Hogladyrider

2 hours ago, odie1024 said:

@Roscoe13 you must have a stomach of iron.

 

Thank you for doing the job you do. I used to buy store fixtures for TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods etc. and so reliant on the truckers. We would never get our stores open if it wasn't for them. 

Truckers have to have tummies made of iron....have you seen the food selection out there?

I went on the road with my trucker for 6 weeks, eye opening!

That rocky side with the beached whale has amazing snorkeling opportunities...just bring water shoes.  Reminder there is a huge drop off point near where the ship docks.  Ocean is DEEP!

48 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

. It’s tough being 8-9 years old! 😆

What a difference the generations make.

When I was 8-9 years old the "big" thing was playing cowboys and Indians in the woods or Dodge ball on the school playground.

School sure is a different world today.  My heart goes out to you moms and kids.

12 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

It’s all a mess on land or sea. 

AMEN!

2 minutes ago, RenoNanaOz said:

My Tribe I need your prayers 🙏. My Father in Law has been suffering with dementia for 10 years. My Mother in Law has been caring for him on her own. He’s 89 and she’s 86. Yesterday she collapsed, my brother in law found her. Drs found cancer in her bladder. We’re on our way to Vegas now. 

Prayers being said and warm thoughts coming your way.

3 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Switching gears....

 

Listened to this the other day....kind of condescending and elitist attitude about cruisers in general, but more specifically, about ICON of the SEAS and Royal Caribbean.  Still interesting!

 

 

I confess I tried listening to this....way too annoying to spend my time listening.  Sorry.

We stayed at Blue Horizon in 2009 and walked to cruise terminal, no problems, all downhill.  It was me and my 86 year old mom.

We were also able to leave our luggage at the hotel the morning of departure as we took  a cab over to Capilano Suspension Bridge before boarding the ship.

Not sure how the reviews are all these years later.

I do know we are cruising out of Vancouver May 2025 and I have not been able to book our precruise hotel stay yet as reservations are not yet open, pretty frustrating.

@TravelGirlinDallas...great photo.....Happy Anniversary!

44 minutes ago, AmyJA said:

Well, we are all different creatures, aren’t we. I love grocery shopping. One of my favorite things to do while traveling is visiting a grocery store.

Visiting is ok and interesting.

@Jamman54....I knew it was beer and baseball day!  Just wanted to say I enjoyed Patti's island tour.  I never knew that there were now staff staying on HMC full time...interesting for sure.

Great pics, great review as always!

@MeganGC1983...holy guacamole lady....you are ready for some adult time for sure after that school project.

Chin up it is May so your cruise is rapidly approaching!

Yikes, went physically grocery shopping today inside an actual grocery store for the first time in years.  My routine is "pickup" or "delivery".   No need to remind me again why I prefer "pickup" or "deliver"....worth the tip for delivery for sure.  I despise grocery shopping in the store......too much temptation for impulse buying and the worst part is waiting in line to checkout.  I pray this was a one and done for this summer.

Now back to our regularly schedules Sunday program.

I saw a You Tube video the other day from someone who was on the inaugural sailing of the Firenza and when they returned at the end of the cruise debarkation was delayed 4 hours and MANY folks missed their flights home....now that is a nightmare all in itself.

1 minute ago, Haljo1935 said:

Happy to hear it all came back together- and GC funds were put back on GCs.

Thanks me too, it was pretty nerve wracking for 10 days worrying about my $7k.

@POA1....great to have another "like minded" detailed person here on board!

I find using Google Sheets and I keep a detailed listing of all the HAL gift card #s, pins, etc, overall cost of cruise, hotel info, excursion info anything else pertaining to the cruise on the one sheet.

Now I would have to go to Plan "B" if it were more than an 18 day cruise I am sure but I find it works best for me.

Happy Saturday TRIBE!

OMG I have to share with you this story my mom told me.

I shared with you all my 95 year old mom went to visit her ailing sister in California last weekend.

Well, my mom goes to they gym 3 morning a week Mon-Wed-Fri.  Mom decided she was not going to tell anyone at the  gym she was going to California, she figured she would surprise  them when she returned and they asked her she would simply tell them "oh I decided to go to California for the weekend"........it  BACKFIRED ON HER!

Mom said when she got home from her trip she had  27 missed phone calls from people at the gym.

She has a group of friends there that they "chat" all the time about life and golf especially.

Then it  gets more interesting.  

My brother is a Land Surveyor and he maintains his business office in the basement of mom's home, has been for 50+ years.  Saturday morning he is in the office and looks out the window and there are THREE police  cars in the  driveway!

The gym had called in a wellness check on my mom and everyone in the town where she lives knows her so  they sent out the forces.

I laughed so hard when she told me this on the phone this morning during our weekly chat.

Guess she learned a lesson even at 95 to let folks know where she is going, something she always told us kids growing up!

She had a great trip and did just fine!  She is glad to be home for sure.

@KmomChicago..thanks for the update.  Good to hear you are in a good head space.  It takes time which can be very frustrating indeed.

Recovery is a lifetime commitment.  Those that live the life are forever changed and amazing.

Addiction of any kind is powerful, it takes over the body, mind, spirit....it is  very sad.

I remember reading some of your previous posts on the Tribe and you are a BRILLIANT woman, you will move forward,  stay strong the force is with you on this.

Have a great cruise and hope we hear how you love Alaska!

So I thought I would provide an update to my previous post wherein I mentioned I had to cancel a cruise mostly paid with HAL gift cards  from AARP.

It was a LONG 10 day wait but all has been  resolved.

HAL transferred funds to pay off an upcoming cruise we have booked in April 2025 and refunded a portion back to my CC and then $3500 back onto the original HAL gift cards.

This an example of why it is so important to hold onto the original HAL gift card#s and PINS.

I keep a spread sheet of all my cruises and payments etc.

Now I can reapply those gift cards to our Alaska cruises in 2025 when final payment gets closer.

Happy Saturday everyone.

@richwmn  Rich thanks for your daily posts, it has been most enjoyable following along.

Until next time......

Alaska cruises are totally different from Caribbean, however Alaska is special in its own way.

My 1st Alaska cruise was in 2009 and went back for just a land trip in 2014 which was AMAZING, 7-day all inclusive with Alaska Wildland Adventures.  Best vacation I've had in my life.

Going back to Alaska 2025 on B2B cruise taking Gary this time as he has never been.

We have cruised the Caribbean so many times it is time for new places, new adventures.

17 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Good. Being lazy today. 

Precious.....a family I follow on You Tube that lives in Sulphur got a GSP puppy.  OMG talk about energy.  They are sending her to "doggy camp" for training as word is if they are not trained they can be a problem child due to their energy.  You seem to have everything under control....WONDER WOMAN!

Hey TRIBE members, Jeff has started his latest review!

@Jamman54...geesh I am a little late to this party, but I am here.  Darn work got in the way, but someone's gotta pay for the upcoming cruises.

The BEST car I ever owned was a Honda Element!  So pet  friendly, easy to clean and LOW maintenance.  I like the color of yours, mine was cranberry.

1 hour ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I feel like @mkcurran has been cruising forever. Hope she’s having a great time. 

That's because you are stuck at home!  You day is coming soon, I know not soon enough for you.

How is the puppy doing these days?

9 minutes ago, ChinaShrek said:

And now you have to keep checking for gift cards. They might be emailed to you. Some people have also reported physical gift cards being sent to them. 

Yes and typing in all those numbers and pin is time consuming and each time the answer is $0 balance!