TitanSMES

This is some kind of payback to the State of Florida.  Just think of all the hotels, air, taxi's, dining, suppliers of goods and other services that support the cruise industry.  This is pure politics and nothing elsel.  

We go to Walt Disney World a lot and we always make sure to get our flu shot ahead of time.   We start taking big horse-pill size vitamin C a month before the trip or cruise.  Drink lots of water.   And constantly wash your hands with soap and water or the Purell type hand cleaners.  The only time we have been ill was when my wife stepped down from a mini-bus coming back from the beach in Roatan and came down so hard she jolted a kidney stone loose and she was in some really serious pain for the rest of the cruise.  Our wait staff really liked her and gave me about three extra helpings of Creme Brulee to take to her each night, which as about all she could eat.  

If you can get the okay from your Doctor try riding a recumbent bike. You will not have stress on your knee but you will exercise the knee and legs. Recuperating ain’t easy but you have to just do it.

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Thanks to everyone for the information. He must be a beloved dog. I wish everyone took care of their dogs and cats and appreciated how much they are part of our lives. Apparently, the computer automatically gave him the name of "Golfer" and I did not notice it. Actually, Golfer is not a bad name to have! Anyways, he always looks like he is having a great time with all the visitors. Someone said that he hails from Kentucky. Is he hiding out from the law for running moonshine in the hills or something? Sounds like his story would be a great Jimmy Buffett song! I look forward to seeing him and Calypso.

our next cruise stops at Grand Turk. I see pictures of a dog named “Topfer” on various websites. As a dog person I am curious what’s up with him/her. He sure looks friendly

He was the Director on our cruise last November on the Magic. I agree that he tended to constantly talk on the public address system a lot. The other issue I had was his extremely flippant attitude during the Muster Drill. Some people think this is some sort of needless and bothersome chore that they have to endure.

If you think that way, Google a roll on-roll off ship called the Herald of Free Enterprise. It was a ferry that crossed the English Channel between Zee Brugge, Belgium and Dover, England. Our friends from Great Britain should remember this incident from the late 1980's. Someone forgot to close a door securely and it filled with water about five minutes after leaving the dock. The ship immediately turned upside down. I can't remember how many people got killed in the accident. I went across the Channel a week later on a sister ship and saw the ship upside down in the harbor. Needless to say, it left a lasting impression on my wife and I and we take safety drills very seriously. I think a Cruise Director should too.

If you are a first time cruiser on Carnival you will have to help out down in the engine room shoveling coal like they did on Titanic. You should bring along the appropriate cruise wear as it is extremely hot down there. If you are in a Suite you have to pull a two-hour watch in the crow's nest to watch for icebergs and pirates! Just kidding. A belated April Fools Day!

Seriously, it has been my observation that the passengers tend to be younger and like to have fun. I am 65 and I have been on four Carnival cruises and have found that there is something for everyone, just like you would find on Princess or Disney.

What do you typically tip the cyclist for hauling you around. I recently had knee replacements and walking long distances is still not a fun filled experience.

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When you finish packing the swimsuits and t-shirts you should pack some rain gear or cheap plastic poncho. Sometimes a summer rai with wind is colder than a winter day. Boy Scouts motto-Be Prepared

We also opened a savings account in a credit union over 10 miles from our house. We don’t have an ATM card. If we need the money it takes some effort to go get it We also have an automatic payroll deposit so we never see the money until we need to pay for a vacation.

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When we went on an Alaskan cruise, we sat down with a couple and the wife said she worked for Verizon. I said you must get a good deal on your phone bill. She said she hoped so because she racked up some serious charges talking to her family back home. We were in international waters between Vancouver and Ketchikan Oops!

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Maybe it's just me, but when I go on a cruise I am on vacation. I am constantly on call at work and the last thing I want to do is haul my cell phone around on vacation. Turn it off and put it in the safe.

