madelinerose

Thank you so much for the feedback!! I'm very excited to walk around and see the Inner Harbor!! We are planning on visiting Blue Moon Cafe for Capt Crunch French toast!! DH wants Phillips for dinner but I'm not a seafood person. Do you have any other restaurant recommendations??

You are 1 block from Oceannaire, in the circle, which I highly recommend over Phillips. Yes, it's more expensive, but the Happy Hour menu is fantastic and very affordable. All of the locals I know refer to Phillips as the McDonald's of seafood and mostly everything is frozen. It's a tourist trap, used to be a big deal back in the day. ;)

There is also another high end seafood (Greek) restaurant about 2 blocks from your hotel, Ouzo Bay....excellent with another wonderful Happy Hour menu.

Blue Moon is fun. ;)

Check out the Harbor East link. There's Roy's, Flemings Steakhouse, Wit & Wisdom and Pabu (Four Seasons). All of these have great Happy Hour menus and you can certainly get your fill. When you visit Blue Moon, which is in Fells Point, there's an abundance of restaurants there also. You can probably tell that we're foodies. lol Good luck and have fun.

I've been on lots of big bridges (I love 'em) and I agree that the Bay Bridge is more hair-raising than most. IMHO, it's not the height, per se, that's the problem. Rather, it's the substandard design: the narrow lanes (at least they feel narrow; I'm not sure if they're the standard 12-feet in width), the total lack of shoulders or even a few feet of "swerve room" on either side, the steep grade, the curve near the western shore, and (on the westbound span) the flimsy-looking guardrails. Add to that the joys of two-way operation, when you're ascending the westbound span and realize that there's nothing but a couple feet of air between you and that truck picking up speed on what is for him a downgrade. In road-geek lingo, the Bay Bridge is very "unforgiving"; there's little to no margin for error when driving across it.

 

Have you ever driven across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the Tampa area? It's the exact same height as our Bay Bridge, but they feel nothing alike. Maryland's engineers could learn a lot from whoever designed that one.

I couldn't agree more. There's no margin for error. I did read something a few months ago, can't recall where, that deemed the Bay Bridge the scariest one in the US.

Haven't been on the Tampa bridge. ;)

Raising the scariest bridge in the country? :eek: South of the Bay Bridge would be perfect. ;)

I'm very happy with the hotel we chose :)

Hi MalervyC. The Courtyard is not waterfront, but you may have a water view from a high floor. I park in the garage quite frequently. Your hotel is a very short walk to the waterfront. It's located in Harbor East, which is a lovely, upscale area. Have a beverage on the terrace at the Four Seasons, weather permitting, of course. We love every restaurant in Harbor East. There's also a Whole Foods and CVS. Enjoy! http://www.harboreast.com/

And thank you to both madelinerose and Chesterpeake; over the time I've been on CC, I have benefitted from both of your comments and advice.

Hi bus man. You also have provided many with wonderful info here. I am just seeing this and want to thank you for such a nice compliment. You're very welcome. ;)

We had been cruising on the Royal Princess twice .

First we booked a Mini Suite Cabin R520 midships.

 

 

and now in December we booked a Suite Fiji C101 .

 

 

The balconies always where very small :eek:...but the ship is absolutly amazing.

Thank you for the detailed videos. I find it odd that a full suite has a loveseat vs. a full size sofa. :confused:

Oleander. We rent also. ;)

Yeah, unless it's unusually warm, which I wouldn't expect.

 

If someone has booked, and paid for, the Sanctuary for the whole cruise, I don't see an issue if they're not there all day every day. How much they use it isn't any of my business. There are quite a few loungers set aside for per diem booking.

 

When I was on the Island last year, I had an oceanview cabin instead of my usual balcony. I booked the Sanctuary for the whole cruise. Port days, I was on tour; sea days, I might show up at 10am and stay until 1pm, leave for lunch and to walk around a bit, and then be back by 2:30pm, staying until 4-4:30pm. I thoroughly enjoyed it and booking the Sanctuary for the cruise was cheaper than upgrading to a balcony. Others booked for the whole cruise used the loungers similarly. They came and went, rarely spending more than 2-3 hours at a time on the loungers. From outside appearances, it could have looked like people weren't using the loungers. In reality, they were.

