rafinmd

I believe the Vista/Signature ships have aft ballards on the promenade deck and signs that they are used in the Panama Canal. Are they actually used and is the aft promenade deck closed in the locks? Roy

For today I have another sunrise taken on my 2018 crossing of Canada on ViaRail's Canadian. On July 15 the sun came up about 2 hours before arriving in Saskatoon: Roy

For today I have another sunrise taken on my 2018 crossing of Canada on ViaRail's Canadian. On July 15 the sun came up about 2 hours before arriving in Saskatoon: Roy

Thank you Rich for the TGIF Fleet Report and Daily. Love all 3 of today's days but not sure what to make of the quote. I have not been to Kangaroo Island. I have no idea what the meal is. My alternative is Fruit Ceviche, Garden Bounty, and Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera as served on MS Rotterdam VI July 15, 2011. I'm glad @Vict0riann was a day early and hope Pat's bag catches up quickly. Today’s care list: RIP Buddy 7/13/22 RIP Nora Brown of Howick QC, 7/11/22 HAL Sailer DB with severe covid Sarah with covid but improving Camila and mom with covid Heartgrove brother discharged but rapidly declining From the rotation: Amy adjusting to widowhood and children Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu StLouisSal with weakening legs Celebrations and Shoutouts: Seasick Sailer in Hawaii Topps Market Buffalo reopening Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Volendam caring for refugees HAL Sailer Nephew Curt doing much better 0106 covering menu suggestions until 8/1 2 days for dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15) 1 daysfor Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16). dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) The care list reminds me we have not heard from @St. Louis Sal for a long time. Roy

I admire your handiwork. My county has outlined plastic bags. Fortunately I have an ample supply of HAL tote bags. Roy

I got word from Nora's sister that she did not want any funeral or memorial service. It will be a small family burial. Roy

Happy Birthday Alan. Roy

I won't be and so far I haven't heard when they might be. Roy

@kazu any estimates about when Shadow may arrive? Roy

Not quite a sunrise, this was taken July 14, 2018 on ViaRail's Canadian near the remote village of Nakima, Ontario (far North of Thunder Bay) and is first light reflected in a placid wilderness lake. Roy

Not quite a sunrise, this was taken July 14, 2018 on ViaRail's Canadian near the remote village of Nakima, Ontario (far North of Thunder Bay) and is first light reflected in a placid wilderness lake. Roy

Something a bit different today. Not quite a sunrise, this was taken July 14, 2018 on ViaRail's Canadian near the remote village of Nakima, Ontario (far North of Thunder Bay) and is first light reflected in a placid wilderness lake. Roy

Thank you for the Bastille Day Report, Rich. I hope to avoid Pandemonium but will enjoy the other 2 days with Mac & Cheese for dinner tonight. I've departed from Piraeus twice, on Silver Whisper and Crystal Serenity. I think I'll pass on the meal suggestion. My alternative is Cantaloupe boat, Chilled Blueberry Soup, and Quail with Apricot Bread Stuffing as served on MS Rotterdam VI July 14. 2011. Today’s care list: RIP Buddy 7/13/22 RIP Nora Brown of Howick QC, 7/11/22 HAL Sailer DB with severe covid Sarah with covid but improving Camila and mom with covid Heartgrove brother discharged but prognosis still uncertain From the rotation: StLouisSal with weakening Tana with persistant cough HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Celebrations and Shoutouts: Seasick Sailer in Hawaii smitty34877 on Cape Cod Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Volendam caring for refugees 3 days for dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15) 2 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16). dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

I was pretty much in a bubble of minimal damage last night but to the north of Baltimore near the Pennsylvania line got really trounced. Will be almost a week before some get power back. Roy

Agreed. Roy

I'm wondering the same thing (EMT). I started the process and the "Submit" statement indicates certifying that we are "active". Roy

If you have signatures turned on they're there. This is the Cunard part of the list Queen Mary 2, September 29-October 13, 2023, New England and Canada Queen Anne, February 8-21, 2024, Caribbean Roy

@grapau27 good luck with the doctor tomorrow and congratulations. Giving up chocolates must have been painful for you given your job. Roy

Sorry to hear Covid caught up with you. I was definitely NOT impressed by the Brooklyn Terminal. On disembarkation I saw the signs about masks being required on the way into the terminal but it looked like less than half of the staff was wearing them. I suspect with just 2 days left you will still be positive in Southampton and I hope that does not cause you too much trouble getting back home. Roy

