Lisa63

It was overcast, and I was a couple of miles away, but she here she is. Photo taken May 19, 2006 on her maiden Boston departure.

I am sorry to hear of your experience, SKAOLboy, and I thank you for sharing it with us. I, too, have items stored in plastic bins. I do so to keep them dry, but it may be time to rethink this. Thank you for the updates, Jeff and Lisa.

Grenada? We were on a party boat there years ago, might have been Kon Tiki but I don't recall (for several reasons, lol).

She's not there yet... rumors are still swirling. One rumor has her going to Dubai to become part of a tourist attraction. As for me... I've already said my good-byes. I still hold out the tiniest bit of hope she will be rescued, yet I think it's time to be realistic. I'll keep you posted as to what I find out, as this is a topic I am following closely.

Good list. I should add that we should not underestimate our own instincts. When something doesn't feel right, don't take any chances. I was on a cruise several years ago during which our cabin steward (a male) was always engaging me in conversation whenever I passed in the hall -- but the questions and comments were very inappropriate, such as, "Do you have a happy marriage?" So, I ran my poor husband ragged by having him run all errands to and from the cabin... and I bolted the door when in the cabin alone. This might have been harmless, but I sure didn't want to find out otherwise. So, use your instinct, as well.

Bon voyage, my friend. Enjoy!

In addition, which ship will you be upon? Some lines are less casual during the daytime than others.

No, of course I don't remember the taste, but both my husband and I recall being totally blown away by the quality. And, that wasn't our first cruise, either.

I rated them about the same. However, I had higher expectations from Celebrity, and I don't feel their food in the main dining room was nearly as good as it was ten years ago.

I voted for HAL as the selections were much more varied, making it much easier for me to stick with the diet plan that keeps my blood sugar in check. I also found it easier to navigate. BTW, I am comparing Maasdam (2004) with Infinity (2006).

It did happen to us, only on Celebrity. We had booked our February 2006 cruise on Millennium, and found out a few months before sailing that the ship was swapping itineraries with Infinity. (Infinity was originally doing longer cruises in South America.) As Infinity was not scheduled for a drydock until March, the line felt more confident using Millennium on the longer itineraries. As the ships are sisters, our cabins were unchanged. I was disappointed that I would not get a chance to see the decor of the RMS Olympic Dining Room on Millennium (Olympic is among my favorite ships), which was the main reason we had booked this particular ship. But, we enjoyed the SS United States Restaurant, instead. Initially, a lot of people were upset (if message boards are enough of a representative sample), but while onboard I heard no one even mention Millennium.

We didn't find beach glass, but we weren't looking for it. :smiley: I did see people on some of the beaches doing just that, though. 6 am arrival... let's change my suggestion to "be out on deck when you depart." (You go out through Town Cut, as well.) The bus and ferry passes are a great idea. Bermuda has a very well-run public transportation system. It may help to download a map before you go so that you won't be overwhelmed when you first arrive... as we were. We are returning in August, and plan to use the bus and ferry extensively.

Thanks... I made a lucky guess. I wish my odds were as good in the ships' casinos, lol.

Bon voyage, Jeff!

Hi, Sweetie. Have a wonderful cruise with Daddy!

A few "do not miss" activities: First -- be sure to be out on deck when the ship passes through Town Cut on the way to dock in St. George. Not only is it exciting to see land after a mini-crossing, but transiting this narrow area is absolutely amazing. Residents also make a big deal out of it, but I will leave that as a surprise. It's worth the wait. :smiley: When we were in St. George last year, we did our own walking tour, suggested to me by a poster on another board. Majesty. Warning... there are some steep hills involved, although surfaces are pretty even. The whole trip took about three hours, including a tour of Fort St. Catherine. Upon leaving the ship, we walked through the Town Square, and up toward the Unfinished Church. We then followed the signs to Tobacco Bay Beach (a lovely beach, by the way, we returned later that day). Visible atop the steep hill after passing Tobacco Bay Beach is Fort St. Catherine, which my husband tells me is the largest intact fort in Bermuda. The interior contains some historical dioramas showing the history of the colony, and had many interesting tunnels, ammunition lifts, and cannons. This should appeal to anyone with an interest in military history. There was a minimal cost to get in, which I don't recall. After leaving Fort St. Catherine, we continued walking downhill so that the shore was on our left. There were some small dairy farms on our right, that were interesting to see. Eventually, we came across some beautiful homes on the right, several with moongates. Walking further, we saw some additional forts on the left, the highlight being the one by the town cut. From this perspective, we could see just how narrow the cut was, and found it hard to believe that our ship had been able to fit through it. We then continued to follow the road back to the ship, getting some great photos of St. George Harbor along the way. If you take this tour, I highly suggest bringing lots of drinking water, a camera, and a comfortable pair of walking shoes. I'm sure I'll think of some more....

Congratulations! I think I can find some energy to dance along!

My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew on this cruise, especially the family of the gentleman who had the fatal heart attack and those who lost everything they brought onboard. No matter what the cause, they have all endured something that many of us cannot even begin to imagine. And for many, the effects will last a long time.

Majesty of the Seas?

July 1st, Carnival Victory to my favorite destination (Eastern Canada).

Enjoy the "practice run," Jeff! Sounds like a great time.

And, they also sacrificed a large portion of the promenade to make private balconies for about a dozen cabins.

Joanandjoe, there is really no alternative to scrapping. Sometimes, ships sink under mysterious circumstances, as Jeff and I mentioned above. Only two ships of which I'm aware have escaped either ending -- RMS Queen Mary has been a tourist attraction/hotel in Long Beach for about 35 years, and SS Rotterdam (1959) is currently being fitted for the same, to eventually return to the city of Rotterdam. The Queen Mary Hotel has been hit with some hard times, though, has run at a loss for years, and filed for bankruptcy protection about a year ago. As far as SS Norway, she was far more successful than SS France ever was. SS France was in service for only 12 years while SS Norway cruised the Caribbean for 22 and set the standard for modern cruising. She has not yet been scrapped, although that will likely happen despite many efforts to save her. I don't know what NCL America's plans are for SS United States and Independence (sister ship to Constitution, which sank while under tow to the breakers in the late 90s... hmmmm). Some believe that NCL America purchased the two US-built ships so that no one else could, thereby giving NCL America an edge in owning American-flagged ships to service the North American market without the restrictions of the Passenger Services Act. I have no opinion on this matter. BTW, my Regal Empress looks beautiful. I saw her two weeks ago at Port Everglades. You're right -- she's about all we have left in the US.

Jeff, I certainly see a pattern in the sinking of several ships around that time period, and definitely regarding our two favorites. I was on SeaBreeze in August 2000, just four months before she sank. She was in fine shape and rode very well. In fact, she rode even better than she did in her Dolphin days. Word was that SeaBreeze was off to Newport News to get parts for a refit in December 2000 after having just been released for non-payment of debts, but I don't believe that for a second. She had been sitting idle for just three months in Halifax, and then left on her own power. Parts? I doubt it. That's my long-winded way of saying that I agree with you. :smiley:

mickig, SS SeaBreeze was my favorite ship. We sailed her twice, and were scheduled to go a third time but the line went out of business one day prior. Just two days before she sank, I saw her in Boston -- she made a quick stopover. I may even have the last photo of her taken before her incident. Two days later, she was gone. I remember thinking, "'At a girl -- no one's going to turn you into scrap metal." Mebert, there have been rumors of SS United States being turned into a liner museum highlighting US-built ships, but it's just a rumor. I doubt it could be successful, as much as I love the idea. One only has to look as far as Queen Mary to see the prospects. :undecided: