pcur

I misread this: Crew are GUARANTEED $1100-$1200 per month. In their home country the average income is $3000

Oh, I thought you meant $3,000 a month, since you were talking about monthly income in the previous sentence.

The cruise is my Pinnacle certificate cruise, and it was one where another Pinnacle and I could go together. Cost is port taxes and gratuities.

I am sorry your experienced varied so drastically from mine. I was on the Vision for 3 weeks in March, and she was in great shape, food was excellent, and I agree the crew were amazing.

I think you need to brush up on your information regarding Philippine wages: https://ph.indeed.com/career/restaurant-staff/salaries#:~:text=The average salary for a restaurant staff is,useful%3F Top companies for Restaurant Staffs in Philippines Average is $264 month with today's exchange rate. That's why there are so many Southeast Asian crew members. They can provide a big boost to their, and their families', standard of living.

Not so sure about "the all frozen" part. I was on a cruise that stopped in Honolulu and the buffet manager went out in the early am and picked up 400 lobster tails. It was a very good day for a buffet dinner..................................

The free US government test kits are available every month. Onpoint testing will proctor with the government test kits for $10. https://onpoint-testing.com/product/certified-teleservice-covid-testing/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1ZeUBhDyARIsAOzAqQLHNcbL0t56V4FojzX-DKpdK-ZUfzdq8aDdqvuRs8aVmCCAg_fRB3AaAiFIEALw_wcB

There is no difference regarding spreading the virus. It's the individual's reaction to the virus that is different: vaccinated don't get nearly as sick (usually). My caveat is my friend's sister. Friend, sister, and all the female cousins had BAD reactions to the vaccines and boosters. Hard to keep getting something when you know you're deliberately making yourself sick, but the sister has a passle of little, very young grandbabies and toddlers. It goes back to my "it takes a village" philosophy above. Anyway sister got covid a week ago. REALLY sick, but she knew without the vaccines and boosters, she didn't want to even think of the alternative. Big family vacation, all vaccinated except the teeniest one. 12 out of 14 got COVID. All but sister are recovered. So, we all should keep this in mind: it's responsible to protect other people as well as yourself.

You're welcome! It's pretty amazing stuff, but practice with very little to begin with. There are Youtube videos about it, too. Almost everyone puts on too much to begin with. If I'm in a hurry, I will just use the make-up sponge and dab the dark spot: back of my hands, cheeks, leg spots. Washes off easily with soap and water, including clothes.

So, test yourselves for your own peace of mind, wear masks, no elevators with over 4 people (including yourselves). You can be self-monitoring.

I will continue to test myself before I cruise, because I don't want to take the chance that I might bring the virus onboard and infect other passengers. To me, this is just common sense. But then, I'm a "it takes a village" kind of person. I mean if you were standing somewhere and a toddler got loose and was going to run out in the busy street right in front of you: what would you do? I just feel repsonsible for more than myself.

I started sewing when I was 11. I made all my clothes (out of desperation from a super cheap stepfather), and sewed clothes from scratch for my Mom and friends. I gave it up when my first son was born. Except, for the head-to-toe gorilla costume for my younger son when he was 7. After that I was done-done with the whole fabric, pattern, sewing thing. BUT, I ended up with this really wicked spatial/measurement "eyeballing" skill. I knew measurements to within less than 1/16 of an inch. That's when I started to alter clothes. I think I posted these pictures way back in the olden days of this thread. My "eyeballing" came in very handy with this project (that scared the living daylights out of me). This is a family heirloom child's rocker that belonged to my Great-Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, me, my sons, and now my grandchildren. Scary project. Again, apologies for the sideways photo.

They have dark chocolate desserts. I declared my independence from Jello when I was 18; never to return.........................

Well, except the chocolate. The brain does not register chocolate as too sweet: it registers it as CHOCOLATE!!! I saw a bumper sticker a week ago that said, "Save our planet; it's the only one with chocolate".

I called today to ask for an extension on expired Travel Funds. You cannot get an extension until AFTER the funds expire. The agent told me they had just recently changed the policy for 2022: all travel funds can be extended to 12/31/22 for no fee. It used to be a $100 fee, so this is good news. The Travel Funds are converted to LUV vouchers, good until 12/31/22, but they don't cover taxes or fees. On the CA-FL, and CA-DTW routes I checked, that would be $60 - $65 in cash. I'm good with that, too. She also told me the next booking schedule release was supposed to have been released on 6/10, not 6/16, and they are doing system maintenance today (Sunday 6/12), so the schedule through the end of Jan '23 might be up later today.

