14 More Days......Can You Help Me?

[Lois R]

:D Hello friends, neighbors, dudes, dudettes....other HAL cruisers.....
I am down to 2 more weeks.......can you help me get through them?

It should be ok:) .......actually the week of Labor Day I only work 3 days! We all have Monday, Sept 6th off......and then I have Friday, Sept 10th off......
Thankfully I am going on my 5th cruise in 16 months:) May 2003-Sept 2004........and so I guess you could call me addicted.;)
The Last 2 weeks always go S O ....S L O W......LOL

I thank my lucky stars every day that I have found cruising and that I am able to afford to do this for my choice of vacation.

Just wondered if ya'll have any additional tips for the last couple of weeks? And I am really excited about trying the Z......:D

[Krazy Kruizers]

You may think that the time is going slow now while waiting to go on your cruise - but wait - before you know it - you'll be saying "What happened - I'm running our of time to get ready. And I don't have earything done!"

[elmorejj]

By now I assume you have your suitcases out and your packing list ready. Do more research on your ports of call to find exactly the things you want to do. Read your docs and the know before you go booklet...for the umpteenth time! Stay on the boards as much as possible....I find that takes care of a bunch of time. And last but not least, Get ready for a great time!!.....jean :cool:

[rocks]

Hi Lois!
Last week I was where you are now. However we are just 4 days till we leave for our cruise & my head is on MAJOR over-load with all the last minute things to do! I'm 'almost' wishing I had another week-well...not really! We are SO excited about cruising to Alaska! All my clothes & bags are ALL over the house, but now I have to prepare the house, food, plants, ect. for our 16 day vacation. Our son will be house/dog sitting & I promised to cook a few of his favorite dishes, stock the frig with his favorite foods, ect.
I'm feeling so overwhelmed, I don't know what to do first!
On second thought, the first thing I should do is get off this computer!
Since I won't be around, I'll wish you a WONDERFUL cruise now. Really hope you enjoy your first HA cruise...My bet is it will be one of your BEST cruises ever!
rocks

[Lois R]

Hi...thanks for all the kind words:) .....Jean, I have the clothes laid out on the bed in the spare bedroom:D ....most of them have been out for weeks now LOL...

I am not going to pack yet though......probably Monday Sept 6th...Labor Day I am off....
Will do it then.......oh, I am one of those people who doesn't do lists....that is just me.

Rocks, have a great time in Alaska....one itinerary I want to do one day as well!

[WindyCity]

Hi Lois,

First, hope you have a great cruise, but I am sure you will.

Secondly, how about telling us your itinerary - what you plan to do at the different ports, what are your expectations and when are you going to cruise again and where.

Thirdly, I find that planning the next cruise, investigating, etc helps to make the time pass quicker. We still have 106 days until our cruise in December.:(

Kris

[Sue's Mom]

Lois, I'm having difficulty containing my excitement - and we're not going until end November! So goodness knows how you feel. :D

Time will fly - just keep busy. :cool:

[lipoppop]

Hi Lois,

Maybe a meeting of CA (Cruisers Anonymous) would help. If you are not familiar with the organization it has meetings for people like you who have a problem. All you have to do is admit to your problem.


Enjoy your first HAL cruise and I know you will be a frequent mariner.

[ekerr19]

Lois- hmmm, let see...

Hold the mail
Stop the newspaper
Stop the milk delivery
Pay bills in advance
Board the animals (if applicable)
Photocopy Passport, credit cards, etc.
Get traveler's checks (if desired, we cash them on board for cash tips)
Give out the contact cards HAL provides in case of emergency
Make sure the formal clothes still fit :)
Get the dry-cleaning done
Get travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc.
Bring the travel-sized bottle of hand sanitizer (just in case you get seated at that table;) )
Don't forget the sunscreen and the Aloe gel in case you do get sunburned
Reading material - books, magazine,etc.
Get a hair cut
Arrange transportation to and from the airport
Let one of the neighbors know you will be gone so they can keep an eye on things
Empty out the refrigerator
Make sure you have copies or proof of any thing pre-ordered from Ship Services
Well, that's all I can think of so far - for me, (as you might be able to tell!) anticipating and planning a cruise is half the fun! :D

[flatwallet]

On our Westerdam cruise our tablemates gave us business cards. I got to thinking about just making up some cards to give out to those you would like to have your email address, etc. You can buy business cards by the sheet and print them with whatever info you would like and the cards are "perforated" so that you can tear them apart. Don't forget to go to the dollar store and get disposable raincoats.

[gliles]

Stop the milk delivery
:confused:

I wish someone would deliver milk to me, I am out! :)

[ekerr19]

:confused:

I wish someone would deliver milk to me, I am out! :)
Gretchen-

Sorry, you are a bit outside our delivery area...:)

Seriously, sometimes I forget that milk delivery has gone out of practice in many parts of the US - but I love it. We get milk delivered right from the dairy in glass bottles, yum!

