ValerieJo

On 3/24/2024 at 1:40 PM, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Finally!  Maybe this time it’s for real.  We are getting ready to board our flight to Japan after 6 attempts at visiting there since 2019.  Each time, it was cancelled because of chartered, changed ships, COVID, and lift and shifts.  But we stuck with it, hoping someday it would happen.  So, here we are, finally, 2024.  I am feeling nervous and excited.  We will be on a 2 week adventure on our own before boarding the Celebrity Millennium for a 12-Night cruise around Japan.  I am really excited about sharing this trip with you all.

 

 

So happy for you and Marty are finally getting your dream trip.  Looking forward to following your posts.  Have a wonderful time!

@BonTexasNY  Wishing you well today and for a full and speedy recovery. 

7 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Yes, frozen included, anything within that price (which I think is $10 or $12 for classic). Anything above, you pay the difference.

Deck 3 ocean views have square windows. Deck 3 is very "convenient". But make sure you do not have the cabins where the magic carpet slides down.
There are also oceanview cabins on higher decks at the very front of the ship.

I checked and we are more aft of where the Magic Carpet goes.  I did see the higher OV cabins, but don't really like being in the front part of the ship.  Thanks for the info. 

22 minutes ago, schooner_Drinker said:

Here is an inside and a sky suite to give you a feel for the decor and amenities 

one from Ascent and the other from Beyond 

For these two sisters they are almost twins 

 

Ascent is a beautiful ship, y’all are going to be spoilt.

We tried an Inside deluxe and it was pretty good (Huge showers)

 

The Penthouse added, so those on 3.75 🐾 can see what it is like 😉

 

Decks 9,10,11 & 12 are all locations we have stayed on and all good 👍🏻 

For us we prefer 11 & 12

Thanks for posting the videos.  Since we have to do the "Cheap Seats" for this cruise, I debated on doing an interior cabin.  (We typically do a balcony).  We did end up with an Ocean View for this one on Deck 3.  Deck 3 is the only deck with Ocean View cabins.  I'm pretty sure the Ocean View is basically the same as the interior, just with a porthole.

Dumb question alert!  Our fare includes the Classic Beverage Package which shows basic alcohol choices. Does it include Frozen drinks as well?  Since this will be our first Celebrity cruise, hope you don't mind the questions.

Thanks!  😄

15 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Just booked our first Celebrity cruise on  Ascent for March 27-April 6, 2026 a 10 night southern Caribbean . I know it’s two years away but really liked this itinerary with stops in Tortola, Antigua, Barbados,St. Lucia, and St. Kitts. I especially like the fact that we are in Tortola from 8am-6pm to give us enough time to spend over at Jost Van Dyke and the Soggy Dollar Bar. I would love it if some of you could join us. It will be a blast!!

 

We have also booked this one as of this morning.  😄

1 hour ago, Arzeena said:

@ValerieJo

Where are you? I have not seen a post from you in quite a while. Hope you are just busy cruising/camping away and that all is well.

Hi Arzena!   

We have been great.  Nothing too exciting around here.  Starting to get things ready to go open our lake house for the season.  Hope to do that over Easter weekend.  Been busy making purchases of new shutters, dining room set and other trinkets to take up.  We want to redo our kitchen up there, so trying to decide how we want to proceed.  Got a few quotes so we're currently deciding whether to replace all the cabinets or just repaint what's there and add new countertops.  

I won't be able to go back and read all I've missed.  I hope everyone is doing well, is in good health and safe. 

It was so sweet of you to think about us.  Thank you so much.  

Getting caught up from the weekend.

@Arzeena @Ocean Boy @ReneeFLL   And anyone I missed.  Hope you all have fantastic time on your cruise.

@dani negreanu  you and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers.  Praying for peace to come soon.

To change topic.  We decided to take a drive up to our lake house on Saturday to check it out.  There had been quite a bit of fog in the area.  However, it did leave behind some of nature’s beauty.

While traveling north on I-75 in northern Michigan, I was able to snap this photo.  The trees were covered with a lacy ice that looked like feathers.  Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t do it justice.  
 

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

@DaniDanielle  Hope you have a fabulous time!

@brillohead  Glad you are feeling better. 

Fun aspect of cruising - In May 2022 we went on a cruise to Bermuda.  While on the cruise we met a nice couple from Ohio and basically spent time with them each evening for cocktails in the Diamond Lounge.  We have kept in touch on occasion through FB.  It turns out they are going to be in our town today and we are meeting them for dinner this evening. 

It reminds me how many friendships are made through cruising (Including many in this group).   

As a side note, I sure hope the groundhog is right and we have an early spring.   Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

14 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

We just watched the movie The Beekeeper with Jason Statham.   We both enjoyed.   

 

Thank you for the suggestion.  I will add it to the list.  We have finished Griselda and started American Nightmare.  

1 hour ago, DaniDanielle said:

Fingers crossed we get to Atlantic City Friday.  Two weeks ago it snowed, last week we were both sick, tired of rescheduling!  My host is taking us  to LaStrada for dinner, followed by a host party Friday night.  I don’t want to miss that.  So we shall see.

Fingers crossed for a fantastic time.   Dinner sounds fabulous, definitely don't want to miss that.  Good Luck! 

