kerrytens

Well, your dogs are cute!

 

Tom

OK, that works:D

At least something to look forward to :D

 

Perhaps I will - but it's hard to say. If I feel that I have additional things to add, or points to make --- otherwise, it's a lot of energy used!

 

Tom

And I'm not worth it?????

:D;)

Now now now... that's in the past, let's keep looking forward shall we! ;)

 

:D:D:D

 

Tom

A review may help me move forward with my excitement ... hint, hint;)

Hey, don't rush yours - as that means that ours will be over! :eek:

 

:D

 

Tom

But you've already been onboard ... :(

I just re-read the first ~20 pages of this EPIC review (WHEW) and my thought was:

 

Given that numerous people posted on here about their (then) upcoming Epic sailings - I can't help but wonder how many of them enjoyed their cruise. If any of you guys are still subscribed to this thread - feel free to report back as to your cruise on the Epic!!!

 

Tom

Tom, can you make my 120 some odd days speed up? I'd love to let everyone know how I feel ... Will Dec 10 EVER arrive? Please??

Very much so!

 

Tell me if any of you have dealt with this....we cannot do an alternate option for muster as far as him staying in the room. He will hear those announcements and completely lose it that they are saying everyone has to be there and he is not. He has VERY black and white thinking. NO compromise.

 

However, that whole standing in your area with everyone squished together is not an option either. When we travelled on the Paradise, our muster station was on the lido deck and we just sat in a big area with chairs in it. (He was not there, but that would work fine for him.) Is there anyway to find out about where your muster would be so I can figure out how to handle it? Any other ideas?

 

:)

We had arranged a private muster drill on Carnival. They arranged for a few people to meet in the library. Would that help your son? At least he would be able to attend 'a' muster drill;) He would still go with the other pax but it will be held in the quiet and calmness of the library. Someone will come in and explain everything for you. I can sympathize with the black and white thing completely!

Aww that would be fun, maybe she would go for the Del Sol ones?? You could always resort to painting while she is asleep LOL

:eek: And deal with the "oh no, my toes" in the morning??? No way. :D

I will check out Del Sol for sure.

Thanks, I'm excited...now this "tropical wave" better not become a problem!

 

Yesterday I came home and asked B if he wanted to see my "cruise toes" as I had just gotten my cruise pedicure. He comes running in and says Sure!! That should have been my indication it was going to go wrong as why would an 8yo boy care about my pedicure LOL He looks and says, Uhh mommy those are not cruise ships on your toes, those are just flowers!

Gotta luv him:D I keep trying to see if my chickie will let me do her toes but no go so far. I have 4 more months to get her used to the idea of having toes like mine. Hehehe

We are leaving Saturday out of New Orleans, looking forward to a week with my husband and youngest...even brought 3 books, have high hopes of actually being able to open them! LOL

 

We have been teaching B to snorkel in the pool! I'm so excited about possibly being able to take him out to see some fish!! I got a blow-up chair/raft that he can sit in or lay on and put his face in the water. Of course nothing ever goes as planned but at least I have a plan, right!!?? LOL

 

I have also decided to bring the "disney stroller" as I think we will want to do some shopping in Cozumel and I have a feeling its that or DH carrying him and he is just too big for that. Since he is 8, I know he "should" be walking but I'm getting over myself and doing what works. And along the same lines, yes we are bringing a magna doodle. :rolleyes::D

Have a GREAT cruise Luci!!!! Can't wait for the review upon your return. Have fun:D

Where is the "like" button LOL

 

Thanks for your comments! I do have to admit I sometimes find myself a bit intolerant of typical children - and I raised three before having a child with autism! They just talk so much and when they are unhappy in the store there is so much whining, begging and drama.......then I look at my son and say, I LOVE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE! :D

LOL! I have to admit the same thing at times. Our kids know their boundaries so well that they often act better in certain situations than typically developing kids. Prime example I can think of right now was during a school trip that I decided to attend as well. We all got on the bus and my daughter and her class (she is in a special class for kids with autism where they get the IBI therapy incorporated into their schooling). The kids used every opportunitiy they had to tell the adults on the bus when we were disobeying the 'rules' of the bus:D

I also think that parents of special needs kids learn what their kid's triggers are - it is easy to redirect when you know something will set your kid off (and bring on that dreaded public display of a meltdown. LOL)

Hey Luci,

Great thread! Thanks for letting us know about Carnival being a bit more proactive for our kids. You, personally, have always been a great support to me during my pre-cruise arrangements. With my DD's second cruise happening in a few months, I'm trying to get my ducks all in a row something serious right now. Again, we plan on going with the flow but I do need to make sure certain things are in order pre-boarding too. If my boarding process is anything remotely close to what Carnival gave us, I will be happy. I don't even think my daughter knew what was happening, it was that fast and smooth. LOL!

