Haljo1935

Funny guy Donald Duck - he quacks me up. There - it's been said 🙄 Creativity should be celebrated. I have a few pieces of Celtic art that I really like - a needlepoint that hangs my entryway & a pair of earrings. I greatly appreciate the tedious work of archiving.

I would enjoy the meal w/chicken subbed for the 🍤 🦐 , pass on the drink & wine. Been to the port a few times w/the first being early 90's so no digital pictures and most recent just before the shutdown so those pics are on computer. We had a few people offering to sell us drugs the first time, but not the last - guess we no longer look like their target customer.🥴 We were there Feb 2016 for my birthday - had a rainy but enjoyable day.

Hugs @kazu and thanks for the beautiful flowers.

Currently 75° w/85% humidity headed to sunny 93°. Rains expected beginning tomorrow. 

Prayers 🙏 and positive thoughts for all. 

20 minutes ago, MISTER 67 said:

I agree on Jamaica, been there many times but can’t remember the last time we left the ship. Back in the day we had a few good tours including rafting on the Martha Brae river and as I mentioned in another post, climbing Dunn’s River Falls which was a hoot.

We enjoyed climbing Dunn's River Falls on our first cruise in the early 90's - it was beautiful, don't think we could climb it today & sure don't want to battle today's crowds. 

Our last cruise w/a stop in Jamaica we did the bamboo raft down the Martha Brae - it was relaxing and gorgeous. That was right before the shut down. 

Bon Voyage @Mtn2Sea⛴️🥂

We were on NS last year on her last cruise before going into drydock and her first cruise coming out of that drydock - while there was noticeable work starting while we were still on the cruise prior to drydock (as well as some that continued post drydock), we did not notice any issues with supplies. Sure, there were random "we're out of that" responses, but no more than we have had on any other cruise. And much much less than in the first few cruises after the Covid restart.

Would not hesitate to book again on either side of a drydock. 

5 hours ago, Cruzin Terri said:

...i am still trying to figure out why we did this trip.  It is the trip from hell.  If it could go wrong, it has and it will.  I have yet to sit at the beach or go in the water.  i am exhausted....

Hugs🤗 and prayers🙏

Deep breaths until you can see the beauty around you and find some of the peace that is there for you. I know it's hard to do in the moment, but you can get there.❤️

Thank goodness DH is getting good medical attention and you have a housekeeper looking out for you.

More hugs.

Sorry @ottahand7 neither of your horses came through, but it was a good race🏇

21 minutes ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

 

My addition to the Garden Club. The poppies have gone wild this year. And the da** deer have been munching on the sweet William and the lupine!!

Beautiful!

3 hours ago, crystalspin said:

We were in 4100 -- above Future-cruise/Front-desk. No noise at all and SO convenient to the GDC!

That's how I felt about mine on K'dam - no noise from below, convenient to GDC, GS & library and the sideways was a great layout.

2 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I believe the Neptune suite gets you the CO MDR entrance line on the non-pinnacle class ships.

Correct.

Bon Voyage ⛴️

1 hour ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

You cannot see your OBC online. Have your TA or PCC send you an updated receipt/confirmation. It will be there.

 

OBC is the abbreviation for On Board Credit. HAL does not allow you to use it until actually onboard. However, you can book Specialty Dining or Shore Excursions using your credit card. Then, once onboard, you can have the amounts transferred to refundable OBC. Go to the Guest Services Desk to have Specialty Dining charges transferred and to the Shore Excursions Desk to transfer shore excursions. The prepaid amount(s) will be transferred to your refundable OBC - which goes to your credit card on file if not used onboard.

Absolutely correct - we do it every cruise. If you want, you can also cash out at GS vs having the unused amount credited to your CC.

Important days today - best friends help us through a lot of things, life is better with 1 by our side 👣 My BFF lost her dad very suddenly to a brain tumor - he got a headache that he couldn't shake and 2 days later was gone.

I'll pass on the meal (salmon & asparagus) and wine, but a Seabreeze sounds lovely, especially in this heat; not been to the port. Thank you @StLouisCruisers for the USS Liberty attack link.

Thank you @ottahand7 for the wonderful news about the 4 hostages being found.

Safe travels @aliaschief as you head home from your amazing adventure - I have really enjoyed your updates and beautiful pictures. 

Rangers ⚾ lost (again) last night, we have high hopes for the Mavs🏀 tonight. @ottahand7 I'll root for Sierra Leone and Seize the Gray 🏇 during the Belmont.

Thanks to all who answered questions and provided info on kidney stones. @JazzyVI was not given a strainer to collect them, but would like to know what type they are. Would that have been detectable in the blood work that was done or only by examining the stones? I am out of pain and waiting for the next wave. Canceled today's massage (which is for the frozen shoulder) & Mon PT; we'll see about Tues.

