mosaic_mom

We booked through Carnival and were glad we did. The excursion was fantastic and we booked with a bunch of people from our roll call. We were glad we booked through Carnival because there was a big accident and our bus was late getting back to the ship. There were 2 buses that came back after us too.

I can't speak for the airplane because I cannot fly, but as far as getting on the ship, I take my rollator and my forearm crutches. I use a bungie cord to hold the crutches onto each side of the rollator. Then I can use either the rollator or the crutches whenever I need them on the ship.

Everyone deals with death in their own way. Personally I like to distract myself with stuff. Personally I end up working a great deal and trying to distract myself.

 

A cruise would be a great way to do this for me.

I've been doing the distraction stuff since my daughter died almost a year ago. Our cruise last December was a welcome escape from everything. Just a way to step out of the present picture and do something different and relaxing.

I lost my only child in July of last year (will be one year on 7/26). She was 25. She had booked a cruise for me, her, and her step-dad before she died. We decided to take the cruise last December since that is what she had planned for us. it was the best thing to help with the grief. Even without a balcony, you can sit on an open deck and stare at the sea or even sit on the Promenade and watch people while you think of the person who died. My daughter loved cruising and I know she would have wanted us to enjoy that cruise.

He doesn't have to have a tux or even a suit. Maybe try and convince him that you want to get a nice portrait done of you and him and you want him to be your special date for dinner just one night. Then tell him he just needs a nice pair of slacks and a nice shirt for the photo. Tell him how special grandpa's little girl will feel if he spoils her one night. :)

What itinerary did you travel? We are doing the 5 day in December to Nassau and Grand Turk. If you did this, do you have Fun Times you can post?

I am very sorry for your loss. Unfortunately, I too am on this journey for the past 10 months since I lost my only child, my 25 year old daughter, very suddenly and unexpectedly to a blood clot. I'm sending hugs and prayers your way.

Get everyone t-shirts with Poppys Pic and have it say Poppys 85th Birthday Cruise and the dates you all are going... He would love that and it would be a keep sake for everyone going...

Great idea. Then get one that says "I am Poppy" and have it ready for him to slip on when he gets there. And have shirts ready for those with him. Would make a cute embarkation picture.

I understand how you feel and I can tell you that it is normal. Cancer took your security blanket and knocked down your wall of protection. I've been through severe anemia with my daughter, melanoma cancer and basal cell carcinoma with hubby as well as hip replacement and internal bleeding. I felt like you did and then convinced myself that I needed to see the victory in my family having gone through these things and coming out the other side still intact. I focused a lot of attention on my only child and we were closer than most mom and daughter can be. I wanted to treasure every second with her as if it were our last. I guess this was my way of healing from all her and my husband had been through.

I am glad I did that, as 8 months ago, my only child, 25 years old, died suddenly of a blood clot while we were finishing up a fun evening at home together. Never saw that coming. My life is a mess and we were faced in December 2013 with taking a cruise she had booked and paid for the 3 of us. We went and I am so glad we did. Can't say it was easy, but I can say it was good for our hearts.

So treasure the victory of overcoming his cancer and go make everything you do as enjoyable as you can. Enjoy your cruise !! Be thrilled that he has such a good outlook. That's a lot of the help with the recovery.

I was told when I first got my pump years ago that I should not go through the security x-ray machine. Then I was told it was okay. I err on the side of caution and tell them I have it and request pat down. Never had a problem at all.

Carnival's version of Flat Stanley. :D

Do you think you could take on one of these? We have one like this and it would fold up nice and fit under the bed.

We sailed out of Tampa in December. Once you enter the terminal, they have a special window for FTTF and it went very fast. Then they tell you to go sit anywhere. They give you a card to hold and it has FTTF on it. They boarded platinum and diamond first and were turning away anyone with FTTF placards. When they were done boarding, then FTTF boarded. It went very fast. I think Tampa is very organized and one of the best ports for boarding. You could just ask one of the workers if the FTTF could board with you or you may have to just wait for them on the ship or board with them.

I bring water bottles on my cruises and fill them at the Lido deck. I never fill it directly from the spout. I fill a glass and transfer it to my water bottle. Sanitary for both the machine and myself. They don't want you to fill it directly from the machine into a personal container. Use a glass and transfer it.

We sailed this past December on Paradise. This was our first time on her and we enjoyed it. It's an older ship, but very pretty. Less options and frills than the newer bigger 2.0 ships, but it was perfect for our long weekend getaway.

The cruise director was a little odd but very funny and is a fantastic fiddle player. Shows were great and plenty of things to keep you busy. Food was okay, not quite as good as we had on past cruises, but we certainly did not go hungry. Room steward was very good. Serenity deck was nice, but a little difficult to get to if you have any mobility limitations, like I do.

