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Live!!! Tuggers Does The Zenith (again!)

tuggers

By tuggers,
in Celebrity Cruises

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tuggers

tuggers

Posted
Posted

Morning All!

I am in Nassau, our first port of call and will post scribblings from the day before the cruise, wmbarkation day, and the first sea day.

Thanks for reading!

ZENITH Sail date Feb 19, 2007

Feb 18, 2006

After a fitful night and 3 hours sleep, I got up at 5:30 to PACK! That’s right, I was not packed and I had to leave by 12, 1 at the latest.

My plan had been to go to church and leave directly from there after Communion. That didn’t happen. I did however pack and was out the door around 12:30.Only had to make one trip back and that was just from the end of the block, to pick up a new card for the camera.

After that it was smooth sailing. Stopped in Gainesville Fl to pick up gift bags for the door prizes and a leg stretch then on to Tampa. Made very good time, only hitting traffic once that was bumper to bumper. Had time to go by Costco and pick up a new pillow I have been wanting, memory foam on one side and a down like material on the other side.

Got to the Tampa Airport at 5:30. Was to pick JoAn up outside baggage claim at 5:45. It was very slow getting in but made it, had JoAn and her luggage loaded up and we were headed to the hotel by 5:43! I love it when a plan comes together.

We checked in, making sure we got a room close to the elevator and headed out to what is becoming our favorite pre-cruise light dinner spot, Sweet Tomatoes. On the way we had to make a stop at Wal-Mart (doesn’t everyone?) to get me a pair of sunglasses. Mine had split right down the middle on the way down. That’s when I discovered I didn’t have my credit card. No big deal really, I called the hotel and they had it so we went on to diner.

After dinner we made two stops. A great wine store is right next door to the restaurant so JoAn could stock up on the unoaked Chardonnay she prefers. She also discovered she had left some of her meds home so we went back to Wal-Mart!

Around 8:45 we finally made it to the hotel and fell into those lovely soft Doubletree beds with the down comforters and pillows. Heaven. Don’t think we even turned the tv on. I read for a little bit and JoAn went straight to sleep.

Feb 19th Embarkation Day

That morning I confirmed what I had suspected: I had forgotten my makeup. I left JoAn still snuggled in and I headed out to the Sephora in the International Mall which everyone assured me opened at 9:30. Wrong! They opened at 10 but at least they had the Bare Escentuals Makeup and brush I needed and were conveniently located across the mall from the Radio Shack that sold me the wall charger I had forgotten for my cell phone! If anything makes me get more organized and packing earlier, it might be that $100+ shopping trip! And not a drop was spent for Martinis!

Back at the hotel, we ate breakfast and waited on our shuttle. As the last time, we were the only two in the van with a very nice female driver who chatted with us all the way to the port.

I did not have my tickets and neither did JoAn. They whisked here right through but stopped me. What was funny was the woman who keep wanting to see my passport ‘again’ was clearly not native born American. She told me I had to have a ticket to get in to security, I told her I didn’t and we both repeated ourselves a couple of times before the man beside her said ‘check the manifest’ DUH!!! Through security and in to the check in room, we went right up to the counter and were onboard in about 15 minutes. No muss, no fuss. Tampa is a really easy port.

First people we saw were the new photo guys. We had been warned that the new vendor was very aggressive and ‘in your face’ but we did not find that at all. In fact Ralston was very charming.

Next person is surely the cutest one onboard: Joey from the Activates Staff! Such a cutie with a personality to match! I had thoroughly enjoyed him the last few sailings and was very glad to see he is still onboard. In fact he will be here till the end.

I have never stayed on deck 4 but it is fine. In fact my cabin has new carpet and bed spreads which was a surprise. I had read on here about faded bedspreads and torn carpet so it as a pleasant surprise. I have a very nice CS named Lourance who kept asking if everything was okay.

Went to the cova to buy my soda card then just walked around a little. Lunch was salad and pasta with four cheese sauce. JoAn and I both had the same thing and it was great.

Nap time then sailaway where we met several of our CC group. I had a bottle of Chandon (sp) Champagne so JoAn and I sat in the Fleet bar, drank champagne and talked to some lovely, lovely people. Great way to start a cruise!

Martini Tasting was at 7:30. We had several tables of our CC group participating. They have some new flavors on the tasting. I can’t remember them all but I know there was a Pineapple Delight, a Raspberry, Fliritini, Dirty Gin, Apple and an Orange. Well I guess I can remember after all. JoAn had the tasting and I had a small Flirtini.

We did pass on wine at dinner. We had really had enough to drink for one day! Dinner was wonderful. I had Shrimp Cocktail, Tomato Bisque, Caesar Salad, Prime Rib (medium rare, no problem) and Crème Brule! Truly on of their best dinners!

We have lovely tablemates. One couple from the Canary Islands, one from the UK, one from Canada and JoAn and I. I think we are all going to get along marvelously and the dinners should be lots of fun!

Tomorrow JoAn and I will be dining at the Captains Table.

Bye For Now!

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tuggers

tuggers

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Feb 20th

JoAn and I decided to eat in the dining room this morning but to have a light breakfast as we were late eating and we wanted to have lunch in the dining room around 1:30. Just juice, fruit and cereal for us.

The day was a little overcast and breezy, not really poolside weather so we dawdled inside: Battle if the Sexes Trivia with Joey, little casino time, nap, lunch (Phad Thai Noodles, French Potato Pie, everything on the first day lunch menu is good), some more

Trivia, a trip to the library and another nap.

