Sandy Sails

We stopped cruising several years ago after we bought a large RV. Now it's road trips only - SO much fun! (and we can bring the dog)

My favorite road trip was to the national parks in Southern Utah: Brice, Zion, Canyonlands, etc. AMAZING sights to see! Absolutely amazing!

When we retire next year, we'll be living part-time in the RV traveling all over the USA. Can't wait!

Well if I'm going to eat my hat, I'll need some BBQ sauce for it

Sorry but that will be extra...

It's very common - from the airplane or the cruise.

My very first cruise was out of Seattle so I didn't fly - got sick on the second to last day.

Every single cruise since (had to fly to each one of them), I've gotten sick. Once though was from Disneyworld when a little girl coughed in my face - I ran to the ladies room to wash off but it was too late. Boarded the ship sick.

I've even taken up to 2 weeks prior everything I could find - an immunity booster, Airborne, etc - nothing worked.

FYI, the airport is very far away from downtown or the Space Needle. If you want to do sight-seeing during the day, don't stay by the airport.

Believe it or not, there's more to do downtown that by the Seattle Center (Space Needle). But as somebody said, it may be cheaper to stay near the Seattle Center than downtown. The monorail is quick and easy - takes you from Seattle Center to 5th & Pike. Then you can just walk toward the water to the Pike Place Market and walk south along the waterfront.

Enjoy! Seattle is gorgeous on a sunny clear day so be sure to go to the top of the Space Needle to see everything.

As a resident, I have yet to ride the Big Wheel - it's on my to-do list for sure. It's not very old and I haven't been able to play tourist for awhile.

Bus tour: Kukoo Kunuku http://www.kukookunuku.com/

After a day at beautiful Palm Beach (Eagle Beach was too windy), we cleaned up and did the Kukoo Kunuku Bar Hop (with or without the dinner stop) on an open-air bus with loud Caribbean music, shaking our maracas. We stopped at several locals bars that were a lot of fun.

Did this one twice; the second time invited a cute guy I met on the ship to go with us - ended up marrying him, lol.

I got this tip YEARS ago here on CC and it's the BEST advice EVER for a cruise. I use zip-lock bags in every size including the 3-gal ones. I pack as many outfits and clothing as possible in them. I have the packing cubes, but went back to the zip-locks because I think it works better.For example, I put a pair of shorts, t-shirt and undies in a zip lock. I put all the zip locks in the drawers when I unpack and I have a few things that I fold on the hanger and put in the closet. The unpacking takes only a matter of a few minutes. When I head to the shower, I grab the zip lock baggie. When I have a dirty outfit, it goes in the zip lock and I mark a big X on the outside and toss it back into the empty suitcase (under the bed, unzipped). By the last day of the cruise, I don't have any dirty clothes that have to be packed because they are already back in the suitcase in the zip lock bags. I keep my pj's in a zip lock which goes on a shelf if I plan to re-wear them. On the last day, I'm usually at the pool and I end up with a swimsuit that is at least damp. It goes in a zip lock and it doesn't ruin any of the clothes in the suitcase. I might have a few things on hangers and they just get folded and laid on top. Shoes are in the 3 gal zip locks and just get tossed in, so anything clean doesn't get dirtied from the shoes in the suitcase. When I buy a souvenir, it goes into the suitcase. By the last day, I have an outfit I'll wear for the trip home (in a zip lock) that I lay out on the dresser along with the toiletries I'll need to get ready on the last morning. Everything in the safe is in a gal size zip lock, including car keys, cell phone, medications so that nothing gets left behind in the safe and it goes into my carry on or tote bag which goes onto the dresser on the last afternoon. I don't have to spend my last day or night packing, looking for things, trying to remember where I put everything. I get to spend the last day and night enjoying myself instead of packing. I've tried other methods a few times, but this one works and I've put the other ones behind me. We've gone on the cruises with lots of other couples and families and honestly, on the last day, their cabin looks like it has exploded with all the clothes they have out trying to sort, fold and re-pack. I wish I could remember who posted this the first time so that I could thank them properly.

As a ziplock bag fan, I LOVE this packing method! I didn't even know they made ziplocks that large. Thanks for the idea!

ONE MORE WEEK TO WAIT !! :p

It was recommended in Good Housekeeping magazine this month so I'm interested to see if anybody has tried it and what they think. Always on the lookout for a good eye cream, THE most important anti-aging secret. I'm almost 62 with zero wrinkles.

