jbhcw

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

Heading to Miami one month from today!!!...

 

 

that's good news Sid....just try to think positive thoughts...you have some fun to look forward to....I can get in a funk pretty easily...but try to find some good some where some how in the life I'm living now!  it's been a heck of a couple of years...and I think I'm just now realizing...how much mental toll it has taken on everyone.

Glad you made it home....I cannot remember what insurance we had...it was thru carnival...but everything was reimbursed except a Mickey Mouse ball hat I lost when the van turned over.   We were charged 400 each from the ambulance company...when we actually took a taxi to the hospital...there were 14 of us in the van....it took a while but eventually charges were removed.  Our situation was different as we were not hurt..just shaken up...examined at the hospital..but our friend had to have surgery and be flown back to NC...We stayed with them...went back to the ship to pack up two cabins...and spent the day at the hospital..until his jet arrived to take him home...we then spent the  night...went to a travel agent the next day to get plane tickets home...looking back I think how oblivious we have been on some tours...once a small boat had an engine fire in Nassau...and the surgeon who operated on our friend said if we had been in one of the open safari type vehicles he would still have been xraying people....makes you look back and think about some of the things we did.

10 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Back in the day I cruised Celebrity and Disney in addition to then-bargain basement Big Red Boat. More recently (last 5 years) I’ve done two RCI’s in addition to my 5 Carnival. Oasis Class was the best we’ve ever had but Mardi Gras was roughly equivalent even to that. RCI evening entertainment is slightly higher quality than Carnival. To me the food has been comparable across all lines in general. 
 

To be brutally honest the main difference IMHO isn’t in what the cruise line is selling but in how rich and pretty and classy the other passengers are.  Trashier, poorer people can afford Carnival so you have to look at your typical Walmart shopper. You can pay more to have better looking and maybe quieter, better behaved neighbors. 
 

Sorry but I really don’t care about that and just can’t see much reason to pay more AND to have to follow strict dress codes. Also I’d rather do more cruises than slightly fancier cruises. 
 

So if and when you branch out I’m not sure you’ll see that much point. As you note, do so if you feel inclined but there’s no reason to fix something that’s not broken.

KMom...I love your writing style....and enjoying your review!  Our first cruise was on the Big Red Boat...The Majestic I think...long since gone!   Tiny!  18,000 tons I think...but it got us hooked....We've sailed mostly Carnival...and in later years Hal....I loved the Fantasy class ships...and always felt like I had come home when I boarded....I think demographic  and vibe of different cruises has a lot to do with...one cruise line...two...departure port...three length of cruise.  We had pretty much stopped doing 3-4 day cruise on Carnival...we would do 5 days...out of Jacksonville...Charleston..and Port Canaveral...Ive encountered all different people on Hal and Carnival...I'll never forget our first Hal cruise out of Norfolk on the Maasdam....we were checking out the ship...very elegant..etc etc..and stopped in a bar for a drink...a guy up at the bar was acting a little weird....so I mentioned to Frank I wondered what was wrong with him...he just looked at me and said..."he's drunk"...lol...I guess I thought there would be no drunks on Hal....

15 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Well I say that because my toof cleaning girl talks about other patients to me. Ones she knows I know. Also the surgeon I told about my cruise is a specialist 15 miles away from my dentist. Yet when I went in for my temp toof impressions, my dentist, his assistant and my toof cleaning lady all knew about my cruise.

My hygienist knows EVERYONE in the small county seat where I go to the dentist...so she fills me in on what's going on with everyone we both know!!  So I'm careful about what I tell her...as I know she will pass it on!  That being said...I would still rather go somewhere where everyone knows me...than to a dentist where they don't...I hate..despise...cannot stand the dentist...but over the years this practice has been so good to me... that I am actually okay with going now...and it helps...IMHO..that my dentist is a woman!!!   Previous dentist...he retired...was good too...and a traveler so we would share cruise and restaurant stories....the new dentist is a foodie...as I am.... so we share the latest in new restaurant info in the Triangle area when I have an appt!

prayers for negative covid tests...and safe travels home...I can remember leaving St. Thomas after accident we were in...even though we were not hurt...it was traumatic having to leave ship...seeing our friend having to be jetted back to the states....spending the night in St. Thomas....getting flights...ended up flying into Philly...then Raleigh...Kids picked us up at 12 midnight two days after we left the ship....but I will say the port authority people...and volunteers at the hospital were wonderful.  I sincerely hope your recovery goes well and you are back to traveling soon!!

