BWIVince Posted December 24, 2021 #1951 Share Posted December 24, 2021 49 minutes ago, ctjon said: My parents were cruisers and had done Harmony and got us started. They also did an "unofficial" crossing on Symphony to the US where it was officially christened and then started official cruises. Don't know if they do that type of trip anymore but I would think it would be a great way to check out systems and get crew better to serve on new ship. They are indeed a regular industry thing, and most lines including Crystal did them, at least pre-Covid. They're usually called "shakedown cruises". They're not usually marketed to the general public because that undermines the purpose of getting the glitches worked out before the public is aware, but they usually sail with some blend of employees, family, friends, PR, and industry professionals at either FAM rates or as invited guests. If a ship is done early enough, and can get the shakedown cruises out of the way, some lines have also added discounted pre-inaugural cruises so they can start making actual money on the ship faster, with consideration still given to passengers for the ship not being "official" yet. This doesn't happen often anymore, as precise as project management is these days, but I can think of a few cases over the years. Vince 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 24, 2021 #1952 Share Posted December 24, 2021 Today's sunrise really is today. It's been a pretty cloudy day but this is the first time I really saw the sun on my morning walk in a parking garage in my local mall. @BWIVince with some trepidation I made my weekly visit to Wegmans. I usually do it Saturday but they'll be closed. The parking garage was busy and I had about a 30-second wait for a self service register but it wasn't too bad after all. Roy 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenzSailing Posted December 24, 2021 #1953 Share Posted December 24, 2021 34 minutes ago, rafinmd said: Today's sunrise really is today. It's been a pretty cloudy day but this is the first time I really saw the sun on my morning walk in a parking garage in my local mall. @BWIVince with some trepidation I made my weekly visit to Wegmans. I usually do it Saturday but they'll be closed. The parking garage was busy and I had about a 30-second wait for a self service register but it wasn't too bad after all. Roy Headed off to Balducci's as soon as I got up this AM. Connecticut Ave and the beltway about as quiet as you'll find them, congratulating myself on the early start. Heart sank when I pulled into the parking lot just before 9, and it was almost full. But things proceeded apace and I made my way thru the store both incident and frustration free. The Christmas Eve menu: sous vide veal chops in tarragon cream sauce, roasted new potatoes, simply steamed asparagus. Who's hungry? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAV Posted December 25, 2021 #1954 Share Posted December 25, 2021 5 hours ago, KenzSailing said: The Christmas Eve menu: sous vide veal chops in tarragon cream sauce, roasted new potatoes, simply steamed asparagus. Who's hungry? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 25, 2021 #1955 Share Posted December 25, 2021 I don't have a photo for December 25 so here's another from yesterday's walk.. It was taken earlier from a different location. I'm pretty sure the sun was actually up and hiding but it gave some nice color to the morning clouds. Roy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 25, 2021 #1956 Share Posted December 25, 2021 We hit a high of 81 degrees (F) today. It was warmer here than Miami Or the Bahamas. Normally we would be in winter clothing but this afternoon I was outside in Summer attire. My kind of weather. Keith 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 26, 2021 #1957 Share Posted December 26, 2021 I have never been on a ship between December 22 and December 28, Today's sunrise really is today, taken on my morning walk and grocery run. This was taken as the sun came above the store next to my neighborhood grocery. Roy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWIVince Posted December 27, 2021 #1958 Share Posted December 27, 2021 (edited) On 12/25/2021 at 11:32 AM, rafinmd said: I don't have a photo for December 25 so here's another from yesterday's walk.. It was taken earlier from a different location. I'm pretty sure the sun was actually up and hiding but it gave some nice color to the morning clouds. Roy Roy, I inadvertently got the counterpart photos to your Christmas sunrise, flying into BWI yesterday at sunset. Opposite time of day, opposite surrounding corner of the airport, but the same sky. The South River (top) and Severn (bottom) with Annapolis in the distance. Vince Edited December 27, 2021 by BWIVince 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWIVince Posted December 27, 2021 #1959 Share Posted December 27, 2021 (edited) On 12/24/2021 at 4:05 PM, KenzSailing said: The Christmas Eve menu: sous vide veal chops in tarragon cream sauce, roasted new potatoes, simply steamed asparagus. Who's hungry? Just a heads up — you forgot the link to your Goldbelly page in the post! 😁 I know both Beav and I literally have our credit cards in our hands right now. Vince Edited December 27, 2021 by BWIVince 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 27, 2021 #1960 Share Posted December 27, 2021 Today's sunrise (or possibly sunset) is from my Millenium trip to the Copper Canyon on the Sierra Madre Express train. I'm not sure this is December 27,1999 but it easily could be: Roy 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 28, 2021 #1961 Share Posted December 28, 2021 A sunset today instead of a sunrise. This is from my one and only New Years cruise, leaving our embarkation port of Tampa on December 28, 2014, Roy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 28, 2021 #1962 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Captain Otto was always a good sport about participating in various shows and other activities when we sailed with him on World Cruise 2007. I fully understand why some Captains wouldn't change into other attire but it did make it fun to see what the Captain would be wearing. I don't have