Wrock The Boat
WARNING - THIS WAS WRITTEN IN WORD. I'M TOO TIRED TO EDIT IT FOR SPACING, ETC RIGHT NOW. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK ;)
This also doesn't include Friday or Saturday. I will add that later.
28 October, 2008 12:57 AM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 1.2
When I last wrote, we were on the Serenity Deck, which is the adult-only section of the ship. It’s at the very back, on the Promenade Deck. We had a great view! The only problem was, as I said, it was VERY WINDY!!! We were freezing! The cabins weren’t ready yet, so we were just sort of hanging out. We could have explored, but we had our carry-ons to deal with.
At around 1:30 we were able to go to our cabins. We put our things in the room, and then headed up to the Sun Deck to meet up with the people from Cruise Critic. On the way up there, we met Jessica (xvsangelx), and she stowed her things and came up with us. It was VERY windy up there, being the topmost deck. It had a SPECTACULAR view over the bow of the ship. It also had the jogging track and, of all things, putt-putt. Now, I’ll never understand how one can play putt-putt on a moving vehicle, let alone with this much wind.
At about 3:30 we all had to dig out the life jackets and head upstairs for the ketchup drill. It’s really the muster drill, required by the USCG before the ship can set sail. Scott thought I’d said ‘mustard drill’ so he said “Why isn’t it the ketchup drill?” so I had to explain. Anyway. We got our life jackets (we were in the room anyway, our luggage had arrived by then and we’d unpacked and I decorated our stateroom door.) It basically involves standing around while they explain what to do during an emergency and pointing us to our assigned lifeboats. Think: the drill you get on an airplane, just with more standing around.
That, of course, was when the ship was moving. Yes, you read right. WAS moving.
Things were running along smoothly, then came time to get ready for dinner. I was walking up the stairs to our assigned dining room and there was this THUD, and the ship leered to one side. (The leering wasn’t abnormal - navigating the Mississippi takes a few twists and turns). Apparently, one of the engines stopped working and they had no idea why. While they were fidgeting with it, the ship was tilted (it still is, actually) so it was hard for our tablemates to eat their soup at dinner, and the drinks were all slanted. The water from the sink was actually dripping sideways! (I tried to take a picture but I don’t think it turned out so well.)
Right now we’re anchored somewhere along the Mississippi River. We expect the Captain to let us know what’s going on when we wake up. Or, simply wake up and be elsewhere.
Anyway. Dinner. It was great! We had to sit at our assigned tables today, and it wasn’t that bad. We were at 231, which had Zabet and Patrick, Brad from Draco and the Malfoys and his lovely wife, and another couple whom I didn’t catch their names. I got the lasagna, Scott got some chicken thing. Mine was better. For dessert I had the infamous Chocolate Melted Cake, which is stupendous. Think warm pudding with cake baked on top.
Tomorrow is our first day at sea (which will hopefully be spent at sea and not “at river”). I’m optimistic! Hey, we’re on a cruise!! While we’d like to go to Mexico, we’re still having an awesome time!!
28 October, 2008 4:48 PM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 2.1
I slept until 11! We have an inside cabin, and it’s so dark in here that you can’t tell if it’s day or night. I originally woke up around 8:45 and felt myself vibrating and rolling back and forth, not of my own accord. So yes, we are moving again. We’re in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. We’re moving faster than normal, as far as I can tell, to try to make up some ground from yesterday.
Scott had already been up and ate breakfast and done some other things (he didn’t mention exactly what). I got up and showered then we went up to the buffet so I could eat. By then they were serving lunch, so I had some rigatoni slop, some eggplant slop, some turkey stuffing slop, and a roll. Oh, and an awesome salad! After that we went to find some lounge chairs in the sun. It’s still chilly outside, and when the sun went behind a cloud it was downright cold! I checked out a beach towel and used it as a makeshift blanket. I think I might have dozed off for a few minutes listening to A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire.
Scott’s making fun of me. I have my hair up in buns with my wand stuck in one and he’s all “You have a stick in your hair!” The guy at the spa asked me what it was. I had to take it out and Avada Kedavra him.
