Segways are Amazing

I will never laugh at a Segway again. Instead, I will be consumed by a jealous lust and it will take every ounce of my self control not to knock the operator off and SegwayJack his ride.

When we woke up we had already docked in Nassau. Room service was cereal, coffee, hot tea, and smoked salmon with fruit plates. We ate and woke up. We had slept exceptionally well. We are also not morning people. A note had been slipped under our door that said that we were going to leave port early.

From Bahamas - 2011

Early was midnight instead of seven am. This did not bother us. I’m sure those that planned to party the night away would be frustrated. Considering that there was a category two hurricane forty eight hours away and headed straight for the island, I was not going to complain. Instead, I was going to enjoy the fantastic weather and beautiful scenery and the fact that I was in the Caribbean. I’m a pessimist by nature but I was determined to have a great time and absorb the beauty of my vacation. I didn’t want to be one of those people that complained about everything.

I was a bit frustrated about where to go for the excursion again. This time, we were about twenty minutes early and the little huts were right outside of the ship on the pier. We waited under the Carnival Hut. There were Royal Caribbean huts and Disney Huts as well. As we watched, the Majesty of the Seas came into dock and I got several nice shots of her. A Norwegian Cruise Ship was right beside us. The Fantasy and the Fascination were docked nose to tail. Later, another Royal Caribbean ship came in. In the end, there were six ships in port.

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

We waited for a bit and a snorkeling trip came and went. I’ve learned that the excursions leave on time and I will try not to be thirty minutes early anymore. However, some people managed to get turned around. A snorkel trip had left about ten minutes before. I was debating how I wished we had plotted in another snorkel trip when a group appeared. I heard them say, “Where is everyone for snorkeling?” and chatting among themselves.

I turned around and said, “One just left for catamaran snorkeling.”

“That is what we had.” The group was six people. The three husbands went to the carnival employee who was kind of organizing everything. The women stayed by all huffy. A moment later one of the men came back and said, “They just left.”

“You can catch them around the other side,” said the Carnival employee. “That is where they leave from and they would not yet be gone.”

“We just came from there!” The men exclaimed. “We got directed over there and when we got there they sent us here. Now you want to send us back?”

“You can catch them.”

“I can’t walk anymore,” said one of the women. “We’ll just go shopping and you three go.”

“We want a refund,” said one of the men.

“We don’t provide refunds for this situation, Sir,” said the employee. “Its in your excursion contract.”

One woman makes a huffy sigh and goes, “Michael, take care of it.”

At that time our guide showed up. The husband and I retreated from that group to pick up our wavers and such. As we headed out, we caught up with the group who was not going to snorkle and were very pissed.

Our guide led us through some buildings, down some streets, and eventually to a cab. She chatted out instructions about paying attention to our Segways, our wheels, and that our driver would be ‘Reggie’ and that ‘Reggie’ would drop us back off so not to ride with anyone else. She was chatting with Reggie the entire time on a walkie talkie. Our group was only four people, total, so we moved fast and found ourselves in a hot taxi driven by Reggie who didn’t believe in opening windows or running the air conditioning.

It was about eight minutes to the Segway place. Reggie was a very aggressive driver and we clung to the vehicle. The Segway place was behind a tattered building with a narrow and full parking lot. We were dropped off and kind of wandered over, puzzled. However, things improved quickly.

The orientation talk was about 5 minutes while we got on helmets, elbow and knee pads. They gave us a bottle of water to put in the bag on the Segway. Since our group was so small, we each got someone to work with us through the first uncertain moments of using a Segway. It took me about two minutes to relax and enjoy it. The husband, about ten. It is easy, it is fun, and it was incredible.

They let us play around their field for about fifteen minutes. They have a little obstacle course they ran us over that mimicked various terrain surfaces we would deal with as well as obstacle avoidance. Obstacles include each other. That was fun. I can envision myself jousting on these.

They took our pictures. Pictures were available after for 15 dollars for one and 20 for two. Cheaper then prices on the ship, that.

The tour was fun. We went through town, pass the free beaches, shops, dining, and headed to some of the inner island areas. We got some history and some of the local vibe. We then played in a field, did some race obstacle courses, and headed back. We had a fantastic time. I want a Segway like nothing else. I will now, always look for Segway tours when I go places. Its a great time, you cover a lot of area and don’t worry about sore feet. Our guide was fantastic. We tipped him.

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

When we got back, Reggie was in a bit of a panic. He almost dragged us back into the van. We managed to buy our pictures and tip our guide before we were in the hot van and headed back to the ship.

This is where the experience loses a bit of shine for me. Reggie drove like a mad creature, screamed and honked at people, muttered and cursed, and finally dumped us about four blocks away from where we were supposed to be because traffic was to heavy.

