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I am for sure 100% going horseback riding on the beach!


Itinerary:

PreCruise Party on 10/10/2008

1 Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL 4:00pm (10/11/2008)
2 Nassau, Bahamas 8:30am 2:00pm
3 Fun Day At Sea
4 St. Thomas, USVI 10:00am 8:00pm
5 St. Maarten, NA 8:00am 6:00pm
6 Fun Day At Sea
7 Fun Day At Sea
8 Port Canaveral (Orlando), FL 7:00am (10/18/2008)

This cruise docks directly at the cruise pier in all ports. (No Tendering!)

Post Cruise Party - 10/18/2008

Cheers!

Here is a link a link for those who are alzy like me.

Do you know if the Glory docks at the cruise pier in St. Maarten, or does it tender into the pier at the center of town?

If it is at the cruise pier is there any possibility for a group rate on the water taxi between the cruise pier and the town pier?

Hi KCRC,

The ships docks right at the cruise pier for all ports.

Unfortunately, there is no way to get group rates for the water taxis.

It's been my experience with the gothic cruises, that not everyone wants to do and go to the same place - and many stagger out off the ship at different times after they wake up. so there is no way to gaurantee a certain number of people at each water taxi.

Zaida

Cool.

When we were there last time we tendered. It would not have been bad, except someone left a line floating in the water near the tender dock. The tender in front of us fouled it's propeller with the line and we ended up bobbing in the harbour for 45 minutes for them to get the situation resolved and clear the dock for us.

It MUCH better to just walk off the ship!

LOL and some of us party until the sun comes up and don't even bother to get off the ship. Zaida throws some very good parties! I like the fact that this cruise has one less stop, and consequently and extra day at sea. I think next time I might just be able to make it ashore. I've never been to several of the islands we're going to now and would like to see them.

What shore excursions are people interested in or signing up for? I enjoyed the shore excursions as a group.

Corolla
hardk0re

Pretty sure we are going on the snorkel/catamaran in Nassau. We mostly just want to get to the beach and swim and look around for food at the other stops.

How close are the beaches/restaurants to where we dock on this years stops?

You need to take a bus or taxi to the beaches generaly, from the cruise port.

Lots of the shore excursions look interesting, but nothing sounds quite as good as just getting up, having a couple of drinks, then wandering the beach/city until its time to come home :P

I agree Skully. But the zipline through the rainforest was so enjoyable that I might have to find the money to invest in some shore excursions.

I MUST go horseback riding on the beach.. and will "Drag" along anyone I can.


Crystal.. will be the first to be dragged.. ::fashions a noose covertly::

ooooo crystal???

I am going too Z!

I think we're leaning towards more just chilling this time also. I feel like we thought we had to do EVERYTHING last time and prob missed out on some downtime on the boat. However, are there any that are HIGHLY recommended or that a lot of our group is planning to sign up for. Nothing was more fun than the aerial zipline/cave tubing with our army in the majority!

If it is as good as Grand Cayman I highly recommend swimming with the sting Rays... I'n Cayman it was heartracing and crazy to have these monstrous things swimmin all around you in the middle of the bay, No land in sight. I liked it as much as the Zipling. In St. Thomas the Parasailing is awsome. St. Maarten is gonna be beach Break:) Anyone who wants to join us give me a shut.

Word up. I was also drawn to swimming with sea lions. Why do I love spending big wads of cash on swimming with non-domesticated animals? lmfao...well I guess we'll see what the deal is when the time gets closer

I'm debating on Kayaking or the Horse Ride at the moment. have to talk it over with my room mates see what we decide on.

I do have a question though I wanted to do two excursions at st. thomas the snuba and wave runner. the first one ends at 2 the second one starts at 2:15 think it could happen?

It depends on how close they are to each other.

You can call Liz at Shore Trips. She is our group co-ordinator.

888 355 0220

ya snuba sounds good too...hmmm...

So...I haven't even been able to save enough money for the shore excursions, but definitely plan to book some. I haven't seen many posts about what others are planning to do, but would really be interested. I like exploring and it was fun to have familiar faces.

I haven't signed up for any yet either, but I'm looking at the kayaking in St. Martin, and the trip to St. John from St. Thomas with snorkeling. Not sure if I want to do anything in Nassau.
I agree with you Corrolla, we should have some small groups to go with- last year was fun going cave-tubing.

snorkeling,caving and the horse back riding sound amazing.

I was in St. Thomas in April on a cruise and did Coral World and Coki Beach...I really liked Coral World, but Coki Beach is very small....If you do some research about Coral World and you like that sort of tour then do it!!! Some cool stuff to see. It takes some time to get there from the cruise port since it is the other side of the island....For shopping the vendors market looked really cool but I did not get there....That is where I am going this time in St. Thomas.