They were doing body art by the pool, so I got myself a snake on my arm (closest they had to a Dark Mark) while Scott and Jess played putt-putt (I know, right??).
I just want to say that my camera rocks!
29 October 2008, 10:07 PM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 2.2
Last night was formal night and I was too tired afterwards to update. We had a great dinner, it was lobster night. Everyone was all decked out in Muggle attire; we had a hard time recognizing each other! I wasn’t too fond of the lobster, but there was shrimp that came with it that was TO DIE FOR. So I did. I also was reminded that our other dinner mates were Jessica and Phillip. Tim and Barbara (aka Peeves) sat with us tonight as well.
After dinner, Scott and I headed up to the lounge to get seats for the show. It was Nightclub Express and it was really good. They did a whole bunch of numbers from different periods (Frank Sinatra, Cher, The Village People, things like that). Their dancers are really talented and the singers were completely awesome.
After the show was the R-Rated comedian. John Wesley Austin I think his name was. It was only for 18+ and he was hilarious!
We walked the Lido deck for a few minutes following the comedy show. It was considerably warmer than it was the night before. We could feel it warming up as the day went on (and the further south we got).
Day 3
This morning we had our Corona Beach Break in Progreso, Mexico. We ordered the room service breakfast (for delivery between 7:30 and 8, it came at 7:15. Good thing I’d set my alarm!) Bagels, juice, easy things like that. After we were ready we headed toward the forward exit, only to find out they had the floor blocked off until customs cleared us. The ENTIRE FLOOR. It’s usually the crew’s quarters, but that’s where you get off the boat at port. Since Deck 3 was blocked off, there was a messy conglomeration of bodies on Riviera, the deck above it. It was hot and crowded, not so fun. We were already getting into port an hour late because of the delay on the Mississippi, so those with excursions before or just after the time we got there were supposed to be let off first. Didn’t work so well. I think that’s the only part so far that’s been unpleasant.
The Beach Break in itself was fine. We had an open bar and free snacks (chips and salsa/bean dips). Scott loaded up on the Coronas with lime. I had a strawberry daiquiri or two. They were really yummy. And their Coke isn’t just called Coke... it’s Coke Light. In a glass bottle. It tasted just like a normal Coke. At first I was afraid it was a diet. Yuck. Nope, it was right. The water was chilly, and the sun wasn’t out when we got there. It did come out after awhile, though, and all was well.
After the tour bus took us back, I did a little bit of shopping. I got a t-shirt for my brother, a postcard for my book, and a magnet for our parents. Scott, a bit tipsy by then, sat on a bench and talked to strangers.
We hung around the Lido deck, got some lunch, and then got ready for the concert that afternoon. We heard The Bezoar Project, Witherwings, and Draco and the Malfoys! They all were awesome! DATM did some new stuff about the Dred Pirates. They even covered Ween’s “Captain Fantasy”. The Captain even came in to see them perform for a few minutes. Also, SCOTT ACTUALLY ATTENDED A WIZARD ROCK CONCERT AND ENJOYED IT!!! He even complimented Brad at dinner! I felt a little bad for the people below us (one of the dining rooms is right below the room we used for the concerts, and they were eating dinner at the time). We were WROCKIN’ pretty hard. The ship was also rocking A LOT. It was hard to just stay upright. And some of us (AHEM PATTIE!!) were really drunk.
Dinner was... interesting. I didn’t think the food was all that good, actually. I’d chosen fruit and sweet and sour shrimp. Patrick ordered the vegetarian dish (forgot what it technically called) we dubbed the “vegetable leg” because that’s how huge it was. Scott had turkey and is now falling asleep. When dessert time came, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the tiramisu so I also ordered the Chocolate Melting Cake. Brad ordered the same, but to his surprise the waiter also brought him apple pie. He actually ate all three! It was so funny! There were quips thrown about it coming with a free insulin injection afterward, and about big wrock stars getting special treatment. Then some fan girl came up to him and asked if he’d eat dinner with them one night. I’m sure this THRILLED Sarah.
