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Bibb

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Everything posted by Bibb

  1. We had wash clothes on the Jul 30, 2011 sailing of the Vision. In fact, everytime we used one for anything, it was replaced right away. We also had towel animals everyday. No chocolates tho. Bibb
  2. For those of you who might like to see a picture review, click on the link below. It might be a little tough on dial-up people; sorry but there are a lot of pictures. It rained most of the time so we had very little sunlight and couldn't get those magnificent mountains. We did get some unique cloud formations and one good day of sunsets. http://www.bklongcrier.com/htm/radiance.htm Enjoy,
  3. Jeff, We'll be on the Empress but it's the other one, the Empress of the Seas (Nordic Empress). We sail April 11 for 11 days. Hope you have a great time and we wish could have made it. We love the old and smaller ships also Bibb
  4. Mebert, Jeff Stern wrote a series of posts called "A Sea of Memories" on this board and they give a lot of first hand information and commentery of the old ships. They are full of nostalgia and even some tearful moments as you get absorbed in his cruises. You almost feel like you are cruising with him. I hope you can find them or that you can get together with Jeff. Edit P.S. - I wrote a review on the Nordic Empress (Nov/Dec 2005)on this board if you are interested.
  5. We did NCL's Southward (16,ooo tons) in 1985 and her sister ship the Skyward in '91. They do the entertainment in Lounge-like areas instead of theater style rooms on the new ships. No 24 hour food areas but they all did the Midnight Buffet until 1:30 or 2:00AM. Big band sounds by the ship's band in the main lounge and guest bands in the nightclub area with DJ's playing during the band's breaks. We did CCL's Festival (40,000) in 87 and she was huge until we did the Norway (72,000) in '89. The Norway was hard to get around because she was an Ocean Liner with class categories, not a cruise ship. We did RCCL's Nordic Prince (22,000) in '92 and, with the exception of the age of the passengers (it was a 10-day cruise so the average age on the ship was "Feeble") this was a great cruise.. This ship was a lot like the small NCL ships above. The band in the nightclub was "the Northern Lights" from Toronto and they was outstanding. Since '94, we have done the big ships (they offered the best bargains, they weren't necessarily preferred) except Dec 2003 when we did the Nordic Empress (48,000) and loved it. We are doing her again April 11. We've done CCL's Inspiration & Fascination, RCI's Monarch, Grandeur, Voyager & Adventure. The best ship we have been on - the Voyager. The best cruise we've been on - the Skyward. The best port activities - on the Empress cruise, Grand Cayman, Belize & Cozumel.
  6. Bon Voyage. Hope you have a safe and funfilled vacation.
  7. At home, it is breakfast for the food (orangejuice, coffee and two pecan sandies cookies) but, on a cruise, it's the combination of fun and good food with friends at dinner. Not only my favorite meal but my favorite time on a cruise, overall.
  8. To quote another reply from an earlier post on the same question on another board, "People who don't tip, Suck!" If there is no reason to withhold a tip for poor service, etc, then this quote fits the bill perfectly.
  9. We live in Maine and the wife's family is in South Dakota and mine is in Alabama. As we drove to visit with the families, we played Joe Tourist on the way and sometimes quite a way out of the way. Our goal is to visit all states and as many countries as we can. We each need only two states (I need Oregon and North Dakota and she needs Washington and Alaska) to complete all 50 and we have visited 46 countries and/or islands in our 29 years of marriage. We'll pick up two new countries (Gibralta and Portugal) in a couple of weeks to bring the list up to 48.
  10. I didn't see anyone mention the Baths in the British Virgin Islands. This ia a picture taking location so be sure to take your camera. The beach is great, the swimming is great and snorkling good. Be sure to take the hike among (under) the huge boulders to the other beach. It's worth the walk. Just grab the ferry at Tottolla to Virgin Gordo (20 minutes or so).
  11. Any steel pan or reggae will do it. If it is an individual song, Hot, Hot, Hot has to be it.
  12. I'm with sunni on this. There is no need to carry a lot of cash; you can get it in the casino. If you do bring cash from home, remember, we carry cash around with us 51 weeks a year; what's one night on a cruise (remember, it's in the safe the rest of the time)? The concept of "having to hunt down the correct bills, etc" should not be a bother. We eat out about 5 times a week and making the tips 5 times compared to only once would be nightmarish if we thought of it as being troublesome. Something I haven't heard anyone mention, is the personal touch in service & tipping. They are providing their service personally and I prefer to give them their tip personally. Think of it as "your clean towels were delivered to the purser's desk and you can pick them up at your convenience". Cold, isn't it? On the Nordic Empress last November, the crew told us they preferred the cash tips. There is a two week delay in getting their money and yes, after a couple of weeks, they will get their money weekly, but when they are leaving for vacation or planning to buy that special something at Cozumel, two weeks of their money is still in the system somewhere. I'll stick with the personal touch and trade them an envelope for a last handshake and hug.
