The Fleet Report and Daily for Wednesday October 25th, 2023

[bennybear]

Good morning and thanks all!  We had an interesting experience on St Lucia, jellyfish stings.  @RedneckBob I used the local spiced rum applied topically and in under a week you couldn’t see the stings, DH applied internally, and his marks were still visible nearly a month later.  
@rafinmd sorry for your difficulties, I think Cancer is like playing the game Whack a mole!   Just something I’ve always been told, to get your bone density at the same place due to the machines calibration. Don’t know if that’s different in the US? 
@kochleffelhope you do get that upgrade!  They are hard to come by. 
@StLouisCruisers ooh on that chocolate orange!  I think I see Seaborn in my future, lol! 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by bennybear

[puppycanducruise]

2 hours ago, rafinmd said:

I am actually at 26 years post diagnosis.  Getting old is not all fun but still far better than the alternative.

 

Roy

My mom says that "getting old is not for the weak"

[puppycanducruise]

@aliaschief  I remember those glue bottles.  I'm not old! 😛

[SusieKIslandGirl]

Are the glue bottles the same as what we called mucilage?

[summer slope]

1 hour ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Who makes up these recipes? DH cried when I told him what they did to the Scotch 🤣.

I get them mostly from cocktail project. 

[Vict0riann]

Good morning, Dailyites!  Thanks and prayers for Vanessa and Tana and everyone!  We had a quick visit to the hospital yesterday to clear up a little problem Pat is having but I think I will be able to manage it while we travel.  Nothing is going to stop us!  I am having more and more difficulty walking, too, so I'm thinking I'm going to just stay on the ship a lot....  I dreamt last night that I lost my stick in Frankfurt airport, not looking forward to the long flights we are in for.  But I'm partially packed.

 

Someone on the roll call posted that there were only 6 or 7 verandahs available on this latest upsell offer, and they went quickly.  We didn't even get the email.   But I was interested yesterday to read that the AARP OBC is now available for already-booked cruises.   I will try to get our PCC to add it to our cruises for next year... when we get back... if I remember...

 

I think we were in Castries on our one and only Caribbean cruise with our DD.  We took a boa trip.  I'll see if I have pictures that are worth posting.

 

We had a lovely day of rain yesterday and more expected today.  The reservoir numbers seem to be turning around.  Wind has brought down the last of the acorns I think, and I need to get outside and rake them out of my flower beds or we will have a huge crop of oaklets in the Spring.  The gardeners come tomorrow and will haul them away.

[StLouisCruisers]

2 minutes ago, SusieKIslandGirl said:

Are the glue bottles the same as what we called mucilage?

 

 

I think you could be right about that.

 

 

Brenda @bennybear maybe you'd better wait to see what Bruce @aliaschief says about their current chocolate menu. 😉 It was 5 years ago this month since I had the pleasure of devouring my Seabourn chocolates.  I'm a big fan of mint chocolate and they had those too.  

[aliaschief]

2 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Nice choices.  Does Seabourn still have their special pillow chocolates with different flavors.  I seem to remember an orange flavored chocolate.  And they were large, too.  Of course chocolate doesn't last long around me...

We did receive chocolates last night but I didn’t look closely at them. Will have to check when I get back to cabin. We save them and bring them home. Who needs them when there is free gelato.😊

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Joy, I almost missed your post because it must have popped up while I was posting earlier today.  Thanks for the good thoughts for Ren.  I'm sure he'll do what's best for himself.  I'm just worried about what's going on these days on so many college campuses.  What a bummer about your new phone.  I'd definitely turn that lemon in and demand a new one!  Hope you have a nice dinner tonight!  We had a similar dinner last night.  Rice and brussels sprouts but with baked chicken tenders instead of pork chops.  DH loves pork chops but probably prepared the chicken just because I prefer it.  My Mom would have been so proud of me!  I didn't eat brussels sprouts as a child, but learned to like them due to better preparation methods as I got older.  Mom always boiled the heck out of them.  The house reeked with the smell!

 

 

 

 

I remember those glue bottles.  Always glueing the opening in the lid shut so you had to poke a new opening in that rubber top.  I must be really old!!

