Got an upgrade

[SDHALFAN]

Well - sort of. I had an EE guarantee but have been upgraded to an E (big whoop:rolleyes:) which moves me to Main Deck as opposed to Dolphin Deck where you could always find me since my late husband died, as did his very generous pension alas.

 

Okay, so here's the rub (to misquote Mr. Shakespeare): the EE's are located close to midship and my fabulous upgrade puts me waaaaaay at the back of the ship - one more cabin back and I would be sleeping on deck. Oh well, I lived with that scenario for 65 days last year and actually ended up only gaining about 3 lbs because of all the walking I had to do to and fro (despite trying to sample almost every dessert in the Lido at lunchtime - every lunchtime:eek:).

 

Anyway, I'm about to embark on yet another fabulous HAL cruise and have already "met" some new friends on our Roll Call Board - how lucky am I that I can afford to cruise in today's economy?

 

This for Krazy Kruisers: dear Yonnie, I thought that I might have to drive you nuts asking if you could direct me to your post about back-to-back cruises that end/start in Fort Lauderdale but I did actually find out that I printed all the information you posted and I think it's really going to be invaluable. Thanks so much for the post. If directed to do so I will get off the ship (temporarily) with all my documents, especially my passport, in hand. Oh heck, then I may just take a cab over to the Harbor Shops and drop a few dollars in Fort Lauderdale.

 

Happy cruising everyone and fair winds and following seas.

 

Valerie:)

[WillK]

Valerie- Congratulations on your upgrade! I know that you'll have a wonderful cruise. What is your itinerary?

 

Warm regards-Bill

[FlorenceItaly]

Bon Voyage, sweet friend :).

 

Btw, I am still watching the housewives, lol.

 

 

 

Marie

[SDHALFAN]

Valerie- Congratulations on your upgrade! I know that you'll have a wonderful cruise. What is your itinerary?

 

Warm regards-Bill

 

Hi Bill:

 

It's a 28-day San Diego/Fort Lauderdale/San Diego Panama Canal cruise. Yes, I do indeed do two transits of the Panama Canal but what the heck - I'm always amazed at the work that went into building the Canal and I'm always delighted by something new I had never noticed before.

 

I'm sure that I will have a wonderful cruise, thank you, and I'm also sure that I will be getting some much needed exercise just by going to the Lido and pigging out (just think of all the calories I will be burning going to and fro:D).

 

Warm regards to you also.

 

Valerie:)

[SDHALFAN]

Bon Voyage, sweet friend :).

 

Btw, I am still watching the housewives, lol.

 

 

 

Marie

 

Hi Marie, my dear friend:

 

Yep - I'm still hooked on "the housewives" too. Lord what witches (with a capital B) they are turning out to be - especially Vicki; and Gretchen drives me nuts! I can't wait for the New York version to start up again. I will miss 4 weeks worth but what I love about Bravo is that I will have 4 weeks worth of reruns to enjoy - over and over and over again:D.

 

Take care. I Think about you often and hope that we will cruise together again someday very soon.

 

Love,

 

Valerie:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Good Morning Valerie

Congratulations on your upgrade.

Sounds like a great cruise.

We love watching the mules working in the Panama Canal.

Have a great time.

Yonnie

[WillK]

Valerie- The Panama Canal transit sounds wonderful. Hope to be able to do this itin. someday. Have heard nothing but good reviews from friends who've done it. What an incredible feat of engineering!

 

Am going on a 10 day Ryndam cruise on April 24th. Looking forward to being in your beautiful city and a pre-cruise stay at the Grant.

 

Found a book I think you'd like, "A Bridge To The Seven Seas". It was written for Holland America in 1973 by Dick Schaap to celebrate HAL's centennial. Great interviews, sketches and memorabilia. Found it on Alibris. If you'd like, would be happy to mail it to you.

 

Best- Bill

email: wbill76 at hotmail.com (delete spaces, replace "at" with @)

[hammybee]

This is so like you to see the silver lining in whatever life tosses your way.

 

It's going to be a fabulous cruise and woo-hoo to the double bubble canal transit and no airports

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Valerie, I am so excited for you :) You are ging to have a fabulous time. One of these days I will get to do a Panama Canal Cruise...I hope :o

Yes, it is very easy to do that B2B in FLL and the ship will help you with the transition easily.

As for the upgrade... who knows it could change once again when you board. I actually like those aft end cabins but of course you know that. To me it makes it that much easier to get to the Dining Room and Lido but then being on Main Deck that makes for just a few more flights of stairs to climb to get there. It is just HAL's version of a Stair Master :D

 

Have a wonderful 28 day cruise!!!!

