8/31/08 Triumph Review Long with Pics

[Boo810]

Sept. 5 Fun Day at Sea

This was suppose to be our Grand Turk day but instead it turned into another day at sea, but I do like my days at sea so no problems here. I woke up at 6:30 and got around and dressed. Headed to the Paris dinning room for breakfast. After breakfast my cousin went up on deck to enjoy the great weather that we have while my sister, dad and myself got ready for the in the bag scavenger hunt. This is the first time that we ever played this game and had a blast. There were only about 20 teams or so and the Rome Lounge didn’t have that many people watching, but they really missed out because it was a hoot. We arrived in the lounge with a couple of back packs full of all the random stuff we could think of. I was chosen as the runner for our team. The social host would move around the lounge and ask for stuff, the first one there with the correct item got 3 points second one 2 point and third one 1 point. He asked for all kinds of random things and I was surprised that I had most of the items and I did a pretty good job to getting them to him first. The only problem I ran into was when he asked for a caper and was standing in between to rows of seats. The fastest way to him was to climb over and run on top of the back of the seats. I was doing great and making wonderful timing until one lady just came out of no where and ran in front of me. To avoid a fatal crash I had to jump over her, as we all know there isn’t much room to land in the Main show lounge but I was able to land sitting down (still not sure how I managed that) right in front of the social host. Also the lady I jumped over is ok, a little scared and shaken up but ok. I got my 2 points and also got a new rule established in the game that there is not more running on the seats allowed. I ended up getting 3rd over all at the scavenger hunt. I’m pretty sure the score keeper on my team was slacking off because I had a lot of the items, but the team that ended up winning won with 28 points and we only had 17 items, and I got over half of them myself. Not sure how that math works out but no problem for me I had a blast and it was two, kids about 11 and 6 that won, so I was happy to loose to them, besides I already have a lot of Ship’s on a Sticks and didn’t need another one. After the game the rest of us headed up on deck. On deck we just hung out in the sun and had some beer.

At about 1:00 we all went and ate lunch in the dinning room. After lunch we all went our separate ways. I went and took a nap, the first one of the cruise. While I was sleeping my sister and mom and dad went up to my folks room and sat on the balcony and enjoyed the view, there they saw a school of dolphins and said it was really cool. Also they saw a random empty row boat in the middle of the ocean with no one in it or around it.

 

After I woke up from my nap it was time to get ready for the second elegant night and the past guest party. My cousin, sister and I arrived late to the party but that isn’t anything new for us. At the party it took me about 20 mins to flag down a drink server, they weren’t as good as the ones for the captains party was. After I finally got a drink waiter I grab two drinks off the tray to make up for the slow service.

 

Shortly after we had to head for dinner. Dinner was pretty uneventful but very pleasant. After dinner we all changed and headed for the show which was Century Café. The show was very slow at the beginning but picked up at the end and over all I liked it. After the show we all headed over to our favorite hang out for the night, you guessed it the Karaoke bar. We all found a little place to seat and held down the fort because we knew that the adult comedy show would be packed so we got our seats early. I took advantage of being in that bar for 3 hours to start drinking and boy did I.

Tonight was also the grand gala buffet, so we all took turns to go up there and take pictures but never left no less than 5 in our “pod” to save seats. When the show got closer to time and the adults went to bed and it was just us 5 “kids” again we gave away the rest of our seats to some of the people who were standing. Phat Kat did a good job with the adult show, in my opinion it wasn’t as good as his first show but still good. After the show my cousins, sister and I all went up to the midnight buffet. I was voting to miss the whole thing anyways, I’m not a big fan of the buffet food and made it clear to them but I lost so as a good sport I stood in a long line with them to eat some of this food. I was able to find some things I think I would eat and after about 30mins of waiting in line and looking for a place to eat we were able to sit down and enjoy our food. Like I made clear earlier in the review I do not like Lido Deck buffet and tonight was no different, my cousin’s husband made the best comment of the night by saying it’s strange that the “GRAND” buffet taste a lot like lunch. I know there are a lot of people out there that like it and power to you, it is just not my style. Well after we ate we all went back to our room, where I ordered a couple of BLT’s from room service and we stayed up and watched a movie and just hung out in the room finally went to bed around 2:30 or 3:00 AM. Tomorrow we got another Sea Day but it is our last, bummer.

