wdw1972

38 minutes ago, doone said:

I love these gift cards, but as another said here if you cancel the cruise, you get your refund in the same way you paid, in gift cards, which can only be used on HAL cruises.  There are no cash refunds.  Just understand that before you purchase and use them.  I have had no issues at all using them.

Same here. I always have multiple HAL cruises booked, so if I had to unfortunately cancel one I'd apply the gift cards to the next one. The 8% savings is worth the minor/moderate headache of dealing with the gift cards.

Sue/WDW1972

1 hour ago, Cruzin Terri said:

@wdw1972 Sue,

Thank you for telling me about replacing the DL online.

I went to the SC DMV site and Lo and Behold! I was able to replace the DL online.

It was easy peasy.  Cost $10.  

What a relief!

Now I will probably find the original.

Terri

You're very welcome! I was surprised when I found it an option here, and hoped SC would do the same. Glad it worked out, and yeah probably you'll end up with both licenses before long, lol! Let DH carry the old one and you keep the new one, just in case a number is different to make the other one invalid.

Sue/WDW1972

Chic spies are better than scruffy ones, we should always do something nice, and like several others my funky days are long ago (if I ever truly was funky). I'll pass on anything with broccoli! The drink sounds like a possibility, depending on how much the whiskey taste dominates. I'm not a whiskey fan. I've had the wine - it's your basic cheap wine seen at free hotel happy hours in the past. Wouldn't buy it, but will drink it if it's free 😉 Never been to Bimini, but I generally avoid the Bahamas. From what I've heard it has pretty beaches - I don't tend to be on ships that stop there.

I ended up not getting assigned to a Disaster Recovery Center this weekend, so my time is certainly coming some day this week. I wish I could say we were doing good for people, but it seems to be more for "show", which is disappointing (and a waste of time). 

This morning DH & I walked, finding one of the staff decided to drive a 6-seater golf cart through a ditch filled with water. The golf cart is now stuck in the mud there. I'm pretty certain NOBODY from that home will have any idea who did it or how it happened. Guess the golf cart drove itself over there 😉 After errands we had an early lunch at Cheesecake Factory - good food, but so filling! I had a skinny cosmopolitan, which was good. The rest of the day will be laundry & relaxing at home. I need to start figuring out Christmas gifts for the work people, so may spend some time on Amazon. 48 days until the next cruise, but we have a couple shorter trips before then.

Jacqui @kazu good luck getting the rest of the cruise stuff finished. So sorry you need to miss this one 😞

Denise @Denise T congrats on it finally being time for your cruise!

Terri @Cruzin Terri congrats on the $500 winning ticket! On the missing driver license, can you just order it online and have it delivered to your home? I did that here in FL when I wanted to change my address, and it was so much easier than going into the DMV.

Sue/WDW1972

Good morning everyone - happy Friday! I'm back to work for the day, and it's a strange workweek with the middle 3 days being out of town. Several of us are expected to be spending at least 8 hours per week working on hurricane Helene recovery (volunteering to do whatever is needed) until further notice, so for me that will start next week.

I remember Dick Tracy but preferred comic books like Archie & Veronica, Richie Rich, etc. The meal sounds good, and possibly the wine although I am not a chardonnay fan. I've heard of Rusty Nail but now seeing the ingredients I'll pass. Never been to the port but look forward to photos later today. Cinnamon roll day - now that's something to celebrate!

Sandi @StLouisCruisers your daughter's fall tree is fabulous, and she's got the perfect spot there in the foyer to show it off! Very clever. 

Hope everyone has a nice day today.  Happy birthday to @JazzyV - how nice to be spending it on a cruise!

Sue/WDW1972

We have an interesting assortment of days today - I drank smoothies occasionally in the distant past, leaves look mostly the same in FL all year long, and mean girls are best when put in their place or ignored until they leave. Don't see a use for them, and they certainly don't deserve a day!

Pass on the meal and the strange cocktail, but pour me a glass of wine and I'll enjoy the beautiful port photos (port is new to me). 

@marshhawk at the risk of coming across preachy, I encourage you (and everyone) to get those mammograms when due. I've had breast cancer 3 times (2002, 2010 & 2018) and every time it was detected via routine mammogram and was never big enough to be felt in a breast exam. As a result, I never had to deal with chemo - just a myriad of other stuff. Mammograms do work, and can save you unnecessary suffering down the road - possibly saving your life, too. 

