My Solo Splendor repo cruise (with pics) 10/24/14

[Jamman54]

That's pretty cool you got to hang out with your friends in Antigua. I was once in Cozumel and a friend of mine was there the same day on a different ship. We met at Fat Tuesdays for a drink and had quite a good time for a little while. :D

 

Yep, that is cool. Two cruises in a row where I met friends.

[Jamman54]

Hey Jamman54! We were on your cruise too! Your review has helped us relive it. In looking through your pics I saw myself in post #133 sitting on the bench by the pool!

 

Congrats on making it into the review!!! :D Wish we could have met on board. Hope you had a great cruise!

 

 

Great review, I really enjoyed reading it and looking at the pixs, thank you for the time and effort you put in.

 

Thank you for reading!! More to follow.

[Jamman54]

Hey Mike, we are on the Liberty Jan 16-Feb 1 . . .

 

The Liberty is one of my favorite ships. Wish we could join you guys.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Jamman54

[Jamman54]

I waited about twenty minutes, and none of the roll call beach bums showed up. Feeling like I was “stood up”, I made my way to Deck 0 and the gangway. I later found out that the previous day in Antigua, the meeting time had been changed, and since I hadn’t gone to the beach with them, and no one saw me later that day, I hadn’t gotten the message. So today I am on my own. Time for me to leave the ship…..

 

 

The Carnival Splendor’s gangways…..

 

 

It looks like another long walk to the end of the pier…..

 

 

I’m almost to the end of the pier…..

 

 

Looking back at the Carnival Splendor docked in Phillipsburg, St. Maarten…..

 

 

Everybody likes to take a picture of / with the “Welcome to St. Maarten” sign…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here is where you pick up the tours, and your taxis…..

 

 

I’m heading to Orient Beach. The taxi fare is $8 per person, each way…..

 

 

We’re in the taxi, and on the way. They are still cleaning up from the hurricane two weeks prior. They lost a LOT of trees. At least they drive on the RIGHT side of the road…..

 

 

We have arrived at Bikini Beach on Orient Bay. The lack of palm trees at the top of the beach is very noticeable. Here is my view, looking up beach to my right…..

 

 

And this is my view looking down beach, to my left…..

 

 

This is the water sports hut…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The Bikini Beach Bar and Restaurant at the top of the beach…..

 

 

 

The taxi drop off / pick up, is right nearby…..

 

 

Here are some beach and water views…..

 

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are a few more views looking down beach…..

 

 

 

This is my spot for the day. Two loungers and an umbrella for $20…..

 

 

This was my view of the water…..

 

 

Wave runners and sailboats are available for rent…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The thing I liked most of all about Bikini Beach, was the bar and food service right on the beach.. I ordered up a bucket of beers ($20.), grabbed my water camera, and went for a dip in the inviting water. Here’s a shot of my umbrella and loungers…..

 

 

Bikini Beach views…..

 

 

 

It’s only $10 to use for the whole day. I think I’ll pass…..

 

 

Wave runners and sailboats…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are some more random water camera shots…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, back at my spot, the Coronas have arrived!!!

 

 

To be continued……

[EpcotBill]

That bucket of Coronas is a beautiful sight.

[Jamman54]

I sat down with my coronas, and watched a lot of fun stuff…..

 

 

 

 

Parasailing is something that I have never done, or wish to do…..

 

 

 

All too soon, it was time to head back to the ship. Getting a taxi back was a breeze. I was dropped off at the same taxi stand that I left from…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

I’m heading to check out the shopping area…..

 

 

Lots of little places to check out…..

 

 

 

This is a big place…..

 

 

A view of the shopping plaza…..

 

 

Heading back towards the ship…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

There are a few more places to check out along the way…..

 

 

You just know that I needed to stop for an ice cold beer, or two…..

 

 

Though it’s still two hours before we sail, It seems like a lot of people are heading back to the ship…..

 

 

The line to get back on the ship doesn’t seem to be long at all…..

 

 

 

Boarding the Splendor for the final time this cruise…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

That bucket of Coronas is a beautiful sight.

 

It's great to know that some people can appreciate fine art when they see it!!! :D

[Patty421]

Great review so far. I read Kim's (GAPEARL) review and wanted to come see your version. Hoping the two reviews will keep me tided over until my cruise in January.

[Jamman54]

Great review so far. I read Kim's (GAPEARL) review and wanted to come see your version. Hoping the two reviews will keep me tided over until my cruise in January.

 

Thanks for following along!! Always good to hear from a fellow Jerseyan. Enjoy BC8!!

[Hogladyrider]

Another great review, love your photos!

 

Having never sailed on Splendor I have to ask why is it called "Liner Pool" seems like a very odd name.

 

Thanks.

Susan

[Jamman54]

Another great review, love your photos!

 

Having never sailed on Splendor I have to ask why is it called "Liner Pool" seems like a very odd name.

 

Thanks.

Susan

 

Good Question. It's Liner as in Ocean Liner. These models are mounted on the wall back there.

 

 

[Crusin Karen]

Good Question. It's Liner as in Ocean Liner. These models are mounted on the wall back there.

 

 

Jamman, 3 times on Splendor and I never knew that and also always wondered why they gave it such a strange name. You learn something new every day! :eek:;)

[Jamman54]

Once back on board the ship, I made my way back to the cabin, where I found the dreaded debarkation information, and customs card waiting on the bed for me. I guess this cruise is really coming to an end…..

