BJane

There can be exceptions. Many years ago we went on a cruise after my late husband had a serious skin cancer removed from his head. When we were invited to the captains table I spoke to the person in charge, explaining that

wearing a cap was necessary both in preventing injury to the wound and

covering an unsightly area. He assured us that there would be

no problem. As it turned out this would be our last cruise. My husband died a few months after we returned home; not from the skin cancer, but

from multiple myloma.

My first three were Song of Norway in 1983, Nordic Prince in 1985 and Sun Viking in 1988. I loved the old ships and stopped cruising when the new larger ships became the norm. I began flying to the East Coast every fall and driving through New England. That was a real treat for a California person. I no longer travel due to health issues, but I have wonderful memories and lots of photo albums!

Westerdam, Vancouver round trip July 1991. Ship was originally Home Lines Homeric.

He always reminds of us the man in the old Philip Morris cigarette commercials.

Only slightly off topic, but your post reminds me of when my late father was a California Highway Patrolman and stopped a speeder on the infamous Highway 99 in Tulare County. The driver was the man in the commercials and he even had his uniform on when he got his speeding ticket!

When I was cruising I took pictures (profiles taken from shore) of the ships I went on. I have 15 of the photos enlarged and framed. They are hanging on my dining room wall and everyone who comes into the house stops to look at them and comment about the photos and the cruises that they have taken or would like to take.

I'm surprised it takes so long. When my Amex number was stolen and used at 7/11 the attempted charge was declined and I was notified that my card had been cancelled and that I would receive a new one that same day from UPS. I would still like to know how this person got my number since I've never been in a 7/11!

My first rollator did not have hand brakes. After a cruise to Alaskan ports during which the rollator controlled my speed going down the gangway I bought one that did have hand brakes! Never had a problem on airplanes. It was always waiting for me as I got off the plane. Only problem I remember was the difficulty getting down ship corridors when cleaning carts were out.

My first cruise was also on NCL Starward in 1979. I went with three girl friends and none of us had every cruised before. I will never forget sailing into our first port which was Port Antonio, Jamaica. We had a wonderful time and when the man I was dating wanted to get married I agreed if we could take a cruise for a honeymoon. We did and we went on take many more before he became ill and we had to stop. I am so grateful for the many memories I have.

Long ago we had a waiter who had spent some time in Michigan. When he was once again our waiter four years later he not only remembered us, but remembered that I had a son who attended college in Michigan.

I use the same method that Cruisin' Girl described. It has always worked for me on other sites, so why not use it on this one.

In Alaska a room where the bed is next to the sliding door to the balcony.

It was COLD! (Yes, we kept the door closed.)

Must do excursions for my trips to Halifax always included Peggy's Cove and the cemetery where the Titanic victims are buried. Also there is a nice

museum quite near where our ships were docked.

Long ago, 1990, we took the 9/2 cruise on RCI that was the last of the season. IT WAS COLD!! However, Alaska is so magnificent that if that's the time you can go just bundle up and enjoy. I also been up there when they were having a heat wave, nearly 90. That was worse than the cold.

Have a great trip.

My first cruise was in 1979. I remember how surprised I was in 1995 when there was a child on the ship (RCI). It was a first for us! The infant was the son of the captain who had brought his wife and child with him. How things have changed since that long ago time.

I agree that "Burning Cold" is a fascinating book. I remember well the media coverage of the Prinsendam sinking. When we visited Valdez on a shore excursion in the late 1990s as we wandered around we came upon the Valdez Museum. There was a Prinsendam lifeboat on display outside. There were also copies of newspaper articles about the incident posted on the outside wall of the museum. Lifeboats have changed dramatically since then!!

I have photos of boarding each ship we sailed on as well as table photos from each cruise. They are in binders along with a short story of each of our cruises. Now that I'm a widow I am so glad to have them. I look at them often and remember how much fun we had. Maybe things have changed, but back then we never had a problem just politely saying "no thank you".

Many years ago we could not find a 14 day cruise that we wanted so we made one up. We did a 7 day Miami to Miami. We got off the ship in Miami, went straight to the airport , flew to San Juan and boarded another ship for seven days in and out of San Juan. (Both were on RCI, not HAL)

We had a cabin under a piano bar once. (Can't remember which ship it was). We could not hear the entire song, only the thump of the base notes! It was very annoying.

Check YouTube for versions of If I Were Not Upon the Sea. I saw it many times on RCI or RCCL as it was when I started sailing and thought it as hilarious.

I remember Song of America from way back when she was considered a large ship! In 1985 we were on Nordic Prince for an overnight stay in St. Thomas and Song of America was in port with us. We were able to go on board to have lunch and were amazed at how "big" a ship she was. We later cruised on her twice and enjoyed each trip.

The gospel musicians who will be on your cruise are some of the most talented people that you will find on a cruise ship. I have been involved with music most of my life and have come to be a big fan of a lot of the southern gospel music although I'm a West Coast Episcopalian. Your cruise will include The Booth Bros. whose harmony is just amazing. The mother of the Collingsworth Family is an amazing pianist. Give it a try. I think you'll be surprised.

elycelynne, thanks for the speedy reply! I appreciate it.

Is Diane by any chance Diane Anderson? I remember her from Royal Caribbean way back when. I'm afraid to mention this because it will get unkind remarks, but I did sing in piano bars. I was lucky enough to sail

with Perry Grant several times. He always set up a special table for me and my late husband. I didn't seem to upset people in those days. The only comments I got were when we got there a little late and people were waiting for me. I sang with Perry on his last night on HAL. Great memories.

What wonderful memories the photo of the piano in the Schooner Bar brings back. We sailed to Alaska on the Vision in 2001 and 1999. On one of those cruises the piano player found out that I could sing. He got me a microphone and I became the entertainment. I do not cruise any longer, but it's so nice to think back on my 44 wonderful trips and realize how lucky I was.

I also love the history of the older ships. A few years ago we flew from our home in California to Philadelphia to begin a driving vacation through Pennsylvania. Our first stop was the SS United States. Even though it was in really bad shape it was exciting to see it. At the time I worked with a man who, as a child in a military family, had sailed home from Europe aboard the ship. He even brought a passenger list in for me to see.