Whatever. Screw Reggie. Segways rock.

From Bahamas - 2011

Another Meal

I was excited to go to the dining room. The Lido had not enthralled me. I was even more leery of it after the fiasco with the horrible Mexican theme.

Tonight was lobster night. I like lobster. I’m just not willing to pay lobster prices. It amuses me that something that was once considered vile, peasant food has become a mainline dish. I had ever plan to consume the lobster that was part of my cruise price.

It was also elegant night. I had gotten a dress for this occasion. It is a cocktail tress I am told. I don’t know. Tim liked it. I thought I looked like an idiot, but I always feel that I look like an idiot when I dress up. The ship brochure was filled with urgings to go and get your photo taken at the photo opportunities while dressed your best. There were also long lines at the laundry rooms for people to iron their stuff. We had wrinkle-less fabric and I’m a slob I guess becuase a few wrinkles wouldn’t bother me a bit.

We ate late this night. We wanted to make it to the comedy show that started at 1000hours. This put us at dinner right around eight. It was right before the timed seating started and the place was a zoo. We wound up getting a pager and we had to go and wait to sit down. Our wait was about fifteen minutes. We went into the Oak Room and attempted to do a crossword puzzle. We learned that we suck at crossword puzzles.

Once we were seated, we again got a table that was a half booth. I got to sit on the booth side. The goal had been for us to trade the view each day. We forgot that it was already dark when we sat down. Whoops. I also forget how unreasonable wearing a dress is. Ahh well, it was kinda fun (even if I look the fool) and the husband so rarely sees me dressed up.

The room was buzzing. The first night had been calm. I figured that people were still getting their bearings. Tonight was a bit crazy. The servers moved at about five thousand miles an hour. Everything took a bit longer then it had the previous night but it was also packed with a line of people waiting. At one point our server stopped and apologized for the wait and length of time things were taking. “It’s lobster night,” he said. “We normally serve ninety percent of the ship these nights.”

Wow.

This is where the night started to get amusing.

We noticed that to the aft, beside us was the same couple from the previous night. They were wearing jeans. The male part had on a t-shirt and the female part had on a nice top. My husband noticed me looking and he chuckled at me. I could not help but feel amused. I thought of Cruise Critic and the massive arguments over what people wore in the dining room. Then I noticed that they both had on flip flops and I had to bite back giggles.

Then I watched the male half lean over and pick up a water bottle and pour it into his glass. He then closed it and placed it back down beside him. It was the big, liter bottle of water you can buy in your cabin. The previous night he had not liked the taste of the water. I guess this was his fix.

For the food.

Appetizer wise, I started out with the ‘Didja ever’ and tried the crocodile balls. When we were heading down to Florida I had told the husband that I wanted to hunt down crocodile. It is as if Carnival heard me. I also had the fruit plate.

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

The husband had the mushrooms.

From Bahamas - 2011

Next I had the lobster. It was properly done, soft and succulent. I should have ordered two.

From Bahamas - 2011

The husband does not eat crustations of any type. He had the prime rib cooked closer to well done.

From Bahamas - 2011

Desert I had the souffle. The waiter dropped it off and then suddenly, to my surprise he stabs it with a spoon (it was not violent but I was not expecting my cake thing to be stabbed) and pours a creamy sauce onto it. He then said, “Is that enough?” and I said, “I don’t know? Is it?” he chuckled and said, “Some people like it extra sweet” to which I replied, “Whatever you think is right.” I often eat things with the sauce separated from the cake but I figured I’d go with the flow. I am so glad that I did. I should have ordered two. I will order two next time. It was divine. I still have dreams about it. It was a Grand Mariner Orange something or other little souffle of bliss. Wow. It was also quite hot and stayed that way as I consumed it like I hadn’t been gorging all day. Wow, it tasted so good.

From Bahamas - 2011

The husband had a chocolate and cream pie. I let him have a small nibble of my souffle and he said he wishes he had gotten it. Next time he will order two as well.

From Bahamas - 2011

On the other side of us from the grumpy couple that we began to call Jeans Guy and Grumpy Girl, there was a young couple. They seemed to be having a very nice time. Halfway through their meal, they had a friend approach. I looked at her and realized that she was extremely intoxicated. She held her liquor well.

She was holding a table for them at the comedy show and she wanted them to know that they needed to get to it. She staggered away and the male half says, “Shes been at it,” and the girl goes, “Yeah but shes done for the night.”

About ten minutes later she comes back. This time she has a large glass that she hands to the female friend and goes, “Is that to strong? I’ve been trying to dilute it but it has a lot of rum in it.” The girl tastes it and goes, “It’s pretty strong.” Yeah. She tells them not to have the souffle. It was ‘so so and not that great’ and staggers off.’

