Vwjo

Fellow lurker here!  Actually this post made me finally decide to make an account.  Here’s to actually posting now!

I very recently  joined in for the first time ...  a grand example of "long time listener,  first time caller ..."
 

Also a lurker... but I'm trying! Hey everyone! ?

If your a coffee drinker,  order a pot of coffee in the mornings from room service (its free) just remember to give your waiter a tip.  I'm a early riser so I order coffee when I get up and it usually takes about 15mins.  We enjoy looking out over the water and get to see some flying fish from time to time.  Enjoy your balcony time,  that's why you paid the extra money.  Your on vacation,  don't try to do too much.  Enjoy the moment

OMG AK was absolutely AMAZING, and I too spent quite a few hours sitting outside on my balcony, FAR more than I have for any other cruise.  We went in early June and I did have to bundle up but it was well worth it.  Definitely something I would wake up to everyday!  Almost wish that the ship could have docked during the evening hours so we did not miss any scenery outside!  

I noted our seamen in the bow looked different.  That's because the ship crew who normally handle the lines got the day off.   When transiting the Panama Canal local seamen come on board to handle the lines.

In the last photo of my above post you can sort of see there is a split or fork in the channel.  
As we moved forward it became clearer the path to the left are the new locks for neo-Panamax larger vessels.  The fork to the right leads to the original locks for vessels meeting the original Panamax standard.
Here is a neo-Panamax ship being helped into position to enter the new locks.


An old locomotive possibly from the Panama railroad that used to run between the coasts.

The new locks on this side of the canal. 

Those pools of water in the foreground are part of the water conservation approach used by the new locks.


As we continue on towards the right and the original locks we can begin to see the Miraflores locks around the bend.

Be knowledgeable about your cruise ship selection. Yes, there is a lot of hype surrounding the mega ships with every bell and whistle imaginable. However, I love the nostalgia that you can immerse yourself with cruise ships such as the Explorer of the Seas and smaller ships. I am reminiscing of the days where interpersonal relationships,  interesting conversation about destinations and culture with fellow travelers,  superseded ziplines and trampolines. There is a true value of being on a non retrofitted ship that allows for simplistic fun and activities without being loud, mass manufactured,  and overbearing. Sometimes real beauty lies in excellent service, a suite with a beautiful view, and like minded travelers. The exploration of different foods and specialty restaurants can be a wonderful culinary experience especially with staff conversation from around the globe. I also feel that the more traditional cruise experience allows for appreciation of the arts, the destination, the people, and appreciation of the architecture of the ship and staff. This type of personal or more intimate experience is invaluable. 

My hats off to you. That’s one job I could never do. Wild that there is little mandated OT for your LEOs. It’s unbelievable, and unsustainable up here. 

We struggle with it. We have enough vacation time to do it (I get 3 weeks, and my husband gets 5), however being in central Canada, flights kill us. I think that we've resigned ourselves to one every two years until we have more time to B2B.  We have a vacation account that we funnel money into every paycheque, and in the summer we camp as a vacation, so we can use our money to cruise when we can.

Like others mentioned, separate vacation account.  Mine is actually a small coffee can (ok, you can stop laughing now).  $20/week.  No exceptions.  Sometimes more.  I just emptied my can from this past year and had $1380!  Time to start planning!!

Like others mentioned, separate vacation account.  Mine is actually a small coffee can (ok, you can stop laughing now).  $20/week.  No exceptions.  Sometimes more.  I just emptied my can from this past year and had $1380!  Time to start planning!!

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!
 

So it’s been a little over an hour since this post was created and we already have over 60 views! Hey hey hey! #thelurkisreal ?

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

35 long chilly days until we board Allure...  Needless to say the excitement is building.  We've been fighting colds in this house and while I'm not happy to be sick, I'm happy to be sick now and not a month from now.  Mind you, this has given me plenty of opportunity to do some pre-cruise-preparation shopping.   I've never been one for a door decoration - but have found one that will put a smile on some faces and will get people in the Christmassy mood too.  I've also been on the hunt for a coral friendly sunscreen.  I guess buying sunscreen in November in Vancouver isn't high on people's priority list so I've been saved by Amazon. Turns out Sun Bum original 50+SPF spray is coral friendly - so it's on its way.   Additionally, the thought of drinking a cold slushy drink through a paper straw is gag-worthy so we have invested in some reusable straws (with the hopes that the consumption of said slushy drink doesn't result in the straw being lost or forgotten).   I've also got my luggage tags printed and loaded in our tag holders, which were the best buy ever.   
Scored some good rash guards for the kids too - and I have to say these shirts are a life saver for sun safety, but man alive it is hard to find a good one that fits.  My eldest son is long and lean - so he needs about a size 8 for width and a size 12 for length.  I learned this on our last cruise when the shirt I bought him was a smidge short and after spending the better part of a day in the sun and snorkeling at Labadee he ended up with a band of sunburn about 4" wide on his lower back where the sun shirt had ridden up.  And because he had a sun shirt on we didn't even apply sunscreen to him where his shirt should have been.  Luckily it wasn't too bad and a bit of aloe gel soothed it - but we will not be repeating this error.  
On our last cruise in July on Anthem it was HOT.  So hot.  Almost too hot - and I love some heat.  But my in-laws had these portable fans in their bag and although I've made fun of people for using these fans in the past (because I like it melting hot), I have caved and bought one.  Such an awesome little treat on a sweaty day and they are rechargeable with a usb cable, so won't eat up a tonne of batteries while we travel.  Kids will get a kick out of it too.  I know we're travelling in December, but we were in St. Maarten last December and it was an absolute cooker on the beach.  
I'll also be bringing little battery-operated tea lights for the room and balcony in the evening.  It's nice for the kids to have a night light and I love having a bit of ambient light on the balcony when it's dark out.  
And last but not least - disinfecting wipes for the airplane seat and tray table.  I follow passengershaming and the stuff that I cannot unsee on that twitter feed is gag worthy and I will be disinfecting our surroundings on the aircraft.  Also - they're individually packaged, so can be handy for wiping mucky hands when lunching on the beach!
I'm about ready to start packing the fun bag with all the toys, travel games, snorkel gear, and various cruise accouterments ...  just waiting for our genie email.
 

