LatinaInTexas

5 hours 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. 

Sorry your family is going through this. Praying for a positive outcome.

4 hours ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

This happened 18 years ago today. ♥️

I love seeing people's wedding pictures, you look beautiful💜

16 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

So B’s dad was in town from California for the evening (he played in a golf tournament in San Antonio and took the Southwest taxi up here this afternoon) so we took him to dinner at a soufflé joint (of all things) that just opened a new location…

 

so I had to try the famous “Marshmallow Soup” which isn’t marshmallow at all, but a sort of creamy tomato basil with these big “marshmallow” pillows of goat cheese.. this was probably the highlight of the evening 

 

 

artichoke for the table with a really good sauce in the middle

 

 

the classic French onion, of course

 

 

for my “entree” soufflé I went with a “herb and spicy sausage”

 

 

and then for dessert, since I’m three weeks from Venezia and all, I paid homage to the fantastic Carnival (and Princess) Grand Marnier soufflé. 
 

 

all that and I was home in time for game 7! 

Now that I don't see everyday lol. Everything looks yummy especially the marshmallow soup😯

11 minutes ago, tsahall01 said:

A little late, but Pepper says Happy Cinco De Mayo to the Tribe!

 

Awwww that's so cute!

10 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

I may be from Texas, but you don’t ACTUALLY see this every day….

 

 

wait…. Is that McConaughey?

 

Here in San Antonio you actually can see it everyday 🤣😂

2 hours ago, mkcurran said:

 

With the arrival of the Firenze the parking situation is beyond messed up. Carnival had months to fess up to the fact that the passengers on the Panorama would have to park else where. Instead I got an email two days before, telling us we'd have to park offsite. But we'd have to drive to the port first to find out where. 

There were three different offsite garages they were using in one area. None of them ADA compliant. Not a problem going. But loading our friends coming back was going to be interesting. Bigger problem for other guests.

When we disembarked there was confusion as to which bus was going to the garage. The bus driver got lost. Ended up dropping us on a curb between the three garages. It was crowded, nobody could formal a line and let the people who had their suitcases through so everyone else could get theirs. 

One lady ended up going off on my husband, mistakenly, but none the less she was so terrible I had to literally pull my husband away from her. She approached to apologize later. But as she came up I was having none of the crazy lady around my family. I told her to move on. Could she? No. Her family pulled her away.

Do I blame her? Only partially. The messed up parking had everyone on edge.

 

At the end of the day was this cruise good enough that I'd put up with any of that again. Absolutely not.

My group wasn't a fan of the new menus. I found that they were substituting salt for flavor. Food on the buffet was consistently cold. The crew, which is usually the best, seemed a lot over worked. There were a few in there that still went above and beyond. 

I think I am just Carnival'd out at the moment and want something nicer. If I do Carnival again it will be Havana or a Ship with a good spa area.

Ughh that doesn't sound fun. Coincidentally my least favorite cruise ever was on Panorama. It wasn't so much the ship and definitely wasn't the itinerary, it was due to circumstances which sounds like your cruise was also.

We were the last cruise before the mask mandate was going to be lifted so MANY unhappy defiant passengers onboard made for crazy times. The crew responded by amping up mask patrol. During comedy the comedy club host went around with a flashlight checking that everyone was wearing a mask, every single show.

It was endless, over the top and uncalled for being monitored the whole cruise and barked at if heaven forbid you took your mask off for even a minute.

I had the 8 night Panorama booked for next year but shortly after changed it to an 8 night Vista. I really wanted to do the Mexican Riviera itinerary again but maybe will just consider the Firenze after seeing how the Vista cruise goes. 

I can't stick with just one cruise line, I just get bored too easily. Also I follow the comps/deals so can't just sail whoever or whenever I want😕

Whew you made it through. The other night I changed my 11am flight from Seattle to SA to 1:30pm to Austin. I decided I just couldn't spend 7 cruising days worrying about it which I would have.

Definitely want to do the ABC itinerary and still have to make a cruise out of NY happen and that's the end of my list. 

