Tom-n-Cheryl

Nice shot there - had to do a double take !

Bye Bye gratuities ... 😞 Tom

HERE'S the link to the MSC page for "Status Match". It's explained a little better HERE. My Carnival Diamond status and Celebrity Elite Plus status both managed GOLD with MSC. However, I just learned that Azamara Discoverer Plus (I think that's what it was) translated to MSC Diamond. So, I ventured over to the Azamara site and managed to log in (amazingly easy since it was the same log in as Celebrity!), captured a screen shot of my status page, filled out the form at MSC and attached the screenshot. In under 24 hours I received an email with my MSC Voyagers number (w/Diamond tier). All this, and I've never sailed MSC or Azamara! 🙂 Tom

Thanks. I didn't even know reciprocity existed. Never sailed Azamara, and probably never will. Though, it lasted just long enough to get me Diamond status with MSC, for whatever little that's worth, lol. Tackled that here in the last 10 days. Tom

Interesting indeed. That would be perfect timing on debarkation morning - when "help" might not be very timely ! Tom

Amazing what they can do with 3D printers nowadays ! (jk... but, one day!) Tom

Nah... none of them look familiar either - except the limited fonts they seem to use for all their names! lol That's what's great about music - so many choices for so many tastes !! HERE'S the one and only chartered music sailing we've been on. Great fun! Tom

That's interesting that the priority number given out (for RSVP of the invites and such) has limited hours. It would be handy for them to note that, just sayin' ! 😄 Tom

That was my initial thought as well, but of course that's assuming they are not trying to run through their unused inventory from the prior sailing... yikes. Now... I hope that the oysters in the steakhouse are handled differently, as I'm still going to get those periodically (Cheryl does every sailing). But, no more Seafood Shack raw oysters for me! Perhaps I'm just fooling myself! Tom

Bingo ! We'd always order the potatoes with "extra wasabi on the side"... and proceed to pour that entire little boat load into the potatoes. Have you ever heard the term "I stubbed my toe"? That applies in this case sometimes, or when you've added too much horseradish to something and flame torch your sinuses ! Agreed, I'd bring it along just in case! (wasabi). I was also saddened to see the bone marrow removed from the menu! 😞 Tom

Yeppers !! I'd guess within a certain radius of Apalachicola Bay - that's just the way you grew up! Tom

We ate there all 4 nights of our Christmas sailing, and I asked if they could add the wasabi to mine - it wasn't a problem. Perhaps if enough people made that request, it could at least return as an option... I have no interest in the mashed potatoes without it (I consider mashed potatoes "filler", but not when they're jazzed up!!) Tom

Yep - they've replaced that now with the BBQ place. The BBQ place is hit or miss. I did prefer the fish-n-chips and fried oysters much more. Tom

I thought I'd throw out the following again (lost in the shuffle earlier): ------- Are you utilizing your Milestone benefits for this sailing? I'm eligible on our Mardi Gras sailing next month, but will wait until we're on the Celebration. Let me know if the "special" guest services phone # works for you. I've had the worst luck with that, on several sailings. It just rings and rings! Someone mentioned Behind the Fun... let us know if that's an option again. I'd like to take a look around (under the hood of) an Excel class ship. Also, do you recall if that was ever a Diamond benefit? I might be mixing up my cruise lines ! ------- Hope you had a great week !! Tom

Yep ! When I said "hot cocktail (sauce) drenched", I probably should have said "extra horseradish added". We actually bring along our own horseradish for use on steaks/prime rib, and to jazz up the cocktail sauce which comes with shrimp cocktail. 🙂 Tom

They need a side-by-side with the original Celebration for comparison sake. Wait, that's one of those small orange boats on the side of the ship. 😄 Tom

Absolutely regional. I started my oyster eating days in the Florida panhandle. Every dive had the same gear. For me: 1 hot cocktail drenched oyster per cracker. 🙂

Excellent choice !

He would have probably sailed in an oceanview... maybe, lol. Tom

I've tried them onboard a couple of times - and won't bother again. First off, good luck getting saltines and cocktail sauce. Second, good luck having them seem (even close to) fresh. Perhaps it was a couple of bad weeks we tried. I'll stick with land based places and, even then, I'm eating a lot fewer raw oysters than I did in the past, probably out of concern of the quality of the water they were harvested from. Tom

Well... was it at least (actually) $35k then? And, does he not drive an older car? He probably considers those oceanfront homes "investments", and rightly so ! Lot's of things we hear, no doubt, are great stories... Tom

I don't know - that might have been a mistake. I mean, who here can say they have pig roasts IN their house! 🙂 Tom

Yep - nothing like that to be sure. We'll be lucky if they add, or even substantially update, 1 venue. Paint, carpet, and perhaps some new upholstery/chairs/bedding. Just a little bit of lipstick. Tom

Is that after photo an actual photo or rendition? It looks almost (too good) computer generated. Tom

That makes me think of, to a certain degree, Warren Buffet. I read that he drives a 8+ year old Cadillac and still lives in the home he purchased for $35,000. Tom