Cactus527

Only spacious interior will hold more than two people. And you're right, there aren't that many and they're in terrible places.

I feel like they are putting in features that really don't work for many people, but maybe it's specifically targeting a clientele that they want to draw in?

This is why I just upgraded to an Oceanview for our October 2026 Star sailing - I saw that the square footage was actually smaller and thought there's no way three of us are going to be able to do that, especially since two of them are much bigger since the last time we shared an interior.

I have read people saying that interior rooms are like dungeons. I don't necessarily feel that way, but sometimes it does feel a little small.

I'm so glad this made you happy. It's made me so happy as well! I think DQ is a little disappointed, because she really likes him, but I keep reminding her that we are just helping him to find the best place he can be.

This is the first time we have ever fostered. We just felt so bad for him being stuck at the vet's office in a kennel, and we understand how Dobermans are since we have one already, plus we weren't going anywhere for the holidays. It seemed like a good fit, and he's been just fine. He gets pretty ornery when he's full of energy, but he's also still a puppy and I totally get that. So thrilled that these people can see through all of that and still love him.

14 days and 17 days to go. I'm so absent minded that I ran a meeting today without sending out reports to anyone beforehand, just the agendas. HOWEVER, I noticed everyone was paying more attention because they didn't have the report so...maybe I'm a genius? Will have to investigate this further. Dobby got his visit yesterday from the potential adopters and THEY LOVE HIM. Now it's just shenanigans on the rescue's end to tie up for him to actually get to his 2-week trial with the family. They're coming back on Sunday with their kids. I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIM just not thrilled about his freak out he had going in the bathroom yesterday for a bath. It was like he thought "F* NO ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME IN HERE WHAT IS THIS TORTURE CHAMBER?!???" I supposed it's similar to how some people feel about being in an interior room on a cruise ship, LOL. Now I'm in Phoenix for the weekend with Bookworm for her team scrimmage. Fingers crossed it goes well for all, and then I can concentrate on cruise prep!

It sounds like I need to accompany you at some point, @Pooch. My roommate in college is now a professional opera singer! I can sing, I just choose not to because it doesn't bring me joy. I have Marie Kondo-ed my singing. I CACKLED at this, LOL!!!! Antigua looks beautiful! I'm most curious about the black pineapple - gonna have to research that one...

She says that she has the gingerbread Gordon, and it's one of the minis. If you understand that, you're doing a whole lot better than me. Also, I see Gordons for about $20-$25 at various retailers around here online too.

I am definitely interested in the information about the place that you were talking to today. I believe that is on our itinerary when we sail in October 2026.

Update: ...so, DO wash hands after barf?

I spent my summers with my grandparents in a suburb west of Tokyo. Even THAT was a ways from Mt. Fuji, which always confused me as to why they would say "Mt. Fuji is in Tokyo!" Um...no. Agree with the others - if you can fly into Haneda versus Narita, do it. I remember walking some of the fancy storefront streets in Yokohoma and being enamored (as a teenager). There's also some hot springs, but I can't remember how close they are to Tokyo anywhere (just beware that you have to be totally naked and with strangers separated by sex). You can't go wrong with the tourist attractions in central Tokyo, especially the emperor's palace/grounds. Enjoy!

I'm glad everyone here is doing okay that was on that sailing. I always wonder about these - did it REALLY come from the ship? It's like when I got Covid post-cruise once - did I get it on the ship? In the airport? On the plane? It's so hard to pin down.

I remember when the girls were little, I literally caught barf to prevent it from getting on something else. Do I NOT wash my hands then according to his theory?!?!??

