Rare Scrapnana Posted March 15 #1 Share Posted March 15 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from patrickmoran! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" Scrapnana was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. After battling cancer for the last fifteen months, I am finally able to go cruising again. Two friends (we all worked at the same school) were planning this cruise and asked if I wanted to go. I said yes even though I still don't walk very well or for very long. Although I likely won't get off at every port, I will be happy just to be back on a 'dam' ship. Some of you may have read the blog I usually write on cruises. This time I am just going to have this "Live" thread. I will try to update it each day provided my stamina and the onboard internet cooperate. We fly out before dawn on Saturday morning and arrive in FLL around 9am. We plan on enjoying the pool most of the day before boarding the ship on Sunday. For those who watch the webcam, I have requested a wave. I will be midship on the Promenade Deck waving the HAL flag. https://www.portevergladeswebcam.com/ Our Itinerary - 12-day Southern Caribbean DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sun Mar 17 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US 3:00pm Mon Mar 18 At Sea Tue Mar 19 At Sea Wed Mar 20 PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN 8:00am 6:00pm Thu Mar 21 ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 8:00am 9:00pm Fri Mar 22 FORT-DE-FRANCE, MARTINIQUE 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Mar 23 BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS 8:00am 5:00pm Sun Mar 24 POINT-A-PITRE, GUADELOUPE 8:00am 5:00pm Mon Mar 25 BASSETERRE, ST KITTS AND NEVIS 8:00am 5:00pm Tue Mar 26 SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO 8:00am 6:00pm Wed Mar 27 At Sea Thu Mar 28 HALF MOON CAY, BAHAMAS 8:00am 3:00pm Fri Mar 29 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US 7:00am Smooth sailing until next time! 43 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakridger Posted March 15 #2 Share Posted March 15 I am smiling reading this! I have enjoyed your blog and CC posts so much over the years and it's wonderful to hear you will be back to sea in a few days! Take it easy and enjoy every minute! ~Nancy 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ipeeinthepools Posted March 15 #3 Share Posted March 15 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Scrapnana said: After battling cancer for the last fifteen months, I am finally able to go cruising again. Two friends (we all worked at the same school) were planning this cruise and asked if I wanted to go. I said yes even though I still don't walk very well or for very long. Although I likely won't get off at every port, I will be happy just to be back on a 'dam' ship. Some of you may have read the blog I usually write on cruises. This time I am just going to have this "Live" thread. I will try to update it each day provided my stamina and the onboard internet cooperate. We fly out before dawn on Saturday morning and arrive in FLL around 9am. We plan on enjoying the pool most of the day before boarding the ship on Sunday. For those who watch the webcam, I have requested a wave. I will be midship on the Promenade Deck waving the HAL flag. https://www.portevergladeswebcam.com/ Our Itinerary - 12-day Southern Caribbean DAY DATE PORT ARRIVE DEPART Sun Mar 17 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US 3:00pm Mon Mar 18 At Sea Tue Mar 19 At Sea Wed Mar 20 PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN 8:00am 6:00pm Thu Mar 21 ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 8:00am 9:00pm Fri Mar 22 FORT-DE-FRANCE, MARTINIQUE 8:00am 5:00pm Sat Mar 23 BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS 8:00am 5:00pm Sun Mar 24 POINT-A-PITRE, GUADELOUPE 8:00am 5:00pm Mon Mar 25 BASSETERRE, ST KITTS AND NEVIS 8:00am 5:00pm Tue Mar 26 SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO 8:00am 6:00pm Wed Mar 27 At Sea Thu Mar 28 HALF MOON CAY, BAHAMAS 8:00am 3:00pm Fri Mar 29 FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US 7:00am Smooth sailing until next time! Congratulations on boarding another cruise. We’re on the current cruise and I promise we’ll bring the ship back to you on the 17th. I’ve also battled cancer for the last 2 years and I’ll be waiting for you with open arms. Congratulations on resuming your cruising. Edited March 15 by Ipeeinthepools 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfish Posted March 15 #4 Share Posted March 15 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hygge! Posted March 15 #5 Share Posted March 15 So happy to hear you are doing better. Welcome back to the “dam” ship. Just sit back and enjoy!!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ANGELCAT Posted March 15 #6 Share Posted March 15 Bon Voyage Kathi, I’m so excited for you.🎉🛳️ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelnap Posted March 15 #7 Share Posted March 15 Bon Voyage Kathi, we have missed you. Glad that you are able to get back aboard one of our BHB. Have a great cruise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Boston Posted March 15 #8 Share Posted March 15 Bon voyage @Scrapnana! I’ll be following allong. