Destiny0315

I'm out here across the river in Newark at the Hilton Home2 Suites with all the comforts and some fellow sailmates of ours tomorrow I ran into here. Yes please save some bacon for us or there could be a mutiny on our cruise if we run short during that second week!

As usual the maps and itineraries don't always match on the HAL site as Yorktown is shown on the maps but doesn't appear in their listed itinerary. A quick check on an other site does show stops there by the HAL ships on May 5 from 8-5 and June 10 from 8-6,

Some might have received an email from HAL about this already but for those who didn't the '25 Canada/New England cruises are officially available to book now on the website. They include an early 15 day voyage for the Zuiderdam from Florida in May and a later than usual 14 day voyage from Florida for the Volendam in June with both including stops in Yorktown, VA. There are also a couple of interesting longer 10 and 11 day voyages that include Newfoundland and St. Pierre port visits.

Here is the full list that @JOHN 57 posted four days ago.

Exactly my dilemma! LOL Maybe you could sew them into the underw... oops no forget that idea! 😉

Well it's not as if the Vax cards are taking up space that could be used for extra underwear, I'd say take them!

I definitely like the temperatures in the forecast for the islands, not so much the activity that may happen. I think any forecast more than 10 days out right now is fluid but by the time we sail we should have a solid idea of the weather we will have. The good news is the current TS Philippe will be taking a sharp right hand turn and be well East of Bermuda by next weekend, and the latest wave off the coast of Africa only has a 40% chance of forming into anything substantive in the next week. If it does it will be named Rina, and the next one would be named Sean.

Here is an article from today discussing about how Carnival's Platinum and Diamond guests for our sailing next week will not be getting all their benefits... https://www.cruisehive.com/another-carnival-cruise-without-loyalty-benefits/111383

Here are the links for anyone who wants to watch today's Venezia sail-away. The first cam will show the ship leaving the dock and sailing South, while the NY Harbor webcam will pick it up and follow it as it goes under the Verranzo-Narrows Bridge: https://www.portnywebcam.com/ https://www.nyharborwebcam.com/

She is still docked as of 5:15 edt in Manhattan as can be scene on this very wet screenshot from the Port NY webcam on PZTV.

I'm on deck 10 too! I'll have to coordinate with John on us stomping around up there at all hours. I'm solo but joining up with his group of four we could start a band or basketball team to keep you up!😜

Be careful though Dillinger didn't wear a mask either and look where that got him!😉

Actually there will likely be just three, two the first week and one on the second so your safe. LOL! My question would be how many fancy thongs does one bring on a nude cruise?😉

They will both be on two(of the four)elegant nights we will likely have on this cruise. I think the first is Saturday Sept 30 on our first sea day.

For those of you on FB, John Heald(CCL's Ambassador)just posted this morning some great photos of the Venetian Mask Party onboard the Venezia, and in the comments there is also a one minute video from a recent one. Definitely a unique event that is only on this ship to check out whether you wear a mask or not.

I'll be at the Home2 Suites by Hilton across the river in NJ near EWR.

I will be boarding at the same time John. The current long term forecast for Friday Sept. 29 in Manhattan shows 76F with a 40% chance of some am showers but then clearing.🤞

I will be joining you at check in early tomorrow morning as we wouldn't be able to check in this weekend anyways with Carnival shutting down the website for some technical maintenance.

Many cruise lines now seem to be following the airlines business model, pay more to get less!

It's amazing how some people who once were Happy with HAL now have so much disdain for them. So much so that they come on here just to tell you in any way they can how the company is failing miserably and then eventually dub anyone with something positive to say as a fan or cheerleader. If the 150 year old company is doomed to fail let it go peacefully instead of talking about it badly to everyone at its wake!

Thanks for keeping us all interested and involved John. I know Myriam is supposed to be getting the food for you so I am actually more concerned with getting in front of your sons going through those buffet lines!😉

Here is 13 minutes of great videos showing the Venezia sailing out of NYC on last Friday 8/31. Hopefully on the 29th the weather will be just as nice for our sail away. https://youtu.be/oRCxeiwfx3w?si=qCQFE_2JmOXw43Y8

STAY SAFE my friend.🙏

It can be a nightmare everyday for someone at the bar who reaches the 15 drink limit and at the elevators tells you that they forget what floor they parked their car on in the parking garage. Then you have to remind them that they are on a cruise!😜

As pointed out by @Rubyfisch in the Zuiderdam thread the ship is at Dock 30 in Quebec City. It will NOT be in view on the QC port webcam. But here is the link to the Saguenway, Quebec livestream showing the Zaandam which is docked there today. https://youtu.be/PgXoMKV9JB4