Good Experience on Carnival or A Caribbean Quest for Undershorts
Mar 16th, 2013, 05:08 PM
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Good Experience on Carnival or A Caribbean Quest for Undershorts
My father and I just got back from a ten day Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Miracle, and mostly enjoyed it. The seas were very rough and we did not enjoy that, and there were aspects of Carnival that my dad wasn't crazy about.
We left New York on the sixth, and were a little late out of port due to a medical emergency. We were also trying to avoid an east coast storm, and the ship started to bounce a lot within the first couple of hours. We would have liked to walk around the ship, but it was rough enough that I was afraid my father was going to fall. By the way, the Carnival people were extremely helpful with his mobility issues throughout the trip.
We were actually pitching so much in the night that the drawers in our cabin were opening and closing by themselves, and you could occasionally hear things crashing or falling. It was still rough in the morning, but not as bad. The outside decks were closed, but we felt able to move around as long as he was careful.
We left New York on the sixth, and were a little late out of port due to a medical emergency. We were also trying to avoid an east coast storm, and the ship started to bounce a lot within the first couple of hours. We would have liked to walk around the ship, but it was rough enough that I was afraid my father was going to fall. By the way, the Carnival people were extremely helpful with his mobility issues throughout the trip.
We were actually pitching so much in the night that the drawers in our cabin were opening and closing by themselves, and you could occasionally hear things crashing or falling. It was still rough in the morning, but not as bad. The outside decks were closed, but we felt able to move around as long as he was careful.
Mar 17th, 2013, 04:17 AM
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Our first sea day was pretty quiet, and it was chilly even out on the sheltered part of the Lido deck. It was "cruise elegant" night, and we did get dressed up and go to the dining room, because I don't miss a chance to eat lobster. By the way, the food was very good, and while there were a number of things about Carnival my dad didn't love, he though the food was better than on HAL.
Mar 17th, 2013, 06:29 PM
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It was much calmer on the second sea day, and we spent a fair amount of time sunning on the Lido deck. I went briefly into the hot tub, which wasn't very hot, and decided it wasn't possible to get my dad in and out of it safely, which was a little disappointing. We did discover that the ship's jazz band and the guitarist in one of the lounges were very good. We also decided to see the production show. I'm easily amused, but my father found it torturous.
Mar 19th, 2013, 07:10 PM
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Now for the undershorts. My father didn't pack enough. He's notorious for packing too lightly. In this case, he brought enough pajama pants, socks, and shirts. One extra pair of pants and some woefully inadequate number of undershorts. We were hoping to find some in Grand Turk.
The cruise center in Grand Turk was very attractive, and had a lot of stores, but they all seemed to see souvenirs and jewelry. Some women's clothes, but not a lot of men's, and my dad could not be persuaded to enter the Ron Jon shop.
No undershorts.
The cruise center in Grand Turk was very attractive, and had a lot of stores, but they all seemed to see souvenirs and jewelry. Some women's clothes, but not a lot of men's, and my dad could not be persuaded to enter the Ron Jon shop.
No undershorts.
Mar 19th, 2013, 11:02 PM
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Re Undershorts ....
Other than using the laundry facilities where available, one can always wash them in the wash basin and hang it on a coat hanger to dry.
An alternative would be "disposable", and they came in varing fashions: paper, plastic, edible etc.
Other options: wear it inside out, in reverse, add paper linings, or simply going commando and do without.
With a daily washing schedule (and no accidents), two pairs should work well enough for a light packer.
Disclaimer: I pack light but my minimum is 3.
Other than using the laundry facilities where available, one can always wash them in the wash basin and hang it on a coat hanger to dry.
An alternative would be "disposable", and they came in varing fashions: paper, plastic, edible etc.
Other options: wear it inside out, in reverse, add paper linings, or simply going commando and do without.
With a daily washing schedule (and no accidents), two pairs should work well enough for a light packer.
Disclaimer: I pack light but my minimum is 3.
Mar 20th, 2013, 06:25 AM
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After doing laundry one time on a Princess cruise, and feeling resentful that I was in the laundry while everyone else in the group was topside having fun, I swore, like Scarlett O'Hara, "as God is my witness I shall never" do laundry on a cruise again.So I take enough undies for every day and 1 or 2 extras.Don't even want to wash them out in the sink. We're light packers, and lately we travel with carryons only.
