Mitsugirlys STAR end of the world/pre-Christmas cruise detailed review & pictorial

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='cherylroslyn']I wish I had proof.... I am actually going to to buy myself the same camera that you have........

The fish are definitely different some of the ones that I saw were the size of cats and small dogs.....[/quote]

Which camera are you going with? The Olympus or the Canon? I love them both and you can't go wrong with either. :)

As for the fish the size of a cat or small dog, I did see one like that in Roatan at Maya Key. The thing was H-U-G-E!! I have never seen a fish that big in person (that wasn't in a zoo). He was just hanging out with a bunch of other fish around the dock area and no matter how hard I tried to get a picture, they all turned out bad because the people on the dock had their canoe tied there and he was under it...therefore it was kind of dark under there and the camera just didn't cooperate between that and the water moving. :( The pictures I did get of it didn't make it look as big as it was.

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='BaylorMustang']Here is the Key Game that is located in front of the casino. Sorry it is a bad picture. I took it on my phone. :)
[IMG]http://i1243.photobucket.com/albums/gg556/BaylorMustang/photo.jpg[/IMG][/quote]

[quote name='BaylorMustang']While we were on our cruise we played the game at least 12 times. Only two items were won. One on the bottom row and one on the middle row.[/quote]

There was actually quite a few people that had won on our cruise. Someone had one 2 of the ipads/money at the very top. Several had won a few from the middle and several from the bottom by the end of the cruise. I was sad that I did not witness them winning. I can only imagine how much money they stuck in to trying to win it to begin with. :eek:

[cherylroslyn]

[quote name='mitsugirly']Which camera are you going with? The Olympus or the Canon? I love them both and you can't go wrong with either. :)

As for the fish the size of a cat or small dog, I did see one like that in Roatan at Maya Key. The thing was H-U-G-E!! I have never seen a fish that big in person (that wasn't in a zoo). He was just hanging out with a bunch of other fish around the dock area and no matter how hard I tried to get a picture, they all turned out bad because the people on the dock had their canoe tied there and he was under it...therefore it was kind of dark under there and the camera just didn't cooperate between that and the water moving. :( The pictures I did get of it didn't make it look as big as it was.[/QUOTE]
I think the Cannon D-10. which do you like better?

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='cherylroslyn']I think the Cannon D-10. which do you like better?[/quote]

I have always loved the Canon...so much that I purchased 2 of them. :D However, once forced to have to buy another one and the only option I had was the Olympus, I have to say it's quickly gaining my love. :p I think to Olympus has some extra features that the Canon doesn't. It is smaller and flatter (which I hear a lot of people on here complaining about the Canon being too bulky for their taste-the roundness of the Canon didn't bother me, but some it does).

I discovered AFTER my cruise, when I was playing with the camera once I was home, that it does a lot of neat "extra" little things. I has several settings that I would have liked to use while on vacation (and will be trying out on my next vacation) like it has a setting to do the "tilt-shift" pictures, which would have been really cool to do an overview while in port and some landscaping ideas. It does a pretty good job of doing panoramics as well and super easy to use. You just snap a picture and then move in the direction you want and there is a little round circle on the screen. You simply match up the dot to the circle and it snaps another and you move on. Really simple. :D There were several other things that it did to, but I can't remember off the top of my head what they were and I just tried to look at the camera and it is dead. So, I'm charging it and I'm headed for work right now. I'll report back once it's charged.

[gcdogwalker]

You are one person I would love to be on a cruise with! I love your pictures and mostly, your great personality!

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='gcdogwalker']You are one person I would love to be on a cruise with! I love your pictures and mostly, your great personality![/quote]

Awww, well thanks a lot. I'm booked on the Jewel this December. :D Come and join in on the fun. I'm debating a May or August cruise...yet to be determined (by my Nursing classes). :)

[mitsugirly]

Ok, so my camera is now charged and I'm reporting back some of the features on it. :D

These are just a few that "interest" me...

It has a "beauty" setting, which some of my pictures I took were done that way (by mistake...I admit it, I didn't know what I was doing at the time...).

Now the "Magic" setting:
It has a fish eye setting, soft focus, sparkle (which is really neat and would be neat to do a night scene with...it's where all the lights in the picture have the star burst effect), reflection (which would be neat to get a picture of buildings reflecting off the water), miniature (which is the tilt-shift) and even a HDR!!!...then a bunch of other random things I would probably never use: watercolor, drawing, pop art, fragmented, and punk.