We are now just over 4 months prior to the cruise departure date.

Now is when you want to start thinking about your shore excursions. Shore excursions are side trips you can purcharse while in each port of call that we stop at.

There are 2 places to purchase the shore trips. 1 is through Carnival which is USUALLY recommend.. but not for us. I plan shore trips specificaly for the Gothic Cruise using Shore Trips.com. The trips are bundled into groups - so you are traveling together in tight closed groups. Not some family or two with 13 kids. Or seniors from the ship. And this did happen last year. Remember, when you book through Carnival, the trips will be paced to its slowest attendee. So if you have alot of elderly or small kids.. your going to get irratated as the pace winds down.

There is a link at the top of the page for our private groups at shoretrips.com - but here is the cut and paste link: http://www.shoretrips.com/common/groups3.asp?grpcod=G071031002

You can also look around www.shoretrips.com - if you see a shore excursion you want that is not a part of our group list, please email it to me, and I will have it added. It only takes a few minutes to get it added.

Trips are confirmed as you make payment.

Again, I strongly recommend you book the side trips through Shore Trips rather then Carnival for this event. You are going to have a better time if you do.

Note: Many of you new to cruising have asked if there is a charge to leave the boat and walk around the ports on your own, then return. No there is not.

If you want to walk around the port on your own, rather then take trip you have to purchase, please let me know the night before the port day during the 1am-4am club party in the Ivory Lounge. We can make an announcement during the night if you would like to walk around the port as a group. At that point, you can get together there, and decide where you want to meet at in the morning.

Many of you preferred to travel with Me last year since I have been to most of these ports. I have not yet decided for sure which trips I will be taking - but I will updating the port threads with that information in a couple of weeks.

Which brings me to.. there are other threads that go into each port specificaly on this forum. Please take a moment to look them over. You might find some people have already booked specific trips.

As always, if you have questions - you can post them here which is preferred - as someone else may have the same question. Or you can email me or call.

All Genre

I am thinking of doing the Kayaking/snorkeling...anybody else signing up for this?
The catamaran is also fun and could be quite a party.
Horses scare the hell out of me so I defintely wont be there....

Is anyone planning on doing some diving???

We really want to go on the Catamaran(sp) one in Nassau but it says 8:45am check in and we dont get out of the ship until 8:30. I'm pretty sure the 8:30 is ship time and 8:45 is local time.

Zaida, what is the math there on the time difference? I dont want to pay for the trip and then not be able to get there on time.

Thanks in advance

As far as last year went if it was listed on Shoretrips it was when we were in port for the right time for the excursion

That is correct Tr1nity.

If it is listed on Shoretrips, you dont need to worry about the time. Shoretrips will automaticaly adjust the times to meet the ships times. Even if the ship pulls in late.


Zaida

I still haven't decided on excursions. I am considering Snuba but really don't think that I want to get my fat ass in a swimsuit. :)

Parasailing is up my alley of the types of things I prefer, but I have those images embedded from home videos of people dragged in the water like a beached whale or the whiplash departure like a car accident test dummy. Both analogies I do not want to imitate any time soon and definitely not on my vacation. I want to dance the night away!

I'll probably sign up for the Catamaran.

OOoo hardkore.. dayum!

Well here is good news for you. Most parasailing operators no longer have you running down tbe beach or taking off by ski's as they did when the sport first came out.

Generaly, A good parasailing tour operator has an extra platform located on/ior over the the Transem of the boat. (Very back edge of the boat where the motor is mounted). You stand on that platform, and as the boat slowly gains speed, you lift up.

If a tour operator does it the old fashioned way - I wouldnt do it either.

Z

Last time I went to St. Thomas the Parasailing was awsome and very gentle. I have 100% decided to do it again but I'm like 90%. Anyone else interested?

Hi all! First post! I was on last year's cruise and am going again this year. Anyhoo, I have signed up for the Sea Lion Splash in St. Thomas. They need a minimum of four people, and I'm apparently the only one so far. Anyone else interested? (I hope, I hope...)

Sorry I just got here guys...

*looks over at Z* Just don't pull to hard on the hair when your draging my ass off on all these excurssions...lol....No hiding for me this time!!...

Good thing I own horses though huh!!.....

*thinks to self* I better get that insurance...lol...

Z:

Very comforting to hear that it is different because yikes.

I might consider it. I don't know about the sea lions. My job means that I do come across them and found them to be absolutely bitey and snorty. I didn't think that it was all that exciting. I'm still saving up for shore excursions. So far, I'm just broke. :) As everyone else is.

Corolla

In ST. MARTIN / SINT MAARTEN, there was the:

Goth Cruise...A SNUBA AND SNORKEL ADVENTURE
Per Person: $81.00 USD
Departures (Local Time): 01:00 PM (4 hrs)

I'm interested in this, but it indicates that it is needs 12 people! 12 PEOPLE! Zaida, is anywhere near 12 people signed up for this?