One thing we really enjoyed was the outside areas to eat near the Lido. Small deck area along the side with tables and a covered area behind Lido. It fills up fast though.

We really enjoyed the Paradise. One note is that we do live near the port, so there was no hotel or transportation involved for us. It was an easy commute.

We use our card to pay our bills. Then we send Barclay one lump sum at the end of the month and pay no interest. When we cruise, we cash in some points for OBC. We apply online and it shows up on our S&S account. This last time, we found it on our documents before sailing. On our last cruise, we used Barclay OBC and walked off the ship with a S&S balance of $37, which was charged on our card and gave us double points for next time.

We had FTTF on Paradise in December and it was the same there. We were given a letter the night before and given Zone 1 luggage tags.

They had one lounge for FTTF who put out luggage the night before and one lounge for those carrying off all their luggage. They had a table with coffee, juices, and pastries. The bad part about the lounge was we were one of the first ones there very early and people that came in behind us would stand right in front of the door. Like the lounge was loading from the back to the door instead of people moving entirely into the lounge. Not Carnival's fault though.

They took us to an elevator and we all went down, but I think they did it too fast because there was a huge traffic jam when the elevator door opened. It was great once it started moving. Very fast getting off the ship from that point.

We will do it again next cruise.

I've done the Build A Bear twice and both times I was over age 40. My husband was a little uncomfortable, but I had a great time. My adult daughter went both times too. It was a lot of fun. Nobody had a problem with us being there at all.

I agree with the Calorie King book. I use that on board too.

One thing to take into consideration is that you do a lot of walking and kids are very active on a cruise ship. I made that mistake the first cruise I took with my pump. Didn't figure in extra exercise with walking and ended up with lows.

Make arrangements for what to do with the pump too if the child intends on going in the water. I usually just take my pump off while in the water. Make sure he does not forget and jump in the pool. That can become an expensive swim.

Constantly being out in the sea water air can make the infusion set not stick very well. Take along some Tegaderm patches to hold it on. You can find them in CVS pharmacy.

We use the lanyards with the plastic sleeve. I bought them on Ebay about 7 years ago. Still using them. They work well to hold S&S card and card to open safe, plus a little casino cash. They also are good for keeping receipts in that you get from things we buy like drinks and the shops. I don't care for the lanyard flapping around when up on a windy deck, so mine is usually tucked under my shirt. I just don't use the lanyard when we get dressed up for supper. It just looks tacky with fancy clothes.

Looking forward to your review. Love your pictures so far. please...LOTS of pictures. :)

I just cruised earlier this month after losing my only child (25 yo) in late July. I only went because she had paid for the cruise as a getaway for us.

I would say let your friend decide what they want to do and not want to do, and don't force them to do things they don't feel like at the moment. But also don't force them to make the decisions on everything that is done. Make yourself available to talk if they need it. Expect tears, but don't make a big deal of it. Sometimes just a hug or a kind word or letting them know you are there is so much better than anything you could purchase.

After all the great advice I decided that I was getting an FTTF for both rooms...what's another $50...compared to the amount I'm spending already (but as someone stated earlier $50 is $50 dollars) so I booked tonight and wouldn't you know it FTTF is sold out anyway!!!! Im sailing in June....can they already be sold out? I've read to keep looking but now I'm worried I will not be able to snag 2 for both rooms....any tips on this please help!!,

Keep checking. Sometimes they open up new FTTF spots. Especially close to sail date.

We were on the Paradise on 12/5 and had purchased FTTF for our cruise. I use a rolling walker and it was just easier for us to go straight to our cabin with our carry-on luggage.

Upon entering the terminal, we were directed to a line specifically for FTTF where a very nice lady checked us in and told us where to wait. She gave us a plastic thing with FTTF on it. Can't remember if there was a number on it or not. When they started to call people to board, they called priority boarding for platinum and diamond. When those people went to board, there were some FTTF who tried to fit right in with them and were turned away. Security was very good with that. We went right to our cabin, which was clean and waiting for us.

From the time we parked the car until we got on the ship, it was about 30 minutes total. They started boarding at 11:30.

After arriving back in Tampa, the FTTF on Paradise was a mess. We were sent to a lounge to wait and then taken down by elevator to deck 7. When our elevator arrived there, we waited on it for about 20 minutes because of the backup of people in the hallways. They started sending people down to deck 7 before the ship was fully cleared for disembarking. It was quite annoying. Once the line started moving, everything went smoothly. The people in the Tampa terminal really know how to get people moving through there.

We would definitely get FTTF for our next cruise.