Garden Villa Jade LIVE by Geri Sally & Gretchen

CasinoCruzGirl · December 2, 2016

All of us will be contributing to this thread. Please follow along for a Garden Villa Take 2 Trip.

Here is a little background on us. Most of you know us but for those of you who don't here goes.

About 2 years ago Harriet and I were chatting right here on cruise critic. She mentioned. She had a comp for a Spa Suite and no one to go with. Of course I volunteered my services. We took it one step further and said hey why not try and get a bunch of women who have same things in common with us and try and pool our comps and get a Garden Villa. So we put a post on here recruiting girls to come. I remembered a friend I had met on a previous cruise, Maria I knew she would be a go and then I remembered Cathy and she was all in and she said her mom would be interested. So now we had me, Harriet, maria, Cathy and her mom. This left room for 3 more. Phyllis responded and gretchen responded and Sally and Judy and Cheryl and a few more. We had so many that we decided to book both Garden Villas on the Gem for April 30, 2016. There was a lot of back and forth with some people dropping out. We ended up with 7 of us in one Garden Villa and a few more in other cabins. There was a total of 10 of us. We opened a chat on FB where we called ourselves the Garden Villa Vixens (thanks Sally). We would all chat there all day every day. We got to know each other very very well. Anyway let's fast forward to us going on the April 30th cruise and when we got back Harriet said let's book another and she picked December 4, 2016. As you know our dear Harriet was diagnosed with cancer and I knew if this is a cruise she wanted I was going to book it with her. Most of the girls couldn't go. So it would be Harriet, me, Sally and Sally's friend Mindi and then Gretchen jumped on. I was sure Harriet was going to make it. She was a fighter and was so determined to be on this cruise. Alas she didn't make it and passed away a few weeks ago. She won't be with us physically but she will be with us in spirit.

Today is Friday, the day before mine and Gretchen's flights. Mindi lives in Florida and Sally will fly in from Canada tomorrow night. Gretchen and I will be staying at the Bay Harbor hotel in Tampa and Sally and Mindi will be meeting us at the pier at 10:30 am on Sunday.

We will be reporting in at random times from all of us. Please enjoy our second journey in a Garden Villa.

Casino Comp Chick · December 2, 2016

I hope you guys have a great time, great weather and Harriet will be with you in spirit. Raise a glass to her from all of us who couldn't join you guys.

JillL · December 2, 2016

following... :)

CasinoCruzGirl · December 2, 2016

I hope you guys have a great time, great weather and Harriet will be with you in spirit. Raise a glass to her from all of us who couldn't join you guys.

Thanks. We will

CasinoCruzGirl · December 2, 2016

9:37 am Friday (Geri). So day before my flight. Have many things to do. First repack. I'm such a bad bad overpacked. I packed about a week ago and I'm on a mission to cut my packing at least 1/3rd. I end up wearing the same thing many times. Then banking - I like to get at least 50 one dollar bills and then mix in some 5s 10s and 20s for tips. Since we have a butler I will be making envelopes to put those tips to the side to make sure I don't spend it. I'm leaving my husband at home (he hates cruising) so will try and make him some dinners and freeze them. He works long hours and it's the least I can do for him. He is also scheduled for his first radiation treatment this Tuesday. A couple months ago he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I so prayed his treatments would be before or after this cruise but of course his first is right smack in the middle. I had told him I would cancel but he said no way. I made my son promise to go with him and he has his brother and many family members who will be looking in on him. I do feel terrible I won't be here for his first treatment but he's assured me he will be fine and not to worry. I also have the cutest little Pomeranian. She will be staying at a woman's house who will take excellent care of her. It's to much to leave her at home with my husband who is going to be very busy this week with work and his treatments so thought this would be easier. Ok time to go and try repacking....

whenisthemidnightbuffet? · December 2, 2016

So excited for you girls. I will be following closely! :D:D

Phyllis

ColinIllinois · December 2, 2016

Been looking forward to this since the last one. CAN'T WAIT!!!

