FJB

Though I love the feeling of freedom on my own property, I believe I’m too conservative to fully participate in a nude cruise.  

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-13159931/what-nude-cruise-like-photos-luggage.html?ito=native_share_article-nativemenubutton

First time hearing of this port.  

7 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB Both of those spots will be great for snorkeling, but if I had to pick one I would opt for Grand Cayman! Are you planing to reserve your excursions through the cruise line or opt for making your own arrangements? There are so many great snorkeling spots in Grand Cayman. I would recommend booking an excursion that allowed for you to spend time at the beach after your snorkeling time was completed. Soak up as many hours as your can get in that paradise!

We haven’t even looked at options yet - still got 5 months….

7 hours ago, Kendall James-Vargas said:

@FJB I absolutely love snorkeling, not scuba diving, particularly when the water is calm and clear. Where are you thinking of snorkeling on your upcoming cruise? If you are cruising the Caribbean, the snorkeling destinations are endless but some are better than others. It's always better to choose a spot where there aren't too many waves and the water is calm, like a bathtub.

I believe Grand Cayman is good for snorkeling.  Bimini looks like another option for us.  

8 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB I'm assuming you won't be cruising with a zip lining crew. There are plenty of other things you can do as excursions instead. Does you crew enjoy snorkeling or being out on the water? I can only assume you will be coordinating all of the adventures for this upcoming itinerary. You are a master cruise planner, and always share splendid videos of your epic cruise experiences! 

As far as I know, there are no ziplining courses at any of the ports on this upcoming cruise.   I am looking at some snorkeling adventures though.  

No ziplining on our upcoming cruise.  

7 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB That's awesome! September isn't that far out either. A infinite verandah sounds so lovely. Will you be cruising to any new destinations? I love the amount of complimentary dining options onboard. Those staterooms have some incredible views! 

Bimini will be a new port for us.  

On 1/6/2024 at 7:05 PM, FJB said:

Not a fan of the infinite verandas, but otherwise the Edge-class ships are great.   We have only been on one - Edge in 2020 - but are looking at Beyond for later this year.  

Booked on the Beyond for September in an infinite verandah.  8 of us booked for this 6 night party! 

6 hours ago, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB Thanks for sharing the photo and the map! I would absolutely give this place a shot next time I'm there, but I would make my husband bring along his proper filming gear to document the adventure! It's been way too long since I have done a zip line adventure. It would be my first time zip lining it a terrain like that. I have only zip lined in very wooded terrain in the Carolinas. This adventure is pretty deep in the island. I didn't realize. Were there some cuisine options nearby or did you have to dine elsewhere?

This place was in the middle of nowhere- I did not see any dining options nearby.  

My wife’s coworker is on the Carnival Legend now that was originally a round trip Baltimore cruise.  After this morning’s bridge collapse, I don’t think any ships will be returning to Baltimore for awhile.  I’m thinking Norfolk will be the temporary port for the 2 cruise ships currently homeported in Baltimore.  

Another one gone overboard.  Sounds intentional.  MSC Euribia.  

6 hours ago, 3Sisters said:

@FJB Tell me your ways. How do you avoid a hangover? I can't handle my liquor. That's a guarantee. If I have more than three drinks in one evening, I should be under strict observation. I know my limit and I'm fine with it. It sounds like your tolerance is much better than mine! I also don't like to stay up too late, so I'm like a grandma in my 30s. 

Drink plenty of water

Hangover- what is that?  Apparently most of you can’t handle your liquor!  

We always take our passports with us when we go off the ship.  

6 hours ago, Kendall James-Vargas said:

@FJB Where can I find some? I'm so glad you chimed in here! I want to try it, but I'm not sure where I can get my hands on some. I'm all about a good price. As long as turkeys aren't in the ice cream, I think it will be good. Breyers isn't cheap. When I used to live in Florida I would only purchase Breyers if it was BOGO at Publix. Now the local grocer options I have access to don't offer BOGO deals. Those are the absolute best. They just take up a good amount of freezer space when buying in doubles. Do you know if King Soopers sells it? 

In the Pennsylvania/ Maryland region, Turkey Hill can be found in most grocery stores.  They even operate their own convenience store/gas station combos.  
 

https://www.turkeyhill.com/where-to-buy-turkey-hill

As a small business retail hardware store owner, I tell my customers they will be sorry when Amazon forces us mom & pop stores out of business.  How will you get your plumbing problems fixed the same day when every plumbing repair requires a minimum of three trips to the hardware store.  I despise Amazon - don’t even have an account with them!   

On 3/1/2024 at 1:51 PM, 3Sisters said:

@FJB That looks like a lovely drink at an exceptional bar! I love that you share these photos and take us along on your cruise experience. It reminds me of how good and unforgettable cruises are. I love a moody bar with dim lighting. I may be able to replicate a drink like this are home but I can't replicate this ambiance and atmosphere. Another perk of a lovely bar like this is that you don't have to make your own drink. Does this bar onboard Celebrity Silhouette offer live entertainment? Live music just adds to the ambiance! 

This particular bar does not have live entertainment and I’m okay with that - the older I get, the worse my hearing is and the more I appreciate quiet places where I can hear others around me talk.   

Unlike Caribbean ports of call, Bar Harbor does not rely on tourism from cruise ships, so I completely understand why they are “barring” cruise ships.  

hey now - I have Turkey Hill ice cream in my freezer right now - don’t knock it till you try it!  It’s cheaper than Breyers and just as good.  IMO.  

4 hours ago, Kendall James-Vargas said:

@FJB I'm so glad you considered my recommendation and tried out zip line during your time in Antigua. Were you able to film part or all of your experience? I know you typically create great video memories of your cruises. Zip lining clips would likely be great in your memory videos! Did anyone else do the zip lining with you? 

Unfortunately I did not have the right harness for my GoPro and the staff would not allow me to hold my GoPro while ziplining so no footage of me actually zipping.  I will try to start a new thread of my experience on this last Celebrity cruise.  

On 10/17/2023 at 9:59 AM, Kendall James-Vargas said:

@FJB I love Antigua! Don't skip out on the little quaint beaches. I haven't done this, but having been there and loved it, I think renting a motor scooter and touring the island would be really lovely. I felt very safe while in Antigua, and I would imagine you will feel the same. You are taking this cruise during the perfect time of year. It won't be hurricane season!

If you want a real thrill of a day you could consider this zipline tour! https://antiguarainforest.com/

I haven't been to Tobago, but I wonder if there is a private beach club experience you could get! Does Celebrity have any cool excursion options available for booking in Tobago yet? 

So I ended up doing this ziplining excursion at the last minute since our other excursion in Antigua was cancelled a couple days before arriving in port.  This was a great alternative.  

Life was good last week with my favorite drink - Zacapa Old Fashioned - at my favorite bar - the World Class Bar aboard the Celebrity Silhouette.  
 

It was about 9 miles from the port in this area

On 2/28/2024 at 1:30 PM, Cruising Caribbean said:

@FJB I haven't done a zip lining excursion there before! I love zip lining so I would certainly give it a try. Does it go through a rainforest? What is the scenery like? I would prefer to book through the excursion desk onboard the cruise ship as well. It's worth the extra money for peace of mind. Do you recall the name of your excursion and which zip line place you went to? 

@Seaawgs

this place