Essiesmom

It the point is, the rate charged for one person in the solo cabin, even though it is smaller, is not the per person rate charged in a regular cabin. It is more often 150%. Or to be more clear, they were paying 75% of what a couple would pay. I have friends who loved the solo cabins on the QE2. I participated in a cabin crawl on my one cruise on her, in her last season. The solo cabin was so small, the floor space was about equal to the dimensions of the bunk. It was speculated that those cabins were originally intended for servants. I recently viewed a video of a solo balcony cabin on MSC Grandiosa. The bed is a couch that makes up as a single. Actually it is a bunk sofa, makes into an upper and a lower. Across from the couch was a small desk. The floor space reminded me of that QE2 solo. However, it did have a lovely balcony. EM

I have a friend who likes to cruise. Years ago when she returned from a Med cruise, I asked to see her pictures. Every one was of her, or her husband, or both. In front of some stone structure or feature. But you couldn’t see enough of it to tell where they had been. EM

Go to cruisetimetables.com and click on ‘cruises to’. Select those islands. Then choose the times you want to cruise, and it will tell you who calls there, and their itineraries. EM

Is she on hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis? if you go back to the first page of this forum, in the white oval space for search, type in dialysis, and the default is ‘this forum’. And click on the search button. It will bring up a list of threads with discussion of dialysis. EM

Realizing that Meraviglia is not quite the same class of ship, @JamieLogicalwill be sailing in one on the 24th, doing a Live from…. EM

This morning I was able to make a dummy booking on MSC Seaside, 7 days to western Caribbean, leaving Oct. 29 for $414 inside solo, incl. taxes. Unfortunately I have another cruise booked in that time frame. EM

Try MSC, particularly in the Yacht Club. MSC will also status match, but the perks for the highest match are trumped by the Yacht Club perks. I like MSC, although I don’t sail YC, just regular cabins. EM

It was many, many years ago when I lived there. EM

He/she doesn’t want to disturb the cabinmate. EM

Another thing I remember is why so many cars had knit/crochet toilet paper covers in the back window…those roadside restrooms, plus the other roadside restrooms that were a pullover with a bunch of trees and bushes…. EM

Got heem! He’s a vulture.

Make sure that the student visa she has allows her to leave the US and return. Some have needed permission forms from the exchange program. EM

I also watch the antenna towers at the Pedro Miguel locks, and often see large black birds there. Today there is one on the tower at bottom center. It looks to have some white around the neck, so could be a bay falcon…EM That’s Zaandam leaving the lock heading for Miraflores.

Are you going to be doing your hair another different color? EM

Spotted a different bird this afternoon. Definitely not an Osprey, and I don’t think it’s a hawk. Looks more like some kind of vulture. EM

Have you looked on the Ports of Call board here? Should be lots of suggestions there. EM

Those were screen shots from my iPad. I don’t do things on my phone unless there is not a choice. EM

When I have made upgrade bids there has always been a meter to the right telling me if my bid is poor, fair, good, etc. I agree it is hard to get the little slider down to the opening bid number. EM

There are several threads about specialty dining for current info. The internet has been wonderful, the only hang up being you can only use it for one device. Unlike other lines, you can’t sign out of one device and into another. If you want to use phone and tablet or laptop, you have to buy a two device package. Reservations for shows can be made via the app, or the interactive screens located around the ship. Most are free. You just show your cruise card for scanning at theater entrance. This is because the theater cannot hold everyone at one seating. Shows are offered usually three times a night. I believe the cabanas outside the Yacht Club area are on South Beach. See map below. Read some Live from threads here, there are several and will be more soon.

Another one of those days in the cut:

It appears he has the night shift, too. Wish they would angle the cam just a teeny bit so we could see less hill on the right, and more canal and bird to the left. EM

Another thing about bathrooms. Many, many years ago in Germany many bathrooms were free…but you had to pay the attendant to get toilet paper. For years I carried folded up pads of toilet paper in case there was none. Of course, some of those were third world countries…and you never know where the paper will be brown paper towel rough, or waxed paper slick ( I seem to recall that was the UK). Can’t remember if it has been suggested, but take a washcloth as they are traditionally supplied in Europe. EM EM

Make sure to have closed toe shoes. EM

Royal Caribbean docked in Haifa on Sunday to drop off guests who had boarded there. They cancelled the next cruise and sailed empty as fast as they could. EM

Five ships in Nassau today: Freedom of the Seas, Indy of the Seas, Carnival Conquest, Sunshine, Spirit. EM