rwest898

2 hours ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Jeff and Patti are already in Bonaire but I'm backing up to Aruba. 🙂 We had originally planned to do the trike tour but after watching some videos online, we decided we weren't that crazy about some of the stops so we cancelled it. So instead we just wandered around the port for a bit and walked over to our ultimate destination - Lucy's. There's one in New Orleans but the one we've been to many times was in Key West. We loved it but they closed it last year so we were looking forward to visiting the Aruba location.

 

But first lunch on the ship at Cucina (yes we ate all of this).

 

 

 

 

We found a lobster on our bed before we headed off the ship (lucky thing I'm not allergic to this kind).

 

 

Lucy's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple hours later, we headed back to the port area where we bought a Christmas ornament and some pink sparkly magnets before getting back on the ship.

 

 

 

After that big lunch and then snacks at Lucy's, we weren't hungry at dinner time. I don't remember but suspect we had some pizza later on. But first we spent some quality time at Ocean Plaza Bar.

 

 

 

 

And that's where my photo trail ends for Aruba day. 😂

Where is Lucy's?  Thanks😊

22 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

A few notes to play catch up, because I should be a couple days into my LIVE run up to my Venezia cruise, but life, as they say, happens...

 

So Friday was the last day of school, always a benchmark kinda day, and this year was a little bittersweet with a bunch of folks I'm awfully close to moving on (including both my APs) and me moving into a new role next year (coaching)... so the traditional friday all staff Happy Hour was the usual good time, with a pool day with friends and a casino run north of the red river on deck for Saturday and Monday respectively. 

 

Then, I woke up early Saturday to calls from my mom letting me know that Dad had passed out and the ambulance was en route to the closest hospital. He came right back to, and was alert and aware by the time I got there. So I could go on for pages about all that's gone on since then, but here's the quick version as best as I can convey it.....

 

The initial hospital in our Dallas suburb (my folks live in the house i bought years ago, I'm essentially their landlord and am lucky to have them very close by to my apartment) saw dad in the ER and determined there may be a small bleed somewhere internally since his BP was very low. Suspected that's what caused the passing out. They scheduled GI tests and moved him to the ICU for that night to prep for testing. He was acting normal and his BP had stabilized. EKG was great, everything else looked good. One doctor came in and speculated it was related to a UTI, but i've been in situations before where that was an ER hailmary diagnosis that had nothing to do with anything. 

 

Next morning they performed an endoscopy and found a very large ulcer in his stomach. So the bad news is this thing is big; the good news is it wasn't bleeding much and didn't appear to be perforated.... but it would confirm the initial diagnosis and why he'd been having stomach issues and not eating much before his episode. So to complicate matters, 10 years ago we almost lost him when he had a duodenal ulcer tear right where the intestine meets the stomach. It essentially filled him with waste, he was in a coma, had to have a complicated surgery that removed a large part of his stomach and rerouted his intestines (a whipple procedure). He was in the hospital for four months but made a full recovery and has been fine and gotten into better shape in the ensuing ten years. That said, because of his complicated past with ulcers and his stomach surgery, this hospital wanted to transfer him to their big flagship facility in downtown Dallas to allow for specialists to perform the surgery. I met him at the local hospital before the transfer, gave him his phone to keep him busy, and told him I'd meet him at the new place downtown (close to where he worked for 45 years). B and I were at the new hospital waiting when he got there. (Ambulance what?)

 

So last night we got him settled in and comfortable, got his TV working how he liked it, phone charged, all is well. Night nurses came on shift, said the doctor would be by at some point, so I let him fall asleep and headed home. I canceled the casino run with my buddies, my mom headed down at the crack of dawn today to be with him, and I'm back at their house to take care of their dog. Today, the new hospital ran a ton more tests, CT scans, EKGs, etc.... and we never actually talked to the surgeon. Just kept hearing maybe they wanted to try and avoid surgery (why did we transfer him 40 miles then?)... FINALLY, in the past half hour, the surgeon appeared and she confirmed that she would like to avoid surgery because apparently the ulcer formed right at the incision from his previous major surgery ten years ago, and that could create some complications. They want to keep him a while and run medications and fluids at him to fight the ulcer and send him home without surgery. We asked questions and wanted to make sure this isn't a situation where he's passing out again the day after he leaves the hospital, and the doctor insisted that wasn't a concern, that he passed out as a result of dehydration since he hadn't been eating or drinking much and his bp dropped. My mom reminded her of the blood clots he dealt with with the previous incident and the thinner that he's on, and the surgeon said she would return and talk with her big boss this afternoon to finalize a course of treatment and then she'd be back to speak with Mom later, so obviously we're hoping for the best. 

