Sadly, most of this part of the cruise we didn’t write down at the time, so most of this is recollections from five years later.
Because we had internet access, we actually knew that we were being held out at sea until Monday before most of the crew did. Carnival’s website had this notice up:
Weather Update
(9/25/04 11:30 AM EST) – Carnival is closely monitoring Hurricane Jeanne and all other weather conditions that could impact any of our sailings. The safety of our guests remains our number one priority.
Presently Hurricane Jeanne has impacted the following cruises:
DEPARTING FROM MIAMI:
CARNIVAL TRIUMPH:
The 7 Day cruise that departed on Sept. 18 will return to Miami on Mon., Sept. 27.
Also because we had internet access, we were able to easily get the message back home, and Chris’s dad was able to change our flights for us so that we weren’t rushing to the airport the minute we got off the ship.
So, two sea days. They ran out of cucumbers first. Since I can’t stand cucumbers, that was not a big deal. I seem to recall that strawberries and lemons were next, and then the fruit punch.
The fruit punch really didn’t surprise me, because during the aborted attempt to get us all of the ship, they had delivered everyone’s held alcohol purchases to our cabins. Oh well, we were out of rum by that time anyway.
We also crossed paths again with our Japanese friends. Chris ran into them in the Internet cafe, and was able to help them send an email to their family. They later repaid us by sending us a giant package of little gifts for the kids, including even more miniscule origami cranes and both their names written out in Japanese.
It still amuses me that while we sailed up and down the Florida Keys, well away from Jeanne, there were actually angry people! Several angry people, on their cell phones up on the top deck, complaining that they were stuck on a cruise ship. Maybe we’re just too easygoing or something.
Interestingly enough, Cingular had a strong enough signal so that calls could go out; T-Mobile could not.
But all in all, we had a good time, despite what I noted in the original blog on the 26th:
Not one single detail of this trip that I planned has worked out like it was supposed to…
All our flights have been changed.
Didn’t stay at any of the hotels that I booked months ago.
OK, we did get on the ship. That was the big one. But we didn’t go to Grand Cayman (no biggie) and well, there’s these two extra days…
I did get my hammock in Cozumel, but we didn’t go to Paradise Beach or Carlos & Charlies.
Costa Maya…heh, yes, well. I can finally sleep on my back now. :^D
Never really expected much from Ocho Rios – but y’know, since then we’ve been seeing a *lot* more people with wrist/ankle injuries.
But anyway, tomorrow for sure we are docking in Miami and will debark the ship (not disembark as Chris and I both keep saying, lol). Chris’ dad was able to change our flights for us to Tuesday (thank you!!) so we won’t be home until Tuesday night.