wishful thinking

Many congratulations on your retirement. I'm sure you're going to have a fabulous cruise. So happy to see this 'live from' as I will be boarding on 29th Feb for 21 days of bliss. Looking forward to your future posts.

Loving this thread. Keep 'em coming!

This couldn't be easier..... :D

 

Only defrost the amount you wish to eat and return the rest of the bag to the freezer to enjoy another day. ;) :cool:

 

Sail - I do this very thing quite often.

It got closed. See "HAL's new partnerships" thread for post-announcement analysis...

Thanks - just found the new thread :)

The Big Announcement coming soon thread?

Didn't happen on B2B on Noordam in March this year. Was a little disappointed to be honest. Previous 2 years it was done on St Lucia day.

Awwwww. It's over! Thoroughly enjoyed your review. So refreshing. Thanks for taking the time. Now I have to find something else to read.............

Sorry for the delay.

 

Our little neighborhood is in a rural part of Florida. Since July 01 we have had over 30 inches of rain including 7 inches on Monday. I have been spending time cleaning things up but now I'm back and hope to have my final review Part 3 today.

So happy to hear the next instalment is coming soon. And that's a bummer about all that rain! Hope it calms down for you soon.

Waiting patiently for Part Trois! :)

The GIG is up. Now that we have done it, I can tell you that we took a ton of supplies to the children's school Ninos con Benedicion today as part of our tour with Carlos (Guatemalan Guide). What a moving time it was. 1of4 and her DD had lovingly made them pencil cases which we filled with pencils, pens, colouring pencils, rulers, scissors, toothpaste and toothbrushes to name just a few things.

 

After they did their beautiful dancing and performances for us, it was our turn with our supplies. We kicked it off with chocolate - yes many of us had saved our pillow chocolates and the children came running. One of our innovative roll call members got her steward to give her a ton.

 

I got some ice from the concierge and between the ice and the air conditioning in the van, they didn't melt.

 

Then we started to pass out the pencil cases. It was touching when we started to pass out the pencil cases. The children were overwhelmed and some hesitant to take them in case they were going to be taken back.

 

You should have seen the looks on their faces as we emptied the bags (all 26) and they saw more stuff. Ink jets for their printers (big smile on the teacher's face), note pads of varying sizes, huge stacks of paper, over 1,000 pencils, pens, crayons, toys, silly putty, plastiscene, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

etc. The list was endless.

 

I think everyone's heart was warmed when they saw the looks on the children's faces.

 

I will post some pics but I would like to express my many thanks to those on the roll call who kindly contributed and helped those who needed it.

 

These are all Mayan children who would not get an education without this school.

 

they are a delight and so sweet and it just warmed my heart.

 

The teacher could not speak English well but my Spanish survived for the most part.

 

Even nicer, along with all of those supplies, we are doing a cabin crawl with a poker fun and the roll call agreed that 1/2 the money for the poker run could go to the school. I was delighted to go up and give them the money from "all of us" beforehand. The children were not expecting anything else.

 

It was a moving day and certainly one of my highlights.

 

 

 

 

 

I did do some videos that I would like to share as well as one of a roll call member dancing in Nicaragua but they won't download - perhaps because of the internet speed on the ship? If I can find a wifi station in Puerto Chiapas tomorrow I will try there, DH permitting.

 

I will back track a bit but this time was truly moving. I never took so many pictures in all of my life.

 

we kept this low key knowing of a problem a roll call had in Corinto in the past but I am now exuberant and happy to share with you all :)

How uplifting to see there are still some truly caring people on this planet. Kudos to you all!

If the weather closes in much more, we won't get to see much at all!

Signing in, though looks like I'm early!

Oooh Joanie. Can't wait for this!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone! :D Back from my 11 day Southern Caribbean Wayfarer on the MS Noordam (March 9 to 20, 2015)

 

I knew other CC's that were going to be on this cruise too so it was more like my first solo cruise with training wheels.

This is my 5th time on the Noordam << I love this ship! I have seen all the the islands and never get tired of them. The tours were great. Mostly beach & sailing and swimming. Did some shopping and enjoyed some really good pizza in St Thomas << way better than on the ship. Don't get me wrong overall HAL has made some really good improvements. Personally I still think the pizza needs work.

 

I have already got a reservation next year SOLO on the Oosterdam Its the only way to keep the addiction in check LOL Knowing that I have another cruise on the horizon :D

 

I was invited to the Mariner Society Reception :eek: I was in my cabin and the phone starts ringing ? So I answer it and this lady says bla bla this is the guest relations desk <<<when i heard this I thought OMG there going say something about my CC not enough funds or over extended LOL This lady goes on to say I have over 130 days bla bla we would like to invite you to attend the Mariner Society Reception to receive your Bronze Medallion. Honestly I did not think I had that many days and kept thinking that they made a mistake or error.

 

Next thing I knew I was getting my picture taken wearing my Medallion with Captain Robert Jan Kan and his Second in command << I did not get his name sorry.

 

It was kinda exciting!! I thought HAL phased the metal award out and were no longer giving them out. Glad I was wrong. :D They also gave the other color metals too and The Captain also took pictures with others that had over a 1000 days. There were quite a few.

 

I am back at work and saving/making plans/ for the next cruise.

Hi Shandryl! You kept that quiet - lol! You doing the Oosterdam at the same time next year? Enquiring minds want to know......... Did you get photo I sent by email?????

wishful thinking

 

Great shot scrapnana. Many thanks for that. Just got back yesterday to reality. It sure does suck!!!!!!!!!

You said it!! The roll calls used to be booming. Everyone was excited and talked about shorex, flights, car rental, food, the planning, the get togethers <<<so much fun. Now its like no one cares :(

 

The attitudes on the CC boards have really sucked and I find myself here less & less. It never used to be that way. I can remember some really fun times on these message boards. JMO

Completely agree with you. I'll see you on board soon :)

Make sure you request A Wave so the camera will zoom in on you.

Thanks for the reminder. Already done it - lol.

If you guys are watching when Noordam sails away next time, I will be waving my Union Jack Flag from my stern stateroom - yay - can't wait.

It's a three day holiday weekend here so maybe hard to find a repairman and parts probably needed.

Thanks for that info. Would never have thought about that. :)

Here too. Shame the other cam still not working.

Hope to be here too. Next time she comes back, it will be my turn - yay :):):):):):)

So - my cruise on Noordam in March 2013 had 2 sets of HAL Cats. One was dire, the other was fantastic! Last year on same ship HAL Cats were not good. BUT, thank goodness for BB King's Blues Club. Kept this gal a rocking, that's for sure. Looking forward to rocking again in 27 days! And I'm fussy about music. Son has a band in Vegas and they rock!!!!!!! Just sayin........

I'm happy you asked the question, Roy.

Many more people are now aware such a fund exists and may make the choice to contribute a bit next time they have a great cruise. :)

 

Thank you for the thread.

I'm another one who didn't know about this. But will most certainly 'add to the pot' on my next cruise. What a lovely idea :)

Thanks for all your help folks. The Land and Sea trip looks just right. Less than 2 weeks to go. Hooray!

I'm sure you will love this excursion. I've done it several times, and I never tire of it. Just a wonderful way to spend the 'last' day before that horrendous plane journey back home!