whataboutport

Yum! can't wait for the rest of the review! :)

What a great review and what a great ending! Greek isles! OMG!

Anyway, loved your review and now I am really excited to try the Flowrider. Did you try the rock climbing wall? I haven't really found any posts on it. Wonder if I need to bring my climbing shoes....

Is there more? Patiently waiting! :)

I know! Well, I took lots of pictures on the Mariner and then we lost the camera along with the SD card on the ride up. The ONLY pictures I have from that cruise are the 2 that we bought from formal night! :) Still makes me sad. So now I bring my iPad, SD card reader for the iPad, and 3 SD cards that I switch out everyday after uploading to the iPad!

 

I really wanted to do something like that. I get Groupons for it all the time!

I didn't know there was an SD reader for ipad! I'm going to go look for one now. :)

Great start to the review! We are sailing on Allure in March, can't wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

well remember I told you I almost had an anxiety attack?

 

I love snorkeling and I am fascinated by marine life, but there are two big problems. I have a fear of both sharks (Selachophobia) and open water, it is actually more of a phobia for both of them. It is really a shame because if I wasn't I could probably be padi certified by now and able to dive with my cousin every weekend here at home.

 

These two fears are really holding me back, last year I went snorkeling in Key Largo and for a few minutes I thought I was going to drown. My cousin and uncle have both made several attempts to educate me on shark attacks, but all attempts have been futile. I really don't know where these fears come from.

 

Anyway so I was snorkeling out there and I pretty much the only person in the water within 50 feet, the water was a little cold and most people stayed in the beach area. When I saw the statue I went closer to take pictures, once I got there I noticed how deep it was, so I dove several times to get different samples. Once the novelty of the underwater statute had wore off, I notice that I was pretty far away and there was a lot of open space around me. To make matters worse I was surrounded by little fish, I think people feed them because they were very friendly, you even touch them if you like.

 

So I had a decision to make, do I go back from there or go to the barge (it was closer) and wait for people to go there so I could go back with them. I tend to feel better if there are people around me, I guess it decreases my chances of being eating alive. I made a quick dash and climbed up the barge, I waited there for a few minutes and no one was even getting in the water, let alone coming towards my area. I was set on waiting even for an hour, for someone to go there, but two factors made me change my mind. First and foremost mom would be worried and second I was starting to get seasick. So I gathered up some courage, dove in the water, closed my eyes and started swimming as fast as I could. I never get far from the coast line, but this the time the curiosity of the statue and the desire to photograph it took over me.

 

Once near the coastline I opened my eyes, gathered myself and relaxed for a little while. They say all fears can be conquered, I have tried many times with this one and no good has ever come out of it. If anything I think each attempt makes matters worse. It is actually very funny how can you can be so passionate about something and at the same time so terrified about it.

 

When I got out of the water I went straight to our spot to relax for a little while. The sad part is that when you look at the barge in the pictures, it is really not that far away… I think what affected me that day was how deep the water was, maybe 15 feet at some point?

 

 

 

But overall chankanaab offers good snorkeling for those not expecting much variety, there are plenty of small friendly fish, but not a lot more to see. I am sure most will be very happy there, bring some cereal from the ship to feed the fish. I read that in another review once, too bad I forgot to bring some that day.

 

 

Ok I've been quietly following along all this time (sorry I haven't posted to this great thread yet Gambee) but this post! I could not NOT say anything. I am the same way! I love fish, I love the ocean, I love pretty blue water, and I love the idea of snorkeling, but once I get out there I am terrified! When I was a preteen, my family went on a Mexican riviera cruise. We went snorkeling in Cabo (I think if I remember correctly). The water was pretty rough and I was complaining how there was no fish. Later I turned around while I have my face in the water and saw how close I was getting to a large rock that was jutting out of the water. There was all types of sea life growing on it and fish swimming around it. I screamed and got a bunch of seawater in my mouth and I swam as fast as I could back to the beach. It scared me so much I don't know why!

 

Anyway, I'm still finishing up this thread. This is a great review and I'm very looking forward to my time on Allure in March!

[quote name='seashinesunshine']No you don't want to step on one. It was not a horrible pain, seemed like kind of a electric shock. I could feel it all over my body, I esp remember the sensation in my cheeks. I got 7 spines about the size of a toothpick in my foot and toes. the spines all broke off and didnt stick out past my skin. The venom kicked in and it got numb really quickly, it swelled up a lot too. They gave me treatment at the bar, he poured vinegar on it, although everyone in the bar said to pee on it. Then he lit a sterno can and held the flame til it almost touched my skin. I could feel the heat and that felt good, but it didn't burn. This killed the spikes so they stopped giving off venom. They didn't pull them out, said it was better to let them just disolve in my body. No infection that way. Ship doc agreed with them. by the next morning I was walking just fine with no swelling.
I would guess if you touched the urchins without breaking the skin, there would be no problems. I'm not gonna try it though. :D
ok, back to this wonderful review!! I'm on her on Sunday![/quote]
OMG! thank you for sharing! Perhaps that is why the "uni" has such a mark up in sushi joints! :eek: Sorry to hear about the injury. :o

[quote name='seashinesunshine']Just jumpng in here, the black ones are not poisonous as in to eat, (at least I don't think so) but thier Spikes do have venom. I have read that some people don't think they have venom, but I am pretty sure those people haven't stepped on one. :D I have I know they have venom. I am pretty sure all of them have venom in thier spikes, not just the black ones.[/quote]
thanks for that. I know they aren't poisonous to eat, but wondering how strong their sting may be if just touched, but not stepped on. Venom or not, I don't think I'd want to step on one! :eek:

[quote name='debitoo']Starts on post 114. :)[/quote]
Oh thanks for pointing that out. I don't know why my computer skipped a bunch of posts!:confused: Are those black ones really poisonous? Those are the ones we eat here from Catalina. I was hoping the sea urchin man would crack some open to eat! :)

[quote name='debitoo']

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Next up: A visit to the sea urchin man![/quote]
Sorry to bug you again, but what about the sea urchin man??!

Wait, did you say sea urchin man? Tell me more!!!

Thanks so much for this informative review! I am planning to cruise the AOS in March, and haven't done a mega ship in about 15+ years, so this is very helpful to me!