Moving on, we're back home. The dental appointments this morning went fine and the results of my surgical biopsies came in while at the dental place - all benign, no issues. We're headed out to a Japanese steakhouse (hibachi style) when they open for dinner - we'll be stuffed!

Finally, thought I'd share a photo of my grandson Ari, who flew up to PA (from FL) with his parents to attend his great-grandmother's funeral. Ari's 8 years old - evidently that's old enough to be a pilot these days!

14 minutes ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

The saga continues on the other thread . @Sharon in AZ, we all know what our opinion is of HAL. Maybe someone needs to let them know that Seaborne is a sister company and shares certain things with HAL . 
I would have learned to read the contract by now.

After only 64 cruises? 😉

Her credibility fell even further after that comment! Guess this "cheap line" isn't a good fit for her.

Sue/WDW1972

3 minutes ago, CTOM said:

Thank you all.   Very helpful!  And changing the subject a little, it's now to choose a room!   Seems like the Navigation Deck is cheaper, but lots of reviews say it's too noisy because you can hear all the pool people moving chairs and such right above you on Lido.   May pay a bit extra for Upper Verandah.

Deck 8 forward is quiet - particularly under the spa treatment rooms. Definitely avoid aft - like you said, pool chair dragging happens a lot! 

Sue/WDW1972

The more expensive one has an extra port - my guess is that's the reason.

Sue/WDW1972

We're on day 2 of our 3-day stay in Ft Myers (the only full day). It's sunny & HOT, with rain expected later. Typical Florida! The local news is full of Helene impact stories, which is sad. Some people lost everything for the second time, first being Ian 2 years ago.

Those are 3 good days, although we need non-violence EVERY day, and I've never named a car other than referring to them as "my car" and "your car". I'll pass on the meal, drink and wine but would be happy to visit the port. The quote is so true - good one! Once a connection can be made, friendship can flow easily between former strangers.

Took care of a medical procedure this morning, checked on our home, then went to breakfast. The anesthesia dried out my mouth something terrible, so eating breakfast was a challenge. I had to chew and chew and chew, then add water to wash it down. I don't remember that from past surgeries! Now we're relaxing at the hotel until we decide to venture out around dinner time - if not, we have leftover pizza from last night. It's been a good trip - everything has gone well thus far. Just 2 more dental appointments in the morning before heading home to Gainesville.

Sue/WDW1972

Happy October - sure hope it's better than September, with no storms! We made it to Ft Myers - DH drove, which is challenging for me. I prefer to be in control, especially when it's my car, but I had to do some phone stuff along the way. Dental appointment (crown prep) is over, and soon we leave for dinner w/son & his family. Tomorrow we have to be at the hospital at 5:30am (glad we booked this hotel 4 miles away vs staying with son 45 minutes away), as I'm my doc's first case of the day (outpatient surgery). Then it's 2 more dental appointments Thursday before driving back to Gainesville. 

Thanks for all the port photos - Spain looks lovely! DH's daughter did a semester over there while in college and absolutely loved everything about it. I'm not sure which part of Spain it was, though.

Sue/WDW1972

10 hours ago, seagarsmoker said:

Good morning Dailyites and thank you for the Daily Report,

As Suzi opened the door to leave for work this morning, she smiled and said, "We are cruising next month!"  🙂

 

I hope everyone has a great day! 

I believe I'm on your cruise - part of it, anyway. I can't do 21 days so it's just 11 for me!

Sue/WDW1972

29 minutes ago, 1ANGELCAT said:

According to HAL’s Facebook page, today is also National Stroopwaffle Day. 
I wish we could all be onboard to enjoy one.

Agree! They're just not the same when you buy them at Publix and eat them at home or at work 😉

Another warm sunny day here in Florida - with typical summer thunderstorms expected this afternoon.  I've never listened to a podcast but the other 2 days are important. As stated earlier, some people can be very hard to love! Thank goodness for anesthesia - I start work on a crown tomorrow, and have a minor outpatient surgery the next day, neither of which would happen without the appropriate anesthesia!

The meal is definitely a NO for me, as is the wine (due to being red). Spiderman is another drink I'd never heard of, but I'd try it. The port is a definite YES - not yet, but once I've retired. My plan has been to do the Grand SA/Antarctica trip as my retirement gift to myself, so hopefully it will be returning. With the Pole to Pole coming up I understand not doing it that year, but I remain optimistic for the years beyond that.

