January 30
TCM Classic Cruise 2013
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On Monday, I hinted that I just returned from a cruise, but it wasn’t just any cruise, it was the TCM Classic Cruise!
TCM stands for Turner Classic Movies and was the focus of a “Love This” post in 2012. This was my husband’s and my first cruise.
We flew to Miami on Sunday. When we booked the cruise, we didn’t know what the weather was going to be like in January, so we wanted to get there the day before boarding. It was nice because we had time to relax and not be hurried.
Monday, we boarded the ship and set sail. Bye-bye, Miami.
We sailed on the Celebrity Constellation. It was a beautiful ship.
Being the TCM Classic Cruise, the activities centered around movies.
On board…Robert Osborne, Ben Mankiewicz, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Arlene Dahl, Sally Anne Howe, Norman Lloyd, Alex Trebek, Rich Little and Casey LaLonde (Joan Crawford’s grandson).
Tuesday, was a day at sea. Wednesday, we stopped at Grand Cayman.
Grand Cayman is a tender port, which means that the ship anchors offshore and you disembark to a smaller boat (a tender) that takes you to the island.
The shore excursion we chose was the “Catamaran Sail & Stingray City.” We set sail onboard the 60-foot “Cockatoo” and headed to Stingray City.
At Stingray City, we had the chance to get off the catamaran and touch and feed the southern Atlantic stingrays. It was very cool.
On Thursday, we docked in Cozumel. The shore excursion we chose in Cozumel was “San Gervasio Ruins and Beach Break.”
We got to explore the Mayan ruins of San Gervasio, enjoy a scenic ride around the island and spend a little time at a beach club.
We had the best guide ever…Alex. He was wonderful.
All too soon, it was time to board the ship.
Friday was a day at sea, and we arrived back in Miami on Saturday morning. Our flight wasn’t until Saturday evening, so we used the day to tour Miami. I was excited about that because I’d always wanted to see the Art Deco District of South Beach.
The cruise was WONDERFUL, and I hope I get to cruise again in the future.
Want more? Check in on Thursday, February 14th and I’ll let you in on the adventures (the ones I know about) of two special guests we took along with us.
That’s right…Pip & Puddles joined us as part of Pip and Puddles’ BUCKET World Tour, and “yes” alcohol was involved.
WOW! Youy lucky girl. I am so jealous. Looking forward to hearing more.
Alcohol and Puddles and Pip is a given.
Looks like you had a wonderful time. A great way to beat the cold.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
Oh Lori what a wonderful holiday to have, looks fantastic! look forward to hearing more
Sue and the Taylor pack xxx
OMG! A movie cruise ship. How cool is that! Your pictures are making me drool and my eyes water. The colour of the sea is so intense. Beeoootiful! I have a capoeira friend who moved to Cayman a few years back. He now teaches capoeira there. I wonder if you might have passed him by LOL.
Sounds like he is living the dream. We could have easily stayed on the island. It was beautiful.
I didn’t know there was a movie cruise ship. Sounds like fun. I have a friend living in the Caymans now and it looks so beautiful.
Thanks for sharing!
That looks like a wonderful cruise! Jeff and I took a cruise many years ago and it didn’t turn out so well. LOL Seasickness…I think we over-medicated ourselves trying to prevent it and we ended up getting really sick. I think cruising is a great way to travel, but I don’t see us ever doing it again. LOL
Seasickness would have changed my opinion of our cruise (ha). I’m so glad it didn’t happen to us.
Uh oh! Having Pip and Puddles along screams “international incident”!
Your cruise sounds absolutely amazing! I’ve never cruised, but it sounds like something that would be fun to try.
The pictures make the cruise look like a dream come true! I have never been on a cruise before, but hope to some day. Please post more pictures soon
Oh my Dog, that looks like heaven on earth, swoon!
When I saw the colour of that water I wanted to throw myself into the murky, grey depths of the North Sea and drown myself, LOL.
Lynne x
That’s looked like an awesome time. Warm weather…so jealous!! Hope you stop by–mentioned you in my post today!!!
Thank you, Val. I appreciate you mentioning that I save old stamps for the Retired Greyhound Trust.
You are a lucky girl!! I have never been on a cruise!!! Did live in Miami for a few months in total though once 87 years ago!!! LOL
We will just have to wait for next year for more pretty flowers!!
You’re lucky!
Nola
Wow … I have never, ever been on a cruise. For some reason I’m very nervous of trying it. I suppose it’s because you’re kind of ‘trapped’ on the boat, and then, if I wanted to disembark at exotic locations, I’d need vaccinations and anti-malarial stuff (depending on where it was, of course) and I’m even MORE nervous of those!
But it does look fun. I’m quite envious.
O M D…O M D…I can not get overs dat big freakin’ ship…and da water…holy cow! I has to say my mind is blown by everything! I thinks I could get used to livin’ in a place likes dat real quickly.
Hehehehe…I likes da drinks withs da little umbrellas, those are my favoritists.
Puddles
I definitely could have stayed there longer than five days. It was great!
Oh, my, I am soooo jealous! I live for old movies and I love TCM. I’ve got to attend one of their events.
Great photos!
I was on the cruise too! Love your pics!
This was perfect for our family of 8 – 2 grandparents, 2 parents, and 4 kids, ages 12-18. Chip picked us up at the appointed time, and our bus driver told us about Grand Cayman on the way to the sailboat. Once we arrived, we hopped aboard, and off we went to Stingray City. Chip and Bart clearly know their way around marine wildlife. They anchored a bit away from the other crowds, and immediately several large rays came to see us. We were instructed on how to pet and feed them and also how to watch out for the rays’ barbs. We then had plenty of time with the stingrays – up to 4 feet across – and Chip held several of them out of the water for those of us who were a bit more timid to see and pet them. After a long time with the rays, we boarded the boat, weighed anchor, and went about 1000 yards or so over to the reef for some snorkeling. The water was rough, which made it a bit unpleasant, but Bart was an excellent leader and tour guide, and helped some of us who weren’t strong swimmers. He took us to a rock where his friend “Psycho,” a wild green moray eel, was lurking. Bart brought the eel out of his hiding hole, fed him, and we were able to get a very good look at a 4-foot long rare animal without ever being in any danger. It was great! After snorkeling, we were treated to some fresh fruit, water, and other beverages on the smooth sail home. Chip wasn’t done showing us stuff, though. He put on a mask, tied a rope to his waist, and dived into the water while the boat was sailing. He soon came up and pulled himself back to the rear, a huge starfish in hand. Chip fished a few more creatures off the bottom to show us before putting them back in the water. We were even greeted back at the dock by several iguanas. All in all, this was a fantastic outing, particularly for the low price. I would very, very strongly recommend it. Stay away from the cruise-sponsored cattle barges headed to Stingray City and go sailing!