Brobbins246

I’m going to go with what @Skid said. Read blogs, watch scopes, get on these boards. Great way to pass the time! 

Time to squeeze in a  3 day cruise so the 2021 won`t be that far off.  Or 2 perhaps.

I SNUBA'd off the panhandle of Florida once in early April when the air temp was in the 70's but I have no idea what the water temp was.  I just remember being very grateful for the wetsuit supplied on the boat.  It made a huge difference in how my un-suited legs felt going down the boat's ladder into the water vs. how my internal organs stayed happy once I was fully submerged. ?

Yes!  Not long after I posted this, I thought about the foreign language idea.  I remember some French from high school but could definitely use a refresher.  Even more ambitious, I could learn Dutch for the other side of St. Maarten and the ABC islands!

I brought a pair of flip flop magnets on my last cruise to put on our door to help identify it.  My in-laws came on the trip too, and didn't bring anything to decorate their door with, so we loaned them one of our magnets, and we each had one flip flop on our doors.  They were several rooms down the hall from us, and it was helpful to spot their room more easily too, especially since the magnets matched.  If you're traveling with others, you might want to make sure they have something to hang up too so you can find their room just as easily as yours.

Yes!  Not long after I posted this, I thought about the foreign language idea.  I remember some French from high school but could definitely use a refresher.  Even more ambitious, I could learn Dutch for the other side of St. Maarten and the ABC islands!

Yes!  Not long after I posted this, I thought about the foreign language idea.  I remember some French from high school but could definitely use a refresher.  Even more ambitious, I could learn Dutch for the other side of St. Maarten and the ABC islands!

It's called YOLO...book another cruise asap...closes to August..then the wait isn't as bad! ?

My family will be on our first cruise this Christmas—I annoy my kids by announcing how many more days at dinner each night!! So excited!

I drink

Live vicariously through all the live blogs. They bring back good memories of your own past cruises even if it's not for the same ship. They also give you ideas for your own planning.

Enjoy the ride!!!!
The count down does come down and it will be very cool to see 600, 500, 400, 100!!!! 
You will say to yourself "Wow I remember when it was over 600" hahaha

One of the things I do in advance of a cruise is study a foreign language, like French for St Martin (hoping for an excursion to that side of the island) and Spanish for San Juan or Mexico, etc.  It keeps me busy.   Another thing I do is study the books on tropical fish in hopes of going snorkeling.... Best of luck on your preparations!

Here's what was posted on the Freedom FB page: (if not appropriate, I apologize and please delete):
Cheryl Knipe Brinson
18 hrs This is a copy of Louise Calder’s post that was sent to the Today show. You can share from here. If you have an opinion to express send it along to the show.
This is a very long post but wanted feedback suggestions of any changes in this email I plan to send to the TODAY Show. I will wait a couple of hours before I send it in case someone sees a change or addition I should consider. Thanks for your input.: Dear TODAY SHOW- I am very saddened by the news that Monday you will be interviewing the parents of the 18 month old child that tragically fell from the Freedom of the Seas. While my heart goes out to these poor parents for the loss of their child, I'm disappointed that you are doing this interview on the Today Show before we truly know how this accident happened. The police investigation has not been completed and all facts have not yet been released to the public. Trying to present an unbiased report would seem to be an impossible task at this time since others involved in this story are unable or unwilling to talk to you until all the facts are available.
Since the entire show was taped on board her the day I Christened her in 2006, I know that the TODAY show has spent time on the Freedom of the Seas. You should already be aware that the "children's play area" is NOT "right next" to the wall of windows. And if you check some of that footage you will also notice that the only windows that open are above an adults waist, and tinted making it quite clear that some are closed and some are open in order to keep the pool humidity controlled on that deck. No child could have reached those upper windows, open or closed, without someone holding the child up to them or somehow allowing the child to climb up to them. It is ALWAYS the adult's responsibility to monitor their young child whether it be near an open window , a pool, a fire, or any other potential danger. Whether on vacation or at home the responsibility belongs to the adult that has accepted the duty of watching that child. As a grandparent myself I understand that this must be a heartbreaking experience that will haunt this grandfather for the rest of his life. It is hard to accept that one little mistake can result in such a catastrophic tragedy. However trying to place the blame elsewhere, while a very human self-protection, will never absolve him of the responsibility that was his and his alone. I believe when this investigation is finished we will find that this was a truly awful ACCIDENT but one that resulted from an error on his part. And who of us is not human enough to commit an error.
If this were truly a fault in the design of cruise ships we would certainly be hearing of children falling from windows all the time. It is unfair to interpret this accident as an example of how "dangerous" cruising is. ANYTHING can be dangerous if normal precautions aren't taken.
To my knowledge, I know of no other time in the Freedom of the Seas 13 years of sailing that ANYTHING like this has ever occurred aboard her and I'm sure you can imagine that I keep a close eye on what happens on her,
Katherine Louise Calder
Godmother for the Freedom of the Seas

