Rare Sea Dog Posted August 15, 2019 #101 Share Posted August 15, 2019 I think you have great photography skills, I can see it. Great cameras both of them. Lightroom is a solid program. I have been just taking my pics with my iPhone and then editing and adjusting in Photoshop. I am planning on getting the new iPhone XS Max to take on our next cruise because it has a better camera. At some point it would be great to get the RX100VI just because it is so compact and takes unbelievable pictures. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brillohead Posted August 15, 2019 #102 Share Posted August 15, 2019 47 minutes ago, twangster said: El Morro at night. How magnificent!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #103 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) Day 5 - Tortola, BVI We sailed through the Virgin Islands chain and eventually began approaching Tortola. Tortola has a pier. Our progress so far... Docked and ready to go. Excursion meeting point is right at the end of the pier where several people holding up signs were in place to greet us. Edited August 15, 2019 by twangster 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #104 Share Posted August 15, 2019 My excursion today was Escape to Jost Van Dyke booked through Royal and later cheaper when it went on sale and I saved $19. Jost Van Dyke is one of the smaller islands in the BVI with a small permanent population. I've been to Jost Van Dyke before and booking this excursion was the very next thing I did after booking this cruise. Very close to the end of the pier is the staging area for excursion boats. The boat has both inside and outside seating fore and aft. The forward outdoor seating does some sea spray but it was very refreshing. Around 25 minutes later we were approaching this little slice of heaven right here on Jost Van Dyke. The water here is quite stunning. I wasn't quick enough to capture the decent size sea turtle that popped up close by in this general direction. On previous trips here the boat anchored and we swam to shore. This excursion comes with a barge that takes guests to shore where you can just walk onto the beach without getting wet. There are numerous bars that line the beach. Our designated section was at the end of the beach at Ocean 7 names after seven sisters that founded this bar. Loungers and umbrellas were reserved for us. We received tickets for one drink (beer/soda/water) and one meal each. It's such a beautiful beach. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Latte Posted August 15, 2019 #105 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Beautiful is an understatement...what a fabulous excursion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #106 Share Posted August 15, 2019 There are several bars that we were free to visit. This beach is popular with the yachting and sailing crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #107 Share Posted August 15, 2019 The Ocean's 7 bar: At 11am our lunch was ready. Lunch was a hamburger or a hot dog. I wouldn't rave about the meal but it did the job. Fearful I might develop an ache somewhere in my body I thought it wise to take a local drink called a Painkiller. To be extra safe I thought it best to consume several. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #108 Share Posted August 15, 2019 The desired effect worked and full relaxation mode kicked in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #109 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Too soon it was 12:45pm and time to head back to the real world. The barge returned victims back to the excursion boat. With that we were off towards Tortola. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 15, 2019 Author #110 Share Posted August 15, 2019 The port area is very nice with some shopping, a few waterfront bars and no pushy vendors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Sea Dog Posted August 15, 2019 #111 Share Posted August 15, 2019 Because of your pictures I must go to Tortola and do that excursion. What a amazing beach and they have Carib beer there, love that stuff. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare brillohead Posted August 15, 2019 #112 Share Posted August 15, 2019 1 hour ago, twangster said: Our progress so far... When I first glanced at the map, the circle showing the current location ran into the line showing the ship's path, and it looked like you did a perfect loop 'round the island before docking! Then I took more than a millisecond to actually LOOK at it and realized my mistake! BTW, the beach/water pics have me jonesing for the tropics something fierce. I head out on Majesty in just under two weeks.... and not a minute too soon! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schevel Posted August 15, 2019 #113 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) I was just at Jost in April. Your pictures take me back to paradise. Hands down, the best excursion I have been on! Edited August 15, 2019 by schevel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbeyg Posted August 15, 2019 #114 Share Posted August 15, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, Swank Pad G said: That's a great camera. Twangster's pictures also prove one more thing and that is he has a good eye for composition, light, and subject. Truly this. A great camera is only as good as the talented photographer using it. ☺️ I too am enjoying your photography, Twangster. Thanks for sharing the nighttime shots of San Juan. Edited August 15, 2019 by barbeyg 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bobmacliberty Posted August 16, 2019 #115 Share Posted August 16, 2019 3 hours ago, barbeyg said: Truly this. A great camera is only as good as the talented photographer using it. ☺️ I too am enjoying your photography, Twangster. Thanks for sharing the nighttime shots of San Juan. Reminds me of a quote in the signature of someone in a photography forum - Chef...that was a fantastic meal. What kind of pots and pans do you use? