BonTexasNY

Joy, every evening your and Andy's chats at our MDR table pre and post dinner were total enjoyment. Glad your leg is better. Hopefully your covid is as mild as mine was in July. Wishing all who have covid an easy time. Maryann, hope your, Carol's and husbands covid tests are negative. Please tell Carol I said hi. I overdid the walking, standing (think Schooner's) on the cruise and now I'm paying for it but if I had to do it all over again, I would! We're mulling Bella 2 and will make a decision later day. If we book, we won't be on deck 8 since we'll book a CP balcony but we might crash the deck 8 party anyway! Very weird but the elevator situation on Adventure in February was worse than on Oasis. Wait on O was not as long. Doesn't matter what deck we're on since I have to use elevators. I CAN walk up and down one flight, but it would be slow going.

Back from Bella cruise last night after driving 2 1/2 days from Miami. As others have said, it was a marvelous, wonderful cruise, one of our best if only for the special people we finally met face to face. I hope we'll book Bella 2 soon, so that we can recreate the magic especially since so many 1st timers will be joining in on the shenanigans. On a serious note @dani negreanu Dani I was so sad to read of your cancelled trip and your DH's pain. A refuah shlema to him! @Momof3gurlz Deb I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that you're enjoying your post Bella cruise vacation. I didn't have wi-fi on the cruise so it's good to be back to my online home again.

The 4 Bellateers 🐾

Sue, you have a beautiful way with words, especially when talking about Phoebe. I was so touched by her beautiful smile lighting up her face with sheer joy.

EEK, sorry for the length of my previous post. Sometimes I just don't know when to stop.🤭

I finally finished reading all pages of this awesome thread. We're now in a comfy suite in the Hilton Garden Inn in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. A few related cruise bits & pieces. Our wait staff was the best ever. When they saw us enter the MDR a diet coke was placed at my seat, every night, no charge! I got double tiger shrimp on one plate. I told Avigail I loved shrimp and she said she would fill my plate. She sure did. We were sure to show our appreciation with extra tips for her and the busboy. Not sure they're still called that. Housekeeping was just as great. We had our rooms cleaned in the AM and there was always a full fresh ice bucket and next day compass in our room. He got something extra as well. We usually had breakfast in the MDR or Solarium Bistro. Had dinner once in WJ and it was the same hectic crowded feeding frenzy as breakfast and lunch. Full ship so of course it was crowded. We had no wifi so I think we might have missed out on some gatherings. We figured out the Schooner Bar was where the usual night time action was so we were glad we got to chat with so many FOB cruisers. I'm going to wait until we're home to book Bella Cruise 2. Let's recreate the magic!

This brought me to tears. Greg and Linda, you both have kind hearts for joining Amelia and Joe to honor Sue's memory to support Marty. I know he'll treasure this always.

Hard to type while Jack drives but I wanted to get this in. I wore a tshirt at our final goodbye in the schooner bar. This is what was printed on the front of the shirt: "Let's sit together and gaze out the sea sharing the warm sunshine content as we can be" Thanks to all of you for making this one of the most memorable cruises ever!

What an EPIC cruise this was! Kudos to John, Sue, Greg, Andrew for organizing our cruise and keeping this thread current. Schooner Bar will never be the same for us until Bella Cruise 2. You are all a delightful group of friends that Jack and I loved meeting. Getting off the ship was a breeze in a wheelchair about 15 minutes from start to getting to our car. Unfortunately the Turnpike was a mess and we were stuck in super heavy traffic for 7 hours that should have taken 4 -1/2. No worries, we got a good night sleep at Hampton Inn in Gainesville. Onward home!! I hope all who are ailing are feeling better by now. Jack and I are looking forward to Bella Cruise 2. Take care all of you awesome friends. Hope your journeys home were safe. I still have 40 pages left to read on this thread!

RCI Lists terminal A parking opens for embark pax at 10am. We wanted to get there earlier to snag a handicap spot. Anyone have additional info?

Greg, have positive thoughts for a smooth new flight time. Jack is worried about traffic to the terminal. Andrew thanks for the construction info.

So sorry to read about this setback. Continued prayers for your daughter to get through this successfully. Strength to you and Susan for being the type of parents everyone should have.

We had a delicious dinner at Seasons52 with our friends. Heading out to our Doral hotel tomorrow and then Miami on Sunday to meet our FOB cruisers. Those not cruising, be well and have a great week. You'll be missed!

Andrew your sunrise pictures are gorgeous. Ken, thanks for all your hard work and commitment in seeing to the success of our FOB cruise.

Thank you John, Andrew, Greg, Sue, for starting this monumental thread! Onward to Sunday!

Welcome Andy. I look forward to meeting you and Deb on Sunday!!

This is one of the most emotional posts I've ever read in here. Although maybe not happy this year I wish your daughter a good birthday. Andrew, I was so sorry to read of your cousin's passing.

Oh yes even us non-pinnies kept hoping for one of the big girls to get down here, for years. I get to sail on my first big girl next week out of Miami and my 2nd out of Galveston YEA! in January. Is it true this was not the first time Wonder was oversold?

What a thoughtful boss you have. Enjoy all the goodies. Their frozen chocolate covered key lime pie slice on a stick is pure ambrosia.

My dad used to have a beer maybe once a week at home. I used to love seeing him pour the beer from the can into a tall glass. I always asked if I could have a sip to taste and he always said no until one time he gave in. I must have been 13 or so. I thought it would taste like ginger ale. I took a large sip, choked it up and to this day never had any beer nor will I ever again.

Beautiful. I can almost hear that "sizzle" sound of the waves receding from the sand.

Have a fabulous cruise this week. Counting the days until we all meet!

Well said! @brilloheadDebi so glad you joined our extended family! The very best wishes on your own family search. And to think this all started by @dani negreanu Dani cleaning out her fridge almost 3 years ago. She created a welcoming place for all of us to share our lives, the good and bad, a place filled with tolerance, warmth and caring.

Yes to the above!

I can see you need this Bella cruise desperately! You certainly have your hands full. I am so sorry how stressed things are for you but things WILL get better. Your grief is fresh and hopefully, one day you will think of them with smiles. Your cousin gave good advice. Take one "project" at a time.