Of course it has the "sports" settings, which includes the motion, underwater, night settings, fireworks, documents, food, beach/snow, 3d photos (which is kinda neat), portrait, landscape, indoor, candle, self portrait and sunset to name a few.

One other thing I wanted to mention...on the Canon, you have to go in to the settings to switch it to the movie mode. With the Olympus, there's just a button on the camera that you push and it automatically starts recording. This could either be helpful or hurtful. In my case, it's on the side that I hold the camera...therefore, I kept pushing it by mistake and recording when I was trying to take pictures. :( But it sure would be quick when needed if you can control your "trigger finger". :D

If you have any other questions...just ask away. :)

[lostone65]

December on the Jewel? We are December on the Epic! I'm both excited and a bit apprehensive. Everything I read says its hard to feel close to the water on her. I know you love the Epic so what do you think Kim?

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[perfect match]

Kim, I want to thank you for an excellent review. I hopped over here from the Destinations board to read about & see your pictures of Costa Maya & Cozumel - and stayed for the whole review! It really shows that you put a lot of time and effort into your review, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it! Like you, I'm a planner. Isn't that half the fun? Your photos & insights will be a big help to me, so thatnk again for taking the time to share them.

Nancy

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='lostone65']December on the Jewel? We are December on the Epic! I'm both excited and a bit apprehensive. Everything I read says its hard to feel close to the water on her. I know you love the Epic so what do you think Kim?

Sent from my HTC Rezound using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

I loved the Epic, although I have to admit, I booked it when it first came out because of everything she had to offer (mostly inside and the slides outside). If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I cruise as cheap as possible (meaning the interior :)). So, with that being said, being "close" to the water isn't really an issue for me. To me, the Epic is like the other ships I've been on...you are on the pool deck and there are seats all around with tables and you can look out into the ocean sitting there. Go up a deck and lounge chairs and places to sit over looking the ocean.

I think most people had a problem with the Epic not having a promenade deck/jogging track that you could walk all the way around her and view the ocean. It kind of stops and you have to turn back around and there are lifeboats in the way of viewing. Well, my idea of getting exercise is having to walk to get to the various places to grab a bite to eat. :D So I got my walking in. :eek: (Remember, she's a big ship to walk).

Either way, there is just SO much to do and see there that I had very little time to just stop and gaze out at the waves most of the time. I'm a busy person and hate to sit still.

Hmmm, now that I think about it, I'm really not sure I remember this cruise good enough to give advice on it...I'm thinking I need a refresher visit just to make sure. Yea, yea, that's what I need!

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='perfect match']Kim, I want to thank you for an excellent review. I hopped over here from the Destinations board to read about & see your pictures of Costa Maya & Cozumel - and stayed for the whole review! It really shows that you put a lot of time and effort into your review, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it! Like you, I'm a planner. Isn't that half the fun? Your photos & insights will be a big help to me, so thatnk again for taking the time to share them.

Nancy[/quote]

Aww, Nancy, thank you so much. I reeled you in and got you to stay huh? I'm sorry. :o I LOVE to plan...that's for sure and I love to write the reviews and try to take pictures of everything that anyone would possibly have a question on. I sometimes get home and kick myself for thinking "darn...I forgot to take a picture of ______". Ugh. My mind is always racing and trying to think of possible questions that people may have when I return.

Did you make any plans for Costa Maya or Cozumel? If so, do share. :D (If you are looking for another place in Cozumel other than Nachi...I have other reviews to read on a great place to go).

[lostone65]

[quote name='mitsugirly']I loved the Epic, although I have to admit, I booked it when it first came out because of everything she had to offer (mostly inside and the slides outside). If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I cruise as cheap as possible (meaning the interior :)). So, with that being said, being "close" to the water isn't really an issue for me. To me, the Epic is like the other ships I've been on...you are on the pool deck and there are seats all around with tables and you can look out into the ocean sitting there. Go up a deck and lounge chairs and places to sit over looking the ocean.

