rafinmd

So sorry to hear about your shoulder pain @StLouisCruisers, With my multiple issues I am blessed that none of them causes significant pain. Roy

So glad to hear that you have a cruise you feel confident you can handle. I will make one suggestion. You might consider using Luggage Forward for your major bags so you have a little less to deal with going to or from the ship. Roy

Did they have a postal rep on board. When I was there on Crustal Symphony in March 2018 I mailed a post card to my late brother. I was back on the ship when he received it in August. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2013 cruise on Enchantment of the Seas out of Baltimore. On January 29 we visited San Juan: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2013 cruise on Enchantment of the Seas out of Baltimore. On January 29 we visited San Juan: Roy

Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Ann, Eva, and Paul. Happy Birthday Melisa. Bon Voyage Tina. Hope everything is straightened out with where to drop your bags at our Port of the Day. I probably am a bit both Curmudgeon and Freethinker. I wish bubblewrap could be something other than plastic but glad it is mostly air. Mr. Bentz was a true innovator. A great day in theater history. I don't drink soda at home but will have a daily Diet Coke on a ship. The quote is true but not easy. I've been to Buenos Aires several times in just a few years. First was 2016 boarding Crystal Symphony. In 2017 I had one of my stranger trips boarding Crystal Serenity for a cruise to Rio, then flying back to Buenos Aires where I boarded a bus trip to Iguazu, returned to Buenos and boarded Zaandam to San Diego. My final visit there was as a port call on the Prinsendam 2019 Grand South America and Antarctica, welcoming @Vict0riann aboard for the second half.. The meal sounds interesting. My alternative is Roast Turkey, and Strawberry ice cream with sprinkles as served in MS Prinsendam Lido January 29, 2019 in the Strait of Magellan: Roy

Today's maps: Roy

A quiet sunset sailaway but nice anyway. Thanks Leanne, Dave, and fellow addicts. Roy

I really didn't expect to be here today but just finished dinner and am ready for BHB toots. Roy

I think I See NS. Roy

Have a wonderful cruise.' Roy

The last time the Ravens were in the Super Bowl I was on Enchantment. The big outdoor screen on the pool deck had just been installed and I watched the game from the Viking Crown Lounge as we sailed up the Chesapeake Bay on the way back home. When I got off the ship the Lombardi was already ours. Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2016 South America and Antarctica cruise on Crystal Symphony. On January 28 we visited Montevideo: Roy

Today's sunrise is from my 2016 South America and Antarctica cruise on Crystal Symphony. On January 28 we visited Montevideo: Roy

I just realized this day in personal history 1 year ago I was taken to our local hospital by ambulance for a 3-day stay diagnosed with pneumonia. Roy

Thank you Rich, Jacqui, Vanessa, Ann, Tina, and Paul. Happy Championship Sunday.. I'll salute our Astronauts and Immigration Lawyers and Daisys are nice to look at. I like the quote. A sad day in American History and am glad Luther escaped without major harm. I will not be watching the game today. It seems like whenever I watch the Ravens make major mistakes, so my not watching will be my contribution to their effort. Way too superstitious but I would feel awful if something went wrong while I watched. One of the leaders of my church livestreaming rotation never works when the Ravens are playing. I thought he probably had season tickets but learned in our mens' group meeting that is not quite true. It seems that his son is one of the younger coaches on the team so I expect his family borders on the royal treatment. I'll probably pass on the meal. My alternative is Chilled Coconut Nutmeg Soup, Sun-Ripened Pineapple Delight and Oven Roasted Chicken as served on MS Maasdam January 28, 2015 I have not been to Puntarenas but have been to Puerto Caldera on Crystal Symphony in 2012 and Crystal Serenity in 2018 but were unable to dock due to high winds in 2020. The photo is from 2018 showing how close the Eurodam was to us in Puntarenas: Roy

@aliaschiefone question. Do you have any kind of Sunday services? I think I remember you sometimes worship online at home, does your wifi make that a possibility? Roy

I "sort of" have Global Entry. What I actually have is NEXUS, a joint program of US CPB and the Canadian authorities which provides the benefits of Global Entry and more. I got it in 2011 when I had a New Years cruise on Jewel of the Seas, and an Asian cruise on Zaandam in February, Fearing that my passport might be out of service for Zaandam VISA processing I needed a backup ID so that sounded like a good choice. The disadvantage of NEXUS is that it requires a personal interview at one of a few cities where both US and Canadian personnel are present. I managed to do it in Niagara Falls while on the way to a High School Reunion in Syracuse. In 2016 I did it while visiting family in Montreal, but it was after my original card's expiration date. They told me that since I had done the online renewal before the card expired it was still good until the time of the interview. In 2021 I was not required to go for a third interview. One other thing to keep in mind, and I assume is also true for Global Entry is that it is tied to your passport, so when you renew your passport you should go to the CPB website and enter the new passport data. Roy

I know some Rotterdam cruises have been altered but it has always been announced well ahead of time. If you haven't seen an itinerary deviation by now you should be good to go. Rotterdam is too big to go through the original locks. I would expect her to be the only HAL ship doing so since the Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam have been banned from the new locks (except under unusual circumstances with no passengers). The lifeboat mounting was modified on Rotterdam to all the boats to be fully inside, making the already narrow promenade deck inaccessible during the transit. I have been through the original canal many times and wanted to experience the new locks just once, and was happy to have done it but the next time I would prefer the old locks. Roy

I doubt if I will be posting much until after services sometime this afternoon. Roy

Today's maps" Roy

I was thinking that may have been a Maiden Call, but it't the first time I've seen a plaque exchange in public. FWIW, I was long wondering what the port got in exchange and finally saw one on display in I St. Helena, probably typical for at least Old Crystal: I think I've also seen one in Charlottetown but not sure. Roy

The latest anyone has heard as far as I know. She's maintained a great attitude under very serious conditions. Roy

Turned out to be a nice sailaway. Thanks Leanne, Dave, and fellow addicts. Roy

That sounds clear and loud for an Oasis class ship rather than the rasps we usually get. Roy