Happy0810

Okay MSC cruisers.  We leave this weekend for our cruise on the Seaside going to Ocean Cay (overnight), Costa Maya, and Cozumel.  We booked the Bella Experience, and status matched to Gold.  Staying in a balcony cabin (free upgrade from interior).

Any "don't miss" or "don't forget" to put on our must-do list since it's our first time on MSC (but cruised over 30 times on other lines)?  Give me all your suggestions. 

@Greenpea2 - I'm so sorry for your loss.  Even though your dad had a long life, it still hurts when they are gone. In time, I'm hoping the happy memories of him bring smiles instead of tears.

6 hours ago, Funsince1983 said:

I did a thing today 

Looks great!  My hair is about the length of your before pic.  I'm trying to decide if I want to do a big chop before or after my next cruise.  Easier for me to use the curling wand on the longer hair, but boy does it take a long time. 

11 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

Not a bad view to wake up to... 

 

 

Ahhhh....to live that close to the beach.  No wonder she's fine staying in Florida and selling her condo in GA.

7 hours ago, DeanDeeDee said:

Well, I made it through 791 pages!  You guys do a lot of traveling - cruises and other trips. (Makes me jealous!)  I am always amazed at the pictures of your many meals.  I have no idea what many of them are and some I would never try!  I guess I have lived a sheltered life.

 

My reading covered over two years - two years filled with humor, many happy times, but also some sad and trying times.  Of course Covid was a biggy.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.  

During those two years, I did go on three cruises.  In the end of 2021, I sailed on the Mardi Gras to the Western Caribbean.  In June of 2022, I sailed the Miracle to Alaska, and this past May, the Celebration to the Southern Caribbean.

 

After enjoying all your experiences of the past two years, I think the Tribe should gather their travels and organize a book (Tribe Travels) with suggestions for excursions and tips for each of the various ports and restaurants - also the same for other travels, including pictures.  The Tribe could also put together a cookbook with all your various recipes and drink concoctions!

 

Again, thanks for sharing all your experiences!

 

791 pages is a lot to catch up on.  Congrats! Were you on the old AyTeeEl thread?  I remember your name but wasn't sure if it was there or the Carnival boards (or both).

5 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

How about a Bucees brisket sandwich?

 

 

 

That works too.

4 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

And the long travel day begins...

 

 

But is it really a Sid Road Trip if we don't get pics of a rest area or Buc-Ee's bathroom??? 
 

Safe travels my friend. 

2 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

 

 

 

 

That looks so good.  I could eat that for brunch right now. 

Well I fell off the Tribe page for a few days and into a can of...paint...make that multiple cans of paint.  No, seriously, we started repainting a few rooms in our house as well as the ceilings so I've been immersed in that.  And I hate painting. Really hate painting. But I like the results when it's all finished.  And it's still not finished.  We're getting closer though.  Repainting base boards today and then I can start putting the kitchen back together because it looks like Ophelia has hit our house already. 
 

@kpark895 and @Slainte57 - Good to hear from both of you.  I'm sorry for the trials and tribulations you've both had but hopefully things are looking up.  
 

I often get behind in reading and don't want to post until I've caught up.  I need to get over that though and just jump right back in. 

@kpark895, @mopedmom1, and @Slainte57 - Just checking in.  Hope you are all doing well.

So a couple of weeks ago, I posted about booking our first MSC cruise (about our 40th cruise overall).  We booked an interior guarantee at a ridiculously low price ($279 pp for 7 nights).  Got our assignment today, and they put us in a balcony cabin. Plus there are cabins above and below us which should make it a decent location.  Score!!!

Great review as always Greg!  Glad you had a good trip...well, except for the flights home.  Thanks for taking us along.

1 hour ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

I thought about letting them select the room, but I’m afraid that I’ll get stuck under a noisy area or the balcony will have a blocked view. A little blocked is ok, but I don’t want something big blocking it.

 

I'm a little afraid too, but we're just going to roll with it this time.  With 4 port days and a new ship to explore, we're hoping we won't be in the room much.  That will be help if we get assigned to steerage cabin that's under the treadmills, beside the nightclub, and near the early morning Zumba class. 

I'll let you know how it works out for us...if we survive. 😂

10 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Royal also has some crazy rates. Looking to book MSC and some others just to see what they’re like.

