Ithocles

Y'all are making me so impatient for my cruise. We are on the Breeze in December and we have booked a Spa Balcony. I'm making my list of things I want to do and the mud room is now on the Must side of the list!

 

-Danny

Carnival Breeze to the Eastern Caribbean - St. Thomas, St. Marteen, Grand Turk and Puerto Rico!

Someday we'll go on a different line but for now Carnival suits all our needs. Comparing price and product, I'll take the value. We're going to the Eastern Caribbean for the first time this year and are looking forward to the experience.

 

For what it is worth, we've met some really neat people on these trips...and a lot of gay ones too. And I guess we've steered clear of the judgmental self-important gays that I'm glad we've avoided.

 

-Danny

Thanks for the information Kim. I've ready lots of great stuff about FTTF. I sent an email so I could make sure and snag one for our cruise. It's forever away but I'm still enjoying the planning.

 

-Danny

Thanks again for the input everyone. We booked a balcony on 11!

We went to Jamaica but it was in Ochos Rios. My partner an I have matching tattoos on our legs and you could tell a couple of people noticed, and one person even inquired about it, but we just strayed away from saying anything that would identify us as a couple. It stuck in my craw a bit, but for seeing the country there I was willing to make the sacrifice that time. It was beautiful! We won't go back again (more than likely) but I'm glad we did when the opportunity presented itself.

Thanks everyone. Great information and I too am a balcony addict. I'm mostly concerned with the overhang. It doesn't sound like I can do much about the balusters though. I'm so ready to cruise!

 

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After a three year dry spell we are planning our fourth cruise...finally! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. We will be on the Breeze, and I want a spa cabin with a balcony. However, I've read some rooms that have a balcony completely open to those above you. What rooms are the best to keep as much privacy as possible? I won't be doing anything naughty but I'd rather not anyone see me as I step out to look at the amazing sunrises in the morning in by undies.

 

-Danny

Now that I've read where everyone else is cruising I'm green with envy. Maybe one day when I grow up... <grin>

 

My partner has given me a cruise to Alaska as a present for finishing my Ph.D. (I defend next Tuesday and he said if I don't pass, we're cancelling! Hah.) I've dreamed of going to Alaska for year and am really, really excited to go. I plan far ahead, but this is the furthest ahead yet.

 

-Danny

My partner and I have taken two carnival cruises, both 7 days, one the Liberty and one the Legend. Both were amazing trips and we had amazing experiences on both. The staff were great, and the other passengers were too.

 

We don't go to the FOD meetings but everyone we met were fast friends.

 

-Danny

I might like to try a gay cruise one day, but it would be on a ship like the r family cruises or maybe I'd see if the women would let us on one of the Olivia cruises. <grin> While on the men's cruises, I'd probably enjoy being able to hold hands down the promenade, of some of the campy games or shows, the bath house environment would be a put off for me. I wouldn't want to go out of my way just to avoid where that stuff goes on, and seeing it would just be too uncomfortable for me. It just isn't me.

 

I'm perfectly happy on the mainstream cruise lines.

 

-Danny

After the judgmental and distasteful responses to this genuine thread I posted last year, I left the gay boards a little resentful. Shouldn't we, more than others, be respectful and considerate? I know, too idealistic, but I like being that way. Anyway, I'm tentatively venturing back. I decided to read back through this thread and I'm glad to find some like minded people, ehfl, and some who hold differing opinions and state them respectfully and cogently.

 

I do think it is interesting that some people stay on the ship as to not support ports, when the port taxes and fees go to the country anyway. It's not an effective protest. And I would just love to know how many anti-gay companies are supported by the more judgmental and vitriolic people on the board. My bet is quite a few. For me, I'm being the change I want to see in the world, which is impossible to do in a vacuum.

