denisey

Thanks for the great review Tom. I am enjoying it! I had some friends on this cruise, so it is nice to hear more about it.

I also want to say I appreciate the links to the daily's and additional pictures...they are easily available for anyone who wants to look at them, but not cluttering up the review for anyone who doesn't!

All settled in and ready for a great review!

:)

Denise -- Lol -- no way I'm giving back the reward... earned that sucker for having to endure the grumpyest kid ever for half a year:D. It gets an imaginative choice seat on the bookshelf!

 

Stef

Well...alright, you can keep it. But only if you promise to do something really mean...like make him clean his room or do his school work!

That's it, I am revoking your Meanest Parents of the Year Award!

I'm so glad everyone had a great time, without any "exciting" adventures! Can't wait to hear about them.

Denise

I have my timed tickets to get into St Marks purchased. Thanks for the tip Cath...I'll let everyone know how they worked when I get back (this is for a May trip)

Have a fabulous trip!!!!!

Something I do on planes during cold and flu season is to swab the inside of my nose with Neosporin. It keeps things moist, and catches some of the germs. I don't know if they sell this in Germany, but it is a gel that has antibiotics in it, usually used for scrapes and burns.

I can't wait to hear about your adventures!

:)3:)

 

camera all set ... luggage packed .... get those cocktails mixed we're almost there!

Yah!

ANNNNDDDD Unfortunately you won't be hearing from me for another few days as we are going to ROME tomorrow ( happy dance).

 

Hey, maybe I will throw in some Rome pics to make up for the delay when I get back.

 

Catherine :)

Rome! Sigh! I hope you are having fun!

And if you happen to be in Venice on May 14-16, I'll buy you a drink!

:)

:)10:)

Yay! Tomorrow, single digit!

I guess the good thing about a last minute cruise is that you don't have to wait so long! And we don't have to wait so long for a review!

We're still the meanest parents in the world and its getting worse the closer the actual trip approaches...

Stef

Yes, I am sure your Meanest Parents of the Year award is on its way now!

But it is very exciting that your documents have arrived! Yah!

:)Whoohoo -- only three more weeks till the next cruise!

 

I'm soooo excited. Cruise spreadsheet all done... planning finished (well, at least to an extent I can live with considering the short time), diet coming along (gotta fit in a formal dress somehow) and excitement level rising daily.

 

:D:):rolleyes:I think I might start dragging the trolleys out today and start laying first "must take along" stuff in my still:rolleyes: unrenovated packing room:D.

 

Stef

Yah! How exciting! Is Tarik getting excited about his ski trip? Hopefully he isn't too sad to not be going with you. We'll miss his great picture taking abilities.

hee hee, you crack me up Denisey. Glad to report we didn't miss the boat, I like to leave that to expert planners like Stef :D

Yes, it does seem to take a lot of planning to miss the ship!

Oooooooooh! Noooooooooo! are Cath and Grrrr going to get stuck in Kotor, being sustained only by pineapple juice........

Wow! Well worth the wait! I've wanted to go to that side of things, but DH is perfectly happy staying in Italy!

Thanks for coming back!

:DLol -- should I write the new one in German to prove it? Just kidding.

 

Stef

I can learn German in 2-3 months, right? I would know to concentrate on the nautical words!

Okay, I am giving you a standing ovation for the best cruise review yet! Yaaaaah!!!!! Brava!!!!!

Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!

Looking forward to the next one in about 2 months...38 days until the cruise, time on the ship, time to get home an unpack...then back to work! Have a fabulous next cruise!

Denise

Okay, the Secret of Kells is on my to do list!

I'm glad the family let you go into the museum! Hopefully when you get back to Ireland, they won't want to see the airplane the whole time you are there! :D

I know it was really stressful for you, and more expenses than you wanted, but for a cruise disaster, this wasn't too bad (from a distance of 2 months and several thousand kilometers away!)

Still loving the review!

