mimi7ccr

Well, we cancelled our Canada/NE cruise for 9/30.  Our TA said when she called to cancel for us, that Norwegian said it had already been cancelled, but I had gotten no email from them.  I was also able to get confirmation from United Airlines that we could use the amount paid for our tickets for another trip within 24 months, so that's good.  I'm now still waiting for Hotwire to let me know if we can cancel the 2 nights hotel in Quebec.  I called the hotel direct and cancelled with them, but not sure it Hotwire will bill me anyway.  I hope not.  Just thought some who had cruises for the fall would be interested in the info.

I would like to get some opinions from the Tribe as to whether or not our 9/30 - 10/10 Eastern Canada N.E. cruise MIGHT go or not on Norwegian.  Final pmt is due around 6/30, so I can wait almost 2 more months to make a decision.  Right now I'm only out $50 deposit per person, but really hesitate to fork over another $2,000 for a cruise that might or might not happen.  I've already booked hotel for 2 nights in Quebec City and paid for through Hotline, so that is probably a loss, as well as airfare for 2 from Florida to Quebec and then NYC back to Florida which is also booked & paid for.  I'm thinking we could probably fly up to Quebec and rent a car and travel around Maritime Provinces. Then we would have to figure out a way to cross border in rental car so we could tour Maine before ending up in NYC to fly home.  Not even sure we would be able to fly to Canada in September. 

Do any of you have any ideas???  

   Then the old age discussion came up, and I bet I'm the oldest of all of you.  I'm 81 going on 51!!  DH is 3 years younger and I am and we've been married 58 years. 

Talking about proofing and editing; I was an official court reporter (stenographer) in my prior life and we had to produce transcripts of hundreds of pages & more.  I would proof what I thought was very carefully, and when I'm copying my pages, errors would just "jump" out at me.  Talk about frustrating.  I hate it when that happens!!

  SId:  Love the collage.  Now we know what your face looks like, and handsome one it is, even without hair!!

She says in the books to ONLY use 7-up, but I've used sprite or store brand lemon-lime and it's just fine.

And in desperation I've used other beers.  It's better with Corona but still pretty durn good with any other brand, 

even Bud Lite or any other light beer.  

Oh, sorry I forgot to add:  They all contain real live recipes for some wonderful Southern food and drinks.  One is a margarita recipe you make in a pitcher with only 4 ingredients, all 12 ozs.  Sounds horrible but is wonderful.  12 oz. of frozen lime ade, 12 oz. of Corona beer (Yes, you read it right), 12 oz.of 7-up or Sprite, and 12 oz. of good tequila.  Mix together in a pitcher with ice and enjoy.  This is our "go-to" margarita recipe for a crowd.  Try it; you'll like it!!  I think she names this recipe the "Knock You Naked Margarita."  

For Greenpea and any others that like Southern humor.  The "Sweet Potato Queens" series of books by Jill Conner Browne from Jackson, MS.  You will laugh until you're sick.  First ones are "SPQ Book of Love" and God Save the SPQ."  Abbreviations are mine.  Some of the better ones are "SPQ Fat-ass Cookbook & Financial Planner" and "Fat is the New Normal."  I think they are all paperbacks.  

I saw the neatest mask ever on YouTube, and I didn't know how to copy & paste it, so I'll try to explain the steps.  

First, use a pair of men's underwear, tighty whities, preferably brand new out of the package LOL.  Stick your head through the waistband and one (l) of the legs, pull the leg down over your nose and mouth and that part is the mask.  Now you see why I said to use a brand new pair!!!   Then take the rest of the pair behind your head and twist it once and pull the other leg over the TOP of your head and it becomes a skull cap to cover your hair and top of your head.  I hope this explains it enough.  If not, go to YouTube and search for masks out of men's underwear and you might be able to find it.  I thought it was genius!!  

I'm usually just a lurker, but have posted a couple of times.  

Masks are doing the same with me, raising up under my lower eyelashes and driving me nuts.

Maybe I need a bigger nose!!

If any of you have pre-teen boys, check out the movie "Empire of the Sun," with Christian Bale when 

he was about 11 or 12.  He's a boy on his own that got separated from parents during Japanese 

occupation of Shanghai.  Should have won him an Academy Award, but didn't get squat.  

