cattail cruisers enroute home a day early

Good morning from the Caribbean, off the shores of Tortola. I am so disappointed that we had to miss Tortola as I was excited to stop here. But, such is life. Celebrity Cruises, the CDC, and the captain made the decision for us to return a day early, thus missing tortola. We will arrive in Charleston on thursday rather than friday. This, of course, is due to so many onboard having norovirus. At least 1/3 of my group were ill. Ken thus far has escaped and I didn't have noro, but lethargy & migraine that lasted well over a day. That being said, cruising is still a nice way to travel and we are looking forward to our next cruise to the Greek Isles in May! Thank you all for your emails, birthday wishes, etc... I appreciate it very much! Will be in touch more as I still have some minutes remaining! This afternoon we have a wine & food pairing scheduled as well as a back stage tour... followed by formal night with lobster, dancing, and singing!!! More later...
Bubbles

Calm Seas on the Atlantic

Ah, life on the high ca lm seas is good!  Wow – what a chaotic day we had yesterday!  We checked out of the french quarter inn, proceeded the north charleston performing arts center for cruise check-in, then to drop our luggage and park our car at the pier.. only to be told that we could not drop/park until 2 pm.  So we headed to SNOB for a lovely low country lunch… I chose the maverick palmetto burger, ken the PEI mussels, Phyllis & Rick duck pot pie.  After lunch, back to the pier to drop luggage/park and embarkation at 4 pm.  Our stateroom is concierge class and is one only 4 cc class that has a larger balcony.  Very nice indeed.  Ken just smiled and said thank you!   Phyllis and rick are real sports, however, with a sky suite… large room, balcony and a butler!   Today has been very relaxing… I had a good night’s sleep and woke up to the smell of banana waffles from the palm springs cafe… & they did not disappoint!!!!  Crispy bacon, grilled tomato and fresh squeezed orange juice rounded out my  breakfast.  Mandatory life boat drill followed breakfast and once that was done, the day was ours!  10 of my cattail cruisers are meeting for dinner tonight & invited us to join them.  It’s  one of our 2 formal nights and I will be wearing my princess shoes and perhaps a one shoulder dress… or perhaps a sequined top with my long harem style skirt… Ah, decisions! 

Thus far all of my cattail cruisers are happy and smiling… and that makes me smile too!  OK, signing off for now…

Bubbles

A Day in Charleston

We had a lovely 3 hour drive from Southport to Charleston and checked into the French Quarter Inn.  Since it was Sunday we headed to Magnolias for brunch… only to find out we would have an hour wait for a table!  So, we stopped at another favorite, Blossom… where we were seated almost immediately.  Wood grilled pizzas are a specialty of the house, so I had that instead of brunch… very yummy!  After a bit of exploring and a quick stop at White House Black Market, our room was ready.  A brief rest, then downstairs for complimentary evening wine & cheese.  Using Opentable.com, I had made reservations at High Cotton for dinner.  Great food, ambiance, and jazz did not disappoint! 

Continental breakfast of croissants, pastries, fruit, etc. was a perfect beginning to the day.   Because of a semi annual coast guard exam, embarkation for our cruise has been postponed until 4 pm.  That just means that we will have lunch in Charleston  .. perhaps SBOB or Amen Corner or Magnolias.. the choices are endless!

Signing off for now….

Are you packed?

