The real cruising with the crazies, picture review of Glory cruise with the toddlers

[boaterette]

Your boys are very handsome little men. I am enjoying your review.

[jillmom2]

You did such a nice review..loved seeing all the photos. We will be on the Glory Easter Sunday...I have 2 boys also..'cept now they are 14 and 17 I miss when they were little like yours. We are celebrating my older son's senior trip..he will have two other friends on board as well with their parents. We are from Michigan also... Monroe

 

Glad you had a great trip...hoping ours goes as well..Thanks again for a great review.

[emmasmom123]

Counting down...a few days to go and packing (or overpacking) like crazy!

 

I have a question..did your little guys get sea sick at all? This is our first cruise as well as our kids so I'm curious?

 

Thanks!

Jenn

[CamaCama]

There is a little splash pool on deck 12 right outside of camp, we didnt use it though. I support the no diapers in the pool rule, however we went to the beach 3 days so the need for pool time wasnt there. None of us went in the pool, the oldest and I used the waterslide a few times though.

 

I will write more this evening, damn work getting in the way.

 

Thanks for the info!

[w8ing2cruz]

Awesome review!! I give you guys many, many cudos for shaping your trip to include your kids. Myself - I was chicken and waited until they were teens :p.

 

I did this itinerary back in October on Liberty and it was my absolute favorite to date. We are total beach people and I can see how this would be top of the list for a cruise with kids.

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure - like your style of writing. Oh, and tell woman to blame she has an incredible family to be proud of!!

[thekings23]

Counting down...a few days to go and packing (or overpacking) like crazy!

 

I have a question..did your little guys get sea sick at all? This is our first cruise as well as our kids so I'm curious?

 

Thanks!

Jenn

 

 

We were all the way down on deck 2 and all the way forward. We felt movement quite a bit, especially around Puerto Rico, the kids weren't bothered at all though. I don't think kids are as prone to sea sickness as adults are, just like how they can go on spinny rides and not be phased at all.

[thekings23]

You did such a nice review..loved seeing all the photos. We will be on the Glory Easter Sunday...I have 2 boys also..'cept now they are 14 and 17 I miss when they were little like yours. We are celebrating my older son's senior trip..he will have two other friends on board as well with their parents. We are from Michigan also... Monroe

 

Glad you had a great trip...hoping ours goes as well..Thanks again for a great review.

 

 

Have safe travels and ejoy your trip! I am jealous of you. We're doing Disney next year and will go on another cruise when the kids are 4 and 6.

[mustardgirl]

Can't wait to see your pics for Grand Turk! That is where I would love to go!!

btw St. Thomas is really nice (I've been there just not on a cruise) but St. John is way better when it comes to beaches and stuff, not sure about if there's enough time to take a taxi to the ferry that takes you over there, if not an excursion would be the way to go. Trunk Bay on St. John is one of the most photographed beaches ever (and one of my personal favs). Anyway, thanks for your review!!!:o

[thekings23]

Can't wait to see your pics for Grand Turk! That is where I would love to go!!

btw St. Thomas is really nice (I've been there just not on a cruise) but St. John is way better when it comes to beaches and stuff, not sure about if there's enough time to take a taxi to the ferry that takes you over there, if not an excursion would be the way to go. Trunk Bay on St. John is one of the most photographed beaches ever (and one of my personal favs). Anyway, thanks for your review!!!:o

 

 

Grand Turk was my favorite port on this trip, it was amazing. I will be writing that tonight when I get home.

[jhale]

wow...a flame AND a bad parent implication in the same post...almost like you were waiting for that one to pounce. Great reflexes!

 

Swim diapers should be outlawed. Kids should never be allowed near a pool until they are potty trained. :rolleyes:

 

I think in a private home pool swim diapers are great, but the ship's pools (as someone else stated) would have to be drained if there was a #2 accident; which isn't fair to the rest of the people on the ship wanting to use the pool.

 

Luckily Carnival has designated areas that are kid friendly for the little ones to play and splash without a worry. :)

[thekings23]

Today is Grand Turk, our last stop and anticipated beach day. I wasn't sure what to think about Grand Turk as I have read mixed reviews of the island, some loved it some hated it. We docked in Grand Turk at 11 AM. I really enjoyed arriving in port at this time, it allowed us to not get right up and rush off the ship.

 

We decided to try the dining room for breakfast today, the food was good but not worth the hassle in my opinion. The service seems really slow and disorganized, slow service with young kids is not a great mix. The kids were not behaved waiting for breakfast, their first meal that I was really disappointed with their behavior. To be expected of 2 toddlers once and a while.

 

After breakfast we went on deck three to watch us pull up to the port, we were the first ship in port and I really enjoyed watching the port workers tie the ship up from deck three. The boys loved waiving at the "worker man". Once we were docked we ran down to deck 2 to grab our beach back and headed down to deck 0 to get off the boat.

 

 

On the dock looking back at the Glory, such a sight. Once off the ship we knew exactly where we were going, Jacks Shack. The cruise terminal area gets really crowded and really busy, some love that atmosphere at Margaritaville, with the kids not so much. If you walk through the terminal and onto the beach at Margaritaville take a hard right and head towards the other pier. Its a 10 minute walk, which is 30 minutes walking with a 2 year with the shortest legs in the world who wants to look at every rock on the beach.

 

 

The walk was enjoyable, once we escaped the 16,354 chairs that are on beach in front of Margaritaville we felt like we were alone on the beach. Then we arrived at our destination for the day...