I think most people had a problem with the Epic not having a promenade deck/jogging track that you could walk all the way around her and view the ocean. It kind of stops and you have to turn back around and there are lifeboats in the way of viewing. Well, my idea of getting exercise is having to walk to get to the various places to grab a bite to eat. :D So I got my walking in. :eek: (Remember, she's a big ship to walk).

Either way, there is just SO much to do and see there that I had very little time to just stop and gaze out at the waves most of the time. I'm a busy person and hate to sit still.

Hmmm, now that I think about it, I'm really not sure I remember this cruise good enough to give advice on it...I'm thinking I need a refresher visit just to make sure. Yea, yea, that's what I need![/QUOTE]

We cruise in a balcony so I'm sure I will be fine. We are looking forward to the huge ship and all she has to offer. I love big! Thanks for the info, as long as I can see the water if I want to then I'm fine!
On a side note today is kind of a sad day. I got worried about Kev (luv2cruise53) and googled him. I found out he passed away late last month. For someone I never met I looked forward to possibly sailing with him one day and it saddened me more than I thought possible.

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[mitsugirly]

[quote name='lostone65']We cruise in a balcony so I'm sure I will be fine. We are looking forward to the huge ship and all she has to offer. I love big! Thanks for the info, as long as I can see the water if I want to then I'm fine!
On a side note today is kind of a sad day. I got worried about Kev (luv2cruise53) and googled him. I found out he passed away late last month. For someone I never met I looked forward to possibly sailing with him one day and it saddened me more than I thought possible.

Sent from my HTC Rezound using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

WHAT???? GASP! NO!!! Oh my gosh no. I hate to hear this. My heart just sank. :( I have never met him either, but felt as though I knew him. What an amazing guy and so full of life. I loved reading his post and I am truly going to miss him!

[mitsugirly]

Wait, I'm still confused on how you "googled" him and found this information out? I can't find anything?

[mitsugirly]

Ok I am sad to say I found him. :( I am really heartbroken. He was helping me plan my Bermuda cruise. Such a great man with an awesome sense of humor, wittiness, and could bring laughter to anyone. He always brightened my day with his post and his reviews. "Kev" you will be sorely missed around here but I promise to keep your spirit alive by continuing to post my reviews the way you taught me how...hilarious. :) I will miss your wealth of knowledge and will refer back to this thread for all of my Bermuda needs that you shared with me. I will make it there!

[lostone65]

[quote name='mitsugirly']Ok I am sad to say I found him. :( I am really heartbroken. He was helping me plan my Bermuda cruise. Such a great man with an awesome sense of humor, wittiness, and could bring laughter to anyone. He always brightened my day with his post and his reviews. "Kev" you will be sorely missed around here but I promise to keep your spirit alive by continuing to post my reviews the way you taught me how...hilarious. :) I will miss your wealth of knowledge and will refer back to this thread for all of my Bermuda needs that you shared with me. I will make it there![/QUOTE]

I'm glad ypu found it also. He will be missed so much. His humor, his witt, his willingness to share. May he forever rest in peace. So sorry to tell you this,way, but we are,all a family of sorts and I knew,no other way. I am,still in shock personally.

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[mitsugirly]

[quote name='lostone65']I'm glad ypu found it also. He will be missed so much. His humor, his witt, his willingness to share. May he forever rest in peace. So sorry to tell you this,way, but we are,all a family of sorts and I knew,no other way. I am,still in shock personally.

Sent from my HTC Rezound using Tapatalk 2[/quote]

Thank you so much for letting me know. I really appreciate it. Although I haven't been on the boards a lot lately due to school, I do pop in whenever someone post and I get an email notification. I had kind of thought it was weird that he hasn't had anything to say lately and I had planned on trying to hunt him down in a few months and get back to possibly planning that Bermuda vacation. You are right, we are all family here and although some of our paths may never cross, you feel like you know some of these people around here personally. :( Forever in my heart Kev!

[athenasbyshanna]

[quote name='mitsugirly']Ok time to start from the beginning….I just know that I’m going to mess this up and forget things that happened on certain days and have to make extra posts, but bear with me. I’m trying. There’s just so much to a cruise and so hard to remember everything.

I have my trusty dailies beside me and a few notes I’ve made on the computer that I wanted to touch base on and hopefully things will just start to flow once I start. If I forget something, I pinky promise I’ll come back and post, it just might not be in the right order. LOL That happens when you get order, you forget things.