HA! No wonder they overcooked stuff.........................

Fav: all the smoke salmon I can eat for breakfast. Least fav: overcooked fish for lunch with no sauce = cardboard fish.

I haven't been on this thread in a few years, I think. It's good to see that it's still going strong. As I mentioned waaaaaaaaaaaaay long time ago, I don't sew from scratch: I buy tops and pants on Ebay and alter them to the way I want them to look. I've added Poshmark to my shopping sites. This way I get my "sewing on", but I'm spending about $10 - $25 for each garment. If I need new capris, I buy whatever fabric and color I like, whether it's capris or long pants, and the alter them to fit. I just got a $60 pair of liquid knit travel slacks for $24, including shipping, and altered them into capris. My last big challenge was this: Very old style blouse, sleeves that hung down to mid-thigh, and a collar/tie that was only made for the biggest bow you could tie at your throat. Cream colored, and the fabric looked and felt like silk. Lots of potential. I cut the sleeves off to elbow length. Then cut the tie off at an angle, and made a "regular" collar. Took all the buttons off, and sewed some cream colored satin trim on both sides of the opening, both to hide the buttonholes and give the garment a little structure. Altered shoulder pads to just cover my shoulders (fabric is sheer-ish, so they needed to be just on top of my shoulders). (Sorry if the picture below is sideways; it's my phone). I know have a wonderful summer open jacket I can wear with light colored tops underneath:

I have what look like spider veins that were caused by infected mosquito bites. I use Dermacol on my face, the back of my hands, forearms, and my legs. Dermacol is a cover-up, and a little goes a long way. I buffer it with a lotion, but make sure it's not water based, because Dermacol is waterproof, and won't mix with gels. A very light layer on darker areas works perfectly, and the discoloration goes away. You have to work with it, to get it right, but it's wonderful. On my lower legs I will put a pea size amount, mix well with lotion, cover ALL my skin from knees to toes (if I'm wearing sandals). Then, I will go back with a make-up sponge and dab the darker areas again individually. You want the darker areas to get LIGHTER, so you match your skin tone, and use a little more on the dark spots. I wear very, very little make-up, and mostly use Dermacol to even out the spots to match the skin. $15 on Amazon. I have very fair skin and use #208, which is an ivory. #209 has more pink in it.

I have blue eyes, and I use L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous in Cobalt Blue. I really love it, and the only place I can find it is on Amazon for $5.50 plus tax. I have a Prime membership, so no shipping charges. I looked at Walmart and all their mascaras were twice the price. Plus, few places carry the cobalt blue. I have found over the years that blue eyes reflect light and other colors, so when I wear the cobalt blue it pops the blue eyes a little more.

I cannot use any sort of chemical, strip, or waxing on my upper lip. I went to a professional esthetician once and ended up with 1st degree burns. For 20 years I have used Intuition shavers, and I get the refills on Ebay, and just bought 18 for $41, free shipping. I use the shaver on my whole lower face, my forearms (yes, your arms look a lot younger with no hair), underarms, legs, and neckline. I've never had any infections.

I finally found undies that are perfect (for me) on cruises when it's hot and humid. For some of you that may be business as usual in your home climate. I live in a "dry heat" area in CA, so these are my all the time undies now. (Apologies for the BIG pictures). First of all the bra. It looks like it will fall apart in the washer/dryer, but I think these are made from the stretch materials they use to make ice skating costumes. I adore these bras, and I have white, blush, gray, and black. 34A is the smallest they have. $25-$30 each. These have a plastic under wire only in front, and are incredibly comfortable. I will put silicone strap holders under the shoulder straps if the strap starts to curl. I wear a C cup, but the girls are dense and heavy. Once the bra is on, it does not move on me. Plus, they are very pretty. On a cruise, soak in a sink with a little of the bath gel/shampoo, swish around, blot with a hand towel, hook in the back, and hang on the lower rack in the closet like the hanger is "wearing" the bra. Dry in 3-4 hours. Panties: Breezies Modal fabric. Unbelievably light, stretchy, breathing, and wash/dry in about 2 hours. This set is the correct fabric, and the panty next to the black pair is a lovely soft pink print. This set is also sold on Ebay.

I don't think so. They are accustomed to reading the pre-printed info on the sheet, and labeling each garment with your room number. Special instructions are iffy. I would suggest you use the dry cleaning services instead for these type of garments.

Correct. I'm thinking 2-gallo. For delicates I suggest a zippered mesh bag that keeps them from getting tumbled too much. A zippered mesh bag is great for delicates, and can be used to hand wash in the sink, too.