[Boo810]

Sept. 6 Last Sea Day

Today is the last, no matter what they have planned or what’s going on I always have a hard time being real active on the last day. I usually just spend the time roaming around the ship and taking everything in and I like to spend some time by myself in the Cigar Bar and just reflect on the trip. So with that being said this might be the shortest day and won’t be as detailed. This is the only day I was allowed to sleep in and didn’t wake up till 9:30 got dressed and my cousin and I meet my Aunt and Uncle for breakfast at the dinning room and had a great breakfast. After breakfast went back to the cabin and changed to my swim suit and went to hang out on deck. Up there I just took it all in and had a couple of beers and laid on the deck chair and took a little nap.

I woke up about 45mins later and was really surprised to find out that I didn’t get burned WooHoo. We went back to the cabin and changed and all 9 of us went to eat lunch together, this was the first time on the whole cruise that the whole group hung out together during the day. After lunch we all went our own way, I think some of the group went and feed the slot machines while others went and took naps. I went back to the cabin to grab my cigars and went to the Oxford bar. I haven’t talked about the Oxfords at all in this review but I was there every day usually twice a day once in the afternoon by myself than once in the evening with my dad. I loved the Oxford bar very nice and relaxing place had the music piped in and everyone was very friendly. After my smoke break I wandered around the ship looking for someone I knew and I found my sister and cousin at the casino. By the time I found everyone it was about time to get ready for the last dinner.

At dinner our assistant waiter finally figured out what we liked to drink. Dinner was very good and a lot of fun than all the waiters busted out and a great rendition of Leaving on a Fun Ship. Thanks to them that song was stuck in my head the rest of the night. After dinner we all went down to our rooms to pack. My packing was rather quick I grabbed my dirty clothes pile and throw it in my bag. Seems how I was bound and determine to travel light this year I had no un-used clothes. In fact I ended up having to wear the same clothes for about 2 days in a row but that was the debarkation day and traveling home to Kansas so no big deal. After we all packed I went to take my bag up to my folks room because they needed to put some booze in my bag because there luggage was over weight. I tell you if you want to get a lot of odd looks lug your suit case from deck 2 all the way to deck 10. The people in the elevators were looking at me odd, so without skipping a beat I looked at my sister and said. After last year I’m taking no chances by leaving my bag in front of the door I’m keeping my bag in my sights the whole time. After finally getting packing all done. We went to the Rome lounge and played a few of the games they had and stuck around for the Legends show and like always it was great best show of the whole cruise. After the show we all headed to bed for the long day of traveling.

I got into the picture taking

 

My Uncle and the Cousin I always ran around with, my sister is in the back It looks like we woke her up to early that day.

[CruisingAgain]

Excellent review and pictures!! I'm loving it and can't wait for more. We cruise on the Triumph in 48 days (but who's counting) and it is so much fun to see the picutures. We didn't take any last time because my camera broke.

[CruisingAgain]

Just showed my son (8) the pictures to see if he'd remember the ship. He didn't but we both loved the pirate doll in the pictures. Sort of like Flat Stanley, but drunker and more of a partier. ;)

[Boo810]

Sept. 7 Debarkation

Today I woke at 7 AM and after one finally checks of the room we left our room for the last time. We all booked and excursion for Miami because our flight didn’t leave till 5PM so we had plenty of time to hang out. So we were suppose to meet in the Rome Lounge at 7:45 We got to the lounge and they were playing America’s Funniest Home Video’s to help us pass the time.

That the Fantastic 3 as we called ourself my roomates.

Everyone was a little cold

There was a little hold up when it came to customs so we didn’t get to leave as soon as planned but not bad at all. Finally at about 8:30 we were off the ship and waiting for our luggage to pass us by on the luggage belt thing or whatever you call it. We had to porters come up to us and help load all of our bags, and pushed us to the front of the line. Customs was a breeze and went right through it without a problem. After customs our porters showed us right to our tour bus. The whole process from leaving the lounge to getting on the bus was about 15mins tops. After a short 20min wait on the bus our tour was off. We took the everglades tour, it wasn’t bad and helped pass the time but if I had the chance I wouldn’t do it again. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but his jokes really needed work. The everglades tour it self was in opinion a tourist trap. The airboat ride was fun but didn’t get to see a thing except on turtle and some saw grass.

A lot of people that were on the boat with us loved it. After talking to my dad we both came to the conclusion that a lot of people enjoyed it because they don’t get to experience something like this everyday. No offense to the city people out there at all a lot of my family lives and loves big cities. But my dad and I are more the small town guys. We live in a small town in Kansas both work construction and I work a farm on the weekends so a turtle and saw grass is something I see all the time when out on the river fishing. After the airboat ride we saw a gator show which was very good and the guy knew a lot and did a great job with the animals.