I know this is hard to believe, but same birthday for my Dad. This is weird.

Too funny! And while I have a brother named Robert, he doesn't live in IL or go by Bob!

:DWhoohoo -- May 8th is a good day! It's Tanja's birthday.

 

 

Stef

My Dad's birthday is May 8th also! Goes to show, only good people are born that day!

I'm looking for a place to start a blog, so I'll be ready to review.

Stef,

I am enjoying your review so much, it seems to have been going on forever. I look forward to every new entry and the pics. Your words and pictures make us feel like we are on the cruise with you. Now here is something crazy...last night I dreamed I WAS on the cruise with you :eek:

 

I'm not sure if this should be scary to me, you, or both of us LOL. But it just goes to show how we all have been drawn in to your excellent posts. Amazing how we're all spread out all over the world but with your posts it's like we're right there with you on the ship....or racing to get back to the ship LOL. Keep those pics and summaries coming. Can't read to read your next cruise review.

I feel the same way Cruiser!

:) It was a super bargain, because its not in a school holiday. We can only book because Tarik will be gone on a skiing trip with his school. Of course he's madder than hell right now, because he would much rather join us than go skiing:rolleyes:. :DDid ya know we're the meanest parents in the whole world?

 

We got the last two seats in the plane offered in this deal. I'm so psyched!

 

Our stops will be Tenerife (gotta go see the penguins in Loro Park -- been there berfore and loved it!), La Palma (pure romantic nature --never been), Fuerteventura (mh, beach? no clue yet) and best of all one and a half days in Madeira (oh all the possibilities!)!!!!!

 

Lol and of course we'll be travelling with our cherished Italian cruiseline again --- MSC.

 

Viva Italia!

 

 

Stef

Oooooh! Madeira! You have to do the Tobogan ride

And drink some Madeira before you go. It is rather an acquired taste.

Lol -- no worries Denise! I don't think you're one bit creepy.

 

I love the fact that I can tell Tanja now that she was hanging out on your table on the other side of the world:D!

 

How much longer till your trip? Excited yet?

 

I know that I am, since we just booked a last minute cruise yesterday (well 51 more days till we embark -- but in my book that's like tomorrow). Yeesh, I'm not even done with finishing the last review! And even today, acute frantic planning and review writing sort of don't go too well together. But no worries, I'll try to keep you all's daily posts coming.

 

Stef

Yah! A new cruise review to look forward too! And, yup, Tanja is famous across the world!

We leave on May 8th and I am in the panicky-I-don't-have-anything-done mode! I put everything away at Christmas, and have just pulled it all out again. I think it will all come together once I start actually working on it. We do have most of our hotels!

Have fun planning!

Well, I have a funny story to tell about this review, but hesitate because I don't want you to think I am creepy-stalker woman! So keep that in mind...

I was cleaning the house for Christmas and was clearing off the dining room table, where all the paper seems to accumulate. And what did I see but a picture of Tanja!

What?!?!

I mean she is a lovely person, and I feel like you three are family after your reviews, but why is there a picture of Tanja on my table??????

I looked a the paper and it is the part of your review of the beach day in Ravenna. The first picture on that day is Tanja's happy face at seeing the beach. I had printed that whole section out, in case we decided to go to the beach when we are near Ravenna. Stef gives such clear instructions, I knew they would be helpful. We are also going to Bologna and you had some good hints on things to do there!

I do have some other sections of this review, as well as IrishCath's, MADQ, crvng4mr, Kirians, windjammers sections that will be helpful in my binder.

So, I'm not a creepy-stalker woman (I hope!) just taking some good advice!

Denise

Ooh! Beach day! We are going to be in Ravenna in May, and now you have me thinking!

To bess128, I agree it is worth the effort to see some of Venice while there. Keep an eye on time and give yourself plenty of time. You can also take the vaporetto to and/or from St Marks. Rick Steves has a free audio guide that narrates the Grand Canal.