Thank you for your time and effort as always, safe travels and hope your car fiasco ends soon!

11 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

You can lock it in now. 3 of my 4 nights were at $15

I did lock in 2 nights already. It really was a crazy steal at $15 so today's pricing is fine. We don't do the steakhouse so just might end up doing 3 nights also. I had been avoiding the MDR last 2 Carnival cruises but the new menus and the food lately looks good.

43 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

 

 

 

 

I'm really hoping nothing changes about JiJis before I get there next year. Well except the price, totally expect that lol.

I spy something I haven't tried, those delectable looking little pouches 👀

On 5/3/2024 at 5:12 PM, umaine89 said:

So it turns out we were parked next to Harmony of the Seas today. It’s hard to explain but I am a Royal Caribbean fanboy and am 3 nights away from Diamond.  Look at my signature, I have been on a bunch of RCL ships. So I felt some nostalgia for RCL. It’s an Oasis class, and while I haven’t been on Harmony, I’ve been on Oasis of the Seas. That said I am really enjoying NCL and this ship. 

Glad to see another person that likes the Jade. I really like the big ships so was concerned about booking the Jade which would be my smallest ship to date.

But I have read numerous reports and everyone seemed to enjoy and love it. 

11 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Thanks again Tribe for your positive comments. I hope Star Wars day finds everyone strong and happy. 
 

I would like y’all to know that while yes, I am dealing with some heavy stuff, I am doing really well!

 

I am in contact with my husband (gets his phone 90 minutes a day.) He seems to understand this is the make or break moment.

 

I am relieved to have gotten to this point. Miles better than the prior ten months of nervous enabling through failed attempts at self-management. Not knowing what to do or how to help but realizing everything you tried wasn’t working. 
 

I am taking care of myself, starting to spend a minute here and there anticipating the Alaska cruise (13 days). I have offered the spot to my friend who runs the cat rescue where I have been volunteering for 4 years. She wants to but it’s a longshot. DH knows and likes her and agrees with this plan.

 

If she can’t make it I will get my first solo cabin and should be able to claim a few hundred $$ back with cancel for any reason insurance or a little more depending what kind of paperwork the doctor will provide. I assume I will also get his grats and port charges back, maybe as OBC? Opinions?

 

I have 2 separate reservations through an online TA and the other room is in his name with one of the 18 year olds so I don’t know whether he needs to talk to someone himself to switch out to our friend’s name. Maybe someone here has experienced this and has advice??
 

Alaska Airlines gave me a full credit for his cancelled first class flight ($730). I have to book something by September but the flight can be later.  If my friend can go I will use it to book her. Otherwise I am brewing a possible plan B to use it.

 

Have a great day all. 

 

 

Great to hear you are doing well and thinking about your cruise. I'm at 15 days for my first Alaska cruise so tomorrow at 14 days I will allow myself to start thinking and dreaming about it lol. It's been a long 5 months since I booked which really isn't long at all but for me and my anxiety it's a lifetime.

Hope it all works out with your booking and your friend can make it. Sometimes I think I could do solo but then I think who would I talk to, who would laugh at my lame jokes, who would get me places because my sense of direction sucks.

Also hoping your husband grabs the lifeline he's been thrown and doesn't let go for as long as it takes to get back in control of his mental and physical health💜

4 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Yeah I have Jewel, Encore, Prima, and Epic booked. I also have two of their $500 cruise first certificates that I paid $250 for. So that means I’ll be booking at least two more.
 

Looking at one out of Boston. I’ve been holding off on Canada/New England since Carnival stopped going to Boston. But other lines use it as a home port so that’s on my list.

 

I want to do an Alaska on one of their larger ships out of Seattle that stops in Sitka. So that’s on my list.

 

And they seem to be rotating the new ships through Galveston so I’ve got Prima next year. 2026 Viva is in Galveston so I’m looking at that as well. It’ll be nice to check out all of the new ships without having to fly to Florida.

