Spif Barwunkel

To add to this. If you want to dry your hair on the balcony, it does not matter what type of balcony you are on. Actually, your wet hair dries faster if you are in an air-conditioned room with little or no humidity. I see why there are no answers to my question. Nothing sensible or logical out there.

I have a simple question. Regular Veranda cabin, Infinite Veranda cabin, side by side, veranda doors open. Remove the top window from the IV balcony leaving just the bottom casement. Other than the more modern presentation of the IV cabin, what is the difference between the two and what are you now going to call it? Close the balcony doors to both and you are in that "box" on both. If you sit on your regular veranda with the doors open and the AC on, shame on you, that is inexcusable.

C'mon now, davekathy, don't be frivolous with me. I do know that the P, N, and SM were sailing ships. No oarsmen needed.

I imagined your digits quivering with excited anticipation of putting pen to paper, so to speak. I appreciate you deferring to me for those particular thoughts. Let's face it, many folks enjoy their vista view from the deck of the Pinta, the Nina or the Santa Maria. Me, I prefer an edgier perspective. Either way, it is the personal preference that results in the ultimate enjoyment.

Indeed, we have been remiss in discussing the attributes of the Infinite Verandas from the outside. There is no doubt that from the inside looking out to infinity and beyond, the frontiers of Captain Kate and Captain Kirk meld in the distance, forming one horizon of unbounded adventures. From the outside looking in, the Infinite Verandas present the look of a brand-new modern upscale neighborhood, replete in all their welcoming splendor. Residents include only the most discerning people with an unfailing perspective toward the benefits of innovative change. As your eyes gaze inward, from the outer edge of the veranda, your vision is drawn to the cabin door or the horizontal apex which when opened affords access to an entire community of fellow cruisers and adventurers. The IV is the best of both worlds. It takes you outward toward a boundless expanse or inward toward a more intimate and convivial environment. You just can't help but get excited.

I totally got your point, and then I made another point. Bottom line, apposite to the IV, your concerns and dislikes are not my concerns and dislikes. Your comforts and discomforts are not my comforts and discomforts. As a result, perhaps you look more for the negative in the atypical and I look more for the positive. Therefore, we cancel each other out. We'll just agree to disagree. That's cool, in whatever accommodation we choose.

Balcony, Veranda, Porch, pretty much the same thing depending on how you care to define yours. Whether open to the elements or enclosed with access to the outside, this structure serves the same purpose. Actually, if a house structure like this is enclosed it adds good value to your home. It becomes safer, more secure and more utilitarian. The Infinite Veranda cabin is a room with a balcony, or a veranda, or a porch...pick one. And just think, when that window is closed your cabin becomes a much more valuable place to stay. Considering this discussion, I think that next to last sentence fits very well.

We do not sit on any balcony on any ship when the sun is shining directly into the cabin, thus we do not have this concern. Regular Veranda cabin or Infinite Veranda cabin, with AC on and direct sunlight, will still lose cooling integrity unless you close the curtain or drop the dark screen. Just like you leave the balcony doors closed when on a regular veranda, leave the window up if you want the AC to stay on in an IV. Such an insignificant factor when determining what kind of cabin to purchase.

If the window is open, the AC is off. However, if you close the folding doors to the balcony the room temperature remains quite comfortable even with the AC off.

We do not need high back chairs and footstools to be comfortable on the veranda. Chairs on the IV balconies are very comfortable and the table is quite adequate for wine glasses and a cheese plate. While we are on the IV our room AC stays on as long as the top window remains closed. When the window is open, the AC turns off, as it should. However, if you close the doors to the veranda, the room temperature will remain quite comfortable. If one person wants to sit on the balcony while the other remains in bed, more likely than not when you are opening/closing curtains and doors, that will awaken your partner. Nothing sneaky or quiet about that. We have total control over the IV doors, opening and closing whenever we want. No more important on port days than on sea days. IV window closings by the bridge are not inconvenient nor bothersome. In fact, we enjoy sitting on our balcony during rainstorms and inclement weather. Even if we could, we would not open the window during these times. Basically, everything is possible with an Infinite Veranda.

The bottle alone makes this bourbon worth a try.

Appreciate your comments. Eagle Rare 10 year is one that I will have to try, when possible.

Thank you. I agree, like with anything else it's what suits our own tastes. But I find it interesting to get an idea, even from this small sampling, what others like and what they might recommend. Indeed, I do sample other whiskeys in bars and restaurants prior to buying.

Yes, 90 Proof. Can't imagine 90 ABV...Wow!!

Meant to say 90 Proof, 60 to 70 Proof. Not ABV.

