SusieKIslandGirl

(Quote) The place is incredible - the views - the merchants - the cathedral and everything around it. I am having a hard time choosing pics so I am afraid I will post too many, sorry.

I didn't know there was such a thing as too many photos! Enjoying every one of them. Thanks for taking the time to share.

I asked the same question for our Roll Call next year end of July. Being new to HAL I didn't want to be the first to set up a roll call as I have no knowledge of the ship or the usual places to hold gatherings. Going to leave it until the new year and see if one gets started.

Go ahead and start the roll call. You have a great starting message-you'd like information on the specific ship and HAL in general. It will take off from there.

We cruise around six months each year, so we have developed our own system.

 

 

All of our regular monthly bills are charged to a Visa card. Then once a month, I download and study the Visa bill. If I agree with the charges, I pay the Visa bill on line from my checking account. This system seems to work for us.

 

Scott & Karen

My question is how do you securely pay your bill on line? We'll be gone for over a month next year and I can plan for everything except for the Visa bill. Not sure how secure the ship's internet is-or maybe I am and don't want to do it.

For everyone planning on forwarding their mail, make sure you check the Temp. Forward box and put in an end date.

Hi Jacqui-Glad things are turning out on the positive side. The only problem with First Class or Business Class is that you get spoiled and the back of the plane is such a let down! My son and his wife just finished a First Class on Emirates (including shower) and they had wonderful stories.

Have a great tour, cruise and safe travels and will see you in April.---Susie

Good to hear that many still believe in hand washing. I was just surprised that no one seemed to use the Purell. I can understand the allergies and being sensitive to scents-good reason to avoid it. I did see one of the new hand washing stations on the Lido deck. The little kids loved it.

We just got off the Conquest and were amazed by the lack of the use of hand sanitizer by nearly everyone. Most evenings we were the only ones using it going into the MDR. Rarely saw anyone using it at breakfast either. We were also surprised that none of the crew encouraged anyone to use it. This was our first Carnival cruise in two or three years. We've been on a couple of other lines lately and the sanitizer was practically shoved down our throat-or at least deposited on our hands. Is this the new normal for Carnival?

Oct. 16, 2015 We are in Ft. Lauderdale right now at the Hilton Marina. While an ok place I wouldn't stay here again. After our long, hot walk to find some lunch, groceries and wine, I decided our next stay will be at the Embassy Suites on 17th. That's an ideal location if you have shopping to do-plus I love their breakfast offerings.

What is a premier cruise and how do you find out about them? Are they by invitation only? If so, what generates the invitation? Thanks!

I loved it on our Princess cruise that one hallway carpet had a red color woven into the pattern while the other side had the plain pattern. So easy at a glance to see which way to wanted to go when you got off the elevator.

Did you ever get a reply? We will be on the Conquest Oct. 17. You anywhere near the Southcenter Costco? We're there a lot and could meet you if you still need the mug.

Julie McCoy ! Sorry couldn't resist.:p;)

Sorry-wrong cruise line:)She was just on our Princess cruise!

Checking in from the middle of Puget Sound-grandson's little pool now has 2 1/2 inches of rain in it-was barely damp a couple of days ago. We could barely see out the front window due to all the leaves flying around. It is amazing how much we've been praying for some gray skies and rain and then boy! did our prayers come true, a little too much at once. Luckily we didn't lose any trees. The large ones lost in Vancouver is a sad sight. And now the sun is brightly shining after spits of rain off and on all day. A strange year for weather everywhere! Take care and be safe everyone!

On our first Princess cruise this past spring, we were able to book a tour online and pay later. It did show up on our onboard account. This was a surprise after always paying ahead on HAL tours.

I have a smallish cloth, insulated cooler that I take with me on cruises. I fill it with underwear or whatever in the suitcase and then have it filled with ice in the cabin. It keeps beverages cool for quite awhile. I'll also put not-so-perishable foods in it. You could fill up a water bottle with juice and have it handy all day.

