We are cruising the Mediterranean
on the Crown Princess June 5, 2012
This was a last minute decision thanks to Princess sending us a last minute great offer. It was too good to turn down.
We will start the cruise from Rome ( Civitevecchia) after spending one night in Rome seeing a few things we enjoyed last time there. Among those are the Trevi Fountain.... Spanish Steps & Piazza Navona.
This cruise also visits...
Livorno / Florence
Naples
at Sea
Santorini ( Greek Isle)
Athens
Mykonos ( Greek Isle)
Katakolon
Corfu ( Greek Isle )
Split, Croatia
Venice ( overnight)
The cruise is a twelve night cruise. The Greek Isles are a bucket list item so we'll be able to cross that off.
Research says this is a dry season and the temperatures will be hovering around 80 in most locations. The Crown Princess is a sister ship to Caribbean Princess that we were on last year so we should know our way around.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
2012 End of the World Cruise movie to be released later this summer.
The original movie script had to be changed due to the weather. However, Plan B will be fine. Everyone was photographed or filmed extensively. ( even when you didn't realize it)
Pamela enjoyed shooting me when I wasn't paying attention. She's about as bad as I am with a camera. I only used three of them for this cruise. I shot a few hours of video and about 4000 stills. I expect to have a couple of segments that should be amusing and fun to watch. The rest will be typical ship stuff. The main thing is to get the 2012 Theme across.
Before I get started on this film there will be a delay in getting started. I booked a 12 night Mediterranean cruise ( Italy & Greek Isles ) for June 5th. One of those great deals you just could not refuse.
Send me your pictures and help me get the shots I missed.
Ciao
The original movie script had to be changed due to the weather. However, Plan B will be fine. Everyone was photographed or filmed extensively. ( even when you didn't realize it)
Pamela enjoyed shooting me when I wasn't paying attention. She's about as bad as I am with a camera. I only used three of them for this cruise. I shot a few hours of video and about 4000 stills. I expect to have a couple of segments that should be amusing and fun to watch. The rest will be typical ship stuff. The main thing is to get the 2012 Theme across.
Before I get started on this film there will be a delay in getting started. I booked a 12 night Mediterranean cruise ( Italy & Greek Isles ) for June 5th. One of those great deals you just could not refuse.
Send me your pictures and help me get the shots I missed.
Ciao
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Allure of the Seas
Our Mixed Nutz cruise on Allure of the Seas is now history. Nearly two years in the making and zippppp...it's over. How fast those seven days go by when you are having fun with old and new friends.
Was great to see old friends Pamela and Randy from Oregon. And of course it was wonderful to see old friends Debi and Larry from Arizona. And this time we met their daughter Aubrey. ( a first time cruiser)
We also saw old friends Denise and Rich from upstate New York. This time Karl came along and introduced us to his girlfriend Monique. I'll bet she still thinks we are all Nutz....lol.
Once again Bruce and Sharon cruised with us. However, as they are my brother and sister-in-law..... we see them in between.
And then there was Betty. Betty is an old friend from way before cruising. She finally made it on a ship. This was her first cruise and on the largest in the world. Not a bad start.
We started off as is our custom with a meet and greet at the Comfort Inn pool Bar, and a pre-cruise dinner, this time at Anthony's Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale. Italian cuisine of the highest order. The food is magnificent to say the least. Everyone enjoyed it. A great way to start off.
It all started off with hand shakes and hugs. Denise arrived as promised with purple hair. It was short but very purple for sure. We took pictures.....talked a bit but then it was time to load up into the shuttles and head for the restaurant. We began with family style appetizers. Those alone were quite filling. I had the Chicken Cutlet Parmesan this time. Quite good. They have much more specialized dishes than that and most of the others dined on them.
The only down side to everything was that it rained on Saturday. (the day before and pre-cruise dinner day ) Then we awoke to harder and steadier rain on the morning of the cruise. Rain makes things a bit more difficult such as the seating for the continental breakfast at the hotel. When the weather is nice there are tables outside by the pool to sit and eat and enjoy the morning. Not so when it rains. But.... onward we go.
Then it was time to load up the bus for the trip to the port. We arranged for the 10:45 am shuttle run. We gathered up all our luggage by the front door. ( there is a large overhang) The luggage was loaded into the trailer and then we were off to the port.
