StLouisCruisers

Ann @cat shepard I hope Bindi does okay at her spa while you're on jury duty. DD and I were just texting about Milo and Sadie. While she goes to school all day they will be alone at home because her DH and 15 year old son are on spring break with her DH's Father. Taking a road trip to the Blue Ridge mountains. She thought about leaving music on all day on Alexa and I suggested she have Animal Planet on the TV so they can watch the other animals. They love human interaction.

Good morning friends! Yesterday was a lot sunnier than they predicted but today they say cloudy all day, temp is currently 64 and the high temp will be 80. Rain is expected to move in tonight, possibly severe thunderstorms at times. Hope all in the path of the latest storm stay safe. Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps. It appears N. Amsterdam and N. Statendam have yet to arrive but only N. Amsterdam will be in Turks and Caicos today. N. Statendam is headed to Amber Cove, DR. Well, no ferrets here to praise, and produce managers should be respected but loved? Enjoy your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches today. A nice quote. I've really gotta see this healthy French toast casserole recipe! The purple butterfly drink looks pretty but I doubt I'd enjoy it. No thanks to the Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Spain thought they were getting a nice spot in the New World but look who ended up with it. Lol! Thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for your reports. Prayers said on the treadmill this morning for all here on the Care list and there are quite a few of you who have concerns about health, pain, surgeries coming up, and many other worries and stress. Also prayed for DB and great nephew Alex's new twins still "in the oven". 👶👶 And last but not least the people at war in Ukraine and Israel, hostages still held, and the military men and women in danger on bases and ships at sea. 🙏 Congratulations to the Celebration list including the long list of cruisers and folks preparing to join a ship this week. The cruise lines must be thrilled with all the business. Happy birthday and anniversary for anyone celebrating that. 🎂 Ann @cat shepard good luck with your jury duty. I was on a jury on a big case in Columbus Ohio in around 1986 and that was the last time for me. It's a privilege and an honor to serve on a jury. We know you'll do a great job. Thanks go to Vanessa @JazzyV for the lists today. Keeping you high on the prayer list!🙏 The port today is Townsville, Australia. That was the port before on March 30, 2021 and Sept. 21, 2022. I'll post the links for you. Even with a circumnavigation of Australia we haven't visited Townsville before though it would be great if we could see it someday. So I have no photos, nor does Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser so I hope someone else can share some. I heard from DS yesterday afternoon after the FC Dallas U17 soccer game in Florida. The team won Saturday, on Sunday lost in penalty kicks at the end. Both teams had no score at the end of regulation so the other team won on penalty kicks. ☹️ FC Dallas won Monday's game and Ren played well. DS said all the college scouts are there. The Notre Dame scout saw Ren's play and should be pleased with it. Today is a day off from play. More games coming up tomorrow onward.😀 DS was doing some fundraising after the game yesterday, driving down to Sarasota to meet with a donor to their university and discuss possibly where he would like to see his donations go. All part of the job. Have a great day everyone and please try to stay safe and keep well.

Jacqui @kazu it's good to hear you have Ivan's caregiver for your cruise dates set up. He is a lucky boy to have such a caring person as his Mom. Now you can get down to business preparing for your vacation. Annie @marshhawk how did the day go with your appointments? Gerry @ger_77 what a selfless person you are to interrupt your Easter dinner prep when a friend is in dire need of your support. This earth needs more people like you. My condolences to Ollie on her loss and pray for her and all their friends including you and Maurice at this time. Dixie @summer slope that is a shock to receive in the mail, isn't it? I hope they get right on to billing the insurance company. Crazy what they think these services should cost. Graham @grapau27 we will miss you tomorrow. I hope the internet issue can be addressed. No need to thank me for posting Lenda's @Quartzsite Cruiser photos. I don't mind at all. Thanks for the other photos of Tokyo today, too, everyone! And I hope the drive is going well for Lenda and Steve. I got so achy in the shoulders today from working on my project that I decided to take a nap. It has been 90 days I've been stitching on Chris's stocking and I'll post an update photo tomorrow after finishing up today's work. A dramatic change in the last month.