Another gadget I started packing is my small kitchen timer. If I'm reading (or dozing) and I want to be sure I make it to a lecture or trivia, I set the timer to remind me it's time to move.

02-Apr-16 - 35 day Circle Hawaii, Tahiti & Marquesas

SusieKIslandGirl and Loren

Guess it's time to add us to your list! Can't wait to get onboard and meet everyone.

Thanks, Susie

Oops-had SeaTac on the brain. Town car still might not work.:p

The last time we had a town car from SeaTac it wasn't big enough for 3 adults, 1 child and luggage. You can get a minivan taxi in the parking garage (use a sky bridge to get from the terminal to the garage).

No, the items one purchases prior to the cruise also count towards the cruise day credits so it doesn't matter if you buy before or during the cruise.

Last cruise I wanted to book a shore excursion ahead of time and called to ask whether it would count toward cruise day credits. I was told only onboard purchases count. Guess I need to call again.

Would this purchase also add to your onboard spending total which then adds to your cruise day total? Don't remember the exact amounts but don't you receive one day toward Mariner status for every $300 spent onboard? That might be a reason to wait until onboard to buy the card.

I'm already on the lookout for biodegradable sunblock, but haven't seen any here. I know the water was often murky where there were a lot of tourists on the Great Barrier Reef, and I would hate to add to pollution in the waters of FP.

REI has several biodegradable sunscreens listed on their website. I think most were $6 to $12 for 3 oz. or larger.

A number of years ago we did a cruise tour during the middle of July. My sister-in-law had done the trip and suggested we take a couple of pair of shorts and warm-weather clothes. So glad we did. It was 92 degrees in Fairbanks and none of the hotels had air conditioning. Each room did have a small fan on the dresser. Haven't looked at Alaska weather lately but the West Coast has been too warm all spring and summer so far. Have fun!

We haven't achieved the level of free laundry yet so on ships without self-service laundry I have developed my method-wash clothes in the sink or tub and then hang the lightweight stuff on the line in the shower. For heavier, longer-drying items I found large suction cup hooks at the Container Store. After wringing out using towels to soak up most of the water I hang the pants or shirts on hangers and then put them on the hooks that I've attached to the stationary part of the sliding door to the balcony. Then I close the curtain and it's a nice toasty solar dryer. Of course you need to be on a cruise where the sun will shine! You can also use the hooks for hanging other items when not drying clothes. Great place for my sun hat.

I also have made large and small "baskets" out of fabric and stiffener (Pellon-type interfacing). I put snaps on the corners to make sides like a box or basket. Small, narrow one goes on the nightstand for my keycard, watch and other pocket junk. Larger ones in the closet hold socks and other loose stuff. You unsnap the corners and it's flat to fit easily in the suitcase.

Lastly, I found an organizer at The Container Store that is magnetic. It has a separate divider you can add. I put it on the wall near the desk and keep my post-it notes, pens, highlighters, small scissors and other desk-type items handy but off the desk top. It was made to put on a metal sheet you put on a wall at home and then stick the containers on that but don't need the sheet on the ship.

Not sure when you'll be in Seattle but right across the street from the hotel is the 5th Avenue Theater which has premiered several of the latest Broadway hits including Hairspray and Memphis. Check out their website. There are also harbor tours that include the Ballard Locks and Lake Union-you see the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat and many others too or you can ride the Duck. Lastly, if you have an entire day and a rental car you can visit the Mt. St. Helens Volcano area, south of Seattle.

WOW, thank you again - another huge tip. I posted the link for this thread on my roll call so I know others are following (or at least I hope they still are).

 

:D

Yep, some of us are here. Kazu is a fantastic organizer for our roll call. And reading all this plus having the sun out today is making the waiting kind of hard. I know time is flying and will be on board in no time. (After a hopefully kinder winter than last year for the East coast and more rain and snow for the West coast.)

Thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Susie