God, Life & Alaska May 2015

COM = Culinary Operations Manager

Thanks. I either missed that---or the brain cells holding the info died. :D

Whichever it is, I'll try to remember from here on out.

Culinary Ops Manager??

Good guess! I'm impressed.

Thanks. I either missed that---or the brain cells holding the info died. :D

Whichever it is, I'll try to remember from here on out.

 

 

Good guess! I'm impressed.

Thank you, Ruth.

Next question... while I'm on a roll!

So, on the note(s) above I will leave you with thoughts to come such as..... A criminal among us being escorted off the ship in her swim suit (NO Not me!! *LOL*) An Abusive Talker, A Druggie, Double plates of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, just so they did not HAVE to share their precious wine with me....*LOL*

 

Before anyone gets up in arms, those mentioned above know this post is coming and are waiting to chime in with their explanations *LOL*

 

Time to shower

 

Joanie

Joanie,

OK, I think the Evil Twin and I are Number Four (strawberry gifting, wine hoarding, selfish alcoholics.)

I thought Number Two might have been me as my Nighttime Tourettes seemed to be drifting into daylight hours more than usual on this trip but it was all wine related and not at all angry or abusive so I think I'm in the clear for this one.

Number Three definitely wasn't us but if you've seen our review, you may agree that we met him as well. Our drugs of choice are wine and xanax which pretty much make us mellow (again, hopefully precluding Number Two.)

And as for Number One, the last time Sis or I wore bathing suits, Noah was building a boat. If we had the audacity to show up in public so dressed, that would be a criminal act in itself and while we have no memory of doing so, we have auto alerts set up for YouTube and have yet to receive video proof of wrongdoing. We run on the platform of plausible deniability.

Still, I swear we would have shared our wine with you but there wasn't any left!

On a rare serious note, it was wonderful meeting you and Roger (and all the other marvelous CCers on this trip) and we'll be telling the chocolate purse story for years to come. We're sorry we missed the Chef's Giant Balls but that's the story of my life. Always a day late and a dollar short!

So, on the note(s) above I will leave you with thoughts to come such as..... A criminal among us being escorted off the ship in her swim suit (NO Not me!! *LOL*) An Abusive Talker, A Druggie, Double plates of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, just so they did not HAVE to share their precious wine with me....*LOL*

OK, so here's what happened...

I had done something to my back on Thursday evening but by Friday I was feeling better. So I got off the ship in Victoria and walked for miles. (I should have listened to my cabin mate legalslave. She warned me that kjw869's "few blocks" are actually miles.) Saturday we got off the ship to go to Tim Horton's (free wifi) and shop. But my back and feet were not feeling good so after checking out the wifi, I headed back to the ship.

Back at Canada Place, I finally got in line to Customs/Immigration (not sure what the correct term is). There were 14 manned stations and several self-serve kiosks. I was directed to a self-serve kiosk (just like at the airport to check in). I put in my passport, typed something, got a receipt, then was directed to Station #14. The gentleman takes my passport and receipt, holds my passport next to my face to verify it's me, then says I'm done and can board the ship. I flashed my in-transit card everywhere and didn't have to wait in lines, and was on the ship in no time.

I thought some warm water would be good for my back and tired feet so I put on my swimsuit and sat in the jacuzzi for a while. While on the lounger enjoying the sun, I hear announcements but didn't really pay attention... until I hear MY name and cabin number! :eek::eek: At the end of the announcement they said to "bring your passport to Deck 2." So I go to my cabin, get my passport, and reported as requested. There were 3 other couples there. A HAL rep said the 7 of us did not go through Customs, were not fingerprinted, and did not have our passports stamped. We all told her we DID go through Customs, but none of us were fingerprinted nor had our passports stamped. She stated that the port authorities said that we did not go through Customs and we would be escorted to go through Customs.

So the 7 of us (I called us the Chain Gang) were handed off to a port person (and yes, I was still in my swim suit and cover-up and flip-flops) and walked and walked and walked... back to the 14 manned stations and self-serve kiosks! We all said we had been here before but they insisted we had to do this again. This time I was directed to a manned station. He takes my passport, types in something, holds my passport next to my face to verify it's me, then says I'm done and can board the ship. I say, no, I'm supposed to be fingerprinted and have my passport stamped. He looks at me kind of funny and says, no, I am free to board the ship.

None of the 7 of us were fingerprinted nor had our passports stamped. I'm not sure what happened but when the "Chain Gang" saw each other during the next week, we always said hello to our new criminal family.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D

OK, so here's what happened...

