LIVE 47 Days 3 Ships Caribbean Escape January 30th - March 20th!

[countess5]

Took a walk to guest relations this morning for some more Ernesto and DWI! 😂

took some shots of the interior, as if you have never seen it before…..

 

passport bar

 

Self explanatory 😂

Has anyone ever gotten a pic of Al Bacio without people? 🤔

This area treated me like a bad date last week 

Where you lose more money, hall of the $10 Pop Up! 

Who doesn’t like some Gelato! 

Ensemble Lounge where I used it for the first time last cruise

Sushi on 5

World Class Bar, one and done for me. 

This area I never understood, does it transition you as you go to dinner? 🤔🙄

For those that do, I offer you this. 

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Addition

 

if you are on Equinox before June, you need to see Ernesto! He is the real deal and service outstanding. A family man with a 6 year old and wife expecting in June. 
we love talking with the service staff and learning about their backgrounds. Ernesto is from the Philippines. When he learned I grew up there for two years in my early life we hit it off. 
Very proud of his country. Very financially responsible. 7 months out of the year away from his family. 
 

Meet Ernesto! 
 

 

PS please tip your servers! 
 

Cheers! 

[Spikedr]

1 hour ago, countess5 said:

Addition

 

if you are on Equinox before June, you need to see Ernesto! He is the real deal and service outstanding. A family man with a 6 year old and wife expecting in June. 
we love talking with the service staff and learning about their backgrounds. Ernesto is from the Philippines. When he learned I grew up there for two years in my early life we hit it off. 
Very proud of his country. Very financially responsible. 7 months out of the year away from his family. 
 

Meet Ernesto! 
 

 

PS please tip your servers! 
 

Cheers! 

Where would we find Ernesto?

[countess5]

38 minutes ago, Spikedr said:

Where would we find Ernesto?

He is at the Sunset Bar all day. Just let him know Kevin and Barbie sent you. 🍸

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Morning from Aruba! 
 

 

 

we actually are docked downtown! Last year we had the furthest dock away and had to walk to town. 😀

We left Curaçao at 10 PM last night for the short hop over to Aruba.

looks like we may hit town today. My nephew was here prior to Christmas and said the local beer called Chill was good. Like to get a pic with one and send it to him. 
 

More to come

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Oh Yes…..by the way, 

 

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Here is something new we are trying, we have always used the clip. I really like these. Can use clips at the bottom but for up top very nice. Easier to pack per DW! 
 

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Not sure how the sunset picture got into the last post, anyway decided so far today to stay onboard. Quite and just enjoying the sights. 
 

 

 

 

 

and then some around the deck shots

 

 

 

 

You know the spots.

 

 

I have to end with this……

a couple is walking past us on our loungers. The wife is in front with the husband following. The wife turns around and ask, I’m I going in the right direction? The husband responded, where are you going? The wife, I don’t know. The husband, then your going in the right direction! 😂😂

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Hello from the middle of the Caribbean. Sitting in Al Bacio for a double Expresso, Ruth will be our server. 
Not a lot to catch up on from yesterday, I do have a couple of observations.

We went up to the 14th deck to grab a lounger and have some fresh air. I brought our music and we found a quite spot for two, at least I thought so. 
We are laying there listening to our musics and all of a sudden two people sit one lounger away from me  and then another couple comes and is one lounger away from DW. 
 

Why do I make a fuss of this? Take all ok at the  loungers! 

 

 

The first couple had left when I took this picture. Are these people lonely? In addition the guy next to me snored! 🙄

 

Dinner was Tuscan and again the service was fantastic! The kids that have been serving us have been so much fun. 
Dinner was during sail away. Not a great sun set.

 

The Epic was docked behind us as we said goodbye to Aruba and onto a sea day today. 
 

 

Today is card playing , a talk on the Queen from our British Cruise Director Peter and then 

Deal or No Deal! Last time we played, last year, walked away with $250! 😀🤑

 

Lemon Tart and Expresso time. Jim if you are following along this one’s for you, not my favorite topping! 

 

Cheers! 

[39august]

I remove the foamy topping! Wish I had one RIGNT NOW!

[countess5]

2 minutes ago, 39august said:

I remove the foamy topping! Wish I had one RIGNT NOW!

It was like a marshmallow! Oh my!

 

I have to add that last night at Tuscan every lady was presented a very nice rose! 😀

Tonight is the Taj Dinner! 🤞

Cheers! 

[Robkat]

Really enjoying your review and we are absolutely envious of your multiple B2B's, especially since we're just a few days off our Reflection cruise.  

We did a 12 nighter on Equinox this past November, so we're getting a kick out of seeing all your ship photos.

 

Have to ask though ... you often mention that Tuscan Grill is your "MDR" and you've been in there most nights.  If you don't mind the question, how are you managing this?  Do you have crazy OBC and decided to use it this way?  Or is it just a personal preference to be in there for most evenings?  If you feel this is nobody's business, I understand, but my curious mind is wondering!

 

In the meantime, we're looking forward to your ongoing review.  Thanks.

 

[boxkite]

Enjoying your cruise report.

 

We love Aruba!

 

As it says on their license plates, "One Happy Island"!

[vickykay]

Countess,

When did you find out about the Taj dinner?  We’re on the Eclispe this coming May and hoping they will have it.  Thanks.

