[Krys]

So, I'm curious to know what forumites are hoping for as our port of call in 2014? Voting is still probably months away... but there's a few places that I think can be ruled out:

Key West (not much of a trip)
Cuba (Obvious reasons, the embargo)
Jamaica (We don't have the juice to go that far? Think I read that on here so, correct me if this is wrong.)

And dare I say Cozumel, because not too many people care to go back a 2nd time... I've never been there but I've heard it's a concrete jungle loaded with irritating venders. I doubt if we're going there this year, but I wont scratch it off the list right away.

I'd be happy to end up in any of the following places:

Berry Islands (Cococay, Little Stirrup Cay)
Belize City
Labadee, Haiti
Grand Turk
Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac)
Cancun (maybe)

These are also options too:


Mobile and Galveston are possible too, I guess... but I can't imagine those being top picks

[Stained Class]

Can't do Key West because that makes it an internal transportation, which takes a completely different set of paperwork. And yeah Cuba is out and so is Jamaica until we get a new ship. I'm hoping for Labadee, Haiti. There's potential there for having bands playing on shore!

[LadyBlackfhyre]

Bands playing on shore sounds nice - BUT I did really LOVE Grand Turk - being able to relax and get drunk on the beach. It definitely helped me make it through the rest of the trip : )

I'm down to go anywehre though - It always ends up being a good time no matter what!

[Stained Class]

It's not where you go, it's who you're with!

[NuuX]

Rum Cay sounds tasty.

[Krys]

Can't do Key West because that makes it an internal transportation, which takes a completely different set of paperwork. And yeah Cuba is out and so is Jamaica until we get a new ship.

Ahhh... thanks for the explanation. Some 'lands bands' would be a fun addition for 2014.

Bands playing on shore sounds nice - BUT I did really LOVE Grand Turk - being able to relax and get drunk on the beach. It definitely helped me make it through the rest of the trip : )

I'm down to go anywehre though - It always ends up being a good time no matter what!

Frankly, at the end of January when I'm starting my second semester of college I think just landing in Miami for vacation is going to feel amazing. I fully support this statement. NEARLY ANY PLACE WARM SOUNDS GREAT .

Rum Cay sounds tasty.

Wiki says:

Rum Cay (formerly known as Mamana and Santa Maria de la Concepción) is an island and district of the Bahamas. It measures 30 square miles in area, it is located at Lat.: N23 42' 30" - Long.: W 74 50' 00". It has many rolling hills that rise to about 120 feet (37 m). The island is believed to have acquired its modern name from a shipwrecked cargo of rum. The main settlement is Port Nelson. Its population was recorded as 53 in the 1990 census. Before 1996 the island was part of a combined district of San Salvador and Rum Cay.

Deep reefs and drop-offs surround this former pirates’ haven. There is staghorn coral at Summer Point Reef and diving at Pinder’s Point. At the Grand Canyon, 60-foot coral walls almost reach the surface. Sumner Point Marina has dockage, fuel, moorings, WiFi, bar and restaurant. There is a small guesthouse available from former Constable Ted Bain. The Last Chance Yacht Supply has groceries. Batelco office for phone calls closes at lunchtime. Yachts wait here before sailing to Mayaguana or the Turks and Caicos Islands, or before returning to Georgetown and points north.

Looks like great surfing and probably scuba diving spot too. Doubt we'll end up there, but wow its a nice little island

I'm hoping for Labadee, Haiti. There's potential there for having bands playing on shore!

Labadee looks absolutely beautiful. Not to mention there's loads to do:

-Lovely beaches
-Ziplining
-Water park
-Temps generally in the high 90's
-Marketplace (very high pressure for sales though!)
-Artisan Market
-Jet ski rentals
-Snorkeling
-Labadoosie beverages
-Bananaboating

[Mal2000]

For me it's easy. My top destination is Grand Turk

Berry Islands (Cococay, little stirrup Cay) -YES, though it's is soooooo close to Miami & very crowded with cruisers all the time. Besides, it's extremaly expensive.
Belize City - NO, too far
Labadee, Haiti - NO, I can't take any anti malaria drugs, which means I would have to stay locked in my cabin while there
Grand Turk - YES
Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac) - maybe. Old Lady Majesty had to go very fast and we had issues with ship moving too much. I thought I was drunk beyond my normal "drunkness"
Cancun (maybe) - NO

[Krys]

Grand Turk would be fine with me.