We are booked on the 9/30 - 10/10 E. Canada/New England cruise on the Pearl.  We are definitely "older" and DO plan to go if igt is not cancelled.  We booked our airfare months ago and also the pre-cruise hotel for 2 nights, so we would probably lose that if we cancelled.  I am waiting to see what transpires between now and then.  

We also live in a senior gated community in Florida, but on the Gulf Coast about half way down.  We are also in lock-down. However, we have been able to get out and get groceries, but DH and I wear masks and wash thoroughly when we return home.  I feel so bad for those who have contracted this terrible virus.  We are quite elderly, so we are being extra careful.  We have a cruise scheduled for end of September in Canada and New England are are thinking about canceling.  I hope this is over by then and if so, we might just go on it.  

Hey Sid==

Now I've read all the way through your Horizon Review and the Encore Review.  I'm about to start on some of your older ones.

I absolutely love your writing style.  You remind me so much of my son, who also lives in Georgia, but few years older than you.

With the camera in front of your face all the time, I thought it was him!!  He's a hard-working single dad with girls about the age of your Ashlee.  He also loves his shirts, buzz hair cut, same body style, same style in home decor even.  OMG!!  I'm almost half way through the Ay Tee El thread and love it.  

Marilyn(mimi)

,

Thank you.  Just the info I was looking for. 

Are there any tours at Coxen Hole when you get off the ship.  By that I mean vendors that you have not signed up for in advance.  

We would like to go to one of the parks where we can interact with sloths and monkeys and perhaps hold a sloth.  Then maybe 

some shopping at the rum factory and cocoa factory, then back to the ship after a tour of the island.  Thanks for any suggestions.

Thank you, Princeton, but I had the day of the week wrong.  It will be a Saturday.  Does that change anything?

The Penn Station/train sounds interesting.  We might do that.  I went to Carmel's web page and it had a price 

of $52 from MCT to EWR, but did not include tolls or taxes???  Would that run it up that much, up to $85-90?

What are the options for transport from Manhattan cruise terminal to EWR on a Friday morning, along with approximate costs, please?

We are planning to book our return flight home around 2 or 3 p.m.  Thoughts??  Thank you.

I also encourage you to try the Hotel Lleo.  It's right near Placa Catalunya and very close to HOHO bus.

We (senior mother & daughter) are on the Vision for her TA back to Florida the end of September.  As you can see, we are also near Tampa, up in Spring Hill.  I will be following along, looking especially for tidbits about the ship.  I'm just slightly worried it might be a long 14 days since she's getting some age on her.  

We just returned from E. Caribbean sailing on MSC Seaside, and I got off the ship in St. Thomas specifically to purchase Rum. We were docked at Havensight.  There used to be a very cheap liquor outlet right at the top of the streets going away from the ship, but they are now gone. However, I found one right on the main street going away from the ship on the left side.  Got my Brugal Anejo Rum (aged and dark) for $15.00 per bottle, large size.  You can't get it in the U.S., at least we can't here in Florida.  It is excellent.  

We just got off the Seaside last week.  We had the Fantastica package and our first Etickets said we had the vouchers.

So I printed off the tickets and presented them to Guest Relations, and they did give us the 2 voucher booklets, but they

DID photocopy my Eticket.  So go prepared and have the Etickets with you that show the drink vouchers.  As nicely, and

they will probably honor them.  Great perk for sure!!

We're on the Seaside in a couple of more weeks, so reading with great anticipation.  Keep 'em comin'!!

I just got our documents from our TA today and the Fantastica drink vouchers are on the tickets.  It has 3 stars or asterisks right next to where it says "Fastastica Drink Package" under "What's included."  And when you look at the 3 starts down below it says "12 drink vouchers."  I am waiting for someone to post getting off the Seaside in April, telling us their experience.  And you can be sure I will let everyone know when we sail on 4/27, if we get them or not.  

Thank you, RCCL Fan.  That was very descriptive.  We should be able to find it.

Thank you.  I will do that.

We are going to Costa Maya in a couple of months and I was wondering about Tropicante.  How DO you get there??  How do you really know when you are at the right place??  Could someone shed some light on this, please??  Thank you.

Mine is another vote for Hotel Lleo.  It's right at the top of La Ramblas, left-hand side looking up.  Very convenient location.

You can walk almost everywhere.  Hotel is medium-sized.  Small lobby but very nice rooms at a very nice price.  They also h ave a small roof-top pool.