Around the Seabourn Water Cooler... Off topic and fun posts here!- Updated

[SeabournGirl]

Very cute towel critters!

 

On my last cruise, one of the stewardesses (not mine - darn it!) took the stuffed Seabourn critters one of the passengers had won and posed them in different themes each night. One was in the tub surrounded by rose petals. Another night found them with sunglasses on, reading a book, drinking champagne and eating chocolates.

 

It was quite entertaining to hear all the creative things done with them and I wanted to move cabins just to be on her floor!

 

I got a penguin towel (which I still have by the way, as he somehow became a stow away in my bag - what a surprise to find him when I got home - ;) ) The ladies are always thinking up ways to have fun with the passengers and it makes it soooo special.

[Martita B.]

Has anyone used the mini "Sudafed waterless Vaporizer" aboard a ship? I suffer terrible allgeries (molds and mildew) and I thought I might pack one of the plug in's to use at night ~~it's a soothing combination of menthol and eucalyptus vapors.

1 Vapor plug and 5 refills

I will use the vanity plug ~~might be helpful!:D

Martita B.

[cands]

I want to start my cruise now!!

 

Only 12 more days of work, 30 hours of air travel (and waiting in airports :eek:), 2 nights in a hotel and a short hop from Rome to the port and we'll be aboard Spirit.

 

We finally received our little string pull bag with the leather (ish) folder in it. All very exciting.

I must say the luggage tags look great and we will actually be using them.

 

The documents show boarding time of 2pm and I guess by the time we check out of the hotel and make our way to Civitavecchia it will be close to this time.

Is it likely we will have to wait to board if we arrive a little before 2?

 

The excitement is building.

 

Steve.

[JaneBP]

Generally, cruisers are ushered to the Lounge and wait there until processing starts. In the lounge you will be served beverages of your choice and many tasty tea treats. Then, when you have signed on the dotted line, and your suite is ready, you will be taken to your there.

[mermaidjoy]

Hi Leslie!

 

We loved hearing about your critter saga--we have some equally great ones involving our travel bear, Sparky. We knew things were getting out of hand when after several nights of playing "one-upsmanship" with the our cabin steward, involving several Sparky costume changes, my husband returned to our room unexpectedly to retreive a camera and found a queue formed from our cabin and lined all the way down the hall, filled with crew members who were filing in and out of our room to take pictures of Sparky in his latest impromptu costume. I swear that bear is now known on every continent, and we're told that photos of his escapades still grace the crew member bulletin board! We're hoping to have an equally good time for our first trip aboard the Pride.

 

Happy Sails,

 

Joy

[SeabournGirl]

Hi Joy,

 

A dear friend lost his wife onboard a few years ago. On his last cruise, he came back to the cabin one night to find a robe on his bed tied at the waist with towels inside to look like a woman's body, and a balloon with a woman’s face drawn on it. He was quite happy to have 'company' in his room again! The girls (can I call them that or is it not PC?) have quite a great sense of humor if they know it will be received in the right way. All it takes is a little encouragement and they really enjoy having trying to find new ways of surprising the passengers.

 

It's a good thing that Sparky wasn't "Bear-napped" with photos left for you from all the places in the ship he had visited. (Oh my, did I just give them more ideas??? :cool: )

 

We do enjoy the fun and shenanigans onboard (specially Martita’s!!!!)

 

Cands - Have you signed up for the CLEAR airport screening? It is heavenly! You check in at the counter, drop your bags, go to the special CLEAR line at the security screening, and they personally escort you to the front of the security line with no waiting! You can get to the airport just an hour before your flight!! I wish I had thought of that business - they will do well.

[cands]

 

Cands - Have you signed up for the CLEAR airport screening? It is heavenly! You check in at the counter, drop your bags, go to the special CLEAR line at the security screening, and they personally escort you to the front of the security line with no waiting! You can get to the airport just an hour before your flight!! I wish I had thought of that business - they will do well.

 

Hi Leslie,

I had to Google search to find out what you were referring to. I take it that there is a service that you can use in the USA to somehow put you at the front of the security line. Is that it?

We don't have any plans to visit the USA anytime soon. Perhaps you're confusing us with someone else. Certainly our own airports have adapted very well to the security increases over the last few years. They are well staffed and long waits to be processed through security are rare, so such a service is not necessary.

 

Cheers,

Steve. (Melbourne, Australia).

[mrscrab]

Just take your own bottle of whatever and they will serve it to you. Try a stopover, it breaks the journey and you will find the whole place facinating. No booze because it is probably the strictest Muslim country in the world. You will feel SAFE, the shopping for us Aussies so cheap - a pair of leather Bally shoes for $AUD60, we would pay $AUD500 for the same shoe. Go there do it - a total new experience of the world! We were there on SS and had a tour of the Sultans Golf Club, Polo Club and his country club where the carpets were woven with gold. My husband kept rubbing his shoes into the carpets as he thought he could have picked up a bit of gold - probably where the words GOLD DIGGER came from. One of lifes memories. DO IT!!

[Martita B.]

On the Pride Spring Crossing in 2003 Chef Jochem Lambrechts and I hosted a cookin' demonstration in the dining room ~~we made pickles! :eek: Here is the recipe

Texas Fire & Ice Pickles

Ingredients:

1 gallon jar whole pickles (I use WalMart either dill or sour)

1 sack sugar (5 pd bag)

1/2 small bottle Tabasco

Pour out the pickle juice. On counter or chopping board, slice pickles into desired width.

After cutting the pickles, start layering the 3 ingredients back into the jar.

Handful pickle slices, sugar, few drops of Tabasco, keep repeating until all the slices are in the jar. (be sure and use all the sugar)

Secure lid tightly back on the jar.

