SeaHunt

Wowser! I hope everyone clicks on your "Pictures Link" in the OP, because your photos are the best ever! 😁

I know you decided on Silhouette (one of my favorites), but just for fun, if you haven't seen Emma Cruises recent youtube review of the Infinity sailing from Athens it's worth watching IMO 😊

Why bring an air mattress when you can just take your mattresses from your room and put on your balcony. That's definitely the bed by the balcony floorplan LOL 🤪 (Seriously though the cruise lines will have to watch out for this because it is all over SM now and there are many comments with people saying they are going to do this on their next cruise)

Hope you got the BOGO deal that ended yesterday (for travel through May 31) 🤞😉 Rail operator: Brightline Deal: Buy one ticket, get one free Routes: All Florida routes Travel dates: Through May 31 When to book: By April 6 How to book: Directly through Brightline using the promo code "NOJOKE24"

If the article upthread in post #6 is correct, JMO it sounds to me like the brother and father did not supply anything but were looking for him, and when they found him the dad was on his case: “I had hung out with him and his brother in the hot tub until 3:30,” passenger Bryan Sims tells The Post. ” It was standing room only. He sat right beside me the whole time.” “He was pretty drunk,” Sims continues. “As we were walking from the hot tub back to the elevators, his dad and brother were walking towards us. His dad was fussing at him for being drunk, I guess.” “When we got to them, he said to his dad, ‘I’ll fix this right now.’ And he jumped out the window in front of us all.” So heartbreaking. And how does your family ever get over witnessing that? <shivers>

Could be. I've been on quite a few sailings delayed by cleaning from the previous cruise. It's a little jarring when boarding to see some busy crew moving around in hazmat suits, but there's never been any problems on any of my subsequent cruises, so apparently they do know how to handle it. Or my efforts to keep healthy work lol. Here's the CDC info for that sailing: https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/outbreak/2024/Koningsdam-3-8.html Cruise Line: Holland America Line Cruise Ship: Koningsdam Voyage Dates: February 17–March 24, 2024 Voyage number: 286 Number of passengers who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 98 of 2,522 (3.89%) Number of crew who have reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 12 of 961 (1.25%) Predominant symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting Causative agents: norovirus

LOL Looks like lots of us were on the Redneck Bob look out! @leerathje I also grabbed the flag just in case it was a flag and not a hand!

Is this the one?

Are they even better than the Utz Lobster Chips? 😄

Sorry not much help, but here's a couple Tampa Bay Times Cruise Guide articles published February 1990, October 1990, March 1992 and September 1992 showing some sailings that might ring a bell (I only copied the RCI cruises and only the ones from SJU, but it's interesting to read the rest of the articles to see what other lines were sailing from Florida too - so many old ship names I still remember!) 🙃 "This is a list of major cruises departing from ports in Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico, through July 1990, as reported to the Times by the cruise lines. https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/02/18/cruise-guide/ RCI From San Juan SONG OF NORWAY (1,022 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday _ 7 days, St. Maarten, Martinique, Barbados, Antigua, St. Thomas. $1,145-$2,630. SUN VIKING (726 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday through Arpil 15 _ 7 nights, Barbados, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, St. Barthelemy, St. Thomas. $1,145-$2,835. April 22 _ 12 nights, Barbados, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Funchal (Madeira), Lisbon (cruise ends). $2,285-$5,078. Through February 1991 CRUISE GUIDE (tampabay.com) RCI From San Juan SONG OF NORWAY (1,022 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday _ 7 nights, Martinique, Barbados, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Thomas. $1,145-$2,680. SUN VIKING (726 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday beginning Nov. 18 _ 7 nights, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Barthelemy, St. Thomas. $1,145-$2,885. March 1, 1992 article https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/03/01/cruise-guide/ "This is a list of major cruises departing from ports in Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico, through Sept. 30, 1992, as reported to the Times by the cruise lines." RCI From San Juan MONARCH OF THE SEAS (2,354 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday _ 7 nights, Martinique, Barbados, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Thomas. $1,245-$3,530. NORDIC PRINCE (1,012 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line March 25 _ 10 nights, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Kitts, Labadee, Miami (cruise ends). $1,730-$4,225. April 22 _ 11 nights, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua, St. George's, Hamilton, New York (cruise ends). $1,820-$4,125. SONG OF NORWAY (1,022 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Saturday through April 4 _ Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten, St. John, St. Thomas. $1,260-$2,730. April 11 _ 11 nights, Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. John, St. Thomas. $1,820-$4,125. April 22 _ 12 nights, Funcahl, Tenerife, Casablanca, Barcelona (cruise ends). $2,045-$4,835. "This is a list of major cruises departing from ports in Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico, through March 31, 1993, as reported to the Times by the cruise lines" CRUISE GUIDE (tampabay.com) RCI From San Juan MONARCH OF THE SEAS (2,354 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Every Sunday _ 7 nights, Martinique, Barbados, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Thomas. $1,245-$3,665. NORDIC PRINCE (1,012 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Nov. 11, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, March 3, 31 _ 10 nights, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Kitts, CocoCay, Miami (cruise ends). $1,730-$4,345. Feb. 10 _ 11 nights, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Kitts, Antigua, CocoCay, Miami (cruise ends). $2,045-$4,345. SONG OF NORWAY (1,016 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Dec. 19 _ 14 nights, Curacao, Aruba, San Blas Islands, cruise Panama Canal, Limon, Ocho Rios, CocoCay, St. Maarten, St. Thomas. $2,495-$5,595. Jan. 2, 22, Feb. 11, March 3, 23 _ 10 nights, St. Thomas, Curacao, transit Panama Canal, Caldera, Acapulco (cruise ends). $1,895-$4,095. SUN VIKING (714 passengers) Royal Caribbean Cruise Line Oct. 14 _ 10 nights, St. Thomas, Curacao, transit Panama Canal, Caldera, Acapulco (cruise ends). $1,745-$3,445. Every Saturday beginning Nov. 7 _ 7 nights, Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. John, St. Thomas. $1,195-$2,965.

