By TERRY R. CASSREINO
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 29) -- Well, we made it. We survived seven days at sea in the Western Caribbean with two children -- and lived to tell about it. Actually, it was a great vacation, one of the best cruises my wife and I have taken.
The chief reason: We really enjoyed spending a full week with our children and watching them have a great time on the Norwegian Spirit and at the beach in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
They loved every minute of it. And I hope to post a collection of photos from our travels. First up is this brief glimpse at Day 1 of the cruise. I also will offer a critical review of the trip and the NCL service (which was good, but not on par with previous NCL cruises).
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
A little about Mississippi, a little about Louisiana, a little about New Orleans and A LOT about our adoption story. This blog and our adoption story is dedicated to Camryn and Matthew Cassreino so that you both will know. Copyright 2021 by Terry R. Cassreino
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The First Official Cassreino Family Vacation begins
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009) – The First Official Cassreino Family Cruise Vacation Adventure to the Western Caribbean begins today at about 9 a.m. when Pam and I leave with Camryn and Matthew for the cruise ship terminal in New Orleans.
Hmmmm. Let’s see. Traveling with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old on Norwegian Cruise Lines. This is either going to be a major disaster on the scale of Pompei or Hurricane Katrina – or it will be a huge success the likes of which our generation has never experienced.
Actually, I the optimist and think this will be a success. The kids are excited about traveling on a Big Boat. And Pam and I are looking forward to leaving behind the day-to-day stress of life for a seven-day cruise.
Pam and I are cruise veterans, having sailed on Carnival or NCL out of New Orleans on seven separate times during the 10 years we have been married. We love it. The trips were casual, relaxing, enjoyable; the ports were fascinating.
We’ve lowered our expectations traveling with two children. But I still think we will have fun.
And one thing is certain no matter what: Ole Miss defeated LSU in Oxford in one of the most spectacular, exciting Ole Miss-LSU games I have ever seen. Too bad I was there for what had to be an incredibly humiliating loss.
Take that, LSU.
Copyright 2009, Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
PEARL RIVER, La. (Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009) – The First Official Cassreino Family Cruise Vacation Adventure to the Western Caribbean begins today at about 9 a.m. when Pam and I leave with Camryn and Matthew for the cruise ship terminal in New Orleans.
Hmmmm. Let’s see. Traveling with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old on Norwegian Cruise Lines. This is either going to be a major disaster on the scale of Pompei or Hurricane Katrina – or it will be a huge success the likes of which our generation has never experienced.
Actually, I the optimist and think this will be a success. The kids are excited about traveling on a Big Boat. And Pam and I are looking forward to leaving behind the day-to-day stress of life for a seven-day cruise.
Pam and I are cruise veterans, having sailed on Carnival or NCL out of New Orleans on seven separate times during the 10 years we have been married. We love it. The trips were casual, relaxing, enjoyable; the ports were fascinating.
We’ve lowered our expectations traveling with two children. But I still think we will have fun.
And one thing is certain no matter what: Ole Miss defeated LSU in Oxford in one of the most spectacular, exciting Ole Miss-LSU games I have ever seen. Too bad I was there for what had to be an incredibly humiliating loss.
Take that, LSU.
Copyright 2009, Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
An oyster festival without the oysters: 'We ran out'
By TERRY R. CASSREINO
METAIRIE, La. (Saturday, Nov. 15, 2009) – The giant nutria, about 6-and-a-half feet tall, was within a few feet of Matthew when his face turned to pure terror and he was on the verge of a blood-curdling scream.
So much for a photo with the kids and the Zephyrs baseball team mascot.
At least Matthew and Camryn enjoyed the sights and rode a few of the puny kiddie rides at the annual St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church Oyster Festival tonight in Metairie. That was about the only thing worthwhile at the event.
What, you say? Did you go there to see The Producers? The band you remember seeing on the S.S. President when it offered nightly concert cruises on the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans? The same ship that now sits idle on the Mississippi in St. Louis as a floating casino?
Didn’t you go to the oyster festival to eat char-broiled oysters prepared and sold by Drago’s? Didn’t you go to enjoy the entertainment and fellowship afford by annual Catholic Church events like this one that happens nearly every week in metro New Orleans?
Well, yes and no.
The Producers sucked. They looked like a bunch of middle-age men trying to recapture the youth of the past. The keyboard player was paunchy and overweight. The others looked like they were 35 years older than the last time I saw them. And they sounded badly off key.
And the oysters – they were out. Yes, folks, you read it right: The oyster festival was out of oysters despite having another day to go. Hmmm. Sounds kind of like Popeyes being out of chicken. Or Burger King running out of ground meat for burgers.
At least we spent time together as a family.
Here are a few pictures.
And hey – it’s one week until our Thanksgiving cruise with the kids aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines. Now that should be a trip to remember.
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
METAIRIE, La. (Saturday, Nov. 15, 2009) – The giant nutria, about 6-and-a-half feet tall, was within a few feet of Matthew when his face turned to pure terror and he was on the verge of a blood-curdling scream.
So much for a photo with the kids and the Zephyrs baseball team mascot.
At least Matthew and Camryn enjoyed the sights and rode a few of the puny kiddie rides at the annual St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church Oyster Festival tonight in Metairie. That was about the only thing worthwhile at the event.
What, you say? Did you go there to see The Producers? The band you remember seeing on the S.S. President when it offered nightly concert cruises on the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans? The same ship that now sits idle on the Mississippi in St. Louis as a floating casino?
Didn’t you go to the oyster festival to eat char-broiled oysters prepared and sold by Drago’s? Didn’t you go to enjoy the entertainment and fellowship afford by annual Catholic Church events like this one that happens nearly every week in metro New Orleans?
Well, yes and no.
The Producers sucked. They looked like a bunch of middle-age men trying to recapture the youth of the past. The keyboard player was paunchy and overweight. The others looked like they were 35 years older than the last time I saw them. And they sounded badly off key.
And the oysters – they were out. Yes, folks, you read it right: The oyster festival was out of oysters despite having another day to go. Hmmm. Sounds kind of like Popeyes being out of chicken. Or Burger King running out of ground meat for burgers.
At least we spent time together as a family.
Here are a few pictures.
And hey – it’s one week until our Thanksgiving cruise with the kids aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines. Now that should be a trip to remember.
Copyright 2009 Terry R. Cassreino. All rights reserved.
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