Sorry Sid about your Uncle....it seems that since the pandemic....so many people and family have passed on....good you're going to see him...

I think in NC you can get Veteran put on your NC driver's license...son has it...and Frank was going to get it but we never got around to it.  in years past we have used his DD214...for a discounted rate for Carnival cruises....Frank.... Air Force....Son...Navy

Slainte...son has a mourning dove nesting on his little deck...under their canopy!  she has been very faithful in staying on the nest..  We think we have seen the father hanging around. think these birds mate for life.

So sorry about your accident...prayers for you....in a mva several years ago in St.Thomas... We were on the Sensation.....friend had to be flown back to the States...after  he had surgery...we spent night in St Thomas and flew home the next day...thank goodness for insurance....would never cruise without it.

I like getting the emails everyday telling me what's coming...like @kpark895 said it doesn't always come on the exact day...but at least....if I see a piece of mail that is important....and it doesn't come for several days...then I can investigate further.  Knock wood...I've been very fortunate to have always gotten my chewy and amazon packages..and most of my mail....I think...lol.....but then we live in a really small town...so don't know if that is a help or not?  

28 minutes ago, Greenpea2 said:

Happy Easter, Tribe! @KmomChicago and @jbhcw I hope you all are feeling much better soon! We are dealing with something going on with our Siamese Emma--her eye is a bit inflamed. Have been dosing her with allergy meds and antibiotics for a week in case it is allergy-related or an infection but she seems pretty much the same. Follow-up tomorrow morning. The other possibility is it is immune-related (according to the vet) so they might give her some kind of steroid. None of which makes us happy. And certainly has not made Emma happy. Very stressful for her and us getting ointment in her eye and a pill down her throat twice a day. I just want her to get better already. P.S. Other than the stress, she seems fine. Just has a weird looking eyelid at half mast. Oh well. That's the only excitement in our lives lately...!

My calico gets funky eyes every now and then....and I have ointment ..but yes not easy getting it in the eye...I have to be sneaky...but that is still easier than getting a pill down her...impossible...hope Emma does better..she is such a beautiful girl!!

Happy Easter all!   Have been dealing with either ....bad cold...allergies...covid for the past week!  finally took a covid test...negative...but think the pollen and the allergy season has really gotten to me...plus the worry that I've gotten covid for a third time....I am just so tired of covid....finally feeling better.

@KMOMHope you all get better and can cruise!   my car...deck...everything is completely yellow...and now the Oak thingies are dropping everywhere...and I know I'm allergic to at least some of them..but cannot remember which ones!

Greg...looks like a good time!  Funny you mentioned about smaller venues...etc etc...son and dil...going to nashville in early Mary to see someone?   Colin Hay?   Anyway son said got great table at a small winery/bar there cheap cheap cheap....and tickets were he lives ...and other places really expensive so worth the drive.  

Headed to Greensboro for Easter cookout...hope everyone has a nice Easter.

Following!  Enjoy Enjoy!

Elton John

When we were on the Rotterdam in Feb...Rudi's didn't have the lobster they said they did not receive any....nor did they have the $20.00 tail in the Pinnacle...they suggested two smaller tails...still 20.00...they were basically inedible...very poor quality....

Just now, ceilidh1 said:

It's $35 a glass on NCL. Nope. But I will definitely try it now I've got the upgraded package.

Enjoy!!!!

3 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

OK, officially upgraded to premium plus drink package for our sailing on Sunday. Not convinced it will be financially "worth it" but it will be nice to order a bottle of wine at dinner, try good wines (instead of cheap wines) and have my Starbucks covered! All of you drink folks - what should I be asking for in terms of maximising my drink package? I saw on some of the NCL threads about the subject to request Zapacala rum (I do love a pina colada) in rum based drinks and Don Julio in tequila based drinks? Also Veuve Cliquot (not so into champagne so not sure about that one...but worth a try I guess). What else?

We had the elite drink package on Hal in February...Kids made good use of it...me not so much...but I love Veuve Cliquot....but it was 18.00 a glass..and the max for the drink package was 15.00....I really wanted a glass but was too cheap to pay that much for a small glass!!

16 minutes ago, BohJang said:

I have to pay taxes this year again too.  Along with the sky high prices for everything, it just infuriates me.  If I said what I really think about the state of the country, not only would I be banned from CC but probably the entire internet!