I saw on Facebook that the godmother for freedom of the seas was refusing m drafting a letter to NBC criticizing their decision to interview the parents.  She went over summer of they facts and then emphasized that many people who could refute the claims were unable to speak out due to the impending litigation.  I thought it was well written.  Jane

Thanks for the heads up, I'll try to be at the TV 7 a.m. (which will take some doing, I usually work out at 6:30, will have to make it earlier if I can).

I really like the battery operated tea lights so you don't take up any electrical outlets and can put them wherever you need some more light.  You can get a package of them pretty cheap at Walmart or on Amazon and put them in various places around your cabin.  Even the paintings on the wall stick out about 1" so they make a good spot to put a couple on the top edge, and it casts a soft glow on the wall and ceiling.  We had about four of them lit up each night, and switched them off in the morning.

I really like the battery operated tea lights so you don't take up any electrical outlets and can put them wherever you need some more light.  You can get a package of them pretty cheap at Walmart or on Amazon and put them in various places around your cabin.  Even the paintings on the wall stick out about 1" so they make a good spot to put a couple on the top edge, and it casts a soft glow on the wall and ceiling.  We had about four of them lit up each night, and switched them off in the morning.

I really like the battery operated tea lights so you don't take up any electrical outlets and can put them wherever you need some more light.  You can get a package of them pretty cheap at Walmart or on Amazon and put them in various places around your cabin.  Even the paintings on the wall stick out about 1" so they make a good spot to put a couple on the top edge, and it casts a soft glow on the wall and ceiling.  We had about four of them lit up each night, and switched them off in the morning.

I really like the battery operated tea lights so you don't take up any electrical outlets and can put them wherever you need some more light.  You can get a package of them pretty cheap at Walmart or on Amazon and put them in various places around your cabin.  Even the paintings on the wall stick out about 1" so they make a good spot to put a couple on the top edge, and it casts a soft glow on the wall and ceiling.  We had about four of them lit up each night, and switched them off in the morning.

Good luck Michelle!!  Hope all goes well. (From one of your MEI clients) ?

Thank you for posting the link to her obituary. It brings us back to the real issue, which is the family's loss and their sadness. It's heartbreaking.

I'm over 600 days out.  But @MotleyCruiser might have us all beat.

OK, I know I made the most recent posting on this thread, and I certainly wasn't thinking about the family when I wrote it last night.  I don't regret anything snarky I say about the attorney, but I just got a huge reminder about what this family is going through.  The family is from a town literally 10 minutes south of where I live (I've known that since the event happened), but I just read the obituary.  The memorial service took place this afternoon with visitation until this evening.  Apparently Chloe was a preemie, given her low birth weight and early medical scares, which I can relate to as the mother of 32-week preemie who, thank God, is now a healthy 16-year old.  For her to die the way she did, in such happy circumstances (family vacation) after overcoming problems at birth just takes my breath away.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kpcnews/obituary.aspx?n=chloe-wiegand&pid=193383989&fhid=8595
 

OK, I know I made the most recent posting on this thread, and I certainly wasn't thinking about the family when I wrote it last night.  I don't regret anything snarky I say about the attorney, but I just got a huge reminder about what this family is going through.  The family is from a town literally 10 minutes south of where I live (I've known that since the event happened), but I just read the obituary.  The memorial service took place this afternoon with visitation until this evening.  Apparently Chloe was a preemie, given her low birth weight and early medical scares, which I can relate to as the mother of 32-week preemie who, thank God, is now a healthy 16-year old.  For her to die the way she did, in such happy circumstances (family vacation) after overcoming problems at birth just takes my breath away.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kpcnews/obituary.aspx?n=chloe-wiegand&pid=193383989&fhid=8595