StanleyandGus

11 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Interestingly, prior to her cruise on a thread that I think was delete, she would become livid with anyone who suggested that everyone on the ship should be vaccinated or anyone who would bring an non vaxxed kid on a cruise at this time should have second thoughts about it.

My eyes just rolled down to the kitchen!

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Ah the poor baby was either scared to death or probably fun climbing around.    

Possibly both- he has been devoted to Chris ever since!

We are probably going to declare administrative New Year’s in an hour or so!

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

@jagsfan   if you see this let us know

This actually happened to us. Stanley was a kitten with incredible jumping capacity. He got up to an unfinished basement ceiling, and slipped behind an i-beam, and couldn’t get out. I attracted him to the finished area of the basement, Chris got a drywall saw out, we cut a hole, and voila- the cat’s head appeared!

My husband is on the phone cancelling our cruises at the end of January and February. We do have a transatlantic in November that we can transfer the cruise credits to. Hopefully.

We not worried about getting sick- or a least, not very sick- but testing positive and not being able to get on an airplane decides it for us.

There is a Canadian board that’s pretty much devoid of nastiness.

@Sea Dog, I am so glad that you have found a puppy to love! Or puppies when her brother arrives.
 

I spent Christmas with my son’s 7 month old German Shepherd. It was interesting seeing a 65 lb puppy being carried down into the basement where my son was sleeping- apparently stairs weren’t something he has done! He got better at them, but it was still a barely controlled descent.
 

We are about to cancel our b2b from Galveston next month. We’re not worried about getting sick, but after the holiday is over, we would like to fly home. Canadian carriers require a negative COVID test to fly across the border.

Oh well. A staycation in Saskatchewan at the end of January will be just as good as the Gulf of Mexico! 

14 hours ago, Russ Lomas said:

Well, the email we received today saying we now have to pay for PCR testing at a cost of at least $210 US per person after disembarking the ship to re-enter Canada, just plain sucks.  Easy to understand their decision...the less people testing positive ON the ship, the less cases are reported in the media and to the CDC.  A nice way to work around the CDC paramaters.

 

We do not cruise until March, so we hope that the requirement of a PCR test to reenter Canada for fully vaccinated Canadians is no longer around by then, but after 21 months of this, I would be surprised to see the requirement gone.  We have close to 70 Canadians going on that particular cruise in a group and everyone of them is now considering cancelling.  Too much stress not having the results when disembarking and not knowing if we will have the test results in time (not to mention an additional $1000 CAD cost for a family of 4).

 

Please fire off an email to  MBayley@rccl.com if you get a chance in the next couple of weeks.  His office is good at answering back.  If enough people complain, they may reconsider or make a compromise.

 

Mention the December 1st Return to Services 38-page document stated they would provide these free until the end of April.  Also mention that the price they are mentioning at the port is exorbitant and people who have already booked early flights under the assumption that RCCL Return to Services document may now have a difficult time getting results back in time for their flights.

 

As Canadians, I am sure everyone who decides to email will be polite.  Enjoy the rest of your holidays and let's hope that after Omricon burns itself out in a month or so, things will start to get back to what we all used to love about cruising.

Email sent. We are cancelling our b2b after much debate, including whether to drive to Galveston. It’s really not worth it.

7 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I remember you've mentioned that you'll celebrate on the 21st. I thought may be it's a Canadian "thing", like Thanksgiving. Still intrigued I've googled "Canada Christmas 21st December" ... nothing. Only 25th.

 

So I've asked a cruise friend in Montreal. Still 25th.

 

Any reason you've celebrated "early" ?😕

The reason was that my daughter and one of my sons wanted to also celebrate with their partners’ families. We had no reason to stick to the 25th, so we had Christmas early. It worked out well.

I’m sorry to confuse you! Chris and I never had to juggle celebrations because we are both the children of immigrants, so there wasn’t any conflict. Our kids’ partners want to share Christmas with their families.  Unfortunately, Regina- Ontario- New York aren’t terribly close geographically, so we’re making it work!

Actual Christmas can’t change, but the family traditions can- whether we have the turkey on one day or another doesn’t matter, so long as we’re together. 

Merry Christmas to all!
 

We celebrated Christmas Day a couple of days ago, and I really like having a day with nothing to do! Tonight’s menu will be appetizers. We did 2 turkeys because they were really tiny this year, but they have all been eaten.
 

I have enjoyed looking at your trees and hearing about your families- I am very sorry for those who have had COVID related cancellations of family activities.

Here is a photo of Gus.

Merry Christmas from Saskatchewan!

5 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

@Sunshine3601

 

+ 2

 

 

This "rollercoaster" of "yes, we're going", "no, we're not" is wearing me thin too...😢

We just decided to cancel our b2b. Sad, but Royal is no longer doing testing for crossing the border, and that was the straw. 
 

On the other hand, my son and I prepped all the vegetables for tomorrow’s Christmas dinner- make ahead mashed potatoes, turnip and carrot mash, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, squash, sweet potato, and the stuffing. Oh, and a turkey! So we will focus on the family. 

36 minutes ago, akcruz said:

 

Congratulations!!  Yes I thought I had figured it out when I saw the box.  Of course we did something similar years ago with our first.  We wrapped up a onesie with " If you think I am cute you should see my Grandma" on it.  My MIL opened it and said she had the wrong gift, told her no look, again.  Others in the room looked and git it right away, she finally figured it out.  Christmas does give you a great way to make an announcement.  When my daughter was pregnant with her 1st I found out pretty much right away, the hardest part of it all was keeping it quiet until they were ready to let others know.