David's Bridal or any local bridal store would have the most formal versions of Mother of the Bride dresses.

Good luck to her!

Heather Morris was a back up dancer for Beyonc? and was on the show Glee. She is a great dancer and I predict she'll win.

 

 

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So it's between Heather and Simone. Maks is maybe a better choreographer so he has a leg-up (pun intended, lol). Should be interesting...

I noticed on the CNN article that Peta wasn't even mentioned. So maybe it was just an omission - Nick and/or Peta weren't able to join everybody on GMA so they just left them off the list?

Looks like Sasha finally has a chance to win the mirror ball this year!

The CNN article had more info for each "star" - i.e. who they actually are. Might be helpful for those of us who've never heard of them before.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/01/entertainment/dancing-with-the-stars-new-season/index.html

I tried to snip, copy & paste from the CNN article but I guess it was too big.

Don't have time to re-type it all. Does somebody with better tech skills (which would be anybody else but me) want to post the new line-up?

Thanks! Sandy

What, how did I miss this thread? I guess I've been too busy to get onto Cruise Critic. Good to see everyone back on here! Let the new show begin!

Tomorrow's the big day then for announcing the new "stars" ? Can't wait!

I agree, if Simone is on, she's the winner. Gymnastics winners two years in a row? Hmmm.

Just remember not to judge RCCL by its tiniest ship. It's so much different than the rest of their ships.

The Empress has a special place in my heart as that's where I met my husband. Enjoy, have fun, and happy birthday!

I just went on the Avon website and ordered some moisturizer and eye cream. I used the code SHIP2U at checkout and got free shipping. Looks like they are having a sale on some of their products right now.

You can do a "consultation" test on the website to find out which product would work best for you and/or do a chat with somebody (who basically just told me to do the consultation). To find the Consultation, just click on one of the skincare categories and you'll see a blue circle called "Avon Skin Advisor".

Beautiful dress and color! Would copper clash with the orange? Just a copper bracelet and earrings would be pretty for dressing it up more. Turquoise for a more casual fun look.

Have fun!!

Yes, I knew he was partnered with Marilu H., but I didn't see him last night.

 

Must have blinked.:p

Oops, sorry. I just got done watching last night's finale and no, Derek wasn't there.

Liked Erin's shimmery pink dress (Jo, it did make her look a little heavy), and loved C and J's dresses. A very festive show!

See you in the Spring for the next season! Happy holidays to all!

The Caribbean islands accept American money. Good to have cash in small bills with you.

Have fun!!

Yes, Derek partnered with Marilu Henner, who came in 6th place overall. Not bad. He didn't get his usual already-very-talented-dancer partner this time, lol.

Don't do Empress of the Seas. While a wonderful ship (I met my husband on her in 2006), RCCL just got her back from another subsidiary to use for cruises to Cuba. Apparently they don't have approval yet to go to Cuba so are using Empress for short Caribbean cruises. Tiny and old ship, I wouldn't recommend her for kids.

I've never been on Carnival so can't comment on them.

I haven't see Erin's dress for the finale yet so can't comment. I agree her dress on Monday night should have been worn higher on top. I didn't like J's dress Monday night but I liked C's green dress - which is ironic considering her comment about one of the dancers wearing green and how she didn't like green, lol.

It was a good season, nobody weird, the top 4 dancers were amazing. Anybody could have won and deserved it. I was rooting for James at the end but am happy with who actually won.

I did a snorkel with the turtles in Barbados several years ago but can't remember which boat.

They drop you off in deep water near the turtles, you aren't allowed to wear flippers so as not to injure the turtles, and I don't remember feeding them.

It was really cool, if you're ok with snorkeling in deep water (unfortunately I wasn't). I ended up back on the boat, drinking the free rum punches, lol.

A good skincare line will include facial wash, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, etc. Avon's is probably just as nice as the more expensive ones. I used Aloette for years, but as with Avon, you have to order it through a representative.

Find a local Avon rep and have a party so you can get the introductory skincare set at a deep discount.

I'll watch last night's show tonight - I saw a glimpse of Erin's dress and liked it a lot.

Not surprised Jana came in 4th - she was always on the verge of being voted out, in the bottom 2 a lot. But I think she has a lot of talent.

Just not sure who will or should win this season. I'm thinking Laurie, but then again, the two guys are great.

I guess we'll know tonight - I'll look it up at 7 p.m. Seattle time and will know then.