[ANSalberg]

Valerie -HEY!!!!! Hope all is well! And congrats on the upgrade. On the Amsterdam" we usually have one of the last 3 suites in the stern -BY CHOICE -keeps us walking etc -and we don't gain weight[ can't afford THAT!] So your cabin should be fine! [ UNLESS you're TOO far from the CASINO?????] Also; its tough to fly from Colorado to port of embarcation with TSA hounding us for "too much Shampoo" or some such [for a 2 month cruise as WE were on WITH you!] so one thing I do in Ft Lauderdale is buy what I need THERE. We stay a night at Embassey Suites & Publix Mkt is in back of that. Shampoo/mouthwash/flavored water[ a case] I make a list before we go of what I'm NOT packing!!!! Have a great cruise!!!!! Fondly Anne

[SDHALFAN]

Wow, there are some really, really nice people who post on this board and I am so happy to think of them as my friends.

 

 

This is so like you to see the silver lining in whatever life tosses your way.

 

It's going to be a fabulous cruise and woo-hoo to the double bubble canal transit and no airports

 

Lynn: My philosophy, even though I'm not particularly philosophical, or deep come to think of it, is: one can laugh or one can cry and it's a heck of a lot more fun to laugh than it is to cry. Not that I don't indulge in a pity-party every once in a while and have a great time doing that also:D. The biggest selling point for me on a cruise is not having to come anywhere close to an airport. Okay, I'll fly one-way - max of 4-1/2 - 5 hours but that's it!

 

I did get your e-mail and apologise for not answering yet - I will get to my e-mails eventually.

 

Love ya!

 

 

Valerie, I am so excited for you You are ging to have a fabulous time. One of these days I will get to do a Panama Canal Cruise...I hope

 

Yes, it is very easy to do that B2B in FLL and the ship will help you with the transition easily.

 

As for the upgrade... who knows it could change once again when you board. I actually like those aft end cabins but of course you know that. To me it makes it that much easier to get to the Dining Room and Lido but then being on Main Deck that makes for just a few more flights of stairs to climb to get there. It is just HAL's version of a Stair Master

 

Have a wonderful 28 day cruise!!!!

 

Dearest Lisa: Thanks so much and yes I'm sure that I will have a fabulous time. I was signed up for the Yummer Cruise but decided, when I learned that you and Pedro (that would be Tom wouldn't it?) and Marie; and Sean; and several others weren't going then I would be perfectly happy going back to the Panama Canal. I also hope that you get to enjoy a Panama Canal cruise very soon. Oh, and by the way: I mentioned in my OP that I would be doing a lot of walking - I never mentioned the stairs:eek:, although I have been assigned AYW dining and if I decide to go then maybe I can manage to stagger up a couple of flights.;)

 

 

Valerie -HEY!!!!! Hope all is well! And congrats on the upgrade. On the Amsterdam" we usually have one of the last 3 suites in the stern -BY CHOICE -keeps us walking etc -and we don't gain weight[ can't afford THAT!] So your cabin should be fine! [ UNLESS you're TOO far from the CASINO?????] Also; its tough to fly from Colorado to port of embarcation with TSA hounding us for "too much Shampoo" or some such [for a 2 month cruise as WE were on WITH you!] so one thing I do in Ft Lauderdale is buy what I need THERE. We stay a night at Embassey Suites & Publix Mkt is in back of that. Shampoo/mouthwash/flavored water[ a case] I make a list before we go of what I'm NOT packing!!!! Have a great cruise!!!!! Fondly Anne

 

Anne, my friend: You just aren't getting it are you (my "complaint" that is). When I fantasize about an upgrade I expect to be moved from EE to a suite - well a balcony at least:D. I bet that you are excited contemplating the upcoming Grand Australia cruise. I'm still undecided about that one but am looking at next year's Grand Asia/Australia one. I know, we've both been there, done that, but there are some places I would really like to go back to again. Take care love - I think of you often and just to set your mind at ease: I shouldn't be too far from the casino on my Panama Canal cruise.

 

Valerie:)

[SDHALFAN]

Valerie- The Panama Canal transit sounds wonderful. Hope to be able to do this itin. someday. Have heard nothing but good reviews from friends who've done it. What an incredible feat of engineering!

 

Am going on a 10 day Ryndam cruise on April 24th. Looking forward to being in your beautiful city and a pre-cruise stay at the Grant.

 

Found a book I think you'd like, "A Bridge To The Seven Seas". It was written for Holland America in 1973 by Dick Schaap to celebrate HAL's centennial. Great interviews, sketches and memorabilia. Found it on Alibris. If you'd like, would be happy to mail it to you.

