MJSailors

Dani- Very pleased for you that you could have a lovely visit with your friends ! All of you look wonderful . I have been close to three HS friends for over fifty years ( that number is amazing to me!). None of us have sisters,so we have become sisters to each other. Unfortunately, Covid and geography has kept us apart these past few years. One friend lives in Virginia,another moved recently to the upstate part of NY and one friend lives about fifty miles away from me here on Long Island. So, we rely on phone visits. Our conversations can go well over an hour. I think it is a blessing that at our age, we have friends that knew us for most of our lives.. Thank you for sharing that happy photo! MJ🙋🏻

@Saint Greg Interesting review. I am pleased that you seemed to enjoy your visit to NYC and remained unscathed although you used the subway for most of your transportation during your stay. Good that you chose local eateries to sample the “cuisine” and did not visit an Olive Garden or Applebee’s once ! You did cover a lot of ground in the City and saw so many interesting sights. It seems that you put a lot of effort into researching what you wanted to experience on your visit. With that being said, I am surprised that you apparent,y did not research much about Bermuda. My DH and I have visited Bermuda thirteen times,either by cruise or by a resort stay. While Horseshoe Bay is a pretty beach, it does attract tourists and it can become crowded. There are so many other beautiful beaches- Elbow Beach and Turtle Bay come to mind. There is more to Bermuda than theDockyard area and the Fun Golf course. Taking the ferry from the Dockyard to Hamilton or St George’s is a great way to see the many small islands that make up Bermuda. There are interesting places to explore in Hamilton and Historic St George’s. There are also very good restaurants and bars located throughout Bermuda instead of confining oneself to the Frog and Onion Pub at the Dockyard. If you do have an opportunity to visit Bermuda again, you may want to do some of your excellent research to fully enjoy that beautiful country. MJ🙋🏻

😳 Seriously or not !!!

@sgmn Theo is a beautiful baby! Congratulations to all! MJ🙋🏻

@zentraveler I think that you were very wise to choose a suite while trying a Carnival cruise . As you posted, it was a sanctuary that you could enjoy . As someone who has cruised on Princess,HAL,Wndstar and Seabourne, it is not surprising that you found the cruise experience on a Carnival ship to be a very different experience. Cruise lines appeal to various demographics of passengers. A cruise company markets their cruise products to a certain type of customer. People who are drawn to Carnival for the reasonable price point, Vegas style decor and entertainment and brash vibe on the Carnival ships would,most likely,not be drawn to HAL which offers a sedate,relaxed atmosphere on their ships. And vice versa. Fortunately, there are all types of cruise lines to choose from for vacationers. I think a person needs to consider their personal style and comfort level when choosing a vacation. I can understand why you chose to try a Carnival cruise in that the pier is close to your home. At least you gave it a try and realize it is not for you. My DH and I have sailed on Princess many times and Celebrity NCL and Cunard a few times. After reading about Carnival cruises here on CC,and looking at their web site ,we are certain a Carnival cruise is not for us. There is a Carnival cruise to Bermuda from NYC which would be within driving distance for us and we enjoy visiting Bermuda.However, we think we would not be comfortable on the ship.For us,we would gladly spend a greater amount in cruise fare for one of those “fancier” cruise lines. To my way of thinking,”you get what you pay for”. Bon voyage on the Windstar Cruise ! MJ🙋🏻

Wishing all here an enjoyable Labor Day weekend! For those who do not have this holiday on their calendars,wishing you an enjoyable weekend too! We are going to a concert by a Beatles tribute band - Liverpool Shuffle- at our local beach/ park. It will be a great evening weather wise for the concert. Posting this to boost Dani’s thread to the first page. Hope it helps ! @JimboThose pies look delicious. I think you will have a tie ! Interested in the vodka crust . I have always followed the recipe that Lionesss-Sue posted using Crisco and ice water. If you are pleased with the vodka recipe,could you post it ? Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

I am not certain if you are aware that deer,while lovely gentle creatures, carry ticks that can cause Lymes disease in humans. We on Long Island have been aware of this for years. Many people in our area have been affected by Lymes. Heart and neurological issues can develop if the disease is left undiagnosed. The deer have been moving into neighborhoods as their woodland areas are being sacrificed for development.. While homeowners will not do anything to harm the deer, they do not choose to feed them either. I am not trying to be an alarmist, but trying to be helpful. Perhaps the beautiful deer in your area can be enjoyed from a distance. MJ🙋🏻 . .

