I used iWeb to create it and, unfortunately, iWeb and Firefox 3 do not get along well. So you need to use Internet Explorer, Firefox 2, or Safari to view it.
Enjoy!
Added 3/22/09: Andy's pictures and Katie's Pictures.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
February Cruise Pictures
I finally completed my picture site from our February Cruise. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Our Next Cruise
Thanks to a timely one time payment from DTE and a tax refund we have our next cruise lined up! This time we're headed to a part of the world neither of have been to before - Northern Europe! It's Baltic Sea cruise on the Emerald Princess, departing Copenhagen with stops at Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Estonia, Poland and Oslo.
It is actually quite surprising to me that we can afford another cruise this soon after our February anniversary celebration cruise with the kids. This one is actually a true Anniversary cruise since the ship sails on our actual 35th wedding anniversary!
After this one, it will take quite a while to replenish our vacation fund, but the deal was waaaay too good to pass up and it is a cruise we've both wanted to take at some point and by doing it now we are saving several thousand dollars.
Now to watch the airfares and hope to catch a good sale to Europe in the coming weeks. Northwest has one going on now, but you have to fly by May 31st. So I'll keep checking....
That's the update for now. More to come as well as a February cruise picture page once I get a few pictures from Mary.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Cruise Pictures - NOT!
I assembled a nice set of cruise pictures and use iWeb to publish to my Travel Mobile!Me Apple web site, only to find that the site does not work with Firefox 3!
It's also a bit incomplete as I neglected to take pictures at some stops, but once Mary gets her pictures uploaded I may borrow a few of them.
Anyhow, a site is coming, but you won't be able to view it using Firefox 3.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Back in the States
The cruise is over. 8-( We had a great time and it was very nice to have our kids along. They enjoyed the cruise as well and have now experienced how great cruising can be.
We just pulled into Fort Lauderdale and are docking so any future updates will be from land.
We had an enjoyable prime rib dinner last night, then sat around and reflected on the cruise over desserts and beverages. After that we retired to our cabins and did our final packing so we could put our suitcases out for pickup. Seeing as how it is rather nippy here this morning I wish I had packed my shorts and worn long pants, but that's the gamble you take.
Today we have a rental car so we'll be touring Fort Lauderdale until we fly back to Detroit this evening. A rental car is nice because it gives you a reasonably secure place for your luggage and costs less that two transfers to the airport. Hopefully it will be warm - and sunny - enough to spend some time on a nice beach. If not there are other things to do in town.
That's it for now! Pictures will be on my picassa page in a few days.
We just pulled into Fort Lauderdale and are docking so any future updates will be from land.
We had an enjoyable prime rib dinner last night, then sat around and reflected on the cruise over desserts and beverages. After that we retired to our cabins and did our final packing so we could put our suitcases out for pickup. Seeing as how it is rather nippy here this morning I wish I had packed my shorts and worn long pants, but that's the gamble you take.
Today we have a rental car so we'll be touring Fort Lauderdale until we fly back to Detroit this evening. A rental car is nice because it gives you a reasonably secure place for your luggage and costs less that two transfers to the airport. Hopefully it will be warm - and sunny - enough to spend some time on a nice beach. If not there are other things to do in town.
That's it for now! Pictures will be on my picassa page in a few days.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Princess Cay Day
We are pulling into Princess Cay this morning. This is a Princess- owned island in the Bahamas where you can relax on the beach and enjoy various water and beach related activities. It's a nice day to have near the end of a cruise - and yes, the end is near. Dis-embarkation papers arrived last evening as a reminder.
We did not do much yesterday after the 5K walk. Since the kids were not into lobster and the first showing of Mamma Mia on Movies Under The Stars was at 7:00, we had a very nice meal together at the Caribe buffet, then headed out to stake out our seats. Katie and Bill watched it with us and seemed to enjoy the movie. We kept our seats for the 10:30 show which was a good things since by 10:00 there were people milling around looking for seats! It was great seeing it a second time in a row.
Mary and I don't have anything special planned for today. Just head ashore and enjoy some beach time. We have to be back on board the ship by 3:30 to sail for Fort Lauderdale.
We did not do much yesterday after the 5K walk. Since the kids were not into lobster and the first showing of Mamma Mia on Movies Under The Stars was at 7:00, we had a very nice meal together at the Caribe buffet, then headed out to stake out our seats. Katie and Bill watched it with us and seemed to enjoy the movie. We kept our seats for the 10:30 show which was a good things since by 10:00 there were people milling around looking for seats! It was great seeing it a second time in a row.
Mary and I don't have anything special planned for today. Just head ashore and enjoy some beach time. We have to be back on board the ship by 3:30 to sail for Fort Lauderdale.
I'll post pictures once back home.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday morning
At least I think it's Thursday - you have to work at keeping track of what day it is when on a cruise.
