bragstarr

Down another two pounds today. Total of 4.2 in two weeks....which is great for me, I'm a 5'2 overweight shrimp. I asked my leader if I could mix the week with Simply Filling and counting points and she said definitely as long as I didn't go over the 49 for the week of extra points. Tomorrow is DH's birthday and we are going to Fire Island to eat, so I may be tempted there...thank goodness for fresh seafood.....!

Regarding the 49 points, I think the less of them used in any way the better because it's less calories we consume. However, if I did not have a few points to play with one way or another daily that's when I'd crack and eat a slab of chocolate cake! So, better to have my three point WW Chocolate ice cream pop to look forward to in the evening! That 26 points daily is constricting and I almost like the Simple Start better although I daresay being able to chose what plan to use daily depending on your daily situation would make things a bit more convenient. I would think when we consume the 49 over the week would not make a difference unless we eat all 49 in one day.

It's also what a former leader said.....if you're at the 26 daily points and just crossed over to them from having 27 points, you're going to lose more than if you are close to goal....the more you have to lose the more successful you are going to be weekly. They discovered the 26 is the least you can have to be healthy, but those short women like me, when close to goal, should probably be allowed less. The end of things at my height are very difficult because it comes off so slowly.

I think a bacon and brewfest would do me in too. We just worked on a charity event this week, but lucky for me, the massive amounts of food offered included a cold seafood bar with lobster, shrimp, salmon etc. and there was tons of lovely fresh fruit and grilled veggies, so I did well with that.

Whether we gain or lose it's still good to have this online support and people to chat with, so everyone have a good weekend and behave!!!

Heartkrazy, can we hula hoop from you in California to me on Long Island??? Lol.....good luck with your weigh in!

Went for my first weigh in and I'm down 2.2 lbs. I'm happy! This leader is also a motivational speaker, and she is really good. Meeting all about finding new ways to move this week.....I'm going to drag out my weighted hula hoop!

I love doing the Simple Start Sunday through Thursday and then counting points Friday & Saturday. I like that I can "let loose" a bit on the weekend & that I can adjust my play days as I want (never more than 2 cheat days in a week, lol). Looking forward to my first cruise next April!!

This would probably confuse the heck out of me! So if you count points only the two days, do you use the 7 allowed extra points Monday through Thursday, or do you keep strictly to Simple Start then and blow all 49 on the weekend?

Weigh in tomorrow...I'll let you know, fingers crossed!

Hi all just looking for a thread to jump in on. I just rejoined WW last Wednesday. I'm lifetime but always manage to fall back down the rabbit hole. My DIL got pregnant, I got "pregnant" with her, she gave birth to my beautiful granddaughter a year ago, and I've just kept getting more and more "pregnant!" I'm at an all time high....so far following the Simple Start has been fairly easy (except for one night at Madison Square Garden when I was starved and ended up eating an all beef hot dog with half the roll). I sure hope I lose something at weigh in Wednesday am. Cruising on NCL Breakaway in January. Looking so forward to it, but I do miss those older ships with a Promenade deck where you could actually do laps around the entire ship deck!

Yankee I was going to book with Spencer, but I just realized it's an option of either the volcano tour or mud baths, not both. Which did you do? I want to do the mud baths very much but am I missing something by not seeing the volcano??

I was honestly going to make the same exact post. I like his website and the sound of his tour, but he's the only one who does not do both places. Top of my list is that mud bath, and I think he does it the way he does so you get sufficient time there. Question is, do we miss much by not seeing the inside of the volcano????

You'd be amazed at what might come forth with the right cabin steward

if a ten dollar bill gets passed somewhere along the line

along with your showing some interest as a collector.

Doesn't surprise me at all. I just plumb forgot. Too busy shoveling Guy's Burgers in my mouth

This is what I do, Conquest not up yet as I need to start a new one.....after my next cruise....one ship card is too lonely!

