JoKen1

Just got off NCL Pearl and if you went to their talks on shopping in the ports you got a free gift of a gold coin with the ship on it. Then you also got entered into the drawings for free jewlry.

 

We also got a free charm at one of the shops we went to in port. We had a coupon for free sterling silver helicopter charm. Since I always get a charm for my charm bracelet and we had just done the excursion of a helicopter ride to the glaicer I was thrilled with that gift.

 

We just went in and handed the coupon. No sales pitch was given just handed the charm and we left.

 

Joanne

I've never been interested in going to the Mexican Riviera.

 

Lots of people love it, but it just doesn't appeal to me :confused:.

 

On edit: Hubby said his cruise of least interest would be a one day cruise to nowhere.

 

 

I live in So Cal and we are very close to Mexico and I was like you. Never had any desire to go to the Mexican Riviera. Then last year the price was so low and with no air cost to me I couldn't turn it down. Thought maybe I would just stay on the ship.

 

Then I got off at each port and let me tell you it was NOTHING like I expected it to be. It was one of the most beautiful places I've seen in my life. I'm not even a beach lay out kind of person. I still had a blast and everyone was so nice! I will for sure go back again some day.

 

So please, if you do find a good price, give it a try. I can't picture anyone saying they didn't love it there now.

 

This comes from someone who NEVER ever wanted to go there.

 

Joanne

I hate to say it because I'm sure I'll get flamed...But I have no intentions on ever going to Alaska...or anywhere else on vacation where the temp is below 80 degrees.

 

 

I just got back from Alaska last Sunday and it was up to 92 in Juneau so you can still go there if your only requirement is to not have the temp below 80 LOL

 

Joanne

To me, most people know a tip is expected. However, if I went to dinner and the wait staff told me "Hi, I'm so and so and I'll be waiting on you tonight. The usual amount of my tip is 15%. What would you like?" I wouldn't eat there.

The price of a tour these days are costly. I expect a good tour for my cost. However, if I feel I got more then I expected or if the tour guide was wonderful, fun and went over and above then I would gladly tip. But to me, if I'm told to tip or that I'm expected to tip then I won't.

Saying you will thank the person when you get your tip is so tacky. You should thank everyone on that tour if you get a tip or not.

No one tells you to get that job. It is a service job and if you take a job that depends on tips then you need to earn them not expect them.

I also grabbed this one. RT air from Phoenix isn't too much, and it has three days at sea, which is a plus to me. Not much time to prepare, but I'll just throw some clothes in until the bag is full and off I go. :)

 

Well we must meet up! Having another solo on board will be nice! Are you going to the M&M or any of the other things planned on the roll call? I think I'll be going to several of them.

 

Do you have any excursions planned yet? I don't. I was going to purchase some but it was to late. Said I had to purchase them on the ship. Which really is fine because I'm not sure what I want to do anyway. I may end up just exploring on my own and not doing any ship excursions.

 

See you Sunday!

Joanne

$833? which ship, what itinerary, date?

 

 

Oh I guess I should have posted that. It's RC Mariner of the Seas and it leaves this Sunday. I live right by the port and it was set to go to the Mexican Riviera but I knew with the flu going around it wouldn't go so I checked to see what it was planning on doing.

 

It's a whole new and different itinerary that they normally don't do. It goes to Oregon, Seattle and then to Victoria BC and back to LA.

 

I didn't have to purchase air since I live near the port and I just couldn't pass up this fun trip. So off I go.

 

I've never done a last minute cruise before and it's exciting. All the planning, dreaming and excitement and only having to wait a week is wonderful.

RC has good sales going on now. I got a Superior Balcony for 7 nights for $833 which is the cruise, taxes, insurance & tips. I think that was pretty good. The cabin alone for two was $599 a person so I didn't have that large of a % to pay for going solo.

Dogs bark at the mailman because it works. Dogs bark to scare threats away. So, when the mailman comes and the dog barks and then the mailman leaves, the dog sees it as his victory - his barking scared the threatening mailman away! Works every time, too. ;)

 

 

That is so true. I never thought of it that way. Now if I could just train him to make sure the mailman never brought me any bills that would be great. :D

 

Thanks so much for you guys taking the time to answer my questions and to give me lessons on this great SDs.

 

I just wanted to say I was sorry for all the stupid people that give you owners with SD a hard time.

 

I really think people need to be taught more so they won't be so foolish in their remarks.

That's great to know about how a dog can dial 911 to get help for the owners.

 

Oh I hate knowing my dogs should be able to be controlled better. I have not been able to find a way to stop their two bad ways. I have tried taking them to training school which did great in most areas. I have read books, watched tapes and had others try to get them to stop but so far nothing has worked.

 

They do everything else they should do but why my dog barks at the mailman and no matter what I do won't stop I have no idea. He will stop barking any other time I tell him to.

 

Also, my little one seems to think that under this one side table belongs to him and he can do what he wants there. The latest thing we are trying is to ignore when he brings something under there.

 

It seems like he would go get something and when we tried to take it away he would chew it up. It was sort of like a game or something. So now we say nothing and while he still brings things under there he doesn't chew them up. He just leaves them there and then when he comes out from under there we get it.

 

It was like he found it fun to have us try to get it from him.

 

If you have any ideas or tips on how to stop them I would love to know it.

 

I know it's not the dogs. I know it's something I'm doing wrong but I don't know what it is.

 

Other then those two things my dogs have been great. They have learned everything I've tried to teach them except those things.

Wow, 100 commands? That is super! I really should take some training classes myself.