 

Enjoy all those beautiful grandbabies!!

We found out at Valentine’s Day- my daughter said “Do you want to see what Noel gave me for Valentine’s Day?” It was an ultrasound photo! The baby is 3 months old now, and a very easy going baby- his parents are visiting now. We are expecting another son and his dog shortly, and then the last son and boyfriend arrive in a couple of days.

And then we lock down again. Sigh. I am actually grateful that, for us, Christmas is early (21st) because if it wasn’t, some people would probably act prudently and not be with us. 

On 12/6/2021 at 6:25 PM, muffin said:

CC member Lucruise just made mention of this company. I just ordered, and thought it needs its own  topic…..many of us looking. Simply goggle Canada Strong Masks and make a choice. Several kinds, colours and children sized too. delivery costs are a trifle high, but can’t complain when you get exactly what you want. I ordered some N 95 and also some of the usual light blue and white ones which are good for quick trips to the store…but in black so I do not feel I have just escaped from a hospital! Thx Lucruise!

Thank you for posting this. I have just ordered some, and some filters for my cloth masks. 

We woke up to a brisk -25 degrees (-11 F). Luckily, it’s housework today for me!

21 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

No, I didn't.... I stumbled upon the "Brother" by sheer mistake...

 

I'll buy one of those too. Thanks for pointing me to the series 👍

 

Right now I'm "binging" on Ngaio Marsh Inspector R. Alleyn series 😁

I just ordered the first 3 books from the library.  Thanks for the recommendation!

40 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

"Fancy" that [since we're talking British 😉], I've read ALL the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters and thoroughly enjoyed every one of them

I read them so many years ago that I have forgotten who done it! It’s a kind of double your pleasure thing! For Miss Marple, I do know the story, but it’s lovely to watch regardless.

5 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Interesting to read this morning that they are filming a new Netflix movie in the area.  It stars Christian Bale and Harry Melling and is set in 1830 at West Point. 

 

The first setting is at Westminster College, where my daughter received her undergraduate degree, so we are quite familiar with the campus. Evidently the buildings can pass for West Point in the 1830’s, and they have been busy removing or disguising modern features. 

 

The second area is a place where Susan and I often hike.  They are using a setting around the McConnell’s Mill Covered Bridge and Mill.  I think I may have posted some of these pictures earlier, when we were hiking there this fall. 

 

They have been busy removing signs, painting, and otherwise disguising modern day things. 

 

This bridge was actually built about 40 years after the period the movie is set in. I guess with covered bridges being rare, you use what you have. 

 

The mill beside the bridge. 

 

I guess I never really thought about the amount of prep work they need to do, so that they can film a piece set in the past. 

Chris and I love historical shows and movies, mostly set in England. I am amazed at the settings! Right now we’re watching Miss Marple (very soothing, even if there are several murders!) and Brother Cadfael- truly excellent acting. They’re both old, but we’re getting use out of the BritBox subscription!
 

I do think that I have seen reused props and there are a couple of roads that I have seen more than once (I think), but it’s a highly enjoyable evening activity.

19 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

Maryann, @Luckynana

 

I appreciate your insight regarding all those recommending a couple with 18 months twins to take the train the Civitavecchia cruise terminal....

 

I didn't want to raise any controversy, every one is entitled to its "budget", but I really don't see any huge savings by

* boarding a train at Termini (not to mention paying for [4] tickets and getting to Termini...),

* "schlepping" your luggage on stairs, finding a place for your luggage IN the train,

* stairs again at "Civvy",

* then a paid shuttle to the port entry, and, then, somehow (since you're not allowed to walk through),

* get to the check in area...

 

whereas a shared or a private transfer does it "door-to-door"....

 

Totally agree! Do the door to door transfer and save money by not having a beverage package! However, to each their own!

Happy Thanksgiving to our southern neighbours!
 

On 11/20/2021 at 7:32 PM, kellk said:

We used a local lab in Regina for our antigen test pre cruise. 

Which lab did you use, and how long did you wait for results?

I don’t know, but if you posted this question in the Canadian Cruisers section, you might get an answer. Good luck!

Oh, Crystal. 
 

Go home and hug Nate extra hard. From the photos, she was obviously well loved!

On 11/19/2021 at 9:16 AM, petuniaflower said:

Sorry Im confused, Falmouth (never been hence why I was asking about the Margaritaville) is on the itinerary of a RC ship Im looking at in January..is this incorrect and has RC not been stopping there?

We are on a cruise out of Galveston that is supposed to go to Falmouth on January 30th. However, it’s also supposed to go to Georgetown, Grand Cayman. I have no idea where we are going, but there probably won’t be snow, so that works!

It snowed for Remembrance Day here!

3 hours ago, brookmill18 said:

 

And @singinalot--I'm right there with you! DD17 is not like her older brother was at that age! Super stressful and feel like I'm flying blind most of the time. I love reading about members here with kids in their 20's and 30's and keep thinking "It must get better, It must get better!"

I have a small sample size, only having one daughter, but it really does get better. My boys weren’t a real problem, but my daughter…oh, my! 
 

I told myself every day “You are the adult and she is a teenager” and said that I loved her even when it was difficult to do so! 

7 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

So I am a little surprised that nobody asked who Polly the Pirate is in my title?

Whoops, I had assumed that was your wife! Polly is a very pretty pirate!