TxTeach79's LIVE Venezia Summer 10 Day from NYC 5/27

[TxTeach79]

[TxTeach79]

I also have this to contend with (not a complaint!) - last year I was onboard Pride in Europe while the Stars were in the WCF. This year, it’s double trouble. No casino bar, so we’ve got Heroes crowds to think about. And who knows where else I might find it beyond my phone - I did enjoy that on Regal Princess last November I could watch all the NFL and CFB games in my room. 
 

 

also, at some point on that Pride cruise I believe it was @dallasdan that made some comment about scheduling a cruise during a potential Rangers World Series run and I think I laughed it off… clairvoyant?

[Indiansbaseball]

Hi, I’m new to your reviews. My condolences on the loss of your father. I lost my Mom on 10/19/21 and had a cruise booked for 10/23.  We expected. To be no shows while she was sick, but when she passed, we went. I cried a lot but I also smiled a lot ! I hope your cruise is cathartic like mine was. 
Happy Cruising ! 

Edited May 23 by Indiansbaseball

[dallasdan]

32 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

I also have this to contend with (not a complaint!) - last year I was onboard Pride in Europe while the Stars were in the WCF. This year, it’s double trouble. No casino bar, so we’ve got Heroes crowds to think about. And who knows where else I might find it beyond my phone - I did enjoy that on Regal Princess last November I could watch all the NFL and CFB games in my room. 
 

 

also, at some point on that Pride cruise I believe it was @dallasdan that made some comment about scheduling a cruise during a potential Rangers World Series run and I think I laughed it off… clairvoyant?

because we cruised out of Galveston, I had to get to the Hero's bar at 5 pm each day to get a table.  I think you are clairvoyant.  At least you are going out of New York so you may not have to fight for room at the bar.

[TxTeach79]

12 minutes ago, Indiansbaseball said:

Hi, I’m new to your reviews. My condolences on the loss of your father. I lost my Mom on 10/19/21 and had a cruise booked for 10/23.  We expected. To be no shows while she was sick, but when she passed, we went. I cried a lot but I also smiled a lot ! I hope your cruise is cathartic like mine was. 
Happy Cruising ! 

Thanks so much for sharing and welcome aboard! I really appreciate you sharing your experience and hope I’m lucky enough to have something similar. Thanks again!

[TxTeach79]

4 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

because we cruised out of Galveston, I had to get to the Hero's bar at 5 pm each day to get a table.  I think you are clairvoyant.  At least you are going out of New York so you may not have to fight for room at the bar.

Don’t think I haven’t considered the possibility of a Stars-NYR Stanley Cup Finals…. Or, to a lesser extent, a Mavs-Celtics NBA finals. I mean, they’d be amazing problems to have, but I’d be grossly outnumbered 😂

[Sexygrandma2013]

We were on the Horizon in October when the Rangers were in the MLB playoffs.  Could not watch a single game. We tried in the Sports Bar and the Pig & Anchor. LOTS of college football though. We were super disappointed.  Hopefully you have better luck.

[dallasdan]

8 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Don’t think I haven’t considered the possibility of a Stars-NYR Stanley Cup Finals…. Or, to a lesser extent, a Mavs-Celtics NBA finals. I mean, they’d be amazing problems to have, but I’d be grossly outnumbered 😂

I was on the Panorama a couple years ago when the Mavs knocked Phoenix out of the playoffs.  It was me and one other Mavs fan in a room full of Suns fans.  It so fun when the Mavs won the series.  Although Suns fans are probably better than Celtic or NY Rangers fans.

[TxTeach79]

3 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

I was on the Panorama a couple years ago when the Mavs knocked Phoenix out of the playoffs.  It was me and one other Mavs fan in a room full of Suns fans.  It so fun when the Mavs won the series.  Although Suns fans are probably better than Celtic or NY Rangers fans.

some of my more enjoyable sports memories have been when I’m grossly outnumbered, so long as everyone is good natured about it. I’ve been to several Cowboys road games and had a great time at almost all of them, and one of my most fun sports nights was watching a Cowboys/NYG SNF game in a bar in Hell’s Kitchen surrounded by Giants fans. I was called every name in the book, but it was all in good fun and I didn’t pay for a thing 

[TxTeach79]

So when I booked this sailing last year I was able to get one of those deck 1 oceanviews for the same price as an inside... normally not a big deal and more often than not I've chosen an inside in a better location over an oceanview buried in the belly of the bow. In this case, however, the oceanview was a no brainer because I cashed in my one time Diamond category upgrade into a balcony up on 9. I was waiting for a cruise at least double digit days in length to use the upgrade, and while it would have been great on my 15 day Valor TA next summer, there was a big price gap from inside to OV on that sailing. So yeah, I'm pretty stoked to have the balcony waiting for me on this sailing.