[ekerr19]

On our Westerdam cruise our tablemates gave us business cards. I got to thinking about just making up some cards to give out to those you would like to have your email address, etc. You can buy business cards by the sheet and print them with whatever info you would like and the cards are "perforated" so that you can tear them apart. Don't forget to go to the dollar store and get disposable raincoats.
flatwallet-

This is a very good suggestion.

I have business cards but they only contain business info and I don't like getting a lot of personal email or phone calls at my place of business.

It would be very easy to print up some fun cards of a more personal nature. :)

[HeatherInFlorida]

Lois, look at it this way, you could be me with 71 days to wait!!! I think the last 2 weeks are a very special time. The anticipation of an upcoming cruise is half the fun for me.

EKerr, great list!!! And definitely you can take a day just to try on everything you're packing to make sure it looks as good as the last time you wore them;) . Also don't forget the Pepto. Another great thing to pack is the little tiny light that plugs directly into the socket (not a nightlight...far less watts than that). You can use them in the shaver socket in the bathrooms so when you get up in the night you don't have to blind yourself with that glaring light! I take one everywhere I go.

Just knowing your cruise is right around the corner should keep you smiling through the day.

Be glad you're not going next week with Frances in the picture! Hopefully she'll be long gone when you cruise and it will be a quiet period weather-wise for you.

[cmyers]

I'm in the same boat as you - per say - What ship are you sailing on? We leave in two weeks Sept 11th on Hal's Zaandam to Alaska and the anticipation is killing me. I'm glad you posted this as i would not of thought of copying my passports or emptying out the frig - great idea.

[Ziggy7]

Lois,

We bought some California magnets and on the back we added stickers with our email addy on them, then we gave them to our cabin steward, dinnermates, dinning room stewards, or others we met on our 2 week cruise. A Little something to remember us by :)

[dakrewser]

Lois -

Start a seperate thread for each day of your cruise and list the things you hope to do that day. By the time we get through arguing about which activites are "the greatest" and which "totally suck", it'll be time for you to get on board!

Bon voyage :rolleyes:

[gliles]

We get milk delivered right from the dairy in glass bottles, yum! That would be wonderful but alas, I just went to Albertson's and got some not-quite-dairy-fresh milk. My grandparents still have the insulated milk box on their porch and they stopped delivering milk to them when I was a tot, I didn't know any place still did, that's very cool.

[RevNeal]

Lois,

These last few weeks are always the hardest. But ... look at them this way ... you only have TWO cruise durations until you get to board the Zui! In other words, there are only TWO cruises to go ahead of you, and then you'll be walking down that passenger tube and into that lovely ship! YIPPIE. TWO sounds so MUCH better than FOURTEEN, doesn't it???

I'm at 1 cruise duration and 1 week to go before mine on the Zaandam ... by this time next week I'll be counting down the length of the cruise I'll be on. If one thinks about how FAST these cruises go, that should make the wait fly by ... RIGHT???? :D

Hardly.

[jazzsea]

We all can't wait for your reaction to Zuiderdam. Knowing it is your first HAL cruise reminds all of us of our first time. Mine was the Rotterdam V.

Even after all of my other cruises I still look forward to the next one. Just got the docs for October 20, Rotterdam.

I suspect this Florida girl should be looking for warm socks and sweaters before too long. Hope we have a chance to see fall colors.

[ekerr19]

EKerr, great list!!! And definitely you can take a day just to try on everything you're packing to make sure it looks as good as the last time you wore them;) . Also don't forget the Pepto. Another great thing to pack is the little tiny light that plugs directly into the socket (not a nightlight...far less watts than that). You can use them in the shaver socket in the bathrooms so when you get up in the night you don't have to blind yourself with that glaring light! I take one everywhere I go.
Heather, thanks for reminding me about the nightlight! I need to add that one to my list! I hate that glaring light in the middle of the night. :eek:

[Lois R]

:D Hi everyone...thanks for all those replies!.......Jean, I have actually done quite a few of the items on your list! Went to Target last weekend, got all the small sizes of shampoo, etc.!

I even went to the beach today.......found the most wonderful necklace and earrings to go with one of my new outfits;) .........

Ziggy..that is not a bad idea......I usually bring really nice "THANK YOU CARDS" and put my tip money inside them....(instead of those little envelopes the Cruiseline has) but I wasn't planning to do that this time...since my tips are pre-paid.

WindyCity....I am going to the Eastern Caribbean...doing the Kon-Tiki Party Boat in St Thomas, the sightseeing tour in Tortola, have no plans for Nassau...and was invited to hang out with some of my Roll call cruisemates in their Cabana when we are in Halfmoon Cay:). Nice cruisebuds, huh?