To the poster who mentioned the issue her family had getting a feeding pump/formula through check-in, my heart goes out to you and your daughter. I hope you made a manager, and even more so, the cruiseline itself aware of what happened. No one should have to go through anything like that - no one! I wish you and your family smooth sailings (and check ins!) from this point on.:D

I am still working on that one personally! :D

 

Tom

I will say that I do enjoy your CC persona, if that helps:D

Boy - we sure did... ONE time! :eek: The Imperial Majesty "Regal Empress"! For kicks, take a look at my review! LINK

 

This snippet from Wikipedia on the Regal Empress (LINK) was music to my ears:

 

The Regal Empress departed Freeport in early April to sail to her final destination in Alang. Her voyage took over 3 months to complete. During her voyage, she was renamed the Regal Tmpress. She was beached on 24 July 2009.[6] In October, scrapping began starting from the bow of the ship. The demolition of the ship was completed in early 2010.

 

I was almost singing "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" :D Sorry to gloat, do you get the feeling that we had a horrible time on that ship? As was pointed out, the ship was something in its day!!

 

Tom

I remember reading your review when I was obsessing over that ship going to the breakers. Lord only knows why I'd have any attachment to anything I've had no experience with but I remember watching her come into port on the Port Everglades webcams and although old, her lines were beautiful. It made me look her up in her heyday ...

I will admit to thinking who the heck do these Tom and Cheryl people think they are;):p ... I got over it when I realized that the ship really was well past her prime ... and even more so, I am glad that I finally figured out who the heck that Tom and Cheryl are:D

Yeah, but when you do it like that, you'll hit platinum on all of them at once :D

Works for me!

The bottom line is they're all cruises :)...If you love to cruise, you will find something special on every line and variety is SO awesome!!!! Don't worry about perks, just sail!! Sooner or later, they all add up :D

Get out of my brain Halos:D I have yet to sail the same line twice - forever stuck with blue cards it seems. I do plan on remedying that in 2012 though but the cruiseline is yet to be determined. It all depends on how the next one goes ... and then the decision will be made. Of course, if RCCL comes out with some drop dead, can't miss out price that plan may go out the window too:)

Hi Lusitanica, do you have any insight on cabin 8083 ? Directly above a lifeboat, exposed balcony etc. Any info is greatly appreciated. TY

Hi SASA13, obviously not Lusitanica here but I thought a fellow roll call member could help. I was looking at the deck plans and some previous photos that have been posted and it does appear that your balcony is exposed and over a lifeboat.

With that said, I wouldn't be too concerned. When on one's balcony, you look out onto the seas, not straight down on your neighbours or the lifeboat:D. We will have fun in a few short months!

Great comparative information there Tom. One day I shall enjoy the perks:D

Wow, those uncovered balconys are really open to onlookers! I'm glad im on deck 14! :p

Not really any worse than the ones I've seen on Princess. It's all in what you like imho. Sun lovers, for example, would love them :D Besides, I personally prefer to look out 'over' the water ... not down on my neighbours;)

Does this apply to Norwegian Pearl as well?

That I do not know - sorry.

For the life of me I can't recall where I read this but categories MA and MC have the tubs while MB and MD's do not. I can say with great confidence that I did read the above in some official NCL brochure or maybe even the website though (a mind truly is a terrible thing to waste :o ).

You should write a book' date=' but please keep writing reviews. I have read them all and laughed until I have cried. I even sent the link to my sister for her to read. Thank you for taking the time to entertain and inform us on the Cruise Critic forum.[/quote']

I would buy a Sailor Jack book in a heartbeat!

 

I, too, have laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face. Family have come running from the other room wondering what was 'wrong'. They soon understood once they, too, had read Jack's reviews:D

 

I can read them over and over again and they continue to give me the same reaction!

I respect your thoughts on cruising.... Honestly this review put it over the top for me jumping on board...

I believe that Don caused quite the spike in bookings for this ship actually:D

My missives do tend to muddy the distinction a little bit between "review" and "tale", don't they.:D

 

Jack

That is why I love them all so much:D Thanks again Jack for supplying my entertainment today!

Thanks for the recommendation! I am laughing/crying all over again! :D

 

"We had actually made it a mile or so out to sea before we rear-ended the Suzuki Grand Vitara."

 

Classic!!!!! A MUST read!

Do read the camel story too:D

Thanks Jack for yet another great tale, err review!

Edit: I'm caught up on all of the pages now too - great photos!!!

Thanks Tom!!! And re: the no-self-service-laundry, all the better reason to not even have to give it a thought! I will keep searching about the internet and laundry service... got plenty of time... !

I am sure that somewhere in my Epic reading I did see that they offer a 'special' laundry thing - put all the clothing you can into a bag and the ship will wash and fold it for you for a certain price ($25 comes to mind??).

It was something that I was considering utilizing on my cruise too.