Haljo1935

I had similar experience last month on NS - tutu wearing dog...

I recently commented on this very topic- San Diego port team needs to follow other ports - would make for a much smoother, quicker, less stressful experience. San Diego is likely 2nd only to Vancouver in horrible boarding process. Ugh FLL is one of the easiest (with Seattle being the other).

On the topic of flowers, Florist was guest speaker at yesterday's Coffee Chat. When asked which arrangement onboard he is most proud of, his response was the one in the atrium. I'll try to get a better picture.

Standing room only at Flower Arranging presentation; it's always popular so if you want to go, be sure to arrive early.👀 Florist is so talented and funny 😏 Great tip - cut off the top green unopened growth above the top bloom of gladiolus to encourage blooming. Says the water is absorbed by the flowers so nothing left for the new growth causing it to starve. Nice tip! Also, lilies are bad for people with allergies. 3rd tip, for drooping hydrangeas soak them upside for 5 hours then turn upright to refresh them. 👏

Hey David - sure hope strawberries 🍓 made it on and someone hands over the key soon - they have been mushy.

Water's been a tad rough, but this morning is much smoother. A guy at lunch yesterday said their balcony door is locked due to rough seas. His wife has been confused thinking they had an OV cabin, lol.

Thanks so much for the wishes and for coming along. Happy Holidays!

@GTVCRUISER has been in attendance at some of the talks. 🥳 I hope you don't mind me sharing 🫣 I am loving all your holiday posts!!

No way they're service dogs - I have not encountered service dogs that bark when people simply pass by like these do. They bark apparently when the cabin steward or whomever visits the cabin (a lot of "sh, be quiet" coming from there). I'm no expert, but my experience is barking is not an alert service dogs do. I will stop there, but just ugh. I'm hoping they just need a couple days to acclimate and will only say something if they don't. I would like to delete the other pictures I have, rather than using them, and get on with the festivities of this cruise!! 🥳 You may not be able to tell there are 2 dogs - one in red, the other in green. Maybe their holiday colors? That would be cute.

Thanks for the Welfare Check!! As you've likely read by now, I did make it onboard with a dead cell phone then no connectivity. So, no pictures or feedback of the boarding process. The message I had started did not save, but I will eventually recap. Looks like I've now got a good connection, so I should be able to post as I usually do. YAY!!

Spa was my 2nd stop (after food) - I had that sticker on my card straight away!! Thanks for following along and leaving her in good condition - ship looks great!

Thanks for checking on me - phone died at an inconvenient time (is there ever really a good time?) then I had issues connecting. But I am finally here! Boarding was ridiculous - San Diego needs to follow some other ports and figure out there IS a better way. The lines were already looooong when I got there; 1st time I ever played the Star Card and said "I'm not waiting" and "no, thank you, I'm not standing in any of those lines" - I showed my stars and kept on moving. So I was onboard about 10 minutes after they called for the first group. Of course, with a dead phone, I couldn't tell you. 😏

The inside cabin has been great in terms of ship noise - I'm over the theater, so really no noise after dinner (I have late seating) as we all know HAL doesn't jam out in the theater after dark, lol. My only issue are the barking dogs a few cabins down and the missing soap dispener; one of which doesn't impact my ability to sleep, lol.

Yes, I finally got connected about 15 min ago!! So now I have a lot of catch up to do 🫣

Interesting collection of holiday days, nice quote, pass on the meal (curry), maybe to drink and wine, not been to the port. Finally got on internet - I'm sure it's my phone, not the ship. No idea of actual current temp as my phone thinks I'm still in San Diego, although it does acknowledge today as being Saturday. Prayers and positive thoughts for all.

We finally started moving around 630. 2 bow cam pictures 622pm & 634pm - you can just see the water at the bow. And aft cam at 622pm.

Yay - safe travels.

Thanks so much - I'm ready to go!!

Great days - humbug reminds me of my dad 😏 Agree w/the quote; yes to the meal, drink and wine; not been to the port; what important days in history. Today is work, yes I know I'm leaving on a cruise, but I am working - 2 conf calls down, 2 to go. Currently 57° headed to 68°. Freeze warnings forecasted at home in the near future, lol, as in now. I think the person who puts the weather on the calendars must be the same person who schedules AA pilots...🙄 It was 57° this morning headed to rainy 63° as I prepared to board.

Me, too- I think that's when I will acquire an affinity for my inside cabin.

Continuing on the holiday decor, here are a few from today's airport. Yes - I finally got out and am now in San Diego!! We had a med emergency on our flight that almost caused us to detour to Phoenix, but we didn't. Yay for us and yay for the passenger. What a flight!! Many dogs flying this holiday season. This one has no carrier - are they no longer required for flights?

I'm leaving at a good time - calendar says there's a hard freeze headed to my town. I've not seen that before. If they do that in the summer for heat advisories, the calendar will be orange for months...

She cleared the line and she's outta here

Smattering of holiday decorations as seen during a midnight stroll through the airport. Joy to the world - we have a gate agent ... with a line 10 deep 🤨 This little jingle ball lost its J and Y... hope it doesn't channel its inner Humpty Dumpty and fall off that pedestal. Wreaths galore, even on doors (you can't really be sure it's a door cuz I cropped the handle out)... And what is she wearing on her head? I do not ❤️ this airport right now. Not holiday decor, but it did bring up some emotions that I needed to share. Oops, wrong group, lol.

Thanks so much! I'm accepting suggestions if you'd like to offer anything. Happy Holidays!