CruisinLow

Paul,

You truly have a gift with your words in the explanations of all aspects of your cruise. Thank you so much for sharing your time and experience as well as expertise with cruising.

I will be doing the same cruise in September, 2020 and your knowledge has been invaluable.

I appreciate your entire blog.

As I am doing the same cruise next year, I truly appreciate your time and effort in sharing all the information that you have given us. It has been a fantastic read for me. Thank you so much and I look forward to your next posts and whole wrap-up.

Bon Voyage Paul and Edward.

Just like Mamfej and Jelayne posted above, I too with a group of friends will be on this same cruise in September of 2020.  So I am very anxious to follow along with your adventures on the cruise this year. Have a fabulous time.

Bob,

Tell Holli all her buddies here from the Hawaiian cruise wish her the best possible outcome for her surgery.

2 hours ago, Woobstr112G said:

Good morning from the Ruby Princess.  Well the dreaded day is here.  Time to get of this beautiful ship at the end of the cruise.  Right now we are getting close to entering the breakwater to enter the channel to our eventual docking. While ending the cruise always leaves me feeling a little melancholy, the best part of the cruise ending is we'll be picking up our beloved Golden Misha later in this morning.   

 

I hope everyone has found my Live From informative and enjoyable to read.  I really enjoy doing them.I will be posting a full review within the week as my work schedule lets me.  I also will be uploading my pictures to my Flickr page within the next day or two.  I always begin touching up my photos and categorizing while still on the cruise.  This saves me a ton of time. In any case, the link to my Flickr page is in the bottom of my signature.

 

That's all for now, I'll probably check back in after we get home.  

 

Look for my next "Live From" in November from the new Sky Princess.

 

Bob

 

Thanks Bob. Again another great blog. I did very much enjoy it as always. 

My next cruise in less than 2 weeks is only a 7 day one also and that truly is just not enough days. But, like  you, I have more planned or the rest of 2019. Again, thanks Bob.

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Wow, Bob, that seems like such a short trip.  And soon it will be over.  You need to stay on her and extend your trip to Hawaii.  I dislike those disembarkation forms that are delivered to your cabin before you have a chance to start your vacation.  I detest, even more, the dreaded task of getting everything back in to the suitcase.  Lucky for you, EFFY stuff is very small and should be hand carried off instead.

Lately when coming back into San Pedro, there are no Immigration Forms to fill out if you just did a CA. Coastal, or Mexico cruise.

1 hour ago, Woobstr112G said:

Thanks Ann.  Holli & I are really looking forward to having a great time.  I hope the Ruby's casino is a little friendlier than the Star's from this past November.....

 

Bob

Hopefully the Ruby Casino is better now than it was for me in October last year. Go get'em

Bob,

BON VOYAGE

Hopefully you will have fantastic weather during this cruise. Have a wonderful, relaxing, enjoyable time with Holli and family. Think that Paul gets back today so I am sure he will have plenty to say about his cruise.

9 minutes ago, Woobstr112G said:

Ann;

 

See you onboard.....🙂🙂🙂

Bob

Yes Bob, see you soon. We leave Orange County about 10:30 for the relativity short drive to the pier. Will not be long now.

By the way, do you realize that you past 37,000 posts either yesterday or today???  Congrats.

To have the CC Boards down yesterday without a prior word to the members, seemed very inconsiderate. However, maybe it was not planned and they had no control.

Regardless, we are up and running now and I also will be boarding the Star today with Bob and Holli. So looking forward to this cruise.

11 hours ago, Woobstr112G said:

She told me she was staying at the Vagabond which is on Gaffey.  

 

Bob

Too bad as that would have great if you could have seen each other. But you can now wave her ship good bye today in the harbor

3 minutes ago, Woobstr112G said:

An early good evening from the Hilton Doubletree in San Pedro.  We’ve been checked in for about an hour.  Holli is resting up at the moment while I roam around the marina taking a few pictures.  Hotel is pretty crowded.  The  Norwegian Bliss sails tomorrow for a 14 day Panama Canal Cruise.  There are tons of NCL cruisers in the restaurant and at the bar.  Haven’t spied any of our r/c members yet.  There are a few checking in today and a few checking in tomorrow.