We stayed around chatting for a bit after dinner, until the ship’s rocking back and forth got to be too much. We’re now chilling out in our cabin watching TV and just relaxing.
30 October, 2008 5:39 PM
Wrock the Boat, Day 4.1
I’m writing this from the very back of the ship. We’ve just left port. Today we were in Cozumel, Mexico. I had a migraine so I slept until almost 2 pm. After I woke and got dressed, I picked Scott up from the hot tub, and we ate lunch and went into Cozumel. We just walked around and did some shopping. It was really pretty, and much better than Progreso. I picked up some stickers and a magnet for my brother and a pareo for myself, all from Ron Jon’s Surf Shop. I found a t-shirt that I really liked, but it was at one of the expensive shops and I wasn’t going to pay $23 for a shirt. It had a pirate on it and said “Beatings will continue until morale improves.”
Sunset is in about half an hour so we’re planning on just hanging out here until then. Scott’s playing Text Twist on the phone. I haven’t been able to get service since we left New Orleans, so the Sprint website LIES. LIES SO BAD! I was hoping to be able to check voice mail, just in case something happens to one of my kitties.
There’s a hypnotist performing at tonight’s show, but it’s at 7 instead of 10:30 like previous nights. Scott wants to go but I’m not sure. We’ll probably just head downstairs after the sunset and get ourselves seats. The only problem with that is, we’d have to go right up to dinner and we’re not dressed for it.
I’d take off my shoes, but I’m afraid they’d blow overboard. Actually, that’d be kind of funny. I like these shoes too much, though. This woman has a dress on and it’s blowing like crazy. People are getting a free show.
This annoying group of people just came outside. They held the door open too long and the air conditioning blew a gust of cold air this way and gave me goose bumps.
We’ve been applying sunscreen liberally. I wanted no repeats of Preakness. No second degree burns on vacation again, thanks.
30 October, 2008 11:02 PM
Wrock The Boat, Day 4.2
We didn’t end up going to the show. I checked out Twilight Rock. I hadn’t heard any before, and it was decent. The ladies who performed on the cruise were all Team Edward. No Jacob love. I couldn’t find Scott, so I just headed down to the room. I wanted to get some of our things packed so I wouldn’t have to do it all tomorrow night.
Somehow between the time we got in Wednesday from Progreso and the time we got up today, our two beach towels disappeared. I’ve no idea how; they were in the room last night. I wouldn’t be worried, except they charge you $22 for lost towels. Scott is of the mind frame that they’re just towels, but if I’m gonna pay $22 for something, I want a product to show for it! I’ve even crawled on the floor to look under the bed, there’s nothing there! I’m so very frustrated.
Dinner was nice. No fan girls ended up with us. I’d heard the aforementioned fan girl in the hallway on the way to dinner, talking about how she was going to “snake” a seat with Brad. There were just no seats available. Sarah and I had a discussion about fan girls and our limited tolerance of them. Anyhow. My appetizer was Bing Cherry Soup, which tasted like milk with crushed cherries in. I had Penne Sicilliana for my main course, and cappuccino pie for dessert. The pie was spectacular. There was conversation of schadenfreude and laughter ensued.
After dinner Scott and I walked up to the Lido bar and I’m now an official Coconut Monkeyhead Club member. The Mexican Mama was... eh. It had pina colada in it, which I technically am allergic to, but I didn’t have a bad reaction. My throat’s a little itchy, but nothing too bad.
Scott wanted to do karaoke, but they were doing this stupid Red Team/Blue Team thing instead of having normal karaoke. We decided to come downstairs, since I still have a headache. He watched the second half of Life On Mars, and now we’re watching the Denver news.
ESPN is all in Spanish. I had to translate the World Series results for Scott.
Speaking of Scott, he wants to interrupt:
CARNIVAL HAS AN ANNOYING HABIT OF WANTING TO “LIVEN THINGS UP.” PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW-KEY AND JUST WANT TO RELAX NEED TO PICK THEIR SPOTS WELL.
The hypnotist-comedian is performing again tomorrow night. Patrick and Zabet said he was hilarious, so we’re going to try to catch him. Unfortunately, it coincides with a wizard rock show. I have to decide which to do.