Thank you. I really enjoy Knob Creek Smoked Maple. It seems that the purist bourbon drinkers do not like the sweetness of it. Knob Creek bourbon is a fine quality whisky that infuses a rich bourbon flavor into the mix, with 90 percent ABV. Many flavored bourbons use a lesser quality whisky with a cheaper flavored addition at 60 to 70 percent ABV. Eiljah Craig and Four Roses Small Batch are also a good dram for sipping. I have yet to see Knob Creek Smoked Maple on cruise ships or in restaurants.

As a relatively new Bourbon drinker, I would appreciate some feedback on what the more seasoned Bourbon drinkers think about the following, all of which I have tried. Pappy Van Winkle is not a must try for me. Buffalo Trace Elijah Craig Four Roses Knob Creek - 9 year and Smoked Maple Woodford Reserve Ciroc and Belvedere are my favorite Vodkas.

As we all know, there has not been a centralized customer service call center for quite a while. The Celebrity number you dial is routed to the private mobile phone of the next available service rep. That rep can be located anywhere and is probably working out of their home. I have talked to reps on several of the Caribbean islands and background noises have included crying children, construction noises, and sirens. Despite hold times, disconnects and difficulty understanding accents, my issues have always been resolved. It can be frustrating, and this thread is the same as several hundred gone before it. At least It seems like that many. Don't know how much longer the problems will continue but obviously another customer service thread every two weeks is not making a difference. Is patience really a virtue? Right now, that is your only saving grace.

I’ll not portend the future of Bermuda’s cruise passenger count as I am not an expert on its “corrupt, money-grubbing government” and its relationship to the “Caribbean’s poorest islands.” Thank goodness we have those experts on this thread to provide guidance and knowledgeable information. Personally, I think it is quite simple. Bermuda’s affluence may be offensive to some especially considering the $40.00 Travel Authorization Application fee. Add to that the continued requirement for a negative Covid test and the financial/mental strain can become unbearable. Simply put, don’t go. You will be better off for it. I, on the other hand, will continue to trust my own capabilities and comfort level. I am not deterred from visiting Bermuda in October on a RCCL ship. My understanding of the circumstances pertinent to this thread, are obviously different from the experts. I am good with that.

By chronological definition, I am a post-war baby. Certainly, with each future generation, more influences and influencers have helped to shape the lives of each generation’s men and women. Modern technology is perhaps the most impactful, as its capability tends to draw people into a less intimate, personal relationship. Face-to-face in its purest form is no longer necessary. So, certainly when you are on a cruise ship, all the interpersonal communication one needs is right there in that small electronic device. Therefore, the desire to remain closed-off while being closed-in – so to speak – is preferable to the alternative. Of course, take electronics out of the equation, and there still exists atrophied social skills which over the course of time have rarely been used, when not necessary. For the most part, while dining at larger tables, we have experienced the best of what every generation has to offer. From post-war, through Gen Z where my youngest grandkids reside, we have enjoyed our encounters while seeing many of the same characteristics, traditions and behaviors in each. Generations cannot be stereotyped because they overlap, and yet they are still deserving of their own identity and social norm. Try to specifically define any generation, and you will probably see yourself or someone like you in the mirror. Eat, drink, and be merry, however it best floats your boat.

What a shame if you can't cruise without your favorite booze. I don't like it that the thread count of the sheets on the bed is less than satisfactory. I cringe every night on the ship when I lay down in bed with a bourbon nightcap wondering if this will ever change.

Save for a time or two over the years, our large table dining experiences have been very pleasant. We do set dining and always request a round table for eight. Good friends have been made with ongoing contact and the occasional planned cruise, meeting up at the embarkation point. Most new acquaintances of course are not as such, but the experiences during the cruise were extremely enjoyable. It’s a personal thing, no doubt, and the “convivial gene” has been known to lay in various stages of dormancy within all individuals. In many cases it is never aroused, in others overly so, and everything else in between. We enjoy meeting new folks, characters and personalities. If it doesn’t work, it works itself out for everyone. No hard feelings. We cannot cruise with several thousand other passengers and feel as though we are entities unto ourselves. Cruising is a social experience. We prefer to treat as such.

More cruises or nicer cabins? Why not both? Them that has...and all that.

Noro virus has long been here to worry about. Self-serve buffets or not, it will continue to make itself known on occasion. It will take more than two hands on which to count the number of infectious diseases lying in wait to pounce on any and all immune systems. Covid should add to your awareness of those diseases, not be considered an "instead of."

Indeed, I did have rebound issues. I felt no ill-effects from the Paxlovid 5 - day regimen and I really do not know if it helped keep my covid symptoms fairly mild. The second bout hit me a bit harder. Although not debilitating, I did feel the effects of a harder punch. Should I have another encounter with covid, I will forego another Paxlovid regimen.