CasinoCruzGirl · December 2, 2016

4:24 pm (Geri). Repacking is done and it was a complete failure. I took out one shirt and added a dress I probably made it worse lol. Banking also done. Flight is checked in and boarding pass uploaded to my phone. Now I wait for the morning to come so I can get very excited for this cruise. 11:29 am flight on united out of Newark. Flying first class (ya me) actually was a deal that was worth it. $100 more than coach but I'm taking two bags @$25 each both ways it's a wash first class free bags. So why not?

spidybabe · December 2, 2016

Have a great safe trip. Enjoy yourselves, as it has been rough and emotional time for you all. Sailing is the best remedy. Have many toasts to Harriet from all her CC friends and followers.

Best wishes to your husband.

Can't wait to read about your adventures. .HAVE FUN

Safe sailing

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cincicruisers · December 2, 2016

Bond Voyage looking forward to your trip report.

murfette · December 3, 2016

Enjoy the villa. We where in 14500. Disembarked on November 28th. Hopefully you get mama T for your butler. She was awesome. Jorge was the steward and also awesome.

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LTM2307 · December 3, 2016

We are in 14010 on your same cruise. We're looking forward to meeting you. -Laurie & Gene

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SuiteCruiser · December 3, 2016

Thanks for starting this Geri :) I've been in meetings the last couple of days, i am presenting at one tomorrow at 2:40, then high tail it to the airport for my flight at 5:00. It's the latest flight that would get me to Florida, and it's taking me to Orlando. Thankfully Mindi will meet me in Orlando, we have a night in the Hyatt attached to the airport, then a short 1.5 hour drive into Tampa in the morning.

We'll miss our other Vixens: Cathy, Maria, Jen, Judy and Phyllis, but understand that they are unable to join us. Harriet is front and center in our minds and we'll be having a Vixen memorial for her. We miss her terribly.

Thank you for following along on another adventure!

CasinoCruzGirl · December 3, 2016

8:28 am Saturday (Geri)

Well woke up at 5 am. Wanted to get an early start to start packing last minute items and take my doggy to the dog sitters. Flight is was at 11:29 am. Around 6:30 am I got a text from United Airlines that my flight is delayed until 2:00 pm due to waiting on incoming aircraft urghhhhhhhh. Not the way I wanted to start this vacation. This is a prime example as why to NEVER fly in same day as cruise. Flight doesn't get in Florida until 4:44 pm if this was day of cruise I would be crap out of luck. So now I sit and wait could have gotten a couple extra hours of sleep. Oh who am I kidding on day of vacation I'm so excited and can't sleep lol

SuiteCruiser · December 3, 2016

Finished my meetings and a dash to the airport. Checked in and through security in record time. Enjoying twenty minutes in the lounge and a well-earned glass of wine :)

Today will be a very long day, meetings started at 7:30, and my flight gets to Orlando at 11:15. I think I'll sleep very well tonight :)

Edited December 3, 2016 by SuiteCruiser

CasinoCruzGirl · December 3, 2016

6:02 pm (Geri)

Finally made it to Tampa. We are at the Bay Harbor Hotel. Very nice very clean. Free shuttle from airport which is 5 minutes away. Flight was easy once on board. Had first class so had some lunch. Gretchen and I are relaxing tonight at the hotel. Will order some room service for dinner. There is a nice restaurant here overlooking the bay. The cost is $99 tax included with AAA. Recommended. Check out thr teeny tiny salt and pepper shakers on thr plane lol

Edited December 3, 2016 by CasinoCruzGirl

SuiteCruiser · December 4, 2016

I'm onboard flight#2. My first flight Ottawa - Toronto was 45 minutes in the air. We had a 767 International aircraft with lie flat seats, i should have had a nap, but I didn't.

Now in Air Canada Rouge business class back to the typical regular domestic business seats. Actually there isn't a ton of legroom for someone 6'2".

Better than in the back though!

clcjdn · December 4, 2016

Have fun ladies! Have one for me as a salute to Harriet....knew I should have jumped on that first GV offer. :)