Today is our second day at sea. This morning Mary and I are doing a 5K "On Deck for the Cure" walk at 9:00. We don't have anything planned for this afternoon, but this evening is a Captain's reception for returning cruisers followed by Mamma Mia on the big screen.
Mary had a very good shopping day yesterday in Cozumel. We docked at Puerta Maya which is a ways from downtown, but they have a rather large cluster of the usual tourist shops here. The nice thing about these shops is that the salespeople were not very pushy. Some places in Mexico they are out on the sidewalk nearly blocking it to get you to come into their store. We find that a very unpleasant way to shop. Here they were helpful, but waited for you to enter the store and often to ask for assistance.
The ATV ride Bill and I went on was very cool. I had never been on an ATV before and driving down rough, stone covered trails (I hesitate to call them roads) and reaching 30 mph at some times was quite exhilarating. The sold bandanas for $2 each and those were very good
investments to keep some of the dust out of your nose and mouth. The beach segment was very disappointing. It was supposed to be some beach time with optional snorkeling, but the beach was rocky and all you could really do was snorkel. Since we were hot and very tired, we
wanted to head back for the ship as soon as we could, but that was a hassle as well. But we persevered and got back OK. After a shower, some ice cream and other desserts, we felt much better.
Well, time to head out to the walk!
Today is our second day at sea. This morning Mary and I are doing a 5K "On Deck for the Cure" walk at 9:00. We don't have anything planned for this afternoon, but this evening is a Captain's reception for returning cruisers followed by Mamma Mia on the big screen.
Mary had a very good shopping day yesterday in Cozumel. We docked at Puerta Maya which is a ways from downtown, but they have a rather large cluster of the usual tourist shops here. The nice thing about these shops is that the salespeople were not very pushy. Some places in Mexico they are out on the sidewalk nearly blocking it to get you to come into their store. We find that a very unpleasant way to shop. Here they were helpful, but waited for you to enter the store and often to ask for assistance.
The ATV ride Bill and I went on was very cool. I had never been on an ATV before and driving down rough, stone covered trails (I hesitate to call them roads) and reaching 30 mph at some times was quite exhilarating. The sold bandanas for $2 each and those were very good
investments to keep some of the dust out of your nose and mouth. The beach segment was very disappointing. It was supposed to be some beach time with optional snorkeling, but the beach was rocky and all you could really do was snorkel. Since we were hot and very tired, we
wanted to head back for the ship as soon as we could, but that was a hassle as well. But we persevered and got back OK. After a shower, some ice cream and other desserts, we felt much better.
Well, time to head out to the walk!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Cruise Update
We had a very nice day in Grand Cayman yesterday. Mary and I took an
excursion to a turtle farm and got to hold small (8 month old) and
larger (18 month old) turtles. Those little guys were strong! If
they got some leverage on your hand with their flipper, you really had
to hold on tights. One started squawking and the guide showed me how
to rub it's neck just like you would a kitten to calm it down. Very
neat.
We shopped in town afterwards, then caught a tender back to the ship.
For all the cruise ships that visit, they have no docks so all ships
have to tender their passengers to shore and back. There were 4 ships
when we were there and our guide said he's seen as many as 16 ship
there on a single day. The town was crowded enough with just our
ships so I cannot imagine how it would be with 10 or more!
We arrived at Cozumel this morning. We are at a new dock since the
hurricane destroyed all they docks in 2004 (8 months before our April
2005 cruise). The port facilities were nice as well. Mary, Katie, Andy
and I went ashore this morning for a shopping excursion. Bill and I
are doing an ATV adventure in an hour or so.
So that's the latest update. Tomorrow is another day at sea. The big
highlight will be seeing the Mamma Mia! movie on the big Movies Under
the Stars screen at 7:30 p.m. - and quite likely again at 10:30.
excursion to a turtle farm and got to hold small (8 month old) and
larger (18 month old) turtles. Those little guys were strong! If
they got some leverage on your hand with their flipper, you really had
to hold on tights. One started squawking and the guide showed me how
to rub it's neck just like you would a kitten to calm it down. Very
neat.
We shopped in town afterwards, then caught a tender back to the ship.
For all the cruise ships that visit, they have no docks so all ships
have to tender their passengers to shore and back. There were 4 ships
when we were there and our guide said he's seen as many as 16 ship
there on a single day. The town was crowded enough with just our
ships so I cannot imagine how it would be with 10 or more!
We arrived at Cozumel this morning. We are at a new dock since the
hurricane destroyed all they docks in 2004 (8 months before our April
2005 cruise). The port facilities were nice as well. Mary, Katie, Andy
and I went ashore this morning for a shopping excursion. Bill and I
are doing an ATV adventure in an hour or so.
So that's the latest update. Tomorrow is another day at sea. The big
highlight will be seeing the Mamma Mia! movie on the big Movies Under
the Stars screen at 7:30 p.m. - and quite likely again at 10:30.
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