Trying to catch up here.... Marietta and Deb- good to see that you were able to find each other and have a visit. So pleased that the grandchildren and their Mom are enjoying the cruise- even the pizza ! @LionesssWelcome home to Lizzie- wishing you and your hubby many happy days shared with her. Dani- Hoping your grandson had a great first day of school! Our great nephew,Henry starts Kindergarten next week. He was surprised when his Mom told him he would be going to school five days a week. He was used to going to pre- school three days a week. Sometimes growing up,is a hard thing to do ! I am sure he will do fine ! @h20skibum You and your wife are very loving and caring parents and grandparents. @brillohead Hoping you have a quick and full recovery. @Luckynana Good to hear that Ryan is home. No denying that his health journey is a difficult one, but it will get easier as time goes along as he and his family become familiar with handling the diabetes. As always, my good wishes to al of you. Hoping that I have reached out to the many posters here who have shared their news. Wishing everyone good days. Take care MJ🙋🏻

@waytoodeep03 I be a few questions from reading your post. Did you notice the dog’s owner anywhere nearby ? Did you speak to someone at Guest Services or an officer to notify them about the dog being off leash? If you didn’t mention the dog to someone in authority,why not? I am very uncomfortable about any dog being off leash whether it is by itself or walking with its’ owner. If I saw such a situation on a ship, I would notify someone in authority and,most likely,I would take a photo with my phone of the dog. MJ🙋🏻

@Twinkletoe I see from your latest post that you are considering a NCL British Isles cruise. I have sailed with NCL three times. I much prefer Princess. They offer lovely British Isles cruises with various ports on the itinerary based on the date of the particular sailing. My personal preference is Princess for that type of cruise. Have you considered a Princess Cruise.? Just curious. MJ🙋🏻

As a Beatles fan from the 1960’s , I would have to select the cruise with Liverpool as part of the itinerary. You may have a different interest. But, there is also a museum dedicated to the Titanic and the White Star Line in Liverpool if that history appeals to you. As to Paris, British Isles cruises usually dock in Le Harve which is approximately three hours drive away from Paris. An excursion from the ship to Paris leaves little time to explore the city. However, the port is near the D day beaches and the military cemeteries close by. There is a charming town of Honflueurs ( as I recall, spelling may not be correct) that would give you a taste of France closer to the ship. I think the decision would be guided by your interest in visiting the various ports of the two itineraries. MJ🙋🏻

@sanmarcosmanYou are dating yourself with those prices! I always went to games at Shea with my Dad when I was a kid. Easy commute from our house in Forest Hills. Citi Field is way different from Shea- very fancy schmancy ! Saint Greg- You we’re actually better off taking the F train as it runs along 6th Ave. The E train runs along 8th Ave,so you lucked out. MJ🙋🏻

@h20skibum Your granddaughter is a very cute cheerleader ! Wishing your daughter strength tomorrow for her treatment. Love and support of her family will be with her tomorrow and on her health journey. Please let her know that so many here on Dani’s thread are on her team and we will be thinking of her tomorrow and the days to come. MJ🙋🏻

@Luckynana My heart goes out to your grandson and his parents and family. A very close family friends’son,who we love like a grandson , was diagnosed with Type1 diabetes when he was eight years old. He is now sixteen and is doing very well. He plays bass guitar in his school’s jazz club, is on a fencing team and has been working at a local farm stand this Summer. He’s a great kid ! As others have posted, the developments in the management of this disease has improved tremendously since he was first diagnosed. He has an insulin pump and has the software that records his insulin levels both on his smart phone and both his parents’phones. They have all done a great job in handling his illness. He has not been hospitalized since the first time when the diagnosis was made. I am posting this as an encouragement to you and your family. Every patient is different in their health journey. I am wishing a good outcome for your grandson and hoping that he has already begun feeling better. MJ🙋🏻

Debbie and Marietta- Bon Voyage to both of you and your families ! George- Hoping for good test results for you. I will be having a battery of routine lab tests on Monday morning. Will be celebrating with a dish of my favorite ice cream,if the results are all within limits. Dani- Very glad that you enjoyed a happy family vacation. The dancing looked like fun. Your grandsons certainly enjoyed their pool time. Wishing all a good weekend. MJ🙋🏻

@DaniDanielle Looking forward to reading about the cruise with your family. Just a few more sleeps and you will be enjoying your vacation. I hope you all have a fabulous time. MJ🙋🏻

@Sea DogLen Dawson passing at the age of eighty seven after living a full and rewarding life ,he was blessed. Your friendship with him lasting for years is a blessing for you. Condolences on the loss of a good friend and mentor. MJ🙋🏻