 

 

 

 

Funny, I thought the Ruby Princess was going to be rammed by a Thomson ship in 2015.  Now called Marella cruise line.   It's not that small of a harbor!

 

 

 

 

From what people say on Cruise Critic you need to call immediately to get these upsell offers but at least you're on a waitlist.  I don't know because I've never taken an upsell before.  I usually pick the cabin I want, and the prices of the upsells have been ridiculously high.  $99 sounds like a bargain!

WOW, deja vous!  Looks exactly what happened to us in 1987!

[Crazy For Cats]

Good Afternoon, thanks for today’s daily report.  It’s a beautiful day and temperatures are around 70F.  Today’s meal suggestion sounds really good but it will have to wait for another day.  My work schedule today allowed me time to synch the old laptop to the new laptop.  It took most of the morning.  My main goal was to get my money program loaded and synchronized.  Microsoft didn’t make it easy.  I did some howling, just not at the moon.😅. We’ve been to today’s port and we hope to be there again in the spring.

@seagarsmoker Happy Anniversary!

@cat shepard love the map.  DH and I were married in P-Town. Connecticut is the worst part of the drive to Pennsylvania.

I hope everyone has a good day today.

[RedneckBob]

9 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

We did receive chocolates last night but I didn’t look closely at them. Will have to check when I get back to cabin. We save them and bring them home. Who needs them when there is free gelato.😊

Great accommodations. Looks similar to Oceania cabins.

[RedneckBob]

1 hour ago, bennybear said:

Good morning and thanks all!  We had an interesting experience on St Lucia, jellyfish stings.  @RedneckBob I used the local spiced rum applied topically and in under a week you couldn’t see the stings, DH applied internally, and his marks were still visible nearly a month later.  
@rafinmd sorry for your difficulties, I think Cancer is like playing the game Whack a mole!   Just something I’ve always been told, to get your bone density at the same place due to the machines calibration. Don’t know if that’s different in the US? 
@kochleffelhope you do get that upgrade!  They are hard to come by. 
@StLouisCruisers ooh on that chocolate orange!  I think I see Seaborn in my future, lol! 
 

 

 

 

 

???????

[USN59-79]

4 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Thank you Graham.  I'm her godmother and she never forgets to send me a card on my birthday.  A really sweet niece!

 

 

 

This meme is hysterical!  Thanks for enlarging.  I also enjoyed the ghost fashion meme yesterday so much.  What talent the originator has!

 

 

 

 

I meant to ask if they offered you a choice of soaps?  When we arrived the stewardess asked us to pick our favorite out of four brands.   All designer brands but I had no idea!  I liked the fact when you finished a bottle of wine or champagne from your refrigerator, the stewardess added a new one.  The curtain between the living area and bedroom area was nice too.  Helped to keep the room dark in the morning so you can sleep in, like you slept in today.  I don't know if this is current advice but when we were on board we made reservations at the no extra charge specialty restaurant The Grill by Thomas Keller.  Since there's no extra charge dining times book up fast.  They hope to accommodate each stateroom at least once per cruise.  I read that they will be replacing the Grill with a new restaurant on Quest in January 2024.  Here's a blog article about it:

 

https://blog.pavlus.com/2023/10/24/seabourns-new-solis-specialty-restaurant-to-replace-thomas-keller-eateries/

 

I was going to recommend to @USN59-79 Ray, that you check the Seabourn board here on Cruise Critic.  They can probably answer all the questions you might have.  It's not as heavily populated as the Holland America board so it might take a little time to get answers to questions you post.  I haven't been over there in a long time!

Thanks for the suggestion.  I have checked it.  On this board I feel that I know most of the participants even though we haven't met in person.  So I give more credence to what you have to say and I don't feel like I might be asking stupid questions.  

Ray

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

Oh goodness  @cruising sister your family deserves a break! Prayers lifted for your DB. 

+1 @cruising sister

[grapau27]

44 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

 

I think you could be right about that.

 

 

Brenda @bennybear maybe you'd better wait to see what Bruce @aliaschief says about their current chocolate menu. 😉 It was 5 years ago this month since I had the pleasure of devouring my Seabourn chocolates.  I'm a big fan of mint chocolate and they had those too.  

A lot of restaurants we eat at give chocolate peppermint creams with coffee.