Corolla

Sorry. My bad. I'm sleep deprived and mixing all my numbers. It indicates that a minimum of 2 ppl are needed, not 12. I saw 12 years of age and 2 ppl and put them together. Dyslexia helps. :)

So anyone else interested in this?

Corolla

Im going horseback riding on the beach in St Maarten. If I do any one shore excursion.. it is that one.. for sure and definete.

Z

I am leaning toward the catamaran/snorkel in Nassau, Shop in St. Thomas and ??? for St Marten

I signed up for:

NASSAU, BAHAMAS
* SAIL AND SNORKEL ADVENTURE ON A CATAMARAN

ST. MARTIN / SINT MAARTEN
* A SNUBA AND SNORKEL ADVENTURE

ST. THOMAS, USVI
* KAYAK AND SNORKEL THE MARINE SANCTUARY

Anyone else?

Corolla
hardk0re

Is there a deadline for booking excursions?

Yes. You need too book them by October 9th.

Zaida

Doing Parasailing in either St. Thomas or Maarten and a Beach Break is a must. Nassau may be rough with the lack of sleep from clubbing the night before

Nassau will be difficult if you have an early morning shore excursion and are attending all the events on the first day. You will be tired!

Z

That's unfortunate because I was looking forward to the sail and snorkel in Nassau. I think that I'm going to try it still. :)

I may sign up for the Snuba/Snorkel in St. Martin-I was kind of thinking of doing the Beginner's Scuba through Carnival, but this would be essentially the same, and it would be better to be with some "peeps". :)

Still holding out hope for the sea lions in St. Thomas...

Definately the Catamaran/Snorkle in Nassau

I would love to do the parasailing and horseback ridding. Have to wait on booking these to see if I am able to do them by the 9th or not. I hope so!!

Yeah, I think I'm going to pass on the excursions, spent enough already, I'll use that time to explore the island and re coop from the nights before :-p

Someone said something about tubing threw the caves, but I did not see that in the list of things to do. Is that an option and I am just missing it?

If it is, I am all for doing that!

Do we have enough people for the sea lions thing yet?

I have signed up for the sea lions. When I check on Shoretrips it says "waiting for minimum". But we only need four, and apparently it can be combined with the Coral World/beach trip to get the minimum, if I read it right.

So I'm hoping...

I wont be horseback riding on the beach. it will be to soon after my next medical procedure.

Z

Hey any potential sea lion swimmers...I talked to Shoretrips today, and I am still the only one that has signed up. They only need four, so if you're thinking about it sign up! Just FYI-they haven't charged my credit card yet, so I assume that they won't do that until they have the minimum, if that would be an issue for anyone!

Again, I still pledge not to smuggle one back onto the ship with Hawaiian shirt and floppy hat...

Hm Xerxes and I were thinking about it then decided to save money and just chill. You'd still need one more person tho. When's the last chance to sign up?

I think it said earlier in the thread that you have to sign up for excursions by Oct. 9th?

And the ones through Carnival you can sign up on the ship during the cruise

Well if there's one other person for sea lions, speak now or forever hold your peace! LOL if it came down to two of us making or breaking the excursion it would certainly at least be up for discussion. We really love aquariums and sea lions. Last year we swam with dolphins and it was absolutely amazing. This would probably be pretty different but still pretty neat.

I did the dolphin encounter last year too and loved it. And I LOVE sea lions. If there are three of us, maybe we could just hijack some unsuspecting soul...

Well we've still got just under a month. Let's see if anyone else is down.

I thought it would be romantic to do the horseriding, but for the price, no way.

We live in Colorado, we have horses in these here parts.

Yes I think upon further review we're just going to need to save our money and chill. We've already spent so much on the cruise we may as well the time to take advantage of the luxuries that are already included. Good luck finding more people for the sea lions though. I'm sure that will be a blast. And anyone that wishes to aimlessly wander around some of the islands, let us know, we are down!

MamaC,

We'll plan it over dinner for sure. Maybe we can get Brent and Jen in as well.

I know I'm going hunting for absinthe!

I'm sure the islands have to hold some fun.

Hi Mama!

You guys can wonder around with us! Im not booking shore excursions this year. since the surgery, im just going to hit a few of my favorite spots.

On St Thomas, Im taking crystal, brett, and jon to Meagans Bay Beach - and then a few old pirate sites.. then a mid day lunch at the Green House. You CANNOT go to St Thomas, and not have a Buschwacker at the Green House! Its just not done!!

On St Maarten, were going to go get our two bottles of absynthe, and then go to a little outside bistro (alcohol served) we found on our last trip there earlier this year. Its like steps from the beach in case I want to swim, but its a short distance from the ship.

on nassau.. well, ive been there so many times I just dont care what we do. Maybe well hop a cab and tour the atlantis or something.