@bubba83 Regarding hotels nearby the cruise terminal. The terminal is on the West side of Manhattan.between 46th and 54thStreets. There is a Holiday Inn Express on West 48th St. within walking distance of the pier. We have stayed there. The rooms are small and the breakfast area can be busy with pre cruise guests. There is also a hotel ,Ink, in the area. At least it was before Covid. When looking for a hotel,consider keeping your search on the West side, 46th- 54th Streets. Of course you could stay further away as the hotels that ninjacat123 indicated in the link in their post, but that would have to include a cab,Uber or Lyft ride to the pier. Greg- Not being a Debbie Downer, but being realistic. On the NYC local news yesterday evening, a subway passenger was stabbed at a very busy station near Rockefeller Center yesterday during the day. I will reiterate to you and any first time visitors to the City. Be aware,be careful,be safe. MJ🙋🏻

To the OP- Covid has effectively changed so much from the way it used to be. Why would a cruise vacation be exempt from the effects of it ? As others have posted,lower your expectations if you plan to take a cruise or move on to another type of vacation. MJ🙋🏻

Norris- Thank you for the info about the Lake District. There is a gentleman from England,Graham, that posts on the RCCL board. He often takes short trips to the Lake District as it is not very far from where he lives. His photos of the area are lovely and have caught my interest. Will you be reporting about the Beatles tour? I see that you mention Ringo’s home in Dingle. Is that the Dingle in Ireland ? My paternal grandmother’s family by the name of Griffin emigrated to New York from the Dingle area. Wishng you and Carol good days ! MJ🙋🏻

Dani- Wishing you,your hubby and your family a most enjoyable stay in Cyprus. Looking forward to any photos that you can post as I am not too familiar with that country. Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

@51st FMSAs I was reading some of the responses posted here questioning your choice of CCL and ship, I thought those posts were unnecessary. You have already booked the cruise and planning a vacation for twelve family members is certainly not easy. The suggestion that I have is if you cannot be accommodated with a table for twelve,you may consider two tables of six next to each other.There may be more availability of two tables and it may be more comfortable for your family as you can talk with each other if there is a smaller group apt each table.. Family members could change table places each night on a rotating basis so you get to visit with all of your family that way. I hope you enjoy celebrating your special anniversary. Sharing the vacation with each other is more important than what ship you have chosen. Bon Voyage and cheers! MJ🙋🏻

@baelorVery detailed review. Just curious- did you keep notes while on this cruise to refer to when writing this review? So far, only day 2 has been posted with so much information. Looking forward to the continuation of your vacation recap. MJ🙋🏻

Happy 41st anniversary,Pauline and Graham! So young in your photos with happy smiles that remain today . Hoping you enjoy your day and the celebration tomorrow. 💐🥂💝⭐️🎉 Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

Greg- You have a good idea to visit NYC for a few days before the cruise to Bermuda. I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in the great borough of Queens. From a young age, I went into the City to shop,see plays,go to museums and go to restaurants. First, with my parents,then friends and my hubby. I worked for a time in Midtown,commuting on the Subway from Queens. I have an extreme fondness for NYC, but I am very disappointed in what has happened to the City over the past five or so years. If you are not aware of what I am referring to,perhaps you can do a little research on news web sites. Always good to have an understanding of what is going on in a place that you are visiting for the first time. Because of Covid and the present state of the City,my hubby have not been there since the Fall of 2019. I am not mentioning this to you to dissuade you from enjoying your trip, but. I am encouraging you to be very cautious as you move about the City. You mentioned that you plan to use the Subway for transportation. That may be a way to get around during busy times of the day,but I would be cautious in taking it during the wee hours of the morning. I would consider using cabs ,Uber or Lyft and budget accordingly When walking on the streets, walk with confidence. As my Dad would always remind me- walk like you belong there. On a positive note, I have stayed at The Warwick a few times. You have a very good rate for that lovely hotel. It has retained some of the glamour of NYC from bygone days. The bar there is very attractive with dark paneling and low lighting -at least it was the last time we were there. The hotel is located more Midtown than Times Square,although the theaters are in easy walking distance. In the opposite direction is Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and then Lexington Ave. You will find some good restaurants in that area. There are - or used to be -pizza places and luncheonettes in that area also. Please do not eat at any chain restaurants such as Olive Garden or TGI Friday’s ! Go to authentic NYC restaurants. As far as going to a Mets game at Citi Field, the E or the F train changing to the #7 train is the way to go,particularly in the daytime. The #7 train was always a League of Nations in the ridership. You will not be the only Met fan on the train though! As others have posted, sailing from the NYC cruise terminal is a wonderful experience. We have done this many times on Cunard and NCL. We have also left from the Brooklyn terminal on Princess and have left from Bayonne,NJ on Celebrity.We have never tired from the experience. Usually, the ships will back away from the NYC pier,moving down the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty being on the starboard (right) side. We always stay on deck or on our balcony until we have passed under the Verrazano Bridge on the way out to sea. I wish you a pleasant stay in NYC. Be safe ! MJ🙋🏻