 

Sorry to dump all this; I made the calculated decision to share because i've been essentially paralyzed with anxiety the last few days and just waiting for the phone to ring. Here's hoping the big man gets home and happy soon, because if you knew my parents, you'd know i will not be allowed to cancel my cruise next weekend under any circumstances. Sooo, I'll start the LIVE soon and I don't know yet if or how much I'll mention this, but there it is. Thanks for listening!

Saying prayers for your dad🙏

4 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Good morning Tribe Family! It's a big day today as Patti is having the surgery to fix her left foot. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Her surgery is at noon, and I will check back in after it's over. ♥️ 

Sending prayers 🙏 

33 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I wasn’t going to bring this up, but last night after softball, we stopped at Sonic. There’s a chance a hit was put out on my life or I was poisoned, one or both. Either way, my stomach is not ok. No one else in the house has had any issues, so I’m going to battle through it. If this live takes a turn or if I go MIA, just know I had a good run, and Sonic in Apache did me in. 

I thought it was just me. It's been months since I've been to sonic.The last time I was there I had one of those garlic burgers and it really missed my stomach up, no one else got sick. I haven't been back. Hope you feel better. 

15 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Ok. Me too. 

I am getting that on the reviews I recently started following,  but on other ones past a couple of weeks of following I have no problem.

Jeff. If you are doing a btob and purchase alcohol, do you pick up that morning or at the end of the second cruise?

3 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Day count

Thank you 

4 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

About to play my favorite game… how much food is just enough to cover the days until we leave. 
The kids are packed. Mr. Megan is packed and heading back to work for 4 days. And I’m just here trying to figure out why I only did one stateroom for 5 again. 

Which countdown clock did you use again? I know you mentioned it once before but I don't remember.   Thanks Megan 😊

Happy Mother's Day Tribe Moms!!🌷🪻🌻

Thank you so much for your review, I  enjoyed it. If  you do another review in October will you please post the link here.  

2 hours ago, RenoNanaOz said:

My Tribe I need your prayers 🙏. My Father in Law has been suffering with dementia for 10 years. My Mother in Law has been caring for him on her own. He’s 89 and she’s 86. Yesterday she collapsed, my brother in law found her. Drs found cancer in her bladder. We’re on our way to Vegas now. 

Prayers for you and your family 🙏

1 hour ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

This happened 18 years ago today. ♥️

Happy Anniversary!!

3 hours ago, marazul said:

Fabulous location. Great choice.

Walking distance to Gaudi masterpieces on Passeig de Gracia and to Plaza Catalunya.

Thank you so much!  Are there cafes and restaurants nearby?

2 hours ago, Stallion said:

[forgot to attach copy of the "Let's Get Ready to Rumble Post" with Saint Gregg's nemesis]

 

Show me you're a first time cruiser without telling me you are a first time cruiser

I ate on Lido, I didn't know I could eat in the dining room. 

Has anyone stayed at H10 Casa Mimosa.   We are considering staying there for about 3 days pre-cruise.  Is it close to attractions or in walking distance.  Thank you. 

Looking forward to this review!!

I'm looking at H10 Catalunya and Casa Mimosa.  Does anyone have any information on Casa Mimosa.   This is pre-cruise.  Thanks. 

How was the Dutch pancakes house?

54 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Well boo. Thought it would be okay to buy a bottle of wine in port and being back in the ship but they said no, I had to check it. Nope. So outside I sits and drinks. 🙂

 

 

I also thought you could on TA cruises.

Looking forward to your review.  Thank you for posting the link.

2 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

If anyone remembers my team from Tribe Cruise 2024 for Family Fued… my teammate that had the scary doll obsession and answered “sweet cheeks” to the question about stripper/car names just asked me to be in her wedding next year. 
I think I’m busy. 

I didn't think you know her like that.  You just met for the Family Feud right?

So we were scheduled for the Transatlantic Princess Star October 2025 from Southampton to Ft. Lauderdale and received a email today it's changed.  Its now not October 20th it's the 22nd, and no longer from Southampton but Barcelona 16 days to 14.  I should have learned from the Jubilee. 

5 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Good afternoon Tribe Family. Just back on the ship after a great day in Amber Cove. Of course we had a pool cabana. Had my usual spot along the lazy river where I made a lot of new friends. Missed not seeing all the Tribe members coming around. After leaving we'll be heading back to PC to begin the second leg of our journey. Have a great day everyone! 😎

Jeff quick question, we are considering doing the Celebration Havana cabana, is it better port side or Starboard closer to pool and bar?

6 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

It's cruise day!!! 😁😁😁

Enjoy!!

4 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

I just read a horror story of what happened with the Carnival Miracle and the cruise tour in Honolulu. Wow. Prayers and good thoughts going their way. Tragic. 

I was there and heard and saw it. We were waiting in the rideshare area.  It was loud because it sounded like gunshots but it was the shuttle hitting the cement barrier.  It was awful and then learning someone lost their life.