mkcurran

5 hours ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

This happened 18 years ago today. ♥️

Happy Anniversary!

2 hours ago, dmet0225 said:

My MIL lives east of Durant and has TWO storm cellars.

For two different levels of storms?

This first Monday back is killing me.  

On 5/3/2024 at 1:07 PM, Jamman54 said:

After checking out that cabin we decided that it's not for us. Don't like the location of the television. 

Having just stayed in a sideways cabin, you are right. The television location is bad. Liked the feeling of the extra room, due to the lay out. Our door also had a major light leaks all around. Didn't need a night light.

7 hours ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

What happened?

2 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Oh no! Were there specific issues or is this a same ol’ same ol’ kinda story?
 

I would never achieve a high loyalty club level with a cruise line because I will get tired of the same schtick eventually and there are so many other choices to keep things fresh. 
 

After I sailed Mardi Gras a few years back, Carnival Legend just 4 months later felt like a slight letdown even though nothing was actually in the category of things that bother me.
 

Everything was fine. Food and crew were great. Old ship had some nice features. It was just a bit meh somehow. Soon after, Carnival Vista and Radiance made it 4 Carnivals for me in less than a year and I realized that’s too many. Too much of the same-ish thing led to diminishing returns. 
 

 

 

With the arrival of the Firenze the parking situation is beyond messed up. Carnival had months to fess up to the fact that the passengers on the Panorama would have to park else where. Instead I got an email two days before, telling us we'd have to park offsite. But we'd have to drive to the port first to find out where. 

There were three different offsite garages they were using in one area. None of them ADA compliant. Not a problem going. But loading our friends coming back was going to be interesting. Bigger problem for other guests.

When we disembarked there was confusion as to which bus was going to the garage. The bus driver got lost. Ended up dropping us on a curb between the three garages. It was crowded, nobody could formal a line and let the people who had their suitcases through so everyone else could get theirs. 

One lady ended up going off on my husband, mistakenly, but none the less she was so terrible I had to literally pull my husband away from her. She approached to apologize later. But as she came up I was having none of the crazy lady around my family. I told her to move on. Could she? No. Her family pulled her away.

Do I blame her? Only partially. The messed up parking had everyone on edge.

At the end of the day was this cruise good enough that I'd put up with any of that again. Absolutely not.

My group wasn't a fan of the new menus. I found that they were substituting salt for flavor. Food on the buffet was consistently cold. The crew, which is usually the best, seemed a lot over worked. There were a few in there that still went above and beyond. 

I think I am just Carnival'd out at the moment and want something nicer. If I do Carnival again it will be Havana or a Ship with a good spa area.

On 5/2/2024 at 9:30 AM, MeganGC1983 said:

I feel like @mkcurran has been cruising forever. Hope she’s having a great time. 

It was mostly good. I didn't have to cook or clean. I am definitely done with Long Beach and possibly done with Carnival. 

Gotta wait until fall to find out if Ireland is going to happen. If the company ever sells, I will be getting a nice bonus, so may be able to squeeze in a fall cruise. 

Likely Princess. Maybe Celebrity. 

hey @Hogladyrider

More Palm Springs 

Tribe vibes at my hotel.

9 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Does anyone know if there is way to find out who sent something through Amazon? I arrived home to a package containing a Sephora gift card. My name on the envelope. No idea who it is from or why it was sent. Not sure if it’s for me or my teen (it’s her bday tomorrow). If nothing else, I would like to thank whoever sent it. I’ve asked everyone I can think of and came up with nothing…

Usually there's a slip that says who shipped it.

1 hour ago, MeganGC1983 said:

And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!! 🎉❤️

Thanks. 27 years and I haven't killed him yet. 

18 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

Whoop whoop! Remember just WOOSA the parking issue. 😉

The hub has promised to behave. We'll see...lol

Finished packing. Time for a vodka cranberry.

2 hours ago, luckiest1cruise said:

My friend & I are getting on the Panorama on Saturday April 27 so I'm enjoying your review & pictures and look forward to more!

See you there!

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Well Tribe I have been quiet here as the mid-May Alaska cruise approaches. I had asked everyone’s thoughts about live reviewing it as a Friends of Bill W. Cruise. 
 

That’s not going to happen. Bill’s friend isn’t his friend after all. I still intend to take this cruise because it is our only child’s high school graduation present. It’s maybe 50/50 whether Bill’s former friend will be in any condition to travel. Probably won’t decide until it’s time to drive to O’Hare. Game Day decision. 

