pirate4me2

Ahhhhh, more good news on my front! Today is just a REALLY GOOD day for me. 🙂

So, remember my (well, Chris's) poor little Toyota Corolla that was involved in the accident on my way home from my Horizon cruise? And how the insurance company was being less than cooperative? Well, we got news today that they are totaling the car out....but paying us about $500 more than we paid for it! Granted, we bought it off family, so we got an excellent deal, but it's gonna be hard to replace that car.....it was a 2009 with just 51k miles on it. With vehicle prices like they are right now it's gonna be hard to find a comparable vehicle at that price. 

RIP little 'rolla.....every time I pass exit 42 (where accident happened) and exit 29 (your final resting spot)  in GA I will think of you. 

3 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

You are unbelievable! We're already booked on that same B2B! You better not cancel on us again! Now, all you need to book the 4/12 sailing on the Jubilee and we're golden! 😁

Hot dang!!! We will be B2B buddies! And no chance of us canceling, Chris is stoked to be getting back to NOLA and there are too many good things about this cruise. 🙂

As for the Jubilee....I wish I could, but I'll be sailing MSC's new ship, World America, a few weeks after this sailing, and I only get so much time off. Otherwise I would be hopping onboard! 

31 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

A lot of people hate progreso because there isn't a Margaritaville and a Senor Frogs at the port. If you like Mayan Ruins it's the best port to go to. It's a 45 minute bus ride from the capital of the Yucatan, Merida. It's worth a visit. The mayan ruins are worth a visit. There is a free beach there but not as nice as the islands. If you are looking for a local tour company I can recommend Autoprogreso. Unless things have changed since I've been there (2017), that's the company that shuttles you to and from the ship so they should be the best as far as getting you back on time. I am planning on doing Uxmal with them later this year.

 

I know @Jamman54 is on Valor next year so depending on when you're going....

Hey thanks for that info! I would love to see the ruins, that would be a different type of tour for me and Chris and I think he would enjoy it to.

We chose March 31 & April 5 sailings. Maybe I will finally meet up with Jeff & Patti!

Well, my "survival lunch" as Sid would call it was a bust. I am trying to eat more vegan/vegetarian dishes, and I saw this "Buddha Bowl" for just $1 at my local grocery store in the freezer section. Sounded interesting (sweet potatoes, quinoa, chili covered chick peas, and some other veggies with some kind of sauce), so I picked a few of them up. I mean, c'mon, $1 for a lunch is awesome!  It was....meh. Not awful, but not great. There's a reason it was just $1! I added some Texas Pete to it and that made it edible, and I will eat the others, but won't enjoy them. 

On the up side, I finally got mine and the hubby's great return to NOLA for next year figured out! We are trying to sail new-to-us ships, and we had never sailed on Valor, so I got to looking at her itineraries. We have never been to Progresso, so that one piqued my interest, but all her itineraries are just 4 and 5 days....that's too short for me and Chris, especially if we are driving to NOLA. Soooooo, why not do a B2B? That's two times of sailing down the Mississippi (I love that!), 2 times in Cozumel in less than 2 weeks (I know a lot of peeps don't like Coz, but I LOVE it!), and we get to sit back and laugh as everyone else packs their bags at the end of the first leg of the voyage, but we get to party on! We haven't done a B2B in a long time, but I remember loving turn-around day when it was like the ship was "ours" for a while. So, I booked two 5 day itineraries, on a new-to-us ship, going to a new-to-us port. I am excited. 

3 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Well Tribe I have been quiet here as the mid-May Alaska cruise approaches. I had asked everyone’s thoughts about live reviewing it as a Friends of Bill W. Cruise. 
 

That’s not going to happen. Bill’s friend isn’t his friend after all. I still intend to take this cruise because it is our only child’s high school graduation present. It’s maybe 50/50 whether Bill’s former friend will be in any condition to travel. Probably won’t decide until it’s time to drive to O’Hare. Game Day decision. 

 

Instead I might be sharing the experience of figuring out exactly what kinds of health cancellations are covered by my cruise insurance. I always buy it but confess I just get whatever plan the booking engine offers and never read the policy. 
 

For once I actually booked travel insurance on both the cruise and the flights, two separate policies. Should be interesting, I guess if that’s the word for it, to figure it out. 

 

Sending positive vibes your way. 

7 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Good morning Tribe Family from a sunny and very hot Kralendijk, Bonaire! We'll just get off the ship for a couple of hours to explore the port area, and then retreat back to the Havana. I wonder where my Husband Daycare will be today! 😁

Have a great day! 

1 hour ago, Hogladyrider said:

Spring is in the air here in Utah!

That tree is beautiful!!!!

25 minutes ago, atanac said:

If it comes to that just hook Chaka up to a dolly and whip him like a rented mule.

OMG I just laughed until I had tears. Thank you....its a stressful day at my own work (someone may be getting the boot) and I needed that laugh!

Just now, meskel503 said:

Well Tribe today we leave for our 14-day cruise on the Carnival Spirit.  We go to Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, Icy Point Strait, Sitka, Valdez and Seward.  We haven't been to the last three so we are looking forward to those.  We enjoy the others also.  Hope you all have a great two weeks. 

Bon voyage!

9 hours ago, sciencegrrl said:

Meatloaf tip:

 

Use really lean ground beef or ground sirloin, seasoning, liquid smoke, cheese, etc. Instead of a pan, hollow out a loaf of sourdough bread and tear up 1/3 to put in your meatloaf. Stuff the meatloaf in the sourdough and cook (you need a leaner ground beef so the bread doesn't get soggy). Top with some cheese and broil the last 3 minutes - it's killer. Also when cold and sliced, it makes a great lunch the next day.