This is when I comment to my husband that a cruise ship is a rather good place for people who are that wasted. No walking in the streets or driving cars.

Then she comes back again right as desert is served. Now she is holding her shoes, her hair is wild and her eyes are glazed. It seems that she had taken her shoes off and gotten chased out of the dance club. She was cut off at the bar. She was to drunk to find the comedy club becuase she had been at the wrong place. The other two finished their food and herded her out.

It made for an amusing meal. We finished up and hurried out. There was only about ten minutes before the comedy show was to start.

Towel Animals and Excursions

We got out first towel animal. I think it is a cute feature.

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I think it is supposed to be a sting ray. It was adorable. Our room was not turned down on Sunday night because my husband did not want them to come in with us having stuff everywhere. Later, we relaxed about it. We did use the safe for some things.

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That sold my husband on the entire thing. The sunglasses are his. I’m assuming its a bulldog. The little extra bit where the steward set up the scene with the sunglasses where adorable.

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Tim said he left some rubber bands hanging around. I am assuming that its a monkey climbing type of thing instead of the bondage scene that it might be.

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I caught this one on a cart. It’s a kitty!

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The heart doesn’t do anything for me. I did put the tip for the steward inside of it and repositioned it up the bed for when they did the evening turn down.

The last one.

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I think it is a seal. I am not fully sure.

You can buy a book on board (and I am sure the website) that explains how to do the folds to make the towel animals.

More Excursions

I don’t know my spouse very well. We’ve been together for over eight years but some of his inner quarks and desires elude me. They are so different from my own. After our snorkeling trip and what a positive experience it was we decided to see what else we could sign up for.

We went to the shore excursion desk and selected the Segway Tour of Nassau. Tim also picked the ships tour when he found out that not only would he get a tour but he would get to meet the Captain. This excited him. I admit, I wa snot expecting him to be excited to meet the Captain but he was. He asked if I wanted to go as well and I told him no. I might find it interesting for free but I didn't feel like fifty five dollars of free.

There is always the possibly that the excursions will be sold out. However, it is nice that you can go and buy them while on ship. They are really quite well organized. The excursions are actually done by contractors who have agreements with the cruise lines. This makes them more restrictive and safer. At port, you can easily do almost everything and more that you can do on ship but you don’t have the guaranties. This is both good and bad but in the end I feel more good.

Shopping in Freeport and Departure

I do not care for Mexican food.

I found the Mexican day to be disgusting.

Tim liked it.

Therefor, I will not say that the food sucked but I was not impressed. I tried a bit of everything and put most of it aside. I was thankful for the prolific plates of fruit at the buffet. They fill me up and allow me to sit and eat with Tim. He tucked away the beans and rice and cheesy bean filled slurry that makes up Mexican. At this time, I had not discovered the grill area where the hot dogs and hamburgers are. If I had, I would have had a much better meal. At that point I thought that it was a mirror image of the Mongolian Grill.

I will also give the desert’s a C. All of the cakes that I tried were dry. The flavor was good but the cake itself was heavy and dry. This would become a theme at the buffet cakes. The ones that were being cut by people and served to you at the buffet were delicious. The ones that where out on the easy to serve trays where not as spectacular.

Fed and rested, we changed back into regular clothing and scuttled back out to look in the stores right around the port.

From Bahamas - 2011

We figured that we had an hour to go and buy something. We set timers on our watch. The shops where right beside the ships, but why risk it? Our ship would leave at 1700 hours and I wanted to be back on board by 1630. When we headed back off of the ship, the area that we had entered the ship from was being shut down. We asked if we could still leave. They said sure. They again scanned our cards for us. I guess it is easier and faster for them.

This gangway was by the rear of the ship, placing it right by the doorway to get on ship. When we first left in the morning, only the exit by the atrium was open. Now two exits were open. I approved of this. We bounced back through the gate and checked out the straw market.

I was not sure what I was looking for. I wanted something interesting and unique to remind me of where I had been. Most of the shops in the straw market at the same thing. They have t shirts and sundresses, tote bags and hats. They all have straw baskets and I watched one shop keeper weave one as she was waiting. That I did not expect.

Unlike the markets at market where we snorkeled, everyone was calmer. There was not as much cajoling to get us to enter the stores. Thus, I entered more stores. Since this market is right by the port they deal with a larger group of tourists. Perhaps they have become used to the quieter approach.