 

 

For sure considering both Prima and Viva. Been a while since we cruised out of Galveston. I'm beginning to really dislike flying. Finally husband will have enough vacation time to take 3 cruises next year. Already have Vista for March booked so Prima would have to be near beginning of year or May or August for a holiday extra day. Just can't bring myself to book 2026, just too far out for my sanity. Already regretting booking March 2025. But it was a good offer I prob won't get again and it's husband's bday. I haven't even told him yet because if something better comes up I will scrap it and just lose the small deposit. I seen to have a bad habit of doing that lol.

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

I am behind as you know I am sorta dealing with heavy personal issues but I have been meaning to mention that when I sailed Vista two years ago, we were also in an end forward cabin on a secret deck and our “high wind” sign never came down for 5 minutes the entire week, even when we were docked in Mexico with warm sunny days and no wind whatsoever. It was room 6206.

 

Therefore we commenced civil disobedience signwise roughly at the midpoint of the cruise and helped ourselves to the bench  whenever we felt like it. We weren’t the only ones as occasionally (rarely) we could hear someone head out there. 
 

 

 

 

I'm booked on the Vista on Deck 6 in one of those cabins next year. Did your cabin have a sofa? Was it quiet? I was concerned being close to kids stuff. Usually pick as far aft as I can get for quiet, never stayed up front.

29 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

No nothing like that. For my 25th cruise I get to apply 25% OBC to any future cruise. The one I’m talking about is the one I’m going to use that OBC on. And it was on my mind during room selection that I’ll get 25% back so it’s not my typical room.

 

Ahhhh I see, should have known only gamblers get comp cabins☹️ It's still a good perk to get to splurge on a new cabin type. I think I would like a Havana Cabana if I could splurge😁

12 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

This is crazy. I met this couple at alchemy last night. This is my 25th carnival cruise. Their 75th. Found out we’re cruising on together next year. The big cruise only @Jamman54 and @blarko know about. My diamond cruise. My last scheduled carnival cruise. And we’re almost neighbors. They’re 15-20 feet from me. Today they’re next to me at alchemy I find out they’re Mets fans. Their daughter is dating a Mets player. They have all of these pictures from dugouts and stuff. It’s pretty crazy. but a little weird because he’s a pitcher so they’re wishing bad things upon the Mets young up and coming pitching prospects….

 

 

That is pretty crazy. Not that I will likely ever hit 25 cruises on one cruise line, is the diamond big cruise a free cruise? Besides the normal fees and such. Do you get to pick any cruise or are there restrictions?

Dang finally caught up after a hellish work week. Now I see why people love the ABC itinerary, it's fabulous! I liked seeing the caves, the ostriches, the flamingos and the beautiful scenery. Your pics of the sunsets with the sun as a red ball are gorgeous.

Never thought about renting a car but I like the idea of having a/c, definitely the way to go. I would have been one of those people getting a golf cart lol.

On 5/2/2024 at 4:44 AM, KmomChicago said:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all for your kind words. I am not in a headspace still to spend much time here in the thread but I appreciate every reply and like on my posts. 
 

 

@sid_9169 I am proud of you for your efforts to go booze free and I cheer each day when you go 24 hours or longer. I believe those breaks are saving your life and preventing you from losing control of your health. I can hardly describe the H E double hockey sticks of watching someone pass that threshold, go out of their mind and utterly destroy their life in this way.

 

 

Tribe, my story is becoming like a TV movie with the addict moving out of the family home at a low point, and immediately taking in another addict they met during their last hospital detox (only a month ago, followed by severe relapse 2 days post release). Yes we have even had the cliche of the kindhearted cop in the campground “assisting” with removing the “guest” from the travel trailer. Followed by the camp host reminding us that police being called to the site is an automatic eviction. 
 

Yesterday his coworkers contacted me as they attempted an intervention to save his life and his (very good and lucrative) job. A member of the corporate leadership team, located at company headquarters in another midwest city, understanding that he’d reached a crisis level, took a personal vacation day to drive several hours to encourage him to immediately enter treatment. It was this individual who personally drove him to the facility later in the day.

