Brillance of the Seas Transatlantic - November 7

[Andros]

Glad you finally had the time and found something you liked! You can get your accessories just about anywhere! Do you feel better and more relaxed now? LOL! You can break it in on your upcoming cruises before November and let us know how it worked out:p .

 

With final payment coming up, we will most likely have to wait for our airline purchases too! I don't like waiting to the last minute, but don't really have a choice this year. November is creaping up much quicker than I anticipated. Still can't get here soon enough:rolleyes: ! See Ya, Tony

[rienreiter]

Hi Tony!

 

Great news! I got all of my accessories today so I am ready to go! I am very excited as I will be able to break into my tux on the QM2 next month. I can't wait.

 

My final payment is coming up at the end of August (very end). I haven't been contacted by my TA yet but I know it is due a few days before the 30th. I think everybody else should be around the same?

 

I'm getting readier and readier. Can you tell?

 

Where is everybody else? Haven't heard from Leo lately. Hope that Hugh is doing fine. Haven't heard from Russ either. There was a time when we were the only ones posting. Now it's just you and me. Gotta go!

 

Regards, Juan

[leoandhugh]

hola juan, we here in san diego are doing fine now that our heatwave has broken and our weather has returned to normal. high 60s at night again so we are back under instead of on top of the sheets!

you will probably look stunning in your new formal drag, and with all the cruising you do it will get good future use. leo and I gave up on that about 15 years ago when leo lost his leg - formals and wheelchairs and scooters don't get it, although I do see some. those I think are the ones who are dictated to by their dear wives who still want to put on all the gowns and make up and get their hair done - what a bore. but we won't disgrace anyone with our attire, but we dress to be comfortable, not for the whims of others. we also have a nordstom rack here and i make an annual pilgrimage but am usually disappoinated with things that no one else wanted to buy - even tho' they are bargains. going to send in our final payments next week and sit back and wait for the docs. hasta luego, amigo hugh:) I'm the writer, leo's the one in the scooter.

[leoandhugh]

hola juan, we here in san diego are doing fine now that our heatwave has broken and our weather has returned to normal. high 60s at night again so we are back under instead of on top of the sheets!

you will probably look stunning in your new formal drag, and with all the cruising you do it will get good future use. leo and I gave up on that about 15 years ago when leo lost his leg - formals and wheelchairs and scooters don't get it, although I do see some. those I think are the ones who are dictated to by their dear wives who still want to put on all the gowns and make up and get their hair done - what a bore. but we won't disgrace anyone with our attire, but we dress to be comfortable, not for the whims of others. we also have a nordstom rack here and i make an annual pilgrimage but am usually disappoinated with things that no one else wanted to buy - even tho' they are bargains. going to send in our final payments next week and sit back and wait for the docs. hasta luego, amigo hugh:) I'm the writer, leo's the one in the scooter.

[rienreiter]

Hi Hugh!

 

So sorry about the names mixup. Hopefully by the time we get on the ship I'll have it sorted out. Took me a few weeks to remember that Andros was Tony. At least I already remember that his non-posting partner's name is Greg. It's kind of difficult to keep track of everyone's names on these boards and always know who's who. I don't know if you and others can but I certainly can't. There are fewer of us here but on the main roll call I never remember who is who except by their handles/log in names.

 

Glad to see that your normal weather is back. Got an email from an Atlanta friend who traveled there on business and told me that he was disappointed at how hot it was.

 

Well, I don't know if I'll look stunning in my new tux but hopefully I'll look nice. Sure does look like I'm going to get some good use out of it for the next few months.

 

Still have to look to see if I can find an acceptable picture of me to post on the gallery.

 

Regards, Juan

[Basill]

Post! :p

 

;)

[leoandhugh]

welcome aboard - it's nice to see a post from a non-poster like you. try it more often and you may just learn to like it!;) hugh

[rienreiter]

OMG!!! Now I'm embarrassed. Gregg, I hope you didn't take it wrong as I didn't mean it negatively.

 

Regards, Juan

[Andros]

I had a good laugh when I got the e-mail notification of your post last night Juan. I had mentioned it to him, so I guess he was trying to get back at me! Don't feel embarrassed at all, he can be a jokester at times. I actually got several laughs from your post( and the following), so thanks! Keep up the good work, as I need as much help as I can get getting him here to post! Everyone have a great weekend!