 

[thekings23]

I wanted to take some time to share our experience at Jacks Shack here. It's a little beach hut bar on a deck, and its a gem. You know you are getting close to the bar when you meet Topher, the resident labradoodle.

 

 

Grand Turk is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited, and instantly became my favorite port of call so far (HMC, San Juan, St Thomas, Grand Cayman, Ocho Rios, and Key West). The water was beautiful, the sand amazing and the layout of the island just felt Caribbean to me (once you get away from the cruise terminal).

 

Jacks Shack does charge $5 to rent a chair and $10 for an umbrella, twenty bucks well spent. It was hot, sunny, and just truly what you want for a day on the beach in what I picture as heaven. For parents out there, Jacks Shack is great for kids, the bar is up on a deck just feet from the beach. We set up shop at the beach and most of the patrons around us were actually crew from the ship. It was quiet, but a ton of fun. They have restrooms inside the dive shop that is directly behind the bar, also have a BBQ that serves dogs, burgers, and jerk chicken that gets great reviews. The food was a bit pricey so we didn't eat and opted for a late lunch. The boys absolutely loved this beach, and since it wasn't crowded AT ALL they were able to be a bit more free then we let them at our other beach stops. I want to share some pictures of this slice of heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the entire day hanging out at Jacks. The drinks at the shack are a bit pricey ($5 for local beer, $8 for mixed drinks for the woman to blame), but again you are in such a great atmosphere it's worth every penny. I cannot say enough how much I recommend making a stop at Jacks if you are ever in Grand Turk.

 

The ship was to sail at 5:30 and we had early dinner so we played in the sand until about 3:30 or so.

 

[thekings23]

We started walking back to the ship, of course the boys picked up every rock, shell and piece of sea glass on the way back. Lil dude was so proud of his findings

 

 

We decided to take a few minutes while walking back to the ship to check out the shops and walk through Jimmy Buffets place. I love Buffet but have seen enough of his bars at this point to do without. We did love seeing the little parrot head chairs as we have a picture of Ty in one of the Orlando location 3 years ago.

 

 

Tonight was formal night, and I failed to take any pictures. The food however was amazing, I got the prime rib and so did Ty. Carter stuck with a hotdog and fries.

 

The rest of the night was our normal routine, camp for Ty, casino for daddy and bed time for Carter.

 

It was elephant night

 

 

 

Tomorrow is a sea day and I will also talk about disembarkation.

[mustardgirl]

Thanks so much for the pictures of Grand Turk and the info on where to go when there.... I think that will have to be where we go next!!!

[nrs377]

I'm loving this review!!! It's like reading a suspense novel and waiting for the big ending, I'm on the edge of my seat wanting more!!!:D

[sixgun8]

sounds and Looks like y'all had a blast. Glad to see the Crazies traditions being immitated all across the fleet. LOL

[raylene5]

Ok, as a mom of 4 kids, I have to know...did the "woman to blame" get any time to herself? :)

[FIVEONTHEAVENUE]

Ok, as a mom of 4 kids, I have to know...did the "woman to blame" get any time to herself? :)

Me too. I was wondering same thing. By now, I'd be in the casino and Daddy would be in the stateroom.

[nessz79]

Great review! I feel like I'm reading a trip review from my DH's point of view when our kids were younger.

 

By the way, it gets so much easier! My boys are only 19 months apart and it was really tough when they were really little like yours are. They are now 8 and 6 years old and it's a dream. Sure they fight sometimes (or often, depending on what phase they're in), but they generally love each other and are each other's primary playmate. They pretty much entertain themselves now and cruising with them is wonderful. They both love Camp Carnival. Both of my boys hated daycare or church nursery when they were ages 1-4, but they grew out of it. Which is great for cruising! ;)

[nessz79]

Me too. I was wondering same thing. By now, I'd be in the casino and Daddy would be in the stateroom.

 

LOL, I was wondering the same! Although my DH would have been the same way if we cruised when our kids were little. ;)

[thekings23]

LOL, I was wondering the same! Although my DH would have been the same way if we cruised when our kids were little. ;)

 

 

Okay to be fair here, as most of you ladies probably see me as a selfish jerk at this point. I am very hands on, so while at the beach I swam and played and supervised while the woman to blame enjoyed a frozen cocktail and her book. On the ship it was next to impossible for her to have alone time, as the 2 year old cries like crazy when its just me with him. The woman to blame is able to stay home with the boys during the week, and it created quite the mommys boy.

 

Okay that was my defense.

[nessz79]

Okay to be fair here, as most of you ladies probably see me as a selfish jerk at this point. I am very hands on, so while at the beach I swam and played and supervised while the woman to blame enjoyed a frozen cocktail and her book. On the ship it was next to impossible for her to have alone time, as the 2 year old cries like crazy when its just me with him. The woman to blame is able to stay home with the boys during the week, and it created quite the mommys boy.

 

Okay that was my defense.

 

I was only teasing you! :)

[moeferg]

When you were at Grand Turk, did you go to the BBQ supplied by carnival? How was it?

[Essiesmom]

When you were at Grand Turk, did you go to the BBQ supplied by carnival? How was it?

 

The Carnival Barbecue is on HMC, not Grand turk. EM

[thekings23]

The Carnival Barbecue is on HMC, not Grand turk. EM

 

 

Correct, I thought the food at the BBQ was just okay, and getting the food was chaotic. I love that it was free though (or included in the fare)