MJSailors

@CatLadyFemme Hoping that you are okay and have returned home by now. Two questions for you. Considering your health issues,would you cruise solo again? With all the effort put into the travel to reach the port and return home,would you take another five day cruise ? Take care MJ

Marietta- Wishing your Charlie a full recovery and good medical care as you both consult with specialists. Glad for him that he is home in comfortable surroundings. That alone should make him,and you,feel better. Take care MJ🙋🏻

Marietta - Hoping your husband feels better today. Dani- Those costumes are gorgeous ! I agree with you about the shoes ! I as wondering if the costumes are kept in personal collections or if they are rented for the Carnival period. Wishing all who post here a good day and a good weekend. MJ🙋🏻

@h20skibum Thinking of you and your family today. MJ🙋🏻

Why not Cunard,Viking or Celebrity? It all depends on the person choosing a cruise ,their style, pocketbook and outlook. Different strokes for different folks. MJ

@EngIceDave I have to debate your theory that Carnval is an entry level cruise experience where customers graduate to a more sophisticated travel experienceafter experiencing the Carnival product in their younger days. Our first cruise was the Big Red Boat out of Port Canaveral. This was in 1986. My DH was 35, I was 33. The next cruise we took was NCL ,NYC to Bermuda in 1993. We were 42 and 40. In 2001,we sailed Cunard,TA from NYC to Southampton ,England. we were 50 and 48. Subsequently, we sailed Princess,Celebrity and NCL. We have never considered Carnival because of the marketing idea that they were the fun ships (remember the commercials featuring Kathy Lee Gifford?)That style of cruising never appealed to us regardless of the low fares or the extensive drink packages offered by Carnival. Carnival’s customer base seems to be people attracted to these low fares,liberal drinking policies and short cruises. Carnival serves a purpose to those who are aware of cost and the opportunity to party for short duration of time. That’s why there are many cruise lines available to offer a cruise product to people who seek various types of vacations. The travel industry is not a one size fits all kind of business. For the President of Carnival to issue a statement about unacceptable behavior on the line’s ships says a lot about the atmosphere on the ships and the passengers’ apparent disregard to having respectful manners in relating to other passengers on a cruise vacation. Being in such an atmosphere may not be appealing to a wide number of vacationers. Therefore they choose another cruise line for a pleasant vacation experience. Carnival is not the type of cruise experience that would support a world cruise. Other lines such as Princess,HAL,Cunard and ,now, Royal Caribbean are cruise lines with the typical demographics that would attract passengers to such voyages. Anyone interested in taking a world cruise would look elsewhere besides Carnival due to the perceived notion of what can go on during a Carnval cruise.. It was posted on the RCCL forum that a world cruise in a grand suite category has a price of over $344,000.00 That is quite pricey and certainly not equivalent to the per day charge of a typical Carnival cruise. As the saying goes- follow the money. MJ

Wishing everyone a happy Valentines Day. Hoping everyone is having a sweet day ! MJ🙋🏻

@HBE4 Broadchurch is on PBS station- WLIW - Long Island.Shows are on Saturdays at 9:31 ( to be exact!) following Midsomer Murders. Our cable service is Optimum. It could be on Channel 13 - PBS for NYC,but I am not sure of day or time. I got hooked on the show this past Fall when we were staying at a friends’ condo in FL. They have a dish that got the PBS station from thePalm Beaches. I know what you mean about having Prime then paying for additional channels. We have Prime,but signed up for Paramount as we wanted to see past seasons of Bluebloods. But,we don’t go to the movies or Broadway shows anymore, so that is how we are reasoning the extra cost. Hope you can find Broadchurch. MJ🙋🏻

@reallyitsmema I like the commercials too. Wondering if Budweiser will have a commercial with the Clydesdales this year? I had forgotten about Gronk kicking a field goal-I agree, should be interesting. MJ🙋🏻

@bobmacliberty I think that you are right. After I sent my post, I was thinking the game would go later. All those commercials have to be given air time and then the half time show extravaganza, makes for extra time than a regular game. We don’t have a particular team in the game. Watching it for ,hopefully,some good football. If Mahomes could play like he did two weeks ago with ankle/tendon injury, he may be on fire tonight. Thinking the Eagles may be the underdog in the game..Being Mets’ fans for years, we are prone to wanting the underdogs to get a chance. For those true Eagles fans and Chiefs fans, wishing you a good game tonight ! MJ🙋🏻