This also doesn't include Friday or Saturday. I will add that later.
28 October, 2008 12:57 AM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 1.2
When I last wrote, we were on the Serenity Deck, which is the adult-only section of the ship. It’s at the very back, on the Promenade Deck. We had a great view! The only problem was, as I said, it was VERY WINDY!!! We were freezing! The cabins weren’t ready yet, so we were just sort of hanging out. We could have explored, but we had our carry-ons to deal with.
At around 1:30 we were able to go to our cabins. We put our things in the room, and then headed up to the Sun Deck to meet up with the people from Cruise Critic. On the way up there, we met Jessica (xvsangelx), and she stowed her things and came up with us. It was VERY windy up there, being the topmost deck. It had a SPECTACULAR view over the bow of the ship. It also had the jogging track and, of all things, putt-putt. Now, I’ll never understand how one can play putt-putt on a moving vehicle, let alone with this much wind.
At about 3:30 we all had to dig out the life jackets and head upstairs for the ketchup drill. It’s really the muster drill, required by the USCG before the ship can set sail. Scott thought I’d said ‘mustard drill’ so he said “Why isn’t it the ketchup drill?” so I had to explain. Anyway. We got our life jackets (we were in the room anyway, our luggage had arrived by then and we’d unpacked and I decorated our stateroom door.) It basically involves standing around while they explain what to do during an emergency and pointing us to our assigned lifeboats. Think: the drill you get on an airplane, just with more standing around.
That, of course, was when the ship was moving. Yes, you read right. WAS moving.
Things were running along smoothly, then came time to get ready for dinner. I was walking up the stairs to our assigned dining room and there was this THUD, and the ship leered to one side. (The leering wasn’t abnormal - navigating the Mississippi takes a few twists and turns). Apparently, one of the engines stopped working and they had no idea why. While they were fidgeting with it, the ship was tilted (it still is, actually) so it was hard for our tablemates to eat their soup at dinner, and the drinks were all slanted. The water from the sink was actually dripping sideways! (I tried to take a picture but I don’t think it turned out so well.)
Right now we’re anchored somewhere along the Mississippi River. We expect the Captain to let us know what’s going on when we wake up. Or, simply wake up and be elsewhere.
Anyway. Dinner. It was great! We had to sit at our assigned tables today, and it wasn’t that bad. We were at 231, which had Zabet and Patrick, Brad from Draco and the Malfoys and his lovely wife, and another couple whom I didn’t catch their names. I got the lasagna, Scott got some chicken thing. Mine was better. For dessert I had the infamous Chocolate Melted Cake, which is stupendous. Think warm pudding with cake baked on top.
Tomorrow is our first day at sea (which will hopefully be spent at sea and not “at river”). I’m optimistic! Hey, we’re on a cruise!! While we’d like to go to Mexico, we’re still having an awesome time!!
28 October, 2008 4:48 PM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 2.1
I slept until 11! We have an inside cabin, and it’s so dark in here that you can’t tell if it’s day or night. I originally woke up around 8:45 and felt myself vibrating and rolling back and forth, not of my own accord. So yes, we are moving again. We’re in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. We’re moving faster than normal, as far as I can tell, to try to make up some ground from yesterday.
Scott had already been up and ate breakfast and done some other things (he didn’t mention exactly what). I got up and showered then we went up to the buffet so I could eat. By then they were serving lunch, so I had some rigatoni slop, some eggplant slop, some turkey stuffing slop, and a roll. Oh, and an awesome salad! After that we went to find some lounge chairs in the sun. It’s still chilly outside, and when the sun went behind a cloud it was downright cold! I checked out a beach towel and used it as a makeshift blanket. I think I might have dozed off for a few minutes listening to A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire.
Scott’s making fun of me. I have my hair up in buns with my wand stuck in one and he’s all “You have a stick in your hair!” The guy at the spa asked me what it was. I had to take it out and Avada Kedavra him.
They were doing body art by the pool, so I got myself a snake on my arm (closest they had to a Dark Mark) while Scott and Jess played putt-putt (I know, right??).