 

Wherever I travel, I travel smart. It's kept me safe so far, and I imagine it will in the future. it kept me safe in Jamaica when we went. I was really very surprised by our pleasant experience. I think Carnival does a lot to give their customers a pleasant experience. We first went to a plantation, and people were kind and respectful to us, with our matching wedding rings and matching tattoos on our legs. When we went to the falls, I didn't ask for our pictures to be taken together. The guides practically insisted. I was very, very shocked! Our shopping was great too, with a few pounds of wonderful Blue Mountain coffee. I did my research, was guarded especially with some of the more helpful feedback from a few of you, but was respectful and kind to everyone I met and treated them with the respect I hoped to get from them. I had a splendid time.

 

I'm still waiting for my cruise to Alaska, but I'm defending my dissertation proposal next month which means tentatively, we'll be going on the Alaskan cruise in the summer of '12. I am squeezing in a couple more affordable cruises before then though!

 

Safe travels all, and may you have many great travels in the near future.

 

-Danny

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and thoughts. It's hard to think back and consider if I would make the same decision on this itinerary again. I'm ready for a trip to the southern carribean, and especially want to visit St. Lucia. Alaska is going to be my present from my partner after I finish my dissertation in a little over a year...fingers crossed.

I didn't search for "gays in Jamaica" before booking, and probably won't for future trips either. Unless I love the island, I probably won't go in the future. I'm not going to let homophobia stop me from getting the experience of traveling. And when I do travel to places less friendly to us, I hope to find like-minded gay men and women who will give me words of advice and/or caution, which for the most part I can get here, for which I give thanks.

 

My activism isn't conducted through my pocketbook, but through the way I live my life. It takes those of us who are less militant to change the mind of those that are militant on the other side of things. It sounds like Jamaica could use a homo-ambassador or two! <grin> We need activism of all types.

 

Regards,

 

Danny

Thanks for the words of caution. While I'll feel better about spending my hard earned dollars during our Alaskan cruise, which is unfortunately almost two years off, I'm going to brave Jamaica and be careful. We aren't partiers or drinkers, so there isn't much of a chance of us getting sloppy somewhere. I will have to watch myself when hollering "Dear!" when he doesn't respond quickly enough to me! <grin> If I were to restrict my spending to gay-friendly places, I would only be going to Canada, some of Europe and Austrailia. Kidding...kidding. I'd have a rough time of it here in Oklahoma though.

 

I hope to hear more about experiences in Jamaica.

 

-Danny

Hello All,

 

My partner and I are preparing for our second cruise leaving on January 30th. We've visited Grand Cayman and Cozumel before, but have never been to Jamaica. I didn't know how unfriendly they were to gay or lesbian travelers until after booking and am a little apprehensive now. I just read that Grand Cayman was a little unfriendly as well but we didn't have a problem at all last time.

 

While you all would peg us as gay anywhere, most often we get asked if we are brothers. However, we have matching ankle tattoos which should be a giveaway. As much as it bugs me to ask, how guarded should we be when in Jamaica? We are touring with Marva Shaw and will be doing Dunns River Falls, River Tubing, a Plantation Tour and a stop at a local Jerk restuarant. What have your experiences been like?

 

Thanks for any responses.

 

Regards,

 

Danny

It's been a while since I've visited the board and thought I would stop by and say hello. I've been doing well, and much to my surprise, have added in some activity. I'm walking six blocks every night. It's not showing up on the scales yet, but I know it well.

 

I'm used to quicker weight loss, but I'm stuck with a couple of pounds a week. A 6' male at 300 lbs. should be loosing more weight than that but any in that direction is good. I'm sticking to it and doing well. Now to portions, as the previous poster made mention. I'm doing pretty good in that area, but could be better.

 

I suppose everyone has heard of lowcarbcafe.com? I have been using quite a bit of their recipes. There was a faux scalloped potato recipe which was very good the night off, but didn't care for the left overs. The chicken cordon bleu was fabulous.

 

Take care all.

 

-Danny

Hello all. I just reading back a ways and thought I would say hello. We are heading out on a cruise January 30 and started induction two weeks ago. I need to drop some weight to travel comfortably before we ship off, and also need to rethink my eating for when I return as well. As for what happens on a ship...well as a far as eating goes, it doesn't count! <grin>

I've really enjoyed reading your postings and plan to watch the thread and join in for the support. I need to lose about 100 lbs. I carry my 300 well, but at 36 am thinking more about my health frequently.

