MrsTocko

I agree regarding the Jewel crew. We loved everything about the Jewel on our first cruise on her in April 2022, that on the 3rd day we were already deciding on the 2nd that we took in April 2023.  It was the first time DH and I duplicated a ship.  A small part of like to do different ships “just to see”, but the jewel is special.

7 minutes ago, Girr said:

Sorry, about the two-part post - computer challenged at times. 

 

Check out Skechers men's Slip Ons for dad.  They have a large selection, and even offer wide or comfort fit.  Yes, stretchy pants are also available for men.  I'm not sure which web site DH uses, but he has a wide selection, and just looking at them you'd never know they were pull on.

So I wear Merrell jungle moc (or is it moc jungle?) for my everyday.  They are waterproof, and so comfy.  They are a “heavy” solid feeling shoe.  Good tread on the sole. Merrell customer service is also top notch. They are pricey, but worth it.  I have had mine for over 4 years now, and they still look new. They have for both men and women.  Here is the link to men’s wide - https://www.merrell.com/US/en/jungle-moc-nubuck-waterproof-wide-width/16955M.html?dwvar_16955M_color=J52927W&ref=Comfort black#q=waterproof&start=1.

on a side note I wear the Moab mid waterproof for shore excursion days, wore them in Ireland and was soaked to the bone, except my feet, they stayed dry as the desert.

2 hours ago, schmoopie17 said:

@YVRteacher Don't know if you saw this. You (and others) should be able to take advantage of this.

 

 

Ok..need to try this, DH is a special ed aide at his HS Alma mater.   We have 3 booked, but even if at the moment we only get the obc I will be happy.  My pcc is good about double checking the prices so if we have to “rebook” we are not paying more to get the discount…

21 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

After the We Are Norwegian farewell from the incredible team on the NCL Jewel

 

 

 

 

 

Captain Stefan is hilarious! He gave a farewell message in which he told us after tonight there would be no more breakfast in bed and we would all have to go home. And suffer.

 

He is our favorite captain.  We had him on the Star in July 2022. The only time that everyone EVERYWHERE went silent when he started talking so we could hear what he was going to say….we boarded the Jewel April 2023, and to our surprise and delight, he was again our Capitan.  

45 minutes ago, ihate2cruise said:

I don't see a where it tells me if we are docked or Tendered. I just see letters after the cruise ships w/o a guide to what they stand for.

 

There is another menu on that same page that is titled Berth Codes.  That will tell you

1 hour ago, Faulkh said:

@MrsTocko yes please share your blank one much appreciated. Thanks very much planning Alaskan cruise for a group of 9 and think this would be great to get everyone on the same page 

Here is my full document (I am combining it, instead of having multiple documents for each tab.)

each tab should be self explanatory.  I left information from previous trips (nothing that cant be shared), so you see how i did it.  Do it how it works for you.  I change it all the time... The calendar does have some date formulas, not REALLY fully correct, but they work...that top line is funky.

If you or anyone has any questions on it let me know cruise critic moniker at gee mail

Travel Itinerary.xls

11 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

We walked to the drug store to pick up a prescription but he hadn’t placed the order so there was no prescription to pick up. We go back Sunday to get it. I asked the pharmacist to check everything and there are two medications my dad is supposed to be taking that he didn’t refill. That is all sorted out now. 

Not because there are any cognitive issues, but for some reason my strong, independent, smart DH became incapable of making dr. appts, ordering refills, taking the truck in for maintenance…the very minute we got married 12 years ago…so, for his one prescription at the local Walgreens, I downloaded the app to my phone, his email, my face as the password…so I can order for him….i created all his logins, and listed myself as care giver/authorized person.  I know that you may need to do things differently with your dad, but if you can get the updates that prescriptions are due to refill that will ease YOUR mind.  If you havent done this already. and it’s possible you havent (though not likely because you are a smart woman) because sometimes it is harder to think OUTSIDE the box when you are IN box

12 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

The Access Desk got their act together this year.

What is this Ns. business? Is this a new gender about which I don’t yet know?

 

Or have they figured me out and are

not-so-secretly calling me No Sh*t Yvonne?

 

I am thrilled that our concierge is Armando!!! He knows both my dad and I so well and anticipates my dad’s needs before I even need to ask. The care and kindness he shows to my dad is so appreciated.

Hopefully they will have adjusted the pillow count appropriately before you get to your room.  I’m sure a well mentioned word with Armando will make it happen….ive been thinking about that since page one…

1 hour ago, jgbrown said:

I lived in El Cajon! Went to Valhalla and Emerald Jr.

Sweet!  DH went to El Cap.  He’s now a special ed aide and football coach there.  We are on the alpine end of El Cajon 

33 minutes ago, trivia addict said:

When is your POA date?

we will be on it in Sept.

My POA is Thanksgiving week.

On 4/22/2024 at 4:06 PM, jgbrown said:

I would be interested in any tips for either crawl, since I am planning one on my next cruise.

i did these to hand out to everyone,  they are meant to be printed double sided.

Poker Sheets.docx

1 hour ago, mcmomny said:

It's been a few years but we stopped in Falmouth on our NCL cruise, one of those gated cruise ports with shopping, drinking and relaxing. I don't remember a swimming pool area but i do remember a Margaritaville.

 

It was ok but we had booked thru NCL  a Dunn's River Falls and The Bob Sled adventures excursion, both really good and amazing scenery!

 

So we spent very little time in Falmouth other than the walk to the buses from the ship

 

We went for spring break in 2018.  We stayed right there at the port.  Went to margaritaville.  spent time in the pool.  then were back on the ship around noon. very nice little area, clean, quiet.  but i think margaritaville is closed at that location.

Just now, graphicguy said:

I love it.

