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LIVE from the Vision of the Seas Sailing 5 Oct 2012


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Someone asked about my future cruise plans and for the first time ever, I am about to get off a RCI Ship with no cruises booked at all.

 

During the first leg of the cruise my election to Commodore of the Palm Coast Yacht Club was confirmed and I take office on January 1st.

 

It is going to be busy year for me and I really need ot devote my time to the Club so no cruises in 2013.

 

:eek::eek::eek:No LIVE FROM from Jim & Judith for the next year??? Please say it ain't so!!!

 

Whatever your cruise plans, please accept a huge THANK YOU for another great travelog, all of your time and especially for the laughs - love your sense of humor, Trainman.

 

Congrats on the Yacht Club confirmation and getting the house of your dreams. Don't know which one of you is the chef, but that kitchen is bitchin!

 

Until next time. . .

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I just now found out about your wonderful reputation of being an informative cruise reporter, and after only a few pages I can see why people like to read your posts. Now I will have to go back through all of your cruises and that will fill up hours of my free time, so I don't know whether to thank my friends or be mad at them for getting me hooked. Between you and Radio you are really going to have my house looking a mess because I know I won't want to do anything but read:rolleyes:;):D

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I am now reaching your posts from your first stop in Cartagena, and for some reason all of your photos now have a message that says sorry, but the photos have been removed, and the pictures are no longer there. Would you know why this is happening?

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Trainman thank you for all the great posts about your Panamal Canal cruise. I have been wanting to ask you question and you have been so good about answering everyone's. I have just been trying to find the appropriate time. My husband and I are going to So. Carib. in Feb. on Brilliance. My husband's younger sister and financee were suppose to go with us. She got sick in January and after an 8 month fight she passed away in Sept. My husband and I have decided to continue on the cruise and dedicate it to her memory. We have a small part of her ashes and my husband is wanting to scatter them over the caribbean ocean. I read of your Freedom cruise dedicated to your late wife, Carol. My question is: is there paperwork I need to take and is there a department at Royal that I need to call to get this set up a time to scatter Jeanine's ashes?

 

 

Call RCI and talk with them.

 

They had me send in an email telling what cruise I would be on and I received a reply to contact Guest Relations when I boarded the ship. Guest relations already knew about it and set up the "event" and let me know when it will be.

 

In my case, the Guest Relations Manager met me with a Security Guy to unlock doors and we did it together.

 

All you are allowed to scatter is the ashes! No special containers or anything else.

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I am now reaching your posts from your first stop in Cartagena, and for some reason all of your photos now have a message that says sorry, but the photos have been removed, and the pictures are no longer there. Would you know why this is happening?

 

 

I have been uploading more photos to the individual files for each day of the cruise.

 

This should not have affected anything I already posted but somehow it did.

 

I will re-post the photos as best as I can.

 

Stand by...

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Cartagena -The Old Fort

 

The Fort is impressive but requires a lot of walking which is beyond out capabilities.

 

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There was a guy outside the Fort in an area where our bus stopped for a "Photo Op" who let us hold his Sloth for only $10.

 

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Look at the claws on that little guy on Judith's shoulder.

 

He is fully grown but a small version of many different kinds of Sloths.

Edited by Trainman-2
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Cartagena - Horse Drawn Carriage Ride through the Old City

 

 

The Horse Drawn Carriage ride through the old section of Cartagena was a real treat. I recommend the tour.

 

The sad part was that many of the old buildings and especially the porches overhanging the streets were run down.

 

Keep in mind that these buildings were built long before air conditioning was invented so the second story living quarters and balconies allowed the breezes to flow through them.

 

 

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Cartagena

 

The entrance to the harbor was protected by two Forts. On our right as we entered was the "Water Battery" which was named because the guns were close to water level. All the gun crews had to do was point the guns at one of the old wooden sailing ships and when they fired, the cannon balls would skip across the water into the sides of the ship.

 

Cannon fire of this type rarely missed, but it hit only the sides of the ship and almost never at or below the water line of the ship which would have caused flooding.