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare bobmacliberty Posted August 16, 2019 #116 Share Posted August 16, 2019 Good to see El Morro lit up. We were disappointed in May when it was not lit for our departure. Wondered if that was still related to hurricane recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 16, 2019 Author #117 Share Posted August 16, 2019 Day 6 - St Thomas After a short overnight ride over from Tortola we arrived to a rain storm in St Thomas at Crown Bay. Fortunately it's the Caribbean. If you don't like the weather wait 15 minutes. This is a work day for me. Gotta pay for these cruises somehow. I stayed on the ship. #boring I was curious where we went last night since it's a very short distance. Looks like we just puddled around for a bit then made our way to St Thomas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 16, 2019 Author #118 Share Posted August 16, 2019 Dinner in Chops, the second of my D+ BOGO. This is the 8th times I've eaten in Chops on Empress and it was bound to happen, the odds were not in my favor. Finally a meal that was just okay. Service was great but the filet lacked in flavor just a bit. It's wasn't a bad steak but it was just average. Maybe the Diamond Happy Hour wine closed down my taste buds, a better wine might have enhanced the meal. Should have stuck with a paid glass of wine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 16, 2019 Author #119 Share Posted August 16, 2019 Day 7 - Sea Day On our way back to Miami. Lot's going on around the ship but I'm on my office balcony working some more. Voom has worked better on this cruise. While in St Thomas my cell signal would drop randomly before coming back. I ended up going back on Voom and using wifi calling which was more stable compared to the local cell towers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachnative Posted August 16, 2019 #120 Share Posted August 16, 2019 I have truly enjoyed both of your reviews, especially the photos and your insights. A question for you: would you book JS 9600 again? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwizzlersAddict Posted August 17, 2019 #121 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Going to hate to hate to see these reviews end! Thanks again for sharing your experiences and amazing pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted August 17, 2019 #122 Share Posted August 17, 2019 (edited) 14 hours ago, beachnative said: I have truly enjoyed both of your reviews, especially the photos and your insights. A question for you: would you book JS 9600 again? Thanks Since you are going to be on the ship for 21 days, not so sure I would book a cabin so far forward. The ship can really feel the rough seas if you sail into to some really bad weather, I think you would be much better off not chancing it and book something more toward the latter part of mid toward the aft. Edited August 17, 2019 by Jimbo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwizzlersAddict Posted August 17, 2019 #123 Share Posted August 17, 2019 On 8/11/2019 at 5:48 PM, twangster said: Something I forgot to mention in my last Empress thread are the USB outlets. They are found on the bottom of the lights on each side of the bed. It's a great hidden feature. Are these in all cabin categories or just in suites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 17, 2019 Author #124 Share Posted August 17, 2019 18 hours ago, beachnative said: I have truly enjoyed both of your reviews, especially the photos and your insights. A question for you: would you book JS 9600 again? Thanks I would. I enjoy sitting on the couch and seeing a forward view with no balcony divider. As I write this there is deck noise above me, scraping chairs as people move around but I never hear it at night, only during the day. At times I think people must have ants in their pants because the chair scraping lasts for seconds that seems like minutes at times but it doesn't really bother me. If that deck noise will bother you, don't book this cabin. 12 minutes ago, TwizzlersAddict said: Are these in all cabin categories or just in suites? Can't speak to other cabins, i don't have the nerve to bang on someone's door and ask :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare twangster Posted August 17, 2019 Author #125 Share Posted August 17, 2019 Day 7 Night I did a lot of work today and had to deal with some stressed clients that were dwelling on an issue. Wifi calling over Voom at sea worked quite well for several hour long calls. With that said I was really looking forward to Diamond happy hour and the bartenders took great care of me. Flag on Nations in the Centrum. A bit of a sea mist tonight as we approach a full moon. Not great conditions for night sky photography. Another item I really appreciate about a small ship and Diamond happy hour are the great friends I've met night after night. On a ship this size you have great crew interaction but also an opportunity for great interaction with fellow guests. I am going to miss seeing these same friendly faces night after night. Tipping is always a good idea for Diamond happy drinks as the bartenders get nothing for serving one. A benefit of good tipping is great service and the bar staff have taken care of us night after night. I'm going to miss that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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