Actually I have already forgotten, the first night at the hotel, I noticed a MAJOR catastrophe…we had forgotten my daughters “blankie” YIKES RUN FOR COVER!! She has not gone to bed EVER without this blanket since she was born. It is her soul mate. Oh no. That took a lot of explaining to do. I promise I had it on the kitchen table beside my carry-on bag for the plane and she had to have moved it off the table prior to leaving and I didn’t notice it was gone and forgot to grab it. Now the entire vacation is going to be ruined. I got super excited about her being in that (remember) big girl pull out sofa bed and she shared in the excitement and the tears left. I pulled out a “big girl blankie” from the closet and told her now that she’s a big girl, she needed to sleep with a big girl blanket. To my surprise, it worked.

[IMG]http://kimbakersphotography.smugmug.com/Other/NCL-STAR-2012/i-R5s9KZM/0/M/big-girl-M.jpg[/IMG]

[COLOR=black]Now I also have to tell you, I’m a planner. No, you don’t get it, I’M A PLANNER!!!! I research and read for MONTHS on everything. I read reviews; I ask tons of questions, I have everything planned. I make spread sheets with EVERY single charge that we will spend to the tee. I ask anyone that has been to a certain place how much the cab ride was, how much were drinks, how much was food, I ask for menus…you name it. I make folders containing each port/place we will visit, an air flight folder, ship folder, food folder, taxi folder…you get the picture. In said folder I have printed maps, typed up hints/tips, spread sheet from above, any emails for proof needed, printed receipts and confirmation numbers, and an envelope that contains the exact amount we are to spend on each. I know I’m a little OCD but it has always worked for me and I’ve been doing this since I was 18 and doing land vacations every year. It helps plan the trip and budget it and it works for me. People ask all the time about how to set up a cash on board account and how it all works…well, this girl knows how and does it and up until now, I’ve walked away every time with THEM owing ME less than $10.00. Insert my praise here please.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=black]Ok, time to bring me down off my pedal stool. I take pride in being such a planner that when I screw up (and let me add this has never happened), then it completely throws me off. Well, I forgot the blankie. I screwed up. I start looking for things…um well, I might have forgotten my hair ties as well (oh no, it’s hard to look your best on a cruise all the time and those beach days definitely require a hair tie with my long hair), oops I forgot my comb too…ok, I can live with that and improvise by using something else. No biggie. Oh no, I forgot my suction cupped 64x magnification mirror to use to put my contacts in. GASP. I had lasik in my early 30’s and had 20/15 vision, but they let you know that your close up vision will sooner or later go. Well it went and I wear contacts in order to read. Well if you are blind and can’t see up close, looking in a regular mirror doesn’t cut it. I will be blindly putting in contacts the rest of the cruise and getting aggravated. Ok, I screwed up this cruise. But, the best is yet to come trust me.[/COLOR]

So after the fiasco of trying to get on the ship and the delays, we got on the ship and I got to see my WOW factor of the Atrium! Holy moly, it was BE-U-TI-FUL (yes I’m aware that’s not spelled right, I was shouting it out the way I said it). Immediately I made my first official “On the ship facebook post”…I believe it read something like “OMG, I love this ship”…or something along those lines. I immediately started texting my 24 year old daughter to tell her about it (she was supposed to be on this ship with us and didn’t get to come in the end and they are waiting for the “next” cruise).

Most people get on the ship and immediately head to get lunch. We were still full from the awesome HOT breakfast buffet breakfast we had earlier and figured it was the perfect opportunity to do some exploring before everyone tried to become a permanent fixture in my awesome (so you guys say) pictures. Yes, this is the first time I’ve done this. We are usually the “normal head-to-the-buffet-for-some-grub” type of people because we’ve skipped breakfast or had the “complimentary” COLD breakfast, which is never satisfying, that the hotel usually offers.

I was picture snap happy. Two camera’s in my hand (I discovered the Canon D10 back before my Epic cruise in 2010 and have never looked back or even bothered to take my dslr since that cruise because I simply love that little camera and purchased a second one at the beginning of this year before my Pearl cruise) and strolling every venue I could wander in to.[/quote]

Great great great review and pictures!! I'm only on page 7, I think so far but hooked! We are in planning stages of taking our first 2 NCL cruises this year and your picture reviews are really keeping me excited! Just wondering if you would mind sending me a copy of those spreadsheets you use to plan. Sounds like a great system!! If you don't mind, my email address is athenasbyshanna @ gmail.com Can't wait to finish reading!! :D

[cherylroslyn]

I am so sad too... I saw him posting on here earlier...... Kim if you need any help with Bermuda I'm here as are all of your cruise critic friends......