 

Instead I might be sharing the experience of figuring out exactly what kinds of health cancellations are covered by my cruise insurance. I always buy it but confess I just get whatever plan the booking engine offers and never read the policy. 
 

For once I actually booked travel insurance on both the cruise and the flights, two separate policies. Should be interesting, I guess if that’s the word for it, to figure it out. 

 

Go, have fun. 

1 hour ago, odie1024 said:

I am sorry to hear that. I returned from my 18 day cruise on Saturday and it was my BF who had suffered seizures from drinking while at my house at the beginning of December. He went to about 8 AA meetings and decided he didn't need the meetings that he was good. He had gotten a letter from his DR which I was going to use so I could remove his drink package and keep mine.( Actually I am the one who asked for the letter not him) As soon we sat down for lunch in the main dining room I ordered my Prosecco and he ordered a Bloody Mary and said it was his vacation too and he was going to enjoy it. From then on he drank Black Russians and of course complained he could not taste the vodka or they did not give him a big enough drink. Unfortunately, he does not know when to say no. Only one night did he drink too much that he was slurring his words when we walked out of Teppanayki. 

 

I had to go to the medical center on the ship as came down with bronchitis and still not feeling well after visiting my PC on Monday so really need to figure out what I am doing next in my life.

 

Take your trip and celebrate your child's graduation as it only happens once and then figure out everything when you return.

Hugs. Hope you find the signs you need soon.

Where can I leave my car for the week that's not the cruise terminal?

And expect it to be there in one piece when I get back? 

I'm heading south out of Long Beach on the 27th, but I'll catch up when I get back! 

It's Monday. I've decided to go ahead and take all of Thursday off to start my vacation. I still need to pack. I work from home. Can anyone guess exactly how much work will actually get done today? 😆

6 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

I’m just sitting at a stop sign waiting for this car to pass or turn…and boy was I surprised when she turned right into me.

 

You were looking for a sign to buy the new Car? Right?

Craziness.

22 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

We're doing a second cruise but not on the Panorama. On the 27th we're flying from LAX to Honolulu,staying three nights,then boarding the Anthem of the Seas for a 9 nt Hawaii to Vancouver cruise. 

I'm glad to hear about Fuego Restaurant. The reviews are both ends,either great or overpriced and bad,lol.

I'm not going to say it isn't overpriced--that's relative. I just figure if it's California and roll with it. It's also been a few years since I've been there. We stayed there in 2019. They had a happy hour on Friday then, so we ate $3 tacos and I drank $5 margs. The buffet the next morning is possibly the best breakfast buffet I've ever eaten at. Didn't mind the $30 price tag at that time.

Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy!

14 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I hope you're not on this Saturday,April 20th sailing. The Long Beach Grand Prix is taking place starting tomorrow and it's going to be gridlock in this area. I'm staying at the Residence Inn on the same island as the Carnival cruise terminal and planning just to walk to the terminal. We're making backup plans for dinner by reserving a table at the restaurant in the adjacent Maya Hotel,which is actually even closer to the Carnival terminal. While we can walk across a bridge to the LB downtown waterfront area that's where the Grand Prix is located and there will be thousands of people here all day and night starting tomorrow.

Any chance you are doing a B2B? I board the 27th. Otherwise I'll wave to you on my way in. 🙂

I've eaten at the Mexican place in the Maya. It's pretty good, margaritas weren't bad either. 

2 hours ago, Funsince1983 said:

Looks like we're going to need surgery (AGAIN) also. Soft casting to wait for swelling to go down and surgery to set and put in pins early next week. Same exact break my 10 year old had when she was around the same age. All 3 have now broken some part of their arm.

Yikes! Hope it heals quick!

57 minutes ago, Funsince1983 said:

Thank you! 
 

 

Yes, however said child has already let me know that she still needs to support her teams, which honestly, I'm proud of her for even thinking about. I'm not taking her to practices but I'll take her to her games to cheer on her teammates. 

More free time? 🤷‍♀️

2 hours ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Well darn. I booked that one originally. So close, to seeing the elusive face.

Then they turned it into a premier casino cruise. Then I didn't get a bonus, so I didn't want to spend money on airfare. Then the friends wanted to join us, so another Mexican Riviera cruise it is.

Single digit dance time!

I've had them at La Palapa in PV. They also have shrimp bacon tacos, that I still dream about.