Live from the Journey...

[critterchick]

Thanks, Critterchick, for the info on the WiFi packages. I'm considering taking a mini laptop, primarily for Skype calls to back home. And my internet addiction :)

Jenny

 

The onboard Wifi won't support Skype. Not enough bandwidth (I don't really know what that means, but that's what computer types say:o).

[Eliger]

We were able to get Wifi signals in a couple of the ports. We bought a package and used most of it, but if you don't need it, I'd leave it at home, too. Just extra weight, after all. DH needs to check in with the office periodically, and I am addicted.:o

....

I picked up wifi signals in Antigua and St. Kitts. Even though I had a package on Journey, the extra time with my laptop in these two ports permitted me to do some extra things that I wouldn't have done on a "every minute counts" basis. In Antigua, I was sitting on a bench in a pedestrian street, and in St. Kitts, on a bench in the Welcome center. Great place to spend the time while the DW shops. :D Hopefully these signals are still there.

 

Gerry

[harcin]

I picked up wifi signals in Antigua and St. Kitts. Even though I had a package on Journey, the extra time with my laptop in these two ports permitted me to do some extra things that I wouldn't have done on a "every minute counts" basis. In Antigua, I was sitting on a bench in a pedestrian street, and in St. Kitts, on a bench in the Welcome center. Great place to spend the time while the DW shops. :D Hopefully these signals are still there.

 

Gerry

Hope you and Elizabeth are well. Still not quite adjusted to being back home, hating the fact that I have to make my bed and plan dinner! I will have to tell Harry about the wifi in ports so he can busy himself also!

Take care! Cindy

[Eliger]

Hope you and Elizabeth are well. Still not quite adjusted to being back home, hating the fact that I have to make my bed and plan dinner! I will have to tell Harry about the wifi in ports so he can busy himself also!

Take care! Cindy

Yes, Cindy, it must be tough to get back home after the extra special service you and Harry had in your PH suite. ;) Hope you are now adjusted to being back home, and planning your next cruise. :D

 

Gerry

[luv-2-cruise]

Beckaboo,

 

Would you be willing to pick up a Journey pin for me? They didn't have any Journey merchandise when we were on as it was too early. I'm looking to complete my cruise pin collection. If so, please email me directly (tisdeh at optonline dot net) with price and I'll get you out a check with money for postage.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We loved the Journey and wish it would come back to NJ.

 

Regards,

 

Debbie

[Redtravel]

I am enjoying reading your postings. What is the best thing that you like about the Journey?

[nikless]

Here's an important question-is there an outside bar on the aft end of the ship?

The deck plan doesnt show many bars...

[luvseadays]

Yes, there is an aft bar, called the Sunset Bar. It is part of the outdoor eating area. There is also the pool bar, the Looking Glass Bar, the Celebrity Cabaret Bar, the Martini Bar, The Aqualina Bar, The Casino Luxe Bar, and the Prime C Bar. I think they should "keep you happy", wink, wink!

[nikless]

seadays - thanks for the info.

It would have been a deal breaker...wink wink.:D

[beckaboo]

Sorry for the delay - we were so busy I didn't have time to sit and compose again!

 

WiFi - you do need to buy time from the ship even if you have access on land - remember, when you are at sea, they are the only game in town (there aren't any towers out there and they are hitting a satellite to provide service). In many ports, you will see passengers and crew on benches using WiFi, but please remember that this is public and unsecured - so don't check your bank balance, make purchases using your credit cards, or send any data that you have any security concerns about.

 

Cooking - as other said, there weren't "classes," more like demos - I saw part of one but we were doing other things during the other items. There was an Iron Chef-like one.

 

Captain - on our sailing, it was Captain Theo, who was a nice guy and very concerned about the rough seas.

 

Seas - Speakign of that, not to alarm anyone, but we did have high seas on our first two days out of Miami and on our first day back towards Miami. There was a lot of rocking and rolling. I wake up to noises and was glad I bought earplugs at the first port - never heard a thing at night. I heard from some on the crew that their nights on deck 3 were really noisy :)

 

Pin - I am sorry I missed your note or I'd have bought one for you, Debbie!

 

Excursions - here's what we did:

 

St Croix- Buck Island... good snorkeling, lot of bus and boat riding to get there, but great tour operator.

 

St Johns - Historical Ruins tour... nice gentleman guide who was well intentioned but not a public speaker. Beautiful views and a wonderful port with really unique shops.

 

St Kitts - Train & Brimstone for me, Golf for him. We had been here before and I really love the people of the island. Both of us enjoyed our activities - the train trip was on a Sunday and we not only had a beautiful day but a great guide and a gospel choir to boot - the St Kitts Tour store will get you a great discount on the train though. I also have the name of a great cab driver who took us to the train & back and gave us a ton of background.

 

Antigua - probably my least favorite island - we took the Best of Antigua bus tour and went to Nelson's Dockyard, a fort, and a few other stops. Really entertaining guide. The island is pretty but the port was crowded with three other big ships and the people seemed pushier than at other places.

 

St Martin - This was French St Martin - we just went shopping here since we'd both been here several times.

 

St Barts - My other favorite port... third time here. Each time I go to Europcar's website and rent a car (very easy island to drive - you can't get lost since it's so small) - it's far cheaper than cabs or tours - about $75 for the day. Go to the supermarket by the airport & buy some picnic supplies, then head to one of the many beaches - and don't forget to go to St Jean beach to watch the planes take off!

 

Virgin Gorda - New for us although we had been to Tortola before. We did the Powerboat hopping with four other people. The weather was iffy and so the visibility snorkeling at a couple of the stops was pretty poor. It cleared for the last couple. Altogether, we stopped four times plus went to the Baths.

 

Spa - no one asked, but there were almost daily discounts on various treatments, especially towards the end of the cruise. I really needed some stress relief and had several treatments (massage, acupuncture, mini-facial, ionithermie, and lots of time in the thalasso pool).

 

Special things - news of our engagement did make it around the ship - our butler sent up wine & snacks, Guest Relations sent up wine, and I think it was behind our invitation to dine with the Staff Captain (a really fun dinner that night with several other couples).

 

Final thoughts... we really enjoyed a lot of things about the Journey - in particular, the friendly crew, the can-do attitude, the good food, the casino staff, and the spa. On the other side of the coin, as mentioned, we were among only a handful of people our age, which does seem to color the experience a bit (for example, most excursions were beach or bus, and shipboard activities tended towards the older crowd as well).

 

Again, thanks to all for your kind thoughts - now that we're back on land we have a wedding to plan :)

[Andy]

Hi Beckaboo !

 

Thanks for your great updates. Welcome Home !

[emcee207]

Hey Nick,

Do you really think ole Luigi would book a cruise on a ship if it didn't have adaquite, oh hell, "enough" places for libation????!!!:D

ciao,

luigi

[nikless]

Luigi

 

Forgot about that...do any of these bars have Stoli razzz?

 

How about this Beckaboo comment "....shipboard activities tended towards the older crowd as well". Is she talking about us?

 

Maybe Barb and I will get engaged again while on the ship...free wine, we'll take that anytime.

 

Nick

[Jancruz]

Luigi

 

Forgot about that...do any of these bars have Stoli razzz?

 

How about this Beckaboo comment "....shipboard activities tended towards the older crowd as well". Is she talking about us?

 

Maybe Barb and I will get engaged again while on the ship...free wine, we'll take that anytime.

 

Nick

 

I want to get engaged again also ..I am tired of being married 55 years! (I love free booze)

Jancruz1