@sgmnSue-Thanks for recommending Clarkson Farm. My grandfather started farming in the early 1900s ,growing mostly potatoes. He also had a local trucking company that would bring produce into the NYC markets. My two uncles took over the farm and business and then a cousin before the property was sold for vineyards belonging to a local winery. So, I think I could relate to that program. I will give it a look. We look forward to Creatures Great and Small on Sunday nights. I recall watching the earlier series when it was on tv and agree,I like the newer version better. The Super Bowl is on tonight at 6:30 in our area. I think it should be finished by 9:00 in time for CG&S. If not, I think we could DVR the program. Wishing you a good Sunday! MJ🙋🏻

Dani- Those city breaks seem lovely and interesting. I can understand how your hubby will enjoy Venice,but could you tell us your plans for Marrakech? I applaud your thought of no cooking for that adventure ! I couldn’ read any book in another language other than English. Perhaps a children’s book written in French, but that would be the limit. I find that though in the Thursday Murder Club there. are many references to British English - a walking frame- in American English is a walker- for example. But, we get by as we watch many British programs on TV or Prime. Tonight,we will be watching Midsommer Murders on our Public Broadcasting Station,followed by Broadchurch. We are also watching Creatures Great and Small on Sunday nights n PBS. Take care- MJ🙋🏻

Dani- Both my hubby and I are reading The Thursday Murder Club and enjoying it. I also took the recommendation of@aussielozzie18. We are at the beginning chapters so, please don’t tell us the ending!😉 I am hoping that you and your hubby and family are having peaceful days after the trying days of the past week. Take care- MJ🙋🏻

We have stayed in mini suites on the Regal Princess three times before March 2020. I assume that those type of cabins cabins remain the same now. The bed area is separated by a heavy curtain. There is a flat screen tv across from the bed. There are two night tables on either side of the bed with drawers. The sitting area consists of a sofa, coffee table, counter space unit with under counter drawers, a large mirror and small refrigerator. There is a flat screen tv for the sitting area. The balconies are somewhat smaller on the Regal class ships compared to those on the Grand class ships- Caribbean Princess for example. The mini suites on Dolphin deck do not have any overhead coverage. Passengers on decks above can see onto the Dolphin deck balconies. You could check either Caribe or Baja decks to see if there are mini suites on those decks. We have had cabins on both Dolphin and Baja decks and felt comfortable on both decks. RCCL may offer certain perks attached to junior suite accommodations. I do not recall perks associated with the mini suites on Princess. But, it has been some time since we were on a cruise,unfortunately. I would suggest that you look at deck plans and the layouts of the cabins- square footage etc before you make any final decision concerning booking any cruise. I hope this helps. MJ🙋🏻

@Katems75 How was the deposit for the cruise paid ? Credit card or check.? I would follow through with the same payment method for the cruise fare balance. MJ🙋🏻

Choose the Summit unless you want to deal with a Spring Break partying college crowd. My DH and I have sailed on the Summit three Times when the ship was doing Bermuda cruises out of Bayonne,NJ. We enjoyed all the cruises. The Summit has an enclosed pool area that is adult only. It is pleasant and relaxing. There are activities and shows on the Summit,but we found that we filled our sea days with what we felt like doing- using the gym,walking around the ship both inside and outside,having leisurely meals either in the MDR or the buffet,going to a lounge for music in the evenings or a show. There are no sexy legs contests, loud announcements or raunchy comedians on the Summit. If you want a pleasant atmosphere, attentive service and a relaxing vacation experience, Summit would be the better choice for you and your daughter. MJ🙋🏻

@brilloheadand @Ozark_Kid Thanks for doing this review. Glad that you both enjoyed the cruise. Wishing you both happy travels- either enjoying the ship for this week or flying home today. MJ🙋🏻

@crewsweeper Not good news about your gout diagnosis and the limits on alcohol drinks,especially beer. But,good that you are mindful of what you can drink and enjoy. Your body will thank you. Wishing you a healthy and enjoyable cruise ! MJ🙋🏻

@Cruise Kay I have read this tip on CC.if there is a sewer smell in the bathroom,it could be coming from the drain. Pour water down the drain and the smell should subside. If that doesn’t work, I would go to the Guest Services desk to let them know about the situation and also mention the smell on various areas of the ship. If enough passengers complain about the smell, maybe something can be done. MJ🙋🏻