[rienreiter]

Hi:

 

I am back home from visiting my relatives in DC. It will be nice to sleep in my own bed tonight (which should be within the next few minutes after I finish posting here).

 

Tony: Nice to see that you are having a few laughs at my expense. It's OK; no hard feelings. I'll think of this as the ice breaker and when I see you guys on board I can just come up to you as old friends instead of new acquaintances.

 

How come he doesn't post often like you do? Is he slow to type? Does he just not like this? :p

 

As a side note, I have just booked myself on the QE2 transatlantic from Southampton to FLL departing Jan. 2nd, 2007 (stops in NYC before proceeding to FLL). I booked with the Pied Piper group. So when I get off the Brillie, I still have something else to look forward to.

 

Good Night! Juan

[leoandhugh]

hola juan, I decided to post here rather than the st8 board about your current unemployment status. good for you for making it work for you. I too worked for 30 years for a nat'l co - at&t - and took early retirement before I was 55. a good deal, because I got 2 full year's pay and a full pension. that was 23 years ago - I was 77 yesterday and we are still going, although somewhat less frequently, and leo is 10 years older than I am. since he lost his leg, crusing has become our preferred way of travel - unpack once - and sometimes we don't even go ashore at places we have already visited - oh, maybe just for lunch. hugh:)

[rienreiter]

Hi Hugh:

 

First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

 

Believe it or not, I am still surprised at how everyone believes that I am doing the right thing by traveling as much as I am and having a good time. Just this afternoon I was talking to a cousin of mine and mentioned that sometimes I feel guilty about leaving my partner behind and she said that I shouldn't because I have worked for it. My partner knows that traveling is my passion so he doesn't mind but really I do have guilty feelings about doing this. He really is a sweetheart for letting me do this. The only consolation that I have is that if it were not for the fact that I was laid off, I would not be doing this.

 

Regards, Juan

[Andros]

I got another laugh at your expense. I'm a hen pecker from you know where. He is the one that can type like speedy gonzales.

 

I haven't worked since 2001. Not do to layoff, just tired off. Almost ran myself into the ground/grave. So, I decided that life was to short and said goodbye to all those days of continuous running, overtime, and no time off! I too think you are doing the right thing. Cherish and enjoy every day you are blessed with. See Ya, Tony

[russg140]

Just been watching the "chat", ticking off the days.

 

Juan - the QE2 is, I think, one of the last great liners (versus cruise ships) in the world. I was on her a few times in the 70's with my folks. Cunard was/is truly elegant. When you ordered caviar at the table and they gave you 2 servings with "all the trimmings", that was service! Now you go into a "Champagne Bar" on other ships and it's $55 for 1/4 ounce! UGH!

 

Hubby and I are off on Friday for a week with 4 friends on Fire Island (the Pines) - a gay enclave off Long Island.

 

Having a beauuuuuutiful night here in upstate New York - 65 and clear. Hope all is well with everyone! Until later...

 

Russ

[rienreiter]

Hey Russ:

 

You were quiet for a while. Glad to see you back.

 

Re your comments on the QE2, that's what tempted me to book the QE2 transatlantic in January. Since my partner and I will be on the QM2 cruise of early Sept., I've been doing some reading on the Cunard board and so many people talk so well about the QE2 that I did not want to pass up the opportunity to do it. And I LOVE transatlantics!

 

Regards, Juan

[leoandhugh]

mention of TAs reminds me that Leo and I did a round trip TA on the Norway (France) from miami to lehavre via nyc, halifax, st john, cork and southampton. we spent 4 days tied up in lehavre; it was the first time the ship had been there since she left as the France and while we were there they brought bus loads of workers and their families from st nazairre where she was built and gave them tours of the ship. we were able to rent a car there and park on the pier and take day trips to honfleur, rouen,dieppe,etc. the ship then returned to miami making essentially the same stops - 31days in all. we had on board the danish architect who had designed the rebuild to a cruise ship and maxtone-graham, author of several books on ocean liners of their day. both gave comprehensive talks which we great. the return journey was 1/2 full of french going to quebec who brought on board their own entertainers and had one dining room set aside for them for their late dining hours. :) hugh