 

Time to head off to CPR training for the afternoon - more to come!

[Retired-N-Happy]

2 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Don’t think I haven’t considered the possibility of a Stars-NYR Stanley Cup Finals…. Or, to a lesser extent, a Mavs-Celtics NBA finals. I mean, they’d be amazing problems to have, but I’d be grossly outnumbered 😂

Two years ago we were on a repo cruise on the new NCL Prima from Galveston to Miami.  Happened to coincide with the tail end of the Houston Astros/Philadelphia Phillies World Series.  We were badly outnumbered.  Great cruise, bad sports result.  But, currently sitting on a 36-14 best record in MLB things could be different this year.  We'll be on the Sun Princess for the tail end of the WS this year.

[jennas_mum]

15 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Booking an Uber in advance from LGA - MVille seems insane, even for NYC on a holiday weekend. Either a cab is in play, or I’ll check Lyft and Uber when I land. 
 

 

I booked a ride thru goairlinkshuttle.com. It was $33.60 for a shared ride. My daughter is coming in 4 hours later to a different airport so we are going to meet at the hotel. I am flying into Newark Airport and staying at Pods at Time Square. Hoping its close enough we can just walk to the port. 

[MJSailors]

@TxTeach79 I read your posts occasionally, hit a react emoji sometimes, but have not posted anything on your thread.

First-my condolences for the loss of your Dad.

Let  memories surround  you in the coming days and be a comfort.
Second-As a former NYC borough resident with street smarts, please do not consider taking the subway!

Someone unfamiliar with the system and carrying luggage is a mark for anyone up to no good. Unfortunately, there are a number of those types in the subway on a daily basis.

Cab is the way to go. After all, you have already started your vacation, relax and enjoy the ride!

Third-I am a retired Elem teacher/Reading Specialist with 36 years experience in the field.

I commend you teaching middle school kids -not the easiest job.

From your postings, I think you have a good heart and a good sense of humor.  Both positive attributes for a teacher and a human.

Wishing you a pleasant cruise and good days ahead.

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

 

 

[lazydayz]

So sorry for your loss.  Knowing your dad loved the water and cruising will make this cruise a great way to honor him.  All the best to you and your mom.  

[natefish95]

7 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

So when I booked this sailing last year I was able to get one of those deck 1 oceanviews for the same price as an inside... normally not a big deal and more often than not I've chosen an inside in a better location over an oceanview buried in the belly of the bow. In this case, however, the oceanview was a no brainer because I cashed in my one time Diamond category upgrade into a balcony up on 9. I was waiting for a cruise at least double digit days in length to use the upgrade, and while it would have been great on my 15 day Valor TA next summer, there was a big price gap from inside to OV on that sailing. So yeah, I'm pretty stoked to have the balcony waiting for me on this sailing.

 

Time to head off to CPR training for the afternoon - more to come!

Are you doing the Valor to or from Barcelona? I'm looking at the one from BCN-NOLA...but we'll see if I have enough time off...

[cruiser12345678]

18 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

So when I booked this sailing last year I was able to get one of those deck 1 oceanviews for the same price as an inside... normally not a big deal and more often than not I've chosen an inside in a better location over an oceanview buried in the belly of the bow. In this case, however, the oceanview was a no brainer because I cashed in my one time Diamond category upgrade into a balcony up on 9. I was waiting for a cruise at least double digit days in length to use the upgrade, and while it would have been great on my 15 day Valor TA next summer, there was a big price gap from inside to OV on that sailing. So yeah, I'm pretty stoked to have the balcony waiting for me on this sailing.

 

Time to head off to CPR training for the afternoon - more to come!

I'm on the Barcelona -> Nola cruise.  We will probably spend 2 or 3 days in Spain before the cruise.  I can't wait!

[Destaw71835]

On 5/22/2024 at 4:24 PM, TxTeach79 said:

Thanks to everyone who's following along! It really does mean a lot, this time more than usual.

