KasperGutman

I am about nine years from retirement, unless health concerns force me to go sooner (not impossible by any stretch of the imagination). The cost of living where I live now (Vancouver), likely will make retiring here unaffordable. My goal when that day comes is for everything I own to fit into two suitcases, and winter in Southern Europe (Spain/Italy/Greece) There is work to be done. Obviously, I have got some time, but I have started the process: 1. I have hundreds of books. I have switched to an ereader and have started giving my existing books away, so I haven't bought a new physical book in over a year. 2. Board games/LEGO - also taking up a fair bit of space, I may try to sell/donate these as well. The board games are pretty niche (mostly military history style wargames), but there is a market for them, it is just finding the energy to sell/ship them that is a problem. (if you are wondering why someone in their fifties would have LEGO, just think of them as really expensive jigsaw puzzles. 🙂 3. I went through a couple of garbage bags of old clothes - some of which could be salvaged for donation, other stuff I don't know why I didn't throw it out at the time. It is weird how much stuff I have found that I have no idea why I kept it in the first place. The harder stuff - momento's, old letters, cards, photos etc. Well, I will leave that until the end. Furniture - again, until the transition to a nomad's life, I will need it.

No, the buffet has a variety of dessert options, I just came to enjoy going somewhere more civilized than the buffet for dessert and a drink every night (just about anyway).

I wasn't on the Escape specifically, but I didn't find the pizza at La Cucina that much better than the buffet. I will say though thatI really enjoyed the Cannoli (enough that I go to La Cucina after eating my dinner in the buffet just for dessert)

Was on a Jewel class ship (Jade) back in March. Your options for pizza are either: The buffet (Lunch and Dinner meals) and the Italian specialty restaurant (Dinner).

I sailed out of Athens in March, arriving about 12:15. I had a little over an hour to wait, but there was seating provided until my group was called. Once my group was called, there wasn't more than 5 minutes standing in a line. (I did get to skip most of the customs/immigration line, but that didn't look like more than a 10 minute (at most) wait.)

... a spanking?

Yeah, I would like this option too. It doesn't really matter that much to me, but if they are offering the full beverage package FAS it seems reasonable to offer the soda package as an alternative.

Well, that is one benefit to the specialty dining. By the third or fourth time I went there, they knew what I was there for and didn't bother handing me any menu at all. 🙂

I didn't find the specialty dining options to be something I needed. I did however, find myself going to La Cucina most nights for dessert (specifically, the cannoli), which I enjoyed quite a lot. 🙂

Just a quick follow up. The embarkation day turned out to be worrying over nothing. I did have 75 minutes or so of waiting, but there was seating provided, so it was all good. By the time I saw the post about the walkstool, it was too late to order one before I left on the cruise, but I really like the idea of them and am pretty sure I will get one before any future trips.(Thanks J-M!)

Well, Mamma Mia is sort of in that category (not going to that specific island(s), but in the area.)

Not the direction I was expecting this thread to go in, but an interesting choice. Thanks!

I think A Night to Remember is the better film, but Cameron's version undeniably has impressive visuals.

That seems like a fine addition to the list. 🙂

I am only a few weeks out from my first cruise (in the Eastern Med) and have decided to seek out and watch a few cruise/travel related movies as I count down the days. Anyone have any suggestions? To get a sense of what I looking for, tonight's movie is "A Night to Remember". Kasper