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The Carnival Cruise
By Samantha Brown on June 12, 2009 1:07 PM | Permalink | 33 Comments
Joining me for this cruise are my friends Pete, Kinga, Liz, her husband Dossi and my Mom! You may remember Liz from other Great Weekends episodes such as Miami. And she'll be in an upcoming New York City episode! This being Liz's third time should officially gives her "recurring role" status.
All of my friends met when we all moved into the same building. We were all new to the big city, scared, overwhelmed and poor. The best of friendships are made in those times.
Is there anything better than spending the night dancing? The whole crew gathers in the 70's Dance club and after a round of margaritas and mojitos we all hit the dance floor with our best interpretive dance moves. We also have dinner with the Captain and his crew. All my friends were hoping we would get to sit at the Captains table. We are all from the Love Boat generation and there are just some things you can't let go of.
We begin our day in St. Thomas with a Gondola ride to the top of Paradise point for a great view. Of course there's an outdoor bar selling a nice selection of frozen drinks. A sign says they serve the famous Baileys Bushwacker. Its only 10AM, but when the group sees that it is served in a cup in the shape of a gondola we have to have it. And by group I mean my friends, mom and crew. So I ordered one drink with 12 straws. It was very good.
Beans, Bytes and Websites. Great place for an espresso and a respite from the mall-at-Christmas like atmosphere that is St. Thomas. We all really enjoyed the warren of passages called Royal Dane Mall with its old stone warehouses and oversized Dutch doors. At the Royal Dane Mall we visited Dave Hill's gallery (a very talented home grown artist with a surprising artistic range) as well as the Belgian chocolate factory which has incredible homemade organic chocolate. The unanimous favorite: dark chocolate filled with a walnut ganache in the shape of a walnut.
We all agreed the Butterfly Farm right at the port of St. Thomas was a perfect way to end the day on the island. Shopping can wear everyone out and simply following butterflies for a half an hour does wonders for your mindset.
Our next stop is Antigua. My friend Pete and I are going ATV'ing. The fact that there is more goats on the island than people makes me like this place already. Pete didn't put any sunscreen on his hands, (neither did I for that matter) but his blew up like two red balloons.
Our next stop is the one I have been looking forward to all week. We are headed to Virgin Gorda, known for its dramatically rocky coast. What makes it so stunning is that the rocks are larger-than-a-house boulders that the earth blew up billions of years ago.
It's raining! Actually it's pouring. What a bummer to be in the Caribbean and have the weather be all gloomy. Both my director Richard and AP Ben are British. They comment that it figures it would be raining and overcast once we made it to the BRITISH Virgin Islands. Welcome home boys.
To get to Virgin Gordo we take a 40-minute ferry from Tortola and by the time we get there the rain has stopped. Hundreds of people have decided to do the same thing we have and the atmosphere feels less paradise more airport terminal.
We walk down a gorgeous nature path to get to the famous beach. Best thing yet is that there are no crowds. We find out later that there are two ways down to the beaches and we took the much harder route. Worth it, in my opinion.
Close to the last day, I discover the best food on the cruise. There was a Tandoori buffet on the side of the ship that I missed five days straight. Fresh steamed fish, perfectly roasted vegetables in aromatic spices. Best yet there was no line while next door the hamburger, French fries and fried chicken nugget buffet was always packed. I love great food!
We had a great time learning how to be in the Junkano, a 200 year old tradition from Africa that involves elaborate costumes that take over a year to make. Arlene was our passionate guide and owner of Educulture. We are all somewhat toasted from the sun and a weeks worth of shooting. My need to just lie and stare at a beautiful beach is, I admit, squelching my excitement to learn anything cultural at this point. But Arlene's passion and excitement for her Bahamas fills us with a vitality we all haven't felt in a few days.
Our trip is winding down we are all sad that the cruise is over and our re-entry into reality is about to begin.
33 Comments
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Hey Samantha, this cruise sounds WONderful! The Virgin Gordo also sounds interesting. And lol at the Tandoori buffet part.
Hi Samantha, You made me laugh out loud during last nights show. As you swam off through the turquoise shallows you said. "Finally I am alone....." with a camera person back peddling like crazy right in front of you. You appear to be genuine and would be a lot of fun to travel with. You have cornered the 'girl next door' market and are very appealing on many levels. Mr. O'Leary better be good to you! Keep up the good work.