I've got multiples from many ships, if you want to let me know which one's you are missing I might be able to send them to you. Mine just sit in a bowl on my dresser.

Janey, it's Carnival Conquest. If you had one and would send to me I'd gladly reimburse you for the cost of sending and give numerous thanks!

Thank you all for your answers. I cruise across multiple lines and I do a bit of "scrap booking in a frame" with my ship cards, pins and some small scale souvenirs. It sort of irks me that you used to get a ship pin for every cruise and now they've turned it into another benefit. So I have them from my first cruises in Imagination and Glory on Carnival, will get something from what it read here on my next Carnival cruises since I go up a level and will be missing this ship pin. Something small but frustrating. It's every line, not just Carnival...will these small scale cut backs,. Not paying some ridiculous price on ebay but I will write Carnival and ask if perhaps I can get one. Thanks all.

Was going through some stuff from cruises this morning and realized I never received a ship pin when I was on Carnival Conquest in January. Was my third cruise with Carnival so I assume I should have gotten one. Does anyone know who I can email and possibly get one sent to me?

Great information, I'm thinking of using Glory Tours when I visit in January....

I saw Don's screen name at the beginning of this post and clicked on it.....Don, remember me, Robin aka Julie the cruise director from Merrick? We sailed the Dawn together and you gave me a white captain's hat. NOW I'm sailing Breakaway with Margaret and Steve and some of these NUTZ.....interesting how the people of CC intermingle and connect with one another!!!

I have an IX guarantee for the 12 nighter in January to the Southern Caribbean. I'm being brave. Any and all reports of good cabins you received are good to hear...I hope I don'd end up in a bed in the medical center! BIG jump pricewise to the cheapest cabin you can select...as of now....monitoring daily to see what happens!

I've been on Oasis, in an inside cabin, and have Breakaway booked for January's 12 day S. Carib...in an inside guarantee. Pray for me! Oasis cost me more per person for 7 days than Breakaway is for the 12, I WAS on the 10th sailing. I LOVED Oasis to pieces and to this date it remains my favorite ship. I don't think anything could ever duplicate walking through Central Park lit up at night, and I don't care how crowded Park Cafe has gotten, I'd wait an hour for one of those roast beef sandwiches! And the whole indoor promenade will never be matched by any atrium. Of course, you could forget you were actually on a ship, something that has been addressed with the waterfront on Breakaway. NCL has it's own positive points (pretzel rolls!). I'm not really expecting to be quite as wowed on Breakaway, a cruise is a great getaway (pun intended) no matter how you look at it. I'm a New Yorker, so Breakaway is great for me, no flying involved. I'm flinching at the prices I see for Utopia of the Seas going out of New York, and will probably be waiting a while before I book a cruise on her (and I will be!). Gotta look for the positive in every cruise.....I could be home doing laundry instead of lying on a Caribbean beach!:eek:

After looking through this I ran to check--I do scrapbook pages with my cruise key cards, pens and other little things and hang them in the frames that fit the scrapbook pages. I have both versions of the Dawn pin, a Crown Pin, and a Jewel Pin. How did I not get one from Gem? Wonder if they were out and changing them over.; I have no memory of what was what in 2010! Now I have to go on a search, unless anyone has an extra (pretty please?). After seeing that Breakaway one, I better get that one in January! Meanwhile I'm going to try that email address for one....thanks!

Previous poster has it right about getting on the ship. Get on early and have lunch. Begin the week long feasting! If the main dining room is open, go there and relax. We always got on Dawn early, went to the MDR for lunch.....usually it's pretty empty so we always asked for a table by the big picture windows in the back, which in NY gives you quite a view, no idea what you see in NO! Your large luggage will get checked and delivered to your cabin at some point, so anything valuable put in a carry on and take on ship with you. You'll be able to put in your cabin pretty quickly.