Mar 20th, 2013, 07:04 AM
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I'm not a fan of the "wash them out in the sink school". I never really believe that they are clean. We did end up using the ship's laundry service since the lauderette was expensive and inconvenient.
Mar 22nd, 2013, 07:17 AM
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Perhaps, but that seems a little extreme.
Despite the lack of undershorts, we enjoyed Grand Turk. First we sat in beach chairs while my father napped, and then had a beverage (pina colada for me, bottled water for dad) and I had a swim. Then we went to walk on the beach, and discovered that the minute you leave the cruise center, you seem to be in a small, sleepy, and very Caribbean slice of the Caribbean. We waded a little and stopped at beach bar for beer and fried plantains, walked some more and stopped for more beer and water. We tried wading, since the surf seemed gentle, but a stronger wave knocked my dad over, which was a little scary, although a couple of fellow passengers helped me get him up. I left him in a beach chair for a few minutes and went to swim in the ocean, but the occasional stronger wave was making it a little difficult, and there was a fairly steep and shelly drop off. We walked back to the cruise center at our leisure and had another snack in Margaritaville. I ordered a cheeseburger because the ones on the ship weren't very good, and sadly it was no better. My father had the West Indian Conch soup and said it was good, but hotter than he'd expected.
Despite the lack of undershorts, we enjoyed Grand Turk. First we sat in beach chairs while my father napped, and then had a beverage (pina colada for me, bottled water for dad) and I had a swim. Then we went to walk on the beach, and discovered that the minute you leave the cruise center, you seem to be in a small, sleepy, and very Caribbean slice of the Caribbean. We waded a little and stopped at beach bar for beer and fried plantains, walked some more and stopped for more beer and water. We tried wading, since the surf seemed gentle, but a stronger wave knocked my dad over, which was a little scary, although a couple of fellow passengers helped me get him up. I left him in a beach chair for a few minutes and went to swim in the ocean, but the occasional stronger wave was making it a little difficult, and there was a fairly steep and shelly drop off. We walked back to the cruise center at our leisure and had another snack in Margaritaville. I ordered a cheeseburger because the ones on the ship weren't very good, and sadly it was no better. My father had the West Indian Conch soup and said it was good, but hotter than he'd expected.
Mar 23rd, 2013, 03:02 PM
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I send everything to the laundry, except my underwear. I don't want strangers playing with my smalls! I just washed them in the sink and dried them in the window. I thought they might blow off the balcony! lol
Mar 28th, 2013, 05:35 AM
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Our next stop was San Juan. My dad had been there in the fifties, and loved it. He had wanted to go to El Morro, but I couldn't get him onto the trolley because he wanted to walk around right by the cruise ship dock and see what had changed. By the way, I love those tropical shaved ices with syrup. You sometimes see them in NYC, but a lot less than when I was a kid, and that was MY first order of business. My father thought that was funny.
Since he wanted to walk, we made our way slowly up into the old city, and visited the park with the pigeons and the Christo Chapel, and then made our way slowly back down and started to look for lunch. We wound up in what appeared to be a fairly trendy nouvelle Puerto Rican restaurant called "Inaru". I had chicken, my dad had fish, neither of us had patience or room for dessert, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was a lot like a dish I make at home, except that mine doesn't taste like that. There was a POLO outlet nearly across from the cruise ship, and a CVS, but my father had no patience for stopping. He loved San Juan. After lunch, we were ready for El Morro, but we waited and waited,and there were no trolleys, unquestionably due to the extreme gridlock in San Juan. We tried a cab, and he said there was no way he could get there either, so we settled for walking around and admiring the reproduction sailing vessels moored next to our cruise ship (the Amistad, and a reproduction galleon that had apparently come all the way from Cadiz). We stopped to sit and have a drink in a little restaurant across from the ship, since my father noticed that they had two for one margaritas. Which meant that I should drink two margaritas, since he's not allowed to have any. He had ginger ale. It was a pity we were full, since what was coming out of their kitchen also looked and smelled good.
