kplady

We'll be taking this trip in April....looking forward to hearing about your travels! Laura

Your reviews and Live From threads are always wonderful - looking forward to traveling along with you! Laura

@grapau27Graham, please wish Father David a blessed birthday from me!! Laura

Good early afternoon from NY! Fortunately, Long Island was mostly spared from the terrible rain and flooding. It's not has hot as it has been, and the sun is out right now. Yay! We were in Rosyth/Edinburgh in August 2018 on the Pacific Princess. We took a tour of Edinburgh in the morning, went back to the ship, and then took a ships tour to see the Tattoo. What an event!! @Quartzsite Cruiser if you don't like heights you definitely wouldn't like the stands for the Tattoo. We were in Row Y, and there were about 10+ rows higher than ours! If you have a chance, this is one event to attend. The city was so packed (Fringe had just ended), and finding our bus after the Tattoo ended was challenging. So glad we could do it! Hoping all those cruising are having great days, and those on our Celebration list are enjoying. Prayers for our large Care list...hoping easier days are ahead for all. Enjoy the day! Laura

Thanks for starting your live thread! We'll be on the Regal next April, doing 4 days before the cruise on land in Ireland, then 12 days around the British Isles. I'll be following! Have a wonderful cruise!! Laura

We sailed out of Long Beach on our 2009 Panama Canal cruise on the Zuiderdam. We flew out a couple of days ahead so we could do some local sightseeing. Our hotel (Hotel Maya) was very close to the pier, and we could see the Queen Mary from the grounds. breakfast on our balcony! We decided to tour the Lane Victory, since I worked for the Maritime Administration at the US Merchant Marine Academy. We had a wonderful tour, and saw lots on the ship. DH Bill got to sit in the captain's chair! We also walked around the port area, and enjoyed a beer at a bar that had over 100 taps! Prayers for all our Daily friends with troubles of many kinds. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising!

@luvteachingKaren, so sorry to hear of your beloved DH's passing. Our prayers and condolences are with you and your family. Laura

We were in Qarqotok and Nanortalik last August. We didn't plan anything in either town. They're both very small and easy to walk around the town. We enjoyed the local vendors and found some interesting souvenirs. I saw the HAL tours at the pier - they had a local taking about 20-30 people around. You could do the same thing without paying!!

I went on a cruise 4 months after my first knee replacement. I did PT for 12 weeks (when I went back to my ortho doctor I asked for additional PT). I had no problems! I just had my second knee replaced in April 2022, and sailed (to Greenland and Iceland) in August...again 4 months after surgery. Another 12 weeks of PT were very helpful. I think I could have gone after the first six weeks both times, but wanted to make sure everything was strong. (I am not a physically active person, but was able to walk around all the ports in Iceland and Greenland with no problems). Make sure to do your exercises faithfully...good luck!! Laura

Good morning everyone! So far a beautiful day here, but we may get showers/thunderstorms this afternoon. I've been watching the weather reports very closely - my church is having their annual Yard Sale on Saturday. When I saw the weather yesterday they said rain on Friday and maybe Sunday. Now the Friday rain is hanging on and going to Saturday. We've already postponed this from May, so it will go on rain or shine! We were in Red Bay in August 2022. I didn't notice any problem with flies or bugs, but it was unbelievably foggy that day...glad we didn't see any! Here's my pictures: We were in Red Bay this past August on our Canada-Greenland-Iceland cruise. It wasn't too buggy that day, but the FOG was crazy! We were told the name came from the red rocks along the shore. After we tendered to shore, the fog started rolling in, and in about a half an hour we couldn't see the ship from the harbor. DH was experiencing "technical difficulties," so he stayed on the ship, and I got off with our friends we were cruising with, and walked around the town. Very cute, VERY small town! Prayers for all in need, and cheers for all celebrating. Hope everyone has a great day today! Laura

My DH and I were on that same excursion, and we couldn't see the Man in the Mountain either!! Laura

Good morning, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and those who help take care of children, either 2 legged or 4! We were in Nanortarlik last August on our Nieuw Statendam cruise. It was a quaint small town, we just walked around town and visited the church. The most amazing thing was the iceberg in the bay, between where we anchored (tender port) and the shore! There were giant icebergs everywhere - it was amazing to see them all.

Sandy, I just finished my Shutterfly book for our 39 day cruise(s)....I had to rush it because I had a coupon for free unlimited pages that expired on Sunday! They're submitted, just waiting to receive them. (I had to do it in 2 books because they have a maximum of 110 pages, and at that point I still had 6 days to go!!) Laura +

Good morning from HOME! We got home around midnight from our amazing cruise...39 days on Grand Princess, with 3 days in Melbourne before. We've never been away for 6 weeks before, but will consider it again, it was wonderful! Australia was great, Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii were all wonderful...however, we missed all of New Zealand because of Covid (7 days quarantine per NZ rules). Guess we'll have to go back! The ship was very nice, but had a problem with power and A/C in one zone. All the guests from that zone were moved to other cabins for a week (luckily we were not sailing full, only 1700 passengers). Because of the problem, we were ALL given 50% of our cruise fare in FCC!!! So that, in addition to our Covid week, means we have a good amount of credits on Princess for another cruise. Have to start looking.... I was trying to follow the Daily on my phone, but I definitely prefer the computer for size and keyboard. Prayers for everyone with challenges, and I lifted a glass (or two, or three...) every day for all celebrating. Guess I have to open the suitcases and put stuff away...tough to get back to reality! Have a great day, Laura

Bill says Semper Fi to you ..we remember you from the Amsterdam, when he broke a bone in his foot on an excursion!