Since it seems Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser and Steve are leaving town today I'm sure she is pretty busy now and I'll just post her photos for Tokyo for her. I know you all will be happy to see them. From Lenda's posts: We have been to Tokyo twice. The first time was in 2002 on the Asia Pacific Explorer Cruise on Volendam. Our older DD was on for the first 11 days and disembarked in Tokyo. After we helped her get settled in her hotel, the three of us toured the city. Our second visit was in 2018 on Coral Princess. That day we took the train from Yokohama to Tokyo. The pictures are a mix from our 2002 visit and our 2018 visit. The air in 2018 was noticeably clearer in 2002. In 2002, our older DD disembarked the Volendam and spent two nights in Tokyo before flying home. The day we were port, the three of us toured the city. We were lucky in 2002 and docked in Tokyo where we took a bus into town. The view from DD's hotel room, and some of the area around the hotel, which was outside the main downtown area. There was a small park near the hotel. More of the local area near the hotel An interesting tree near the Imperial Palace. In 2018, we took the train from Yokohama where we docked. The train station is the red brick building in the background. You could easily get lost in this huge. station A market not far from the Ginza on our walk back to the train station. There was also a show for the children. We also found a Krispy Kreme in a mall next to this area, and naturally, we had to have a snack. The next group of pictures are a combination of the Ginza area in 2002 and 2018. All were taken at the intersection with the many crosswalks that is shown in most pictures from Tokyo. In 2002, we had dinner in a restaurant in one of the big stores. Since none of us spoke Japanese, we chose this restaurant because we could point to the displays of the dishes we wanted. After dinner, we left our DD in the Ginza and took a bus back to the ship, while she looked around some more and then headed to her hotel. For this mother, it was hard to leave her alone even though she was 26 and well travelled because of her job. 2002 2018 The intersection from the roof garden of a department store In 2018 waiting for our train back to Yokohama Lenda

Good luck with your efforts learning how to make sourdough bread. I bet you will be glad you did it once you get some practice at it. I've never attempted though I do like sourdough. When you make some take some photos to share of the finished product. We love photos of food!🥖

Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit! 🐇 Good morning friends and happy April Fool's Day! I won't try to trick you, I promise. The weather here is 64F and we expect a high of 80 even with mostly cloudy skies. When I looked at Halfacts.com/Daily today I thought Rich was trying to fool us. Thanks to Jacqui @kazu for filling in some of the blanks on the Daily and Fleet Report, and thanks to Roy @rafinmd for the maps today. Something must have changed for Nieuw Statendam because it is currently en route to Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic. The Marilyn Monroe quote seems rather cynical to me, we can make a meal of a charcuterie board, no thanks to the cocktail and don't know about the wine yet. A big day in computers back in 1974. Today is also National Sourdough Bread Day and National One Cent Day. Thanks to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for your reports. Prayers for my DB, great nephew Alex's twins, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the many hostages held, our troops in the region, and to all of you who are in need of them! Thanks to Vanessa @JazzyV we can keep track of you and she is one of the Care list in need of prayers. Hoping Vanessa got some sleep last night and the pain isn't too, too terrible. Praying for improvement in everyone's condition and state of mind. 🙏 Congratulations to the Celebration list folks cruising and with special events today. 🎉🚢🎂 Port today is Tokyo, Japan. This was the port before on Nov. 20, 2021 and April 8, 2022. I've been to Tokyo's airport a few times but never visited the city. I don't know if Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser will be able to post today or not, but I can post her photos later if she doesn't turn up. I should have asked earlier if she wanted me to but I've been busy most days with cross stitching and it didn't cross my mind. Here are the links if anyone would like to check for your own photos. Hoping you all have a great day today and watch out for the tricksters! Stay safe - keep well! My white rabbits!

I made it too!