Since he wanted to walk, we made our way slowly up into the old city, and visited the park with the pigeons and the Christo Chapel, and then made our way slowly back down and started to look for lunch. We wound up in what appeared to be a fairly trendy nouvelle Puerto Rican restaurant called "Inaru". I had chicken, my dad had fish, neither of us had patience or room for dessert, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was a lot like a dish I make at home, except that mine doesn't taste like that. There was a POLO outlet nearly across from the cruise ship, and a CVS, but my father had no patience for stopping. He loved San Juan. After lunch, we were ready for El Morro, but we waited and waited,and there were no trolleys, unquestionably due to the extreme gridlock in San Juan. We tried a cab, and he said there was no way he could get there either, so we settled for walking around and admiring the reproduction sailing vessels moored next to our cruise ship (the Amistad, and a reproduction galleon that had apparently come all the way from Cadiz). We stopped to sit and have a drink in a little restaurant across from the ship, since my father noticed that they had two for one margaritas. Which meant that I should drink two margaritas, since he's not allowed to have any. He had ginger ale. It was a pity we were full, since what was coming out of their kitchen also looked and smelled good.
Mar 29th, 2013, 09:30 AM
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I hope you tipped the headwaiter extra ... 
It's wonderful to see that kids looking after their parents so well. Good for you! And I'm sure if you have kids, they will look after you the same way.
It's wonderful to see that kids looking after their parents so well. Good for you! And I'm sure if you have kids, they will look after you the same way.
Mar 29th, 2013, 03:07 PM
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We did tip him extra, but just for generally being really nice. All the dining room staff was great.
We do joke around with my kid that he'll get to wheel us around when we're old.
We do joke around with my kid that he'll get to wheel us around when we're old.
Apr 5th, 2013, 07:54 PM
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Our next stop was St. Thomas, which was probably our least favorite, although there we first encountered two things that I understand are common throughout the Caribbean--elaborately painted open air bus/taxis and feral chickens. Otherwise we weren't that impressed. The mall was really boring and all the stores seemed to have the exact same goods, except for a surf shop, where we didn't solve our underpants problem, but we bought my Dad a pair of flat front Billabong shorts which he consented to wear. We also walked around and looked at the taxis, some of which were very creative, and found random chickens roaming through the mall's parking lot, much the way pigeons do at home.
We had been kind of intrigued by Senor Frogs when we saw it from the cruise ship as we were docking since we had enjoyed Margaritaville a lot and at home the restaurants do not have attached swimming pools. So we gave it a try. We were not that impressed. Other than very pleasant waitstaff and a very stealthy waitress who managed to sneak up on my father with a balloon hat, it was not very exciting. They were only semi-open when we arrived, so it took ages to get anything out of the kitchen and when we did, the mozzarella sticks could have used a longer bath in the fryer. The fries were fine, but my pina colada wasn't as much to my liking as the one at Margaritaville, and it was on the costly side, although we understood that it tends to be an expensive destination to eat in. We had paid for a shore excursion, the "KON-TIKI" barge, and while probably over-priced, we were very happy with it. Well run, excellent service, cheap and good rum drinks, free and plentiful ice water and Kool-Aid, and an absolutely gorgeous and not otherwise terribly accessible beach. The boat guide's historical commentary was inaccurate and silly (particularly regarding the privateer Edward Teague) but his description of the reef and it's inhabitants was enthusiastic and accurate, and they were very, very good about helping me get my dad up and down. We waded a little, he sat under an umbrella while I swam for a few minutes, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
We had been kind of intrigued by Senor Frogs when we saw it from the cruise ship as we were docking since we had enjoyed Margaritaville a lot and at home the restaurants do not have attached swimming pools. So we gave it a try. We were not that impressed. Other than very pleasant waitstaff and a very stealthy waitress who managed to sneak up on my father with a balloon hat, it was not very exciting. They were only semi-open when we arrived, so it took ages to get anything out of the kitchen and when we did, the mozzarella sticks could have used a longer bath in the fryer. The fries were fine, but my pina colada wasn't as much to my liking as the one at Margaritaville, and it was on the costly side, although we understood that it tends to be an expensive destination to eat in. We had paid for a shore excursion, the "KON-TIKI" barge, and while probably over-priced, we were very happy with it. Well run, excellent service, cheap and good rum drinks, free and plentiful ice water and Kool-Aid, and an absolutely gorgeous and not otherwise terribly accessible beach. The boat guide's historical commentary was inaccurate and silly (particularly regarding the privateer Edward Teague) but his description of the reef and it's inhabitants was enthusiastic and accurate, and they were very, very good about helping me get my dad up and down. We waded a little, he sat under an umbrella while I swam for a few minutes, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
