ILoveScotland

Have just booked cruise for next January that will stop at Grenada. I've never been there.

What are the must-see places? What about private tour companies?

Thanks.

Have just booked cruise for next January that will stop at St. Lucia. I've never been there but have wanted to go.

What are the must-see places? What about private tour companies?

Thanks.

Ten of us - all women friends from across the US - shared the Presidential Suite on Freedom OTS's December 1 sailing. We ordered Room Service breakfast everyday, and we added all kinds of things to the order tag. Never a problem.

Hi, Just wondering if all you experienced Hurtigruten passengers could tell me about the wifi facility - we are going on Nordkapp on Friday and I am wondering about staying in contact with both our business and two little boys who like reports from travellers. Is it likely to be efficient and is it really free?

 

Sue

Well, you're on the cruise by now, but for anyone else: I was on the Polarlys last March, and wifi worked well. It wasn't available everywhere, but that was well advertised, so I simply went to the areas where I could get it. Plus, it's free!

Haven't been on CC much lately and just saw this thread.

I was on the Polarlys in March, and the only thing I would add to the conversation is do take the yak trax, etc. and wear them. We had a woman fall on the ice in Vadso. She had to be taken by ambulance to Kirkenes where she learned she'd broken her arm. Then she was flown to one of the ports where we'd be the next day and was able to reboard the ship.

One day until I leave home.

Two days until I leave the US.

Three days until I arrive in Norway.

Five days until I board the ship!

My countdown clock says 6 days, but actually....

7 days! Just watched Mariner of the Seas set sail in Galveston! When it returns We're getting on it!

I'm one of a group of 10 women scattered across the country who will be cruising together on the Freedom of the Seas next December. As many of us as are available gather on our Facebook forum each Sunday afternoon to watch her sail out of Port Canaveral. We've been doing this since last September!

I don't now exact number of days since my countdown clock gives months and days. I just know it's 9 months + and counting.

But, first for me Norway in just over a week cruising with one of the 10 who will be on the FOTS.

7 days! Just watched Mariner of the Seas set sail in Galveston! When it returns We're getting on it!

I'm one of a group of 10 women scattered across the country who will be cruising together on the Freedom of the Seas next December. As many of us as are available gather on our Facebook forum each Sunday afternoon to watch her sail out of Port Canaveral. We've been doing this since last September!

I don't now exact number of days since my countdown clock gives months and days. I just know it's 9 months, one week and counting.

But, first for me Norway in just over a week cruising with one of the 10 who will be on the FOTS.

9 until the cruise, but I leave home a few days before boarding!

Just curious. We love to cruise more than anything, but DO NOT do a lot of the things that others say they love about cruising.

 

We NEVER get in a hot tub - I usually get in the hot tub a few times.

We NEVER get in a pool - I usually get in the pool a few times.

We NEVER get room service - I get Room Service Breakfast almost every day.

WE NEVER go to Specialty Restaurants or pay for specialty coffee/dessert. Rarely go.

We NEVER eat breakfast in the MDR. I eat breakfast in MDR only if I'm with friends.

We NEVER get soft serve ice cream. Often get soft serve ice cream.

WE NEVER go to the Comedy Club. Never go to Comedy Club.

We NEVER watch TV or use the internet services. Watch TV a lot at night and use internet services a few times.

We NEVER watch anything on the horrid Big Screen. Never cruised on a ship with Big Screen.

We NEVER go to a TALK. Ditto

We NEVER learned how to fold towels. Ditto.

We NEVER take a TOUR. I take tours but not at every port - sometimes private and sometimes ship's tours.

We NEVER go to the Spa. Always go to spa once.

We NEVER got a temperary tattoo. Don't need temporary tattoo as I have a real one.

We NEVER go to an Art Auction or Jewelry sale. Ditto.

We NEVER walk the track or jog or work out. Ditto.

We NEVER care to eat at the Chef's table. Ditto.

We NEVER go to the Captain's reception. Sometimes go.

We NEVER play shuffleboard, mini golf or go down the slide. Ditto.