Patti’s Packing List: Compiled from personal experience & online sources

First Aid Kit: Your medications(in your carry-on!)	Jewelry: Don’t take good jewelry! I usually purchase locally made jewelry as souvenirs!
Band-Aids, neosporin
Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin	Laundry:
Bonine, Dramamine II	Shout wipes (for oops!)
Cough drops	Clothes pins
Eye drops	Woolite
Immodium	Sewing Kit
Ace Bandage
Safety pins	Personal Hygiene/Beauty:
Insect repellent	Shampoo/Conditioner
Sunscreen	Hair Spray-non aerosol
Hand sanitizer	Razor
Stateroom:	Perfume
Hilighter Pen	Body Lotion
Post-it Notes	Deodorant
Duct-tape! You never know!	Face cleanser Moisturizer Feminine hygiene products
Insulated mugs	Toothbrush/toothpaste
Small alarm clock	Mouthwash, dental floss
Corkscrew/champagne stopper, wine stoppers	Hair gel/mousse
Small flashlight	Hair dryer
Night Light	Curling iron/rollers
	Hair accessories: clips, scrunchies, etc.
	Brush/comb Make-up, foundation, etc.
	Tweezers, nail file, q-tips, nail clippers, nail polish remover wipes
Clothing:	Excursions: Copy of passport & credit cards
Travel clothing to & from	Backpack, fanny pack
Days on ship & and in port	Security wallet
Morning/Afternoon/Dinner/Night	Drivers license(photoID)
Evening wear (not formal!) may include: Dresses/dressier capris & tops, skirts/tops/shoes	Money, creditcard
Day time wear: onboard ship & excursions: Assortment of: Dresses, skirts (long&short), sundress Capris, tights, jeans, shorts, skorts Tee shirts, dressier blouses/tops, tank tops Sweater, light windbreaker jacket, shawl, shrug	Miscellaneous: PASSPORT CRUISE & AIR DOCS Camera, charger/battery, memory cards/sticks, binoculars, ipod/mp3player, Books, Journal, sunglasses, reading glasses, eye-glass kit (to repair broken glasses), umbrella, Nylon tote bag
Jammies, bras	Backpack/purse/carryall
Undies, slips, socks,pantyhose	Credit cards, cash (euros) to spend; cash for taxis/tips, etc.
Work-out wear
Bathing Suit & cover-up
Shoes: walking, dressier, sandals,
rain coat/poncho
Hats / Visors
Belts, Purses

Port of Charleston Parking Information

Fellow cruisers, This is current official information regarding parking at the Port of Charleston (taken from the Port of Charleston website)

"Long-term vehicle storage is available on Port property for cruise passengers’ vehicles. Reservations are not required.

Vehicle storage is in controlled-access areas available only to cruise passengers – not the general public. The sites are secured and patrolled by Port Police during the cruise.

The vehicle storage fee chart for standard size vehicles up to 20 feet length:

4-day cruise = $60.00
5-day cruise = $75.00
6-day cruise = $90.00
7-day cruise = $105.00
8-day cruise = $120.00
9-day cruise = $135.00
10-day cruise = $150.00
11-day cruise = $165.00
12-day cruise = $180.00

The vehicle storage fee for oversized vehicles over 20 feet length (campers, RV’s, buses) is $35.00 per day.

Complimentary storage is provided at no fee for vehicles displaying a valid handicap placard or license plate with ID.

Cash, credit card, travelers’ check or personal check are the current accepted forms of payment. The total storage fee is due when the vehicle is left in storage.

Checks should be made payable to the S.C. State Ports Authority. Checks written on non-U.S. banks and financial institutions are not accepted.

A color-coded claim ticket and permit is given to the driver when payment is received. The larger permit should be displayed in the front window of the vehicle.

The smaller claim ticket should be kept by the driver. It will help identify the storage area on the return date.

A complimentary shuttle bus is provided between the vehicle storage areas and the Passenger Terminal on both departure and return dates of the cruise. The shuttles provide a comfortable way to arrive at the check-in location and return to the vehicle storage areas at the end of the cruise.

Shuttles accessible for special needs and wheelchair assistance are also available."

IMPORTANT: Update regarding later boarding for our cruise

I just received this notice from Celebrity Cruises:
"We are writing to provide you and your clients with important information regarding later boarding for the Celebrity Mercury 11 nights sailing that departs Charleston on March 8th, 2010. Celebrity Mercury will be having a Semi-Annual U.S. Coast Guard CVE Exam which will take place on March 8th, 2010 at the Port of Charleston. USCG inspectors should board the Mercury at 8:00 a.m. We recommend that guests do not arrive at the pier earlier than 2:00 p.m. Due to this later boarding time, and the limited seating capacity at the Port of Charleston cruise terminal, we are providing you with this information so that your clients will not be inconvenienced on the day of travel. Please pass this vital information along to them."

So that's it! Ken is disappointed because he was looking forward to lunch onboard Mercury, while I will be very happy to have lunch at one of Charleston's wonderful restaurants!

Updated Directions for Port of Charleston

Click here for updated directions to the Port of Charleston. You can also access vehicle parking information here. This new plan was implemented February 15 with the first cruise of 2010 from Charleston.

Wine & Cheese party for Cattail Caribbean Cruisers!

Make a Smilebox invite

Weather in our Ports of Call

St. Maarten




Tortola, BVI

Countdown Clock!

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Tortola, our final port of call!