Happy birthday wishes to Charlene @cunnorl's DS today! Hope you all enjoy your day celebrating with him. I didn't get back to yesterday's Daily to mention this but while looking at the Rio photos Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser posted from Christ the Redeemer statue tour, I saw DH and I in one of her photos. We actually discussed it one time when Rio was port of the day. She said she didn't see herself or her DH in my photos but I have one I haven't posted before and maybe she can spot themselves in it. It's taken from the stairs looking downward. So take a look Lenda. If you do see yourself, please let us know what you are wearing because I have other unposted photos I could check out. If it weren't so gloomy up there we could have seen who is who better.

Good morning friends and Happy Easter! This morning it is 52F. Today will be a mix of sun and clouds and a high of 79. Still, a lovely day for Easter celebrations.✝️🐰 Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps. Quite a variety of days to recognize but doubt I run into a Bunsen burner, Cesar Chavez or a medievalist - sorry! Stephen King may have something there with his quote. A spinach-egg bake would not be my first choice. Probably would skip the cocktail and red wine. Looks like we celebrate the Alaska Purchase again as well as Hailey's Comet and the 1930 motion picture code. Thanks to our F&B ladies Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for you reports each and every day! Prayers said today for DB, great nephew Alex's twin boys, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy, and our many friends here at the Daily who need prayers for health issues, pain, emotional issues and stress. So sorry to hear about Paul @kochleffel's fall and hope the pain has reduced. Also for Dixie and George's @summer slope aches and pains after the golf cart accident. Hope the bruising is going away. Also sending prayers for those in Israel and Ukraine living in war conditions, the hostages held so long, and our military in the region in harm's way. 🙏 Cheers to those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and their wonderful cruises. 🚢🎂🎉 Bon Voyage Tony and Martha @sailingdutchy. And thanks to Vanessa @JazzyV for keeping the lists updated for us today. Hope you had a good night's sleep last night and not as much pain. The destination today is Nafplio (or Nafplion?) Bay anchorage, Greece. This is the first time for the Bay anchorage though we've seen the port of Nafplion, Greece three times already. I'll post the links for them in case you want to post photos of that area. Wishing everyone who celebrates it a Happy Easter. Stay safe and keep well!

Bon Voyage!!

Happy Birthday wishes to Susan @Suslor and Mary Kay @cruzn single Happy Anniversary Ray and Sara @USN59-79 Bon Voyage @ocean sounds Welcome Home Susan and Lorenzo @Suslor and Jane @lazey1!!

Photos from Rio de Janeiro We stayed at the Sheraton in 2012 and this was a view from the hotel of the beaches. Area around the hotel As a group we decided to risk walking along the roadway path to an overlook to get a better look. Wearing no jewelry and hiding our tiny point and shoot cameras as we walked, we made it safely there and back. This was Feb. 17, 2012 so close to Carnival there. The beaches were crowded. The following morning we got a brief tour of the city as we headed to the port for embarkation. It was utter chaos there. The buses were parking a block or two away and letting you drag your bags to the end of the line at the terminal building. As you approached the line, men ran out of the building and tried grabbing your bags with no identification or anything, so most of us refused until we got to a point where we were entering and could identify the people in charge of luggage. The lines snaked all through the building. We vowed then and there to never embark in Rio again! Another odd thing here was just as you left the building your carry on luggage and purses were X-rayed and examined by local authorities, then you walked out the door and up the gangway and the cruise line employees X-rayed and checked your bags again. I have no idea why it was necessary to do it that way. Later in the afternoon we prepared to sail. The sun was setting and we were able to get several cool shots of Christ the Redeemer. Exactly three years to the day that we embarked the Star Princess, we arrived in Rio on the Ruby Princess on our route from Florida to California going all the way around South America. On Feb. 18, 2015 we went on that tour to the top of the mountain to see Christ the Redeemer in person. It was a very cloudy day but it wasn't raining so we dealt with it. We got on a tram like this to head to the top. By the way, that's a photo of the statue on that wall behind the tram. It looks life like, doesn't it? view from the top Christ the Redeemer statue Sugarloaf Mountain After our visit, walking down. And photos along the beach on our way back to the ship. The bus stopped and let us out to walk on that esplanade, walk in the sand, take photos, buy goods from vendors on the beach, etc.

