gail811

Costa Maya before Hurricane Dean

That peacock is gorgeous!

I appreciate all the kind comments on my sister's story. Her survival was remarkable in itself, but she had really fallen into a depression after coming home from rehab. She NEVER left her house (and she lives down country dirt roads in FL) did not socialize, did not drive, just sat and read...day in and day out. For whatever reason, the swim with the dolphins not only sparked something deep inside her that day, she has "taken the ball and run with it" so to speak. As soon as we got home, she started making changes. She drove herself to doctors appointments, picked her girls up from school, attended her daughters events and started getting out of her house. AND, she is taking care of our mother who had surgery yesterday.....she can't do a lot of things still, but she now knows there are a lot of things she CAN do! I wrote a nice letter to the folks at Chankanaab national park when I got home, thanking them for giving my sister the chance to try that day. I have posted on the Cozumel boards too when people ask if it is too difficult to do the swim. And lastly.......I cannot tell you how wonderful the people on these boards are. I had people in my roll call that I had not even met yet praying for my sister during those difficult months. I have learned much about cruising from my visits to cruise critic, but even more about how wonderful and caring most people on here are.

That is DEFINITELY a different dock than when we were there.

 

I noted on the photo (that I commented on) that there was a set of steps going down to the water....do they actually allow people to go into the water on the other side of the dock from the ship?!!??

I don't think so....didn't see anyone in the water, but it may be for access for boats like this one. Top right hand corner of the picture looks like it may be stairs going down.

We've been to Roatan, and I don't remember the dock being like that.

 

Not that they couldn't have built a new one, I guess, but the water doesn't look like a deep enough blue to indicate a depth necessary for a ship.

 

Beautiful photo, though.

They are in the process of building a new facility there. I was there in May and can attest to the water being that blue on the other side of the pier.

There is a story that goes with this picture. At 41 my sister had a major stroke. To save her life they had to do surgery and as a result, take out about 1/3 of her skull....it stayed safe in her belly for over a year (because she had a staph infection post op they did not want to put it back too soon) while she recovered. At her most critical moment in the ICU, I held her hand and told her if she would only open her eyes I would take her anywhere in the world she wanted to go....her eyes flew open (the first of many miracles!), and as soon as she came off the ventilator she requested we go on a cruise. So in late April this year, almost 2 years after her stroke, we boarded the Legend with our mom, our other sister, two nieces and my sisters’ best friend. My sister wanted to swim with the dolphins more than anything else, so I scheduled the Royal Swim. Although VERY skeptical when we arrived, given my sisters physical limitations, the staff agreed to "let her try”. This picture was taken during the foot push.....what you can't see are the six women standing in the water watching her, laughing and crying at the same time. Since this day, my sister has continued to recover, expanding her horizons daily; because this moment in time renewed her confidence and made her realize that ANYTHING is possible!

Taken at Gold Rock Beach, Freeport, Carnival Glory, Western Caribbean

I would not rent a scooter, but appreciate the heads up for those that might.....did you post this in the Cozumel section too?

I tried to search first, but it is down at the moment. How early can you get on the Legend? We just sailed the Glory and we were on board by 1100. Trying to coordinate our group for a meeting time to travel over to board her!

I've already posted in this thread to say how we cruise so much because I nearly lost my DH, but this post isn't so much about me.

 

My SIL had breast cancer a couple of years ago, which was treated but came back, and then was treated again successfully, and she was a brick through it all. Having beaten that, imagine our shock, when she collapsed with heart failure a week gone Saturday, she currently has no brain activity and has been given, no positive outlook whatsoever, it's just a matter of time. She is 46years old, and has a 22 year old DD who is getting married next year, and also a 24 year old son.

 

Life is so unpredictable, you have to take what you can, while you can. You never know how long you have it for.

Sending prayers for your family in this difficult time.

So happy you got the bear back. I have a suggestion for you. On something so very special and yet so easily lost, get a small bracelet like a medic alert or something like that and engrave that this bear is very very special and not replaceable. If found please call ....... reward happily given, and sew it onto the bears neck

I hope the bear always gives your daughter sweet dreams!!!