 

I had done something to my back on Thursday evening but by Friday I was feeling better. So I got off the ship in Victoria and walked for miles. (I should have listened to my cabin mate legalslave. She warned me that kjw869's "few blocks" are actually miles.) Saturday we got off the ship to go to Tim Horton's (free wifi) and shop. But my back and feet were not feeling good so after checking out the wifi, I headed back to the ship.

 

Back at Canada Place, I finally got in line to Customs/Immigration (not sure what the correct term is). There were 14 manned stations and several self-serve kiosks. I was directed to a self-serve kiosk (just like at the airport to check in). I put in my passport, typed something, got a receipt, then was directed to Station #14. The gentleman takes my passport and receipt, holds my passport next to my face to verify it's me, then says I'm done and can board the ship. I flashed my in-transit card everywhere and didn't have to wait in lines, and was on the ship in no time.

 

I thought some warm water would be good for my back and tired feet so I put on my swimsuit and sat in the jacuzzi for a while. While on the lounger enjoying the sun, I hear announcements but didn't really pay attention... until I hear MY name and cabin number! :eek::eek: At the end of the announcement they said to "bring your passport to Deck 2." So I go to my cabin, get my passport, and reported as requested. There were 3 other couples there. A HAL rep said the 7 of us did not go through Customs, were not fingerprinted, and did not have our passports stamped. We all told her we DID go through Customs, but none of us were fingerprinted nor had our passports stamped. She stated that the port authorities said that we did not go through Customs and we would be escorted to go through Customs.

 

So the 7 of us (I called us the Chain Gang) were handed off to a port person (and yes, I was still in my swim suit and cover-up and flip-flops) and walked and walked and walked... back to the 14 manned stations and self-serve kiosks! We all said we had been here before but they insisted we had to do this again. This time I was directed to a manned station. He takes my passport, types in something, holds my passport next to my face to verify it's me, then says I'm done and can board the ship. I say, no, I'm supposed to be fingerprinted and have my passport stamped. He looks at me kind of funny and says, no, I am free to board the ship.

 

None of the 7 of us were fingerprinted nor had our passports stamped. I'm not sure what happened but when the "Chain Gang" saw each other during the next week, we always said hello to our new criminal family.

 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it! :D

OMG, this is too funny:D Sorry, I can't stop laughing!! Fingerprinted...geesh....

Just love the Chain Gang story. Unbelievable except to those it happened.

None have come forward to speak out on the abusive talker....yet, but she will...She has to in order ta take the credit for the absolutely amazing calving we had at Marjorie!!! The best and most times I've seen that glacier calve!!!

The druggie is me. I had no choice. I had to shoot up right in front of my 3 fellow CC members and they teased me about it:) So we then came up with our nicknames for our little group:)

I've taken my meds and it is time to hit the HAL beds for the last time until we board Euradam the day after Thanksgiving. Time to het the bed and be awake for sail in tomorrow.

God night and May God Bless each of us:)

More from Seattle tomorrow or the next day.

Joanie

I confess, I am the abusive talker. So named because Roger & Marcia were saying something about the scenery we were passing. We missed what they said because I was speaking to Joanie. Thought I'd never hear the end of it!

Joanie & Roger were wonderful hosts and I very much enjoyed spending time with them on this cruise. The chocolate purses were to die for and the Pinnacle Chef's big balls (chocolate melting balls) were as wonderful as the chocolate purses.

Roger was a dear in making sure I had extra daily "On Location's" and menus to give to 2 friends who will be sailing with us next year on the Niew Amsterdam. One has never been on a cruise and the other has never been on HAL. They will love reading everything before the cruise. By the way, Roger puts together an awesome Alaska calendar with photos he has personally taken. Thanks much for giving us one.

Thanks Joanie & Roger for all of your thoughtfulness. Hope to be sailing again with you in the future.

Diane

Hey Guys, just received an email back from PathfinderEss aka our own Melody!!

I will not go into details, but I know many of us were worried about her being missing from the boards since the end of our cruise, 23 May 2015.

Anyway, she is OK and I cannot wait to see her posting again!! Hearing from her today has put the final "Ah, What a Wonderful Cruise," and now I can sit back and relax with all good memories:)

Joanie

Looking forward to welcoming Melodie back to the board.Thanks for posting this information Joanie.

Hey Guys, just received an email back from PathfinderEss aka our own Melody!!

 

I will not go into details, but I know many of us were worried about her being missing from the boards since the end of our cruise, 23 May 2015.

 

Anyway, she is OK and I cannot wait to see her posting again!! Hearing from her today has put the final "Ah, What a Wonderful Cruise," and now I can sit back and relax with all good memories:)

 

Joanie

Great Melodie and Ron surfaced. :) I'm still wondering how I missed this thread considering I was on this cruise with the druggie, excessive talker and the "criminal" Marcia! :eek:

The last two were our tablemates!;)