We will dock in Road Harbour, along with the Norwegian Dawn. From here you can cover most of Road Town on foot. Tortola was immortalized in Jimmy Buffet's song, "Manana"..."I hear it gets better, that's what they say, As soon as we sail on to Cane Garden Bay". Cane Garden Bay is one of Tortola's most beautiful beaches, along with Brewer's Bay (better for snorkeling) and several more picturesque spots. The Baths, a "stellar natural attraction", of Virgin Gorda, are an island hop away. As Tortola and the BVI are drier than many of the Caribbean Islands, there are more cactus than ferns and no rain forests. Taxis and open air safari cabs will be available at the port. For shopping, be sure to visit Sunny Caribbee for island spices and hot sauces. If lunch is on your agenda, in Road Town try Pusser's for a casual dining experience & be sure to sample the national drink of the BVI, the Painkiller! Other options not too far from the pier include Spaghetti Junction and Capriccio di Mare. If you're enjoying the beach at Cane Garden Bay, try Quito's Gazebo for excellent salads, grilled local seafood, and roti, a local specialty.

Click on links

Just a note to say that I have included links to various web sites in my blog... they appear as "light grey". Be sure to click on these links for more information!

St. Kitts

We are in St. Kitts on a Sunday and Mercury will dock at Port Zante. It's about a 15 minute stroll to downtown Basseterre from here. Two ships will be in port with us so hopefully most shops and restaurants will be open for our business on this Sunday! St. Kitts is relatively unspoiled with beautiful rain forests, green velvet monkeys, lava formations and wonderful beaches. Not too far from the pier are a few attractions: the National Museum, the Circus (modeled and named after London's Piccadilly Circus), and Independence Square. For shopping, hit the Amina Craft Market in Port Zante for local crafts and the Island Hopper for Batik clothing and prints (located near The Circus). Two of the St. Kitts beaches include Cockleshell Beach and Frigate Bay. On Frigate Bay, the Marriott St. Kitts Resort usually offers day passes for a fee(869-466-1200). Once again, there are many activities here from island tours, to the Scenic Railway, to ATV tours, snorkeling, and more. I just want to see some of those green velvet monkeys! Perhaps I can find a mate for our mascot, Elliott! A couple of spots to sample the local rum or have lunch include Ballyhoo, Circus Grill, and Stonewalls... hopefully at least one of them will be open for lunch on Sunday!

St. Maarten/St. Martin

We will arrive in Philipsburg, St. Maarten on Saturday, March 13th at 8 am. Once again, it appears that Mercury will be the only ship in port! Thank you Celebrity Cruises!!! This is unbelievably good news. I have to say that St. Maarten is my favorite island destination. I just love to experience both the Dutch & French sides of the island. Beaches are beautiful and abundant, but my favorite is Orient Beach. Coco Beach is at one end of Orient Beach, with Club Orient (the nudist resort) being at the other end. Head to Coco Beach (generally cruise ship tours do not use this restaurant), rent 2 chairs and an umbrella & camp out for half a day. Take a nice long stroll along this beautiful beach and ensconce yourself into island life. Another popular beach restaurant on Orient is Baywatch. It is owned by former New Jersey residents Andy & Cheryl. Other good options include Bikini Beach, Kontiki, and Waikiki.

If shopping is your thing, Philipsburg won't disappoint! Jewelry? Stop in and see Harry Diamond (yes, that's his name!) at Joe's Jewelry. (note that there are 3 Joe's in Philipsburg... you want to head to the one near the Court House). Browse to your heart's content while sipping beer, vino, or sodas and Harry will attend to your every need. We have shopped with Harry for over five years and are looking forward to seeing him again in March... well at least I am! A nice place for lunch in Philipsburg is Chesterfield's... waterfront and great food. If you want more of a bar scene, Taloula Mango's is fun too.

Tours we recommend on the island include ziplining at Pic Paradis, Rhino Safari in Maho (great snorkel tours on a personal watercraft for two), and the America's Cup Challenge.

I almost forgot... if you have the chance, get some Gouda Cheese... LARGE rounds of Dutch Gouda can be found for reasonable prices and it's oh so yummy... with a French baguette of course!

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, our 2nd port of call

I can't believe it but reports say that we will be the only ship in port on Friday, March 12th! If true, what an unbelievable bit of good luck this would be! St. Thomas is renowned for its beautiful white beaches, sailing, diving, fishing... and of course shopping. Charlotte Amalie is the capital of the U.S.V.I. as well as the "shopping hub of the Caribbean" and is quite busy. If you want to sample a more laid back island, head over to St. John.