Finally got extra hangers and finished unpacking. Then it was time to dress for dinner with Captain Isidoros Karamaounas.

It was a lovely table with two other couples I have sailed with previously, a couple in their mid eighties who have sailed quite a few times on X but never on Zenith and JoAn and I. The Captain was most gracious as always but seemed to be in a particularly good mood, laughing and joking. We had lovely Foley Chardonnay and a Beaujolais’ from France.

Dinner was followed by the captains welcome toast. It was good to see that almost all, I would say 85 to 90% of the passengers, were dressed in lovely gowns and tuxedos or dinner jackets. With all the time spent talking about people who disregard the dress code, it was wonderful to see, the reality is somewhat different and formal dress still reigns!

Bed by 11, didn’t even go to the casino. Still a little tired.

Bye for now!

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The Mommy

The Mommy

Posted
Posted

Hi

I am really enjoying your daily diary. Please tell me, what does prizes for the doors mean?

 

I have only sailed once with Celebrity on Zenith and loved her. I can visualise your experiences - lovely - thank you.

 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.

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The Mommy

The Mommy

Posted
Posted

Hi

I am really enjoying your daily diary. Please tell me, what does prizes for the doors mean?

 

I have only sailed once with Celebrity on Zenith and loved her. I can visualise your experiences - lovely - thank you.

 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.

 

Gail

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wvufan

wvufan

Posted
Posted

Hi Gail,

 

Glad your cruise is starting out great. I am sure that you will have them ship shape by April 13th:D

 

For our precruise dinner, we decided on the Cheesecake Factory at the International Mall as it is a central easy to get to location with other attractions right there. Sorry you won't be able to make it;)

 

We have sailed on your itinerary on the Horizon, and it is one of my favorites.

 

Thanks for posting.

 

OOOEEE:D :D Bob and Phyl

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Deb C.

Deb C.

Posted
Posted

I was hoping we would be hearing from you.

Are you seated at "OUR" table?

Congratulations on finally making it to the ship.

Be sure to win "Battle of the Sexes" for the women. Are you the captain? At least Joey is a fair leader. Say hi to him from me. When I told him I had been a 6th grade teacher until retirement, he said that was his least favorite year.....boo, hoo. I bet I could have changed his mind!!

Love that Zenith! Keep the reports coming.

Enjoy yourself!!:cool: Deb C.

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BrooklynGirl2

BrooklynGirl2

Posted
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Hi Gail...thanks for your Zenith reports. I'm so jealous as we love Zenith and her crew. So sad she is leaving the fleet.

 

Can you tell me who the restaurant manager is now on Zenith? It had been Millevoj but then I heard he was on Century. If you see him or Jose or Raphael (maitre'd) please tell them that little Nick and his family send regards. Who are your waiters?

 

I look forward to reading more of your reports. Have a wonderful time and smooth sailing.

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Andy

Andy

Posted
Posted
Can you tell me who the restaurant manager is now on Zenith? It had been Millevoj but then I heard he was on Century. If you see him or Jose or Raphael (maitre'd) please tell them that little Nick and his family send regards. Who are your waiters?

 

 

Hi Brooklyn !

 

I can tell you that Millevoj was on Century a few weeks ago, but he did mention he was due for vacation soon. He may be off the ship by now. He is a great restaurant manager, and we hope to see him again on a future Cruise.

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Andy

Andy

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Hi Gail !

 

I heard that Camilla Sullivan may be onboard Zenith. If you happen to see her, if you can send her my best wishes, I would sincerely appreciate it.

 

Have a wonderful time on Zenith. As always, thanks for your great updates !

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BrooklynGirl2

BrooklynGirl2

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Thanks Andy. I had heard Millevoj was on Century but I didn't know if that was a temporary assignment. Yes, he's a great guy and we always enjoyed chatting with him. I think I heard Jose from Portugal took over for him on Zenith. Jose is also wonderfully helpful and always treated us well. I wonder where everyone will land once Journey takes over Zenith's place in the fleet.

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tupper

tupper

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Glad to hear that your cruise is off to a great start! I wish we had the time to be onboard too!

 

Tell JOEY that Tupperkit and family said "hello" and we are keeping track of all the comments made about him (good or bad-lol). But we are glad to see, that at least, passengers are "enjoying him", even though we don't get to see him as often anymore. He is a personal friend of ours and we knew him before he became "famous". We introduced him to cruising, where he caught the bug to want to work onboard-so I guess it's kind of our own fault he is away from us now. But he loves his job (I am sure it is showing thru too) and that's what matters most. He really is a wonderful person and we miss him....he just needs to learn how to "write" home every now and then (you can tell him I said that too-lol).

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DaisyGirl55

DaisyGirl55

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Hey, Gail and JoAn! How about the waffles? :cool:

 

Texed...I just KNEW you would ask about the waffles! (tee-hee) :p

 

Gail - please keep up the posts...I just love it when I get to read about a "live" posting! Makes me feel I am right there onboard. I hope to do the same thing when I sail on the Mercury in June.

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hisfirstm8

hisfirstm8

Posted
Posted

Gail,

Can you check and see if you can get a pitcher of cranberry juice from room service or do you have to just ask for a glass with breakfast. Also, do you remember if the CC rooms have a refrig. Thanks, just thinking of questions before April. don't think you can get cranberry juice with the soda card......

 

 

Deb,

Still thinking of you and wishing you could cruise with us in April.....if not, think about the Canada/New England next 08.

 

 

Barbara

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