Bankshot

It seems that Infinity made the news in SF before arrival. When we picked up our rental car we were asked if we had just disembarked from the ship with 137 cases of Noro. We were asked the same question when we checked into our hotel. The ship's management had told us the virus was under control and only "a few" passengers had it. We also were promised a refund for the port charges for the missed port. Later we and our friends were given three different excuses why these funds were not reimbursed. The entire experience made us wonder if this was maybe a training cruise for an inexperienced officer staff.

Good advice with the Ginger and moving to Midship. Also don't dwell on seasickness and especially don't sit around waiting for it to happen. Follow your normal routine. I am certain you will not realize your underway most of the time. It usually takes an extremely rough sea to alter the course of a hundred and twenty thousand ton ship. Even then the motion is greatly subdued. Have fun and start planning your next cruise.

We prefer smaller ships, fewer people and shorter lines. There are many ports these larger ships can't get into so they are forced to tender 6000 people. That must be a lot of fun. I also understand you have to reserve a seat for the shows. Another downside, I think, is that the best servers and other top of the line crew members are probably being transferred to these larger ships at the expense of the smaller ones. With a multitude of specialty restaurants, food in the mdr is now of questionable quality in an attempt to drive you into these expensive specialty restaurants. Friends who just disembarked the Oasis of the Seas said they had to wait in lines outside of restrooms and there were often crowds waiting for elevators. Very long distances to walk from one venue to the next doesn't appeal to us, even though we are into walking.

I don't think marine life is too concerned with spawning in this frigid water.

Absolutely, find another cabin. Living below the galley is pure torture and living above can't be much better. Sound waves tend to travel upward and if you are unfortunate enough to be above the bakery, where they bake all night long, you're in for many sleepless nights.

Get a balcony, you can enjoy it in almost any weather. More important to us is sailing from East to West in the Fall. We tried one Springtime TA heading East. You lose an hour each day for the first six days. By then you're having dinner at 1:00pm body time. Reverse that and head West toward the U.S. and you increase "Happy Hour" by one hour daily.

Barcelona, and don't miss touring the Market on Las Ramblas. Also we had a great stay at Las Ramblas Hotel (Ask for room on west side 6 or 7th floor) and Hotel Continental with free beer and wine 24 hours a day..

The Pros;

There is no better port for food and music than N/O. Stay a few days before or after your cruise to absorb some of the culture and lifestyle of this special city. Try Mother's, Deanies, Bon Ton and ACME for food and enjoy the music wherever you find it. It's all good.

The six hour trip down the Mississippi at night is beautiful. All the refineries and the river's navigation lights combine to form a real nighttime spectacle.

The Cons;

Most cruises are limited to the Western Caribbean.

We were on Vision in June and a friend was aboard for the same Charleston/Bermuda trip in September. We both experienced problems with disorganization among the Main Dining staff, cold food and long waits between courses. Sometimes it would take two and a half hours to finish dinner. Has anyone been aboard recently who can tell us if these annoying problems have been corrected?

If you plan to spend your honeymoon leaning over the railing looking for whales it's gonna' be a long lonely trip. We've done four T/A's and have not seen whales nor dolphin yet. You may spot schools of tuna and an occasional "flying" fish but that's about all unless you're extremely lucky or take a different route.

Imodium, Don't leave home without it.

We like the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Griffin Rd. in Dania Beach. It's 15 minutes to the port and will provide 25 days of free parking for a one night stay. The limo to/from Port Everglades costs $8 each. They also include a terrific full breakfast.

Get a second opinion and do some more research. DCOY has the right idea and exercise seems to reduce or stabilize blood sugar levels more than diet. It also depends on where the lab sets the bar. Some consider an A1c above 6.5 to be diabetes yet, for some, a goal of 7.0 is recommended for acceptable control of type II. Other labs consider fasting b/s readings above 110 to be pre diabetes while others don't recommend meds unless readings are above 130. Have a great cruise and make some small lifestyle changes first to see if it brings results. It worked for me.

Always spend the night locally before the cruise. There are hotels that allow you to leave your car free up to 25 days just for one nights stay. Plus many of them include a free breakfast and a nominal charge for a van to the port. You are on your own for the return trip so be prepared to pay for a taxi. In Key West we liked the HOHO bus and Mel Fisher's Museum.

We've done four TA's and enjoyed them all. They seem to have extra activities for all sea days such as food demonstrations, camera/photo discussions and lectures from interesting people such as retired Diplomats, FBI agents, History professors and others. I would suggest flying over and cruising back to the U.S. for several reasons. When leaving U.S. ports heading East you usually traverse six different time zones during the first seven days. Moving your clock forward each day means on the seventh day you are having dinner around 1:00PM body time plus you've lost six hours of happy hour. Also, if you book through RCI or Celebrity you will be able to book flights through Choice Air. (A program offering discounted airfare on major airlines. Ask your travel agent about it.) We have had flights from Ft. Lauderdale to Barcelona as low as $550 each.

At that height and weight you might have a problem with the shower and the john. I'm 6-3 @ 235 pounds and some shower stalls have been tight. Maybe you should book one of the handicapped rooms that have larger facilities. I think you would be more comfortable. Bon Voyage'

In 1936 my parents built the first "Tourist Court" on the south side of Atlanta, Ga. They wanted to attract "family" business only with no "monkey business" allowed. There was a large sign painted on the office that read, "Tourists Only". I've never seen a ship with that painted on it. Have fun.

Trunk Bay is one of the most scenic spots on the island. It also has an underwater snorkeling train to follow. This beach is the one you see on every brochure concerning St. John. Don't miss it.

On returning to the ship in Falmouth I was aggressively challenged by a local security guard. I had bought nothing so I placed my camera on the belt and proceeded through the gateway. He wanted to know what I had in my pockets. So I emptied my keys and change. He then demanded to know what else I had so I gave him my chap stick and money clip. Still not satisfied he wanted to know about anything else. I showed him my wallet and told him, "Tell me what you're looking for and I'll show it to you if I have it". He said "If I find it I'll let you know". This jerk was apparently looking for drugs and thought I was a "Mule" or just being nasty to this 75 year old. Jamaica is the worst so we don't visit these ports anymore.

Most problems at sea don't occur in the open ocean but closer to land or in shallow water. Think Concordia. Mishaps are extremely rare and you can feel secure in knowing that every precaution has been taken to mitigate every type of emergency situation. Also the crew has been thoroughly trained to protect you and the ship. They are frequently practicing for emergencies while you are enjoying your trip ashore. Chill and enjoy the trip.

We had two 14 day cruises booked when we heard about the RCI shareholder plan. We called to confirm we could get the two $250 credits before buying 100 shares. Within three months the stock had increased, paid a dividend and combined with the $500 OBC produced a 41% return. Now, two years later we have gotten many additional credits and the stock alone has produced an 81% return. I certainly hope this pattern continues.

Try Holland America if you like seeing people fight over the last bran muffin and enjoy afternoon naps. NCL will have more people near your age but will try to sell you everything not secured to the ship. I understand Carnival has better food and an interesting party atmosphere. Have your own party then join theirs and bring home some great memories.

Also try Deanie's and the Bon Ton for dinner. Mother's and the New Orleans Seafood and Hamburger company ?( St. Charles?) for lunch.

HAL ships not only include the day of the week, they also include what year you're cruising.

Relax, if there is a storm rolling through the Caribbean the Captain will head for calm waters. Most of the time you will not even feel the ship moving. During all our cruises, which includes four Transatlantic crossings, we've never encountered a problem.