  13. I'm with sunni on this. There is no need to carry a lot of cash; you can get it in the casino. If you do bring cash from home, remember, we carry cash around with us 51 weeks a year; what's one night on a cruise (remember, it's in the safe the rest of the time)? The concept of "having to hunt down the correct bills, etc" should not be a bother. We eat out about 5 times a week and making the tips 5 times compared to only once would be nightmarish if we thought of it as being troublesome. Something I haven't heard anyone mention, is the personal touch in service & tipping. They are providing their service personally and I prefer to give them their tip personally. Think of it as "your clean towels were delivered to the purser's desk and you can pick them up at your convenience". Cold, isn't it? On the Nordic Empress last November, the crew told us they preferred the cash tips. There is a two week delay in getting their money and yes, after a couple of weeks, they will get their money weekly, but when they are leaving for vacation or planning to buy that special something at Cozumel, two weeks of their money is still in the system somewhere. I'll stick with the personal touch and trade them an envelope for a last handshake and hug.
  14. I think the issue is how much the $1200 affects you personally and how you spend your time on a vacation. To us, spending time in the room or sitting on the balcony is something we can do at home so we want to be on the go at all times doing things that are new or exciting for us. We aren't the type to sit and relax. $1200 to us is another cruise (we cruised on the Nordic Empress last November for $1250 for BOTH of us including air) or a land vacation. When I say we are on the go, after the NE cruise, we went to Los Vegas, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, and Europe and we are scheduled to go to Spain in September, Hawaii in October and we are shopping for a cruise in November or December. It's your cruise, your $1200 and your choice or "Whatever pops your corn". Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy it totally.
  15. I think the issue is how much the $1200 affects you personally and how you spend your time on a vacation. To us, spending time in the room or sitting on the balcony is something we can do at home so we want to be on the go at all times doing things that are new or exciting for us. We aren't the type to sit and relax. $1200 to us is another cruise (we cruised on the Nordic Empress last November for $1250 for BOTH of us including air) or a land vacation. When I say we are on the go, after the NE cruise, we went to Los Vegas, Grand Canyon, Hawaii, and Europe and we are scheduled to go to Spain in September, Hawaii in October and we are shopping for a cruise in November or December. It's your cruise, your $1200 and your choice or "Whatever pops your corn". Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy it totally.
  16. Jeff, My grandmother's (paternal) ancestry shows that Samuel Smytherman, London, was convicted and sentenced to the Colonies in 1744. I haven't figured out yet if that makes me a natural cruiser or a convict. :grin: Bibb
  17. Bibb

    Newbie!

    Biodox, You can store your suicases under your bed. If they are too fat to fit, open them up and then slide them under. You might have to lift the bed a little. On some ships, the cabin steward can store them for you also. Safety pins are nice to have and, to go with one of the above post, an eyeglass repair kit. A small flashlight just for emergencies. If your cabin is hard to find, blow up a couple of party balloons and tape them over your door. You can spot those balloons from either direction way down the hallway. Or just decorate your door. Most importantly, get the name of each staff member who helps you and call them by name and introduce yourself. You making the effort to know and call them by name instills in them the need to do more for you. They also like to talk about their families and home town or country. Beyond everything, "Don't sweat the small stuff and have fun." Bibb
  18. Our first cruise was on the Southward in 1985 followed by the Festival in '87, the Norway in '89, the Skyward in '91 and the Nordic Prince in '92. We loved the smaller and older ships. Just did the Nordic Empress Nov 29, 2003 and it was very nice. Bibb
  19. Always interesting, Jeff. I'm glad I have a copy that I can read whenever I want. :smiley: Bibb
  20. 10 days until we fly to Tampa to sail on the Nordic Empress November 29, 2003. Bibb
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