Z

Shit, wait.. now that I think about it.. it really is cheaper to book the meagans bay shore excursion on St Thomas, because the cab rides are really expensive now thanks to rising fuel costs.. and all fuel into St Thomas is obviously imported.


anyone wany to share a cab/bus to meagans bay? Its cheaper thay way. Also, its like 8.00 to get into meagans bay because it has been made into a national park.

Z

Hey Skully,

Brent and I will wonder around with you guys. We aren't booking any excursions this year. We would rather hang out and get to know everyone!

I am looking to tag along with whoever in St Maarten cause my other half is gonna dive I am pretty sure.....

Who knows, some more people may sign up for the sea lions-it seeme that there are a lot of people going that aren't posting on here. Just remember Mama C, if there is a sea lion thing on a future Goth cruise (which we'll all be on I'm sure), we're going! :)

Yeah like I said, if I had more money I would. This was the only excursion that truly caught my attention and of course one of the most expensive! I just need to be done with credit card debt!

oh and absynthe yes please. all year bars in nyc have been saying they're serving it and they never seem to once i get up there, wtf? so i'd love to try it at least once :)

I agree Bushwackers are a must and the view from the bar is the best in St Thomas

DF.. have you been to the Green House on St Thomas? I earned my USVI Destination Certification on St Thomas. Once spent a month there, and I ate at the Green house just about every day. I love the open air restaurant motiff.

I think I am only going to try two excursions..or just the one. Not sure yet. Otherwise I will hang out with everyone running around the islands.

Yup I've been there did parasailing there too which was amazing

I only plan on wondering around the islands. This being my first time to the islands I just want to observe. A couple bottles of Absinthe is a must buy for me and if we go as a group I might buy the right stuff :~D

Shoretrips did put a trip together for us for megans bay st homas. Its at:
http://www.shoretrips.com/common/search4.asp?rcode=&lcode=&tcode=037083&grpcod=G071031002


So, I will include the taxi from the ship to Megans bay, park admission to megans bay, and the taxi from megans bay to the Green house. This really is the cheapest way to do it.

We have to get our own way back to the ship. However from the green house to the ship, the cab is UNDER 10.00 per person if we all go back together.

Us 4 will be doing this shore excursion.

Z

I've booked two shore excursions that need additional people to sign up.

1. Private Nassau City Tour - I bought a book on the history of the Bahamas at a Nassau bookstore on my first cruise so it would be nice to tour the historic sites. According to the description the tour includes the dungeons of a fort. How gothic!

2. St. Thomas Island Sightseeing Tour - According to the description this tour would provide an excellent opportunity to shoot some video of the island from a mountain.

I'm don't swim so I'm not into water sports and doing a lot of shopping creates a problem with your baggage. I'd rather just tour the islands and get a lot of video footage.

Is there anyone else who plans on doing the Parasailing? My friend just informed me they do not like heights at all. So they will not do this excursions.
I still want to do this, but don't want to go out by myself.

Okay, one more try for the Sea Lion Splash...

Shoretrips contacted me today, and said that I'm still the only one that signed up, BUT they will now confirm it with two instead of four.

Anybody?

Last minute, I know. But we wanted to do the St John trip, and it looks like we're the only 2 interested on a 4-person mininum excursion. Is anyone else interested?

Tammy (with a Y) and Scott

And BTW, yes, I do have the group portraits from last year scanned, and yes I do suck for not having posted them sooner. Contact me if you want a copy! And we promise to be better about posting here.

my husband and i just booked for the St Thomas Ultimate Island Experience tour! sounds fun!
we may be up for some random island wandering on the other stops.

I just got a call from Liz at Shore Trips. We need 6 more people for the Private Nassau City Tour. Is anyone else planning on signing up for this one? I really wanted to see the dungeons. :)

Alsoalso just got a call from Shore Trips...we've got until 2pm Wednesday to come up with 4 people for the St John trip, or it gets canceled. If you're still interested, act now! :)

yes yes.. do random wander with jon and i... muahahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I don't know if that laughs make it enticing to do the wandering or rather scary. ;)

I am with ya on that one Corolla!!! LOL Z??? Have ya gone stir crazy on us????

mmmmmmmmm could be....

for the VR Meetup.. Jon and I, with Crystal, wandered around New Orleans with DJ Evefaery and DJ Codec... (insert snicker here) - Everyone needs to as DJ Evelfaery, just how well he balanced on his butt, on a table 5 feet off the ground, drunk as a skunk?


Last years gothic cruise.. we wandered around Cozumel with those same two people... one should view the incriminating YouTube footage left by DJ Codec.

Z

Ok great. I will put in for that time! Thank you!