Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 #1 Share Posted July 3, 2023 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Woe...another from HBCcruiser! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic!" HBCcruiser was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. Summer vacation is here so it’s time for our summer cruise! This year we decided to jump on the 9 night Vision of the Seas cruise out of Baltimore with stops in Bermuda, Nassau and Coco Cay. We love Bermuda and Coco Cay! I’m cruising with my two adult DDs and my SIL. Girls cruise! Watch out cause we are ready yo have some fun! 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #2 Share Posted July 3, 2023 I flew out to Boston on Saturday to spend the 4th of July with my oldest DD. My flight out of LAX was on time and smooth. I think I got out of town before the airport got crazy. American bumped me up to first class which I have never flown on a transcon before. Sweet! My Pod: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Boston has been rainy and humid. I’m hoping this crappy weather now means better weather for our cruise. We have been having a great time though. On Sunday we went to Contessa for brunch. The restaurant is on the top floor of a hotel. The food was 10/10 forks. Belini: Eggs Florentine: Menu: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Cheers! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Last night we hit up a tapas wine bar called Barcelona. I highly recommend this place! The food was excellent and the wine was good! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Our plans are for the two of us to fly to Baltimore on Wednesday morning. My SIL is flying in from Indiana at the same time. My youngest DD will be flying from Phoenix but she has a layover in Chicago. She is not expected to land until around 10 PM Wednesday night. I pray all flights are on time but we all know how reality and flying is playing out these days. 🙏🙏 We are all staying in a two bedroom suite at the SpringHill Suites near the harbor. I’m hoping to grab some yummy Crab Cakes! Any suggestions on where to go? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Excursions: This is the first time my SIL has been to Bermuda so we are trying to squeeze in as much fun in 24 hours that we can. On the first day we plan on doing a snorkel trip with a company we used before and loved. My DDs really wanted to do this again. That same evening we are going to jump on the Gosling Rum tasting sail (weather permitting). That starts at 7:30 so my plan is to quickly shower then head to the Frog and Onion for dinner before we start drinking rum. I love their fish n chips! On the second day we are just going to take a cab to Warwick Long Bay in the morning and walk the trail to Horseshoe Bay. We will head back to the ship at 11:00 and perhaps do a little shopping at the Dockyard before having to get back onboard. In Nassau we are going to Baha Bay. I was able to snag a cabana near the lazy river which should be a blast! On Coco Cay we are getting a Beach Cabana in the Beach Club. My SIL and I plan on being there all day. The DDs may head to the Oasis pool for a bit for some lively fun. 😂🍹🍹 Oh yeah, we are trying (again) for the balloon ride. What’s the over/under on that actually happening? Here’s hoping! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Our checkin time at the port is 11:00 AM. We are I a 2 Bedroom suite so we plan on getting to the port between 10 and 10:30 in case they let us onboard earlier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted July 3, 2023 The concierge is Jaime Ramirez Lara. He has been very communicative and responsive to our requests and questions. 🤗 We received our initial email two weeks ago which is rather early. Usually we do not get the email until a week prior to sailing. Initial welcome email: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted July 3, 2023 One thing I noticed is that about two months ago the prices for Coco Cay Beach Club and all island Cabanas skyrocketed in price! Seriously, they more than doubled! I am so glad I booked our tickets a long time ago during a sale. There is no way I’d buy it for the current price. 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Royal emails are coming in hard RN. We must be getting close to cruise time! 😎🤩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #12 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Based on mixed reviews regarding the main dining room new menus and food selections, we decided to get the dining package. The price was right during the Black Friday sale so we booked it. Our concierge just confirmed our dining reservation requests. 😃 We also booked the Chef’s Table and Sip. Tour. Brunch. I’ve never done the brunch but do love the Chef’s table! I’m hoping they can switch out the raw tuna for beef carpaccio like they did on the NOS! IMO there are too many seafood plates during the Chefs Table. Changing out the one course really helped make it better for me. I’m just not a raw fish kind of gal. My DDs love it though! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alleghator Posted July 3, 2023 #13 Share Posted July 3, 2023 I'm curious about what time you actually sail out of Baltimore and the times you arrive and leave each of the islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #14 Share Posted July 3, 2023 6 minutes ago, alleghator said: I'm curious about what time you actually sail out of Baltimore and the times you arrive and leave each of the islands. Sure. I’ll make sure to note it as we go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #15 Share Posted July 3, 2023 I keep getting RoyalUp emails. We are in the cabin we want so we will not be bidding, but these are the two options with the minimum bid shown: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 3, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted July 3, 2023 Well this should be fun! 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipgeeks Posted July 3, 2023 #17 Share Posted July 3, 2023 3 hours ago, alleghator said: I'm curious about what time you actually sail out of Baltimore and the times you arrive and leave each of the islands. When we did this sailing in June, we departed Baltimore at 3pm. After a sea day, we arrived in Bermuda at 1pm, and then departed 24 hours later. I can't remember the times for Nassau and Coco Cay, but they were morning arrivals and afternoon departures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangibelle Posted July 3, 2023 #18 Share Posted July 3, 2023 I'm looking forward to following along since I'll be right behind you doing the same itinerary the first week of August! Safe travels to Baltimore! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted July 4, 2023 The sun broke free from the rain clouds in the afternoon. My DD had to work so I did some house cleaning for her. For dinner we walked to a fun pizza restaurant called Josephine’s. The Caesar salad and pepperoni pizza were great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #20 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Expresso martini for dessert! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #21 Share Posted July 4, 2023 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted July 4, 2023 We are walking around Faneuil Hall and Marketplace then going to Bostonian for brunch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Bostonian. The lobster Benedict was amazing! 10/10 forks. Lost of great buttery lobster. Yum! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 4, 2023 Author #24 Share Posted July 4, 2023 Boston Harbor: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HBCcruiser Posted July 5, 2023 Author #25 Share Posted July 5, 2023 Last night in Boston. Had a fabulous dinner at Toscano in Harvard Square. Great food and service! Bruschetta Veal soecial: Espresso Martini 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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