Good morning friends! It will be another sunny day today, starting out for me at 43F but should reach 77 by late afternoon. Fantastic! Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting the Fleet Report and Daily as well as the fleet location maps for Rich @richwmn. I hope he and the others on the Volendam are enjoying Nuku Hiva today. Let's recognize doctors, Earth hour, and folded laundry. I know I'll be folding some later. A controversial statement by Oscar Wilde. I'll be interested in hearing about the Sesame Chicken dish. Never heard of a Singchelada before and would like to know what type of wine we have shown. Wow, Alaska was a bargain and an important addition to our country. Not a great day in Paris but a good one in Brazil. And we have the terracotta warriors again today. Hmmm. I just saw that virtual vacation day is actually today so we can go on virtual vacation again today. Nothing wrong with that! Thanks to Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for our food and beverage reports. Prayers for all our Daily Care list people, my DB, great nephew Alex's twins, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages held, and the troops in the region in harm's way. Praying for improvement in health for all in pain and suffering so much. 🙏 Cheers to our celebrants of special events and those great cruises! 🚢🎉🎂 Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for updating the lists each day for us! The port of the day is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This has been the port before on March 22, 2021 and May 5, 2023. We have gone to Rio twice (once was a pre-cruise stay). Here are the links. Hoping everyone has a wonderful Saturday before Easter. Stay safe and keep well!

I'm glad, too. Thank you, Joy!🙂 Thank you Graham and thank you Pauline! You're right Debbie, and when she cuddles up on the sofa Milo and Sadie will be lounging right on top of her. 🐕 Yes, I'm relieved to hear it, too. Thank you! Very good news you made it to NH safe and sound. Have fun with everyone else in addition to your handsome granddog!🐶 Will you have an Easter egg hunt?

DD arrived home safely 8 hours after leaving our home. It is 515 miles in distance. She said just a few minutes before she got home she was delayed 10 minutes by an accident ahead of her at an intersection, or she would have been home that much earlier. I hope all our other travelers have an uneventful journey.

Oh Gerry, how frightening! You are great friends because everyone calls on you when they are in need, knowing you will drop everything to help. I do hope Gord comes through this okay. Prayers for all! Have a wonderful weekend with the little ones. Coincidentally we had porcupine meatballs last night with rice and green beans. And wine!

Joy, that's sad that poor Oliver was sick due to eating that little plastic placker. Your card ladies need to be more careful! I hope he didn't cause any damage inside with it. Prayers for your friends in need of them. Very upsetting about the Mom in hospice. And being very sick with lung issues is not good. I send my best wishes to your friends and their families. 🙏 I heard about that driver who caused the accident in Texas, too. I hope they throw the book at him. Those poor people involved will never be the same after the trauma of the accident and the lives lost. I love the memes today! I sent the chocolate bunnies one to my twin and DS who is flying to Bradenton Florida for a weeklong soccer tournament including FC Dallas and Ren. Twin loved it! (DS liked it as well 🐰) We used to have those Easter bunnies in our basket every year. I started with the ears! She also said she's having tests done today and has a surgery scheduled April 15 for her torn rotator cuff. I hope that takes care of her shoulder pain for her.

Nuuk, Greenland On August 12, 2018 we stopped in Nuuk on our Route of the Vikings II cruise on Seabourn Quest. This cruise took an extensive look at Greenland with 7 ports of call plus scenic cruising in Prince Christian Sound. Nuuk is the capital and largest city in Greenland with a population of over 19,000 in 2022. We docked and had shuttle buses to take us away from the pier to the downtown area. We set out walking and enjoy the colorful buildings, and beautiful water. I wouldn’t mind living in this cozy little house. I really loved this area of town. This statue is called Mother of the Seas Then we arrived at this beautiful church. The name translates to Nuuk Cathedral otherwise known as Church of our Saviour. We could see a statue up that hill so hiked up to see it. The cemetery Back at the ship we noticed Zodiacs heading out for a tour. And back to the ship again hours later. A wonderful place to spend the day.