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='athenasbyshanna']Great great great review and pictures!! I'm only on page 7, I think so far but hooked! We are in planning stages of taking our first 2 NCL cruises this year and your picture reviews are really keeping me excited! Just wondering if you would mind sending me a copy of those spreadsheets you use to plan. Sounds like a great system!! If you don't mind, my email address is athenasbyshanna @ gmail.com Can't wait to finish reading!! :D[/quote]

I really don't have a saved "spreadsheet" per-se. I just open up word-perfect on my computer and make a different sheet for everything I'm going to need. I also have "folders" made for each item.

I have a sheet with the title of each port I'm going to, a sheet on "transportation" (like either airplane tickets or gas), a sheet for the ship itself, a sheet for the motel...things like that.

On each sheet (like for each port), I will type in taxi to and taxi from, estimated food cost for that port, I add in $$ for a tee-shirt/souvenirs, and any cost to get in to where we are going. Then once I'm done researching and finding out prices on everything, I put my estimated guess by each item then the total price at the bottom of how much I need to take. Each sheet goes in a folder marked with that places name.

Inside each folder I will usually have: my sheet I typed up, an envelope with the $$ needed for that day/event, a map of the place if needed, any coupons if applicable, any emails with reservation confirmations, any tickets if applicable and so on.

I keep all of these folders in my safe on the ship and pull each one out as the day comes and I am set. :)

So like for this cruise I had a folder for the following:

airplane (which included our tickets, print outs of our flight info to and from, food $$ needed for our trip in between flights).

Hotel: included our print outs with our reservations, a copy of our paid receipt, a map of the area, money for food for that day once we arrived (dinner), and extra for drinks from their soda machine. I also included $$ to go to the grocery store the morning of the cruise to buy soda to take on the ship with us. I also included our taxi from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the terminal in this folder.

Ship: with our boarding passes, all of our identification (passports, ID's), slot play coupons, drink coupons, specialty restaurant coupons, a typed up list of things I might not want to miss on the ship, any OBC money I wanted to apply, and an envelope with our casino $$ to spend. (This is probably the most extensive list I have since I do a breakdown of everything I plan on purchasing-gifts for the little one, tee-shirts, alcohol, specialty restaurants, pictures done by the cruiseline...things like that) <---I'm proud to say, I'm usually within $10 of my expected cost.

Then like I said each port has a folder and list.

I have my daughter hooked on this "system" as well. LOL She'll have her own list going and try to copy mine (this is my 24 year old I'm talking about...not the 4 year old LOL). So far, this has worked out for me for years...I've been doing this system since I was about 20 years old and started cruising and vacationing (I do it for land vacations as well). :D

I hope that helps.

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='cherylroslyn']I am so sad too... I saw him posting on here earlier...... Kim if you need any help with Bermuda I'm here as are all of your cruise critic friends......[/quote]

I know. I'll still depend on a lot of people around here to help me out and get ideas. I love this place. It's just a lot of people on here are not as "in-depth" about things. While a lot offer their opinion, I'm a "detail" person and Kev was a detailed person as well (as you probably obviously know and can tell by all the helpful links and pictures he posted on here regarding Bermuda). I just love the details and pictures are an added plus! :) That's why I go in to great depth on my reviews, so that I can later refer people back to something I might have done that will be helpful to them in their decision.

Thanks so much. I will definitely be back to gather additional information when the time comes.

[camz]

[quote name='mitsugirly']Ok I am sad to say I found him. :( I am really heartbroken. He was helping me plan my Bermuda cruise. Such a great man with an awesome sense of humor, wittiness, and could bring laughter to anyone. He always brightened my day with his post and his reviews. "Kev" you will be sorely missed around here but I promise to keep your spirit alive by continuing to post my reviews the way you taught me how...hilarious. :) I will miss your wealth of knowledge and will refer back to this thread for all of my Bermuda needs that you shared with me. I will make it there![/quote]

OMG I am sitting here with my draw dropped! I too have been worried about Kev because I thought it was strange he has not been on here since January 18th. WOW this is very sad! Even though I too never met him, you felt you knew him through his writings. He was too funny. Very, very sad.