Today's sunrise is from one of the parking garages of my local mall where I took my morning walk very early today: Roy

Today's sunrise is from one of the parking garages of my local mall where I took my morning walk very early today: Roy

Despite not everything being perfect it certainly has been a wonderful time for me. Roy

Today, July 13, is National Fry Day. Roy

Thank you for the Hump Day report Rich. I love Barbershop Music, enjoy my inner Geek but think I'll pass on Fool's Paradise. Love the Gandhi quote but have never been to Monte Carlo. I never heard of Sorbates but it sounds very nice. My alternative is Cantaloupe boat, Chilled Blueberry Soup, and Quail with Apricot Bread Stuffing as served on MS Rotterdam VI July 13, 2011. I am not sure what I had for desert that day but Sorbates sounds like a good choice. Today’s care list: RIP Nora Brown of Howick QC, 7/11/22 HAL Sailer DB with severe covid Sarah with covid Camila and mom with covid Buddy final days in Hospice Heartgrove brother discharged but prognosis still uncertain From the rotation: HAL Sailer DH Nephew Curt undergoing rehab after serious mowing accident Cruising-along niece awaiting a kidney Bennybear DH with melanoma Strength and healing for Kazu Celebrations and Shoutouts: Welcome aboard Dr. Dobro Seasick Sailer in Hawaii smitty34877 on Cape Cod Cruisin Single with sister to 7/28 Volendam caring for refugees 4 days for dfish (Rotterdam 7/17 to 7/31) and Gail&Marty (10/15) 3 days for Vict0riann (Nieuw Statendam (7/16 to 8/9) ski ww (Oosterdam to July 16). dobiemom (Rotterdam to 7/17), RWSBADGER (Noordam to 7/17), and luvteaching (Westerdam to 7/17) and Cat in My Lap (Zaandam to 8/13) at sea Vacationing Staff Captain Sabine - Our first female Staff Captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it) Roy

I’ve been home 4 days now and still slowly catching up on my life but it’s time for a few post cruise observations. The bag I shipped with Luggage Forward arrived at my UPS Store about 11AM Monday. I have taken everything out but not completely unpacked. I have done home Covid tests Saturday and Monday and have a PCR test booked for Friday as well as another home test Wednesday. I’m quite sure all will be negative and at that time I will consider myself officially Covid free at the conclusion of the cruise. As a result of my cabin location I was certainly aware of Covid on the ship by the blocked hallway between stairways A and B on deck 6 as well as occasionally seeing medical staff suiting up to enter the quarantine area. Despite some passenger non-compliance I thought the protocols on the ship were appropriate. I think part of the protocols were imposed by the government authorities and the constant hand sanitization reminders and staff serving of everything had little to do with the way Covid spreads but a big effect on preventing other problems like Norovirus, Dining itself was a mixed bag. I can’t really complain about any of my meals but the interface between my diet controlled diabetes and the dining procedures was the worst I have seen. I can eat off the regular menu with few issues but it makes my life a lot easier to plan my day pretty much in advance. I can usually get a dinner menu early but on this cruise it was like pulling teeth. Since breakfast and lunch are only served on deck 2(and I don’t think the breakfast menu ever changes) it seems to me a very reasonable process to just post the breakfast on deck 2,the lunch menu on one side of deck 3, and the dinner menu on the other side. I don’t think I am the only one who would appreciate that as during the day I saw a lot of other people looking futilely at the menu boards. Asking for menus in advance was even worse as then I had to make my selections in advance and then had no control over what happened at final preparation, a special disaster with a salad that came with some horrible diabetic dressing. I also believe there are some “always available”selections (and I think I’ve seen them on Cruise Critic but can’t find them now), and it would surely be friendly of Cunard to disclose them. Several things that I love about Cunard were unchanged or even improved. While I had 18 days at sea on another cruise line this year this was the first time since leaving QM2 in Perth that I enjoyed a stimulating lecture. I especially appreciated that they are now simulcast on our cabin TV’s since they have always been severely crowed. I hope that feature becomes permanent. While some other ships have promenade decks the one on QM2 is in a class by itself. My experience on QM2 was definitely degraded from what I experienced in prior years. My experience at home is also degraded from what it was in prior years and I think the uptake on this cruise from being at home was as much as it was in past cruises. I look forward to (so far) 2 more Cunard Voyages. Roy