SteveinSC

Just saw Matts post about how to to get the Military discount, and I felt inspired to post here. To all of the VETERANS on these boards, THANK YOU for your service, and your sacrifice. I hope your Veterans Day is full of boat drinks, either while on board, or planning your next cruise. CHEERS!
 
   

This reminds me of the best advice I ever received, and my wife and I try to live by: Own memories, not things. Spend your money on experiences, and not material objects. 

Just saw Matts post about how to to get the Military discount, and I felt inspired to post here. To all of the VETERANS on these boards, THANK YOU for your service, and your sacrifice. I hope your Veterans Day is full of boat drinks, either while on board, or planning your next cruise. CHEERS!
 
   

Just saw Matts post about how to to get the Military discount, and I felt inspired to post here. To all of the VETERANS on these boards, THANK YOU for your service, and your sacrifice. I hope your Veterans Day is full of boat drinks, either while on board, or planning your next cruise. CHEERS!
 
   

Just saw Matts post about how to to get the Military discount, and I felt inspired to post here. To all of the VETERANS on these boards, THANK YOU for your service, and your sacrifice. I hope your Veterans Day is full of boat drinks, either while on board, or planning your next cruise. CHEERS!
 
   

Similar to being able to take memories/experiences to the grave with you but not your materialistic items.

This reminds me of the best advice I ever received, and my wife and I try to live by: Own memories, not things. Spend your money on experiences, and not material objects. 

This reminds me of the best advice I ever received, and my wife and I try to live by: Own memories, not things. Spend your money on experiences, and not material objects. 

Not 100% accurate, but pretty close...
 

Would be nice if this was available on all ships, now, seems to be taking forever to roll it out ?

And by the way, my meme and gif game is strong, regardless of lurker status ???

Hi everyone! I pride myself on being very social when I meet people in person, but online, I’m a certified lurker ?. I read the message boards, take notes ?, and have learned so much from everyone on this blog (thanks @Matt for this awesome platform) but I rarely make a post or comment.

Maybe it’s because everyone has already said what I was thinking (and y’all don’t need to see my “ditto” response ?)... Maybe it’s because I can’t come up with any interesting new questions or topics that are worth posting ?... Maybe it’s because I’m afraid that my post will be the equivalent of the kid sitting alone at the lunch table in a crowded middle school cafeteria ??...

Soooooooo... This post is dedicated to all of the lurkers out there just like me! Say hi, hit like, or drop a comment of your choosing below! Or don’t. ? You are still loved and welcomed here!
 

LEARN/KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CRUISER YOU ARE. Knowing what you like to do on a cruise dictates EVERYTHING! Are you an active, out and about person, or a room dweller? Are you in it for the ports, or are you in it for the ship? Are you a foody, or are you fine with just the MDR and Windjammer? Knowing what you like impacts everything from your room selection, to your excursions, to your daily planning.....I know its sounds like a broad "tip or trick" but its the single most important thing to know. 
Other than that, I make sure to wear my trunks on embarkation, and carry a backpack with sunscreen, and other essentials. I dont want to be dependent upon my luggage and room getting ready. I want to enjoy my day on the ship. 
 

LEARN/KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CRUISER YOU ARE. Knowing what you like to do on a cruise dictates EVERYTHING! Are you an active, out and about person, or a room dweller? Are you in it for the ports, or are you in it for the ship? Are you a foody, or are you fine with just the MDR and Windjammer? Knowing what you like impacts everything from your room selection, to your excursions, to your daily planning.....I know its sounds like a broad "tip or trick" but its the single most important thing to know. 
Other than that, I make sure to wear my trunks on embarkation, and carry a backpack with sunscreen, and other essentials. I dont want to be dependent upon my luggage and room getting ready. I want to enjoy my day on the ship. 
 

