🐾 🐾 Sea Dog gets Wet, a "Soggy Adventure LIVE" 10-21-23

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

Hello friends It’s time for another Sea Dog review and it's going to be live. This time we will be on Adventure of the Seas which has a special memory for Linda and I as it was our first Royal Caribbean ship and cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary in 2017. We sailed from San Juan a week after Hurricane Maria. When we flew into the airport it had no air conditioning and was on emergency generators.

 

 

 

 

We celebrate our anniversary by always cruising in October around our date October 18th. 

 

 

Note: Happy Anniversary to my dear wife today! This year the dates did not align as much as we wanted them to but boy the itinerary sure did. 

 

As with any Sea Dog review I love to tell stories and I love movies. So let's get this story started with a trailer. Let's hype this cruise up.

 

 

Our cruise is a 7 night Eastern Caribbean with one stop that I have been trying to book for over 5 years, Tortola. I had a cruise booked there in 2021 and you know what happened?…💥 boom…..a pandemic….all cruises cancelled. I was heartbroken. Fast forward and now I have this one booked. I have always wanted to visit the BVI with its beautiful islands, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches. While in Tortola what better way to see all these things than take an excursion to Jost Van Dyke and White Bay home of the famous beach bar The Soggy Dollar. More about that later as it it took a very unexpected turn.

 

 

So who’s with me? My lovely wife Linda, Mrs. Sea Dog and some dear Cruise Critic friends, some of which were on the infamous "Bella Cruise" that was so "EPIC," including @jmh2006, Jennifer and Dave, @Husky1987, Larry and Andi, @Momof3gurlz Deb and Andy and @Mo&Fran, Francis and his wife who are doing B2B2B and have already been on board for week, will be along for the fun. This is a great group and we enjoy being together for fun and cruising. We just turned Diamond on our last cruise in March so I will be excited to visit the Diamond Club for Happy Hour (** if we are now still allowed) and take advantage of some of the perks even though we always buy the drink package. We also purchased a 3 night dining package.

 

So permission is granted for you to come aboard. Join us and as always Cheers!

 

 

Lovely photos of you two.

Happy anniversary.

 

[Sea Dog]

19 minutes ago, Husky1987 said:

Can’t wait to join you onboard!  

For those who may have missed, on here a few months back we realized that Greg’s lovely wife and I were in the same law school class and graduated together in 1990. Can’t wait to share bourbon stories with Greg and law school horror stories with Linda!
 

Adventure has always been my favorite ship.  We love new islands and have never been to Tortola or St Croix. 

 

My much better half (I totally out kicked my coverage) and I got ready for this rock and roll Adventure by going to Guns N Roses last Saturday night.  We’ll be flying from Seattle into FLL Friday. Let’s get the party get started!

 

 

 

Can't wait to meet my bourbon brother. We are going to have fun!

 

 

18 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Great stuff!  I can't wait to follow along.  

 

We're on Adventure in February.  It'll great to see a few pics in advance of that,

 

 

Let me know if you have any questions Dave. 

 

 

8 minutes ago, Momof3gurlz said:

Happy Anniversary Greg and Linda!  You’re off to a great start Greg and we look forward to sailing with you - literally!

 

Looking forward to seeing you and Andy. It's going to be EPIC!

[HxFx]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

Itinerary consists of:

Adventure of the Seas leaving Fort Lauderdale 

Day 1 Sat. Ft. Lauderdale Departs 4pm

Day 2 Sun. Cruising

Day 3 Mon. Cruising

Day 4 Tues. St. Croix, USVI 8am-5pm  Excursion: Buccaneer Beach Resort Break   

Day 5 Wed. Tortola BVI 7am-3pm   Excursion: Escape to Jost Van Dyke

Day 6 Thurs. Cruising Day 7 Fri. Perfect Day 10am-5pm   Excursion: Coco Cay Beach Club 

Day 8 Sat. Ft. Lauderdale Arrive 7am

DH and I were on a cruise last week celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. Our honeymoon was the Buccaneer Beach resort! We did the Escape to Jost Van Dyke about a year and a half ago. It was great but too short as sail away was around 1PM 😞 Make sure to smile for the live web cam at Soggy Dollar. Have a great cruise!

[TravelGirlinDallas]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

We celebrate our anniversary by always cruising in October around our date October 18th. 

 

Happy anniversary!!  Love the "then and now" pictures! ❤️

[ValerieJo]

@Sea Dog  Happiest of Anniversaries to you and Linda.   @jmh2006 Happy Anniversary to you and Dave as well.   Hope you all have a fantastic time on Adventure (one of our favorites).  Sorry, we couldn't join you. (We also have an October Anniversary).

 

We'll be in St. Croix in January and anxious to hear about Buccaneer Beach Resort as we have nothing booked yet.

 

Enjoy your cruise!  

[DaniDanielle]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

Happy Anniversary, Greg and Linda, and have a great Adventure!

The happiest!!

