coneyraven

18 minutes ago, SPS said:

@coneyraven Is it true that Old Bay is used as an ice cream topping in Maryland? 

 

I've tried it.....not bad.  It's also good on Corn on the Cob, Macaroni & Cheese, Chicken Wings, any type of Mixed Vegetables, in Beer, Potato Chips, Popcorn, French Fries, Stir Fry, just to name a few things.....oh, and on Cicada's since they're in season.

22 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

 

Oh and "Maryland style" crabcakes are very overrated. Mustard does not belong in a crabcake

Not when you know where to go..... I'm not a fan of the overly commercialized places like Phillips, it's the more traditional, smaller, "mom & pop" operations that have insanely good crabcakes.

13 hours ago, Pooch said:

 Also want to see Poe’s grave!

That's a cab ride over to Greenmount Cemetery --- not exactly in the best neighborhood.

8 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Thank you both so much.  Information is just what I was looking for.  I think the light rail looks perfect.  Appreciate your help.  Best suggestions for activities?

The entire Inner Harbor area is excellent for strolling and people watching.  You might want to see who's playing at the Pier 6 Concert Pavilion.... last time we were downtown, we saw Boston.

Ok --- this is very rudimentary, but I think it gets the job done..... ...

From Left to right ..... The CY is Camden Yards.... The L is Light Rail .... The S is the Sheraton .... The IH is the Inner Harbor

8 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Can you give me a little point of reference for the light rail?  I assume finding it at the airport will be relatively easy but where would it drop us off?  Would it be walkable to the hotel?

The light rail is right against Camden Yards on the east side of the stadium.

Yes, it's literally between Camden Yards and the Inner Harbor area.  Very easy to access both with "foot power".  If you're flying in, it's probably a good 15 to 20 minutes from the airport (non-rush-hour).  If you pull up a map, it's at the intersection of S. Charles & Conway Streets.

Wow ---- I can hardly wait to hear what the future has in store for her ...... and for you Joe.. "Proud Poppa Moment"

13 hours ago, rjac said:

OK, all in favor of "gang", please clap your hands! 

Please remove my October 27, 2022 sailing on Explorer and replaced it with August 28, 2022 on Explorer.  Thanks,  Mark

On 6/13/2021 at 8:35 AM, RickinSTL said:

Wouldn't this be a battery of ships? lol

 

Nope --- its' a Gang --- @Sharla approved it, that makes it so ......... But then, what about a Fleet?

In regards to the eMuster ..... even for those ships that don't have the app, like Explorer and Grandeur, isn't it equipped so that you can watch the video's on the Stateroom TV's as an alternative?

State of Flux ...... yep ..... People on Oasis (out of Florida) in November have things populated on the app ---- yet, those of us sailing on her out of Bayonne in September still get the "We're working on the fun" box ..... We can supposedly start the check in process next Monday (the 21st) --- we shall see.

Very interesting .... thank you .... I like the Gift Card idea .... we're still in the process of using credits from canceled flights in 2020.

I'm still mesmerized at the new word I just learned from @Matt

AUTOMAGICALLY!!!!

I will find a reason to use that.

22 minutes ago, sk8erguy1978 said:

I'm on that sailing too, also in the FB group, although I am in the middle of a "deactivation" just to get away for a while ... anyway, I too have enough confidence in it sailing that we might not make final payment. Wife just started a new job and its not clear (and may not be in the next 2 weeks) if she can take the time. Originally, I was all-in, figured cruise would get cancelled and I can preserve my great GS price, now I don't feel that way and don't want a huge FCC. I started eyeing Oasis out of Miami in January - or maybe go for that "new ship smell" on Odyssey. I was looking forward to seeing the changes on Oasis - and that Miami itinerary has new places - so that might win.

Anyway, rant over, fingers crossed for you guys, I know most (myself included) are transplants from September 2020! 

Yeah .... until we know for sure.... everything is up in the air ...

Fortunately, thanks to a canceled cruise at the beginning of this crap, we could pivot very easily to Florida if need be thanks to unused credits with Southwest.... but, we're holding out hope for this one.  The Mrs has never been to the NYC area so she is looking forward to that aspect of it.

3 hours ago, MadamG2U said:

We are currently booked on the Oasis in September.  I was hopeful that we would cruise out of NJ.  With the new cancellations my hope is falling.  Do you think September may just happen or should I start looking to change my cruise?

We're on in September also .....the 19th ---the folks in the Facebook group are feeling somewhat confident ..... If one ship is to make an appearance in the Metro area---it would be Oasis.

2 hours ago, SPS said:

I pretty much could have stopped reading this post as soon I saw that BOA is involved.

I was unfortunate enough to have BOA buy out my previous bank and have my accounts transferred to them. They are the WORST at ALL the "services" they provide.

I will never hold any type of account with them again.

Which is why, I tend to work with Credit Unions ... they're more local when it comes to the decisions they make, less restrictive when it comes to services and fees..... just an overall better experience.

12 minutes ago, WhiteSoxFan said:

I think crewing up may be a big factor.  COVID sill raging around the globe makes it more difficult to get contracts signed and people onboard and vaccinated.  Plus I have no idea what kind of agreements and possible capacity limits may be in place with ports of call.

That makes perfect sense to me .... We're supposed to be on Oasis out of Bayonne in September .... I'm hoping we're safe.  I'm having the same anxiety issues that I had leading up to our 3/29/20 Freedom Cruise that was ultimately canceled.... the anxiety of the unknown feels the same.  Fortunately, we don't have other reservations in place, and, thanks to the cancellation of Freedom, we're sitting on a chunk of credits with Southwest Airlines, so, we could, at the last minute, switch to a Florida sailing if ours gets canceled.

I'm rather surprised at some of the cancellations though .... for example, the port I'm most familiar with .... Baltimore, the terminal IS open, and yet, cancelled through August.  Through July I could grasp, but that far down the road?  Now, if the port was still closed, I get it, but this one has me baffled.

The nice thing is.... the Cruise Maryland Terminal is ready to go.... Governor Hogan opened it back up a few weeks ago.  Now, the only thing waiting is the test cruise for Enchantment.

Infinity Cicadas.

I'm hoping that with the snap of my fingers, I can make 50% of them go away ...

Oh, and for what it's worth, this IS my hand, and these ARE in my backyard.  This photo was taken yesterday afternoon.

26 minutes ago, Matt said:

Correct

Sometimes yes, sometimes they ask you take the band off and they scan it back at the bar.

So --- basically, if they have to go this route, it would be no different than if WOW bands weren't available.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  The benefits are def. worth the $5.  Looking forward to it.  Thanks Matt

Question with the WOW Bands ..... so, if I'm laying by the pool and the waiter shows up, I don't need to fumble to get my card to order a drink?  Does that person have a scanner that can scan my WOW band and that's it?  If that's how it works... #gamechanger

I'll probably start crying just by seeing the gangway .... although, the cheerleader in me just might have to come up with something to get everyone in line riled up...... let the party start in the terminal and carry over to the actual boarding of the ship --- Give Me an "O", Give Me and "A",  and so on.  

I'd do a Faceplant into a plate of Escargot if given the chance.