Essiesmom

Not sure, but I think you have to wait for an email invitation. EM

And finally at Miraflores

I find this true for most of the ships I have sailed in the last few years. It’s as if they want you up and moving…spending…. EM

The govt is restarting the online passport renewals. You have to qualify: I believe you have to be 25, passport issued between 2009-2015 and no major changes, like gender. The blurb (notification from weather channel) said no expediting, possibly 6-8 weeks. But they are saying that about regular renewals, but people are reporting a two week turnaround. Google online renewal and check it out. I was one of the people who renewed on,one last year in the beta trial. The website is only open from 1pm ET. EM

And there is some liquid sunshine as she enters Pedro Miguel…

My sister had four girls. Whenever one of them said ‘I’m bored’, her reply was ‘clean your room’. It shut them up. But I guess that wouldn’t work on a cruise ship…. EM

You can board Armonia in three different ports, including Venice. So you could do either itinerary with a Venice embarkation. I haven’t been to Ancona or Brindisi but I have visited the others at least twice. EM

Except for the kiddie pool, pools on MSC are usually 2 meters deep. Keeps people from standing around in the pool drinking. EM

Look at the thread at the top ‘Celebrity is at it again’. It’s about this topic. EM

Sick from both ways sounds like noro or food poisoning. If you can eat a little but still have diarrhea, try to eat some yoghurt. Diarrhea washes out the bad bugs, but takes the good ones too. Yoghurt puts the good ones back. EM

You have t said when your cruise is, but I feel if you want to appreciate Venice, you want to embark there, spending at least a day if not two prior to the cruise. I also prefer Kotor to Split. Santorini can be an arduous day due to tendering and getting up and down from the tender dock. But it should be done at least once. EM

Looks like it’s one of those days in the Gaillard Cut…. But it will be cleared by the time Crystal Serenity gets there.

I believe I asked once and was told no, I wasn’t a member then. But at the rate I’m going, I’ll be double diamond soon. EM

Deposits are refundable as long as it is not Yacht Club. EM

Every cruise counts with points added to your record. You are not automatically a member because you have taken a cruise. You have to join. My first cruise in 2013 does not count because I wasn’t a member. Didn’t even know about it then. By the second cruise, I had joined and status matched to Black Card (Diamond). EM

Yes, ut they had odd flavors. Lime…. EM

5% discount on fare. EM

I think they had several models in the MSC logo shop. I’ll be on Seashore again in ten days…. EM

How big is it, and where are you going to put it in your cabin? EM

Ships time starts in the departure port. This time of year the Florida ports are on EDST. Most of the Caribbean islands are on Atlantic standard time, an hour ahead of the US east coast…except when we are on EDST when we are the same. The islands do not observe daylight savings time. In the season when we are on standard time, the islands will be an hour ahead. Most lines will change their clocks to match the time zone, but Carnival is one exception. There may be others. Going the other way, Mexico will be on central time. EM

Or living in a third world country with no other options. EM

There was a building in 2010. I’ve never arrived by train, but lines were not a problem…. EM

My goodness, do you mean I might have found a line that values solo cruisers? Instead of feeling invisible and unwanted? EM

A helpful site for researching itineraries is cruisetimetables.com. In their menu bar you can click on ‘Cruises to…’ and select a place you would like to visit on your cruise. It will tell you who goes there, and their itineraries. Or, since you mentioned San Juan as departure port, you could go to ‘Cruises from’, choose San Juan, dates, and it will tell you who sails and itinerary. It might save you going to each cruise line website if you are looking for something in particular. EM

I have never taken an excursion that involved a beach. If that is the only kind excursion offered, maybe you need to look at a different itinerary. EM