Currently 77° w/80% humidity headed to hot sunny 97° w/an Ozone Action Day in my county, so poor air quality - best to stay indoors. 🌧 returning Mon.

Prayers 🙏 and positive thoughts for all. 

Bon Voyage @Suslor⛴️🥳🥂

Bon Voyage @swin26⛴️🥳🥂

4 hours ago, dfish said:

Ok, the pecan pie cake is done.  Lots of work to this one.  It is a brown sugar cake with a brown butter/brown sugar icing and pecan pie filling on top and between the layers.

 

That is beautiful!! DH is a big fan of pecan pie - I'm sure he would love it. Job well done!!

When is CC fixing the smell-o-vision feature? It's sure needed here😊

4 hours ago, kochleffel said:

Shavuot decorations

 

The decorations represent four loosely related themes of Shavuot...

 

...I'm told that the fruits are supposed to be in a gold or silver basket, which I neither have nor want. This is a hammered-aluminum tray that was a wedding present to my parents.

Very nice - thank you for sharing the picture and the explanation. 

8 hours ago, marshhawk said:

Apparently the fastest way to get a behavioral specialist to see you is cancel your 9 am appointment at 2 am.  They called at 8:30 and he was being evaluated right there and then.

I left the room because this is his time, but had to come through several times, and he was telling them that his first marriage lasted 7 years.  No, I said, it was 20.  So his memory is going, which I thought was happening.  Then they asked him who recommended the appointment and why.  He didnt know.  Yup, we have problems...

 

@Haljo1935At first it sounded to me like you had a choice, appendix or kidney stones.  Sorry, I would have chosen the appendix. Sorry about the pain,  hope meds help with it, and you may have to give up ice cream.  Hugs.

Hugs 🤗 on DH situation. I understand you wanting to give him his time, but good thing you did hear some of his responses and good they called him to do the eval.

When I went in, based on symptoms it was likely either appendix or kidney stones - I hoped for stones because I didn't want surgery. But in retrospect, that may have been a quicker, less painful experience. Scan quickly determined it was kidney stones.

Ugh on giving up ice cream😪 Dr did mention diet changes, starting w/no soda - that's easy - haven't had one in 25+ years. I haven't read the full list; appreciate the heads-up on the ice cream. Do you know why? Is it the sugar?

16 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

The culprit:

 

Oh my - I'd probably cringe every time I looked at. That is a gnarly looking rock - I can see why there was debris in the wound.

Glad you got yourself some proper care and hope you continue to heal quickly. 

1 hour ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

...Today is also National Donut Day according to an email from a local bakery market.

YES!! Krispy Kreme advised about today being NDD and sent a good coupon. I put the code in and it worked.

On 6/6/2024 at 7:32 AM, Cruise Suzy said:

 

With HAL, onboard credit (OBC) can't be used until onboard. To use your OBC for laundry, first cancel your pre-paid laundry package and it will be credited back to your charge card. (This is done from My Itinerary.)  Then when you send out your first laundry, select Unlimited and the amount will be deducted from your OBC. There is no discount for pre-purchasing.

Exactly THIS ⬆️

On 6/5/2024 at 8:55 PM, rj59 said:

I just got off Zaandam. As the coupon says, it could only be used a specific Mariner cocktail. On my previous cruise they let me use it for a Weng Weng. 

I've always been able to use for any drink $11 & under.

11 hours ago, waiting2retire said:

@NCTribeFan Just got off the Nieuw Statendam last week. I was in 4123 and my daughter was in 4114, both sideways interior “I” cabins on deck 4. We both found them to be very comfortable for one person, with tons of closet space. Great location, just aft of the midship elevators. Consider for your future NS cruise 😊

 

Also remember if you do get an upsell offer, as a solo traveller you will pay double the upgrade offer. I have never found that to be worth it. 
 

That's what I had on K'dam - the sideways interior - layout was great, space was roomy enough to get around, no awkward TV angle - it was at the end of the bed. Only downside was no sofa (not an issue for me).

@smitty34877 @dfish yes - kidney stones. Scan showed one lower, which is source of current pain, several more forming higher up which Dr says will be source of future pain.

Hugs🤗 @marshhawk🧡

11 hours ago, mr. godfredo said:

I went and booked with them! Good price, very accommodating, and good website to book. Thank you for the info!

I can also add support of Rome Airport Shuttles - we used them Nov & Dec last year w/o issues and would use them again.

Safe travels - enjoy your cruise!

18 hours ago, Fortunate 2 travel said:

Thanks to all who have responded.  I wanted to find out since our last experience at Port Everglades, our U driver had a hard time locating us and just kept driving around.  Perhaps a cab would be a better option for us.

As others said, yes, once onboard you can book just a transfer to FLL w/no tour. Taxis and shuttles are also readily available. If you're flying on a participating airline, Luggage Direct is available so you don’t have to mess w/your 🧳 no matter what transportation method you choose from port to FLL. Bonus is the overlimit fee is waived.