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JennyJenny

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Everything posted by JennyJenny

  1. I personally know two individuals that flew BACK INTO the US on "aeroplanes" into MAJOR airports (Dulles and San Francisco) from other countries (Honduras and Japan) AFTER the ban on non-US Citizens went into effect (they are both US Citizens so were allowed to come home) and when they both landed there was NO ONE to check those coming off the planes. They just walked off AS usual and got their luggage and went home. Walked through customs with no questions, no temp taking, no "where have you been?" or "how do you feel?" Nada. Zip. Zilch. My friend that came from Japan was shocked. They had expected to be screened getting off the plane before or during customs. From what I am hearing on the ground, cruise ships sound 1000% safer to travel via than planes. The airlines are doing zero screening or checking of anyone from what I am hearing.
  2. I can't find anything in the future that works for me. Still trying. Sigh. Thanks.
  3. UPDATE: Still planning to go! Pinged our TA yesterday to ask about keeping an eye on canceling folks to see if we could wrangle a free or cheap upgrade as they were out of balconies by the time we booked. One of the men with the group sent an email out asking if we should go ahead and cancel as a group and I think every wife in the group shut that down immediately. At this point in time he appears to the be the only one worried about going. The rest of us are still planning and now that my big event I had to put on is over, I can start thinking about packing! Luggage tags are printed out. We have booked our excursion through the TA. As we are in Bermuda for three days, the excursion is on day 2 in the middle so no worries about missing the ship. Our excursion is being put together by the TA who also happens to be a member of our group and is going to be a LONG all day one and includes: History of Dock Yard and Attractions 17th Century home and evolution of the unique Bermuda Home construction Somerset Bridge - the smallest drawbridge in the world The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Vista Tour along the beautiful South Shore (beach and ocean views) Horseshoe Bay Vista Botanical Gardens and the official home of the Premier of Bermuda Tuckers Town and Glimpse of the home of New York’s Mayor Bloomberg The Crystal Caves The town of St. George - a UNESCO World Heritage site & Bermuda’s Capital for 200 yrs While in St George Collect a few pieces of colored, weather worn glass at GLASS BEACH 17th century reenactment (Mon through Thurs) - participants in period costumes Lunch Bermuda Style Tour along the North Shore View the Governor’s mansion Driving tour of the City of Hamilton - current capital since 1815 Driving tour of Harbour Road - view of Hamilton from across the Harbour Scenic route back to Dock Yard
  4. 54 Days to Go. Another question. I am making a little checklist of gifts I need to bring back. You know, the usual, assistant at work, team members, parents, daughter, etc. I usually will get my dad either a bottle of wine or a new liquor/ liqueur when I travel. Anything interesting or unique to Bermuda? I have also seen "Cuban" Cigars for sale. To be honest, I know that many of them aren't REAL Cuban cigars but I don't think he'd know the difference, he'd just be tickled I got some. (He's not an expert or conoisseur.. sp?). Are there any recommendations for a Bermuda specific rum or wine or a good cigar shop so I can bring him home something special? Yesterday, I bought a cute little luggage tag to put on my backpack/purse. I also found printable magnetic sheets at Office Depot to make the signs for our doors. I am working on a custom piece of a vintage cruise ship poster that I am going to "customize" with our Club/Organization logo and name plus the year and destination on the side of the ship. Print it onto the magnetic sheet and Bob's your Uncle.... signs are done. I decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on one more pair of Tieks. I have the creme colour ones so I am going to go ahead and order the navy blue ones for the cruise. I am working to coordinate my entire wardrobe to be more efficient with my packing. It appears to be moving in the direction of Navy Blue and Gray as my "foundation" colours then white and that soft pink colour. My usual packing strategy is to lay out each "Outfit of the Day" (OOTD) complete with jewelry and shoes and hair accessories, etc then pack each in a cube that has the day on it on a tag attached to the zipper. When I arrive in my room, I unpack the cubes so that all I have to do each day is grab the cube for that day. At the end of the day, I put all the clothing back into that cube and into my suitcase it goes as "dirty". Easy peasy lemon squeezy. I used to use Ziploc bags but after being on this board for a while, I decided to up my game and buy the cubes. I did attempt a short trip by packing all my shirts in one, all my bottoms in another etc like I saw others do in vlogs but I was so scattered and disorganized on that trip I swore I'd go back to my OOTD method. It works better for me.
