swanhaven

2 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Thanks so much Susan for reading and jumping in with all that great information. It's much appreciated by all. A TA is on our radar for 2026. We want to do a European cruise followed by a westbound TA. We may have to jump cruiselines to make this happen. Thanks again! 😎

Oh I would love to do something similar in the next few years and will watch for any updates you feel like sharing re your planning process (over on the Tribe board or?)

20 hours ago, boffoboffo said:

If you’re just wanting to sit and relax outside enjoying the view or the sun bring a book even if you’re not reading it. If you’re just sitting there quietly or on your cell phone someone will inevitably think you’re lonely and take that as an invitation to sit beside you. If you appear to be reading, preferably some obscure, boring sounding book from some unknown author people are more likely to assume you’d rather not be disturbed and won’t attempt to talk about the book with you since they know nothing about it.

 

Quintessential introvert speaking here....last book I read on vacation was titled

"People I Want to Punch in the Throat" by an author by the name of Jen Mann

Worked well.

Loved, loved, loved your review. You might drink as much as I do. 😁

49 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

***Before we get too far into the weeds, I always like to add a disclaimer in case there are any new readers out there: This “review” probably won't be like most of the others out there. The tale you're about to endure will merely be the narrative beginning here at my home in Atlanta, and documenting in words and pictures, my travels down to Miami, and eventually boarding the Carnival Celebration for what will be round number two for me. (First time was back in late November / early December 2022) 

 

I'm not going to be providing pictures of menus or the Fun Times nor any other pertinent information that would help you out if you decided to cruise on the Carnival Celebration. You can find all of that via other reviews here on Cruise Critic or elsewhere. It'll mostly revolve around whatever I decide to eat or drink or the things I run across in my daily walkabouts… Sometimes I’ll “zig” and sometimes I’ll “zag”, and sometimes I may not have the slightest idea what I'm going to do next… You just never know. 

 

 

 That's the best part for me.

11 minutes ago, edspec said:

That's just sad.  Here is Ina Garten's Overnight Macaroni and Cheese, https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/overnight-mac-cheese

Super easy.  Totally fine to go with regular macaroni, whatever cheddar cheese you have in the house, and I usually sub half evaporated milk for half the cream.  You could skip the bread crumb topping too. 

Cheers for the link 🙂

Next grocery run I'll grab the milk type stuff and give it a whirl!

It's perfect weather for comfort food these days

30 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Free Lunch Monday... Fried catfish, collard greens, and macaroni and cheese... (I accidentally dressed one of my pieces of catfish with hot sauce before taking the picture. Classic food p0rn fail...)

 

 

 

 

My belly wants that in it.

Have never had any of those things (except for the Kraft Dinner version of mac and cheese - cringeworthy I'm sure)

Southern food looks like a huge pile of deliciousness every time I see it.

10 hours ago, mkcurran said:

We don't time change here either but only wear flip flops inside in winter because well, it's cold alot.

We live a physical 2 hour drive from Skagway....normally in summer we are 1 hour ahead of them clock-time-wise. Once fall back happens, Alaska is 2 hours time-wise behind us.

Therefore, in fall and winter we can drive to Skagway in zero time but it takes 4 hours to get back.

1 minute ago, sid_9169 said:

Let's go and blow out that remaining $24 on some tequila...

 

 

Yes, please do.

Think of those of us who are at home swilling pinot grigio from a box in our sweat pants watching it snow.

Thanks and cheers!

10 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

oh no.

16 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

In other news, I went to see Guns n Roses in concert on Monday and I gotta tell ya, Axl can no longer sing. Probably THE WORST gig I have ever gone to (and there have been many).

One of worst I saw was the Pogues in the late 80's at some Expo venue in Vancouver.

Buddy singer whasshisname was so hammered he didn't know the words and could barely stand.

Was a waste of some of my teenage time.

4 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Y'all know that I'm a steak guy but at The Wake I always have to get the salt crusted dorade... It's THE best piece of fish I've ever had anywhere. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mouth = watering

On 9/29/2023 at 8:26 AM, Stowaway LFC said:

No kidding!  I always schedule a least a day off afterwards just to get stuff unpacked, laundry & grocery store etc

I need 3 but 2 are just lazing about type days

On 7/25/2023 at 7:56 PM, #55worktoplay said:

They had those carts here but they were very short lived back to no coin in a short period of time.  I don’t know why they got rid of them. 

On 7/26/2023 at 5:59 AM, Saint Greg said:

The thing is all stores have to buy in on that. Otherwise people will just get annoyed and go somewhere else.

 

I bet that will attract street people walking around offering to return carts for people. You have to be able to use your phone because who has coins in 2023? I haven’t carried a wallet regularly in two years.  


 

Where I live we went from dollar coins to unlock a cart (yup, a place in Canada) to tokens.