 

 

Well, I guess it’s time to start packing. I only have one suitcase, and one carry on, so it’s not a big deal. I hung out on my balcony while we sailed from St. Maarten, until it was time for the VIFP party at 4:30.

I’ve never seen so many people at a VIFP party before. It was held in the Spectacular Theatre, and even a good portion of the upper level was filled. The Spectacular Orchestra, along with Ty, the female singer, provided entertainment at the start…..

 

 

Cruise Director Malcolm Burn was the host…..

 

 

 

This party was pretty much like all the other VIFP parties I have attended. There were plenty of drinks and snacks, the usual video where everyone cheers for the ships they have been on, etc. Then they had the Senior Staff members come on stage, introduce and tell us a little something about themselves, which Malcolm turned into a comedy bit…..

 

 

Then Malcolm acknowledged all the Gold and Platinum members in the room, and asked all the Diamond members to come up on stage for a group picture. I have never seen so many Diamonds in one place before. If you look closely, I am in the back with my arm up in the air…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

The party lasted a good hour. Afterwards, I went to check emails for the last time, went to Pixels to pick up a couple of pictures, and did a little last minute shopping.

 

I noticed that quite a few people were dressed up for Halloween. It’s not my thing anymore, but I do enjoy looking at the costumes.

 

My last dinner consisted of spring rolls, Portobello mushrooms, jumbo encrusted shrimp, and bacon mac & cheese. I enjoyed all my meals in the MDR all cruise, and had no issues whatsoever. Tonight, the waiters danced to “Hey Baby”, then topped off the night by doing the hokey “Leaving on a Fun Ship…..

 

 

 

After dinner, I strolled the Promenade one last time, stopping in the Atrium to listen to “Music Asia” perform for a bit......

 

 

Then it was off to the Sports Bar to have a few Thirsty Frog Reds. Around 11:30, I decided to call it a cruise and head back to the cabin, where I found that the last turn down service had been done…..

 

 

I finished packing my one suitcase…….

 

 

The saddest sight on any cruise…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

I woke up at 4:30 to use the bathroom, and we were already docked in San Juan. Took a quick look outside, and then jumped back into bed for a few more hours. Here is this morning’s debarkation information…..

 

 

I am in no hurry to get off the ship this morning. My flight home isn’t until 4:45 pm. My PVP will be on the next leg of the repo from San Juan to Miami, and we are planning to meet for lunch and drinks at 11:30. Here are some views from my balcony while docked in San Juan…..

 

 

 

 

 

The Celebrity Infinity is docked next to us in San Juan…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

Here are a couple more views of the Celebrity Infinity…..

 

 

 

Looks like they are starting to let passengers debark…..

 

 

Another view of the nearby fort……

 

 

The bow camera view from the television……

 

 

I left my cabin for the last time, and made my way up to the Lido for one final breakfast…..

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

While I was eating my breakfast, I got a call from my PVP saying that his Mom had taken ill, and he was forced to cancel his cruise. Bummer. I later found out that everything turned out all right, so I felt good about that.

 

After breakfast I walked around the aft end and took these final shots from the ship. Looking forward on the starboard side……

 

 

The Jewel of the Seas and the Celebrity Summit were docked across the way…..

 

 

 

The Stern of the Celebrity Infinity…..

 

 

A few parting shots of the San Juan Cruise Terminal…..

 

 

 

To be continued…..

[Jamman54]

I left the ship around 10:30am. It was a slowwwwww process, but like I said earlier, I was in no rush. Once off, I went to a place directly across the street from the Cruise Terminal, where they will hold your luggage for $3 a bag. Free of my bag, I took a walk around OSJ. It was VERY hot out, and soon I was looking for a place that served lunch and had COLD beer.

 

I found a nice local place, and for the next two hours, relaxed with a few beers and a light lunch. It was funny that on the television, they had a Rutgers football game on, and they were playing at home. Their home stadium is just 5 minutes from my house, and I could see that it was rainy and cold there. Didn’t know how I was going to handle that, being that it was 95 here!!!!

 

Soon it was time to head to the airport, so I walked back to pick up my luggage, then crossed the street and hopped into a taxi. The fare was $20, plus $1 for the bag. We are almost at the airport…..

 

 

The airport entrance……

 

 

Approaching the terminal…..

 

 

Flying from San Juan can be a bit of a hassle. There is no curbside check in here, as all bags must be scanned by the USDA before you can drop them off at your airline. Once I got through the USDA scanner, the line for United was insanely long, and took about an hour to get through. Once past that, I got the full treatment at the checkpoint, because my knee replacement always sets off the alarm!!

 

Anyway, from there it was smooth sailing, and my flight left San Juan and arrived in Newark on time. Patti picked me up, and just laughed, as I was wearing shorts, and it was only 40 degrees outside. At least I had a sweatshirt!!!

 

So there you have it, another cruise in the books. I had a great time on the cruise, and only wish that Patti and Ryan could have been with me. Was it perfect? No, but I never let the small stuff get to me. This cruise was the smoothest I have EVER been on! Not once did I feel the ship move while at sea. I met many GREAT people from the roll call, and wish I could have spent more time with everybody. I did learn a few things, like at $49.95, Cheers is not for me, and that I must get back to St. Kitts and Antigua again!

 

If you have any questions on the Splendor, or any of our ports of call, ask away, and I will answer them.

 

So until next time, may you have clear skies, and smooth seas!! Happy Sails!!

Edited November 27, 2014 by Jamman54