Thanks for inviting us along on y o u journey! Laura (and Bill USMC 67-71)

We're going to have an ANZAC ceremony tomorrow morning at 5:30 on the Grand Princess

Hello from the Grand Princess! We are both out if covid quarantine, but unfortunately we missed all the New Zealand ports! We were out in time for Bay of Islands, but they were getting a storm so the Captain decided ot was safer to skip it. He was able to add a new port...Apia, Samoa, where we are today. We took a 3 hour tour of the island, including Robert Louis Stevenson's home and museum. We also each got a coconut to drink, and then we're treated to a dance exhibition...a wonderful day! The challenge for us is that today it's Wednesday April 12th. Tomorrow we'll be in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and it will be Wednesday April 12th!!! We'll cross the international date line sometime during the night.

@JazzyVVanessa, I think you can take DH and me off the Care list. We're both feeling good, and will be sorung from our covid jail on Saturday! Unfortunately we've missed 4 of the 6 New Zealand ports, so I guess we'll have to come back. Ill wait until i get home to start planning... thanks, Laura

Good morning friends from the Grand Princess, on the way to New Zealand ... Well, not so good for us...both DH and I tested positive for covid yesterday! We were moved from our Oceanview room to a balcony. Better, but spending 7 days together....should be interesting! I'm feeling good, just cold symptoms..DH is coughing and achy. He is able to take Paxlovid, I can't because of one of the meds I take. Other than this, the cruise has been great. We'll miss a couple of NZ ports unfortunately. Prayers for all on the care list, cheers for all celebrating and cruising. Laura

Good morning (for us) from Down Under! First, our sunrise a few minutes ago from Adelaide... Yesterday we were in Port Lincoln, and a good personal tour with a friend. Our favorite parts were seeing kangaroos in a field near a hotel and pub, and then 3 emus wandering on someone's lawn! Today we're hoping for koalas!!! The cruise has been amazing. I don't think Princess does as good a job with food, especially in the buffet. We've got a long way to go still! Hope everyone has a good day, with healing thoughts to those needing them. Laura

Hello everyone! After the endless flight, we had a couple of great days in Melbourne. We are now on the ship waiting for sailaway in about an hour (6pm Tuesday in Melbourne, not sure what time or day it is for everyone else!). @erewhonwe'll be heading your way 4/4 - 4/9, hoping the weather will be more promising! Prayers for all, and we'll lift a glass to celebrate! Laura

Good morning all!! I don't usually post this early (even though I've been up for 3 hours already!), but we'll be leaving this afternoon to head to the airport for our Australia/New Zealand cruise. We're flying nonstop from NY to Auckland, NZ and then a short flight to Melbourne, AUS. We'll be in Melbourne for 3 days before we get on the Grand Princess. I'm having trouble with the time changes - we leave NY on 3/16, but land in NZ on 3/198...St. Patrick's Day won't exist for us as we cross the International Date Line! I will try to read every day on my phone, but I'm not as proficient on that (I usually use my computer). Prayers will be said for all suffering in any way, and I'll definitely lift a glass to celebrate with those having good days!! Take care, Laura

Good afternoon! Things here have been busy....we're leaving on Thursday for our cruise, and I haven't started packing yet!!! I just had to go out and buy a bathing suit (NOT fun, but definitely needed). Guess I'll start packing after I post here..... Thanks to everyone for keeping this going every day. It's one of the first places I go on the internet every morning, and come back a couple of times a day to see who else has been posting. Since it's Butterfly Day, I thought I'd share a few pictures of them from the butterfly garden in Key West, back in 2017. We've also been to the butterfly garden in Victoria - it's so nice and relaxing to see them flying all around you! Birthday wishes for those celebrating. Cheers to those already on cruises, and to those heading to one. Prayers for our family who are in need of healing. Everyone take care of yourself!! Take care, Laura

On the subject of pot roast.... I cook mine in a MagnaLite (heavy) pot on top of the stove. I brown all the sides, then cut up a few onions (2-3 usually), and add them to the pot. Then I add about a cup (or so!) of burgundy wine, and let it cook for about an hour. At that point I turn the meat over and add more wine, and let it cook more. For the last hour and a half, I add a bag (or more) of carrots....I know some of you don't like carrots, but DH and I and our 2 DSs love them!. After the meat is done, I remove the carrots and add some flour and water to thicken the gravy. This was my mother's recipe, and we all love it! Prayers for everyone with health issues, and pet issues. Cheers to all on cruises, heading for cruises, or just having a good day! We'll be heading out on our big Australia/New Zealand cruise in 11 days!!! Take care, Laura