I would too!   and on top of that...my bank merged with another bank...which has caused all kinds of problems....for the first month you couldn't even get thru to a person...it has gotten better...but that is something else on my list to get done....they are changing acct numbers and I'm not sure what it means or what to do....I want my old bank back!!!!

Burger looks good!   And that Bloody Mary....need to know what restaurant Ellen!!   CC wouldn't let me post yesterday???? I was able to hit like a few times..and then it said I didn't have access or something...oh well...hoping this week is better for me....

Have to pay taxes this year ouch....Frank's birthday was Saturday.....son came down and we had Chinese for lunch...and he was able to get me a new iPad at the apple store in Durham....set it up for me.....my old one was not holding a charge at all...those things are pricey!!!  the cover for it was $50....I know I'm old...but the price of everything lately is just blowing my mind....

true story on the barber shop...first husband was in the Navy....when son was a year old... long ago lol...you took him to the barber for their first "real" haircut....very short...little boy type cut...anyway....of course I was not allowed in the barbershop at Miramar Naval Air Base....and of course back then...accepted it...I'm still not really comfortable going into the local barbershop here...sometimes have to bc of business stuff...and I don't stay long....but anyway....but there is no way I would miss out on that today...he'd go to the beauty shop!

10 hours ago, Slainte57 said:

PV was great😎was there for 12 days

Happy Anniversary...late!  

following!  Thanks so much for doing a live review...always enjoy!!  Also from my old hometown!

16 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

Spinach pizza

it was def the spinach on pizza that did it!!!!!

Most favorite was sailing into San Francisco....under the Golden Gate...I had crossed that bridge many times as a child...going to my grandparents cabin near the Russian River...also loved sailing out of Vancouver...Lions Gate Bridge think it is...and is similar to the Golden Gate? 

2 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

You definitely misunderstood my post. It was a quote from a 2012 presidential debate. Where one candidate was mocking the other for calling Russia our top geopolitical threat. I was just pointing out how poorly that quote aged.

I got it Greg...but then I'm old and a news junkie....and I can def remember as a child...waiting for the planes to come over and drop "the bomb"....the age of bomb shelters..and duck and curl...under the desk at school...OMG....we lived south of San Francisco...and were in the flight pattern for the airport...but as a child....guess I didn't know that.

Kind of don't like this time of year...took down comforter off of the bed....to the cleaners..like I do every year...put on summer quilt...and have frozen the past two nights!...had to get up this am and turn the heat up....really don't want to turn on the gas logs....my gas bill is going up by about 30.00  a month...and every week that I go to the grocery store I wonder how much higher can groceries go?  Love the frozen scallops at Costco...2lb bag used to be about 27/28 dollars...the other day...40....I can see myself cutting back on things I do like to eat.

2 hours ago, Greenpea2 said:

Along with so many others, I had a SNAFU arise with our March Prima cruise. I just happened to decide to check out if there is a Roll Call and thank God I did. Someone posted a warning that Atlantis Charter Cruises is in the process of booking a charter on the Prima the week we are/were supposed to cruise. Apparently Atlantis is a gay charter company--which has nothing to do with any concerns I had upon reading that. I looked into it myself and sure enough--they have it listed on a website and people are signing up. So I went to the main NCL board and asked about the situation. From everything I read, Atlantis rarely does anything but full-ship charters. Long story shorter, I (and several others) decided to bail now and rebook. This is upsetting to me for a number of reasons. First, while I accept it is good business practice from NCL's point of view--they don't tell their booked passengers a thing about it until it is a done deal and last minute. So then the passengers have to go through stress rebooking, having their air changed, hotels, etc. I spoke to my PCC and she was angry. She said NCL does not tell them anything until they have to, and even then I don't think they do. It's just kind of "oh Well. Deal with it, loyal NCL passengers." I am also upset because we booked this like 10 months ago at a $2000+ lower fare and by rebooking (to the week before) we have to pay that much more, plus the specific cabin we had (with a larger angled cabin--only 2 of them on the ship) is of course not available. But I guess I'll stick with the positive here and be so grateful I found out about it in time (or at all) to rebook same deck, same cabin category. Sigh. So now our cruise is end of February. But at least we had not yet booked air/hotel. Sigh. 

That is the pits....if you hadn't cancelled...wouldn't they have offered you some sort of deal....cheaper price on another cruise or something like that?  Not a good way to do business for sure...and hate you had to pay so much more!!!!