After the show we had some time to walk around the park than loaded back onto the bus. The bus took us straight to the airport where they unloaded our bags and dropped us off.

Overview

Overall a great time was had by all. The ship was old but in great shape and going into dry dock next week. We did notice the sewage smell twice the whole trip but it was very faint and could only smell it in the halls and it was gone in about an hour. The staff was just ok we definitely had better but that is a hard job to have and they got to deal with everyone’s crap so you got to give them a break. The weather wasn’t a problem for us didn’t slow us down at all. I heard a lot of complaints about the ports being cancelled and the rough water for the first two days, but I’m pretty sure Carnival didn’t call ahead and ordered the bad weather to mess up everyone’s trip. Like I said we all had a blast it wasn’t our best cruise but there is no such thing as a BAD cruise.

[LowRiderMomma]

Love the review!!! I'm glad you had lots of fun. And I take it back about my son. You can take him under your wing anytime, but NOT with the beer until he turns 21, ok?

[Boo810]

Love the review!!! I'm glad you had lots of fun. And I take it back about my son. You can take him under your wing anytime, but NOT with the beer until he turns 21, ok?

 

But But I think he would have a good time and it's leagal on port.:D

[TNGALOHA]

Hey, Boo810 Where are you from in Ks.?

 

I'm from a little town in the center of the state. A little place called Junction City.

Small world, We were on the cruise with you and we also had a great time.

Wasn't Jo Jo a blast she was so energetic and bubbly with her Karaoke.

[bonnys]

Thanks for the great review. I am now even more excited about our upcoming Halloween cruise on the Triumph.

[tess2cruz]

Thanks a bunch Boo, loved the review!!! You and your family are great, going with wth flow, and not letting "Mother Nature" ruin your good time. Last time in St Thomas, we had kinda the same weather, rained early, cleared for the beach, then a great thunder & rain storm for sail off, really cool. Can't wait for Oct 5th now. Hugs to your family.

[Boo810]

Hey, Boo810 Where are you from in Ks.?

 

I'm from a little town in the center of the state. A little place called Junction City.

Small world, We were on the cruise with you and we also had a great time.

Wasn't Jo Jo a blast she was so energetic and bubbly with her Karaoke.

From a little town of only 7,000 or so. Ark City 2 miles from the Oklahoma boarder, 60 miles sout of Wichita. My folks said they talked to you while I was up on stage during Game Show Mania. Glad you guys had a great time too.

[shortstuf1255]

Great review we were on the same cruise as you and had a great time also and did most of the same things that you did. I do agree with you that the extra sea days should have had more activities planned. we spent some afternoons in the cabin on those days doing what we could at home and that was watch soaps. Still it was a great cruise and I am already looking to plan another one

 

Karen

[floatingaway2525]

Great job BooBoo!!! It was so much fun to read, just like you!!!

AWESOME job with getting the Scots around, and you got one with Funship Freddy!!! WOOOO HOO!!!!

I will have to top that when I get them on Destiny in October with the SS4 gang...:cool: :p somehow I think you warmed them up well for that party!!!:D

[TThompson05]

Loved the Review Boo....Made me feel like I was there with ya....can't wait for ours...:D

[billsrobb]

Boo

Great review and great pictures. Phat Kat was the winner of a TV show called Last Comic Standing. He was not my first choice.

Robb

[hey,jude]

Really enjoyed your review Boo!! The pictures were really great. I can see a great time was had by all! Never been to San Juan. loved the Fort! Felt like I was right there with you. You really joined in alot of the activities on board, how fun. You are so right when you say theres no such thing as a bad cruise, its what you make of it! Thanks for taking the time and taking us with you! lol:)

[kiraryker]

Thanks so much for your review - I really enjoyed your pictures - now I can't wait for our trip in March

[waitin4acruise]

Great review boo!!:D

[missymac]

Thanks for your review w/awesome pics! Looks like you and your family made the most of it... as you said, there is no such thing as a bad cruise.

 

Thanks for sharing :)

[silverfoxcruiser]

Boo -- I missed the updates, and am going to mention in recap, so I'm commenting to BUMP:D ! Silver

[NaturalLove]

Nice review. I look forward to our trip in May. You've inspired me to finally do a review of the Legend from 9/14/08.

[silverfoxcruiser]

:) Great Review, Boo!:) Thanks, Silver

[gelo7]

Loved the review, pictures go a long way in helping to tell the story.

[BettyPC]

Great review - I especially liked the double DOD picture!! Thanks for sharing