I think we will be docking at Havensight. Taxis will be readily available, as it's about a 45 minute walk to Charlotte Amalie. Yacht Haven Grand is a nice marina area near Havensight (between Havensight and Charlotte Amalie) with shopping, restaurants, and bars. Stop in at Wikked, or Fat Turtle for a Bushwacker or BBC. You can download a St. Thomas coupon book for discounts at jewelery stores, Wikked, and Fat Turtle.

Hungry? In Charlotte Amalie, how about a waterfront lunch at The Greenhouse? A nice tour option is the Blackbeard's Tour. This tour includes several restored 19th century homes, a small rum factory, an amber museum, and the watchtower. The property also has the largest collection of pirate statues in the world. If you're interested in history/antiques, you should definitely take the tour to see how the merchant class lived during those times. There are also 3 pools on the property that you can use at your leisure.

First Port of Call: San Juan, Puerto Rico

On March 11th, we arrive in San Juan, "the most vibrant city in the Caribbean", according to the New York Times. Fortunately, only one other ship, The Independence of the Seas, will be in port with us. Lots of activities and excursions are available here from ziplining to river trekking, waterfall climbing, and kayaking to salsa dancing and shopping for local art. Two old forts are nearby and worth a "look see". El Morro is a great fortress and has belonged to all five centuries of the city's past and present. San Cristobal Fort is a World Heritage site and is impressive from the dungeons to the spires. El Yunque, the only rainforest designated as a U.S. National Forest, is located about an hour south of San Juan.

San Juan is walkable, but it can be hot and the hills are steep. There's a free trolley that will take you around Old San Juan and to the forts. You can pick it up across from the information booth, between cruise piers three and four.

To start the day off, how about mallorca (little sweet & savory pastries) and cafe con leche at La Bombonera? In business since 1902, this is a must do. Then how about a pina colada or the local beer, Medallia, at Barrachina? For lunch be sure to try mofongo, a must-try for first-time visitors who want to sample the local fare. Essentially, mofongo is a mashed mound of plantains into which a combination of seafood, meat, or vegetables is added. It can be served as a side dish or a main course accompanied typically by beans and rice. Check out Restaurant Raices for lunch. .
Wanna do some Latin dancing? How about salsa lessons? Head to the Latin Roots... free lessons at 11 am! .

Food on Mercury

Reviews are mostly good to excellent, but I just say that I have never been disappointed in the quality or quantity of food offered on a cruise! There is an "Always Available" menu selection for dinner in the main dining room: Appetizers include Chilled Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Escargot a la Bourguignonne, Celebrity Antipasti Platter. Soups and Salads: Baked French Onion Soup, Creamy Lobster Bisque, Caprese Salad, Classic Caesar Salad. Entrees: Broiled Atlantic Salmon, Herb Marinated Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled New York Sirloin Steak. Sides: Baby Peas, Steamed Green Beans, Broccoli, Rice Pilaf, Mashed Potatoes, or Loaded Baked Potato. Desserts: New York Cheesecake, Apple Pie A la Mode, Creme Brulee.

Any of the above would make me smile (with the exception of escargot!)

The Cova Cafe is a wonderful spot for morning pastries (no charge) and specialty coffees (surcharge)... the almond croissants get rave reviews!

The Manhattan Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and does not disappoint. As stated above, an always available selection is on the dinner menu. Breakfast & lunch are open seating. Dinner is traditional main or late or "Select" (which is anytime).

As for the buffets, the stir fry gets good reviews at the lunch buffet and the Waffle and Eggs stations (benedict, omelettes, made to order) are also popular. For more casual dining, check out Playa Grille where you will find yummy french fries and burgers. Nearby is the Pizza and Pasta Bar (try the calzone)! I don't think we will go hungry!

Thoughts on Our Upcoming Cruise

It's been cold here in North Carolina & I can't wait for our cruise to depart the beautiful city of Charleston, SC on March 8th (incidentally the day before my birthday)... what a way to celebrate, huh? We have a group of 28 Cattail Cruisers on this cruise... there were 32, but some had to cancel. Nonetheless, our group of 28 will rock the boat. Ken & I are hosting a wine & cheese party for the group on Feb. 21st in our home. I am hoping that my Celebrity DSM comes across with some door prizes and such! & Of course, we will have an onboard party as well... and perhaps other events if the group is interested.

As I said before, Ken & I are staying at the French Quarter Inn in Charleston the night of March 7th and plan to have dinner at one of Charleston's wonderful low country restaurants that evening. If any of you will be in Charleston that evening and want to join us for dinner, let me know & I will make reservations accordingly.