MJSailors

Thank you , Graham. I have looked at their threads, but I will definitely give attention to those posted by Hattie the CC host!

Graham-Question for you-have you and Pauline cruised with Cunard out of Southampton? If so recently could you give us some tips to enjoy the cruise? Thank you! MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Thank you to all who posted kind thoughts. @Arzeena Thank you for your input. I wish you Bon Voyage! Hoping you post your thoughts here about the Beyond as it is one of the relatively new ships in the Celebrity fleet. Just sharing some cruise news too ! DH and I have been wanting to take a cruise from NYC to Quebec this Fall. I searched most of the usual cruise lines including RCL and found that most are going out of Boston which required round trip airfare to Boston and an overnight hotel stay. Then, I found that Cunard has a round trip NYC to Quebec with an overnight in Quebec! We booked the cruise on the QM2 early this AM. So looking forward to this! We did a transatlantic on the QE2 in 2001. We are familiar with the Cunard way of cruising, although they have made changes in the cruise style since 23 (!) years ago. The ship stops in Portland ME, so we can visit our niece who lives there. Now I need to look at my "fancy" dresses and see if my DH would like to wear a dinner jacket at least for one of the gala nights. The cruise is set for September. 🤞that we stay well and in somewhat good shape until then.😊 MJ 🙋🏻‍♀️

@BonTexasNYYou wrote a lovely post! From one NY gal to another-wishing you a very enjoyable day.😉 MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@Tree_skier I feel the need to respond to your post concerning an informal survey re: husbands giving wives gifts for Mothers’Day. It seemed to me a bit sarcastic,hopefully that was not your intent.Perhaps you were just curious if other husbands mark the occasion for their wives. I am not certain of your motivation,of course. I will give you a little backstory as to my husband giving me flowers for the occasion. On my first “real”Mothers’Day, my DH gave me a bouquet from our infant son,Christopher John. Sadly, we lost our infant boy shortly after to SIDS. This was in 1987. Christopher John would have been thirty-seven this past February. We had no other children, but my DH would always give me flowers for Mothers’ Day .My husband is a loving and generous man. He always wants me to know that I am a very caring and loving person.We have been fortunate all theses years to be surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends. I am an aunt and a godmother to a number of children. In 2004,I hired a teacher for our department. She and I became close friends. So close that she and her husband have “adopted” us as the parents she never truly had. We are considered grandparents to her two children. Miracles can happen. We lost our baby son,and it took some time,but we have gained a family that we truly love and they truly love us. As others have posted,we do not exchange gifts any longer. We celebrate with experiences rather than giving things. At this stage if life,we are trying to dispose of some of our things, not collect them. My DH has always marked occasions with flowers. It is something he does from his heart. I may suggest that you think of surprising your wife with some flowers tomorrow. She may be quite glad if you do. MJ

These are my Mothers’Day flowers from DH this morning. He always remembers. Wishing all the ladies here who are Moms,Grandmas,Godmothers, Aunts, Daughters,Wives and all those with loving hearts an enjoyable Mothers’Day tomorrow. MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Thank you for your postings and Patti’s photos. It looks like there were few people at Amber Cove the day you visited. Was it because you were early arrivals there? MJ

My DH and I are looking for a cruise leaving NY and arriving in Quebec. As I did see one listed on the Cunard website, I would like to know about such a cruise from other posters who have been on the QM2. Also, I saw a sheltered balcony being offered as one of the cabin choices. Has anyone stayed in such a cabin? If so, what was your experience with the accommodations? Thank you- MJ

A question for @Ocean Boy and others who have visited Bermuda and have so enjoyed it there. My DH and I have traveled to Bermuda at least thirteen times beginning in 1983. We loved Bermuda on our first trip there and,obviously, made it a frequent vacation destination both with cruises and resort stays. Before our last visit there last June, we took a cruise on the Summit there in 2018. On the 2018 visit, we found Bermuda to be the wonderful place we knew. Fast forward to 2023 and we found many changes there, not for the good. The changes may have been a result of the pandemic , or a a change in the Bermuda society. We found many resorts closed, including the Fairmont Southampton Princess-the large pink hotel on the hill. Many of the stores based in Hamilton have also closed-Blucks, Trimimghams and the Irish Linen Shop to name a few. The beaches remain beautiful as well as the landmarks-Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, the world’s smallest drawbridge and the Cathdral in Hamilton. I have to admit that we felt sadness in seeing all the changes. I think it is true that “you can’t go home again” because a familiar and loved place is so different from when you first discovered it. Now, to my question. For those who have enjoyed trips to Bermuda, did you notice the changes I have described if you have visited in the past few years? We would hope that recent upswing in the tourism economy would help restore Bermuda to the lovely and welcoming country it once was for so many appreciative visitors. MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@Seadog Chiming in here with what Sue @Lionesssand Bonnie @BonTexasNY have posted re: swollen ankles on vacation. I had experienced them in past cruises, but found that copious amounts of water and walking helped the issue on later cruises. Plus cruise/restaurant food can be loaded with salt and preservatives. At home, we stay away from processed food and try to make good choices while in restaurants. Some lifestyle changes can make a person feel so much better. Hoping your Dr’s can give you good advice and guidance for improved health. MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Please post what you think of Liberty and perhaps include some photos. Bon voyage! MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Thank you to all who responded to my question about Liberty of the Seas. The balcony of 7408 is great with the round cutout to give extra views. The cruise is in the talking stage now. MJ👩🏻

Good thing that we didn’t bet on the Kentucky Derby. Sierra Leone and Fierceness were favored and there was much talk about them on the pre race show. Hardly a mention of Mystik Dan. None of the horses we chose made a great showing. Just a Touch finished last. Well, there is the Preakness next. And, maybe the Yankees will win today. On another note, we were at a friends’ house last night for the Derby and dinner. One of the couples just returned from a cruise on the Anthem. While onboard,they booked another cruise for next May on Liberty of the Seas. I have not read much about that ship on CC. Has anyone sailed on that ship ? We are think8ng of joining them along with some other friends. The itinerary looks good- Bermuda and Puerto Rico are a few of the ports,plus it is a nine day cruise. Any info would be appreciated. MJ👩🏻

What is the occasion? MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

We plan to watch the Kentucky Derby race, not all the pre race coverage. We looked over the horses slated to run. DH picked Fierceness as Velazquez is the jockey and he usually roots for him. I picked Track Phantom. We’ll see! Seems the favorite is Sierra Leone.We don’t bet on much, but we have placed bets on the KD at a local OTB in the past. Are there any OTB places anymore? A number of years ago, we attended a family wedding near Louisville KY. Since it was a late afternoon wedding, we used the morning time to take a tour of Churchill Downs. It is a beautiful place. We have also gone to Belmont Park for both the big race and other times for regular races. My DH’s grandfather was a member of the Track and Field club there and he would lend us his pass to have lunch at the club and watch the races. Belmont has been changed to a casino and entertainment venue, although the race track remains. Wishing you all a winning day! MJ🙋🏻‍♀️