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8 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

Based on this description of your preferences, if you want to plan a Mediterranean ocean cruise some day I recommend Azamara.  Similar in many ways to AMA, and famous for country-intensive itineraries on their small ships.

Thank you!!

We’re similar in that we’re just doing our first river cruise in Provence this year after many ocean cruises. I have a dear friend who specializes as a travel agent in cruises of all sorts and she puts AMA and Uniworld on top. We chose AMA bv we hit them when they were having a 20% sale which made their cost similar to Viking. Friend likes AMA bc fewer passengers, bikes always available, local wines are a focus, and incredible food. Not saying the other higher end aren’t similar but her preference plus the sale and timing made it our choice. 

Also, we didn’t do big ships to anywhere but the Caribbean. To do the frantic disembark with all the other pax in really interesting destinations where a few hours is not enough, is not for us. The appeal of river cruises is the less frantic vibe and smaller, immersive excursions. We’re really excited!

We have doggedly been communicating with X since debarking 3/28 with my husband having been sick since 3/26. They have advised us we should see the reimbursement for hotels, etc. by mid-May.

1 hour ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

Luigi is currently onboard. You can find him here...

 

https://www.instagram.com/luigi.delmar/

Thank you! Not my crush lol. 

Is Bennett from Silhouette on the entertainment team on Beyond? 
thank you. 

Just now, TeeRick said:

There is a Beyond thread right now ongoing from the ship.  You can ask there perhaps.

Thank you. I will! But if anyone knows the answer to post here that would be great! 

Hello. I just saw a short video clip where it looked like the CD was from the activities team from Silhouette. (Okay I developed a happily married crush on him in March and we’re also not cruising for a while but I have to know if it’s the same guy ☺️) 

Thanks! 

What we did: we washed, we masked when not required to, we sanitized, wiped down cabin, took homeopathic immunity supplements twice a day, didn’t touch handrails or buttons, spent 80% of our time outdoors and distanced, masked on two excursions w transport, masked during cab rides. We were triple vaxxed. 

What we didn’t do: avoid every conversation w new people though we were usually outside or distanced.  Didn’t have an empty table next to us in MDR and enjoyed our dining neighbors.l tremendously. We did check if they were boosted.  We didn’t avoid chatting “inside” our catamaran trip or out on the catamaran deck. We didn’t avoid chats at the bar. 
 

My husband still got covid. He survived. It was depressing and sad but we very much enjoyed 8 out of our 10 days aboard. He was taken to a cabin and pretty much ignored but by the ot was day 9. 
 

I think you have to look what can happen in the eye, accept the risk, bring otc meds and lots of reading, and enjoy every minute without fear (unless you are high risk, that would change things) but knowing there is a chance. Like Noro, Covid is going to be around us for a long time. Be prepared and enjoy every beautiful moment. 
 

An aside: we ourselves are off cruising for a while. After our March experience and our 2020 experience (not covid related but a crazy experience) we need some time for the cumulative ptsd to heal. On all counts, Celebrity did they very best they could and we have nothing bad to say. We will miss it but there’s plenty of terra firms for us to enjoy. An all-inclusive is next! 

18 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

Did you get their surname?  Maybe you could google it if you did.

I wonder if Celebrity would help you if you remember the number of your table.

We forgot it lol

1 minute ago, TowandaUK said:

Have you tried the roll call for your cruise?

Thank you - they're not on it (was not a v robust role call).

Hello Cruisers - 

As we continue to recover (emotionally) from my husband's covid and quarantine and crazy return journey after our Silhouette 3/18-28 trip, I'm looking for a way to contact people we met in the MDR who we couldn't say goodbye to due to the quarantine. We also want to inquire about their health. 

They were seated next to us in the MDR. We really enjoyed their company. I don't have the energy (we are back at work) to embark on a wild goose chase. Any brilliant suggestions?

Fortunately we were able to contact another couple we enjoyed = had their cell# as we were matchmaking millennials onboard a catamaran! (Yes, you know who you are lol!!) 

Thank you as always!

3 hours ago, MamaFej said:

Maybe, if you try really hard 😉, you can get your hands on some lavender.

It is known to be calming.

 

In all seriousness: I am glad you are all together and I hope there are no lingering effects, including a long-term aversion to cruising. 

 

I think I know where I have some stashed 😉

Yes - I'm worried about that aversion.....but time heals all wounds. 

Thank you for your kind thoughts. 

11 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Glad he made it home.  How is the cat doing?  Has it forgiven you for being away?

We refer to her as she/her/hers 🤣

She has been glued to me and I to her since I got back! My emotional support animal is the best 💜

Okay gang. He arrived home at 1:15 am after one flight cancellation, two delays, and a run down a concourse, with me waiting in the car in the deluge. He feels good, just a lingering cough. I’m trying to act lucid in a video meeting. 
I hope this has helped you in some way to consider what may happen and to be prepared. 
Thank you for your empathy and support. 
And now I’m on to treating my PTSD 😭
 

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

My goodness.  When it rains it pours.    He is  so close but so far away.    Fingers crossed for him. 