 

The old stone forts has settled a bit since it was built years ago.

 

 

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On the left side of the entrance it another old fort that is built up on a hill. Its guns could fire downward on a ship and knock holes in the decks and the waterline.

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Call RCI and talk with them.

 

They had me send in an email telling what cruise I would be on and I received a reply to contact Guest Relations when I boarded the ship. Guest relations already knew about it and set up the "event" and let me know when it will be.

 

In my case, the Guest Relations Manager met me with a Security Guy to unlock doors and we did it together.

 

All you are allowed to scatter is the ashes! No special containers or anything else.

Thank you Trainman, it sounds like RCI makes it as stress free as possible. I read that you were stationed in Panama for a year. My husband was stationed in Panama for 8 years from 1983 to 1991 as a Little Bird helicopter mechanic. He loved it. Also, I will be looking for your "Pro Council" artillery tube when we go to the forts in San Juan in Febuary. Maybe I can get a pic and post it for you. Thanks again for answering so quickly.

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I now have caught up to 10/17 and the scenery photos are showing up. It is funny, but your food photos are still there, but your scenery shots all are missing.

I would love to see all of your photos, so could you please post the link to your pictures? If you have done this already, can you let me know the # of the post. I am sticking to trying to read from 10/17 onward, instead of reading backwards.

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for an awesome 28 day cruise!

We loved every picture, each one a wonderful memory of the PC or the Vision that we had sailed on twice. The food porn, I think I gained 10 pounds!!! :eek:

 

Love your new home, good luck!!! Hope it all works out for you with deal number one and deal number two....some how things always work out for the best!

 

Its hard to believe you don't have any cruises planned....If I was a gambler, I would bet you would squeeze in a short cruise somewhere!! :D

 

***

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Thank you for this wonderful review. Vision has had some poor reviews posted, but this has reassured me that we will have our usual wonderful time. It looks like our only problem is going to be choosing between the MDR, our usual choice, or the WJ for dinner!

 

Thanks again, it was great !

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Trainman and Judith:

 

1/Thank you so much for allowing so many of us to "sail" along with you. As always, a fantastic experience with the pics. The only thing missing for us was the sea breeze and the salt spray in our faces.

 

2/Congratulations on the new house. Looks like you can do so much with it. I love to cook and the kitchen looks amazing---I'm so jealous.

 

3/Congratulations on your position at the Yacht Club. If we ever run into you on a cruise, do we need to salute Commodore Trainman? :)

 

Glad you two made it home safely.

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I think that this will probably be my last "live" post from the Vision of the Seas!

 

It is time to head down from the Pool Deck and get our stuff packed up.

 

 

It has been sunny but cooler today and we have been relaxing, reading, and hanging out with all of our friends around the pool.

 

 

I have been unable to upload any photos but I plan to get them all up this weekend.

 

I ordered a nifty book on building the Canal so I will scan and post some photos from it this weekend if it is waiting for me at home.

 

 

 

Bye for now!

 

 

Thanks for cruising along with us...

 

Wow, I was just catching up! Thank you for taking us along! What a wonderful trip! You really captured so many different aspects, it was great reading and seeing all your pictures from the ports of call, the ship, entertainment, etc! Really awesome job!

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Trainman and Judith, thank you for taking us along on a fantastic B2B Vision cruise, I have enjoyed my 'desk chair traveling' with you as always! Best wishes to you in your lovely new home- including the great yard for your future pool and railroad!

 

Here's hoping for a 2013 LIVE cruise from you! ;)

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Let me know if you find any more missing photos.

 

I am not "paying by the minute" now so it is quick, easy, and inexpensive to repost anything.

I now have come to the end of your posts, and it was very informative to see all of your photos. In regard to your post as to cost, I really was wondering how many minutes of internet you had to pay for in order to keep in touch with this link and what kind of internet package you might have been able to negociate. I know by being a Diamond + you get some minutes free, but this seems like it probably cost a lot.

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