There was a bit of a business going on with the folks who would offer to return carts when we still used only coins.  

Once we switched to tokens....the business folk moved on and we don't have random carts in parking lots anymore.

Can still use a coin if a person wants and pressure-free as the coins wanting people have moved on.

On 3/25/2023 at 11:17 AM, YVRteacher said:

Each night when I return to my cabin to go to bed there is a little plate with cookie crumbs and a glass with milk remnants placed outside the cabin next to me.  The gentleman in the cabin must go to the Garden Cafe and get himself some bedtime milk and cookies.  I love this so much it makes me smile.

  

Was it Santa?

10 hours ago, CallistaSkye said:

For weird things. I had a coworker who was super nice so I friended her on FB. Then she started constantly asking me for money. The first time, I gave her $5. But now she keeps sending me Venmo requests for gas money etc. I feel awful but I've just been ignoring them. It's only like $3-$5 but like.. we don't have a lot of extra right now because everything is so expensive. I just feel like such a terrible person for not helping her, but at the same time... how many people is she sending those out to? Also she's old enough to get social security, and there are programs in this area to help low income people. My mom gets them.

 

I have a friend who will randomly e-ask me to transfer 5 bux over to him here and there......that's when I know he's back on drugs.

I don't send it.

55 minutes ago, Court70 said:

Going on our first Alaska cruise in June what ti expect with the weather? What should we pack?

Layers, layers, layers that are easy to peel off and easy to put on.

Definitely a wind and rain shell - preferably one with a hood.

As mentioned - it can be tank tops and shorts in the sun or hoodies and jackets in the cool and rainy.

Or both within 15 minutes of each other.

8 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

Apres nap, we got showered and dressed up for ‘elegant chic’. Which, for me basically means a sparkly eyeshadow, sparkly shoes and a sparkly purse. And for the husband, it meant wearing his purple Fluevogs (sockless, in honour of Guiseppe). And for at least one dude, it meant wearing an NFL jersey in the MDR. 🤷‍♀️

 

 

 

ohhhhh I love me a nice pair of Fluevogs (or 9 or 11) - happy to see some out and about - they deserve to be on what sounds like a great cruise.

Thanks for sharing.....all of it that is - the shoes are the icing  🙂

3 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

We currently are or have used both TD and Manulife.  We find both to be competitive in pricing.

 

Thanks for your input for sure - will check them out

Happy Friday!

On 1/22/2023 at 5:06 AM, CDNPolar said:

We are fortunate to have work related medical insurance, so we only purchase cancelation and interruption insurance.  BUT, a year ago I was faced with potentially losing my work medical and I have a pre-existing heart condition and over 60.  The best rates and the best experience in pricing insurance for stable pre-existing conditions was CAA.  

Who you get your cancellation insurance from - thanks ahead!

I'm a little bit confused by the whole thing and apologies for any threadjacking.....I would like to potentially embark in Vancouver and disembark early in Skagway - I'm Canadian and live close to Skagway in Canada so I could just go to my house from there.

I've asked before elsewhere with not much luck - does anyone have any insight whether that scenario would be possible?

Yes, I would follow all the proper procedures

Deal of a lifetime.

I should put a deposit down and ask for OBC for the price drop lol

11 hours ago, taznremmy said:

No....that's Holland America...😂

A million years ago I used to work for HAL and a perk was free cruises after x amount of hours worked (we had to pay the port charges though)  - so went on a few of them, just because.

We got so many funny looks and I think some people were slightly scared of us.

We were in our 20's........we hung with the crew a lot.

8 minutes ago, Shaded Lady said:

Team Beets! Boiled, pickled, cold, hot, diced, sliced (ummmm, try 'em mashed with carrots and parsnips!), beet greens, you name it.

 

 

oh yum! Beet greens sautéed in butter with salt and pepper.

So much delicious.

Just don't tell the pickled ones I have cheated on them.

37 minutes ago, SuzieQ521 said:

Hello:

 

We are looking into a Princess Cruise, 3 nights from SF to Vancouver in late April.

 

The ship is supposed to arrive back in Vancouver at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday; in looking at return flights to SF, there are some 12 p.m./12:30 p.m. flights on WestJet, Air Canada or United (right now they are all about same price).

 

We would be self disembarking with our own luggage off the ship so I think those flight times are feasible? Do you think it would be faster to do the train or find a ride share/taxi? I assume that the train would be less expensive?

 

Thanks 

I say train will be faster and is less expensive for sure. To mirror what's been said, just go to the Canada Line at Waterfront Station (just around the corner from the port) and hop on the train labelled YVR.

Super easy trip and about 1/2 hour.

10 minutes ago, Greenpea2 said:

I like beets in a salad with goat cheese, etc. So I'd certainly try that beetroot on a burger. Just don't love beets hot and alone as a veggie.

I eat pickled beets straight from the jar - the perks of the husband not liking them 🙂