What a GREAT idea! I will pass this along to my DIL. My grandson has a sheep he totes around; he has left it here before, but of course I knew where his home was.;) Since they will be cruising with us in March, I may be able to prevent a possible catastrophe with your suggestion!

What a great ending! I was so hoping you were going to be successful!

We too have a similar story with a happy ending. My grandfather gave our second born son a Fisher Price toy in 1978, and we called it "squeaky"...it was a combination rattle and teething toy and the ears squeaked when you squeezed them. Our son loved it so much, that I bought another one "just in case" he wore it out or lost it. Fast forward 18 years, we now have five sons, and son #2 is leaving for college. He and our youngest son(12 years difference in age) are VERY close, and our "baby" is really struggling with his second brother leaving home. The night before #2 son leaves, I hear him in his little brothers bedroom saying good-night, and they are talking about him leaving for college and how he will be back to visit often. Then I hear him tell his little brother that he has a big favor; seems he needs someone to take care of "squeaky" for him while he goes to college. I immediately started crying and had to walk away before I gave myself away.

Fast forward a few years later (after our #3 son had gone away to college) and we are in Charlottesville VA visiting that son. When we got home and unpacked we realize we had left "squeaky" at the hotel! I called immediately and they said the cleaning ladies had left for the day, but that they would look first thing in the AM. Two days later our little friend arrived by Fed Ex; I have never been so grateful as I was when he was reunited with our family! Now the baby is 17, and "squeaky" had been retired to live out his days in his owners special box of treasures.

My mom bought a beautiful necklace on board the Spirit. They had several pieces to choose from. Maybe the ship you are sailing will offer some, and they have a one year guarantee should you encounter any problems with the piece after you get home.

I don't think there is a "solution". My DH was also conservative about vacations....we didn't take them! Then at age 35, in the best shape of his life, on active duty in the Marines, he had his wake up call. He had been feeling "odd" when out on his runs, and after weeks of mis-diagnosis (heartburn), they discovered he had a 99% blockage, the "widow maker". I was 8 months pregnant with our fourth son and came within heartbeats (the surgeons words) of losing him! He had bypass surgery the next day. We have vacationed regularly since, taking our sons all over this country and cruising to new places whenever we can. The older sons are married now and their wives and children sometime join us; we are making some great memories! That was 17 years ago and we make a point of taking time to enjoy our life together. Two years ago we had another scare, but this time stents were possible to fix the problem, and again, when his surgeon walked in he told us that my DH has to be the luckiest man alive....again one artery, two blockages..... I honesty think that no amount of talking prior to those events would have changed his way of thinking; unfortunate but true. Best of luck to you; I hope you can change his mind!

As one of my grown sons reminds me often, LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL! We cruise for the memories. My husband has cheated death twice, and the memories of our cruises have sustained us through some tough times. He is healthy now and we appreciate every moment we have to make more memories!

My youngest sister had a major stroke last year, at only 45 years of age. After life saving surgery I stood by her bed trying to think of something to stir her. As I held her hand I promised her I would take her on a cruise ANYWHERE if she would just open her eyes. Immediately her eyes popped open as she looked right at me; I knew then that she was going to make it. My brother was at the foot of the bed and said, "just in case she doesn't remember this moment, I will remind her"! No need; weeks later when she came off the ventilator, and before she could talk, I asked her if she remembered what I said, and she nodded yes. Then she took a piece of paper and wrote, BELIZE! She just had her last surgery to replace her skull and is finally on the road to recovery. We leave on April 27, 2008 to celebrate her survival! :)

Mariner of the Seas from Coco Cay

Miracle in Costa Maya

Empress of the North in Skagway

Norwegian Sun in Ketchikan

Carnival Spirit in Sitka Alaska

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone new if the aft cabins on the Miracle, ex. 7298, or 8268 were only 3 passenger rooms or has anyone gotten 4/rm.

 

We are a family of 4, with a 9yr old and a 6yr old, too young for a seperate rm yet. Any ideas, or should I stick with my cat 11 midship?

 

Thanks

I had 8273 on the Spirit, starboard side corner, and it is a three person cabin. We only had two on our Alaska sailing, but had originally booked it for three. I would say if they cannot put four in the room you should stay with the midship Cat. 11; they are wonderful cabins as well!