  5. Found photos of the Clocktower Mall on Trip Advisor and there is a photo of the list of shops and there IS a "Bermuda Triangle Shop" !!!! ?
  6. I have gone to Las Vegas every single year for work for OVER 20 years. When I look at the "big ships" they kind of remind me of that (Las Vegas). Nothing wrong with Las Vegas. There are definitely things to enjoy there but it reminds me TOO much of "work". Definitely a perception thing for me. Some people want bright lights big city for their get away. Others prefer quiet, cozy, and less crowded. It's all good!
  7. And Azamara (could not figure out how to quote both!) So then my hazy assumption about it being the ritzier lines with the rich old widows ? appears to be right.
  8. Awww. Thanks! I just do what I do. Definitely a phoenix moment, for sure! I am looking forward to finding a good bar that can help me with some mocktails. I will probably have a glass of wine with dinner but for the rest of the day, coffee, water, and I am going to indulge in one scrumptious mocktail while lounging by the pool (I try not to go overboard on sugar etc.) I keep hearing about the Viking Crown Lounge. Do I have to be a certain level of passenger to go into that?
  9. Oh wow! Four stories! I am really looking forward to seeing them. I am really looking forward to Grandeur after all I have heard about it!
  10. I do have a dancing question... I have seen on old Cruise Compasses that they have dance "classes". I am not opposed to taking a class but assume you need to bring a partner? (Which I do not have). I have heard a rumour that on some cruise ships, they will have people that will dance with you in the evenings if you wish and don't have anyone to dance with but I have to wonder if that's only on ritzy lines with rich widows etc. I have been ballroom dancing over three years and am proficient in Argentine Tango, have a Bronze Intermediate in Waltz & Rumba, and studying now for my Bronze II in West Coast Swing, Foxtrot, and Ballroom Tango. I am not against a class but really don't want to do them if you need a partner AND all they will do is go over the very basics for those who have never done it before. Has anyone been to the dance "classes" or know about whether or not it's easy to find a dance partner in the evenings at some of the events? (Not club dancing but Ballroom).
  11. Love the pics! Have you been to Luray? I hear they are better than Luray...
  12. This may sound silly but I am making my list of gifts to bring back for folks. My gentleman friend LOVES the whole world of UFOs, Big Foot, Bermuda Triangle, etc. I want to find him a fun gift (shirt maybe? Hat? Hoodie?) that is "Bermuda Triangley". He'd get a kick out of that ? I have done some googling but not really found a store that specializes in that stuff there so wondered if you recall seeing something like that or did most touristy places tend to have a handful of crap on that topic. Or will I have to hunt it down? (Or order it online from somewhere else and pretend I got it on the cruise lol)
  13. ? After the last vacation with the whole family, my 15 year old daughter remarked to me (in regards to my mother) in a sotto voce aside: This is not a vacation. It's driving somewhere else to complain about things... My mom isn't a horrid person but she tends to always focus on the things that aren't perfect versus the stuff that is good. That can be exhausting after a few days in that she is always polite to staff but when it's just us she wants to replay every moment and offer her critique. At least she is nice to them and only complains to us. Still. Exhausting.