Hope everyone good rest of the day! Cheers to the cruisers, positive thoughts to the ones dealing unpleasant issues.

Sue/WDW1972

7 minutes ago, 2inSETexas said:

If the burger was dropped from the lunch menu, this was a very recent change because it was on the menu and served on our Nieuw Statendam Northern Lights cruise 8/24-9/7.

That’s correct - it was shortly after your cruise. 
 

Sue/WDW1972

24 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Thanks Sue, I don't know many people who would consider how annoying generator noise is.  But if they can keep the frozen things frozen and food pretty cool, running only during the day is a workable solution.  By the way, I like the new avatar, though the other one was pretty cute with the youngster and you.  I also like avatars because it makes it easier to pick out names for the blue bubbles!

 

Thanks Sandi. Having spent much of my adult life somewhere susceptible to hurricanes I know how loud generators can be! The youngster is my grandson Ari (in Florida) - he's 8 years old now so that avatar was getting old 😉

Sue/WDW1972

On 9/24/2024 at 12:12 PM, EdisonEmme said:

I have 2 choices on Holland America New Amsterdam 1) Deck one middle ship full ocean view or 2) Deck 10 front view full ocean view? Which would you choose and why?

Deck 10 will be much quieter, with a bigger stateroom and bigger window than down on deck 1 on Eurodam. Deck 1 would be cheaper, but I'd go with Deck 10. I would not stay Deck 1 midship - too much risk of noise from above.

Sue/WDW1972

Enjoying a lazy sunny (but hot) Sunday here. DH & I went out for breakfast, then I picked up storm debris once we returned home. He plans to do some tomorrow - we'll see if it happens. DH is looking forward to football on the tv, so I'll use the time to work on a jigsaw puzzle and pack. We head to Ft Myers for 2 nights on Tuesday. 

The days are all worthwhile, although I'm not a coffee drinker. I love the smell, but not the taste - and don't want caffeine. I'll also pass on the meal & drink, and probably the wine as well. I'd never heard of a solar eclipse cruise until this year, and it sounds like something fun to do some year!

@cat shepard your wine bar experience sounded great!

@ger_77 how I wish my forecast was temperatures will plummet, lol!

@StLouisCruisers that was very thoughtful of your daughter to not run the generator at night

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

Sue/WDW1972

1 hour ago, kochleffel said:

I was flabbergasted when I read this: Tampa General Hospital, the only level 1 trauma center in the region, is on an island. It can't be evacuated, because there aren't enough beds at other hospitals.

 

It stayed dry during the hurricane because of a temporary floodwall called an AquaFence.

 

They announced on Monday they were starting to set it up, as it takes a 60-person crew 3 days to do so! At the time they were saying they'd continue until the forecast indicated that could stop - sadly that never happened.

Sue/WDW1972

1 hour ago, ger_77 said:

I have to relay a story he told at the graveside - for 4 years,  during high school, he roomed in town with 3 other fellows in an old house (they were all from farm families).  At some point they put their pennies, nickels and dimes together and had an adult buy them a bottle of whiskey.  They made a pact that they would keep this bottle, handing it off to the next fellow until the last man standing was at the graveside and would toast to the 3 of them.  And that's what he did.  He did it with a bottle of Wiser's Whiskey that was 18 years old and had been bottled in 1963 - which makes it officially 79 years old this year.  Quite a feat that the bottle hadn't been consumed - or broken - over all those years, but it made it through unscathed.  It was bittersweet for him, knowing he was the last of his group to survive, but he did them proud.

 

What a wonderful story, and a fitting tribute to that group of friends!

Sue/WDW1972

Today's a much calmer day down here - Helene is gone, power is back, and it's the weekend (no work)! The sun finally showed up after noon - so much for being called the Sunshine State. Gainesville shouldn't be allowed to get away with that 😉

Three interesting/unusual days, but nothing wrong with that, lol. I've never heard of the drink but would probably try it if offered somewhere. I'll pass on the wine and like cold chicken salad but it's hard to wrap my head around warm. Loved the Beatles as a kid - heck, still love them as a senior!

DH & I ran out doing errands this morning - nothing exciting, just getting out of the house. Saturdays at 2 typically I do lunch out with a friend of ours. Today DH will join us since the game he's most interested in doesn't start until tonight (college football - Alabama and someone). Maybe later I'll pick up more of the small debris Helene blew down from the trees.