[Herb N]

Hi there. I'm Herb and my partner Barry are joining this cruise from Barcelona. Barry has already signed up for the Meet & Mingle. This is our first TA but we sailed on the Radiance of the Seas from Seattle when it was only 2 weeks old, back in 2003, a gorgeous ship. I'm looking forward to using the gyroscopic pool tables, which it seems only the Royal Caribbean Radiance class ships appear to have them :( :). We are flying in to London for a few days, and then fly to Barcelona for a couple days, prior to the cruise. Enjoy hearing information about the ports. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

[rienreiter]

Hi Guys:

 

Welcome to our little group. It's nice to see that we are slowly growing although I'm very sure that once we are on board there will be lots more of us (if last year was any indication, there were about 30 or so of us on board).

 

You are going to love TA's. Last year, also on the Brilliance, was my first TA. Now I am hooked. Did one eastbound this past April and now I'm doing the Brilliance again westbound. Westbound is better as you end up with 25 hour days instead of 23 hour days. Sure comes in handy for those late nights at the disco.

 

Nice to see that both of you are traveling together. Unfortunately, my hubby is not able to go this time so I'm cruising alone.

 

Talk to you guys again later and a very warm welcome to both of you.

 

Regards, Juan

[russg140]

We'll all make sure you don't get homesick! :)

 

Russ

[rienreiter]

Russ:

 

I'm sure there will be plenty of us on board to keep me dancing til the wee hours every night at the disco.;) Will you guys be there?

 

Regards, Juan

[russg140]

It depends upon how "wee" we're talking! :rolleyes:

 

We are travelling with a couple from Canada. He (Ed) is like the Energizer Bunny and goes and goes. The rest of us try to keep up.

 

After a few cocktails, a filling dinner, and "after-dinners" we don't usually last too long, especially if we are seduced in to the casino :o . We usually check out the disco on one of the first 1-2 nights. If it's not "hoppin'" we usually pass on it for the rest of the cruise.

 

Besides, how many times can you dance to YMCA and Celebrate? :D

 

When we've taken Caribbean cruises, we usually have excursions planned for the following day. Not on this cruise, though. But if the crowd is good in the disco, and into it, who knows???

[rienreiter]

I was really surprised that last year I stayed up until about 3 AM almost every night. Considering that when I boarded the ship in Barcelona I did not know one soul, I had a great time.

 

If I have a tour the following day, I will not be staying up past midnight. But once we start the TA portion of the cruise, watch out! Now, I am not trying to describe myself as a party animal but if I've met nice people and am having a good time, you will see me on the dance floor til the wee hours!;) :D

 

Regards, J

[Herb N]

Hi Juan. Thanks for the warm welcome. Please explain how the 25-hour days works--I presume that since we're traveling westbound, we gain an hour for every time zone we pass? Sorry you're going it alone--we've never tried that, and probably will always travel together.

 

Herb

[leoandhugh]

hi Herb, another warm welcome to our growing group. we are from San Diego as you can see and will be doing our 7th TA on various ships. we did one on the Jewel when she was brand new and loved the ship because it is so accessible friendly. leo is an amputee who is either with a scooter or wheelchair so we always have a handicapped cabin and the radiance class are our favorites. we are doing back2back on this preceded by the 14day mediterranean from istanbul to barcelona.

juan - tony hopes to be back on air by midweek; they are waiting on a bellsouth installation. we just moved up from dialup this year and you are right, once having moved to wireless, it's like having lived in the dinosaur age before. have you pulled together all your accessories yet?

hugh:)

[rienreiter]

Hi All:

 

Herb: The 25 hour days works just as you described. As we cruise west across time zones, an hour will be added to the day making it 25 hours long. The first time will be as we sail to Portugal (Lisbon and Madeira) as Portugal is not on the same time zone as mainland Europe; they are on the same time zone as the UK. Got it? We are planning another TA; next year's westbound Brilliance TA scheduled for Dec. 2nd. Won't be alone on this one as hubby will be coming along also.

 

Hugh: I have Bellsouth also and couldn't be any happier. He will notice a tremendous difference. And yes, I have all of the accessories. Which reminds me, have to go to cleaners to pick up tuxedo slacks which have just been hemmed. Am ready to go!

 

Regards, Juan