I have been fortunate to sell these for over 35 years and the girls in my TA love it when I leave some bags of chocolate peppermint creams for them when I call in.

Edited October 25, 2023 by grapau27

[quilty964]

@JazzyVHappy Wednesday.  @rafinmdsorry to hear about your troubles with the health care system "stuff."  Hope it all gets cleared up quickly, and that your elevated psa turns out to be "ok." @bennybear I'm getting a repeat bone density scan today...my facility just got a new machine and they are checking out results with people who had recent scans done.  @seagarsmokerHappy Anniversary! @JazzyVI hope you get some help with your pain issues...no fun dealing with that. 

I'm donating blood this afternoon, hoping it goes well...sometimes I feel ok after, sometimes I get that "pass-out" feeling after I get home.  I would like to go to our library tonight, they are having a talk about "local ghosts."  They always have very interesting talks. Did "reading buddies" with the littles at school this am, they are always so much fun!  They like to tell silly jokes!  What do you call a goat that escaped?  An escape-goat!  LOL!  Kind of a dreary day here, yesterday we broke a record---82F.  Today its 50 something and kind of dreary.  The leaves are hanging on, and the colors are still very brilliant here.  Have a great rest of your day.  

[dfish]

Goodness!   Ok, Dailyites, we need to shape up and get well.  @rafinmd I think scheduling is the worst part of medical procedures.  Wishing  you the best outcomes possible.  @cruising sister I'm glad your side effects from the vaccine trifecta were minimal.  Healing thoughts for your poor DB and the family. @Vict0riann I'm glad Pat's issue was dealt with.  @JazzyV I'm sorry you are in so much pain.  I'm glad you can get in today with the pain specialist.  I hope they have a solution.

 

I am still fighting with the eye doctor over my bill.  They overcharged me by $60 and only refunded $55.  They claim that the UV coating on my lenses wasn't covered, but the insurance company says otherwise.  What they are doing is balance billing me for the difference between their charge and the allowance by insurance according to the contract they entered when they agreed to accept that insurance.  I think I'll let the insurance company sort it out with them.  Or report them to the insurance department for the state.  But, it really isn't the insurance company at fault here.  IT is the eye practice.  You can be sure I will not be going back there.  

[aliaschief]

These are the type of chocolates we received last night. Have not been asked if we have a preference. Awaiting anxiously for our first deliver of caviar to the cabin.

They are spoiling us rotten.

 

[StLouisCruisers]

9 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

These are the type of chocolates we received last night. Have not been asked if we have a preference. Awaiting anxiously for our first deliver of caviar to the cabin.

They are spoiling us rotten.

 

 

Not a flavor I would have thought of, but...DH would probably like it.  He also ordered the caviar once or twice on our cruises.  Oh, and a cold bottle of champagne to go with it.  

 

The knitting and stitching ladies (me included) would sit in the Observation Bar at the top front of the ship and drink champagne or whatever else caught our fancy.  Sometimes they would ask for a hot coffee with Bailey's.  Anything you want at your command.  You and Sue have to go up to the Observation Bar and see how nice it is for viewing scenic places.  In Antarctica we could run out one of those two side doors and stand on that deck in front of the windows to see whales or seals, icebergs or penguins, then run back inside and continue looking out, stitching, knitting, talking.  Same with Seabourn Square at the rear of the ship, deck 7 only not a forward view of course.  I often wished for a way out of HAL's Crow's Nest to take a few photos and get back inside quickly.

[tjcox9]

29 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

These are the type of chocolates we received last night. Have not been asked if we have a preference. Awaiting anxiously for our first deliver of caviar to the cabin.

They are spoiling us rotten.

 

After they restarted after pandemic shut down, they did not have these for a while unfortunately. I enjoy the variety of flavors. Also, about the soaps, those also went away after restart, but I understand they started making a comeback recently. They do have a new president who has really been out on the ships talking with passengers and trying to really get things back. She seems to be doing a nice job of it from what I am reading lately.

 

Easy to get spoiled rather quickly on SB unfortunately........

[aliaschief]

26 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

Not a flavor I would have thought of, but...DH would probably like it.  He also ordered the caviar once or twice on our cruises.  Oh, and a cold bottle of champagne to go with it.  