Good morning friends! It's 38F and clear now. Today will be a lovely sunny day with a high of 72. It's not gonna rain and it's Friday! 🌞 DD was out the door just before 4:30 a.m. so as to avoid the worst of Atlanta traffic. Praying for safe travels for her and all of you doing some traveling for the Easter holiday. Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting today's Daily and Fleet Report and the fleet location maps for Rich @richwmn. We appreciate it! It is Good Friday. I like all the days we recognize on this day, virtual vacations, mermaids, and Mom and Pop business owners. I consider DGD Morgan my little mermaid and my aunt and uncle owned a tiny convenience store when they retired. They had 10 children so were always short of money. We used to go purchase candy when we visited them. An interesting quote by Truman Capote. Who knows what a sub salad is? Debbie does! The name of the drink of the day makes me say Yuck! No idea what type of wine Clinet 2020 is. And what a day that was in 1974 when the terracotta army was discovered. Thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope, and Ann @cat shepard for your special reports today.❤️ Prayers said for DB, great nephew Alex's twin boys, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy. Also for the people suffering during wartime, the hostages still missing and held, and our troops in the region. Many prayers for the family of slain NYPD Officer Diller, and those lost on Monday during the bridge collapse in Baltimore. Prayers for all here on the Care list and hoping for improvement in your conditions and situations. Thinking especially of Joy's @Seasick Sailor's Allen, Tana, Dixie @summer slope, Vanessa @JazzyV, Annie @marshhawk and Chuck @catmando, Maurice and Gerry @ger_77, Jane @lazey1, Roy @rafinmd, Jacqui @kazu, Maureen and Richard @RMLincoln, Melisa and DH @HAL Sailer and I know I've forgotten a few but know you aren't without prayers!🙏 Cheers to our cruisers and birthday/anniversary celebrants! 🥂 🚢 Bon Voyage @POA1! Welcome home @erewhon and Kathi @Scrapnana! 🎉 Thanks to Vanessa @JazzyV for your list today. Wishing you a good day and less pain. The port today is Nuuk (Godthab), Greenland- a first timer! I love seeing Greenland and would choose it over a Caribbean port any day! We visited Nuuk in 2018 on Seabourn Quest while on our Voyage of the Vikings II cruise. I'll get some photos to share next. Hoping you all have a wonderful day! Stay safe and keep well!

I'm back from the hair appointment and our yard is once again being dug up because they need to run the fiber optic under the street. They're digging up all the yards that have the large electrical boxes at the side of them. They didn't have the proper permit last Friday for that job and apparently do now. What a mess! At least the streets don't need to be torn up. They have some piece of equipment that forces the lines from one hole to the next. And yes, we have lots of colorful spray paint on the lawns and street showing all the utilities. I will always be a St. Louis Cardinals fan!!⚾ Gerry, prayers said for Maurice's panel approval. 🙏 Also for your family as they travel to you for their visit. Enjoy your time together. Vanessa, it's heartbreaking to hear of the pain that's returned. I wish the surgery was sooner! I believe Alex and Jordan are 20 weeks along now. Due date is Aug. 15 but they will be considered full term on July 25, 3 weeks earlier. Provided all goes as planned that will be the birthdate. Karen, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you think back on your DD DH's last weeks and months. And to you too Terry. It's only been a short time ago for you. Jacqui @kazu I'm sorry to hear of the stress on you with the financial issue and the sudden need for a new place to keep Ivan while you're away. I hope things turn around and look better very soon. Tony @sailingdutchy thank you for your wonderful photos of Zadar. Looks like a great tour.