[clochette]

Happy anniversary and so looking forward to following you

[Sea Dog]

19 minutes ago, HxFx said:

Make sure to smile for the live web cam at Soggy Dollar

 

I would like to see if some people could take a screenshot of us at the Soggy Dollar. I will post a time once we get there to the review and our group will wave for a couple of minutes and hopefully someone can get a screenshot of us. Thank you in advance.

[KLMB]

Thanks (again) for taking the time to share your Adventure (pun intended).  We have talked before about buying Blanton bourbon in KC and you were a great help to me.  I love your reviews!!

Go Chiefs!

 

And the happiest of anniversaries to you both!

Edited October 18, 2023 by KLMB

[NHProud]

@Sea Dog

 

Happy Anniversary to you and Linda 🌹

 

Another scholarly and well put together review .  Thank you for doing this ! 

[Sea Dog]

PREPS AND PACKING:

 

First thing of upmost importance for this dog is to get all my Sea Dog tee shirts ironed and packed. Whoever owns the company must love me because I have just about every tee shirt they make.

 

 

Every cruise I have the same dilemma, what to pack? I am a over packer and I hate that but I haven't quite mastered the Graham @PompeySailor packing method.

 

 

I do use packing cubes which do help organize and keep things neat in the suitcase. Here is my carry on.

 

 

Here's my big suitcase. But I hate packing shoes. They are odd in their size. So I borrowed a tip from Graham using a cardboard shelf.

 

 

This makes a solid layer over the shoes so I can then lay my hangup suit and shirts.

 

 

I know I am a bad person for using plastic and don't worry I will not leave this on the ship but dry cleaning bags do work great for minimizing wrinkles. 

 

 

Finished one side

 

 

The other side. Packing is complete.

 

Some day I will get a system that's better but so far this seems to work. 

Not pictured is my back pack which is where I store all my cameras, electronics, Cruise documents and tags, meds and usb chargers and device cords. I keep all that in separate little packing cubes so I can organize it well. Top it off with a passport and a cash for those all important tips.

 

All systems go!

Edited October 18, 2023 by Sea Dog

[joand452]

Happy Anniversary!  
 

Looking forward to sailing along with you!

[vegas7df]

Happy Anniversary to you both!  Enjoy the cruise and I love your video's. 

[bobmacliberty]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

I look at it this way, Well, isn't rain just nature's way of giving us an extra sprinkling of adventure on our vacation?

 

In Florida, it's called liquid sunshine. With your positive attitude, I'm sure you'll have a great time no matter what.  Too bad there's no St. Maarten/Gulmohar's this trip.

[Sea Dog]

3 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Too bad there's no St. Maarten/Gulmohar's this trip

 

Just think of the money I will save! 😜

[Lionesss]

@Sea Dog

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and the Mrs. 

 

Enjoy. Have a fun safe time. 
 

I am sure you will do at least one

”SLOT PULL” and of course win BIG. 
I’ll send good luck your way. 
 

Eagerly following,  we are in a cruise dry spell till April.  So desperately need your talents at this thread ….. you are gifted. 
 

Take care. 

Edited October 18, 2023 by Lionesss

[Sea Dog]

6 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

am sure you will do at least one

”SLOT PULL” and of course win BIG. 
I’ll send good luck your way. 

 

I have copied your slot notes and will try your strategy. Not so sure I have the luck that you do.

[A&L_Ont]

Happy Anniversary to you and Linda 

[Sea Dog]

Seems like a lot of people from our FB group Adventure sailing page are bringing ducks. I found one but I don't think I can get it into my suitcase.

 

[PompeySailor]

45 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Every cruise I have the same dilemma, what to pack? I am a over packer and I hate that but I haven't quite mastered the Graham @PompeySailor packing method.

 

 

 

I do use packing cubes which do help organize and keep things neat in the suitcase. Here is my carry on.

 

 

Here's my big suitcase. But I hate packing shoes. They are odd in their size. So I borrowed a tip from Graham using a cardboard shelf.

 

 

This makes a solid layer over the shoes so I can then lay my hangup suit and shirts.

 

 

 

You have done well, looks like you have it down 😎
 

Tv remote for perspective on size 

Everything all in one carry on off a 4 nighter on Old Lady G

Few hours to kill on the slots at the HRT then Cipresso to get our Italian fix 🇮🇹 

 

[luvIU]

See you on Saturday! 
 

Ida

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, PompeySailor said:

 

Everything all in one carry on off a 4 nighter on Old Lady G

Few hours to kill on the slots at the HRT then Cipresso to get our Italian fix 🇮🇹 

 

You are my hero!

[Sea Dog]

1 minute ago, luvIU said:

See you on Saturday! 
 

Ida

Make sure you come up and say hi. I’ll be in my Sea Dog tee.

[rewethereyet]

Happy Anniversary

We are sailing with you as well and hoping it's not a SOGGY cruise but we will take what we get and have a great time.  We depart on my 60th birthday and have the Drink Package fingers crossed for some sunshine along our way.

Hope to meet you and your crew on-board.

Brad & Linda

[helen haywood]

@Sea Dog Those signature shirts aside, I don’t believe that was really your suitcase.  Where is your cat?!