Leave on counter top and everyday for 7 days, turn jar over....then back over the next time.

I shake the jar to mix/dissolve sugar.

After the 7 days, keep in refrigerator

These make wonderful gifts ~~I transfer the sweet/sour, crispy pickles into smaller Mason jars ~~your family, friends and neighbors will beg for more jars! Quick, easy and you MADE them!

Chefy Lambrechts loved these pickles ~~even served the ones we prepared at a "Texas" cocktail party later on the Crossing.

Martita B.

[SeabournGirl]

Hi Leslie,

I had to Google search to find out what you were referring to. I take it that there is a service that you can use in the USA to somehow put you at the front of the security line. Is that it?

 

Cheers,

Steve. (Melbourne, Australia).

 

Hi Steve,

 

Yes, it is a prescreening process in the US. They scan your retinas and take your fingerprints. Once they determine that you aren't a terrorist or a security threat and are approved, you can breeze through the security screening process and bypass the long lines we often have here. Great service for anyone that travels frequently from or in the US, and it is well worth the $128 per year fee. They are planning to expand to other countries eventually. Anyone needing more info can go to www.flyclear.com

[GrannyLorr]

Hi Steve, Did you see on TV the new security device Qantas is introducing? Its a booth you step in and the controller gets a birds eye view of everything!! :eek: Looks just like Superman with his xray vision!! Guess the "screeners" will enjoy the 18 year olds....but us oldies!!! :eek: :eek: John said he might apply for the job....dirty old man! ;)

[cands]

Hi Steve,

 

Yes, it is a prescreening process in the US. They scan your retinas and take your fingerprints. Once they determine that you aren't a terrorist or a security threat and are approved, you can breeze through the security screening process and bypass the long lines we often have here. Great service for anyone that travels frequently from or in the US, and it is well worth the $128 per year fee. They are planning to expand to other countries eventually. Anyone needing more info can go to www.flyclear.com

 

Leslie,

Thanks for explaining that. It's a shame really, that such a thing is necessary.

We've already had the honour of being fingerprinted when we entered your country, like all so called 'Aliens'.

I must say the thought of it was a little offputting, but the officers were as nice as pie and the procedure was painless.

 

Steve.

[cands]

Hi Steve, Did you see on TV the new security device Qantas is introducing? Its a booth you step in and the controller gets a birds eye view of everything!! :eek: Looks just like Superman with his xray vision!! Guess the "screeners" will enjoy the 18 year olds....but us oldies!!! :eek: :eek: John said he might apply for the job....dirty old man! ;)

 

Hi Lorraine,

No, I haven't seen anything about it. Sound horrible. (depending on your point of view). The things we have to look forward to!

 

You must be leaving soon on RC. Have a great time. It should be a real eye opener for you.

I can't wait to hear the stories:eek:

 

Cheers,

Steve.

[GrannyLorr]

Well Cands, I dont really care what they do as far as Security is concerned.....the more the better....they do say that they blank out your face and your naughty bits though!! :eek:

Yes very soon we will be boarding a BIG ship...been "reading up" on the drink prices and budgeting! I must say though that RCI has a very generous "price reduction" perk......if you see the price of your suite reduced, you can phone and get a refund!! In our money we got almost $2000 refund!! :D Not a bad drink budget eh?

Really looking forward to your reports........

[Martita B.]

I recently read this travel/cruise tip. Thought I'd share ~~

To swiftly clean a pesty stain use a tiny bit of Dawn (it's the dish soap)

Dab a little on the stain....be sure and remove all the soap with water.

For some magical reason, this works!! The travel "Tide Stick" is risky on some fabrics. (as far as silk goes ~~I send these garments to the professionals)

I'll plan on taking a small container of Dawn on my next cruises!

Happy Thanksgiving!:D

Martita B.

[Seabourn-nail]

Happy Thanksgiving to all American friends!

Marja

[Host Dan]

Thank you Marja,

 

And HAPPY THANKSGIVING from your Host and CruiseCritic!!

Host Dan

[CruisinMatt]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Martita B.]

I just read where Mr. Larry Pimentel of Sea Dream Yacht Club just resigned as of Jan 5, 2009. (was original owner of Seabourn)

No reason given ~

Hmmmm ??? Wonder what happened?

Martita B.

[Jim Avery]

Hi Martita:

This topic has caused quite a stir (for the SeaDream board) over at the SD board. Hope Larry stays in the cruise industry.

Jim.

[Martita B.]

Jim

I don't know Mr Pimentel but I've heard nice things about him ~~

I know he and his family are often aboard the Sea Dream Yachts.

I'm wondering if he might have had a nice offer from the Carnival Corp ???

Martita B.

[tayl]

I need some sage advice. Although gay marriages are legal in Canada, my friends would like to get married in Amsterdam (they don't know of anyother places) followed by a river or barge cruise. We will be joining them. I don't know where to start! Are there any all inclusive cruises? Is a barge better? Anyone have any idea how we would find out about gay wedding sevices etc. We may make it a double ceremony.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[wripro]

Tayl,

 

You might want to post this question on the gay land lesbian board where there will be more experience with these matters. (Perhaps you already have.) Whichever you wind up choosing should be a great experience.

[tayl]

I just feel more comfortable with fellow Seabourn sailors, as they have a wealth of knowledge, and have been most helpful. I find people here give honest and fair advice and tend not to be overly judgemantal.

I feel comfortable to be myself here, and had thought someone might have had experience with river cruising.

I"ll check out the gay and lesbian site. Thanks for responding.

Take care

[wripro]

Tayl,

 

I understand. SB posters are like a family. I just thought you might get a broader range of experience there to supplement what you get here.