 

My one little boy is great but he has one spot under a table where he will take things and try to chew them up. He won't do it anywhere else. But he will turn into a devil dog if anyone sticks their hand under to try to get it.

 

My other guy is super calm and gentle but he will bark like a mad dog when the mailman comes. Everyday it's like the first time he has ever seen him.

 

Nothing seems to help in these two areas.

 

I can't even picture in my head how wonderful it would be to see a dog respond to 100 commands.

 

You know thinking about it all the SD I've ever seen are either labs or Retrievers. Maybe they have been from the same group you belong to. Or maybe not all all SD have a collar or pack that says they are a SD.

 

Whenever I see one though I always stop and watch and am so impressed at how well they work.

 

I wonder how a dog can tell if a person has high blood pressure or is about to have a seizure. Do you know? It must have something to do with their smell I guess.

Hi Roz,

 

Thank you so much for all you wrote. It gave me a big in site to how it all works. I loved reading about it.

 

I did tear up though when I was reading about the trainer turning over the dogs. That would be very hard. Both rewarding and heartbreaking at the same time.

 

I had once thought about becoming a trainer but then I knew I could never turn my dogs over so I wouldn't be any good. My dogs become my children. I don't have kids so all my life my pets have always been my kids and I become way to attached to them.

 

How do the dogs notify their owns of things? Do they bark? Give you a look or scratch? I'm talking about things like.....well, like the ones that are for hearing. I assume they notify their owners when someone is at the door or the phone rings.

 

Also, do you know what the little dogs are best at? Like I said, I've never seen a little dog as a SD before, or at least I didn't notice they were one but since I have two little dogs I was thrilled to hear that the little guys can help out so many too. I know my dog could have been a great bomb or drug sniffing dog. His little nose can smell things I've never seen a human or another animal be able to smell. It so fun to watch him sniffing away.

 

I can tell from the posts here that not only do the owners of SD love them very much but they also are very proud of their dogs.

 

I was also happy to hear the cost of the dogs are so low and sometimes even free. I really thought it would have cost thousands to get a SD which of course would keep so many people that need them out of reach for getting one.

 

I am so impressed by SD and their owners. It just goes to show that animals are worth so much more then many give them credit for.

 

I was also happy that I didn't sound like I was being nosey either. I really do have a great interest in learning about SD and how much good them do for people.

 

So thanks again.

 

I do hope we take a cruise together some day as I would love to talk to you about your dog more. :D

I just love hearing about all your SD and I think it is so wonderful that these great dogs are able to help out so many people. But I do admit I don't know a lot about SD. I was wondering if you guys would mind helping me learn a bit more.

 

How long does a dog take to train to become a SD?

 

Is the dog already trained when you get him/her or do you help in the training?

 

I know a lot of dogs help out by picking up things from the floor, opening doors and so on but what else do this great dogs do?

 

I've heard that some dogs can predict if someone is about to have a seizure or if their owner has low blood sugar. Is this true? If so, how do they know, is a smell that they can detect that humans can't? What do they do to notify the owner?

 

I also, have only seen large dogs that are SD or being trained as one and was surprised and pleased to hear that smaller dogs can be SD too. But what type of work do they do?

 

I hope no one thinks I'm trying to pry into your illness or private life by asking all these questions. I'm just trying to learn more.

 

I have such a great respect for these dogs and for the owners who love them so much. It touches my heart to read about all the super things these dogs do.

 

Thanks everyone for giving me a little bit more of an insight to all the SD you have.

 

If anyone is offended by my post and thinks it is non of my business what type of work your SD does please don't be mad at me for asking. Just tell me to stop asking questions and I will.

OK I promise not to stalk you or anyone with SD. :D

 

I'm really glad that I asked about petting a SD. I find it hard to pass up a dog without wanting to pet him/her and I always ask first. But to be honest I don't ask about petting a SD as I always figured they were working and it wasn't time for play/love.

 

The only reason I asked about it being ok on the cruise is someone was talking about all the love and attention they get on the ship. So I thought maybe if a SD was under my table or sitting next to me in a show it may have been ok.

 

But I won't even ask now. It's good to know.

 

Also, I never really thought someone would let me take care of their SD while they were swimming or anything. Just said that because someone said they had to give up things like that when they had their SD.

 

I do have a question on SD though that maybe someone here would be kind enough to answer. What happens to the SD when they get to old to be a SD or if they get injured and can't be a SD any more. Do you still keep the dog even if you get another SD?

 

I've always wondered what happened to them in their golden years.

 

Also, I think they should have some type of collar to show they are a SD so people wouldn't bug you guys asking you stupid questions about your dogs. They would know right away that the dog is a SD. They have them for when a dog is in training so why can't they have them once you guys get them?

I was just reading this post and wanted to say hi to everyone.

 

My name is Joanne and I don't have a SD but I have two dogs that I love more then anything.

 

I would LOVE to be on a cruise any of guys are on so I could get some dog kisses while I'm away from my dogs.

 

Also, I would be happy to watch your dogs while you did the things you wanted to do like swim or go on rides and so on.

 

I think it is wonderful that you take your dogs everywhere you go and on a cruise no less.

 

I can't believe people would give you a hard time about having a SD anywhere. What is the matter with people??? Do they think you really wouldn't rather be able to get around better on your own without a SD?

 

Can't you train your SD to pee on those peoples legs when you give them a look :D j/k of course.

 

Anyway, just wanted to say if I see any of you on one of my cruises you will know it's me because I will looking for you so I can spend time with your dog. Hope that's ok.

 

Does it bother you if someone comes up and wants to pet your dog? I always ask first.

 

Thanks for loving and taking such good care of your SD. I know they love you as much as you love them.