  14. I've taken a look at the dates on the other blogs so that I am not too early to start mine. I figure there is at least one blog already for the same week I am going, I have already got my set sail pass, and luggage tags (allegedly) will be up for print some time today, I am well within my window to begin blogging? Part of the early start is so that as I prepare and pack, I can pick up last minute tips, hints, advice, and guidance from folks out here. You all are a wealth of information and even though I don't post often, I do read daily and feel like I have gotten to know so many of you ? Itinerary: Baltimore to King's Wharf, Bermuda back to Baltimore. Prologue: I had always wanted to go on a cruise but my former spouse (key word being FORMER) would pitch a fit if I suggested it. I won't list his complaints, I have seen you all are familiar with all of them. FINALLY during our 12th year of marriage, my parents offered to take the family on a cruise. Our daughter was 5 at the time and I was so looking forward to it. Without going into detail, the cruise was awful. Wait. No. My x was awful which made the entire trip one that I remember with just sadness. We went for the Thanksgiving week that year and on the 6th of December (a few weeks after) I was escaping in the middle of the night with two packed suitcases and my baby girl. I share this so everyone knows that "cruise" has held such unpleasant memories and feelings for a very long time for me and there was a time that I swore I'd never go on one again. (I thought I had gone on RC but I found my old card in a box of papers a few months back and turns out we'd taken a line that must not be named...) Fast forward ten years. Yup. Ten years. December 2019 was my 10 year anniversary of sneaking those packed suitcases out of the house in the dead of night. I celebrated last year with my daughter (we are both doing amazingly well, are incredibly happy, and have not once regretted the decision to evacuate) and by deciding that I would like to try another cruise because it's not fair to let that one bad experience taint an entire vacation option. To be fair, the cruise was miserable because I was stuck with a falling down drunk x who was being a jerk face and refused to do anything other than drink endless Grey Goose martinis and sleep in the dark room. There were a few highlights like taking my daughter to swim with dolphins but overall.... ? The universe sent me a sign last year in the form of a Fraternal organization that I am a member of decided to take a group cruise. It was so spur of the moment and the price was so good and there is another single lady that has a similar background to me as it pertains to the x so I had a room mate to share the cost and I just decided to, as they say here, "YOLO Book It!" I am really excited for this cruise. We will be going to Bermuda, which I have never been to. (The previous one was to the Bahamas). Sailing out of Baltimore MD which is right near where I live in Washington DC (NOVA) area. Last weekend, I had breakfast with the group who is going. There are 32 of us! Our travel agent is the wife of one of our members (it's an International organization) as well as a member herself. The "core group" that is going from my Chapter is myself and my single gal pal and two other married couples we are quite chummy with. I have been slowly preparing since we booked so have been buying a few cute outfits and other goodies. For Xmas, Santa gave me a huge box of those Chlorox with Hydrogen Peroxide wipes and the special luggage tags and a charger thing that I have seen recommended out here by many so my gal pal (GP) and I can charge our stuff up. Side note: we are all a bit on the older side (40s, GP is in her 60s, etc) and no kids coming with. Many of us work long hard jobs so we are looking forward to relaxing and decompressing versus "party all the time". I hear the Neil Diamond Cruise Director guy has left this ship so I am a bit sad about that. Things I am looking forward to: Not working. Although I will stress a little about leaving my assistant in charge without me there for a full week. Prepping her now. She can do this. It will all be fine. (Right?) We are going to be touring the Crystal Caves on a special tour our TA set up for us. We are docked in Bermuda for three days so there is no worry about missing the ship if it runs late. I hear we are going on a pub crawl. I don't drink but I adore a nice pub (there were some gorgeous ones in London when I went). Karaoke and Trivia. Mocktails by the pool. Sunshine. This will be my first real vacation in over ten years. (I think y'all know what I mean when I say that I have gone on holiday but have ALWAYS had either my daughter or parents with me so that's not always a "vacation"....) I plan to live blog as the internet allows. I am going to plan my packing here as that kind of helps me focus and make sure I am not forgetting things. I am taking my fancy camera as the wife of one of the couples we will be with does photography so hoping she helps me learn more how to use the camera. And with all respect to those who like bigger ships, I am so looking forward to sailing the Grandeur before she leaves Baltimore because I feel like I prefer the smaller, quieter, less "Mall of America" ships. (Even though I have never been on any RC ships so a research project is probably called for ?) I've also found very little in reference to what Grandeur has with menus and food etc so I'll share that for those like me who are trying to find things and can't. My GP also booked this as a YOLO and both of us are kind of apprehensive about our first solo vacations in YEARS. We have spent so many years taking care of others that going on a cruise by ourselves and not having to tend to children or elderly parents is like...... what do I do? My ultimate goal is to erase that prior "incident" and make happy new memories with friends. I am calling this the "DO OVER CRUISE!" On that note.... 60 Days to Go!!!!!!