a photo of it but at one of the shows there is the Captain on stage dancing with someone in a dress and sure enough his dance Partner was Cruise Director Gary Hunter. It took some a little time to realize it was Gary. Gary put on the attire on another World Cruise for one of the shows. As they say, the show must go on. The Captain with his peg leg when we visited the four senior officers rooms. How he did this for several hours is beyond me. Did someone say Waffles On The Bridge? We had three shoreside events and this was in Athens. At the Athens Shoreside Event Anne Marie and I got into the spirit. No we weren't in the My Big Greek Fat Wedding. And this wasn't after I had been drinking. Our first World Cruise and I remember it as if it was yesterday. Ummm. That would make for a great song title don' you think. LOL. Keith 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctjon Posted December 28, 2021 #1963 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Symphony pulling into Auckland where they would start the Millennium cruise the next day. It was also just before America's races so there were all sorts of ships of different types in port. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenzSailing Posted December 28, 2021 #1964 Share Posted December 28, 2021 Fun time-saver: if you're reading a post and come upon the phrase "I'm a lawyer," move on immediately. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunbrookgal Posted December 29, 2021 #1965 Share Posted December 29, 2021 Late February 2020. 2 weeks before. RCL that time. If we knew then,,,, 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 29, 2021 #1966 Share Posted December 29, 2021 Today's sunrise is from my 2014-15 New Years cruise on MS Ryndam. While Key West is known for it's sunsets my December 29 sunrise came out better than the sunset in Key West. Roy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 30, 2021 #1967 Share Posted December 30, 2021 Today's sunrise is another from my 2014-15 Ryndam New Years cruise, a sea day on December 30. Roy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenzSailing Posted December 31, 2021 #1968 Share Posted December 31, 2021 Here at the Chez, I've set tomorrow's alarm for six AM to get up and throw a beautiful two-bone standing rib roast into the "hot tub" set to 134F. Vince and Roy, dinner's at seven. You too Beav, Patty and May, although air crew shortages may prove a challenge. In any event, here's to 2022. Gotta be better, right? Right? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAV Posted December 31, 2021 #1969 Share Posted December 31, 2021 2 hours ago, KenzSailing said: Here at the Chez, I've set tomorrow's alarm for six AM to get up and throw a beautiful two-bone standing rib roast into the "hot tub" set to 134F. Vince and Roy, dinner's at seven. You too Beav, Patty and May, although air crew shortages may prove a challenge. In any event, here's to 2022. Gotta be better, right? Right? I’ll take the red-eye tonight to allow sufficient time for flight screw-ups and still make The Chez by 7:00. I always did love getting invites to “hot tub” parties! 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenzSailing Posted December 31, 2021 #1970 Share Posted December 31, 2021 Oh my, Ms KM, you're on the list too. Also, OLoPP wants all stragglers to know they are invited to her mid-day brisket extravaganza on NYD. We're serving the flat, not the point, so don't be too picky. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskatiemae Posted December 31, 2021 #1971 Share Posted December 31, 2021 18 minutes ago, KenzSailing said: Oh my, Ms KM, you're on the list too. Also, OLoPP wants all stragglers to know they are invited to her mid-day brisket extravaganza on NYD. We're serving the flat, not the point, so don't be too picky. No problem Mr. K, as enticing as your menus are I am still thinking that I have have to forego eating at the Chez until the new kitchen wing with "no gluten here ever" is opened. Also in a week I am still planning a 2 week reservation at my choice of cuisines on Symphony! I do think the brisket Extravaganza sounds delicious so please keep us posted and share pictures of it all... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAV Posted December 31, 2021 #1972 Share Posted December 31, 2021 17 minutes ago, KenzSailing said: Oh my, Ms KM, you're on the list too. Also, OLoPP wants all stragglers to know they are invited to her mid-day brisket extravaganza on NYD. We're serving the flat, not the point, so don't be too picky. Fantastic. I take my room service coffee black w/stevia (two packets) at precisely 6:52am Jan 1. I’ve cancelled my room at Motel 6 and told Tom Bodette he doesn’t have to leave the light on. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 31, 2021 #1973 Share Posted December 31, 2021 9 hours ago, KenzSailing said: Here at the Chez, I've set tomorrow's alarm for six AM to get up and throw a beautiful two-bone standing rib roast into the "hot tub" set to 134F. Vince and Roy, dinner's at seven. You too Beav, Patty and May, although air crew shortages may prove a challenge. In any event, here's to 2022. Gotta be better, right? Right? So no invite for "Moi". I don't have COVID-19 and I would take a shower and put deodorant on. Feelings are very hurt. 🥰 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted December 31, 2021 #1974 Share Posted December 31, 2021 Before we know it we will be ringing in the new year. We have rung in the New Year three times sailing with Crystal Cruises. Always special those holiday cruises so a few photos from two of three times we welcomed a new year while at sea. Happy New Years Cheers, Keith 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted December 31, 2021 #1975 Share Posted December 31, 2021 My New Years Eve photo is from my 1999-2000 New Years trip on the Sierra Madre Express train to Mexico's Copper Canyon (Sadly, the railroad went under in 2009). Since this is pre-digital and no metadata I'm not really sure if this is a sunrise or sunset or even the exact date but it's at least very close to New Years Eve. Roy 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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