I can understand your hesitation, but after months on these boards before my first cruise I felt pretty safe in taking excursions not run by the ship. Like I said prior, check out the port of call boards. It's full of info and you can form your own opinions, also check out Trip Advisor, which I do in conjunction with those.

I will wholeheartedly recommend Yhony's operation at cave-tubing.com. We were supposed to cave tube, a big thing to do in Belize, and the river was so high and flooded from all the rain no groups could do it. He offered us the option of a refund or staying with him, taking his bus tour of the island, and either doing ATVing or ziplining which we had planned in Roatan, so we did the ATVs and had a blast. Normally it's more expensive, too!

In Roatan we did ziplining...I'm in my mid 50s and had a blast! Great operation, South Shore zipline adventures, just google it. Also did their eco walk over suspension bridges in the forest. He also narrated the van ride to and from the port with some great information.

You've found CC and that's the first step...have fun!

I honestly think I've taken maybe one or two

Welcome to CC. I too found this board by mistake when taking my first cruise in 2002 and 13 cruises later with a 14th coming, it's the best thing I ever found!

I've never been on the Sun but on Dawn twice when she was in NYC. Beautiful ship. You can't go wrong with her. I would definitely fly into NO the night before or even earlier than that and enjoy the city! Don't take a chance flying in out of the northeast in winter weather the same day.

Honestly, if sailaway is at 4PM......don't listen to NCL telling you to get to the port at 1 pm or after. I usually get to a port by 11, get on the ship by 12. Unless there is some emergency or problem disembarking the previous cruise, they are usually ready for the new crop of cruisers to board by noonish.

I was at three of those four ports on my last cruise in January. If you take Dawn, you can go over to the port of call boards and find your own excursions, but I can recommend great ones in Belize, and in Roatan.....never thought I'd do it but I went zip lining and LOVED it!

Thanks for your review. I don't sail until January and I'm hoping Fire and Ice are still there (or gone and back!). Loved them on my last Gem cruise. Seems a lot of what you are saying holds true in every review; the same things hit and miss. I was really looking forward to Cirque Dreams because I know DH would love it, but now I wonder if it will be worth it (no UDP, I figured I'd go the first night). Just how much earlier does one have to get there to get seated up front???

Yes we are on the same cruise. Please do post the listing. Thanks

We're on page 11, but this is page 1 so you can start from the beginning and read it through if you like. Welcome!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1786587

There is no posting of the actual menu......the OP just posted the meal and the wine courses!

Menu

Peking Duck Salad- Arugula, Boston, Green Asparagus, Fennel Walnut Oil Vinaigrette

Sirloin Manhattan Steak & Breaded Cajun Shrimp. Leek & Garlic Mash, Broccoli, Mushroom Sauce

Mocaccino Cheesecake with Banana & Dulce De Leche Sauce

Wines

1) Estancia Pinot Grigio, Monterey, California

2) Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

3) Penfolds Chardonnay, Barossa Valley, Australia

4) Beringer Founders Estate Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, California

5) North and South- NCL Proprietary Blend

6) Villa Sandi Prosecco Brut, Veneto, Italy

My husband and I are going out of NY in Jan. Are you on the Jan 4th cruise or the one after?

January 4. We have a whole roll call going which I am keeping if you will be with us....let me know if you are and I will post the link!

Thanks for the wine luncheon lunch menu. Actually it looks intriguing. Nice wines, too. Wonder if they'd just give me three tastings of prosecco instead of the reds! Was the Cajun shrimp very spicy???

Sorry about the skunked doggie...yuck! We had our own sewer backup last month. Yuck again.

I will post the menu and wine pairings tonight

Cool! Thanks!

We did the Wine Lovers Musical Lunch which was cute. The meal was super heavy for a lunch, and the wine was plentiful.

Curious about this one....going on BA in January on the 12 night to the Caribbean and figure we may be looking for things to do. Is it the same menu as they give you for Cirque Dreams? I'd really appreciate knowing what they gave you to eat....and were the wines decent? Thanks.