dress, shower and crash. The square footage becomes relatively unimportant when compared to the fantastic opportunity to live like royalty on a hassle-free vacation getaway.
Ships today seek to maximize their cash flow with tempting ways to get you to spend extra money over and above the all-inclusive fare you paid.
Now most of them have PC (Personal Choice) gourmet restaurants where the food and service are deelish, but they'll cost you $30 more per person. Resist the temptation. The dinners in our Dining Room feature delicious eats........and the freeper fun and conversation at table will be worth more than 10 gourmet bistros.
Have your steward empty your fridge of all the beverages that are in there when you board. Bring your own water bottles in your check-in baggage. Bring wine in your carry-ons.
You can always buy more bottled water in a supermarket or store right near the dock. Buy a soda card if you drink a lot of pop. (Tips on soda cards above).
If you're sunning on deck, resist summoning that steward rolling his drink cart around the deck. He'll put whatever you drink on your running tab.
If you're dry, drink from your own water bottle....or hie your body to an area on the ship where you can get free iced tea, coffee, hot tea or ice water 24 hours a day.
Other ship offerings include massages, some spa activities, hair cuts, computer room, ice cream bar, and other goodies all for a charge. Eat your ice cream for free at lunch or dinner, good pizza is always available for free, and forget the computer for a week....you'll live, and your eyes will welcome the rest.
More tips to follow.
Bahama Mama
Bahama Mama
LAST CALL! WRITE YOURSELF A MEMORANDAH TO CALL WANDAH MONDAY AT TOLL-FREE 1-800-266-1167
Ah-ah-ah-choo!
Bahamah Mamah
Thanks,
Bahama Mama
I HAVE GOOD NEWS! I was able to finagle a group reduced rate at the Hampton Inn. Those of you early birds will notice on your hotel reservation (in the mailing along with your ticket) that the rate for each of us has been reduced to $109.00 plus tax, a nice savings from the original quoted price. Most of us were quoted $149 at the beginning because we didn't have an organized group ready to book right off the bat.
MORE GOOD NEWS! I got the word just today. We'll have a free cocktail party while on board! I was sweating this one out as we have a small group and I didn't know if we would qualify or not.
Right now, I don't have the date, time or which beautiful lounge we'll meet in, but have a PARTY we will! Bring on the chocolate martinis, James, stirred, not curdled.
I've requested the party to be on a sea-day prior to a non-formal dinner so we don't have to be stiff and gussied up and all that.
The FReeper Cocktail Party has always been one of the MOST FUN FReeps Ahoy events going way back in time. On this purposely laid-back voyage, it's the ONLY planned event.
The cocktail party is where we draw a name out of our FReebooter Booty bag to get a winner for the famous and always-hilarious "gag gift" prize.
It's another doozy this year, folks! Wait and see. You'll ROFLYAO!
Here's also where we can sit and schmooze with each other up close and personal in some gorgeous, dimly-lit lounge while the panorama of placid Caribbean rolls by through the picture windows.
AND ALL THE DRINKS AND SNACKY-POOHS ARE COMPLIMENTARY FOR ONE SOLID HOUR!
A special note to the three winners of our Early-Bird-Booking Incentive prizes (the Dalereeds, the JCParks and the Greybeards). On embarkation day, you'll find your on-board cash credits already in your ship accounts and you can start wild spending right away, LOL.
Back to more mundane things.......your ticket packet will contain stick-on luggage labels. Be sure to write your cabin number BIG, bold and black on each one (at home before you leave).
If you have more luggage than labels, the Red Cap at the curb in front of the terminal will have extras to give you.....just have a pen at the ready to fill them out.
In your ticket booklet (on coupon 7), you'll see some charges listed in a column. Pay no heed, you've already paid anything listed there....this is just how they break things out for their own records.
Your ticket booklet, your hotel reservation (if you're arriving on Friday), your photo drivers license, your original birth certificate (or a photo copy with ORIGINAL raised seal), or your up-to-date passport should be kept together and placed AT THE READY in one of your carry-ons. DON'T PACK THEM IN LUGGAGE THAT WILL BE TAKEN FROM YOU RIGHT AWAY BY THE RED CAP AT THE TERMINAL! Oh, man, I don't even want to think about that.
I think we're getting good to go, maties.
Be still my freeping heart!
Bahama Mama
Bahama Mama
(Add things that catch your eye onto that list you're supposed to be making, LOL.)
The Caribe Cafe (the buffet behind the Horizon Court) offers totally delicious lobster, shrimp, crab and sushi which can be used as appetizers as you make your way to our evening dinners. Eat all you want, mmmmm, but save at least a little room for din-din.
There's always fresh pizza available on board. I hear it's excellent. You'll see the ship's officers walking by and sneaking a piece. And they are ITALIANS so it must be good!
MAKE A NOTE: There's a delightful pay ice cream bar on board, but a sleuth told me there's a freebie ice cream bar almost hidden away in the closed side of the Horizon Court buffet. This freebie bar is open every afternoon between 3:30 and 4:30. Yummy ice cream with lots of toppings 'n stuff.
You can bring wine and champagne on in your carry-ons. Some folks bring a case of sealed water bottles, stick a luggage tag on it, give it to the Red Cap at the curb, and it'll be delivered to your cabin along with your luggage after boarding. Remember, everyone has a little fridge. If you're not interested, tell your room steward to remove the pop and all those beverages in the fridge that the ship hopes you'll buy.
To the early-birds coming on Friday, you can buy water bottles across the street from the Hampton Inn. This way you don't have to bring them on the plane.
Ladies, we must investigate the high tea held every afternoon. I hear tell it's loads of fun .....and the fresh-baked scones, tartlets, tea sandwiches and cookies are yummie!
Ah, high tea on the high seas. So poetic.
You'd be surprised at the number of men that attend the high tea. Why not? Elegant fare and service, quiet atmosphere conducive to intelligent conversation with other freepers, all with a magnificent and serene panoramic view of the sea. Maybe a harp or string trio. Very British and classy, old chaps!.
I almost forgot, you can stop by the Cafe Caribe and pick up some big plates of cold shrimp and crab legs (w/sauces) to munch on while viewing the evening "Movies Under the Stars".
The ship's bakery may not make them for every breakfast or lunch, but watch for the chocolate croissants. It is said they are to die for. So if you see some, POUNCE! They disappear fast! They may even be better than the chocolate martinis.
Speaking of chocolate, don't forget to order the ship's signature "Love Boat Chocolate Dessert" at least once. It's supposed to be simply fabulous and a chocoholic's nirvanah.
~Bon Apetit~
Bahama Mama
SEA FEVER
(by freeper John Masefield)
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sails shaking
And a gray mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a fellow freeper-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the freeper cruise is over
Bahama Mama
Nothing could be finah
Than to be a breakfast dinah
As you sit on your verandah
Your cares are left on land-ah
Nibble on your toast or Danish
Forget Bill and Her Heinous
Feel your cabin fever vanish
As you dine on your verandah
And take a gandah at the sea
Bahama Mama
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
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
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
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