 

If you don't mind, it would save me some time if you have the template.  email is my Cruise Critic moniker at Yahoo.

You got it.  Will come from mrstocko (my screen name) at gmail.  Will even throw in my itinerary file, use it if you want.  I stole it from some one else my self.

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

You are definitely the teacher.  I love it.

 

Now, you're going to make me spend an inordinate amount of time making a calendar using some app that I'll probably never use again with different colors for activities and sub-divisions for different TYPES of activities.

I’ve been thinking about it since last year when I saw the one she did for Alaska.  This is what I finally came up with on Monday…it’s excel.  I have the blank one and then one for each of my upcoming cruises.  Will update as  thinks are planned and finalize during the packing process….(even listed to finalize).  DH said you are such a nerd.  Yup.  I am.  And isn’t he lucky I am his nerd. Happy to share my blank one if anyone is interested.

2 hours ago, YVRteacher said:

Nate isn’t on the ship anymore.

True…totally read it wrong…Mondays…maybe you could check?

@natefish95  can you see if there is still a restaurant hostess, Elaina? I can’t for the life of me remember how to spell her name…but that is close…if she is still on the jewel, will you tell her hi from Gail and Chris?  We sailed with her in April 2022 and 2023.  She remembered and recognized me from across the atrium before I saw her. She is so lovely.

I have organized pub crawls, and poker/pub crawls.  I personally found the poker ones not fun for me running it…as I was alone in the process…I was stressed. But I think everyone else had fun.  I have a cheat sheet that can be filled out, as well as winning hands (not a poker player here-so I needed the help).  Happy to share if interested.

i still enjoy doing the pub crawl part.  I do it about 2 on a sea day.  Will pick 5  bars, start at the bottom and work our way up. I also try to give the heads up to the bars before hand, and ensuring they will be open. So my planned route is always up to change.  I also encourage everyone to go, even if they don’t imbibe in adult beverages.  It is an opportunity to socialize.  I don’t care if you drink or not. Just arrive with the intent to have fun and enjoy. DH isn’t always feeling social, but he likes this.

trying to figure out a pub crawl on POA with no sea days.

2 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

@MrsTocko I don’t think I’ll ever cruise without a big paper calendar planner! It takes the information out of my brain and makes it visible.

 

Which ship did you book for 2025? The Jade is replacing the Jewel for a Vancouver to Whittier journey.

We booked the Bliss. We have done bliss it Alaska in 2019, and we it’s ok.  We like the smaller ships for sure.  We did the Jade (Caribbean-2018), and booked her again for March 2026, Mexican riviera (round trip out of San Diego-40 minutes from home). Our deciding factors for the next Alaska were itinerary (Sitka is a new port for us and DH wanted to repeat ISP), and timing.  DH has July off (special ed aide at his alma mater), and I want to try to catch salmon run.  We booked Jade mainly because we could do it for spring break from home.

@YVRteacher- loving your review style and am going to steal your “calendar” of events idea for our future cruises.  DH is always asking “when/where are we doing this/that?” So I want to do something that he can look at hanging on the wall, which he would have to actually look at, but that is beside the point.  We love Alaska and the Jewel. And reading your review last year inspired us to book Alaska for 2025.  It’s our 5th time, so not much arm twisting needed.  Looking forward to the next 2 weeks of entries.

15 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Everything was outstanding but n terms of food! DS decided the burrito was not for him so we switched. He has never had steak before and his reaction was “it’s such hard work, all this chewing.” I’m not a fan of burritos but this was actually very good. 
 

For dessert, of course, we had to do chocolate lava cake. As someone who LOVES chocolate but hates strawberries, I get really sad when chocolate goodness is paired with strawberry nastiness. I loved the lava cake. The strawberries not so much!

DH orders his without the compote and ice cream. Just the lava cake

14 minutes ago, luv2kroooz said:

A smart, service minded business man would open the store. It would increase profitability and build good will with his customer base who may have been in an unfortunate bind. If you just tell them to go away and come back tomorrow, they might just go to a competitor today and never come back tomorrow. Then, they'll tell all their friends about your terrible customer service. So, while you were technically correct in denying them service, you may have harmed yourself in the long term.How wise was your decision in the end?

 

 

Will their revenue generated offset the additional wages of the employees staying late? Have to redo closing procedures? Other additional overhead? Employee relationships with company? Is it unionized? How is that impacted? And how many more times will I have to do it, because it was done the one time? It isn’t just a matter of unlocking the door and ushering them in.  

1 minute ago, icft said:

Unless things have changed drastically, last folks I knew that worked retail started closing out the registers as soon as the door closed. Perhaps a one man company would do it though.

Thank you, my point was understood

4 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

You're missing the point. Regardless of whether stores normally open for someone after closing (and they occasionally do as I've had it done for me at least once in the past...), that action does not put the customer in danger with risk of injury or death as this transfer at sea apparently would have.

My point was that many are missing the point about the dangers of allowing them on board, which I stated myself earlier, so tried to simplify it for them.  

12 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

That's actually a poor analogy as an employee could easily open a door and let someone into the store. Someone further up the thread outlined exactly why the passengers could not easily transfer back to the ship to board; it was an extreme safety issue with the risk of injury or death to a passenger if they were to fall while transiting from the port boat back to the ship.

Please tell me the store that the employees will open back up an hour after close so I can do my shopping, because I couldn’t get there before closing.  

For all of those that are saying they should have been allowed to board...look at it another way.  you go to a store named NCL Dawn.  It is now 5pm, and you have just arrived. Store closed at 4pm (all aboard time), but the employees of store are still there doing closing procedures (still in harbor). Should they reopen for you? or should they tell you to comeback when they are open again (next port)?  NCL Dawn was there and open for you until closing time. You got there late. whether it was traffic delay, or poor time management, it is not the store's responsibility at this point.