Lets see what else..... Jean, getting a hair cut this week! Heather...I am hoping very much for calm seas!

Thanks for all the suggestions!:D

[WindyCity]

Lori,

Sounds good about the shore excursions. Our cruise does not stop in St Thomas but it does stop in Phillipsburg. Our other ports are the same. Only 106 more days to wait....:eek:

I am sure you will have a great time and great news about the cabana also! Can't wait to see your review - hope you will be posting some pictures also.

Kris

[Lois R]

Kris, I will be posting more photos to my webshots upon my return:)

P.S. Its Lois, not Lori;)

[WindyCity]

Yep, I knew it was Lois - just wanted to check that you were still aware of anything (including your name) other than your upcoming cruise. Just call it a brain fart:o

Glad you will include your pictures - Hope you win a free cruise on board and you can rebook and come on Dec 12 with us.....:D

Kitty (yes yes I know I am Kris):eek:

[bepsf]

Have a great cruise Lois!

The day after you first step aboard the big Z, I'll be boarding Amsterdam to Alaska!

[ekerr19]

I'm in the same boat as you - per say - What ship are you sailing on? We leave in two weeks Sept 11th on Hal's Zaandam to Alaska and the anticipation is killing me. I'm glad you posted this as i would not of thought of copying my passports or emptying out the frig - great idea.
I believe Lois is sailing on the Zuiderdam... I also believe it will be her FIRST Holland America Voyage... :)

Hopefully, she will return every once in awhile to HAL -

Lois, have you sailed on Celebrity's Millineum?

[ekerr19]

Have a great cruise Lois!

The day after you first step aboard the big Z, I'll be boarding Amsterdam to Alaska!
Brian -

I hope you love the Amsterdam as much as I did... My favorite ship is Noordam, but my 2nd favorite is AMSTERDAM!! :)

Please keep us updated - and welcome to these boards, I've seen your most enjoyable posts but have been remiss in welcoming you - I'm sorry about that. :) But, please feel free to ask away should you have any questions... !!!

[Lois R]

Hi Jean :) good morning, The only Celebrity ships I have been on are CENTURY and MERCURY........I was supposed to be going on Horizon...but plans changed...that is why I am on Z.......

Hi Brian..thanks for the good wishes.:)

[lindadaw]

Lois
I am going on the Sept 11 sailing. Have you been assigned a cabin yet? I checked last week and my husband and I are in a cat A. Has anyone been in a catA. I am so excited it seems like it will never get here. I have been on 27 cruises and still get so excited.
Hope to see you on the ship.
Lindadaw

[ElaineB2]

Lois - I can't wait to hear about how your experience on the Zuiderdam compares to Celebrity. I've read such wonderful things about HAL and was looking at some of the cruises next summer (I really like the cabin sizes and prices seem very good for the larger cabins). Still haven't decided on the cruise with the 2 teenage boys (don't know if you remember my previous posts about the Horizon vs. Century vs. Royal Caribean. I guess you probably won't see many teens since school has already started. The boys have decided they don't care about all the "group activities" for teens - as they will find their own fun. So, it sort of seems like we are pretty open.

Other HAL cruises with teens - I would love to hear your comments/experiences with teens on HAL cruises. My son and his friend are very polite, respectable young men (I know every parent says that, right?) Seriously, they know how to behave in situations. So I welcome your responses. Thanks.

[Lois R]

:) Linda, hi!! We have a nice ROLL CALL going on the other board....please come say hello:D We are planning to meet at the CROWE'S NEST after Muster and would love to have you join us! If you look for the dark haired gal, nautical shirt on, and drink in her hand...well that will be ME;) Actually check out my webshots below if you want....lots of cruise photos there!

Nope, I still don't have a cabin assignment but I have heard on guarantees sometimes HAL waits till the day before sailing to give it out! Thankfully I have a wonderful TA and she told me if I haven't received it by Sept 10th she should be able to find out for me.

Elaine, maybe it is just "reputation" but I have always heard Royal seems to offer "activities for the young" more than anyone else....Rock Climbing, Ice Skating, etc....
Not saying all the other lines aren't great~I prefer Celebrity...but look, I am trying HAL now;)
I am sure whatever you decide will be a lot of fun!

[bepsf]

Brian -

I hope you love the Amsterdam as much as I did... My favorite ship is Noordam, but my 2nd favorite is AMSTERDAM!! :)

Please keep us updated - and welcome to these boards, I've seen your most enjoyable posts but have been remiss in welcoming you - I'm sorry about that. :) But, please feel free to ask away should you have any questions... !!!

Thanks Much, ekerr!!!
I'll post new pix of "your" boat when I get back!

Cheers!