[athenasbyshanna]

[quote name='mitsugirly']I really don't have a saved "spreadsheet" per-se. I just open up word-perfect on my computer and make a different sheet for everything I'm going to need. I also have "folders" made for each item.

I have a sheet with the title of each port I'm going to, a sheet on "transportation" (like either airplane tickets or gas), a sheet for the ship itself, a sheet for the motel...things like that.

On each sheet (like for each port), I will type in taxi to and taxi from, estimated food cost for that port, I add in $$ for a tee-shirt/souvenirs, and any cost to get in to where we are going. Then once I'm done researching and finding out prices on everything, I put my estimated guess by each item then the total price at the bottom of how much I need to take. Each sheet goes in a folder marked with that places name.

Inside each folder I will usually have: my sheet I typed up, an envelope with the $$ needed for that day/event, a map of the place if needed, any coupons if applicable, any emails with reservation confirmations, any tickets if applicable and so on.

I keep all of these folders in my safe on the ship and pull each one out as the day comes and I am set. :)

So like for this cruise I had a folder for the following:

airplane (which included our tickets, print outs of our flight info to and from, food $$ needed for our trip in between flights).

Hotel: included our print outs with our reservations, a copy of our paid receipt, a map of the area, money for food for that day once we arrived (dinner), and extra for drinks from their soda machine. I also included $$ to go to the grocery store the morning of the cruise to buy soda to take on the ship with us. I also included our taxi from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the terminal in this folder.

Ship: with our boarding passes, all of our identification (passports, ID's), slot play coupons, drink coupons, specialty restaurant coupons, a typed up list of things I might not want to miss on the ship, any OBC money I wanted to apply, and an envelope with our casino $$ to spend. (This is probably the most extensive list I have since I do a breakdown of everything I plan on purchasing-gifts for the little one, tee-shirts, alcohol, specialty restaurants, pictures done by the cruiseline...things like that) <---I'm proud to say, I'm usually within $10 of my expected cost.

Then like I said each port has a folder and list.

I have my daughter hooked on this "system" as well. LOL She'll have her own list going and try to copy mine (this is my 24 year old I'm talking about...not the 4 year old LOL). So far, this has worked out for me for years...I've been doing this system since I was about 20 years old and started cruising and vacationing (I do it for land vacations as well). :D

I hope that helps.[/quote]

Thanks so much for the insight! I will definitely need to start doing this! I did a small version of this for our first cruise, but did not break it down to the $$ we should spend each day. I am not very good at budgeting! So this should help me!

Also, finished reading and so sorry to hear about your CC friend who passed away.

[camz]

[quote name='camz']OMG I am sitting here with my draw dropped! I too have been worried about Kev because I thought it was strange he has not been on here since January 18th. WOW this is very sad! Even though I too never met him, you felt you knew him through his writings. He was too funny. Very, very sad.[/quote]

See how shocked I was I posted draw dropped instead of jaw. :eek:

[mitsugirly]

[quote name='camz']See how shocked I was I posted draw dropped instead of jaw. :eek:[/quote]

I'm so shocked that I actually read your statement the way you intended it to be and not how it was actually typed. :eek:

This community is wonderful, I hope the mods and people who run this place realize this. We truly are a "family". I have met some WONDERFUL people on here. I have cruised with some great people. I have made life long friends on here that I have cruised with, am cruising with AGAIN, still keep in touch with, text, call each other, people I was "suppose" to cruise with but switched ships that are GREAT friends still, and those that I will probably never meet, but we correspond a lot on here. :)

Then there are those that are lost. :( I lost my TA last year as well. She was a member of this community and an awesome person. I was devastated. She found out about her illness and was gone in 2 months unexpectedly. Now Kev.

This truly is a wonderful place, but can really affect those of us that are very active members that get to know each other beyond the post on here.
[IMG]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5L8EQlbojdI/Tq9mle-BjoI/AAAAAAAAAjc/w2Duc-ksln4/s1600/crying+smiley+face.jpg[/IMG] Edited March 10, 2013 by mitsugirly