betty em

"For me, the hunt is part of the fun."

LOL! I too participate in the catch and release program. Love it!

Funny review so far; looking forward to more!

Curtw,

When we went (twice) to NCL's island in the Bahamas, the food was free, under an open pavilion. (Drinks were an extra expense, I believe). Not that way on Harvest Caye? That is going to be an extremely expensive day for me and my 24 other family members when we go in April if we have to pay for food as well. I have already rented a pavilion; I may have to reconsider. That's an awful lot of money to spend and then have to buy food and drink extra on top of that cost. And that's not even doing anything but laying around in the sun.

KeithJenner,

Do you mind me asking for a link to that same info? Not that I don't believe you, but I like to read stuff for myself and you are a faceless name on the internet.... :o:D

Yes, for the concierge to say such a thing to the passenger strikes me as a very disloyal employee and not so very professional.

but I still have to do it:

If you really, really, really want to wear those torn jeans, go ahead, it's your body, but not one fashion choice I'd ever be seen in on a cruise ship, any cruise ship. so if it makes you happy, go have a great time in your jeans on your cruise.

"I generally wear capris with a nice top(not a t-shirt) on the first and last nights of a cruise. I wear cocktail dresses for formal nights and dressy dresses for specialty restaurants." This is on NCL, and I have never noted any odd looks directed at my attire. (If there have been any, I'm completely oblivious, I guess.) On the contrary, I have had numerous instances over the years where people of all ages have stopped me in the corridors and complimented my attire and even expressed that they wish they'd dressed up more, although that's mostly the women saying that.

I always eat in the Garden Cafe/buffet when in capris or sun cover-up type clothing, with dresses worn in the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. I have never eaten in a main dining room when wearing shorts. I'd be embarrassed by (my own perception of) dressing too casually. Otherwise I'd never get to wear my dresses and heels except to church once a week and some are not suited to that. I have nowhere else to wear dressier things as my job requires a uniform.

There is a little metal cruise ship ornament you can buy on board, it has a hanger attached but it is quite heavy, a bit too heavy for some branches on a fake tree, anyway. It is a generic ship. Its about 4" long by 1" high and 1/2" thick. I have not found any that were shaped or painted like a specific ship. They are found in one of the gift shops that carry the NCL lanyards; in the same area.

Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church on Baronne, a block off Canal Street is another one, it has a distinctive Golden dome on top, I believe.

Thanks for all the input. However, Arzeena, no, I don't believe it really is all that clear, since 2 booking agents, Sue J., and another named Becky both told me it looked to them that it added up to 12 points as well. Obviously, from their perspective, its not even completely clear as glass to the people who are dealing with it on a daily basis for their livelihood.

I've just been extremely disappointed to find out that the info regarding the rewards program is not correct as listed on NCL's website. It says here you get 1 point per night plus another point per night for an insider offer:

http://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program (8 points total for a 4 night cruise)

It says here "For the month of September only we have a special offer just for you. Receive one additional point per night when booking select sailings on the three unforgettable destinations below." http://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program/insider-offer (additional 4 points for a 4 night cruise)

But when you book the cruise, they tell you you only get 8 points and say the above sentence only refers to the original points normally offered in the latitudes program.

Granted, its only 4 points, but to me this looks like bait and switch. This is the kind of business practice that causes loyal customers to switch cruise lines. Its petty and mean-spirited.

Has anyone else run into this situation or is it just Reservation Supervisor Crystal throwing her weight around and refusing to bump this inquiry up to someone who can actually honor the wordage on the website?

Oh, I see. Thanks. My DH's name is Lorey, it's a family name and it's been a trial for all of us. It is a tradition I called a halt to when I had my own 3 boys.

OP Lorey,

I have never seen the spelling of your name outside of my husband's family. Do you mind me asking if you are male or female? Nosey, I know, but can't contain my curiosity. His family settled in Detroit environs after leaving Trois Rivieres area of Quebec.

BMW

fireofficer5, BlueHerons,

thanks. so if I've got this right; Metro rail from MIA to Govt Center Station, get off, get on Metro Mover Inner loop line to Bayfront Park Station. This will be at roughly 3pm local time on a Saturday. I'll think about it and will probably decide at the last minute whether to do it or take a cab. Thanks for the input.

BMW

Can the Metromover be accessed from MIA directly to Bayside Market without having to walk more than 1-2 blocks and without having to switch trains/cars at any stations? We were in Bayside Market and surrounds last spring, so we know what the area is like. Difference this time is we'll have a 6 yr old with us. We took a cab last time, but wonder about the Metromover as an alternative the kiddo might like, if its not too dangerous. Not worried about us 2 adults.

"a dumpy tee shirt, ill cut shorts & clunky white sneakers are what screams "American from a flyover state" to me... & we get a ton of those where I live." :)

Did I actually just read that right?