While I haven't weighed myself, I did have to skip back a notch on my belt today. I wish I could have seen the grin on my face!

Later everyone.

-Danny

We just returned from our cruise on the Legend 12/31-1/6 Was great!

 

We had a balcony on the Panorama deck Level 10. It was nice, one floor down from the lido deck. The balcony was nice in the morning, entering ports, and sitting there drinking coffee. It got pretty windy while the boat was moving. As far as the extended balcony, the extended part is not very private, as you can look right down on them.

 

Honestly, we didn't use the balcony all that much. Between all day excursions and night time activities there is just so much going on that we were hardly in our room anyway.

 

Our next cruise we will probably take an inside room or window room. Just to save more money, to spend towards excursions. :)

 

I don't think you would be disappointed with any room you choose!

 

As far as which side, we were on port side. the only day that it really mattered was pulling in to Roatan, Honduras. The hills were nice to look at while there.

 

Enjoy your trip!

 

We had an aft balcony on the Main deck and it was amazing. The overhand is much longer on this deck and you couldn't see anyone above or below without hanging over the deck. It was amazing and I'll try to get that balcony again on my next cruise.

I called my carnival PVP to find out how full the ship was and she was able to tell me right off the bat. We went to the arcade, and ALL the games are a buck a piece, even Pac Man. Wowza.

 

Now that I have spent all weekend reading 32 pages, I still have some questions. I will be on the Legend 4/27/08 with the wife, son, and daughter. My son is 12 and Daughter is 6. So I have some questions about the kids groups. The capers I have seen state that there is a "nominal charge" for the slumber parties. They run from 10pm to 3 am. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, and what it costs?

Also, for the older kid, I was told there is an arcade... is that an additional charge? Should he be packing a ton of quarters?

 

I have also seen mention of people stating how many rooms are left on their cruise. Several people have asked how to determine the "fullness" of your cruise, and yet there have been no answers. So I am going to ask the same question... how can you tell how booked your cruise is? How many cabins are left?

 

Finally, I hear talk about Sushi...Is the sushi included, or is it additional like coffee shops, or ice cream shops on RCCL?

 

Thanks for all the great posts, and thanks in advance for any answers.

I have read several reviews with some conflicting information. We have an aft extended balcony (#4241) and were hoping for lounge chairs. We are both bigger guys and the little plastic things just don't look comfortable. Do they offer the lounge chairs?

 

I heard your room steward is more helpful if you tip some up front. What's a good amount? I don't mind tipping more, especially for good service, but if it's crappy I'm off to the purser to reduce that tip. Any recommendations?

 

Isn't it Dec. 2 yet!!!! (I've got the song..."I'm so excited" stuck in my head now!)

If anyone goes to Tulum from Cozumel please let me know how it was.

Going in April and DS wants to see ruins. I know it is a long haul (7 hours).

I would like to know cost and is it worth the $ and time. DH and myself have seen ruins (Chichen Itza) but our DS has not and is really looking forward to them and now we are not going to Costa Maya:(

As I can tell Tulum is my only other option:confused:

 

I'm not sure if you can get to Coba or not but it is much closer to the Cozumel (and the Playa del Carmen) port than Chichen Itza. I went there a couple of years ago and it was amazing. It isn't as developed as Chichen Itza or Tulum and you get to see a little more of what the ruins look like before they've had so much present day activity. I'm not sure if that fits in with your time or not, but I loved that site!

Has anyone heard about what ports they will be using for the Legend cruises in the future? I've read that Costa Maya will be out until some time next year. I've got my fingers crossed for Key West.

I've booked our cruise for 12/2/2007, extended balcony 4241. It feels real now. I was a bit concerned that the room was directly above truffles but my PVP said that the dining room should be pretty cleared out in the evening. I can't wait to sail!

Hello All. Again, thanks for all the wonderful information. I'm getting ready to make our booking and am thinking about one of the aft extended balcony rooms on the main deck, as opposed to one of the upper decks. My only reservation is that it is right above the dining room. Do you all think there will be quite a bit of noise from the dining room?