cmcclelland

we still watch every day ... sigh ... ships at St Maarten & planes at Maho ... & some movement in Miami ... Juneau looks so desolate

& wishing YOU folks the best as it heads your way - we're starting to get effects now in Beaufort County, SC

I heard that the D Lounge will be taken away?

someday we will have to try Celebrity - likely when we no longer feel like driving 5 hrs to FL & resign ourselves to packing light & flying

indeed, as to Charleston, SC - we live 2 hours south - so would definitely sail from there - Grandeur does come in as a day stop; we cannot bring ourselves to try Carnavel - haha

sad, but true

Does anyone besides me wish that Royal would build some new mid-sized ships? Even with periodic upgrades these older ships will be fazed out ... it would be sad to only have the Oasis & Quantum classes in the fleet

thanks - we'll do the same - on Oasis on 4/22

yikes - not worth it for a bogo milkshake

we always carry on 1 or 2 bottles depending on cruise length & also have ordered the scotch pkg for the room for Bud - if he wants drink before the D Lounge hours ... we're not big drinkers so are satisfied with that for the day & the drinks before dinner ... & whatever they offer at C&A party & over on Coco Cay, etc.

indeed - & as to the Sovereign - we were on her final sailing with RCL - they did some nice farewell parties on that sailing; wonder if she is still afloat & will be sent back like Empress was - if Cuba takes off someday when life for the masses improves there - someday - but don't hold your breath ...

we have friends on a Holland America world cruise right now - they are keeping a journal & reporting on all these issues - some of the cruise is broken up in segments so not all onboard are doing the whole thing - entertainers will fly in for some ports & they have many themed events - & sometimes are 2-3 days at the same port - the ship is smaller but still over a thousand passengers; the crew is apparently the same - but - is it any different than our shorter cruises where the crew has signed up for a 4 month contract?

a lady of mature years in a thong suit at the Solarium pool on Freedom - like we heard many years back the first time the tour went by a clothing optional beach - "don't expect to see Bo Derek"

glad some is still free - plus tip - we always order coffee & juice & cereal & rolls & fruit - to enjoy on the balcony & not rush getting dressed - later we sometimes stop & grab something else if we're planning a late lunch ... God forbid we starve, huh? ...

It appears that Majesty is still in port - hope it's not a repeat of last week's safety issue?

I thought that passports ARE required - hmmm???

someone on one of the other groups I subscribe to sent a link to purchase the plastic covers (Amazon) - they are sized to each cruise line - inexpensive - set of 8 for under $10 - AND - reusable - I ordered them a couple days ago - will use for our Oct cruise on Freedom - sounds much better than the stapling & taping we've been doing - always concerned if tags got wet - from my ink jet printer ...

agree with WAAAYTOOO as to shorts especially on our earlier cruises Bud would bring his tux & duds & me semi-formal or dressy attire - but we'd need a 3rd bag for it all - & get a porter at the dock - so it WAS more of an effort ... on shorter cruises recently Bud just brought a sport jacket, etc & we'd skip the 3rd bag - & he looked fine one cruise we had early dining & were late & decided to skip the MDR - we were dressed up anyway for pics & then went to WJM - some folks in bathing suits snickered at us for being overdressed - we laughed it off

we're going on Oasis in January 2017 - 22 January sailing - 1st time on the larger ship

the few times we've done MTD we didn't reserve far enough in advance & we missed some parts of the nightly shows as we had to leave early to make our reservation - so - we have gone back to the 2nd seating for dinner & it also allows more time to meet folks in the D lounge

so do we - & also Maho Beach - plan to go there on our next visit to St Maarten :)

she's in Key West today - see the ptz webcam

Per post on Cruise Critic by someone onboard - "Divers working on the propellors. Leaving at 8pm." - mystery solved

update - looks like she's fixin' to sale now

anyone else notice on the Port Canaveral webcam that Freedom is still in port? wonder what's going on ...