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regnig Posted March 15 #9 Share Posted March 15 (edited) Kathi myself, my best friend and my daughter will be on this cruise too. I'll actually be on the Rotterdam for 28 days doing a B2B2B. I'm hoping at some point to get to meet you as I have always enjoyed your thoughtful and knowledgeable posts here on CC. So far the weather in FLL looks wonderful. Edited March 15 by regnig grammer 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted March 15 #10 Share Posted March 15 Is this still a test cruise? Wishing you a wonderful time, and I'm glad you have that support system with you. Roy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare puppycanducruise Posted March 15 #11 Share Posted March 15 Have a great cruise. Thanks for taking us along. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canadianbear Posted March 15 #12 Share Posted March 15 So thrilled you’ll be back on a cruise! Will be following along. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilty964 Posted March 15 #13 Share Posted March 15 So glad to hear you are going to be able to cruise again! Enjoy your time, and thank you for sharing your adventure with us! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvteaching Posted March 15 #14 Share Posted March 15 So glad to read this Kathi @Scrapnana! I've followed you on your blog and your many cruises and so happy to see you're back cruising. Have a wonderful time, take it easy and enjoy every minute! Karen 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted March 15 Author #15 Share Posted March 15 6 hours ago, rafinmd said: Is this still a test cruise? Wishing you a wonderful time, and I'm glad you have that support system with you. Roy Still a test to see if I can do the Pole to Pole next year. 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger_77 Posted March 15 #16 Share Posted March 15 I'm so pleased to see you're back to cruising; I do hope you feel well throughout the entire voyage. I'll be watching for you tomorrow with the sail-away gang; we'll try to get a screen shot to share with you. Bon Voyage!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gsel Posted March 15 #17 Share Posted March 15 I am so pleased! Love your posts, just take things slowly and have a great time! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Vict0riann Posted March 16 #18 Share Posted March 16 Happy to see you cruising and posting again, Kathi. Five years ago, St. Patrick's Day on the Prinsendam I have a picture of us in our greenery! A lot of water under the bridge since then. Have a wonderful cruise. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted March 16 Author #19 Share Posted March 16 1 hour ago, Vict0riann said: Happy to see you cruising and posting again, Kathi. Five years ago, St. Patrick's Day on the Prinsendam I have a picture of us in our greenery! A lot of water under the bridge since then. Have a wonderful cruise. It doesn't seem like five years. That was a fabulous cruise. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare POA1 Posted March 16 #20 Share Posted March 16 Have a great trip! Please take good care of the ship. We're boarding the day you disembark.😁 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted March 16 #21 Share Posted March 16 So wonderful to see you are able to cruise again, Kathi 👍 You deserve the most fabulous time possible after all you have had to endure. Bon Voyage - have an absolutely wonderful time 🙂 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ipeeinthepools Posted March 16 #22 Share Posted March 16 @Scrapnana The Rotterdam has left Half Moon Cay and she’s combing to pick you up 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLCruiser97 Posted March 16 #23 Share Posted March 16 I will be following you too @Scrapnana. We have not been on this particular ship but want to plan something for next year. Looking forward to your "Live" Fair Winds and Following Seas! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted March 17 Author #24 Share Posted March 17 Leaving on a Jet Plane - March 16, 2024 My friends (Frances and Tony) and I arrived at the airport just before 5am. Check-in was quick and easy and since we were all TSA pre approved, getting through security was a breeze. The two hour flight was smooth (admittedly I slept through half of it) and the plane was not full (I was the only one in my row -everyone seemed to pick the back of the plane). We were able to get a van for our 7 bags and my rollator/wheelchair to get to the hotel and our rooms were ready at 10. We are staying at the Renaissance on SE 17th Street. I like it because of its proximity to restaurants and stores. We walked to a hoagie shop for lunch, made a stop at Walgreens, and then came back to spend the afternoon at the pool. Dinner was a delicious meal at Carrabba’s (also a short walk) with a great server. We made it an early evening since none of us got a full night’s sleep last night. Now if we can just get our luggage and us down stairs easily in the morning… more on that tomorrow. Smooth sailing until next time! 19 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Scrapnana Posted March 17 Author #25 Share Posted March 17 10 hours ago, POA1 said: Have a great trip! Please take good care of the ship. We're boarding the day you disembark.😁 I will do my best! Do you know what that huge building going up on the corner of SE 17th and Eisenhower is? We have been debating offices vs. apartments/condos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now