I just want to say that my camera rocks!
29 October 2008, 10:07 PM CT
Wrock the Boat, Day 2.2
Last night was formal night and I was too tired afterwards to update. We had a great dinner, it was lobster night. Everyone was all decked out in Muggle attire; we had a hard time recognizing each other! I wasn’t too fond of the lobster, but there was shrimp that came with it that was TO DIE FOR. So I did. I also was reminded that our other dinner mates were Jessica and Phillip. Tim and Barbara (aka Peeves) sat with us tonight as well.
After dinner, Scott and I headed up to the lounge to get seats for the show. It was Nightclub Express and it was really good. They did a whole bunch of numbers from different periods (Frank Sinatra, Cher, The Village People, things like that). Their dancers are really talented and the singers were completely awesome.
After the show was the R-Rated comedian. John Wesley Austin I think his name was. It was only for 18+ and he was hilarious!
We walked the Lido deck for a few minutes following the comedy show. It was considerably warmer than it was the night before. We could feel it warming up as the day went on (and the further south we got).
Day 3
This morning we had our Corona Beach Break in Progreso, Mexico. We ordered the room service breakfast (for delivery between 7:30 and 8, it came at 7:15. Good thing I’d set my alarm!) Bagels, juice, easy things like that. After we were ready we headed toward the forward exit, only to find out they had the floor blocked off until customs cleared us. The ENTIRE FLOOR. It’s usually the crew’s quarters, but that’s where you get off the boat at port. Since Deck 3 was blocked off, there was a messy conglomeration of bodies on Riviera, the deck above it. It was hot and crowded, not so fun. We were already getting into port an hour late because of the delay on the Mississippi, so those with excursions before or just after the time we got there were supposed to be let off first. Didn’t work so well. I think that’s the only part so far that’s been unpleasant.
The Beach Break in itself was fine. We had an open bar and free snacks (chips and salsa/bean dips). Scott loaded up on the Coronas with lime. I had a strawberry daiquiri or two. They were really yummy. And their Coke isn’t just called Coke... it’s Coke Light. In a glass bottle. It tasted just like a normal Coke. At first I was afraid it was a diet. Yuck. Nope, it was right. The water was chilly, and the sun wasn’t out when we got there. It did come out after awhile, though, and all was well.
After the tour bus took us back, I did a little bit of shopping. I got a t-shirt for my brother, a postcard for my book, and a magnet for our parents. Scott, a bit tipsy by then, sat on a bench and talked to strangers.
We hung around the Lido deck, got some lunch, and then got ready for the concert that afternoon. We heard The Bezoar Project, Witherwings, and Draco and the Malfoys! They all were awesome! DATM did some new stuff about the Dred Pirates. They even covered Ween’s “Captain Fantasy”. The Captain even came in to see them perform for a few minutes. Also, SCOTT ACTUALLY ATTENDED A WIZARD ROCK CONCERT AND ENJOYED IT!!! He even complimented Brad at dinner! I felt a little bad for the people below us (one of the dining rooms is right below the room we used for the concerts, and they were eating dinner at the time). We were WROCKIN’ pretty hard. The ship was also rocking A LOT. It was hard to just stay upright. And some of us (AHEM PATTIE!!) were really drunk.
Dinner was... interesting. I didn’t think the food was all that good, actually. I’d chosen fruit and sweet and sour shrimp. Patrick ordered the vegetarian dish (forgot what it technically called) we dubbed the “vegetable leg” because that’s how huge it was. Scott had turkey and is now falling asleep. When dessert time came, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the tiramisu so I also ordered the Chocolate Melting Cake. Brad ordered the same, but to his surprise the waiter also brought him apple pie. He actually ate all three! It was so funny! There were quips thrown about it coming with a free insulin injection afterward, and about big wrock stars getting special treatment. Then some fan girl came up to him and asked if he’d eat dinner with them one night. I’m sure this THRILLED Sarah.
We stayed around chatting for a bit after dinner, until the ship’s rocking back and forth got to be too much. We’re now chilling out in our cabin watching TV and just relaxing.