-Beaches
-Bars
-Snorkeling (Horseshoe Reef and Round Cay.)
-ziplining
-kayaking
-hiking (I'd love to go hiking if I have the energy!)
-horseback riding
-No pushy vendors
-Rum Punch (a concoction of coconut rum, dark rum, pineapple and orange juices, and grenadine)
-National Museum
-Grand Turk Lighthouse


Found this little nugget of info too:

If your ship is in town past sunset, look for the "green flash," a phenomena that occurs when the color of the sun changes from red or orange to green or blue just as it dips below the earth's surface. It isn't indigenous to the islands, but due to atmospheric conditions it's seldom seen in the Caribbean (or anywhere else for that matter). Don't blink -- it happens quickly!

[mooyagi]

For something new, I think Labadee would be a lot of fun. Those ziplines look amazing. If we get a repeat (fitting given the cruise lineup so far) my vote would be to return to Cockburn.

[alex_canada]

If it's a repeat, anything but Cozumel!

[viathyn]

Cockburn was by far the most fun I had as far as the destinations have been. If we end up there again, I will not be complaining!

[alex_canada]

Also saw the singer from Delain in a bikini...

[Pyramus]

What the... Alex_Canada wasn't I with you on the island? How on earth did you not point out the Delain singer in a bikini to me! I missed it!

Oh, and I'm definitely voting against Grand Turk next year if it's an option... fun place but I don't want to go to same place two years in a row.

[Captain Alex]

Also saw the singer from Delain in a bikini...

.. and that beautiful violinist from lingua mortis orchestra

[X-Thor]

Also saw the singer from Delain in a bikini...

.. and that beautiful violinist from lingua mortis orchestra

I MISSED BOTH!!

[LadyBlackfhyre]

Cockburn was by far the most fun I had as far as the destinations have been. If we end up there again, I will not be complaining!

agree!

[pablov8]

Also saw the singer from Delain in a bikini...

.. and that beautiful violinist from lingua mortis orchestra

I MISSED BOTH!!

At least you got off the ship

[Krys]

Hmmm so I just figured out that Little Stirrup Cay is Coco Cay... D'oh, sorry about that.

Great Stirrup and Cistern Cay are out too as they don't belong to RCI.

Wiki:
Little Stirrup Cay is leased by Royal Caribbean International, which calls it Coco Cay, and acts as a private island for tropical activities engaged in by visitors on its cruise ships of the Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises labels.
Great Stirrup Cay is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and is used for similar purposes.
Cistern Cay is a private island located next to Great Harbour Cay.

[alex_canada]

What the... Alex_Canada wasn't I with you on the island? How on earth did you not point out the Delain singer in a bikini to me! I missed it!

Oh, and I'm definitely voting against Grand Turk next year if it's an option... fun place but I don't want to go to same place two years in a row.

In the later part of the day, I walked to the far right (if you're on the pier facing toward the island) until the point for some swimming. Found a car door and some assorted goodies underwater, as well as the singer relaxing on a secluded part of the beach. She was obviously at that location to escape the crowds, so I'd feel guilty if I bothered her.

[Pyramus]

What the... Alex_Canada wasn't I with you on the island? How on earth did you not point out the Delain singer in a bikini to me! I missed it!

Oh, and I'm definitely voting against Grand Turk next year if it's an option... fun place but I don't want to go to same place two years in a row.

In the later part of the day, I walked to the far right (if you're on the pier facing toward the island) until the point for some swimming. Found a car door and some assorted goodies underwater, as well as the singer relaxing on a secluded part of the beach. She was obviously at that location to escape the crowds, so I'd feel guilty if I bothered her.

Cool glad you had fun swimming... :)

Yeah I would have felt bad about approaching her too if she was secluded like that.

[Mindcrime]

Does any one know when voting might be?

[scyll]

Does any one know when voting might be?

In the near future. Soon. In the next days/weeks. Between 1 and 234 days from now.

Who knows! ;-)

For my part, I would like to go somewhere we haven't been to yet. If we have to choose bewtween places we have already visited, I would probably choose Cockburn Town!

[ttiger]

Is Maho beach in St. Maarten a possible option?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIJ0F62og4

[DrinkMoxie]

St. Maarten would be sweet, but way too far

[Krys]

The 70k webpage just says we get to vote in July, so who knows?

Announcements have slowed to a crawl too... feels kinda like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHNJPsCDSqo

And yeah, St. Maarten is pretty far.

[Mal2000]

Announcements have slowed to a crawl too...

It's normal speed of announcing, so no worry. We did not hit the record waiting, yet.

I am sure someone keeps tracking the waiting times

[X-Thor]

So, anyone else thinks this will be the long announcement drought of the year?

[Jaimie38]

Grand Turk for me! Hanging with the Aussies and drunk Germans trying to get girls to go topless in the bar. Watching the bars change from top 40 and dance music to Slayer and Pantera . No beggers or vendors, nice people and the best beach I have ever been to.

