Hello All

[The Sisters]

Hi....anybody . This is my first time here , it doesn't look very busy here.So I guess not too many people know about this site YET? Anyhoo, my sister and I and a half dozen of our friends and family are going to be on the Emerald on April 09,2009 for 10 wonderful days and I can't hardly wait ....Anyone else gonna be on board?? .....Nancy

[beckybeacham]

We just got off the Emerald for our second time in 6 months. We love her so much we are going again on the Transatlantic leaving April 14th. Can't wait to be back on board!!!!

[Princess Cruiser]

We sailed the Emerald on the Greek Isle route last April and had a great time.  Was very tempted, and still am to sail on the Emerald in the Baltic in the summer of 2009.  Please someone.  Twist my arm.   

[The Sisters]

We sailed the Emerald on the Greek Isle route last April and had a great time.  Was very tempted, and still am to sail on the Emerald in the Baltic in the summer of 2009.  Please someone.  Twist my arm.   

Wow that sounds like it would be SO much fun and I bet it's beautiful over there. Maybe ...someday

Nancy

[sherwolfe]

Nancy,

Yes, we are going with you.  At least next year at this time, hopefully it will not still be snowing here in the valley like it has been for the last two days.  Looking forward to this cruise, it will be so much fun.

Today, our partner cruisers talked with another couple who might be thinking about going with us next April on the Emerald Princess, YEAH!!!!

Your Brother

[The Sisters]

  WOW!! What a shock....I NEVER expected to see a post from you. So You will have to let me know who it might be that is thinking about going with us. Nice to hear from you, hope all is well with everyone.

Your sister

[sherwolfe]

O.K. as we are heading into winter, it now seems like I spend more time looking at the posting for the Emerald, only to find, little discussion.  I know it's still over five months until we sail, but surely someone has been on this southeastern cruise before and tell us a little about it to start making us more excited about going.  Actually, if I just got on the ship and it left port as spun around in the ocean for a few days, I would still be happy.  However, since I do plan on doing some excursions, I thought maybe by now some other cruisers might have some insight as to what's good and not so good to do while on this southeastern cruise.  Any takers?

[The Sisters]

Hey there, whats happening ...I know not much on this board, some of the other one on Princess chatter have alot of talk BUT not here.. ..Don't know why. Have you gone to cruise critics . com and looked at those boards? I look there almost every day and post a few times too. See ya later dude

[NSWP]

Hi from Downunder Sisters, welcome to the peaceful cruise site, that's the way we like it.!

[sherwolfe]

O.K. It's snowing and cold, this cruise is starting to look better all the time.  I'm just now starting to look at the excursions and although it appears plenty of fun things to do, I'm still hoping someone has been on this cruise before who might make some recommendations as to good, and or bad excursions.  Still waiting and hoping to hear from someone, otherwise I will just take my best shot.

[ukcruiser]

Well,  it looks like you are visiting Antigua,St Lucia, Barbados & St Kitts.
Although I have never been to those places, sometime I'm hoping to and so I've been making notes about things to do, in preparation for if I'm lucky enough to get to these ports.So here are a couple of ideas you might like to think about.
For Antigua.....you can get an all day pass for the Sandals resort for about $110 ....expensive but I understand it does include all food, alcoholic drinks and everything someone staying there would get for free.....except use of the spa.Also you get free use of water sports.
Barbados....I've heard that " Silver Moon tours " are terrific and really good value for the 5 hour tour. You get to snorkle with the huge sea turtles and I've only seen really good reports from people who have used this company.
Hopefully someone who has been to these places will have better suggestions to help guide you.

[sherwolfe]

UKCRUISER, thank you for the information I will check this out.  Sorry for the delayed response, been away from home and busy for the holidays.  I've been checking some other options as well, so with your suggestions and the other options, looks like I should come up with a plan.

[ukcruiser]

Just thought that I'd add that I've been reading about a tour guide in St Lucia on the cc boards
He really does seem something special and is also fairly new as a tour guide but already is getting an excellent reputation.

The tours may cost as much as the ones by princess but the difference is you will have a unique experience and also be
able to say where you want to go rather than have to go where princess have decided you should go.

(This is not to say a Princess tour is no good .....I'm sure that it will be and you will also be safe in the event of something
unexpected happening because the ship will wait for the tour.)

Tour can be about 6/7 hours and it includes things like:
Stopping at a banana field, buying  fresh bananas, stopping for  photos. Buying a coconut, drinking the milk  He buys  waxed pears for you to eat. Stops to see mango trees, stops to look at casto oil seeds, cashew nut plants, more photos, goes to the drive in volcano (enterence fee) look at the waterfalls, stop and watch locals make their fresh bread from start to finish.
I've heard that the famous Jalouise beach now has new owners and is closed to tours & guides....
I think you can get a water taxi from another beach but this is an addittional cost
Included in price all soft drinks, beer & rum punch.

The name of this guide is Spencer Ambrose and if you google I'm sure you'll be able to read lots of stuff but remember to check for the latest information about Jalouise beach.

[sherwolfe]

Once again, thanks for the information.  Last weekend we just booked a cruise on the Golden to Alaska departing Seattle.  We have friends going that have been on two Alaska cruises, so they are going again with us to show us around.  It will be fun to cruise with our friends again, they took us on our very first cruise back in 2005. The Sisters are going as well, so there are three couples, this will be a blast. Princess is offering some killer deals for Alaska this summer, so we just could not pass it up.  Leaving on August 29th, and this will be a real treat because the Golden will have been refurbished after 30 days in drydock in April and it will be our second cruise in the same year.  Generally we can only go about every other year, but with the 2 for 1 deal to Alaska, well, we took it.  Anyway, sorta wandered, thanks again for the info, I will check it out for the April cruise.

[sherwolfe]

Here with the Sisters working on our excursions for the cruise.  Thanks to UKCRUSIER, we did check out some of your suggestions and have found some of our own as well.  I'm also looking for some suggestions from recent Emerald Princess Cruisers who have been doing the stops at Antigua, St Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts, and St. Thomas.  We've been to Princess Cays a couple of times and know what is happening there.  Any suggestions would be great, both what to not miss, and what to avoid.