Hi, all. I am in a maintenance pattern for now. 5'3". 117#. I cruise 2nd week of april and come Jan 1, I'll be hitting it hard. My usual plan is watching my calories and fat intake, cutting out the between meals snacking and adding in weight training after I get over the soreness caused by increasing my general activity level from a slug to a rabbit. No, seriously, I wear my fitbit every day, during the work week, my average steps are 7000, but on a weekend, it dwindles to 1000. In january, I will increase steps to 12,000 - 14,000 just on a teadmill or eliptical, and add in weights 3-4 times/week for 20 - 30 mins. DH is retired and does all the cooking; he will cook only vegs and meat. No white foods (rice, potatoes, breads) from Jan to end of March. I will drop to 108-109#. Just so my clothes hang nice on my frame. It is a simple plan and I've done it numerous times before, but boring as can be when I have no one to work on it with. Also, recording every bit that enters my mouth keeps me accountable for my progress or lack of. For that I use Fitday.com

champagne123,

Do you mind if I ask who is pictured in your avatar? I confess I was a bit shocked to see it; it looks like a picture of my niece's daughter. She was killed in a car accident nearly 10 years ago and her grandmother, my sister, was severely injured as well.

I have cruised NCL exclusively. The first cruise, I wore a long dress for formal night and DH wore his tux. We loved dressing up but felt distinctly out of place compared to our fellow passengers. After that, we have stuck with suits and cocktail dresses. He wears dress pants and tie-less dress shirt or polo shirt other nights, while I wear dresses. I love clothes, somewhat of a hobby of mine but rarely have a chance to wear out my collection, and so bring some of it with me for my vacations. I wear scrubs every day to work; my vacation is to please me. We enjoy people watching and I like to admire other women I see with the resolve to dress up for themselves and their loved ones.

Never have either of us gotten rude remarks about our attire. Most people we see are dressed similarly to us. There are a few people coming into the buffet in their sleep wear and bathrobes - we don't approve but would never say so aloud. I compare that to, as someone posted earlier, would you go into even McDonald's in your bathrobe? I've never seen that yet, thank goodness.

As for the woman in the chain mail dress, I always wonder if she has yet gotten some self respect and dumped that jerk of a husband. I feel nothing but pity for her. Think about it ladies, what must you have to think of yourself to be persuaded to dress in public that way? Nothing good, I'll bet.

I did not know that or never heard it before; I've heard that it was caused by tanning. But since I have nearly given up all dairy except fat free cottage cheese, I do see an improvement, but didn't connect the 2. 2 of my sons actually do have dairy allergies, tho I've never had any side effects that I knew of. I was resigned since I have no intention of continuing to tan some each pre-cruise season. Thanks for the info!

Indiana71 et al,

My daughter and her husband, who have been living with me and DH for 2.5 years, have recently moved out after graduating college, so right now I am cleaning the entire upstairs (2 BR, 1 bath, 1 small closet, 2 large) in preparation of setting up my own cruise room! I am so excited to finally get my own, after reading about yours for so long. One room will be set up as a conventional guest bedroom, the one closest to the bathroom, but the other I am going to set up as a living room/lounge. It has the biggest closet and that's going to be my cruise room. That will leave me the most open floor space for trying on clothes. I am going to move some of my shoe & boot collection up there too, as my own closet is getting a little embarrassing. Plus its so crowded, I can't see what I have.

I'm as excited as can be to be able to spread out and start putting together some new combination outfits and break out of the rut of the few tried-and-true ones I've got going right now. I'll be able to see where I need to supplemment my wardrobe, as well, I think.

Betty

Gerry

I try but what turns out is never what I had in my mind. I have made a few wearable pieces. I do more loom beading for native regalia than actual jewelry making. Although my eyes and wearing progressives has slowed that down a lot too. I just love beads the feel in my hands, the natural stones and variations in the colors, etc. I can spend large amounts of time looking and handling the beads in the craft stores when I get the chance. I guess its along the same lines as having to run my hands over every bit of fabric in the fabric department. Looking is never enough, I have to touch. I just wondered, as I could picture the added weight in the back and could almost feel the line across my neck!:D How clever of you to add those loops and s-hooks to hold the necklace in place!

Now back to the previously scheduled discussion......

Gerry,

That is a beautiful necklace you've created. I have one question, though. What prevents the weight of the back side of the necklace from pulling it down farther and "choking" you in the front? Do you have some method to ensure it lays where you want it to? I have used tape on my back under clothes to make a longer necklace hit in the front just exactly where it looks best with the garment neckline, but I do not see how that would work with your dress. Just trying to figure out the mechanics here. :confused: Betty

LynnAB, my daughter usually dyes mine for me at home, so I don't think I have any missed spots. My hair is also very very thick and I can go 6-7 weeks between colors. I mostly have the grey peeking through at my side burns and up the sides of my forehead toward my hairline, few in the back, but none on top (I'm 56). As I aged, my reddish brown hair turned dark brown to the point people were saying I had Black hair, which I didn't think went with my skin tones, etc. I paid a donation to CJW (here on another thread) and he picked out the colors he recommended and gave me the numbers as well as the color names. I use shampoo and conditioner from bedhead that is for red-dyed hair, and that helps to keep the color from washing out as well. I will probably have to go back to having it dyed professionally when my daughter moves back to Washington state sometime after the end of December. :(

Indiana,

If you want something easy to find at Walmart, I use Revlon Brow Fantasy. It is a pencil on one end, and a gel brush thing on the other. It comes in 4 shades from light blond to dark brownish black. The 2nd lightest one is the one I use to fairly well match my (dyed) red hair which is a mix of Loreal Preference 6RB and 6R. Betty