[miched]

Our second cruise was on HAL.  That was 24 years ago.  We had an outside cabin.  One night we were on the top deck looking at the stars.   There was no one around.   We decided to relax, lay on a lounger by the rail to look at the stars, enjoy the quiet of the night and enjoy the sights of the sea in the distance for a few minutes instead of standing.   We were there not more than 5 minutes  and a couple comes and stands at the rail in front of us carrying on a conversation and smoking.   There was nothing special about the place we chose.  It was just an area we were in at the time.   Apparently they thought we found something special.   We weren’t planning on staying very long so we left.    
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅
 

 

[countess5]

21 hours ago, Robkat said:

Really enjoying your review and we are absolutely envious of your multiple B2B's, especially since we're just a few days off our Reflection cruise.  

We did a 12 nighter on Equinox this past November, so we're getting a kick out of seeing all your ship photos.

 

Have to ask though ... you often mention that Tuscan Grill is your "MDR" and you've been in there most nights.  If you don't mind the question, how are you managing this?  Do you have crazy OBC and decided to use it this way?  Or is it just a personal preference to be in there for most evenings?  If you feel this is nobody's business, I understand, but my curious mind is wondering!

 

In the meantime, we're looking forward to your ongoing review.  Thanks.

 

No question is out of bounds. 
we always eat in specialty restaurants. We are not “MDR” people. Yes we have a lot of OBC but it not we would still buy the full dining package. That is just something we do but OBC makes it easier. Equinox has limited restaurants so Tuscan becomes our main dining area. 

Cheers! 

 

[countess5]

Ok I have to share what happened yesterday. I mentioned we were going to play Deal or no Deal. Sooooooo!

 

First you buy your cards,

 

Then you show up and…..you are selected to play the game! 🙄

yes that’s me on the right.

For those who knows the game, I selected suitcase 8 because that is my DW birthday. We start out and do fairly well. Then the offers started. I get down to 5 suitcases. A penny, 50 cents, $50 along with $100 and hold on $1,000. I am offered $223 to buy my suitcase. If I continue and pick the $1,000 suitcase then my offer really drops. I take the $223 offer, How can I pick the $1,000 suitcase out of 20 cases? 🤔

ok you are getting a head of me. We continue but I am out. The offers would have gone up because I select the low numbers. 
ok the end……I had the $1,000 case! 😫

 

All I can say was that it was fun and the money went to DW Home Goods fund ( for those that know that store) 😂

 

Cheers

[countess5]

Dinner last night was the Taj Dinner. It was outside the dinning package, $45 PP plus 18%. 
As I said in the beginning, food is subjective. My thought on the event is we did it, it was an experience but would not try it again. Food was good but there were 6 couples. No event just Indian food served. I like experiences. 
 

it was another Captains Cocktail party last night. 
Barbie with Peter the Cruise Director

 

 

Barbie with the Captain.( he was jealous that she got her pic with Peter first) 

 

Another nice event with a great staff! 
 

Sitting in the Sky Lounge Just set sail. 
 

more on today later, my Tito’s is watering down! 🍸😂

 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

On 2/16/2023 at 6:04 AM, vickykay said:

Countess,

When did you find out about the Taj dinner?  We’re on the Eclispe this coming May and hoping they will have it.  Thanks.

DW asked about it when she was making reservations for our specialty dining. You shouldn’t have a problem getting in, as shared there were very few people.

Cheers! 

[countess5]

Good Morning! last full day of 2nd leg. DW is organizing for the move to Beyond so I thought we could catch up. 

Yesterday Puerto Plata, great port! 
 

first we had a visitor join us! 

 

 

 

I’ve read about Virgin and have to say it wouldn’t be for us. Not our vibe. How about hammocks on the balcony? Pretty shop though. 
 

We went onto the port and found an amazing well done entertainment/shopping area. All the local people were so nice. 
 

 

 

 

continued……

 

 

 

 

 

[countess5]

More of the port.

They had a great transportation system to and from the ship. One of the best I’ve ever experienced. Free, but tip of course

 

?

 

 

 

Sample the local 40% proof. 

 

 

 

 

[countess5]

After walking around it was time for a beer and a snack. 

 

Wellington “ without the beef” took care of us! 

 

 

we will be back at this port next Friday so will visit Wellington again! 
 

Dinner was in Murano. There had been a complete staff change from our last leg. It shine is still off. You can’t deny the food is good, it’s just the experience of the past wasn’t there. Maybe it’s this ship. We will reserve again on Reflection. I’ll give you a report. 
 

Then it was off tho Fortunes Casino for some craps! We had $170 OBC left so since DW got a nice new outfit last leg Daddy went to the casino! Turned that $170 into $296! $10 table. The sad thing is while we were playing two isles over in the slot area someone had a medical emergency. There were more officers that responded than you could imagine! 😀

 

Well sea day on the way to Ft Lauderdale. We will disembark and head to the Marriott for the day. 
 

Once there I’ll give some final thoughts of the first two legs. 
 

Cheers! 

[countess5]

While DW is packing I was wondering around the ship and ran into this guy.

 

He was pondering whether to visit Future Cruises. I told him next ship! 
 

 

Cheers! 

[Robkat]

On 2/16/2023 at 3:10 PM, countess5 said:

No question is out of bounds. 
we always eat in specialty restaurants. We are not “MDR” people. Yes we have a lot of OBC but it not we would still buy the full dining package. That is just something we do but OBC makes it easier. Equinox has limited restaurants so Tuscan becomes our main dining area. 

Cheers! 

 

Thanks for your reply.  

What a great system, and we envy you having TG as your "MDR" ... nice!

We've got to just be happy with a specialty thrown in every now and then!

 

Hope you enjoy your afternoon and evening  in Fort Lauderdale, and hope your upcoming Beyond and Reflection cruises are wonderful.

[countess5]

3:40 in the afternoon of the last day, Sunset Bar is humming! 

 

 

Fabulous Weather! 
 

We worked out the table issue for cards! 😂
 

 

Cheers!