glomarrone

We made ours into a table top covers for our nightstands. Just stuck them to a firm base - nothing fancy, but always fun to wake up and see their lovely blue and white colors. Plus they now protect the table tops from our morning coffee cups.

Sounds like a neat idea!:cool:

Thanks for posting the photo of the new tile. I have several of the old one so a new design is welcomed. Has anyone done anything with the tiles? I was considering tiling a tray with them. Gloria

Usually I read near the pool or I attend a lecture or talk. Mostly I do both. Sea days give me a chance to scroll through my photos.

We have so many sea days on our next 7night. Thought it would be fun to share what people enjoy doing on any line. For me Royal(oasis class) would be watching my son zipline (did it once myself! But now I'm a watcher) Celebrity -mixology class once and behind the scenes kitchen tour and bingo and Disney- watching my son interact with any character.

 

How do you spend your days at sea?

 

 

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I have created door signs for my cabins aboard many different cruise lines. I use magnets if the door is metal; otherwise I use those adhesive squares that are very easy to remove. I have never damaged a door using these. They are called Removable Mounting Squares and are made by different companies. Find them in the stationary dept even supermarkets carry them.

I usually print a photo of the ship from the Internet & list the name of the cruise, the itinerary & date underneath. Sometimes I include small photos of the ports of call. Use your imagination. This is YOUR cruise. Forget what others say. I have received many compliments on my creations. I also make up personalized Tees and passengers want to buy them.

I do the signs because I can locate my cabin door faster. Others tell me that they use my sign to help them find their cabin too. All the cabin doors look the same & my eyesight is not the best. Enjoy your cruise. Some of the cruise lines like Carnival SELL door decorations or cabin decorations. Once I used a print out of an email Carnival sent me for my birthday and put it inside a see through sleeve. It was so cute!

If you don't have the time to print up your own decoration, look in the stores that sell to teachers and pick up a prepared one. For example on a recent Caribbean cruise I bought a cut out of a large cardboard sand castle. I am cruising over Valentine's Day next year so I'll stop into a dollar store & find a cut out of a heart and use that.

OK I am a former teacher but adding a little fun to a trip enhances it for me. Perhaps I am a kid at heart. It keeps me young. Oh one time I was traveling with a group and others did decorate my hotel door for my anniversary. I loved it, took a photograph of it and saved it, too.

Don't be afraid to be different. Thank goodness that we all don't think alike! Life would be boring then.

I, too, have sailed on this ship and really enjoyed the cruise. She is a wonderful ship, I agree. It is too bad that this ship is the one being replaced. :(

I just read the announcement in Florida Today newspaper that RCCL will base the Oasis of the Seas at Port Canaveral next winter. This is great news for Port Canaveral. It recently built Terminal 1 to support an Oasis-class ship with the partnership of RCCL. This was bound to happen. The Oasis of the Seas replaces the popular but small Freedom of the Seas, which will move to Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale.) The arrival of the Oasis will boost passenger figures at Port Canaveral.:)

Glad to hear that HAL compared so favorable. I agree with almost everything that you wrote - so many cruise lines are eliminating the conditioners, for example, happy to read that HAL isn't.

I do however like the plays. I guess that I am old fashioned. Really what I like are the variety shows with the singers & the dancers. I take cruises to visit new ports, to enjoy the meals and for wonderful nightly entertainment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I enjoyed reading your post. Gloria

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I have now ruled out renting a fridge. I will tell my husband about your idea. I'm sure that will work fine. I appreciate the information. Gloria

Gloria - HAL does NOT recommend that you keep meds in the fridge in your room as they do not guarantee the temperatures. A regular ocean view room does not have a fridge but you can rent one - but I recommend against that.

 

I also travel with temperature sensitive meds and always have them stored the medical facility as they monitor the temps of the fridges. I just put them into a zip bag, add my name and cabin number to the bag and they store them. Also do the same to the freezer packs and they will put those in the freezer for me so it is ready to go when it is time to disembark. The medical facility opens at 8 am on most days and stays open until about 6-7 each evening, with an hour break for lunch. Have asked the staff if they could open early one day as we had a 1st off tour to the pyramids and one of the nurses opened up at 7 for me to get my meds.

 

Please reconsider keeping your meds in the room fridge as we have had soda freeze in 1 fridge - it was a mess!

Do ocean view rooms on the Amsterdam have fridges in them? My husband needs one for his meds.

Suppose you do not want bar service, just have a get together without drinks, is there still a cost on Carnival? Many people do not drink. Gloria

:confused:

Gloriaquote=jnojr;29018240]For the archives...

The number to call is (800) 438-6744 X70006

There's a minimum of 20 people. For one hour with open bar and snacks, it's $9.95 per person + 15% gratuity. For two hours, $17 pp + 15% They recommended setting this up no later than a month before the sail date.

Yes, this is hard to estimate because sometime we get a generous OBC and shareholders credit - other times not. Generally speaking we spend over and above Shore Excursions which are usually pre-paid about $300 - $400 which we pay with a credit card. On our last Allure trip we actually got a refund because the cruiseline gave us all extra OBC because of mechanical problems that delayed our docking in a port. Our onboard spending center mostly on wine bottles at dinner and shopping in the gift shops. To that, I would add tips on Shore Excursions between $5 - $10 per tour depending on length for both of us and shopping purchases onshore which can range from $0 to up to $200 - $300 more. I think that $500 would be a safe total estimate. We do not generally order drinks, visit the spa or specialty restaurants unless treated by our TA - usually not for a 7-night cruise. Hope this helps. :) Gloria

52 vegetarian dishes featured, largest selection at sea

Seattle, Wash., May 2, 2012 — Holland America Line has introduced a new alternative, vegetarian-only menu, as well as 30 new vegetarian dishes to their main dining room menu, furthering the line's commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences for all guests.