Just wanted to chime in to say that I *love* this viewpoint!

Some of us are fortunate to be have flexible schedules so that we can cruise off-peak.  Like any travel activity there are peak times that cost more and off-peak times that cost less.  
Flexibility and willingness to make small compromises can translate into a less expensive cruise.  Like any travel activity supply and demand influences pricing.  Bucket list destinations in the peak of travel season come with bucket sized price tags.  A similar destination at a different time of year can cost a fraction of that.  
Some people prefer more expensive balconies or suite cabins and choose to put their travel funds towards a higher standard of accommodations over cruising more often.  Staying in cheaper cabins equates to cost savings that can be applied to additional cruises.  Once outside of an interior cabin the ships looks the same as it does for someone staying in a suite.  I've been fortunate to stay in some very nice suite cabins but I don't require them every cruise.  In some cases I can take two, three or four cruises for the price of one cruise in a suite.  
In some cases a guest may be in a position to cruise once every few years so going big and splurging on an incredible over the top experience makes sense.  The "dream vacation".  Frugality and containing cruise expenses leaves more money for future cruises.  If you've got it, spend it.  
Loyalty pays.  If you spread you spend across different cruise lines it will take longer to reach the point where loyalty discounts really help on any of them.  

Not 100% accurate, but pretty close...
 

Tons and tons of forced OT (which pays for the cruise) on top of about 320 hours of PTO a year (which buys me the time off, hopefully), allows me to plan for 3-4 sailings a year now.

I've been on this board for several months now after I booked (and officially paid in full) my very first cruise! Sailing in Jan,2020 on Symphony of the Seas OVC.
After interacting and receiving so many positive feedback/advice/suggestions from this blog I'm already addicted to cruising before it even started.
I see A LOT of fellow experienced cruiser with so many cruises under their belt and some with 20+ cruises already lined up for the future. (Back to back cruises as well)
I want to also be part of the cruising lifestyle and was curious if there is a better way or something i'm missing in order to afford so many cruises.
The question (I apologize ahead of time if it's too personal):
Fellow cruisers who have sailed countless of times and have even more cruises booked ahead in the future, how do you afford it?
How did you manage to take time off from work?
Are most retired therefore enjoying their life on cruises?
Is there bulk booking for a significant discount or something similar I'm not aware of?
Any tips and advice to integrate cruising as part of a lifestyle when it comes to finance?
Sorry if this is too personal, I'm just extremely curious and eager to follow the same lifestyle.
Thank you in advance!

This Windjammer moment is for @Sweety

Red Velvet Cake

Sail away was timed perfectly with the Costa Rica sunset.




Lots of small boats out tonight.


The flight of the Pelicans.

Back to the tour base...


"No swimming" - no problem, I'll gladly comply.

Our two motorcoaches from the train were gathered to take in a few cultural dances of Costa Rica.


Fresh local fruit was available as well as some free Costa Rica coffee to sample.   


Shopping is also available.  Of course I bought some Costa Rica coffee from a small farm to take home.

Back on the motorcoach we begin the drive back to the port and cross the river again to see... more crocodiles.  

We continue upstream.

The sightings continue.  A crocodile on the right bank...

A large crocodile on the left sunning itself...


We turn to head back and in a place where we were just a few minutes ago a crocodile has appeared.



Continuing back a herd of cattle appear.

Seeing this I suddenly feel like I am in one of those nature shows where a crocodile bursts out of the water and the cattle run for their lives.  That didn't happen but it sure felt like it could.

A Willet...

Great Blue Heron...

The notes for the excursion stated "Wildlife sightings not guaranteed".  That wasn't an issue today.

We were given a handout with different species of birds that we could use to identify them.  We quickly started running through them like bingo. 
A Tricolored Heron, a Snowy Egret...

A juvenile Great Blue Heron...

Iguanas...

Crocodile on the left bank...

Another Tricolored Heron (I think)...

Another Croc swimming away from us...

A pair of Snowy Egrets flying around us...


I could go on and on.  In fact I had to ignore dozens of photos just to keep these posts reasonable.