Good morning friends! It is a fair morning with a temp of 49F. Today will be a high of 67 with sun and clouds mixed. I have a morning hair appointment and expect DD to arrive by 2 pm. Thank you Jacqui @kazu and Roy @rafinmd for posting the Fleet Report and Daily as well as fleet location maps. Always interesting! Today we celebrate Holy Thursday and the opening day of ML Baseball. I have nothing against hot tubs but have no interest in using one. I wonder what the salad has in it besides radishes and carrots? Not interested in the cocktail as usual and haven't a clue about the wine so will have to wait for the report on it. 1910 was pretty early to have a seaplane with aviation so new. Thank you Debbie @dfish, Dixie @summer slope and Ann @cat shepard for the F&B reports! Prayers have been said for you all on the Daily care list. I'm sorry to hear you had an uncomfortable night Dixie @summer slope and are covered in bruises. Let's pray you don't have any lasting damage due to that woman's bad driving skills. I hope everyone here shows some improvement in your situations. 🙏 Prayers too for DB, great nephew Alex's twin boys, friends Scott, Susan and Sandy, those lost this week during the bridge collapse and attacks against first responders, the people of Israel and Ukraine, the hostages still held and our military in the war zones. 🙏 But for those cruising and with special events to celebrate, three cheers for you all!🎉🎂🚢 Thank you Vanessa @JazzyV for your hard work keeping up our lists. I hope you got a few more hours rest last night and have a easy day with your household chores. The port today is Zadar, Croatia. It sounds like an interesting place and I would love to go there sometime. This was our port only once before on March 2, 2022. Here's the link: I hope you all have a great day! Stay safe and keep well!

My goodness, Dixie, that is terrible! You could have been badly hurt especially hitting your head on the pavement. Thank goodness tests were negative. You should have quite a variety of colorful bruises tomorrow. Hope it doesn't hurt too much! My friend Susan and DH Scott got hit by a car while on their golf cart in the Villages. Apparently that's pretty common down there. I think a spot on the care list is deserved for you! Wow, that's exciting news Annie! I'm happy for you. It will be fun to get together with Gerry and Maurice. Congratulations! DD spent 3 hours at the Florida Aquarium today watching Morgan do her job. It's an interesting place to work and she has many varied jobs. She enjoyed it a lot. I saw a video of Morgan's co-worker in one of the tanks cleaning algae with all the turtles crawling all over her. I think they like people! DD Facetimed us and showed us all the new furnishings at Morgan's apartment and it's really all set up and cozy for her. DD will cook dinner tonight for Morgan since she worked all day. They went to a fab Mexican restaurant this week and we plan on going back when we all go down for graduation. The taco salad she tried was especially good, she said. DD drives back up here tomorrow to spend the night and we will prepare one of the favorite dishes from back in the day when we had kids to feed every night. Can't wait!

No need to apologize Graham! We love Weymouth too. In fact we love most all the English ports, if not all of them. What horrific news about that fatal accident! I really, really hate road trips and any drive on a highway. Too much dangerous driving out there. I'm sorry to hear about your 3.5 hours of sleep last night. I hope the ibuprofen helps with the pain in the left leg.

I was just going to post my confusion too on Weymouth. We visited Weymouth from nearby Portland, but Falmouth is far from Weymouth and Portland. 162 miles by car to be exact!

I think I need to update my lists with regards to cruises taken since 2020. I remembered we went to Falmouth on the Island Princess in 2022, and a few days later is when we discovered ourselves positive for Covid. So since we went out and about that day I have a few more photos to show you. It was a bit cloudy that day but we didn't get rain. The day before we had missed Cobh, Ireland due to bad weather. This is what the hallways were looking like that morning when we went back to our room after breakfast. These two cabins were quarantined since the Covid ward was full. I guess room service didn't have time to pick up trays nor was trash being picked up. Since our Covid tests were negative we were free to roam. A couple days later that would change. Here's some photos of places we saw along the way. A place to eat behind the restaurants. They're proud of their pastys. Love this seagull! Little did we know this would be our last port for quite a while due to quarantine!