Hi Samantha! My husband and I were the newleywed couple from the Newleywed/Notsonewleywed game with your friends. I was wondering how we could get a copy of this episode! Great job showing everything there was to do on the cruise!
You have the best job in the whole world, Sam!
OHHH, we're so bummed. We are going on this cruise July 12th (honeymoon) and missed the episode. Is it showing again before July 12th?
I'm so upset that I missed this episode, I'm planning on booking this cruise in July and wanted to see it first. Hope it comes on again soon.
Wonderful episode, the samari sword girl was a hoot. But we wonder how a gal who can't watch the Disney Tea Cups can go to sea and not get sea sick?
Loved the episode. I was laughing out loud at some of the things that were said. You seemed much more animated than usual. Great Job.
I was also on this cruise with a group they had the Beaver with us I missed the show would love to see it if it airs again or buy a copy if its avaliable let me no thansk.
I loved this episode! (New Samantha Brown shows always make my day!) I loved the destinations and as always the time goes to fast when enjoying my favorite travel guide. I also found it amazing that she had such a diverse wardrobe for the entire episode-always classy. Always helps her stand out in the backdrops of all the sites she showed us. Can't wait for more episodes of great weekends or whatever the name of the next series she hosts is. Chicago Loves Samantha Brown!
Sam, Love your show.. Are you married? Had to ask..;) Your Soo Hot!! You keep getting sexier every year,whats your secret????Watching you show right now as a matter of fact..Just had to send u a note ,your gorgeous.Wish u were here!! You did a show from my town,Chas.SC but i didnt know you were around,:( Anyway you'll probly never read this but..I had to!! Thanks babe..keep on Rockin!! See you soon.. David (DBlyth56@gmail.com)
Sam,
My husband and I and 8 of our friends were on the cruise with you. We did not know this until a very kind gentlemen who was checking our group in the morning of the cruise mentioned to my husband and I to smile a lot because Samantha Brown and her crew were going to be on our ship filming. I just about died!! I am a huge fan of yours. We even(by chance) got our five seconds of fame. We happened to be in the audience for the cooking demonstration. We watched it Sat. I even DVR'd it. Yikes I was not made for T.V. !! You were very kind and I did get your picture and autograph the last morning of the cruise although I was so nervous my husband had to ask you for me. Your mom was very nice too. It was a fantastic cruise and you really hit a lot of high points of the week. If you ever need an assistant....I lost my job the day I came back to work. That's another story... Keep up the good work.
Samantha!!! My parents and I love to watch your show. We love to travel too and all agree you have the greatest job! Keep up the good work and we can't wait to see where you go next. Oh btw, we just went on the NCL to Hawaii and it was wonderful! I defiantly recommend it =)
Samantha, I just adore your show! I'm a former travel agent and of course I love to travel. My daughter asked what it was I liked as she likes your show also. I told her that unlike other shows, you seem to really enjoy yourself and you not only make people want to travel to the destinations, but you make me want to hang out with you there because you are so "down-to-earth and fun" Keep up the great work!
Hello,
I was just curious if there was ever a time where you gave your fans a chance to go on a trip with you?
Thanks,Carrie
SAM!
I am pretty confident that I am your biggest fan. Atleast your biggest fan under the age of 18. I'm 15 and I am a mini you. I LOVELOVELOVE traveling. I've been to 28 countries!! And i can't get enough. You're my favorite tv hostess. My family is always joking that I could be your apprentice. I was so excited when you went on the Carnival Freedom because I was on that cruise just 6 months earlier!! Isn't is grand? And in a month we are going on the Carnival Inspiration which, ironically, you have also been on! I am a cruise adict btw. :). I was wondering if you ever thought of visiting Indianapolis? You should make it an episode for "Great Weekends"! I love it here. And yes, there is more to see here than simply corn and the Indy 500!! =). Please please please write me back if you see this blog, it is the only way i can figure out how to contact you. Thanks for being the best travel host ever. I love you and your shows. God bless, Em.
