Pirate Names

Cara got a birthday card that gave out pirate names. I thought you'd all like to know your names. Unfortunately, some us share names because they are based on the first letter of your first name. Some are worth sharing though! Arrrg Mateys!

Grandma Karen: Peg Leg Longboots

Shelley and Me: Squirmy Spinybritches

Marty, Matt, and Mitch: Chum Brinybottom

Rich: Crusty Dankwater

Liz: Leeches Scurvytoes

Becky: Mad Dog O'Barnacle

Tamires: Black Tide McShark

Jared: Booty Tanglebeard

Cara: Salty McScurvy

Andy: Sea Dog McChummy

Does anyone else think Rich's name is the most awesome? And the most like him??? Heehee.

Jamaica

Ocho Rios Overview

Ocho Rios, affectionately referred to as "Ochi" by the locals, is situated on the northern coast of the island of Jamaica, midway between the capital, Kingston, and the popular tourist resort of Montego Bay. The Spanish translation of Ocho Rios is "eight rivers," but the town's name most likely was derived from the abundance of waterfalls in the area (since you won't find eight rivers there). The shoreline is dotted with one hotel resort after another, with the Caribbean's trademark warm sands and turquoise waters in their backyards. Beyond the shoreline, rainforestlike greenery blankets the mountainous landscape. The strikingly lush tropical foliage makes it easy to see why the Parish of St. Ann, of which Ocho Rios is a part, is known as the "garden parish."

Set just slightly past the cruise port, the shabby town of Ocho Rios offers plenty of duty-free shopping bargains, open-air eateries and happening bars on its two main drags, Main Street and DaCosta Drive (which run parallel to each other). Although the town is worth checking out, spending an entire day there would be overdoing it. For cruise-ship tourists, primary points of interest and attractions -- like Dunn's River Falls, Mystic Mountain and James Bond Beach -- lie beyond the actual town and are short 5- to 10-minute taxi rides away.

Ocho Rios gets its fair share of precipitation with the most rain falling in October, and average temperatures in Jamaica are in the 80's and 90's. (July and August are the hottest months, while February is the coolest.) Watch out for hurricane season in Caribbean ports from June until November.

Great Beaches.
Dunns River Falls.

Bob Marley.

Grand Caymen

Grand Cayman Overview

Imagine the stereotypical cruise port -- one with white sand beaches, a plethora of duty free shops selling jewels and liquor, and de rigueur water activities like snorkeling and scuba -- and Grand Cayman might just be the destination the cliche is based on. In addition to the lovely Seven Mile Beach, George Town's retail center and water sports galore, Grand Cayman celebrates marine life at Stingray City and the Cayman Turtle Farm, and even offers a twist on island paradise with the town of Hell (THE place from which to send the quintessential kitschy postcard).Yet the cliche does have a negative side -- and those are the crowds.

It's not unusual to find five mega-ships docked in the harbor at the same time, which makes the tendering process slower than usual and the downtown streets jam-packed. (Building a cruise pier at which ships could berth is oft discussed, but it's never gone beyond the "pre-planning" stage.) The constant influx of cruise passengers keeps the waterfront restaurants bustling, so lunch in port is never a cheap affair. A stroll along the beach quickly turns into an obstacle course of sunbathing tourists, sandy children and watersports vendors.

Visitors have two choices -- embrace the crowds and touristy places with a laidback island mindset or escape them. Secluded beaches, like Cayman Kai or Rum Point, are a cab ride away, and even Seven Mile Beach has its less crowded spots. A mall at Governors Square offers designer clothes, housewares and even a healthy cafe for a refreshing change from pareos, shell necklaces and over-priced seafood. And the seemingly endless stretches of sea never feel too congested when you're swimming peacefully through coral formations.

And like any Caribbean island worth its salt and sand, Grand Cayman has weathered a few hurricanes -- most recently Hurricane Paloma in November 2008. With a solid infrastructure in place, the island survived the storm -- with the exception of a blown off roof or two (the Courtyard Marriott, for instance, lost its top) -- and easily bounced back to its jaunty self. After all, if Grand Cayman didn't offer its 1.7 million cruise visitors the beaches, shops, restaurants and attractions they've come to expect, the cliche wouldn't hold. And where would Grand Cayman be then?

Turtle Farm

Seven Mile Beach


Swimming with the stingrays.

Not Too Worry

It was pointed out to me that I only posted 6 thrings though there are 7 girls going. I do have 7 rings, but I guess I didn't photograph them all! The 7th will be a surprise for some lucky winner.

Bling--or should I say "THRINGS"?

Several years (cruises) ago, the tradition began. Buy some hideous jewelry and make sure all were wearing it in the formal dining room. It's a beautiful tradition! Kind of brings a tear to my eye. Most famous of the jewelry was probably the "riatch". Ring+watch=riatch. A watch to wear on your finger. They were beautiful and as an added bonus, they pulled the hair on your fingers! As you can see, I spared no expense with these beauties. They are rings that should probably be worn on the thumb. Thumb+ring=thring. I just knew that, as hideous as I thought all of these were, someone in our party would like some of them. Ah youth. I was right. The 16-yr-old girl at the check out wanted to know where I got them, because she wanted to pick up a couple. Cara quickly decided the owl (the ugliest of them all in my opinion) was the best of them all. I give up. I believe the ladies will be fighting over these so I am suggesting a grab-bag of sorts when we get on the ship. Let me know if you have a better idea or if you just HAVE TO have one!

Notice the bumble bee?

Something tells me Becky might like this one.

The stone on this one is actually more clear than it looks here.

Don't worry, it wouldn't look any better even if it weren't blurry.

Cara's favorite.

Stunning, I know.

Here I am, wearing it on my thumb. They are all this big!

I will take cash donations if you've just GOT TO have a certain one!

Hawaii Shirts...for the dudes

The Good Will in Florida is definitely the place to go for Hawaii shirts. Click on any picture to enlarge it. Scroll all the way to the bottom to see the "bonus" shirt. And you can thank me later for making sure I got shirts that weren't too LOUD!

For Marty

For Rich--notice the beer cans/bottles




For Matt

For Mitch

For Jared

For Andy

Bonus: this is a men's lg, and it did fit Mitch, but it runs short.

It's up for grabs if someone doesn't like theirs or if one of the ladies is interested!

Don't Panic!

Don't worry. First, this wasn't our ship. Second, no one was seriously hurt, nor was the boat damaged. This happened recently in Europe. The ship was docked. The fuel tanker was on the dock and exploded. There were some passengers close enough to sustain "minor" injuries, but the ship quickly moved away from the dock. All I really have to say is, "Wow!"