Nice that we were the only folks there, and looked after Sabatons' bags, etc while they were in the water. Joakim was fucked up !!

I really enjoyed Cayman as well. I could have spent a lot of money in the watch boutiques!
Ended up at the Hard Rock and met a couple of guys from our cruise, just hanging out --the servers LOVED us and wished we came beck every week!

[cowboy71]

So, anyone else thinks this will be the long announcement drought of the year?

I hope so, and I hope that the announcement-model follows a similar path to year 1.

The first cruise the longest break between band announcements was also over June (From May 26 to July 1). Announcements tended to follow a similar pattern, of a break of a week or two between each (apart from the long break of course).

Second cruise there were 3 really big gaps - 38 days after the first bands, 40 days in July/August, and 52 days in Oct/Nov. Then, we had numerous occasions where there were bands announced only a day or two apart.

This year we had a 60 day gap in Aug/Sep, and 40 days in Nov/Dec. And then that ridiculous hopefully never-to-be-repeated situation of a dozen bands getting added to the lineup in the last few days

[Captain Alex]

I really don't care about the destination as I'm almost sure the places I wanted to go are ruled out..

Rivendell
Valhalla
Pandora
Naboo
Asgard

I love the way the topic always is fogotten following the same alternative discution every time someone mention those places haha

[Speedy]

I really don't care about the destination as I'm almost sure the places I wanted to go are ruled out..

Rivendell
Valhalla
Pandora
Naboo
Asgard

I love the way the topic always is fogotten following the same alternative discution every time someone mention those places haha

Vallhalla is redundant since it's part of Ásgard.

[Krys]

So, anyone else thinks this will be the long announcement drought of the year?

I hope so, and I hope that the announcement-model follows a similar path to year 1.

The first cruise the longest break between band announcements was also over June (From May 26 to July 1). Announcements tended to follow a similar pattern, of a break of a week or two between each (apart from the long break of course).

Second cruise there were 3 really big gaps - 38 days after the first bands, 40 days in July/August, and 52 days in Oct/Nov. Then, we had numerous occasions where there were bands announced only a day or two apart.

This year we had a 60 day gap in Aug/Sep, and 40 days in Nov/Dec. And then that ridiculous hopefully never-to-be-repeated situation of a dozen bands getting added to the lineup in the last few days

Wow. Okay. I agree about the last 12 bands... let's hope they don't announce those so close to cruise time in 2014. I can't imagine getting to Florida and not knowing the last ten acts.

[X-Thor]

So, anyone else thinks this will be the long announcement drought of the year?

I hope so, and I hope that the announcement-model follows a similar path to year 1.

The first cruise the longest break between band announcements was also over June (From May 26 to July 1). Announcements tended to follow a similar pattern, of a break of a week or two between each (apart from the long break of course).

Second cruise there were 3 really big gaps - 38 days after the first bands, 40 days in July/August, and 52 days in Oct/Nov. Then, we had numerous occasions where there were bands announced only a day or two apart.

This year we had a 60 day gap in Aug/Sep, and 40 days in Nov/Dec. And then that ridiculous hopefully never-to-be-repeated situation of a dozen bands getting added to the lineup in the last few days

Wow. Okay. I agree about the last 12 bands... let's hope they don't announce those so close to cruise time in 2014. I can't imagine getting to Florida and not knowing the last ten acts.

Hehe, maybe you should get used to the idea...

[Krys]

Could also be fun anticipating announcements while en route too .

[Pyramus]

Could also be fun anticipating announcements while en route too .

I hate the late announcements because you don't have an opportunity to bring merch to be signed for those bands because you're already in Miami when they announce them. I was a little annoyed last year because I was in Miami for the last 5 or so bands.

[mgrock]

Having read a couple of pros and cons the decision has been made: Grand Turk

[Krys]

Can`t really go wrong with Margaritaville, swim up bar and beach within minutes of the boat. Perfect destination if you happen to wake up really late in the day and still want to get some beach time in. You can also do stingray swims, snorkeling, tours of the island are like 16$ round trip I hear. Things are generally clean, no peddlers, but depending on the tourists I`m sure the popular places must get a little Wal-Marty (if you get my drift). Don`t forget your sunscreen.

[viathyn]

Yup, that was it!

[Stained Class]

but depending on the tourists I`m sure the popular places must get a little Wal-Marty (if you get my drift). Don`t forget your sunscreen.

Actually not really. It's a really small island and there was only one boat in so as far as I could tell the only people on the island were locals and metalheads. One thing I thorougly enjoyed about it

[alex_canada]

I also reallllly enjoyed not having to wait for a boat shuttle. Even though I like Caymans more, I'd take Turks just for being able to walk off the boat.