We NEVER stand in line at Guest Services to complain. Ditto.

 

We SELDOM buy anything in the shops. Ditto.

We SELDOM go into the Casino. Go in a few times.

We SELDOM play bingo. Ditto.

WE SELDOM go to any activity on the list except for trivia games. Ditto.

 

I hate to say it but we USUALLY buy pictures. Sometimes buy pictures.

We ALWAYS buy a few Drinks daily. Ditto.

We ALWAYS go to a dance club for a little while go.. Rarely

DW ALWAYS buys a Soda Card. Never buy a Soda Card.

We ALWAYS go to the Love and Marriage Gameshow. Go only if with Friends.

We ALWAYS take an afternoon nap. Sometimes.

We ALWAYS lay out on deck for an hour each day . Sometimes.

We ALWAYS go to the Welcome Back Party . Sometimes.

We ALWAYS go to the Show, when there is one. Rarely.

We USUALLY go to some Kareoki. Never.

We USUALLY see the sunrise and the sunset. What's sunrise?

We ALWAYS have pizza out under the stars before going to bed. Never.

WE ALWAYS love every minute and feel that every day is busy and full ! Definitely.

 

I am always amazed at how different people enjoy a cruise differently. It can truly be anything you want it to be......

 

What about YOU?

Add to above.

I almost always buy a wine package.

I always read at least one book, sometimes two or more.

I was also thinking about this thread yesterday and that it needed a lift.

Mary, it sounds like you're off to a good start with the school year. You said you don't understand American football. I don't understand what we call soccer although it's played here a lot these days. I don't understand rugby, either.

I haven't watched a lot of professional football lately, but I did watch the Super Bowl last night and rooted for the Ravens. It was a great game regardless of who won.

I also thought Byonce put on one of the best half time shows I've seen. I liked it, not just because of her, but because there wasn't a cast of thousands, and she simply got out there and did what she does.

Many of the commercials were very good, but as a farmer's daughter the one that got to me was the RAM commercial "God made a farmer."

Hope everyone is out having a good winter or summer depending on where you live.

Beth

Mary, when I first started doing online genealogy about 15 or so years ago there was very little available. I can't remember now how I found it, but there was an e-mail list of people around the world with the surname Glass (again, my birth name). Actually the people on the list were essentially from Canada, the US, maybe Australia (can't remember) and New Zealand. The list was moderated by a guy who lived in New Zealand.

I have been so fortunate to go to Scotland 6 or 7 times. Several times I've gone mainly to go on on a pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona (look it up) and to stay for a week as a part of the Iona Community's "study" weeks. I feel like I've gone home when I go there.

Beth

Thanks Carol.

As for marriage, Liz and I will celebrate 43rd anniversary in March. I have 2 siblings, both of which are attending the reunion.

Beth, Liz' ancestors in the US go back to about 1640s. There was a Brown who married ca 1800 who had many children- 1 of which is Liz' ancestor and another was John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame. Liz' gr-grandfather was a doctor in Elmira. One of his patients was Samuel Clemens.

Tom

Wow! I have only the one more or less famous ancestor that I know of, but I am fascinated to know the various progression of people through the ages that make up who I am. I am also not proud of all my ancestors. A distant cousin whom I have only met online found the will of an ancestor (4 x great grandfather I think). He lived in NC, and the will is filled with his bequests of his slaves to his son and others.

Well, today is going to be high 70s, so I think I'm going to drive over to look at the ocean. I know a place where there are benches where I can sit without going out onto the beach, so I'll take a book and maybe pick up some fast food and have lunch and try to see Africa. And, yes it's Africa, because this is the area where the coastline cuts to the west, and the beaches run NE to SW.

Hope everyone else is having a good day.

Beth

Tom, all of my ancestors came to America in the 1600s and early 1700s. They came from Scotland via the Ulster Plantation in Ireland and then over here, from England and one line from Germany. My ancestors who came first were Richard and Isabella Smyth Pace who came to Jamestown less than 10 years after it was founded. Look him up online, and you'll find out how Richard saved Jamestown from being destroyed by the natives!