  15. I WANT THE FOLDING MACHINE!!!!!! That's what always takes the longest time. Is there a "put it away machine" too? ?
  16. 65 days.... omg I should probably start packing. I feel your pain, brother.
  17. You are local to me and I have to wonder if we go to the same dance studio?!?!?! Looking forward to following along!
  18. I have the refreshment package as well as I don't drink enough to warrant the more expensive package. I have heard a rumor that I should order a Virgin Frozen Mudslide as it essentially is a tasty chocolate milkshake... I'll have to report back ?
  19. First, I agree with everything that everyone has said. Now, let me come at this from a different direction. Once upon a time, I was a cocktail waitress in college. Meaning, I have worked in an environment where tipping is done. And I saw ALL sorts. From the entitled "you should be paying me for the honour of waiting on me" types to the "hey, you're pretty, here's a hundred bucks for existing" types. And everything in between. I think, at the end of the day, people who are in the service industry (at least myself and those I worked with as a waitress and later on when I was a bartender) get that not everyone is loaded with cash to throw around. I do think there is a general expectation from those who wait on you to have you pay your bill for what you have ordered and (where/when appropriate) leave a gratuity. And, yes, on the rare occasion, it's super nice if someone rich gives you more out of the kindness of their heart (it happens) or because they are trying to show off. But here is the thing. On the other side, they can tell usually (especially after spending a week dealing with them) who is showing off, who is being kind, who is being an ass, and who is giving what they can. While you have entitled people everywhere, when working in the service industry personally, I would tell you that if you were a decent client who didn't berate me or demand ridiculous things or constantly complain then I'd already feel like I'd won. If you paid your expected RC gratuity then, excellent. Good to go. If you'd tipped me ON TOP of that, even if only $10, then I'd have been super appreciative that you'd thought enough of my time and attention to go above and beyond. At the end of the day (as I think you have gathered from the other responses) you have nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone trying to make you feel ashamed has their own issues they are dealing with and chances are you could have tipped double what you tipped and someone would have said it still wasn't enough. There are some people that it will never be enough for. From the other side of the table, from the service side, I'd rather have a kind client who tipped me the absolute minimum but wasn't a PITA all week. Having dealt with PITAs, I can say there is no amount of money in the world for putting up with some peoples' *ahem*. I'd be like, "Here's your money back. GTFO." No shame. You were more than generous.
  20. Just to share, I just learned about the Cholorox with Peroxide in November. They sell individually wrapped wipes. I have a few boxes I am bringing on the cruise with me (72 days to go, wheee!) Their site lists 30 seconds for Coronavirus and 1 minute for MRSA and 3 minutes for Norovirus. I am going to get my own personal soap to bring with me for hand washing, however, as I am often allergic to the cheap stuff they use in public washrooms. https://www.cloroxpro.com/resource-center/norovirus/ https://www.cloroxpro.com/products/clorox-healthcare/hydrogen-peroxide-cleaner-disinfectants/ At the end of the day, unless you lock yourself in your house and narrow your only vector of infection to those delivery people who bring you things, you can still get sick OFF a cruise ship going about your daily life to and from work, grocery store, etc etc. Risk Management. (I agree with your post, by the way. At a certain point you can only do so much).
  21. I carry wipes with me everywhere as I am allergic to some of the cheap soaps used in public washrooms. Using it once or twice will maybe just give me itchy hands but repeated use for days on end, multiple times a day will leave my hands bleeding. I keep those packs of Purell wipes or "Sani Hands" (they look like long tissue packs) in my bag and for xmas, Santa gave me an entire box of those individually wrapped Clorox Wipes with Peroxide (they kill Norovirus). I'll be bringing those along and wiping down everything in our room. But just to defend anyone who has that same allergy as me, if you watch me, I WILL pull out my wipes near the sink and make sure to do my hands (even under the nails). I can't say that is the issue for everyone but it's definitely for me.
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