That's exactly what we're doing too.  We booked a 7-day MSC but doing it on the cheap.  Interior cabin and letting them select the room.  Rolling the dice on this one.  Maybe we'll end up with a bid option, but either way we're going in with an open mind.

18 hours ago, Von & John said:

Catching Up...

Story of my Life - Yet I'm never actually caught up...

Cheers All  -- Von

Hey, we share the same life story...except I couldn't live in Alaska.  I'm a cold wimp.  I'm still trying to finish Greg's Alaska review (I think I'm around page 60).  Love the scenery!  

11 minutes ago, SenatorsFan said:

What ship have you booked?

Seaside going to Ocean Cay for overnight stop, Cozumel, and Costa Maya.  

Just booked our first MSC cruise (sailed on Carnival, Royal, and NCL previously). Carnival's prices are high for me right now, but I really liked the MSC price.  We're platinum on Carnival so we did the status match on MSC.  The benefits aren't as good, but we'll get a few perks

as newbies so I can't complain. 

7 hours ago, Funsince1983 said:

Just finished working out, waiting for the sweat to stop pouring off of me to go shower. Heading to my moms after for a bbq/cousins are up from Florida/September birthdays (grandma is 97 today!) made this delicious peach prosciutto and hot honey vinaigrette orzo salad earlier, also whipped up a batch of my triple decker brownies to bring. Other than that not much happening here. 

Okay, can you share a recipe for this because it looks ah-freaking-mazing?

2 hours ago, Riles34 said:

Booking in advance direct will relieve any stress since you know it is a "good" booking. Once I had a "we don't have you in the system" upon showing up, that was it. I use the third party sites for the research and then check the direct hotel which is usually the same price. I like to play the hotwire game a month or two out....4-5 star hotels for a great rate has been good to me. you can learn what hotel you will get with a little research.

We've done the same with Hotwire "Hot Rate Deals."  Process of elimination (sort by distance and look at rating) and you can figure out which hotel you'll get.  It's saved us quite a bit on pre-cruise stays. 

9 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

Last thing I remember was when they wheeled me into the operating room. When I woke up it was all over. Doesn't feel too bad right now, and the surgeon said I should get out and walk a couple of miles tomorrow... I'll probably sit around and take it easy for the rest of the day watching more Game of Thrones special features... 

 

I asked him realistically when I could have a margarita, and he said in just a few days!... Until then, I'll probably experience some pain as well as a little trouble getting up or getting in and out of bed, but hopefully this will be the end of this chapter of my life... 

Glad the surgery went well and you're on the road to recovery.  

In Georgia, you have to see a doc on the company's Workman's Comp list (should be posted in the break room or somewhere all employees can see).   It may be too late at this point since Sid's surgery is sometime next week, but it also may be worth talking to your HR person today.

18 hours ago, Roscoe13 said:

I drive with cruise control on 98.7% of the time...if I pass anyone doing slower than me I'm not slowing down once I pass them. YMMV

Oh come on now...tell the truth.  I checked, and you're only on cruise control 97.4% of the time.  You're too busy trying to write down all the Venmo and CashApp tags so you either have to slow down or speed up. 

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I can use my phone but I would probably check into something permanent or pickup a mobile hotspot as a backup. I used to have one through sprint for travel but once I got it on my phone I just canceled it.

If you have access to TMobile, they might be an option for travel internet.  Although online it says our address isn't covered by TMobile, we were able to get it and try it out.  It works great at our house (over 300 mbps which is way better than our phones and I'm in a somewhat rural part of the state).  When we travel in our RV, we take the box with us and so far it's worked anywhere we've traveled.  $50 a month and no need for satellite anymore (we can't get cable or pizza delivery....too rural).  Just use the Roku's and we're good to go.  

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

 By the time this episode of my life is over, I'll probably end up living in a van down by the river... 

🎶 Way down yonder on the Chattahoochee...🎶

16 minutes ago, Riles34 said:

To many chances for a delay coming from a small airport and 3 flights to get to the west coast. You have one 1 chance to make it out an no back up plans. She will learn.

No, I wouldn't chance that. Too risky, and I'm not that much of a gambler....especially when the airline is the dealer.