As a retired teacher, Godmother of four, aunt of five,great aunt of four, and Nana to two teenagers who are family rather than friends, I feel a need to respond to the posts about the generation who are now teenagers. When I hear that this group is indulged, lack coping skills and are self- centered, I have to ask, who made these kids that way ? Parents, grandparents and peer pressure have influenced these kids either in a positive or negative way. We have friends that have three adult daughters all in their thirties. None are married or in any kind of serious relationship. They are attractive, intelligent women employed in various professional fields. Their mother bemoans the fact that they are single. The father has said, numerous times, that he and his wife created princesses who have very high standards and a reluctance to compromise which makes prospective relationships difficult. I grew up in the 50s and 60s. It was a good time to come of age. However,somewhere in the late 70s and the 80s I noticed a change in my generation’s culture. Weddings became increasingly extravagant, more expensive luxury level cars were being bought, vacations became more lavish and everyone in my circle of friends bought homes shortly after getting married.Some were gifted homes by their parents. This is the generation who are now grandparents of these indulged teenagers . My “grandson” was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was seven. He is now sixteen and handles the disease and all that is involved with it quite well. He and his sister are on school athletic teams,. He is a fencer and she plays volleyball. His parents insist on dinner together every night. Both kids have Summer jobs. He works at a local agricultural farm,she works att a nearby llama farm. Last Fall,the farm owner selected her to go to the Big E Fair in Massachusetts to show the llamas in a few events. She placed well in the events and came home with some medals. Are they perfect kids-no. They have their moments. They are teenagers. But,they are kind and caring individuals. I will be 70 very soon. I have hopes for this young generation. I am also concerned for them because the world as we know it is not a very good place right now. While every generation had issues to deal with on a global sense- wars, financial recessions and depressions, assassinations of political leaders, they did survive somehow. I understand some of the issues the teens and young adults are facing now. It is not easy. And yet , the ones that I love as my own children. continue living interesting,productive lives. They celebrate good times,care for their families and try the best way they know how. So,that is my response. I hope I did not write too much. Wishing you all a good Wednesday. MJ🙋🏻

@lesters I have two ideas. Apparently rice pudding is served at least once on a cruise. Perhaps there might be some stored in a refrigerator in the kitchen.If that is the case, maybe you could ask your waiter if some could be served to your father at dessert time. Not sure about Carnival restaurants, but some land based restaurants use pre-made rice pudding instead of cooking it on premises. If that is the case, there may be some stored on the ships. Also- would your father enjoy creme brûlée as a substitute for rice pudding ? Wishing you and your family a pleasant vacation. MJ🙋🏻

Lenny- Happy anniversary to you and Toby !🥂🥳💝💐⭐️🎂 Cheers! MJ🙋🏻

@Hoosierpop You said it in your post. “Why other people being rude affects people is a mystery to me.” Enough said. MJ

@Indytraveler83 Regarding dress codes on Celebrity. In July,2019, my DH and I went on the Celebrity Summit for a cruise to Bermuda with a younger couple and their two children ,ages 12 and 8. Both my husband and the Dad of the children decided before the cruise that they would take dress pants,long sleeve dress shirts and ties for dinner in the MDR. They were comfortable and totally accepted in the dining room. On “formal night” I recall seeing two men wearing tuxes. Our gentlemen wore ties on formal night,other nights,they wore open shirt collars. Celebrity,like so many cruise lines,have relaxed the dress codes. Gone are the days of tuxes,dinner jackets and long gowns worn by passengers for the formal nights. We,being of a different generation, regret that this has happened, but go along with the changes. While Celebrity has relaxed the dress codes, I do not think that you will see shorts,T-shirts or backwards worn baseball caps at dinner in the MDR. I agree with your assessment of NCL. We sailed on NCL Dream,many years ago and really enjoyed the cruise. We returned to NCL in 2017 and 2018 on the Breakaway to Bermuda from NYC because of the convenience of the home port and our love of vacationing in Bermuda. We did enjoy the two cruises,but felt the vibe was not for us and we would not choose NCL if we ever return to cruising due to Covid concerns. One of my husband’s doctors took his family on a Breakaway cruise and his impression was that it was like Caligula and was not pleased with the experience. But,that is why there are many cruise lines to choose from. What pleases one person, is a disappointment for someone else. MJ🙋🏻

@Hoosierpop My husband and I have cruised out of NY and NJ numerous times on Celebrity,NCL, Cunard and Princess since we began cruising in 2004. Since we live on Long Island,NY, the ports of Manhattan,Red Hook,Brooklyn and Bayonne ,NJ are home ports for us. On the nine cruises that we have taken from these ports,we have never experienced rude,boorish or uncivilized passenger behavior. We have enjoyed each of those cruises. IMHO,your comment about people from NY,NJ having grumpy attitudes is unfair. You are making a blanket statement about a group of people perhaps based on stereotypes. Pardon me, but I think you are making a biased statement. Also,saying that “living in NY/NJ must stink” is also an unfair statement. There are many excellent areas of both states that people are pleased to call their home. Again,your statement reflects a stereotype that you believe to be correct. Have you ever spent some time in NY and/or NJ ? Do you personally know anyone from either of those states? If you either visited or were friendly with some NY/NJ people, you may have a different perception of the places and people. MJ