 

The knitting and stitching ladies (me included) would sit in the Observation Bar at the top front of the ship and drink champagne or whatever else caught our fancy.  Sometimes they would ask for a hot coffee with Bailey's.  Anything you want at your command.  You and Sue have to go up to the Observation Bar and see how nice it is for viewing scenic places.  In Antarctica we could run out one of those two side doors and stand on that deck in front of the windows to see whales or seals, icebergs or penguins, then run back inside and continue looking out, stitching, knitting, talking.  Same with Seabourn Square at the rear of the ship, deck 7 only not a forward view of course.  I often wished for a way out of HAL's Crow's Nest to take a few photos and get back inside quickly.

This ship was commissioned in 2011 and it looks like it was built this year. It has not been a good weather day. Tourism appears slowing down as the streets were really quiet when we walked around and not sure what the other 350 guest did.
We were surprised that there is still some pretty foliage in places.

What an international crew. Kenyans, Poland, Ukraine, Filipinos, India and a bartender from Nepal just to name a few. Last night we checked in for dining and a waiter takes Susan’s arm and escorts us to our table. When we left the Maitre D’ says goodnight Mr & Mrs by name. How they do that after meeting us for a few seconds?

We have two nights reserved dining in Chef Thomas Keller’s Grill (French Laundry) in NAPA. His contract with Seabourn is not being renewed and the Grill will be a Mediterranean themed restaurant starting on Quest in January.

Edited October 25, 2023 by aliaschief

[StLouisCruisers]

1 minute ago, tjcox9 said:

After they restarted after pandemic shut down, they did not have these for a while unfortunately. I enjoy the variety of flavors. Also, about the soaps, those also went away after restart, but I understand they started making a comeback recently. They do have a new president who has really been out on the ships talking with passengers and trying to really get things back. She seems to be doing a nice job of it from what I am reading lately.

 

Easy to get spoiled rather quickly on SB unfortunately........

 

Yes, definitely got spoiled.  We have received emails from the new president and I hope everything that was taken away during and right after the shutdown is back soon.  Same for Holland America though.

 

Ray @USN59-79 if you'd rather ask your questions here we will answer as best we can.  Hopefully no one minds us discussing other cruise lines.  Speaking of other cruise lines, our friends Annie @marshhawk and Chuck are in Katakolon today and in Messina tomorrow.  I hope she remembers to be in front of the Messina Cathedral before noon to see the wonderful display of the figures going round and round and the music and sounds played.  She must not have internet on the Carnival Pride because I haven't heard from her again.  

 

Bruce @aliaschief I guess the fact there are so few guests to memorize faces helps with them remembering you so quickly.  Plus they probably have your face on the screen when you check in for dinner.  

[aliaschief]

6 hours ago, Seasick Sailor said:

@aliaschief are the little bottles glue?

Yes. I remember them but can’t recollect seeing them in a long time.

[JazzyV]

Good evening. 

I'm back from my appointment. Driving there was awful, with lots of leg pain. I'm not sure why driving is so bad for it. I took a cane, as it's a bit of a walk from the parking garage to the office. The pain management doctor, nurse and fellow were very thorough. They didn't think anything was a complication of the procedure. The nurse took a photo of my back showing a bruise around the injection site (I was unaware of it). There's perhaps a little weakness on the right side.

 

So it could be I will be a late responder to the injection. He offered some meds for sleep (mainly antidepressants), but I'll try Benadryl first. He told me what type of things not to do at PT. And he wants me to see a neurosurgeon just to see what they think. He doesn't want to wait until I have any permanent damage. They might say whether another injection would help, done from a different angle. Or maybe opening the area where the nerve emerges (the foramina) using minimally invasive surgery. Perhaps repeat the MRI (I think it should be redone). Avoid certain exercises at PT. And of course continue to work on losing weight. So I'll call tomorrow to see if I can get in to see the neurosurgeon he recommended. This is not something I was expecting. 

[StLouisCruisers]

Vanessa @JazzyV it sounds like you had a thorough exam today.  I hope the suggestions help with alleviating pain, that the MRI shows something they can do to help, and the neurosurgeon appointment can be made soon.  I'm so sorry you're in this much pain!