Sam! I love watching your show when I get the chance. You truly do have the best job ever! Was wondering if you ever had or have a sweepstakes of some sort so that some lucky fan can go with you somwhere? That would be so cool. You would be the best person to see these places with. Especially some of the ones you like best. I know I would love to go with you on one of your girls weekends. Maybe a friend of yours and friend of mine. Or doing a show with the winner's view point. Maybe like use them for a co-host. Just a thought. Anyway, I will still keep enjoying your show and look forward to going more places with you. I know I will probably never truly get to go so it's nice that you go and I get to see it! thanks!
when will you be reshowing, your latest cruise show. we miss it????????????????
Will you be doing any other Carnival Cruises anytime soon. How about the 8 day Carnival Spirit departs from San Diego to ports of Acapulco, Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa and Manzanillo Mexico. Any cruise you do always sound like fun. I am looking to do one for my 25th Wedding Anniversay, any suggestion? Thanks
Dear Sam,
COME TO SAN DIEGO!
Love, Taylor
P.S. YOU'RE AMAZING!
Pete is my cousin and we were so excited when he told us he was going to be on there. It would be great if you did a Samantha and Friends show! It was neat how you all split up and showed the viewers different things to do. Excellent show!
dear samantha brown i would like to know if the drinks of the carnival cruse are free i was watching you and you say that if the drinks are free i would like to know that please e-mail me
hey samantha im kiersten im only 12 yrs old and have always loved ur show sense the first time i saw it and it might be wierd commin from a 12 year old but i wanna be just like u i wanna have the same job as u i love to travle i absolutly love the outdoors and it just looks so fun in your life you r my role big time lol
My wife and I were on this cruse with you just like 2300 other people we meet you one of the last nights in the cafatira my wife told you we were you're biggest fans. But we don't watch a lot of TV in the summer so we missed this show can you tell me when it next showings are so I can set my DVR thanks alot.
Sorry to say guys but the chocolates you found in St Thomas is not organic !!!Hopefully they did not rip you of with their overpriced Hershey's
HI SAM!
I'VE SEEN EVERYONE OF YOUR CRUISE EPISODES, BUT THE LAST ONE WHERE YOUR MOM WAS ALONG! ARE THEY EVER GOING TO SHOW IS SHOW AGAIN?????? WHY, NOT PUT ALL YOUR CRUISE EPISODES ON A "DVD". THEN WE COULD ENJOY THEM OVER & OVER.
Hello Samamntha
I just found out about this cruise you took and would love to see the episode. My family will be sailing on the freedom next March (2010) and going to the same ports. can you tell me when it will be aired again or where i can find it. Thanks.......I sure would love to have your job!!
Hey Samantha:
I feel like I am saying what everyone else is saying but I just found out about the cruise aboard the Freedom episode. We just booked the same cruise in June 2010 and i am taking the whole family and my mother for her birthday. Please let me know so I can show everyone. Love your shows, great work. Thanks
Sam has got to be the finest looking woman on Gods green earth and personable to go with it
We also were on the Carnival Freedom, but missed the episode when it aired. When will it be playing again? My one regret from that cruise is not telling you how much we have enjoyed you over the years. As a travel agent I have loaned out my copy of your Royal Caribbean Europe cruise for years. I was thrilled to ride the bus back to the ferry with you and your crew, but after receiving strict instructions from my daughter "not to bother you" I was to shy to tell you how much pleasure you have brought to me (and my clients) for years. You were very kind to ask my granddaughter if she had fun and liked the baths, but she too had heard her mom's suggestion not to bother you, and was unusually quite. Please know we think you are the best and regret not telling you that when I had the chance. Take care, we look forward to watching you travel for years to come.
I previously commented about looking for the eposide about the Carnival Freedom and found it on Amazon.com or I-Tunes for purchase for 1.99 for anyone who is interested and can't wait to see it on TV when it re-aires.. It is pretty good. I just typed in Carnival Freedom on both websites and it came up with her information about the show.
Hi ATV Buddy,
My friends and I were surprised to have you along with us in Antiaua to ride ATV's. My name is Tom and my friends were Patty & Dan. Could I get a DVD on this Carnivale Cruise to show that I met you on this cruise?
Sincerely,
Tom Allyn
7234 Welshwood Ln.
Sugar Land, TX. 77479
Did you try the mediterian crusie package ? Especially the food from those countries will make you get lots of kilos :) .