30 October, 2008 5:39 PM
Wrock the Boat, Day 4.1
I’m writing this from the very back of the ship. We’ve just left port. Today we were in Cozumel, Mexico. I had a migraine so I slept until almost 2 pm. After I woke and got dressed, I picked Scott up from the hot tub, and we ate lunch and went into Cozumel. We just walked around and did some shopping. It was really pretty, and much better than Progreso. I picked up some stickers and a magnet for my brother and a pareo for myself, all from Ron Jon’s Surf Shop. I found a t-shirt that I really liked, but it was at one of the expensive shops and I wasn’t going to pay $23 for a shirt. It had a pirate on it and said “Beatings will continue until morale improves.”
Sunset is in about half an hour so we’re planning on just hanging out here until then. Scott’s playing Text Twist on the phone. I haven’t been able to get service since we left New Orleans, so the Sprint website LIES. LIES SO BAD! I was hoping to be able to check voice mail, just in case something happens to one of my kitties.
There’s a hypnotist performing at tonight’s show, but it’s at 7 instead of 10:30 like previous nights. Scott wants to go but I’m not sure. We’ll probably just head downstairs after the sunset and get ourselves seats. The only problem with that is, we’d have to go right up to dinner and we’re not dressed for it.
I’d take off my shoes, but I’m afraid they’d blow overboard. Actually, that’d be kind of funny. I like these shoes too much, though. This woman has a dress on and it’s blowing like crazy. People are getting a free show.
This annoying group of people just came outside. They held the door open too long and the air conditioning blew a gust of cold air this way and gave me goose bumps.
We’ve been applying sunscreen liberally. I wanted no repeats of Preakness. No second degree burns on vacation again, thanks.
30 October, 2008 11:02 PM
Wrock The Boat, Day 4.2
We didn’t end up going to the show. I checked out Twilight Rock. I hadn’t heard any before, and it was decent. The ladies who performed on the cruise were all Team Edward. No Jacob love. I couldn’t find Scott, so I just headed down to the room. I wanted to get some of our things packed so I wouldn’t have to do it all tomorrow night.
Somehow between the time we got in Wednesday from Progreso and the time we got up today, our two beach towels disappeared. I’ve no idea how; they were in the room last night. I wouldn’t be worried, except they charge you $22 for lost towels. Scott is of the mind frame that they’re just towels, but if I’m gonna pay $22 for something, I want a product to show for it! I’ve even crawled on the floor to look under the bed, there’s nothing there! I’m so very frustrated.
Dinner was nice. No fan girls ended up with us. I’d heard the aforementioned fan girl in the hallway on the way to dinner, talking about how she was going to “snake” a seat with Brad. There were just no seats available. Sarah and I had a discussion about fan girls and our limited tolerance of them. Anyhow. My appetizer was Bing Cherry Soup, which tasted like milk with crushed cherries in. I had Penne Sicilliana for my main course, and cappuccino pie for dessert. The pie was spectacular. There was conversation of schadenfreude and laughter ensued.
After dinner Scott and I walked up to the Lido bar and I’m now an official Coconut Monkeyhead Club member. The Mexican Mama was... eh. It had pina colada in it, which I technically am allergic to, but I didn’t have a bad reaction. My throat’s a little itchy, but nothing too bad.
Scott wanted to do karaoke, but they were doing this stupid Red Team/Blue Team thing instead of having normal karaoke. We decided to come downstairs, since I still have a headache. He watched the second half of Life On Mars, and now we’re watching the Denver news.
ESPN is all in Spanish. I had to translate the World Series results for Scott.
Speaking of Scott, he wants to interrupt:
CARNIVAL HAS AN ANNOYING HABIT OF WANTING TO “LIVEN THINGS UP.” PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW-KEY AND JUST WANT TO RELAX NEED TO PICK THEIR SPOTS WELL.
The hypnotist-comedian is performing again tomorrow night. Patrick and Zabet said he was hilarious, so we’re going to try to catch him. Unfortunately, it coincides with a wizard rock show. I have to decide which to do.