 

I'm a California transplant from Longmeadow, Mass and use to fly out of BDL frequently. 

 

 

BDL is such a stress-free airport! I bet you kiss that!!

1 minute ago, zitsky said:

It could be romantic if he wakes you up at 2am and he’s holding a bouquet of roses.

 

Maybe?

Hahhahhahah extremely unlikely as I need to go and pick him up! Maybe some Lysol wipes provided by the airline?

2 hours ago, daydreamer16 said:

Yes I have, it's quite lovely! I've also been to a nice lavender farm in eastern CT, any connection? My daughter lives in south eastern CT, I've been there with her!

The CT lavender farm used LBTB as inspiration. There's really no comparison - LBTB now has close to 60 acres of fields (E Marion and Calverton) and the demand just never stops. Prior to the cruise we stayed with the founders in Sunny Isles and our cousin was hard at work making their hand-made sachets. They have come a long way from selling their lavender items at the end of their driveway. A true success story. 

23 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 You may want to take a quick look at available Panama Canal cruises.  From what we understand and were told during a Future Cruise briefing the the Retreat Lounge yesterday there is only one, east to west on Millennium, scheduled for 2023 (We have a reservation on that cruise) and rooms are filling up fast. 

Yes, we are going to choose terra firma for a while. Silhouette 2020 and 2022 did not turn out the way we'd hoped 😓

Update  - flight out of FLL one hour late and he and 65 others with connections may miss them. I'm siting here not sure if I should go to sleep or wait up. 

I cannot believe what a cluster this entire week has been. He says he feels okay but I don't know enough about risk of relapses.  Now I just wait and hope the airline holds those connecting flights. 

21 minutes ago, daydreamer16 said:

I don't know where in CT he'll be flying into but here on Long Island it's extremely windy & heavy thunderstorms are predicted west of here later today. I'm thinking that's the cause of weather delays & cancellations.

BDL. That flight was coming from down south so I give up.

PS Since you're on LI I hope you've been to our family's lavender farm, Lavender by the Bay. Just pretend a ship brought you to Provence 😉 

24 minutes ago, mhoffrob said:

Well, I hate to break it to you (and hate that its happening) . . . BUT SW Air hubs out of Midway in Chicago - where it is currently snowing and windy . . . . I'm hearing they have cancellations b/c planes aren't arriving from elsewhere.  Domino affect.

 

But seriously IT IS MARCH 31!!!!  snow?  Next it'll snow on4/17 when I go to the cub's home opener . . . 

Seriously. But remember the saying, "March comes in like a lamb..."  

Definitely a case of it coming in from elsewhere but Flight Tracker says down south so...(insert shrug emoji here).....

3 minutes ago, D C said:

Glad he's doing better and heading home!  Over a week in a hotel room?? I think I'd be needing a mental checkup at that point.

And now 8 hours at the airport.....😓

3 hours ago, cangelmd said:

I just got off the Edge on Sunday. There were about 3 cases onboard that I know about/were announced. I tested positive with an antigen test early Tuesday morning, with obvious Covid symptoms- lost my sense of taste for a few hours. While it is possible I got it in the airport - we spent  6 hours in the FLL airport, in a crowded Sky Lounge where most people (including us), had snacks and drinks To avoid masking- I think based on incubation time that it is more likely I got it on the ship, probably in the spa, because DH is still negative.

 

This likely is a spike from the new variant AND the nationwide relaxation of masking. At my hospital on Monday, we have had no hospitalized Covid cases for 5 days - a first since April 2020. 
This is all part of becoming endemic. But I encourage everyone to assess their own personal risk and act accordingly- discuss with your physician. I’ve been pretty miserable for the last 2 days, and I can only imagine what the original full blown Alpha was like!

You're fortunate you only lost taste and smell for a few hours  and I hope the rest of your symptoms subside soon - March 2020 after getting off the final Silhouette for 18 months - FLL was a ZOO and I lost those senses for 4 months. Agree on the relaxing of masking issue - I think that's what happened with my husband. 

Just a general update to those of you who have been NICE - he is much better, at the airport for a return flight home, and told an hour ago AT THE GATE his connecting flight (SW) was cancelled. "Weather." What even?

He's rebooked on another airline we don't usually use and can't even check his luggage until 4 hours prior so is sitting in departures waiting for the minutes to go by. I'm trying to get him into the lounge, at least...and maybe upgraded. Tweeted the airline, trying to contact them outside the 800 number which of course isn't going to get me anywhere....

What an ordeal. 

14 hours ago, cruisingator2 said:

Glad that he’s doing better. It will be great to soon put this behind you. Hopefully you will be able to get your second booster soon. I grabbed appointments as soon as the CDC gave the green light. 

That booster is high on my list - husband is going to check with doctor on timing for him.