Wow! When I think about shelling out that kind of cash for photos I would probably be marrying the poor old dolphin. In these modern times, it ain't all that far fetched! When it comes to the photos I am thinking of a word that starts with N and ends with O. Thanks to all

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Thanks to all. I may have to go to Sea World if I want to see flipper. The tour and cruise lines should give you more info so you can make an informed decision about spending your hard earned money

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Our cruise on the Carnival Magic was changed from Eastern Caribbean to Western Caribbean. This means we had to change our excursions. We selected a Swim with the Dolphins excursion in Cozumel. As I read some reviews, they almost always mention the fact that you are almost "forced" into buying photo packages from the excursion. This sounds like highway robbery or something close to it. What can I expect to pay if I were to decide to buy and photo and is this coercion to buy true?

The poor quality system is actually great news! This will only make the so-called "singing" of people from __________(fill in the country) sound really, really bad and yet somehow very humorous, when they give it their very best voice to "Feelings" or "Stand By Your Man".. This will take some of the sting out of our voyage on November 18 being changed from the Eastern Caribbean to the Western Caribbean.

Wow! Some of the ports will have 5 and 8 ships in the same port at the same time. Let's say each ship has a modest amount of 2000 passengers times 8 ships equals 16,000 people showing up at the same time in some dinky little port village. I guess I may have to rethink shore excursions. For the original voyage, we were shelling out over $1000 for excursions that we have already prepaid. For that kind of money I can do a lot of other things besides standing around in a wall to wall crowd like a Tokyo subway at rush hour or something. As for me, if we can't go to San Juan or St Thomas, I certainly understand it, but I would rather spend my money in the Eastern Caribbean region where it at least might trickle down to the folks in those nearby regional islands that were affected. I assume there is commerce between the various islands for goods and services. The money spent in Roatan or Belize probably will not make it over to St Thomas or other islands.

I think the issue is San Juan and St Thomas and whether they are able to be accessed. I would guess they are hedging their bets on this that we would be able to make excursions and visit the islands. We were planning on going to see the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico, but if there are not roads etc, that can't be done. In some ways it still does not make since that they have postings before and after our sailing. Are they having a red-haired step-child convention on this cruise?

I am sure a lot of our fellow cruisers on this voyage are curious as well. You may notice, the Carnival posting has Magic sailings before and after the November 18 voyage. I also noticed that cruise departures from San Juan are now going to happen. I wonder if they are awaiting repair results from St. Thomas and other on-going cleanup work in San Juan before they commit to a firm schedule.

I enlisted in the Air Force at seventeen years old. My mom and dad had to sign for me to enlist. My mom only signed on the conditions that I go to church regularly and not get any tattoos. She is still alive at 88 years old and I still go to church and have no tattoos. I served in the Air Force for 22 years. God bless your son!

Ask yourself what would Otis Campbell (Andy Griffith show) do in a situation like this. Seriously, are the drinks in the Alchemy Bar covered by the Cheers plan?

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Out here in Arizona it is so hot most of the time that you hardly ever wear a suit. Except if you go to a funeral, you are the person in the casket who was murdered, or you are on trial for murder! For me wearing my suit to dinner when my wife is all dressed up is a sign of respect for her. It will not kill a guy to get dressed up nice once in a while.

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Interesting! We take the voyage before you to the Eastern Caribbean if it is still there. We are supposed to go to Amber Cove, San Juan, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. Hopefully, we will be able to cruise to those destinations and throw some money towards the good people who have been so affected by these two horrendous hurricanes. Oh well, even if we just sail around for seven days, it is better that working back home.

I guess hospital scrubs and prison convict attire are completely out of the question. Although there is a television show called "Orange Is The New Black". Wear something you would wear for a special night with your loved ones such as you would wear at weddings, funerals, awards ceremonies, etc. and you normally won't go wrong.

Whoa here just a minute! I thought that whales and orcas are the most kind animals on earth. That's what the people at Sea World said before they were forced to close the Shamu Show.

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