They all eventually made their way west and were in Tennessee at the Mississippi River by 1830-1840 when that was still the wilderness and the frontier in many ways. With the exception of one line which is my Glass line (my name), I have information going back as far as the 15th C in a couple of cases and the 16th C in most.

My grandfather Glass was married 4 times with my grandmother being the 4th and last. He was widowed twice and divorced once. Not as many children as your great grandfather, though. 4 by the first 3 wives and 5 by my own grandmother. All are long gone including the oldest grandchild which now makes me at 72 the oldest of my generation. That seems very strange as I'm convinced I'm still that little girl who ran around playing in my grandparents' yard.

I am fascinated by genealogy and am thankful for having as much information as I do.

Beth

Mary, Fayetteville is about 125 miles SW of where I live. I live about 25 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and the climate here is mild in the winter. By mild I mean that it rarely gets below 30 F in the winter and only snows every 3 or 4 years. Even then it doesn't snow much and melts quickly. This week we've had temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s F which is a bit high but not much. Last week it was in the low 50s.

I moved here last June when I retired. Before that I lived 400 miles west in the mountains where it did get very cold. Some winters we had a good bit of snow. My late husband and I bought the condo where I live several years ago, but we couldn't move here until I retired. He died in May 2011 at age 88. He was 18 years older than I am.

Now, summers in the mountains were mild, but summers here are very hot, and it was in the high 90s several times last summer.

I love living here, because I'm near the ocean, and the small city (30,000) sits on a beautiful river.

I have made good friends on CC, some of whom I've cruised with and others not. Several years ago I became CC friends with a group of about 16 women who live in the UK. They would meet in person from time to time, and in 2009 I flew over and met 10 of them for a weekend in Cardiff. I then stayed a couple of nights with one of the women in Scotland and met another of the group. After that I spent some time in Scotland on my own. We still stay in touch here on CC and have a private forum elsewhere, too.

I've also met a group of women who cruise solo and met two of them in person last November on a cruise and am going on a Norway Coastal Voyage with one of them in March. Nine of us have booked the Presidential Suite on the Freedom of the Seas next December.

Then there are others I've yet to meet in person but who are friends.

And, then there's someone like Carol who I met on a transatlantic in 2006.

Well, I do go on. It's what happens when you live alone! :eek::D:D

Beth

Well, it is middle of the summer here just now and lovely! The temperatures are around 26 but in our backyard they often reach a lot higher than that. I think it is all to do with where the weather peeps take their measurements from.

I have loved having the time to start each day with a long walk -usually 7kms or so. But I have to start as early in the morning as possible, as it gets a bit hot later in the day.

I am on holiday (school's out for about 6 weeks for the kids and about 5 weeks for teachers) but I am already planning for the start of the new school year. I spend ages on the net looking for new and fun ideas to use with my class. This year I will be teaching 8-9 year olds.

I see a few of you are getting close to another cruise! Yay! I bet you are getting excited even though you have done quite a few.

Hope you all have a great day in your part of the world. :)

Mary

I have a CC friend who lives just inland from Adelaide, Australia, and she says they are having temps over 40 C. From everything I've read Australia is having one of the hottest summers ever. I gather New Zealand is faring a bit better than that.

Beth

Carol, you will be one traveling woman over the next weeks!!

My cousins are gathering in Gulf Breeze, FL which is just south of Pensacola. One of the cousins lives there. We will be there at different times, but we will all be there from February 17 - 22nd.

Beth

Hi Carol

The largest cruise ship that we have been on is the Solstice--2850 pax. The smallest-- Spirit of '98--100 pax. This ship was used in Kevin Costner movie about Wyatt Earp(he went to Alaska during gold rush). This ship was also used by Sue Henry in one of her mystery novels. DW and I have enjoyed them all. Solstice was our 1st big ship. Not sure if we would like the Allure.

We are looking forward to Panama Canal trip. Century has 1800 pax.

