Posted on 05/29/2004 2:14:06 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
Welcome back. (I am so jealous, and I hear that the cruise may not take place next year when I may be in a position to go...rats!)
Oh, and I can't wait to see the pics.
I can't wait to see them either. I'm supportive of a cruise next year. I'd like to see one on the west coast this time.
I vote for the West Coast also, DoughtyOne. I wanted to go so badly, took a float down the Flathead instead. Not really the same at all.
Sorry thing got mixed up and you couldn't post any pictures durring the week, but here are a few to get started with.
Group leaving the hotel for the ship last Saturday.
The beach and the ship at anchor from the beach party on Sunday.
Bahama Mama
Bush Democrat and her husband Mike rounded up the materials, some that they aquired at the Home Depot in St Thomas.
Needless to say, Freepers are the best and we not only won handily but set a new record for cargo capacity with 36 cans of Coke when they stopped the loading and declared us the winners. It could have held at least another 2 cases!
Geting started with the construction at the FreeRepublic Network meeting with the construction.
Prepairing to launch
Floating in the Jacuzzi which was the contest test site.
Loaded with the winning cargo.
Thank you Dale, I appreciate the effort. Sorry it didn't work out as smoothly as we had planned.
Thanks for posting the photos. The more the merrier.
glad you folks had a great time. I'm envious.
SERIOUSLY Dale, I could have gone all day without seeing myself from that view!!! Yes, the food on board was great, but the diet starts tonight!!
I may get the prize for the last one to get to my destination.....after you left was informed my flight time had been moved back ANOTHER hour.....finally made it to Indy...Threw the suit cases in the back of my little green pick up and headed out for the giant racetrack around town known officially as "465"....Not that folks were racing on it or anything but I was going 20 mph over the speed limit and they were all going around me like "I was sitting still" I think one semi lapped me......twice. Finally found an exit going south...two favorite had constuction of course...but, what can I say...... it was race weekend there's always construction.....
When I got "back home" we were having races at the local dirt track....Rounded the corner just as a big double trailer with "Tony Stewart Racing" painted on the side took his half out of the middle of the road....
But I'm HOME! It's after 1 AM here ...2 Florida time....so.......I think I'll have a desert or something......mmmmm See you tomorrow...
Good to see that you are home safe. Son was waiting for me and arrived home soooo tired but happy. Just waiting for the pics to be posted. And yes everyone we will have to have another one next year. They get better each time as we know each other better and also meet new freepers. Gee we had some very cute new ones this year. They seem to be getting younger. Or am I just getting older. Welllll?
Well, we made it back.
Since our plane left so late on Sat, we just rented a car and went to the beach for lunch and then shopping before the marathon flight to LA. Ran into Fooman & Co. at the car rental place.
I suppose unpacking is in order. I swear I felt like the ship was moving when I woke up this morning.
I was upset by getting pushed off the ship so early and contemplating a 7 hour wait at the airport and was really considering not getting on the airport shuttle and doing something like you did.
When we got to the airport instead of accepting the bording passes and checking the luggage I went to the AA check in computer and there were seats open on a flight that left in 40 minutes, clicked on it, got new boarding passes and luggage tags and were back home by 5:00.
Tried that too...Unfortunately with that little race going on in Indy this weekend, guess I was fortunate to find a flight into Indy at all! First time I've been on a full flight to Indianapolis. Must have had a dozen infants under age of 2, plus a dozen more families with children....Thank goodness they slept....all the way home...It was waiting at the airport until nearly 10 Florida time that was a zoo....Those poor parents...Many were from cruises and spent the day at the airport....
BTW ment three young couples from Vermont....One had just gotten married and was taking his brother, and nephew on the "Honeymoon" cruise....The wives all giggled when I commented. They were having a great time! Informed them as to Kerry's book and the winter soldier information. Hopefully picked up a few more votes. They we either on the fence or leaning right anyway...
OTOH also "briefly" sat next to a girl from NYC....the BO alone tell you her candidate of choice....what a loser.
Here we are at the port in Fort Lauderdale, waiting to board the ship. See how excited we all are... wondering what the ship will look like inside and if it measures up to last year's excellence.