We arrived with light rain falling. We retrieved our luggage and sent it on with the porters. We headed into the terminal building for the embarkation process. It is the smoothest ever for both Oasis and Allure. We have been on both ships now and getting on is the easiest of all previous RCCL ships.
We stepped onboard. Wow! We entered into the Royal Promenade which is longer and wider on these ships. Still a wow every time. For Betty.....this was all new.
After some initial gazing at the ship we headed for the ROAST BEEF RENDEZVOUS at the Park Cafe on deck 8 in Central Park. They make excellent salads,wraps and of course the famous Roast Beef sandwiches on round bread hard rolls. They were great on Oasis in October and they did not disappoint on Allure. It was however still raining so the outdoor seating area in Central Park was very limited.
Following that lunch we checked out our dining tables and they were not correct. We had that fixed up and our table of 14 was set up right next to the Captain Johnny's table. This is one ships Captain that likes to get around and be noticed. He shows up everywhere all week.
At sailaway we gathered on deck seven port aft public balcony with our Mixed Nutz shirts and our banner. ( in the rain) Still we laughed about it. We were waving to the port cam and we were seen by our families and friends who were watching at home
Our first dinner was good as always. RCCL does not change the menu much so you can look forward to eating items you have enjoyed in the past.
The next day we ported in Nassau. Our excursion was cancelled weeks before so we were only going to tour the town and shop but...... IT WAS RAINING AGAIN!
It rained for the first five days.
In St. Thomas most of us Mixed Nutz, including new members Sheila & Bill from Florida, were on a snorkle and beach party excursion. It rain and rained on us. Not a problem when you are swimming, but the beach party part didn't go too well due to heavy rain. Onboard is where we stayed. The catamarran captain kept the rum punch flowing and the music playing. In spite of the rain, we had a blast. I asked the Captain, "when has it rained last like this?" He answered, "let's see...the last time was...... NEVER!!!!" Other than hurricanes he said, the rain usually is just passing showers. Not this time.
In St. Maarten we had a short break from the rain. We had a short while to lay on the loungers on the beach. We again went to Kakao Beach ( at Orient Beach ) which has a bar and restaurant. Carol & Betty took a walk down to the famous sign and a bit beyond....lol. They also shopped along the way.
In the distance were the black clouds. ( it was already cloudy but these were very dark ) They inched their way in until the first drops started to fall. It was time to vacate the beach and head for the restaurant. Betty made the command decision to go back for something she saw in one of the shops.
As we sat in the restaurant sipping our frozen tropical drinks, the rains came in a torrent. "poor Betty, we said." And it rained and it poured.
After a bit Betty showed up with a towel shielding her head. Surprisingly her hair was not soaked thru. The Royal Caribbean Towel she was using was absorbent and now weighed ten pounds. She ordered a drink and all was good.
We dined at two of the specialty restaurants, Chops and Giovanni's Table. Both meals were over the top. Well worth the surcharges.
Our final two days on the ship were days at sea and luckily for us they were sunny days. They saved the cruise from being a total washout. The Allure now looked like it was supposed to with all the decks being utilized with people all having a great time. The music of the steel band serenading us as is the normal routine.
Our last dinner together was fun. We took a ton of pictures of each other. Then there were the formal goodbyes. We hung out again at the On air Club watching Karaoke would be stars. One of the singers from the show "Chicago" did a number. That was a first.
We saw most of our friends the last morning and said our goodbyes and then disembarked easily.
The cruise was over but the memories will never end.
Our Mixed Nutz cruise on Allure of the Seas is now history. Nearly two years in the making and zippppp...it's over. How fast those seven days go by when you are having fun with old and new friends.
Was great to see old friends Pamela and Randy from Oregon. And of course it was wonderful to see old friends Debi and Larry from Arizona. And this time we met their daughter Aubrey. ( a first time cruiser)
We also saw old friends Denise and Rich from upstate New York. This time Karl came along and introduced us to his girlfriend Monique. I'll bet she still thinks we are all Nutz....lol.
Once again Bruce and Sharon cruised with us. However, as they are my brother and sister-in-law..... we see them in between.
And then there was Betty. Betty is an old friend from way before cruising. She finally made it on a ship. This was her first cruise and on the largest in the world. Not a bad start.
We started off as is our custom with a meet and greet at the Comfort Inn pool Bar, and a pre-cruise dinner, this time at Anthony's Runway 84 in Fort Lauderdale. Italian cuisine of the highest order. The food is magnificent to say the least. Everyone enjoyed it. A great way to start off.
