Suslor

We’re just off the Volendam on a Panama Canal cruise. Service and food were great but the fact that the casino allows smoking means you smell it all over deck 5. Awful. Susan.

I know, I know, I’m so late with thanking everyone for their birthday wishes. We left the Zaandam on my birthday after a two week Panama Canal cruise with friends and spent the whole day traveling back to the east coast. It didn’t feel like my birthday until I had a chance to see all the well wishes from my CC family. Thanks @StLouisCruisers , @erewhon, @Sharon in AZ, @Overhead Fred, @cunnorl, @Haljo1935, @JazzyV @kazu @ottahand7 @Yourworldwithbill @marshhawk @ger_77 @Nickelpenny @Quartzsite Cruiser @rafinmd @cat shepard @Denise T @puppycanducruise @dfish @grapau27 .I hope I didn’t forget anybody. Thanks so much ❤️💕. Susan

Like @kazu we enjoy the Neptune Suites. We’re currently on the Zaandam for a 14 day Panama Canal cruise. We book a NS from the onset because we want a room very near the lounge. In fact we’re sitting in the lounge typing this message. Sorry they still have the shower/tub combo and only one sink. Tons of drawers but only three closets. We’re spoiled on the Zuiderdam with six closets which we need on a longer cruise. No BB King or Rolling Stones venue and for some reason you can’t walk deck 4 to get to the DR. You have to go aft on Deck 5 and then go down. Love that you don’t need a key to enter the lounge but agree the Pinnacle Grill for breakfast lacks the windows. It’s more like an upgraded Club Orange. Be warned that the Zaandam permits smoking in the casino which is directly adjacent to the shops and bars so the smoke smell permeates the area. And if you have any lung issues you can’t really gamble. Having the lounge is a great perk - never having to stand in the Guest Services line can be worth the price sometimes. Susan

Thanks everyone for the wonderful Bon voyage ❣️. It’s great to be back on a BHB. Two and a half months was too long away. Happy 4th anniversary to the Daily and to everyone 😘. Susan

Thanks to @DeeniEncinitas, @JazzyV, @Haljo1935 @StLouisCruisers, @kazu, @bennybear, @smitty34877, @ger_77, @puppycanducruise, @grapau27, @cunnorl and @Quartzsite Cruiser for the birthday wishes for my dear DH. And Happy Birthday to @superoma’s twins. Hope we didn’t forget anyone. It’s always hard to celebrate on a cruise as we’re up against all the Valentines celebrations in the PG. Susan

@MISTER 67 I use the same three every game. ABOUT, MISER, LYNCH/LUNCH. They work really well. 🤪. Susan

Thanks @StLouisCruisersfor the Alesund pictures. We’ll stop there twice on our June 2024 cruise. Definitely won’t be taking the stairs❣️ Susan

Yes it does! Headed to Philippines, PNG, Indonesia and Australia. We’ll board 12/22 in Singapore. Let’s touch base closer to the time. Susan

Thank you all for the bon voyage messages. Now I feel really bad that I didn’t let Jacqui @kazu know that we had to cancel almost at the last minute. We took our 14 yr old DGS on his second cruise in December, 7 days in the Caribbean, and on day two I was diagnosed with Covid 🤪. After almost four years of avoiding it, getting all the shots, masking and hand washing it finally caught up with me. I spent the entire cruise in bed but my DGS had a blast and thankfully neither he nor my DH caught it. we have canceled the B2B on February third as well and rebooked the 41 day Far east Collector and Coral Triangle cruise in December to replace it. Now besides working on getting my strength back I’m unpacking our suitcases and clearing the guest room bed of everything we had laid out to repack for the Asia cruise with a one week turnaround. Maybe I’ll just leave it and pick what I need from there for our March Panama Canal cruise! Anyway, a long way of saying I appreciate your support. Susan

Thanks Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser unfortunately day after boarding I was diagnosed with Covid and spent the whole cruise in bed. Thankfully my DH and DGS carried on. I had avoided it the entire pandemic, have all the shots, etc but it caught up with me. Hopefully a few days at home will let me recoup as we’re scheduled to leave 1/2 for seven weeks Asia cruise. Happy holidays everyone. Susan

@Crazy For Cats, it’s a little tired. We usually stay at the Hilton Ft Lauderdale Marina hotel so we can watch the boats on the Intercostal but we have our 14 yr old grandson with us and we wanted the separate sleeping rooms. Not sure why as we’re all sharing a Neptune suite on board. I’m afraid he’ll see it as a real step down as we had a Pinnacle suite for his first cruise in June. Susan

Thanks for all the Bon Voyage wishes. Like @Crazy For Cats we met two friends on our Everglades airboat tour who are also on the Rotterdam. We’re stay at the Embassy Suites so in the same neighborhood. Shuttle is at 10:30 for 11am check in. Can’t wait. Hope everyone has a great day. Susan

Hi Cat, looking forward to seeing you onboard! We’ve been packed for a week and getting our grandson tomorrow. Safe travels. Susan and Lorenzo

You’re right @kazu . Thanks Jacqui for picking that up. Susan

Thanks Jacqui @kazu. As I told Cindy although I did not have the pleasure of knowing Jose I learned much about him from your posts and was honored to be able to watch his memorial service on zoom. I’m sure the fund will continue his good work. Susan