 

Beth, if you like reading mysteries that take place in countries that you visit, try reading 1 of Gunnar Staalesen's books--available in translation at Amazon. They take place in Bergen, Norway.

Tom:)

Largest ship I've been on so far was the Solstice's sister ship the Eclipse.

Smallest was Windjammer Barefoot Cruises' Flying Cloud with 68 pax.

I've already purchased one or two Staalesen books as e-books but haven't started reading them yet. Guess I'd better do that soon.

Beth

Quiet here over the holidays. I hope that means everyone has been busy with family and/or friends. My Christmas was very quiet with just a couple of friends in for brunch on Christmas morning.

My DD arrived this past Sunday and stayed until yesterday. This is my 43 year old who's going into her last semester of college having returned a year and a half ago after many years. Needless to say I am proud of her, and we had a good visit.

Now I'm gearing up for a first cousins' gathering at the home of a cousin who lives on the Florida panhandle. That is mid February. And then I fly away to the very cold north. I think I have finally bought everything I need to stay warm when high each day is between 25 and 30 with lots of wind, especially when we're at sea between ports.

Beth

Carol, I haven't even gotten on here to say welcome home or say hello to anyone else.

My Christmas was quiet. My adult daughter was with her dad's family, so I was alone. Discovered a couple of other women in the neighborhood were alone, so I organized a brunch for the three of us. We each contributed something, and we drank lots of mimosas while we ate!!

Now I have two trips to plan having cancelled the Brilliance TA for April. First I'm going to Florida (Panhandle) for a gathering of some of my first cousins. We're scattered all across the US and try to get together every few years. I'm now the oldest of our generation (egad!).

And my Norway trip is just over 2 months away, so I've been doing a few things today like book a hotel at the Raleigh Durham airport for the night before I fly out and also buy some gloves that are waterproof and will keep my hands warm.

Anyway, hope everyone has had a good holiday whatever your tradition.

Beth

Thanks everyone for the replies. I noticed that 8586 also opened up and am considering switching to that as well. I have heard people recommend deck 8 over deck seven.

The disadvantage of deck 7 is that the cover of the lifeboats is at deck 7 level so you can't stand on the balcony and look straight down to the sea. I was on the Brilliance a month ago on deck 8 (not on the hump though) and liked it better because I could see the ocean a bit better.

I was in 7092 (next door on forward side of 7094) on the Brilliance for a transatlantic. I loved it. I could see all the way forward and out to the side and even aft a bit. You'd have something fairly similar.

The balconies on those two cabins are big and deep, so you can get out of the wind if that bothers you.

E cabins have more of love seat than a chair. They have two cushions.

I agree, i like being by myself plus thats what familly is for

wouldn't marry again.

I don't know that I want to marry again. But, a companion would be nice at times. Time will tell.

By now Carol is well out to sea. I tried to watch the Allure leave port yesterday, but my sister called just when it was due to depart.

A question: Has anyone here spent any time in Lisbon? After going back and forth about what to do when the Brilliance cruise ends in Lisbon next April I've decided to stay in Lisbon for about a week rather than a couple of nights after which I'd fly or take the train somewhere else. I've been there for a port day and fell in love with what I saw so this seems like a good plan with the least amount of hassle.

Anyway, I'd love ideas about what you liked (or didn't like) about Lisbon if you've been there.

Beth

Carol, you really are too kind. I wish I were all those things you say.

I don't know if Tony remembers me or not, but tell him hello from me next time you e-mail.

And, yes I remember Jack and Alice. Tell them hello, too, if you see them.

I haven't cruised consistently enough on any one cruiseline yet to run into as many people as you do. With time I will as I am trying to be loyal to Royal Caribbean right now. I have probably said, but I am only now Platinum. After the Brilliance in April and the Freedom a year from now I'll be Emerald. It will be a long time probably before I make Diamond.

Ofcourse, the way things are going the "Presidential Ladies" and others in our solo cruisers group will be getting to know each other in twos and threes as we cruise together. I'm excited to be cruising with one of the women on the Brilliance in April.

Now, in terms of biscuits...Bisquick works for me!!

Beth