 

That’s all for now.  I’ll check in a little later.....

 

Bob

Hey Bob, do you think Jo might be staying there too? I am not sure where she said she was staying as she leaves tomorrow on the Bliss.

15 hours ago, retiring soon said:

Hi all!

 

Bob ~ thanks for posting about your cruise. I look forward to reading it when I get back from my 14 days on the Bliss.

Have a great time. Bon voyage to you, Holli & Ann.

 

~ Jo ~ 😊

Thanks Jo and you have a great time on your Panama Canal cruise also.

Bon Voyage to all of us

And I look forward to sailing along with Bob on this cruise. Only a few more days until we board. I am very ready for this cruise also. It is always fun to cruise with Bob and Holli.

We just (May 4th) did the most amazing tour organized through our roll call with Roy Greenwald (owner operator) of Shetland Small Group Tours.

 

www.shetlandtours.co.uk

 

A lifelong resident and such a wonderful guy...he made our visit so memorable. He books up so very fast so if interested move quickly to confirm !!

Just went to his website and the most he can accommodate is 8 people; I have 13 so unfortunately, I cannot use him. However, appreciate the lead and the accolades on his service.

We just (May 4th) did the most amazing tour organized through our roll call with Roy Greenwald (owner operator) of Shetland Small Group Tours.

 

www.shetlandtours.co.uk

 

A lifelong resident and such a wonderful guy...he made our visit so memorable. He books up so very fast so if interested move quickly to confirm !!

Thank you also for this information. How many were in your group? Do you think he can handle 13? I will get in touch with him.

It's been a few years, but we used Tour Shetland.

Someone on our roll call set up the tour.

We visited a lighthouse, ancient ruins, a mill, a croft house, peat bogs and had a general tour of part of the island. We saw puffins, Shetland ponies, waterfowl, seals etc. (Probably more stuff, but that's what I remember off the top of my head.) We stopped for lunch at a pub.

 

Overall, a very enjoyable day.

Than you so much. I will contact Tour Shetland then.

This is what is so great about Cruise Critic. What did we ever do in the past?? Oh, I know, we paid more for ship's tours. Thanks again.

Anyone have any experience with a tour in Lerwick. Arrive there in May, 2019

Appreciate any information on a private tours in that area.

Thank you

We all need to give a big THANKS👋😀 to Ann for helping so many people organize a Slot Pull.

I have been using her spread sheet, (I had to self train myself on using a spreadsheet) & her instructions are excellent.

I agree no reason to notify the casino manager. I always look for a $1 Wheel of Fortune slot machine.

I have someone help me with the spreadsheet, someone will usually agree to help. We collect everyone’s key card, I put them into a bag, & collect $15 from everyone & mark that we collected there money. We count the money & make sure that it matches the number of people. Then the $ is turned into some larg bills which are fed into the machine. Cards are drawn out one by one for peoples turns. I try & encourage people to cheer everyone on. If someone gets the right combination & you get to spin the top wheel it’s easy with the excitement to forget how many spins someone had.

On my last cruise on the Caribbean Princess there was a Phillipeano casino staff person whom I became friends with on another cruise, I was in the Philippines in the Navy, & when I mentioned our Slot Pull she provided me some bingo cards for everyone to have.

I make a flyer with the location of the casino & find photos to include & I include a map of the ship deck to show the meeting location.

In planning the slot Pull I have people on my Roll Call email me with there first name & stateroom number to put onto my spreadsheet. I send them my flyer with the details. I only mention that I’m planning a slot pull. People email me to be included.

If you would like a copy of my flyer email me at trbarton743 at aol dot com & put Slot Pull Flyer in the subject line.

I away on Saturday on a cruise so if I’m not able to reply right away I will when I return.