It all started off with hand shakes and hugs. Denise arrived as promised with purple hair. It was short but very purple for sure. We took pictures.....talked a bit but then it was time to load up into the shuttles and head for the restaurant. We began with family style appetizers. Those alone were quite filling. I had the Chicken Cutlet Parmesan this time. Quite good. They have much more specialized dishes than that and most of the others dined on them.
The only down side to everything was that it rained on Saturday. (the day before and pre-cruise dinner day ) Then we awoke to harder and steadier rain on the morning of the cruise. Rain makes things a bit more difficult such as the seating for the continental breakfast at the hotel. When the weather is nice there are tables outside by the pool to sit and eat and enjoy the morning. Not so when it rains. But.... onward we go.
Then it was time to load up the bus for the trip to the port. We arranged for the 10:45 am shuttle run. We gathered up all our luggage by the front door. ( there is a large overhang) The luggage was loaded into the trailer and then we were off to the port.
We arrived with light rain falling. We retrieved our luggage and sent it on with the porters. We headed into the terminal building for the embarkation process. It is the smoothest ever for both Oasis and Allure. We have been on both ships now and getting on is the easiest of all previous RCCL ships.
We stepped onboard. Wow! We entered into the Royal Promenade which is longer and wider on these ships. Still a wow every time. For Betty.....this was all new.
After some initial gazing at the ship we headed for the ROAST BEEF RENDEZVOUS at the Park Cafe on deck 8 in Central Park. They make excellent salads,wraps and of course the famous Roast Beef sandwiches on round bread hard rolls. They were great on Oasis in October and they did not disappoint on Allure. It was however still raining so the outdoor seating area in Central Park was very limited.
Following that lunch we checked out our dining tables and they were not correct. We had that fixed up and our table of 14 was set up right next to the Captain Johnny's table. This is one ships Captain that likes to get around and be noticed. He shows up everywhere all week.
At sailaway we gathered on deck seven port aft public balcony with our Mixed Nutz shirts and our banner. ( in the rain) Still we laughed about it. We were waving to the port cam and we were seen by our families and friends who were watching at home
Our first dinner was good as always. RCCL does not change the menu much so you can look forward to eating items you have enjoyed in the past.
The next day we ported in Nassau. Our excursion was cancelled weeks before so we were only going to tour the town and shop but...... IT WAS RAINING AGAIN!
It rained for the first five days.
In St. Thomas most of us Mixed Nutz, including new members Sheila & Bill from Florida, were on a snorkle and beach party excursion. It rain and rained on us. Not a problem when you are swimming, but the beach party part didn't go too well due to heavy rain. Onboard is where we stayed. The catamarran captain kept the rum punch flowing and the music playing. In spite of the rain, we had a blast. I asked the Captain, "when has it rained last like this?" He answered, "let's see...the last time was...... NEVER!!!!" Other than hurricanes he said, the rain usually is just passing showers. Not this time.
In St. Maarten we had a short break from the rain. We had a short while to lay on the loungers on the beach. We again went to Kakao Beach ( at Orient Beach ) which has a bar and restaurant. Carol & Betty took a walk down to the famous sign and a bit beyond....lol. They also shopped along the way.
In the distance were the black clouds. ( it was already cloudy but these were very dark ) They inched their way in until the first drops started to fall. It was time to vacate the beach and head for the restaurant. Betty made the command decision to go back for something she saw in one of the shops.
As we sat in the restaurant sipping our frozen tropical drinks, the rains came in a torrent. "poor Betty, we said." And it rained and it poured.
After a bit Betty showed up with a towel shielding her head. Surprisingly her hair was not soaked thru. The Royal Caribbean Towel she was using was absorbent and now weighed ten pounds. She ordered a drink and all was good.
We dined at two of the specialty restaurants, Chops and Giovanni's Table. Both meals were over the top. Well worth the surcharges.
Our final two days on the ship were days at sea and luckily for us they were sunny days. They saved the cruise from being a total washout. The Allure now looked like it was supposed to with all the decks being utilized with people all having a great time. The music of the steel band serenading us as is the normal routine.
Our last dinner together was fun. We took a ton of pictures of each other. Then there were the formal goodbyes. We hung out again at the On air Club watching Karaoke would be stars. One of the singers from the show "Chicago" did a number. That was a first.
We saw most of our friends the last morning and said our goodbyes and then disembarked easily.
The cruise was over but the memories will never end.
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