Happy New Year on the Song of America (way, way, way back when!) 😄 LOL Tuxes and cowboy hats - holidays were extravaganzas on ships back then! (And BTW before someone yells about hats in the MDR, the hats were off while dining, and only put back on for the picture lol) I remember staff in a different version of those red and white striped outfits posted above also on the Song of Norway - maybe on "America the Beautiful" night?

Another big thanks for letting us follow you along on another wonderful cruise! I especially love the drink diary so I can add the winners to my list to try on our next cruise. Yum! 😁 BTW according to the blimp schedule (yes, there is one lol) it was in Miami for the "NBA Heat vs Celtics Kaseya Center Miami, FL February 11, 2024." I only know there is a schedule because I was looking a couple days ago about when it would show up in my area for this weeks Nascar races. 🏁 😉 https://www.goodyearblimp.com/news-and-events/schedule.html

LOL popcorn with raspberry lime sparkling water today!

Big thanks to everyone who has posted and shown us all the details per words and pictures. It is wonderful to be able to follow along, and I'm sure RCI would also appreciate how much enthusiasm has been created for any future sailings like this. You all are great! To the fellow FL residents reporting, in case you hadn't seen this, you missed an earthquake close to home last night 🙃 CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A rare earthquake was reported off the coast of Florida on Wednesday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The magnitude 4.0 earthquake rumbled about 101 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral at 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. An earthquake of this magnitude is "often felt, but only causes minor damage," according to Michigan Tech. The earthquake also had a depth of just over 6 miles, meaning it's a very shallow earthquake, according to USGS. People on the Space Coast – from as far north as Titusville and as south as Vero Beach, including Melbourne, Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach – felt the earthquake, according to the USGS' Community Internet Intensity Map. Dozens of people said they felt "weak" or "light" shaking, but experienced no damage. It should be noted that this map includes data that has not been reviewed by a scientist, and anyone can report feeling an earthquake".

To help you see what might be available, Prof. Cruise has posted NCL dining menus to look at (and drool over) 😉 https://profcruise.com/ncl-menus-2024/ Have a great newbie cruise!

With apologies to the girl from Ipanema: 🎶 Blue and white and oh so lovely The ship from Holland America goes sailing And when she passes Each one she passes goes, "Ah" 🎶 Did you see the people in the aft with leis on holding big tall drinks? The only way to go!