1 hour ago, StanleyandGus said:

I had a thyroidectomy on Friday. Sutures come out today, and everything is fine- except for a headache that won’t go away. Caffeine, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen are managing it, but it’s annoying. I don’t normally have headaches, so I am thinking about how much I have to be grateful for. If you typically don’t notice any pain, you don’t really think about it, until you do!
 

We are having an unprecedented warm spell- today it’s going to be 6 degrees C. And tonight we are going to the National Ballet of Ukraine, which should be lovely!

 

Meanwhile, I am making a quilt for my not yet born granddaughter! I’m doing a crazy quilt, with scraps from the baby’s brother’s quilt, her mother’s quilt, and her uncles’. I have never done a crazy quilt before, but it’s coming together nicely. It’s going to be colourful!

Sorry about your headaches.  Hope they subside soon.   The ballet sounds lovely.    Would love to see a picture of your new granddaughter's crazy quilt when it's completed.  It sounds like it will definitely be a treasured piece.

We were just on a 13 night cruise on Vision of the Seas.  They did send out the letter stating that the lounge was for Diamond+ and above.   We never saw anyone check on status in the lounge.  Most nights there were plenty of seats in the lounge.

We did the Maya Key excursion through the ship.  There was great snorkeling on our own right off their pier.  There may be some youtube videos out there.

@Sea Dog  Congrats to the Chiefs.  I really thought we were going to meet you in the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.  So disappointed in our 2nd half collapse. 😞

Hope your knee is doing better and Linda is recovering well with her shoulder.

@lenquixote66  Were you the one who recommended Griselda on Netflix?  We're halfway through the series.  Wow, great acting by Sophia Vergara.  So intense!  

2 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

 

Now that you have 2 recommendations for the same company, might just give them a call....😉

We have also used JiffyJeff.  Would definitely use them again.

We are back from our 2 week cruise on Vision of the Seas.  We had a wonderful time, met some great people and did some fun excursions.   Since I probably won't be able to catch up on the past 3 weeks of posts, I like to send well wishes to all who are ailing and congratulations to all who are celebrating.

On 1/19/2024 at 2:09 PM, Arzeena said:

@ValerieJo
I hope your cruise is wonderful. I just wanted to know if you went to Trois Iselt and to the Bakou in Martinique and what were your thoughts.

We will be there in March again.

Hi Arzena,   Sorry I'm so far behind on this thread.   For Martinique we did a tour with a company called "Beyond the Beach" (we did the South tour).  While we enjoyed it, I felt most of it was driving.   First stop was a great artisan village with lots of art work, pottery and small shops.  The problem was we only had about 20 minutes there, so not nearly enough time to check it out or make any purchases.  Our 2nd stop was a beach that had fantastic snorkeling, but again we only had about 40 minutes there.  Not nearly enough time there either.  The 3rd stop was a Rum Factory for tasting.  It was OK but we weren't big fans of the rum.   We just felt there was too much time driving and not enough time to enjoy the stops on this tour.   I think we would do something different if we were to go back to Martinique.   Hope you have a wonderful time.

Our view today from Vision of the Seas.  We’re somewhere off the coast of Florida heading to Labadee.  One of my favorite spots on the ship. 

12 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Safe travels tomorrow, Valerie.  Bon Voyage!🛳️  What ship will you be on?

Thank you.  We are going on Vision of the Seas.  It’s an oldie but any cruise is a good cruise.  😁. 

2 minutes ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Finally getting around to it to let y’all know.

 

DS1 is expecting their first 3/15/2024

 

 DS2 is expecting their first also, 4/8/2024. They surprised us with this little onesie in the mail when we got back from our British Isles, Greenland/Iceland cruise in August.

 

DS1 is expecting a boy

DS2 is expecting a girl

Congratulations Helen and Marty.  Love the pictures.

8 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Have a safe flight and a wonderful cruise. We leave on Sunday on the Wonder.  I wonder if our ships are in any port on the same day!

Wear your winter coat, that way you don't have to pack it. Baltimore is cold.

Where is your cruise?

 

it's a 13 night on Vision.  We visit San Juan, St. Croix, Martinique (first time there), Barbados, St. Lucia & St. Kitts.  Have a great time on Wonder.  Safe travels.

7 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Snow coming on Sunday. I'm not happy.

We've been watching the East Coast weather from here in Michigan.  We fly into Baltimore tomorrow and get on our ship on Saturday.  No idea if I should pack a winter coat or a rain coat???  😄

15 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Lindas doing better than me. Her pain has not been bad at all but then again her arm is in a sling and she’s not moving it any. She has her post op Thursday and should get the ok to start therapy which will be good.

 

Hernia is extremely uncomfortable and hurts. I don’t think it’s gotten to the point where I need emergency surgery but waiting another 6 weeks before I can have it fixed is weighing on me.

 

I’m frustrated only in that I’m hurting 24/7 with either my knee or groin. Life is not fun right now. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. It is what it is and I will get better.

Glad Linda is doing better.  So sorry you are in so much pain.  Hopefully, you'll be able to get things fixed up sooner.  

16 hours ago, Husky1987 said:

Just popping in to say WOOF

 

Hmmm...After the game I packed my Michigan shirt to wear on our cruise next week.  Hopefully, we'll be able to watch the game on board.