Registered Nurse here, and I agree with @RWDW1204. I work with vets who swim in pools for rehab, and many of them have an ostomy. I would encourage you to discuss this concern with your partner's healthcare team since they can provide specific recommendations for the situation. 7 weeks is a lot of time for post surgical healing and should be more than enough, but your partner's provider should be the one to give the 'ok'. 
There are numerous ostomy societies out there, but the link below has some great resources I found helpful. Ostomy device companies make tons of different types of products that can be tried; I encourage y'all to buy some different types and brands to see what works best. (and test them out at home in the shower/bath before cruising to build confidence) I would personally recommend an ostomy support belt since they provide an additional securement element which should help alleviate most concern. 
 
https://www.ostomy.org/swimming-pool-discrimination/
 
 

I'm a nurse who works with ostomy patients.  If you're saying he'll have an ostomy of some kind, then he should be ok. Your nurse, hopefully an ostomy experienced nurse, is correct. Swimming shouldn't be an issue. This is info from Convatec, an ostomy company you should become familiar with. Check their website for more info. Hollister and Coloplast are others.
Good luck with your partners surgery.
Having an ostomy should not prevent you from swimming. Below are some helpful tips to get you feeling confident in the water, whether it’s in your own backyard pool, the beach or on a cruise.
You can swim or be in the water while wearing your pouching system. Remember, your pouching system is water resistant and is designed not to leak with the proper seal.  Water will not harm or enter your stoma.1
Check your pouch seal. Prior to swimming, make sure your seal is secure.
Empty your pouch before swimming. Also, ensure your wafer has been on for at least an hour prior to getting wet. If you are nervous about output, eat a few hours before jumping in.
Use a filtered pouch? Use a filter cover sticker on your deodorizing filter to prevent water from entering the pouch. You can remove the cover once you are dry.
What to wear? Wear what makes you feel the most comfortable. Swimming with an ostomy should be fun and worry-free regardless of what you're wearing. Shop with confidence knowing there are so many options that could work for you. Ostomy swimwear and accessories are available here.
Always carry extra supplies in case you are somewhere where supplies may not be available. 

LEARN/KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CRUISER YOU ARE. Knowing what you like to do on a cruise dictates EVERYTHING! Are you an active, out and about person, or a room dweller? Are you in it for the ports, or are you in it for the ship? Are you a foody, or are you fine with just the MDR and Windjammer? Knowing what you like impacts everything from your room selection, to your excursions, to your daily planning.....I know its sounds like a broad "tip or trick" but its the single most important thing to know. 
Other than that, I make sure to wear my trunks on embarkation, and carry a backpack with sunscreen, and other essentials. I dont want to be dependent upon my luggage and room getting ready. I want to enjoy my day on the ship. 
 

Avoiding standing outside (on the smaller ships) during muster drill.  Once the drill is starting, go to the person who is scanning the sea pass cards, have your cards scanned and then go inside and have a seat ! One of the crew will be demonstrating the life vest and you have a comfortable place to sit and wait for the crowds to diminish after the drill ends OR be ready to dash to the elevators once the Captain has completed his remarks.

Cell phones.
My travel agency, while waiting on hold to reprice a cruise offered this piece of advice.  
Change your screen saver or lock screen image to be your SetSail Pass or something the cruise line can use to identify you.  That super cool wallpaper that comes with your phone looks great but with a device locked no one from the ship can figure out who owns the most recent lost cell phone.
By using an image on your lock screen that the cruise line can reference if you lose your phone on board you stand a much better chance of getting it returned.   
Makes sense.
When you get home put it back to that super cool default lock screen image but while on board consider something that works to help you getting repatriated with your lost device.  

Southern Caribbean? I imagine weather will be NO issue for you. Warm enough to be on the beach, FOR SURE. Ive cruised in January, and still snorkeled in the Bahamas, which is way farther North than the Southern Caribbean. 

Never been to the class, but I have been to a sushi making "party" and my wife and I loved it. Id pay 35 on a cruise to be taught by professionals to do it again.  You roll, you eat, you roll, you eat.....sign me up! 

If you have a Harbor Freight store in your town, you can get them there for cheap.

Somewhat related, somewhat not. When I booked my upcoming cruise, It gave the regular option of "We pick" or "You pick". I selected "You pick" but it took me to the "We pick" each time.....after talking with RC, they said the ""You pick" option was sold out. This is one of the frustration points that using a TA can help with, ive learned.  I generally like booking things myself, but after running into issues and having to call RC myself a couple times, I transferred my booking to a TA, and will ALWAYS book with a TA in the future. They can better navigate all of that, and it would save me from the hassle. 
I tell you, after listening to @Matt sing the praises of using a TA, and based on my interactions with them....I am sold. 

Make sure when you visit you stop at America's Oldest Liquor Store and Jestine's Kitchen.  
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The BSoA have been camping on the USS Yorktown for decades.  In college I'd sneak on the ship after hours with dates knowing that the security would think I was with the BSoA.