bcarney

I was thinking that I would have a Lab grown Diamond pendant made from my ashes when I pass away for my wife. I realized however, that the diamond would have many flaws.

So, I realized I was somehow at 999 posts, and that surprised me enough to make me stop and think for a minute.
I stumbled onto this site years ago, and just started reading. I didn't have much of anything to add and, honestly, didn't think anyone needed or would want to hear from me. I was just trying to figure things out for my own future trip. Which ship? Which cabin? Which mistake to avoid if at all possible. Little by little, I eventually started posting. Maybe even answering a question here or there.  Somewhere along the way it became a habit.
The experience, insight, successes and failures shared by the people here has been beyond helpful, and not in an abstract way. Very directly. Because of the tips I picked up on these boards, my family has certainly had better trips. Less stress, and definitely fewer, "what were we thinking?" moments. More time actually enjoying ourselves and each other. That matters in this world, maybe now more than ever.
I was going to try and call out specific members by name to thank them, but that felt like a trap I was setting for myself. There are far, far too many people who have helped me and countless others who have wandered their way into ths fantastic community. There is a 100% chance I would leave out some deserving soul,  and I really don't want this thank you to accidentally turn into an apology.
What I value just as much as the information, and I don't think I'm alone on this, is the tone. People here help for no other reason than because they want to. New questions are treated kindly, new members even more so. Different opinions usually stay respectful, even when we were all navigating the world changing around us in ways too fast to have been believed. This place feels like a community rather than a comment section, and that is something I do not take for granted..
So, this is just a simple thank you. Longer than I may have intended when I started drafting it, but simple all the same. Thank you all for sharing what you know. What you learned through experience, the good, the bad and even the ugly. Thank you for making the time. Most of all, thank you for making this a place worth coming back to again and again.
I am glad I stuck around long enough to make this my 1,000th post.

Back in Nov 2005 we sailed on Empress OTS (RIP) on an 11 nighter and stopped at Margarita Island.  Had a lovely time, and saw a whale for the first time ever.  Wouldn't mind going there again.

Back in Nov 2005 we sailed on Empress OTS (RIP) on an 11 nighter and stopped at Margarita Island.  Had a lovely time, and saw a whale for the first time ever.  Wouldn't mind going there again.

A bulk of my cruises were prior to 2015 so I was also bummed out about that too.

Back in Nov 2005 we sailed on Empress OTS (RIP) on an 11 nighter and stopped at Margarita Island.  Had a lovely time, and saw a whale for the first time ever.  Wouldn't mind going there again.

I have been to La Guaira/Caracas twice as a cruise port back in the 1970's and 1980's. 
I have also been to Acapulco back in the 1980's.
My SIL cruised to Cuba several times just this past decade. Sadly, I put it off, so I did not get to cruise there. 
These are all worthwhile ports that lost their attraction or availability to tourism due to violence and/or unstable politics.
I was hoping some day to get to La Goulette (Tunisia) to see the ruins of Carthage (my parents cruised there), and  there were also several popular cruise ports in Lebanon in the more distant past. 
Thank goodness I made it to St. Petersburg on a cruise, and a few other places that have now become more difficult to visit.  The world is always under some kind of change, so my newest philosophy is to try to see as much as I can as soon as I can before it disappears forever...

If I pass away on a cruise, just leave me on the sun deck, please.

If I pass away on a cruise, just leave me on the sun deck, please.

If I pass away on a cruise, just leave me on the sun deck, please.

Lives in Oklahoma and boarded in Ft. Lauderdale... did she drive, or was it missed by TSA as well?

I would suggest the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens. The Columbia is a great restaurant. St. Pete beaches are nice if you want a beach day, we avoid Clearwater beach- a bit too crowded. With kids I would do a pirate cruise. The children's museum in St. Pete is fun as is the one in downtown Tampa. 

Plus Mario isn't chasing points.

Points are chasing Mario.

I'm going to assume this was a Spirit or Southwest Airlines flight... the only airlines I've ever had any issues with. And this sounds precicely like something that would happen to them. 

And I thought I was being reckless back in my 40s when I booked a Carnival cruise.  
You've got me beat.

Carnival changes loyalty program where you start to lose points after not cruising for two years...
Click here for the article.

Carnival changes loyalty program where you start to lose points after not cruising for two years...
Click here for the article.

I was on Rhapsody in January and was expecting to depart from the Pan American port until a few weeks from embarking. Pier 4 is very modern and you will have no issues with boarding. I will highly recommended getting there as early as possible as getting into Old Town SJ can be a cluster…and that is putting it mildly. Before noon isn’t that bad at all, gets hairy after that. We got a 11am boarding time, we were dropped off at 10:25 with very little traffic by the ship and we were onboard by 10:40. That included a delay caused by a software hitch the check-in folks experienced. I’d have zero issues embarking from that pier again. Next time however, I’d stay in a hotel in Old Town and just walk to the pier.

The one time it did ($19 Deluxe drink package) it kicked off a pandemic! 😂

Caribbean night is my favorite. That chicken is fantastic and always ends up being a huge portion in an era where portions have gotten smaller.

A few Goalpost Margaritas and I am a FUNGI 

Just join in the conversation. If it’s on speakerphone in public they obviously wanted other people’s input. 

I'm of the exact opposite opinion. One of the things about cruising that appeals to me is visiting other nations and being exposed to different cultures.  These "Perfect Day at Whatever" amusement parks have absolutely no interest for me. We've actively avoided cruises that go to places like Labadee whenever possible (been there twice which was one time too many), but with RC including those type stops on so many cruises, we've been forced to look at other lines unfortunately. 

Richard Fain single-handedly helped me get through the pandemic.
There will always be a spot in my heart for him.