Tom😎

Thank you so much Tom for the kudos. I really do like some of your ideas that you have as to how to collect all the money and the fact that you have a slot for flyer.

Enjoy your pending cruise and I will be emailing you for a copy of the flyer.

Bon Voyage

Hi Tom, It looks like I may have to organize the slot pull, I have volunteers to help assist but no one stepping up to run it. Can you please help !

 

Do you have a spread sheet you used to keep track of the winnings?

Do you have to select the machine before the slot pull? Doesn't that allow a crew member to 'adjust' the machine, do you know what I mean?

Does everyone put their own money into the machine, in other words the person playing puts all their money in $15 or $20 and then plays 5 pulls at $3.00 each.... or do you load the machine will everyone's money and then you keep track of what each player earns?

How do you divide the money?

I need HELP !

 

Karon

Karon,

I am not Tom but I do have a spreadsheet as well as instructions if you would like me to forward them to you. Please post your email address and I will send them to you. Or email me at cruzqueen@verizon.net and Indicate that you want Slot Pull Instructions.

If you've still got that spreadsheet I'd really appreciate a copy too.

 

j@jaym.cc

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Jay

Just sent the instructions and spreadsheet to your email.

Yes, I would also like to know.

According to a pre-cruise email, Captain Todd McBain will be on the Emerald Princess for a 12 day Alaska cruise from Los Angeles to Alaska and back to Los Angeles that leaves on April 27, 2018. Hope that helps

Just got back from my Panama Canal cruise. We had the MOST FANTASTIC experience at the spa. WOW, it was great.

Viator tours was right at the port as we got off the ship and sent 5 of us off in a van to the Spa for our full day there. The driver was a driver only and did not give us any information along the drive. But we did not pay for a narrated tour so that was fine.

When we arrived, we had a fully escorted tour for the 3 of us. We paid first and then off to get on our bathing suits for the Thermal Circuit. it was incredible. Also their facilities are amazing; very clean and not what you would expect after seeing the neighborhood as you drive to the facility. During the Thermal Circuit, we were served a fruit smoothie that was delicious. Then the 3 of us went our separate ways for our massages. When we were all done, we were escorted to a patio and our pre-ordered lunch was served. The food was very good.

Then off to get our facials and salt scrubs. What great experiences. And after all that, we showered and changed back into our clothes. It was only a short time until another large van came to get us and take us back to the port in plenty of time prior to the ship leaving.

This was a marvelous experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

My only negative or perhaps just a word of caution is that they are not really equipped for handicapped. In one of the pools, there was no handrails and there are many up and down steps.

I am really interested in this tour, but it says it leaves at 7:50 am and we only get into port (April) at 8 am. it says its an 8 hours tour, we leave by 5. Just not sure if we are calling it too close. :(

Linda,

You might want to ask an on-line question about these times on their website. https://www.santateresita.com.gt/home.html

They did actually call me back so we could discuss the logistics of the times. Fortunately our ship arrives at 7:00 AM and does not depart until 6:00 PM. It is about an hour away from the port so they should be able to tell you if your times are sufficient to get to the spa, have services and return in time to catch your ship.

Hope this helps you.

hi Baja mama

 

can you please tell me which Viator tour it is for the hot springs? I think my wife will be most interested when we arrive at Puerto Quetzal after Christmas

Hi,

This is Cruisin'Low not Baja Mama but I do have some information for you as my friends and I are the ones taking the tour.

The Viator tour can be found at this link https://www.viator.com/tours/Puerto-Quetzal/Puerto-Quetzal-Shore-Excursion-Thermal-Circuit-and-Hot-Springs-with-Lunch/d5176-3022P44

And if she wants to book some massages or body treatments in advance, Here is the link for Santa Teresita https://www.santateresita.com.gt/home.html

They do have an on-line help desk to help you book treatments in advance also and you do nt have to pay until the day you are there.

Hope this helps and have a glorious cruise.