 

My husband is blessed beyond all measure to have people making truly Herculean efforts to help him. I am amazed people refuse to give up on him as he’s not showing anyone his best side right now. The same executive who took an off-the-record action will be initiating HR support today including approval of FMLA for as long as necessary.
 

Before the day was over my addict was checked in for inpatient treatment. I can only hope he will stay for (at least) a 28 day program. It’s not a prison but I believe he’s run out of both time and options and this is really his last chance before he loses everything that matters to him.
 

With each relapse (at least 5 in the past 10 months) he’s actually gotten steadily worse rather than better. 
 

I doubt anyone is surprised that I have an appointment with an attorney next week before we leave for the cruise. 

That's a lot to deal with, I'm sorry that you are going through this. Take care of yourself as best you can because hard choices and hard decisions are probably going to have to made sooner than later.

Give yourself permission to be selfish and forget about everything except having the best damn cruise ever, you deserve it💜

8 hours ago, Stallion said:

Last time I cruised RCCL-which was the Alure of the Seas- the place became a ghost town at 11:30 pm which is about the time I'm ready to party.  I generally like their ships but since its so family oriented now there's not a lot of late night action. I guess the kids got to go to bed after all the slides, bumper cars and roller-coasters  Now RCCL has huge numbers of kids during the summer. Most of these cruiseships are deemphasizing dance clubs for us "older kids"

I agree about the ghost town comment, that's mostly why I stopped sailing RC. That and the fact one cruise it seemed we were the youngest people on the cruise and we aren't spring chickens lol.

17 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

She might love it. I’ll know better in 20 days. I’m hoping the kids aren’t as prevalent as normal. 🤞🏻😆

The 3 times I sailed RC hardly saw any kids and the ones I did see were very polite and well behaved. Granted it was years ago but maybe it's the norm on RC😁

11 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Happy Monday Tribe! 3 weeks from today, I’ll be embarking on the Allure of the Seas. I just scheduled the mail hold. I’m still looking for parking, but the Spot seems to think they are the only parking lot in all of north Texas. I’m not paying $11/day there when I can pay $10/day onsite at the actual airport. After getting some work done today, I’m going to assess the kids packing. A Target run is definitely on the agenda this week. They haven’t been on a cruise since the Carnival Dream in Oct. 2022. With the weekends filled with softball and soccer, I gotta get this show on the road. 

My daughter picked Allure Of The Seas for her very first cruise in June. I have been trying to get her to try cruising for years. She's a teacher so having to cruise during summer with all the kids onboard might make it a one and done lol.

11 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Spring rolls. I’m skipping dessert for an extra appetizer I’ll do it every time for these

 

 

All I need is chili sauce. I need to remember that

 

JiJis how I miss you, been a long time. Made wanna be JiJis for dinner, beef stir fry and orange chicken. Spoiler alert it didn't compare.

But I did hand roll and freeze 4 dozen spring rolls and they do compare😁 

This is what I have been waiting for! Will be on the Encore in a few weeks on my first Alaska cruise so am looking forward to any and all info.

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

There are some interiors on deck 8 aft of these ships that have couches. Those are on my radar when I book these ships but usually I want to be close to the forward decks.

 

Had one of those on Panorama. Favorite cabin so far, separate and quiet hallway, lots of room and having a sofa was convenient. I always try to book aft but next years Vista cruise I have one of those 4J cabins booked, I usually forget to look for them. The description says it has a sofa so hoping that's true.

8 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

For me it’s mostly about vacation time. If I took yesterday off that would impact my ability to add a fall cruise.

Oh I know that scenario well. I have been trying to book Sunday-Sunday or with a national holiday on the front or back end to avoid this issue. 

Southwest used to have later evening flights like at 9 but now I'm lucky to find anything later than 5 or 6. 

51 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

We got in like 15 minutes early.

 

YAY, glad you made it! I have not flown in day of yet but I'm not against doing it if the timing and price are right. Busy day today so catch up with you about dinner time, enjoy!