 

For those of you not over on The Tribe forum, I'll keep this very short here because it's not what I want to dwell on on the LIVE, but my dad passed away yesterday. My mom and I are very close and we've gotten a ton done in the whirlwind last 24 hours, and i've been sternly informed that my dad, who grew up on a caribbean island, loved the sea, and introduced me to cruising back in '88 on the OG Celebration, would haunt me for all eternity if I canceled this trip. 

 

SO... ahem.... I'm keeping this as fun and positive and summer vibetastic as possible, even if I'm sure I might go in a different direction than you're used to occasionally. You never know how the drink package is gonna hit. 

 

But yeah. Thank y'all a ton for sailing along with me 🙂

🙏 

[pcvtmom]

I'm in the process of mulling over a Venezia cruise next winter (from Port Canaveral). I'm looking forward to your take on the ship! She's intriguing!

[TxTeach79]

18 hours ago, MJSailors said:

@TxTeach79 I read your posts occasionally, hit a react emoji sometimes, but have not posted anything on your thread.

First-my condolences for the loss of your Dad.

Let  memories surround  you in the coming days and be a comfort.
Second-As a former NYC borough resident with street smarts, please do not consider taking the subway!

Someone unfamiliar with the system and carrying luggage is a mark for anyone up to no good. Unfortunately, there are a number of those types in the subway on a daily basis.

Cab is the way to go. After all, you have already started your vacation, relax and enjoy the ride!

Third-I am a retired Elem teacher/Reading Specialist with 36 years experience in the field.

I commend you teaching middle school kids -not the easiest job.

From your postings, I think you have a good heart and a good sense of humor.  Both positive attributes for a teacher and a human.

Wishing you a pleasant cruise and good days ahead.

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

 

 

 

Thanks so much, MJ... for all of this. I appreciate it. 

[TxTeach79]

13 hours ago, natefish95 said:

Are you doing the Valor to or from Barcelona? I'm looking at the one from BCN-NOLA...but we'll see if I have enough time off...

 

That's the one - BCN-NOLA. I never get to do TAs because they're lengthy and don't align with my teaching schedule, so this one really appealed to me. Not to mention the NOLA ending and 15 day length.

[TxTeach79]

2 hours ago, cruiser12345678 said:

I'm on the Barcelona -> Nola cruise.  We will probably spend 2 or 3 days in Spain before the cruise.  I can't wait!

 

That's my plan too! Last time we arrived early in Barcelona before our Pride cruise, but a little luggage mishap kind of put a damper on everything we could do....

[TxTeach79]

Soooo, how does this 10 day itinerary shape up? Incredibly low key and relaxing, which is exactly what I need right now, and which pairs well with the frantic 9 ports in 10 days Med cruise I'll leave for six days after getting back from this one. 

 

We have two days at sea out of the gate followed by Nassau, which at the moment is my de facto personal day at sea. I've been there so often and so many times recently, and I always like staying onboard at least one port day in most Caribbean cruises, so at the moment that's my plan. I may jump off and walk around a little, but nothing big. 

 

HMC is up next, which I absolutely love, so that should be a great beach day weather permitting. 

 

Grand Turk is where I'm going to repeat the Home Sweet Home excursion B and I did on our MG NYE '23 cruise. One of the best excursions I've taken, great beach, people, and open bar with local beers. 

 

Amber Cove is a pool/swim up bar/chill in the port area kinda day. I may make the hike up to the sky bar too, we'll see.

 

THREE full sea days on the way back north, which is awesome. Excited about that. Honestly, since I've yet to do a crossing, I can't recall ever doing more than two consecutive sea days. Nice relaxing finish. 

[TravelGirlinDallas]

2 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

THREE full sea days on the way back north, which is awesome. Excited about that. Honestly, since I've yet to do a crossing, I can't recall ever doing more than two consecutive sea days. Nice relaxing finish. 

Sea days are the best!!

[jbhcw]

@TxTeach79...so sorry for your loss....always hard to lose a parent....being on a ship will be a good way to slow down and reflect...relive memories...safe travels and Bon Voyage.

[Knights on the Beach]

Paul, I'm so sorry for your loss - losing a parent is hard. You're doing the right thing by going on your cruise; it will be good for you and it sounds like it would have made your dad happy. Last year we lost my husband's dad after he spent 4 months in hospitals, a nursing home and then hospice. He passed away 11 days before our long-planned trip to Ireland. I think it was his parting gift to us and he was ready to go. 💙