Aboard ship we found it quite excellent and the chocolate-martini-gang wasted no time in claiming our spot in the Crow's Nest Lounge where we would meet for each night before dinner for chocolate martinis, of course. Seen here is (left to right) Bizzy Bugz (my mom), Apple Pan Dowdy (me), my cousin Cindy and my aunt Elaine (both FR Lurkers),
Each evening at the Crow's Nest, Willy (our wonderful waiter from the Phillipines who we all adored) would be saving our spot and already have the martinis ready. In case you do not already know, chocolate martinis are made with vodka and cream de cocoa... Willy introduced a new one, made with "vanilla" vodka instead of plain.
Shown below are Bizzy Bugz and Apple Pan Dowdy with Willy..... who promises to log onto Free Republic.
One night at sea we had a storm that set the boat to reeling... we were rocking and rolling in more ways than one. Notice the photo below is fuzzy and out of focus.... cause the boat was rocking too much for the camera to stay in focus. No one got sea sick, so all was well.
Out the Crow's Nest windows we watched incredable sunsets...
... and even a magical rainbow one evening as the previous day's storm broke and the sun came out. (the lights are those reflected in the window)
All of the storm and rain hit us on days we were at sea, thus no shore leave was spoiled by the weather. On board, the ship's Ledo deck and pool was covered by a sliding glass dome while was raining.
There were also lovely sunrises enjoyed as we sipped morning tea on the balcony of our cabin. What a way to relax, forget for just a moment the nation's troubles, and to thank the good Lord for all his many blessings. Below on the left is at sea and on the right was on the last day when we awoke to sailing into port back at Fort Lauderdale.
On-board activities included the infamous ship building contest ouot on the Lido deck that you all have read about already. The FReepers won of course... and so treated ourselves to extra "rum rations" that day and much cheering and back patting.
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Above is the "competion".... braaaahhhaaaahahahaha |
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Here you can see that even though cases of drinks were loaded on, we never sank... there was a ships record set here they tell us! |
There was (below) a FReeper Meeting to discuss stratagy and future plans....
There were lots of prizes to raffle off among the FReepers. Seen below is the happy Freeper who won "Hero the FReedom Bear".
The dinners were wonderful culinary creations and the Freepers enjoyed a table section in the ship's stern where we could see the ship's wake out the window. Below you can see our table postion in the photo taken from outside.
As a special treat, the ship called one night "Dutch Night" and we were all given Dutch hats to wear. Below is Ellen and HoosiererMamma showing off the hats...
Below an un-named FReeper (remember, what happens on the ship stays on the ship, as we always say) is seen in a tee shirt purchased in St Thomas, that captures the moment well...
Bizzy Bugz proved once again this year to be our "Casino queen". Although many of the Freepers visited the casino, Bugz had the payoffs.... I watched one day as she won $640 on a slot machine. When the machine began to emit a loud pulsing siren and a crowd gathered, I thought for a moment we were having a life boat drill that wasn't a drill..... a casino attendant came to present her cash payoff. And, of course she spent all of her winnings buying "diamonds" onshore.
I was particularly happy to not only have the company of my Mom onboard, but that of my aunt Elaine and cousin Cindy (seen below) as well. Freepers say hello to two lurkers who love Free Republic and all it stands for. Next year maybe I can convince my hubby Mike to join us onboard!
As great as the on-board activities were.... the trips ashore were even better. A few examples follow....
A group of us spent a day on a charter boat cruisin' the shores near and around Tortolla. We stopped here (below) for a bit of fantastic snorkling in crystal clear water among a fantasy of coral and brightly colored fish of all kinds..
Below is our ship seen from Half Moon Cay where we enjoyed a day of sunning and picnic on the Beach...
... and here is Apple Pan Dowdy (yours truely) at the Cay...
Below we are sailing into St Thomas, Virgin Isles...
In Nassau we visited the luxurious Atlantis... Below are a shots in and around this lovely resort...
The last night aboard we had a photo taken of the whole FReeper gang... on the Grand Staircase. Here we all are in all our FReepin' glory
While waiting to disembark, I looked up at these flags fluttering above the Lido deck. I don't know the flag "language" but I am quite sure they are saying something like, "Y'all come back now next year"............. and we will! We hope to see more of you join us.
I have more, but need permission. Contact me if you want to see all the others.
Nice pics! I may have to try to come along next year, now that the kiddo will be off at college, rather than underfoot.
ping!
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