Thanks for this. With only 1 sea day, and possibly a chilly one, it will be interesting to see how it goes. ;)

Nicole - that was a good cabin move. better room, plus you will have a slightly larger balcony that is aft facing (i.e large depth dimension is forward). We were in D407 that also had a larger balcony (54 sq. ft.), but it was forward facing (large depth dimension was aft). As a result, we tended to "catch" the wind when the Royal was underway. Your cabin should get a little more wind protection.

 

Have a great sail.

Hi YL..Do you have any photos of the D407 balcony?

Yes and no. It really depends on the weather and itinerary. On most ships, the Sanctuary is far forward so you'll feel lower temperatures and wind. Not all cruises are strictly warm weather cruises. On the Island and Coral, it's aft so you're much better protected. Plus, not everyone wants to spend that much extra.

Hi Pam. Should I assume that the Sanctuary won't get much use on a September Canada/NE itinerary?

Madelinerose,

 

You are closing in on 10,000 posts! I am certain there thousands of Cruise Critics who have benefited from, and appreciate, your good advice. I do.

How very kind of you, John, thank you! I post only occasionally these days, but if I can be of any help to anyone, that's always a good thing. ;)

As John mentioned, Penn Station, not BWI. ;)

Can't thank you enough, gambee. Excellent videos! ;)

Hi Lois...have you tried Arnica gel/cream/ointment? It's available at any drug store & it always works for my bruises. They seem to disappear twice as fast. Good luck. ;)

Oops, sorry. I posted this on the wrong thread. lol :o

I can only think of 1 good reason for the aspirin....(what I think is a good reason)....I know over the the years it has been known that aspirin helps folks with heart conditions....recommendations say 1 aspirin per day helps keep the blood flowing more smoothly. So, I wonder if it has a secondary positive affect too? Keeps the blood flowing more smoothly all the way down to the toes too?:) Sounds logical to me!

Hi Lois...have you tried Arnica gel/cream/ointment? It's available at any drug store & it always works for my bruises. They seem to disappear twice as fast. Good luck. ;)

Pinapple juice? Straight up or with Vodka?

I am guessing it would be just the juice LOL

LOL. Fresh pineapple, not juice or canned from the supermarket shelf. (Grey Goose please) ;)

I've tried just about everything with no success, I always just count on having swollen feet on a cruise.:D However, on our last cruise, we purchased a drink package so for the first time, I drank only bottled water instead of the ship's. First time EVER to have no problems with swelling!:)

 

Sherri:)

I have read this numerous times on CC. Seems to be the key.

Hello old friend:) seriously????......how come I don't remember

reading about that in all the threads we have had over the years

about this very topic?:eek:

Hey girlfriend! Good to see you!

I don't know why this hasn't been mentioned here, but I think I may have posted this on another thread at one time. ;)

Number 2 ;)

Fresh pineapple, which contains bromelain, is also a natural anti inflammatory. Bromelain can also be found in a bottle. ;)

Wow renewed mine 3 months ago for $42 for a 4 year license while NJ tried a 5 year license on me in 2008 for $60. So maybe that's why I don't have a problem with $100+ every 10 years for a passport

My point was/is that 2 people from Maryland are charged 2 different rates.

:eek: My driver's license renewal just came and Maryland wants almost $40 for a five year period. Given the taxes I'm paying to live here, IMO that's insane!

Hi Denise. How bizarre. I just received my renewal Friday and it's $48 for 8 years. And, I certainly agree about the taxes. :confused::rolleyes:

If you were hired after Nov 86, your employer was required to have you complete an employment eligibility verification form (I-9). They have to certify that you showed documentation of identity and authorization to work in the US. Did you present any document(s)?

Yes, driver's license and birth certificate, never a SS card.

Starting a new job or competing on a game show. :D

I have never shown a SS card to start a new job or to renew my license. I've also never been on a game show. :D Doesn't it say right on the card that it's not to be used for identification? ;)

Where did you get that information?

Absolutely, you can apply online. ;)

http://www.ssa.gov/planners/about.htm

Sorry for the ot. This thread is about passports.

Also, everyone should have their SS card or a replacement stashed somewhere.

Curious...why? When do you use it?

p.s. I have a passport. ;)

Gambee, this is excellent! Thank you! ;)