15 days and 18 days to go. Dobby needs a bath today to meet with potential adopters in the evening. Wish me luck - the last couple times, I just washed him in the backyard. This time, since it's 33F this morning, he's going up to the girls' bathroom to be in the tub. Honestly, he was a dream the past two times I washed him - he just stood there and allowed me to do whatever I needed. The only time he showed displeasure was when I washed his head, and then he'd just dip it lower so it was harder for me to reach. Fingers crossed the potential adopters fall in love! And then I have to drive Bookworm and some of her teammates up to a scrimmage this weekend in Gilbert (Phoenix). That means I need to vacuum the car. Why is that an issue? I think the last time I vacuumed the car, Bookworm was still in elementary school. She's now in 10th grade. It's going to be...interesting. Thank goodness for the car wash they built around the corner a couple years ago! Bezos had magnetic hooks for 50% off so I picked up more for our summer cruise. We're doing an 11-night Alaska cruise this summer as a family (on the line that also involves royalty but is owned by the Carnival corportation), and since we have two rooms on there, I'm having to double all the stuff I typically bring for better cabin organization between Spouse and my room and the girls' room. I already feel sorry for whoever the stateroom attendant is! I think I've got enough for this trip between magnetic hooks and magnetic pegs that @asquared17 hooked me up with (via her Bezos worship). Coffee date with a friend this morning, then attempting to find a way out of a lunchtime meeting. Then everything else. So much to do before the cruise, but I guess it makes the time pass faster!

Technically, this is a kind of squishmallow. However, as others have said, they come in various sizes. Spouse has a teeny tiny Santa that sat at the head of our bed through the holidays (don't get me started on Spouse's stuffies-in-bed obsession...)

Let me know what he's looking for - DQ has about 40 of them and is always hard up for cash! YES! OMG! Spouse took DQ there on BF and it was a MAD HOUSE apparently. DQ is small enough that she just slid in between all the crazy people and stuffed her bag. She got 10 of them!!!!! I asked her what it was like and she said "think of the Windjammer if they offered free champagned in the carving station on the schedule." LMAO she knows how to describe things to me...

Good point! I didn't do it last cruise and that may have been part of my apathy. I considered it for weeks before embarkation, but then just decided to chill and vegetate on board.

We have a freeze warning tonight. I MAY DIE oh no then I'd miss this cruise! I just spent the last hour huddled under a blanket with my laptop trying to get some work done. Even the dogs have all found their respective beds and blankets and are burrowing in. Even though it's a break from your FL heat, stay warm, @OCSC Mike!

I don't understand why people seem to think they HAVE to go to work/meetings/events when sick. Stop spreading the germs! It's like people in the restrooms on board that just breeze by the sinks and go straight in the Windjammer. WHY?????

16 days and 19 days to go. The weather has turned here - it's gone from 80ish most days to about 60 and cloudy today. I've actually had to go find warm clothes! Printed out luggage tags last night to put into my plastic luggage sleeves. Easy, peasy, and helped me stay happy and motivated for this trip. With the December one, I literally flung stuff in my suitcase last minute to go and didn't feel "cruise ready" until I was in my stateroom. I want to enjoy it more this time! What kind of pre-cruise rituals do you swear by to keep yourself excited for it? Yesterday was Bookworm's sweet 16 birthday. The gift she was most excited for? Came from my inlaws and it was a giant stuffed dinosaur. I guess the child can grow into an adult but the adult never grows out of the child. DQ just celebrated her 14th last week, so it's definitely been a busy celebration season here. Thankfully I get almost a month off from birthdays before the next one in the family!

First your iFly experience, now stuck in the North Star? I feel for you! Here's hoping they get it operational ASAP.

It's more the alcohol idea - so many people throw that in to the "immoral" side of things. At least, the five churches in my teeny tiny town I grew up in definitely did (and then went and drank themselves silly on weekends, just...wtf). I'm glad I'm not the only one. This tends to last me through several trips, so when I looked in my travel wallet during my December cruise and noticed I only had a few left, I knew the bank trip was coming. It's fun to hold 100 $1 bills in your hand - it's like I EARNED that Cave Suite, baby... Thanks, I'm pretty excited about trying a B2B as well. When Spouse found out it wasn't one cruise but TWO I'm going on, I'm pretty sure the eye roll was heard as far away as the port. ...and I seriously had to correct my typo due to @SweetPea of "as fart away as the port."

LOLOLOL I think my first car was $12K. I can't imagine paying $15K for a purse! That could be me in my very first Star Class cabin!!!! Or college tuition (gotta think about the kids' future, argh)...

I'm picturing this conversation. Rafa: How was Izumi tonight? Sweetpea: Horrible! Small portions and a lady farted on my meal!!! Rafa: What...in...