 

Best- Bill

email: wbill76 at hotmail.com (delete spaces, replace "at" with @)

 

Hi Bill:

 

I don't understand why your post was not quoted in my previous post - I did try and did want to include you as one of my friends on this board.

 

Thank you so much for your generous offer of the book, however, I got a copy from a friend for Christmas. I have been saving it to take on the cruise with me, although I will admit to having peeked at it once in a while.

 

If you are going on a 10-day Ryndam cruise soon then it must be the Sea of Cortez one. That is an awfully nice cruise and will probably be my next one, although later in the year. I also happen to love the Ryndam. I know that all the S ships are similar but each ship has its own ambience and I just loved the Ryndam and Ed and I were on that ship for 35 days!

 

Keep thinking Panama Canal - I think that you would really love that cruise.

 

Take care and best regards,

 

Valerie:)

[Marjeanne]

You will be missed on the Yummers Cruise.

 

You were the highlight of our cruise last year.

 

Bon Voyage dear friend with calm seas.

 

The Big Guy sends his blessing also.

[cruznon]

Dear Val,

What a glorious cruise you are taking! We shall miss you on the Yummer cruise. We'll toast you at dinner the first night. Your Panama Canal adventure is one I'd love to do in the future.

When you get back and land here for a few days, let's do lunch again!:D I'd love to hear all about your trips.

Fred and I send you

Bon Voyage!

[ANSalberg]

Wow, there are some really, really nice people who post on this board and I am so happy to think of them as my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anne, my friend: You just aren't getting it are you (my "complaint" that is). When I fantasize about an upgrade I expect to be moved from EE to a suite - well a balcony at least:D. I bet that you are excited contemplating the upcoming Grand Australia cruise. I'm still undecided about that one but am looking at next year's Grand Asia/Australia one. I know, we've both been there, done that, but there are some places I would really like to go back to again. Take care love - I think of you often and just to set your mind at ease: I shouldn't be too far from the casino on my Panama Canal cruise.

 

Valerie:)

 

Ooops! I didn't realize you still believed in Santa Claus??????? [ a SUITE????]

Yep; we're looking forward to the Australia/NZ/Tasmania cruise; When I was working all this wasn't possible ~ Now; possible!

Ahhh; the Casino!!!!! I love the casino and you do too! :) Miss you!!!!!! A

[SDHALFAN]

You will be missed on the Yummers Cruise.

 

You were the highlight of our cruise last year.

 

Bon Voyage dear friend with calm seas.

 

The Big Guy sends his blessing also.

 

 

 

Dear Val,

What a glorious cruise you are taking! We shall miss you on the Yummer cruise. We'll toast you at dinner the first night. Your Panama Canal adventure is one I'd love to do in the future.

When you get back and land here for a few days, let's do lunch again!:D I'd love to hear all about your trips.

Fred and I send you

Bon Voyage!

 

 

 

Do you Jeanne (and the Big Guy) and Peggy (and Fred) realise that you were the highlight of my cruise also; along with Lisa (and Tom) and Stacey (and George). That Yummer cruise was really something. I'm sure that I have never before met so many lovely, lovely people on such a short cruise. I had an absolute blast on that cruise and it was due to all of you. It will always remain one of my favorite cruises of all time simply because of the Yummers.

 

Peggy: I would love to have lunch again. I will be back on March 6th and apart from a haircut within that next week I believe that my calendar is empty for the rest of the year:eek::D.

 

You had all better be raising a glass in a toast to me on your first night because I will be thinking about all of you on Valentine's Day. Oh, and Stacey: even though they are not red I will be wearing my Margarita earrings:D.

 

Love you all.

 

Valerie:)

[SDHALFAN]

Ooops! I didn't realize you still believed in Santa Claus??????? [ a SUITE????]

Yep; we're looking forward to the Australia/NZ/Tasmania cruise; When I was working all this wasn't possible ~ Now; possible!

Ahhh; the Casino!!!!! I love the casino and you do too! :) Miss you!!!!!! A

 

 

Well Anne, I did point out that I was willing to settle for a mere balcony:D.

 

Hey, this is the first time that HAL has "upgraded" me and I'm just short of 400 days sailing with them, although I will be over 400 days before the end of the cruise. I figure that once I hit that magic 1700 days and reach President's Club status (or whatever they are calling it now) then I may actually make it all the way to Lower Promenade as an upgrade, however that one I will turn down - have no desire to be parked there.

 

Miss you too and hope to be sailing with you again sometime soon.

 

Valerie:)