Safe travels to those embarking or returning today! Thank you for all the photos and updates each day.

Sue/WDW1972

Have a great trip and thanks for the "Live From"! Looking forward to your photos. We'll be on Nieuw Amsterdam next May, but leaving from Vancouver rather than Seattle.

Sue/WDW1972

It's been a heck of a day here. Helene's impact seemed to be some wind, little rain. We're about 55 miles east of Cedar Key. At home (on the workplace grounds) we never lost power - it flickered once, but held. At 4:30am I learned our Food Service building had no power - just a few lights powered by an emergency generator. Going there, a plan was put in place to get breakfast out. We have 220 residents, 65 of whom are on a 100% pureed diet, some are on tube feedings, several are on a ground texture, and the rest (well less than half) are on a regular texture diet. They live in 23 homes - we prepare the meals on trays & deliver them to the homes. Turns out the entire workplace part of the center had no power - the homes have big generators that provide electricity & air conditioning but everything was out. Found out later the grid was damaged (off property), so it was plan B for lunch as well, then still no power - same for dinner. Power finally was restored just after 4pm! 

Thankfully that was the extent of our issues other than lots of debris everywhere, a couple big trees down, and several big branches falling.  One landed on a staff's car - crashed right through the windshield, caused lots of damage to the body (front, sides & back) and had she been taking a break in her car (as she sometimes does) she would have been killed. There's no doubt.

Hope those of you still dealing with Helene have a good outcome - these giant storms are very concerning. I need a glass of today's chablis but I'll settle for a cheaper vintage tonight that's already in my fridge!

Sue/WDW1972

24 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Thanks - I haven’t even looked at 2026.  I have two cruises booked in 2025 (you should join us -  both good itineraries and the roll call on the November 2nd one should be a good one, for sure. L) 

I have three booked in 2025, and multiple Disney trips, AND I still work.  I am the queen of stretching vacation time 😉  If I was retired, I'd be asking for your cruise dates! There's no better way to spend time than on a BHB.

Sue/WDW1972

11 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

It was not big. And I enjoy a baked potato, it's the only side I order. 

 

If they're only going to serve you half, shouldn't they call it a "Half-Baked Potato"?

 

🤣🤔

 

 

That's a tough one, lol - as it could imply not baked fully 😉  Before the sides were listed as shareable side, and they were huge. When the baked potato became a half, I noticed the mashed potatoes had shrunk significantly as well - they're now a single portion, but still pretty large given everything else provided as part of the meal. After probably more than a 100 Pinnacle dinners I tried the mashed potatoes one time and couldn't believe how delicious they were - that was the end of baked potatoes (or half-baked) for me! 

Sue/WDW1972

@Mtn2Sea you have a beautiful view! I'm glad the hurricane isn't headed towards you - given the projected path I probably would have stayed put as well. 

@kazu Jacqui - any thought of repeating that Rotterdam VII transatlantic in 2026? I'll look back to find your roll call and read up, but I would love meeting you onboard a HAL ship (I'm booked in Oct 2026). Thank goodness for your foot nurse - she sounds wonderful!

We're still waiting for Helene here - the waiting is the hardest part, and having been through Ian (long distance, I was in Gainesville at the time) I feel for all the people who evacuated from the coast, now waiting for the giant storm surge to hit their (hopefully empty) homes in the next few hours. Here in Gainesville we had a brief shower late this morning, then cloudy (but rain free) skies all afternoon. We're under a tornado watch until morning, and I think I hear some rain on the roof finally. 

Sue/WDW1972

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

WOW.  Truly a "half baked" experience?  We have never been to any restaurant that served half a baked potato.  Not positive how I would react, but it would be tempting to send it back and ask for both halves!    Take care and happy cruising :).

 

Hank

Before they went to the "half" of a baked potato the full one would be ridiculously large - enough to feed 4 people! We laughed when we saw it, as it was way too big to be one person's side. Suddenly they started cutting them in half, and in my opinion are now a very decent portion (not skimpy). Unless you've seen it, don't assume people are getting some miniscule little portion of baked potato. Not saying that hasn't ever happened, but it hasn't been my experience at all, and we typically eat at Pinnacle 2-3 times per cruise, twice a year, on various ships.

Sue/WDW1972