Come aboard, we're expecting you 🎶

I need a T shirt that says "Show Us Your Toots"! While the Apex was backing up, over on the Miami cam the Carnival Magic had a close in view and she was popping LOL

ITA with above, and it looks like NCL also agrees: https://cruiseradio.net/jacksonville-florida-new-cruise-ship/

Believe it or not, back in 2016 & 2018 a couple different people posted instructions on tripadvisor about how to do it. Wonder if they would have any luck trying today? (I wouldn't try! 🙃) Info shows: "Taking a Royal Caribbean cruise soon that includes a stop in Labadee? Looking for something new and exciting to do? Arrange a day trip to the Citadelle and Sans-Souci Palace! Royal Caribbean will tell you by phone that guests are not able to leave the secure port area at Labadee. This is not true if you book a private tour! See my review of Voyages Lumiere... NOTE: Without an organized tour, you will not be able to leave Labadee. There is nothing at all for tourists to do anywhere near Labadee and safety may be a concern if you do not book a tour through a reputable company. The Citadelle is roughly an hour drive from Labadee over very rough mountain roads - you won't be backpacking it from the ship. You will have to secure a tour prior to your cruise. Then, once you arrive in Labadee, proceed to the Labadee security office with your passport and tour documents printed out. The security office is the large orange building directly ahead of where the ship docks. Be prepared to wait 30-45 minutes for an immigration officer to come stamp your passport so you can enter the country. You must pay US$5 per person for the visa. Security will photocopy your passport and have you sign a liability release. You will then exit the security office and walk toward the outer security fence. Security will direct you where to go. You will need the full day to do this tour, so get up early! Figure at least an hour drive each way (traffic in Cap-Haitien gets heavy in the afternoon and you will drive right through it), plus time for your tour of at least 3-4 hours. The people we met along the way were all very nice. You will encounter people trying to sell souvenirs but nobody was excessively pushy. Buy something if you can. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and these people are just trying to survive. Tip the horse handlers about $5 each at the end of your climb to the top if you use the horses. Carry small bills for buying souvenirs and don't be afraid to bargain with people. Use common sense - don't wear expensive jewelry or carry lots of expensive electronics with you. We didn't encounter any problems but be alert at all times. Keep the doors locked on your vehicle at all times and keep valuables out of sight. Don't be afraid to visit these incredible locations - the people are very kind and will thank you for visiting their country. We took a backpack full of school supplies and donated them to a local cultural center, which they were grateful for. It was a much more rewarding experience than spending a day on Royal Caribbean's private property. Date of experience: April 2016 https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g6159089-d262467-r365988404-The_Citadelle-Milot_Nord_Department_Haiti.html < and > "I too have been looking for info on doing this. I have been in contact with 2 tour companies that tell me they do this regularly. One is Voyages Lumière and the other is Safe Trips Haiti. Below is the email sent to me from Voyages Lumiere: Yes, we can do that for you. We do it on a regular basis. VISIT TO THE CITADELLE FROM LABADIE Please note the following procedures you have to go thru: 1) When you dock at Labadie, go to the Security office 2) Tell them you're going to the Citadelle with Voyages Lumiere and sign a Waiver absolving RCCL of all responsibility should anything happen to you when you're off site. (We've never had an incident, it's just RCCL covering their backs!!) 3) Get your passport Stamped OUT and then back IN when you return in the afternoon. Our driver will come and get you at the Security office for 9am which is normally about the time you will finish with the Security people. He will then take you to Milot, at the foot of the Citadelle to meet with your guide. Your guide will then do a walkabout tour of Sans Souci Palace then back in the vehicle to go up to 2nd parking. Horses from 2nd parking up the short 30 mins.steep hill to the Citadelle. Entry into the Citadelle Fully guided tour of the Citadelle and then the reverse back down to Milot followed by lunch at the Community Centre incl. a juice. Then transfer back thru Cap haitian.to Labadie - and we aim to get there by 3:00pm-4.30 so you will not miss the boat!! We've always accomplished this with no problems!! US$350 and this includes the round trip from Labadie to the Citadelle and back and then all of the above." https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147306-i747-k11012668-Transportation_from_Labadee_to_Citadelle-Haiti.html#95651240

Oh wait! One last big toot - from the huge container ship the RDO Fortune!

Speedy, and right in the middle of my mashed potatoes! I guess sadly today for me: 😁

Waiting for the Viking Mars but I can't find the scheduled departure time in the usual places so will have to keep an eye out throughout dinner 🤞

I'm always here to the bitter end 😉 It's in my blood!