Oh man, that sounds delish! Adding this to my "must try" list! 

2 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Good morning Tribe Family! We'll be arriving in Aruba at 1pm today. No big plans, just walking around town and doing the free trolley. Before and after we'll be hanging out in the Havana area. Have a great day everyone! 😎

Have a great day! I can't wait to get back to Aruba in December. 

2 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

I loved the Seashore. It's designed very well so even at full capacity we never felt it. There were so many nice areas literally empty every day, felt weird walking and not another person in sight.

Hey, that’s awesome to hear!! 
 

32 minutes ago, princess76021 said:

I make what my kids used to call a pizza meatloaf.  It has pepperoni , mozzerella, and tomato sauce incorporated topped with a little sauce, and you guessed it, mozzarella and pepperoni!

 

They wouldn't eat the "regular" meatloaf

 

Hugs from Texas

This sounds so good! I’m going to have to try it. 🙂

Hello, Tribe family!

I had a pretty low key weekend. Did my grocery shopping and ran a few errands on Saturday, and then yesterday it was rainy so I just fed the horses and spent the day at the camper so I could keep an eye on Grandma. She's not really following dr. orders....she tries to "forget" her walker, and has been caught bending over to pick things up off the floor/put socks on/etc, and also twisting. I flinch each time and get onto her about it, all I can see is her popping that new hip out! 

Today I am back at work, and have been doing some cruise switcharoos for next year. I am not really feeling the Legend that I have booked for April. Chris has been asking to go back to NOLA, so I am going to look at something from there for Feb/Mar/April time period. I also had us booked on the Vista in Oct of next year, but we are sailing Vista so much this year and next, as well as another in 2026, that I decided to cancel that one. Chris is planning an Alaska land trip, so I decided I need another girls' trip with Mom and B, and I booked the MSC Seashore for next Oct over mom's birthday. Cruise planning is so much fun. 🙂

1 hour ago, Knights on the Beach said:

 

Thank goodness, I think. 😂

I actually prefer the smart elevators! If people follow the directions, they work wonderfully. 

1 hour ago, Butterbean1000 said:

I missed it on our last cruise, too.  I'm making it a point to hit the buffet first to make sure I get some.

 

Good plan! 👍🏻 

On 4/18/2024 at 4:37 PM, dmet0225 said:

For those Tribe members who love horses, these are views around one of the pieces of real estate that I manage, a 26-acre equestrian facility with close to 65 indoor stalls, a 200x100 indoor arena, 2-200x100 outdoor arenas, a fully automatic electric walker, an enclosed round lunging pen, 5 turnout pastures and 27 turnout paddocks.

Those are some pretty horses!!

Whoo hoo, welcome back to Carnival! Im

along for the ride, I LOVE your reviews!

Oh wow, sounds about right as far as personality goes. I'm glad Patti has had no issues with her! 

@Jamman54, has Precious improved at all this week? 

Hey, she looks familiar! I hung out a few times in the atrium and she made me some drinks. I didn't realize at the time that I was in the presence of a Carnival celebrity! 

We have used them a few times on Horizon and other ships and love them. They're easy enough to use, and they have a little TV above explaining how to use them. I do get a chuckle when someone just "hops on" and then realizes (too late) the elevator doesn't have buttons inside and won't be stopping on their desired floor! 

Funfetti cake! THAT'S what I forgot on my last embarkation day!!!

Hallelujah! We may finally be making progress on the wreck from last month! The insurance company is finally sending an adjuster out to see the poor 'rolla, AND they issued my hubby a rental vehicle for his dive trip this weekend since he told them it was a huge inconvenience that his everyday vehicle was tied up in this mess and he was stuck driving an old, gas guzzling, rusty farm truck. Fingers crossed that the adjuster goes out quick and they get things sorted out soon. 

We have done Rudi's 3 times on MG. First time was meh, and I wasn't sure about returning, but decided to give it a second shot on a different sailing....and it was delish! So much so that we booked another night there on that same sailing. I would go again in the future! 

On 4/16/2024 at 9:35 AM, ninjacat123 said:

What's the difference between Blanton's and my current fav Woodford Reserve?  Smokier? Just curious on what you all think.  Yes, I will try it on my next cruise in September😉

I love Woodford, I hate to admit my uncle and I have a shot or 2 of it every evening. 

I may be the crazy one here, but I was not a fan of Blanton's at all when I tried it last week. I tried it neat, over ice, and in an Old Fashion. I will stick with my Woodford, Eagle Rare, Angel's, or even Buffalo Trace. 

2 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

Even if my DH was standing at the bar, I would grab both receipts and sign them, forging his signature.  I'm his "travel" secretary.😉

1 hour ago, Frank12 said:

We do the same.  Not even a real signature, just a squiggly line.  What an exercise in futility!

I did the same last week with Mom, and you know what? You dont even need a pen to sign, your fingernail can be one! A few bartenders got a good kick out of that! 

21 minutes ago, threewide said:

Great read!  Too bad I found it a bit too late!

 

First time on CCL since 2015, we took the kids.

Do they still make you sign for your drinks?

I remember back then, waiting in line for 20 mins for a drink, wife found a table and stayed with it, but would only let me buy 1 drink, so she had to go back in line herself and wait inline also

By the time she got back mine was empty. lol

 

We are staying in Havana, for her 50th Bday on Horizon.

We have Cheers, this time as well.

Yes, you do still have to sign a $0 receipt for your drink.....so annoying. However, every bar we went to would allow mom to take my card with her, or vice versa, and order me (or her) a drink as well. We would just wave from the table at the bartender and they would make both. :)