schmoopie17

We have neighbors from Croatia. They always talk about how beautiful it is and that we really need to go. After seeing your pictures, I feel like I need to Split and get there ASAP.

That would just be sa-wrong...

This could be taken a couple of different ways...

Something tells me they'd still want him to wear pants. Otherwise, he'd REALLY be @graphicguy

What about self-debark??? Never saw that not listed before.

Actually, for us, it will be a twice in a lifetime experience. 😜 See you on board...

I agree. We've gotten off track a bit. Music is nice, but it's not even close to the top reason we cruise. I like the idea of @cruiseny4lifeto compile serious (or even semi-serious) folks to get the ball rolling. Of course, finding a cruise/ship/itinerary/length/departure port, etc., that the majority would like could be a daunting task. But it's been done before...

Now you've done it. Created serious Deja Vu (not the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young kind) with this picture. When on the Jade in February, we parked our butts on the two end seats (by the green part of the bar) every night at 4:15 for 14 nights. Our favorite bartender would have our drinks (Cosmo with a lime and Bulliet on the rocks) practically waiting for us. Yes, I know it's a different ship, but the layouts are identical...especially in Bar City. Great memories...

It would probably be our last NCL cruise. We're doing NCL for the Mediterranean in a couple of months and the Panama Canal in 2015. We would like to try other cruise lines to spread our wings, as it were.

I believe it was actually chocolate, rather then espresso. But chocolate martinis also have an upcharge. She asked the bartender how much extra it would be. He said something to the effect of, "Don't worry about it." She put her card on the bar, he brought the drink, and walked away. After she finished it, he came back and said, "I see you liked it. Want a refill?" Naturally, being the chocolate lover she is, she said yes. She kept her card in plain sight, he brought the refill, set it down and walked away. Just one of the benefits of tipping your bartenders well, I guess.

Sure you can. Mrs. Schmoopie had a couple of them courtesy of our favorite bartender.

Here's an example of an MSC 14 day (two seven day)... 14 Days Caribbean-Western MSC Cruises • MSC World America Miami, Roatan, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Miami, Puerto Plata, San Juan, Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Miami 3 departure dates: Jan 03, 17, 31 2026

I also thought of this. I don't know how often NCL does this, but both Princess and MSC have 14 day cruises (which are really two seven day back-to-back.) They start in, say Miami...go out for seven days...return to Miami...go out for another seven days. They usually have some duplication of ports on both legs, but we would probably count any duplicates as "sea days". That way, the seven day folks would be happy...and those of us who like longer cruises would also be happy.

Could be your last chance for your photo op of the three of you.

We recently canceled a cruise where we used CruiseFirst as our deposit. A week later, (had to wait a few days for the CruiseFirst to be credited back to our account) we scheduled another cruise and used the CruiseFirst for our deposit.

Plus, you just got back from Italy, where I hear they have Italian food. This reminds me of being on our November, 2022 TA, which included stops in four Spanish ports. Pinchos, the tapas bar on the Escape, was completely empty for the entire cruise. Who wants ship tapas when you can get the real thing at four port stops?

And it's one of the few bars with the Matador on the menu. If you've never had one...as the old Alka-Seltzer commercial used to say..."Try it, you'll like it."

What the cluck?? Sounds like the perfect ending to the perfect day...

We've been to all of those ports, but to go back on a new ship might be nice. And with a gaggle of our CC friends, even nicer. 14 Days Caribbean-Eastern Norwegian Cruise Line • Norwegian Viva Galveston, Great Stirrup Cay, Tortola, St. John's/Antigua, Philipsburg, San Juan, Puerto Plata, Cayman/George Town, Cozumel, Galveston 2 departure dates: Jan 10, 24 2026

Can't say I disagree. Trying to get three people to agree on where to go for dinner is tough enough. However, where there's a will, there's a way.

Yeah...rap is the one genre of "music" that will require ear plugs from the Schmoopies.

Not necessarily. On our Prima cruise in January of last year, we boarded early and immediately went to the shiny boards by the elevators to book the Donna Summer show. Guess what? If you guessed "sold out", you win. Since then, we have read extremely mixed reviews of that show, so maybe we didn't miss much. I don't want to take the same chance with "Choir of Man" in September, so will try to book online at 21 days out (although I recently read that may no longer be an option).

One of the main reasons we cruise is for the drink package. All of this music talk is making me thirsty. Too bad I don't have a drink package at home. On the bright side, our neighborhood Craft Beer club meets tonight. Good timing.

My artistic side would have said, "labour of Louvre". Who am I kidding? I have no artistic side. Unless you count stick men.

That "without the tripping" was in reference to Mr. Furley. I don't ever recall seeing him trip. Although he was a fall guy on more than one occasion. Now, @graphicguy, on the other hand...I've never personally witnessed him trip...but legend has it...