Holland America Line’s award-winning Master Chef Rudi Sodamin has designed an exclusive 22-dish vegetarian and vegan menu that highlights vegetables and other naturally healthy ingredients in vibrant, flavorful culinary selections. The alternative menu includes a full range of appetizers, salads, soups and main entrées, and is available upon request at no extra cost for lunch and dinner in the main dining room aboard all 15 ships in the fleet.

"Many more people are choosing a vegetarian culinary experience, yet the options can be limited," said Richard Meadows, Holland America Line’s executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs. "By offering a complete vegetarian-only menu and the largest vegetarian selection at sea, we are ensuring that all guests can take part in an exceptional dining experience while cruising with Holland America Line.”

The savory collection of dishes on the new vegetarian-only menu include Portobello Mushroom and Chipotle Quesadillas, Vietnamese Vegetable Spring Rolls, Curried Vegetable Empanadas, Spicy Lentil and Garbanzo Salad, Sweet and Sour Vegetable Tempura, Vegetable Jambalaya, Grilled Vegetable and Tofu Kebobs, and Baked Cheese Polenta with Mushrooms and Artichoke Hearts.

In addition to the new vegetarian-only menu, 30 new vegetarian dishes will be added to the main dining room menu. These offerings also will be featured as a second vegetarian option in the casual Lido buffet during lunch. Additionally, every dinner menu will now offer guests the option of one appetizer, one soup or salad, and at least one vegetarian entrée each evening, increasing the total number of vegetarian options on board to 52 delectable dishes.

Some of the newly expanded vegetarian selections on the main dining room menu include Corn and Zucchini Pancakes served with Southwest-style cous cous salad, Asparagus and Zucchini Torte with wild rice and sun-dried tomato coulees, Carrot and Parmesan Risotto topped with a lemony arugula salad and crispy carrot ribbons, and Grilled Eggplant and Bell Pepper Masala braised in yogurt with Indian spices and served with coconut-pistachio basmati rice. :) Gloria

We were on the MSC Poesia last year on an Irish Themed cruise. The one next year is on the MSC Divina, a new ship on Feb 1. There are lots of repeat cruisers with the Andy Cooney group so I guess that you could say, people were sastisfied.f anyone wants more information, let me know. Gloria

See you on the cruise.

We will be on the Divina, also. Gloria

I enjoyed your review of both Barcelona & The Breeze. We had a great time, too & loved the ship. Gloria

Cute door sign. I made one on VistaPrint for my TA on The Breeze. The door was wood but I brought with me the removeable foam sticky poster mounting squares and they removed so easily without any residue. The magnetic door sign and my poster stayed up the whole 16 nights without any problem, Gloria

Hi,

I made mine on the Vista Prints site. It is magnatic. But even if the doors are not magnetic, I will use Scotch Removable Mounting Squares as I did on the Oasis for my paper sign. My design is no longer up however& it is too personalized for you to use. Sorry that I can't help you out more. What you really need to start with is a very sharp photo of the ship. The site will guide you step by step from there. Gloria

Hi,

I loved your post about decorating your door on cruise ships. I have never done this before but am thinking about it for my TA on the Carnival Breeze. I hope that nobody takes my door sign or moves it to someone else's door. :) Gloria

Thanks for the information about the passageways on The Carnival Breeze. I really appreciate your reply.

I noticed that you have gone and are going again on the Poesia for a music themed cruise. I am going on that ship in Feb. for an Irish Music & dance themed cruise. I assume that you enjoyed the ship if you are returning. Anything that I should be aware of about this cruiseline? Enjoy your cruise.

Gloria.

Personally, I like the idea and may do it for my cruise on

Carnival Breeze.

Hi,

We received two nice upgrades over the years. When we were traveling with our young children we were upgraded to a suite simply because, we were told, that we were a family of four. How nice of HAL!

The second time was more recent. It was on a river cruise and someone wanted to be near their friends and so wanted our cabin. They asked us if we minded being changed - we hadn't even checked in on the ship yet and of course we agreed. Aside from those two occasions we haven't been upgraded much to any degree except for promotions at the time of booking. We have booked Guaranteed Catagories and have received small upgrades maybe closer to mid-ship. However, the uncertainty of what we might get probably wasn't worth it. Gloria

Thanks so much for all your information. I'm printing it out & will keep it in my folder for the cruise. Gloria

Hi,

I am trying to book a cruise with Andy Cooney on the Poesia in February. I have a lot of questions. Can anyone tell me how they fit in the extra shows? How do you distinguish that you are with Andy? Can everyone hear the outdoor shows? Was there anything that I should know about MSC before I take the cruise. Any information is helpful to me. Gloria, originally from NY now living in FL.:cool:

Hi,

We are considering taking this cruise next year. How does it work having other passengers onboard but not as part of Andy's group? Do they have access to our outdoor entertainment? Are we still able (have time) to see the ship's regular entertainment? I really enjoy the revue shows. How are we distinguished from the regular passengers? Does Andy's group eat at a certain time? When was that on your crise if they do? I read every single word that you wrote & am looking forward to the same cruise next year? What about the ship, its service, did the crew speak English, was there a lot of extra costs for things on board? Thanks for any help that you can give me. Gloria