FoghornLeghorn

This is a wonderful thread and much appreciated!

I will need to go from LAX to Double Tree in September.

However, the Shuttles mentioned all seem to be vans.

Correct me if I'm wrong :)

I was hoping for more of a small bus, or something easier to climb in and out of.

Can someone comment on this, please?

and....

are the shuttles from Doubletree the same type small vans? or are they more of a small bus shuttle?

Thank you in advance!!

Ride Captain Ride

Barefootin'

Sea of Heartbreak

Pearly Shells

Blue Bayou

Lilo and Stitch soundtrack has some island music

I will be in 5164 on a TA next year.

Very glad I have this now after reading your post.

Thanks for the details about the cabin.

okay....is it just ME????

or

does anyone else read the Menu Dave posts and start picking out items you would order??

of course, I always pick two desserts to have :D

I'm always hungry after I read this thread......

.

Subscribing

Thanks to everyone!

Okay Okay Okay......here's my thoughts....

Ron was very gracious and answered my email asap when I asked him a question about London.

that's when the trouble started....

I noticed some links to his travel videos...

I clicked on one of his videos and now I'm going to be up ALL night watching the others!!!!!!

(they are amazing!!)

and another thing: How am I going to convince him and his wife to adopt me, so I can join them on all of their trips??? ::::shrugging shoulders::::

Okay..I've got the popcorn in the microwave....jammies on.....all the pillows piled up.....got the 17 inch laptop on the bed and starting Ron's Travel Video night!

Can someone put the dog out in a little bit for me, please??

Loving this review!

The pictures make it even better!

We were on the Golden to Hawaii and we love her.

I know it takes a long time to do this, and it is much appreciated - as we feel like we're cruising with you.

I love the party theme in each cabin - sounds like something I would do if we traveled with a group.

Can't wait for the next part ::::biting nails in anticipation::::

I'm not going to Alaska, but wanted some for some upcoming cruises.

I went to Brookstone's in the mall today and caught a sale on their brand.

Lightweight 10x25

Will these be okay for scanning the shoreline and looking at wildlife close to the ship?

What a wonderful descriptive review! I love those.

Thank you for all your time and effort. Mahalo!

My sister and I went on this cruise on the Golden for my retirement cruise... we loved it!

She had never flown before, seen the ocean, nor been on a cruise.

I flew us first class to LAX then a mini suite on the Golden for 14 days.

She is now terribly spoiled, and is not sure she can fly coach (lol) or do a short seven day cruise (lol)

We had such a wonderful time on this LA to Hawaii cruise. I go to Hawaii every year for a land vacation, and loved this cruise. Now she wants to go back and spend more time on the islands after getting just a taste of them on the cruise.

We highly recommend this cruise....and on the Golden!

Thanks Joanie!!

Hi Joanie

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into helping us with questions and pictures!

I will be on the Westerdam and in room c1072.

Can't seem to find anything or anything close.

It's not a connecting room and not listed as sleeping 4.

Thanks for all you do!

I always place a note inside my suitcase of the airline/hotel/cruise ship and my cell phone number.

I always take a picture of my luggage that I'm checking, and it's on my camera to have in case it's lost.

When I get on the ship, I also take a picture of my stateroom door where you can see the room number real well...

Once I wrote it down wrong on the paper I put in my pocket, and woke up two lovely little ladies trying to get into their room about midnight on the first night :eek:

(now, I also decorate our door so I know I'm home) :D

Before I leave I go through the deck maps...and make a list for me.

I list the dining rooms, shopping or anything I know I'll be doing a lot.

Deck 2 - ____ dining

Deck 4 - shopping - foward

Deck 6 - Theatre - aft

etc.

It doesn't list everything, just the things I need to remember.

I highlight all the dining rooms in one color, the theatres in another, etc.

Then I laminate it (.99 cents) and it's little bigger than my room card.

I carry it with my room card to refer to.

I also buy the big 2 or 2.5 gallon ziplock bags for my clothes.

I still roll the clothes, but it's so easy to unpack. Your suitcase is very organized.

I also put an outfit, including underwear, socks in the large size and keep it for my travel home day. Then I'm always assured I have a fresh, clean outfit to fly home in.

My friend puts her kids outfits in a separate ziplock bags and all she has to do is pull out a bag and the kids clothes are ready for them to put on for that day.

I put socks and underwear in a smaller size one...dump the contents in the drawers in the room..keep the bag in the same drawer. Then once I wear them, I put them back in the empty bag. Once it's time to pack all I have to do is grab the ziplocks with the dirty clothes and throw them in the suitcase.

Ziplocks are great for keeping your receipts, keeping your dailys, or paper souvenirs, putting your camera or Kindle in when raining, or by the water. I also keep a few smaller ones in my bag I carry around the ship, in case I want to pick up some cookies or something to bring back to the room.

Well, I walk down the stairs and my eyes start scanning for people pushing and shoving into an elevator

Then I go to my dining room table and wait for someone to push my chair in after I sit down

I stare at my napkin waiting for someone to place it in my lap

I then wait for the basket of hard rolls and tiny frozen butters to appear

When those don't arrive, I keep looking for a menu to be placed in my hands

Then I wonder who is going to brush the crumbs off the tablecloth when I make a mess

As I'm patiently waiting, I try to figure out how 3 different desserts with little swirls and chocolate blobs are going to magically appear at the end

The worst part...

staring at the bed waiting for someone to turn it down and place a towel animal on it

:::::SIGH:::::::::

Being "rocked" to sleep

I read about this before I went on my first cruise and thought...uhh..okay...sure

After my first cruise, I understood.

The sound of the horn.

I love any and all.

Then I went on a Disney cruise and the horn played "When you wish upon a star" and it brought tears to my eyes. Not sure why..but it did.

Having a waiter place my napkin in my lap and handing me the first menu.

The first time this happened, I went ..whoa!

Then I realized the waiter wasn't getting friendly, he was placing my napkin. :D

Having someone scrape the little crumbs away from the tablecloth.

The first few nights back home, I keep waiting for that to happen...

The talking elevator announcements

I usually do that a few times in a department store when we get back home.... "boing...home and garden"..." "boing...accessories & lingerie"

:D

and yes.. I get strange looks and people hurrying off the eleveator once the door opens.

But once....I had a lady say "just off a cruise??" and I said "yes!"

then her and I just cracked up.

Not making my bed

It's so nice to come back to the cabin and have my cabin all neat and the bed made.

Chocolates and Towel Animals

for the first few nights when we return.... I put some chocolates on our pillows and turn down the bed. I try and make a towel animal, but they all end up looking like a lumpy snake :)

Watching the ocean

Just sitting on our balcony and staring at the ocean.

Sometimes I like to go out on a deck and use one of the lounge chairs and gaze.

Being Thankful

going on a cruise, makes me appreciate all my blessings.

I'm grateful I can afford to go.

I'm blessed to be able to see beautiful places.

I never see George Clooney knocking on my door :(

I recently treated myself to the new Kindle. Love it by the way. Can't wait to take it on my cruise.

Since I'm counting the days until we sail, I searched for cruise books.

I downloaded samples of The Purser and Permanent Passenger-My Life on a Cruise Ship

After I read a sample of each, I ended up buying both.

Either or both would be good to read while on the ship.

Since they are on my kindle, my sister is going to read them while we're on our Hawaii Cruise.