debenson0723

Check the Encore TA, Southampton to Miami in December. They are practically giving that cruise away!

@Sugar Magnolia do your voodoo magic on @cruiseny4life.

I'll be 2nd.

I agree. On port intensive cruises there really isn't much time to enjoy the Vibe or Thermal Spa, as you are off the ship 10-12 hours a day. There is barely enough time to eat dinner! I have done Greece during that same time frame and the weather was perfect so if you feel you would get good value for your money, then that shouldn't be a concern.

So I just priced out this cruise and I think it is actually less than what I paid in 2018, by about $300 dollars. Flights are really reasonable too. I typically hate to use so many vacation days at the beginning of the year but if I don't fly in until the morning of the cruise, carry over 4 days from this year, and one of the days is a Federal Holiday, plus I think I get another week's vacation next year, then it is doable. I might throw a deposit down just to keep this price locked in. Seems like the Joy cruises always go up, never down. And once people find out that it could be the #FirstAnnualSchmoopieFest cruise, there's a chance it could sell out!

I will have to miss the Aqua TA unless they give me a cabin for free!

I had my heart set on Croatia in November of this year but then I met the evil @Sugar Magnolia and am now doing a Prima TA, which I said I would never do again. Please keep Mrs Schmoopie away from her if we do join the PC cruise. You have been warned!😉

@graphicguy @Sugar Magnolia

You are just now finding that out???

Is it Miami-LA or the other direction? I did the first Bliss Panama Canal back in 2018 (?) from Miami to LA and would love to go the other direction. I would also like to do the original locks but you can't always get what you want. And I don't think @graphicguyhas done the PC. Dates please?

Good boy and @graphicguydo not go in the same post.

I am hoping for a very quick recovery for you. After taking this TA, I am only going to have 4 more vacation days left for the year (I am taking a week off in July for a family road trip) and I may try to carry those over to next year. I would totally be ready for something at the beginning of next year. I typically cruise in February but had to skip it this year due to a software conversion at work. For some reason I am intrigued by the Carnival Venizia out of Long Beach. I know that would be a long flight for both you and @Sugar Magnolia but maybe you could combine it with an NCL west coast cruise. Something to think about (I just love spending other people's money).

Was on the Joy last week and can confirm no smoking in Spice H2O. It was nice because smoke used to drift across the whole area, not just straight back off the ship. There is a enclosed area of the casino for smokers, just like Bliss, Encore, Prima and Viva. They do make announcements that if you want to be in there smoking, you must be playing (you could hear it across the whole casino). The immediate area outside of it did smell smoky as the door was opened and closed often. There is also a semi enclosed plexiglass box on the port side of the pool area for smokers (no door). And outside of the Humidor (near the entrance to Food Republic) there is a sign stating it is a no smoking area. I honestly never saw anyone in the Humidor when I walked by and at most maybe 10 people in the box at a time. In my experience, very few smokers on this cruise, which was nice.

"T" won't be going on the Prima with @Sugar Magnoliaand I...too long. Not sure if you were part of the conversation (might have happened after you ditched us Saturday night) but he is thinking of bringing his kids on the Prima cruise to Bermuda that leaves the day we disembark in NYC. So I get off, have breakfast with them in NYC and then they get on. It's Thanksgiving week so airfares are high but he can afford it. Still sad you won't be with us...

We can tag-team it!

Just got a text...it's not fixed. Last summer the A/C in my apartment went out and we had to live in a hotel for a week (was paid for by my landlord...it's a law in AZ). I am not sure how many more summers I am willing to endure this nonsense. It gets worse every year. I need a cruise.

Here's my survival story for 115-120 degree temps (like @schmoopie17 said, 110 is nothing!). From June to September, I go from my airconditioned home, to my airconditioned car, to my airconditioned office. All shopping and miscellaneous adventures are done after 8pm. The other 8 months of the year are why I put up with the 4 terrible months. As an aside, my office A/C has been out since Friday (the whole building). I have been moving from one place to the next to work and I hate not being at my desk and having my 'stuff'. I did spend yesterday there with turbine fans blowing and the temps in the low 80s...I was fine for about 7 hours and then 'lost my cool'. Supposedly the part came in today and it is repaired. Oh to be on the Joy again...

This makes me really sad but I do understand that our health comes first. Maybe we can plan something for after the first of the year or whenever you will be up to having some raucous adventures. We will try not to be too hard on you.

I have a fear of committment.

I am sure I will make an effort to join but I don't know what I am doing next week, much less in 2026. I tried to add myself to the spreadsheet but all I managed was my CC name and then it started acting funky and I didn't want to break it so maybe @cruiseny4lifecan add a 1 for me. Either itinerary sounds good...my plan at this time is to sail on ships I haven't been on, from ports I haven't sailed out of, to places I haven't been. Been on the Viva but not the Jewel, never sailed out of either port and haven't been to some of the stops. Funny, I didn't see @graphicguyon the spreadsheet... Hope this becomes a reality.

I am sure you will be able to talk me into it...won't take much, LOL. Maybe we can even get T to come along.

Oh no, trust me. @graphicguyis NOT in the top spot on the posse. I think he barely makes Honorable Mention. I have not added myself to the spreadsheet. As Groucho Marx said (now I am showing my age) "I refuse to join any spreadsheet that would have me as a member" #SchmoopieFest

Well they are gone so I believe they were. Along with the 'biscuits' and 'digestives' I purchased at M&S.

There better be cookies on the Prima or I'm not going!!! PS I had one cookie last week from the ship but it was a pretty good one. We won't talk about the ones I bought in Hamilton (which were better but cost me money).

There was a cabin with an upside down pineapple on the door last week. Once seen I avoided that deck but was curious to see the occupants. But not that curious.