The first half of the market did not interest me in the least. I had to answer a few questions about my Vibram Five Fingers. I also got asked about the strawberries clipped to my belt. They are tote bags that collapse into a small round circle on a string that's decorated like a strawberry. It seemed that I was more interesting then the wares around me. I like to pick up unique objects for memories but I do not like clutter. I will not buy a bag just to buy a bag. I don't carry a purse I wanted one or two nice, unique things. The mugs, the t shirts, the woven straw purses with flip flops (something I do not own) and Dora the explorer on them were not interesting. I won’t buy a hat or knick knacks to hang around the house and create more clutter. I was disappointed and getting ready to return to the ship when something caught me eye. I had seen the shop when we entered and noted it mentally. Now that I was closer, I saw that the wood carvings that had attracted me in the first place where almost all the shop sold. They where not the light weight wood carvings that I had seen, but more basic and raw. I was immediately riveted by a carving of an owl’s head on a giant blade. The entire thing was sculpted from wood.

We went into the shop next door. When we came out, the owl knife carving still rivited me. I pointed it out to my husband and walked towards it, examining it. My steps where slow and I was fixated. It grabbed me. I can’t say I have ever had a carving do that before. I wanted that carving.

“Come on and take it down,” the shop keeper said to me. The interior of his shop was a series of simple benches with a pile of wood chunks in hte middle. I took the carving down. It was the length of my forearm and heavy. “That is sold mahogany,” I said.

“How much?” I asked.

“Forty dollars. If you take it, I will wrap it up now. It’s for wisdom.”

I winced. I turned to my husband and said, “Forty?” I kept peering at the carving. I wanted it but I was so caught up in my want that I wasn’t sure I was thinking rationally.

My husband looked into the hut with its chunks of raw wood. The shop keeper was working on a carving as we watched. A slab of wood stood as a dressing table where he applied polyurethane to a glossy lacquer. “He is carving them here, by hand. His shop is here. That’s pretty authentic to me. Get it.”

“Okay.” I dished out my forty dollars. Could I have bargained? Maybe. Was it to much for some? Maybe. Did I care? No. He wrapped it up for me and I handed over the money. I took my new acquisition and tucked it under my arm. “It is absolute lovely. Thank you,” I said to him and we headed back to the ship.

From Bahamas - 2011

We decided to take one more detour. There was a guy with a large, obnoxious hat outside of a store. He waved people down. They took photographs with him. The store looked like it had a lot of hats. I figured that Tim would like to try out a hat or three since he had developed such a sudden fondness for his own.

The store did not interest me at first. It was crowded and mostly filled with bags. The bags where thirty six dollars apiece. Way to expensive for my blood. I was on the lookout for rock and shell jewelery. I worked my way into a back corner where there where many random things on the shelves. What caught my attention was a beaded design shaped like a gheko. The first one I tried was lovely with blues and greens but it was to small. I started to sort through them and discovered one in blue and gold and red. Thy are quite clever really, with beads locked and turned to create joints and eyes. The belly is a different color from the back. Some time and effort went into them and they are obviously not mass marketed like the dolphins and sharks and scorpions that filled every other ship.

From Bahamas - 2011

The gheko joined my little treasure hunt. Please, and almost out of cash, we headed back to the ship. It was four and we had half an hour to get back to the ship. However, as we approached the dock it looked as if they where going to take up hte gang plank. We slid in and I unloaded my treasure onto the belt. I was so distracted I forgot to unload my pockets to be scanned and he had to remind me. On the other side the security lady goes, “May I look at it?”

“Sure. It’s a giant wooden knife. I didn’t expect to get to keep it.”

She unwrapped my treasure, saw that it was wood and wrapped it back up. “You will need to give it to the housekeeping check in,” she said.

“Okay.” I went around the corner and looked for a table that said housekeeping check in. I found a table that said, Alcohol check in. I said, “I need to check in my item?”

“Right here.”

“Okay.” He asked me what it was. I said a wooden knife. He filled out a form with my name, room number, and a basic description. I then pulled out my sculpture and took a photograph of it. He then wrapped it in another layer, labeled it, and taped it all up. We then scooted upstairs to watch the ship leave port.

It is interesting that the ship is attached to the dock with just rope.

From Bahamas - 2011

You expect there to be more then rope keeping a gigantic cruise ship in port. The ropes belong to the ship. Its sensible. Then the port does not have to have different strength ropes for each type of ship that comes in. The ships crew causes the ropes to go slack. The dock workers then unhook the loops and the ship reels them in. Once the last ones go the ship was free and immediately started to drift away.

No one came running at the last minute. It looked like everyone had made it back to the ship. We watched the ship leave port and the port pilots ship leave.

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

From Bahamas - 2011

When we got back to the room I had note waiting for me. It stated that they had checked in a prohibited item and that I would receive it at the end of the trip. It had the description of the item, my name, and our room number on it.