RNSANE

How nice for us to have you here at cruisecrazies!!

Great to see you here, cathyh3!!!

I didn't use half the old amenities but it's nice to have a good assortment of choices for folks...kind of keeps the ship from feeling overly crowded and makes cruises attractive to passengers of all ages. I think they have the service part pretty well under control - as long as they keep that running smoothly, I'll be happy.

My longest has been twelve days but I was not at all ready to get off. I am very much looking forward to fourteen days in April on the Navigator. My friends did a 62 day cruise after his retirement from British air...they were very ready to head home at the end but, honestly, I am sure I would relish that and 62 more.

They all have their beautiful spots. My favorite is Barbados - I think St. James Beach is lovely but the wild Atlantic coast is also beautiful. I love the Baths area of Virgin Gorda - incredibly waters with those smooth boulders and the colorful fish darting about.

swaygirl02 - This is such a nice website - so glad you've joined us!

tomkatc, You've come to a great spot - full of wonderful, fun loving folks. Good to have you here.

It's great to see you here, frequentcruiser43!!! Hope you'll post often!

Rats, Carmen...if you were there just a little longer, we could meet. My Navigator cruise arrives in Bermuda on April 13th and overnights. Ah, well, perhaps another cruise, another time. I know you''ll have a great time!

I agree with you, Mary Lou - Royal Caribbean did a great job with the new bedding, comforters, etc....I sleep like a baby - wish I slept as well at home. Of course, part of it is I'm so relaxed on the ships, having fun with the crew, enjoying the drinks of the day, good company, etc - and NO beeper!

I didn't see you had posted this...sorry...the Ryndam seems to have been beset with bad luck - four times since early last year. Might scare away passengers, though it's a passenger, surely, that brought it on board.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/02/26/cruis...ref=mpstoryview According to the CNN.com article which prohibits copying and reposting, this is the fourth norovirus outbreak on the Ryndam since early last year....poor luck, huh. Check out the article at the link above. Passengers were asked to stay in their cabins and were offered $100/day refund. I've been lucky, I guess...even with 77 cruises, never had a problem...knock on woood!!

Well, I haven't done the Caribbean in awhile.....would prefer something that gets further down south that includes Barbados and islands in that area. Don't care if it goes out of NJ - of course, I'd love the Med but this April crossing and stay in Barcelona will cost a lot - and I'm hoping to do the Canal with the Monarch, when she leaves CA so my budget says Caribbean. Maybe if I really pinch pennies, though, I'll go wherever. It would be so great to meet this wonderful gang.

All that said, if you have not been to Vancouver, it is such a spectacular city, you should stay at least one night there if you possibly can. There is a wealth of things to see and do. It is a beautiful city, where mountains meet the sea, with beautiful architecture, wonderful restaurants and great Canadian hospitality.

I am here as well because I love to cruise - met Joey on a recent ( December ) jaunt on the Monarch of the Seas and he invited me to Cruise Crazies. I, too, have ( and still do ) write on other boards - I am an avid writer, mainly of poetry and short stories, in between being a forensic nurse. I did not feel very welcome on the very large other cruise forum but Joey told me how wonderful and welcoming I would find it here and I was immediately taken into the fold. We are family here and, since my closest biological family is on the other coast, I thrive on my cruising network here - for cruise info and all sorts of other good tips and support. Thanks for joining us and giving us a bit of information about yourself.

We are honored to have you join us, mp006!!

lightkeeper7, let that light shine here at CruiseCrazies...we always appreciate a little illumination!!!

fitzer, have a fabulous time!!

alliecat56, I hope you like it here as much as I do. Cruise Crazies is wonderful place to spend your time.

Hi RCPA55, you've joined a really fun group of cruisers - we're glad to see you here!

It's always nice to see new folks on our site....CDW, hope you'll post often!!!

Glad to see you here, jsred!

PegE214, it's nice to see you here at CruiseCrazies. Post often so we can get to know you better!

I have cruised on Valentine's day - my girlfriend and I wore shirts full of hearts, heart earrings, etc...and the crew treated us like their valentines!!! As for the upgrade question, once Princess upgraded me from a balcony to a junior suite prior to sailing on a short coastal CA cruise. The ultimate upgrade came recently on the Monarch when I was moved to the Royal Suite for the last two days of a four day cruise - after the prior occupants left the ship. Sea days or port days....I love long sea days....but, if I have port days, I love to have them alternate with a sea day...that's really ideal for me. Choosing a cruise - itinerary or ship...more for the itinerary but, in reality for me, it's often for the crew, more than for any other reason. Highlight of Alaska cruise for me - absolutely the scenery was fabulous....but meeting with sex crimes detectives in Alaska was the best experience!!!!

You are not old...but you sure do hang out with an old lady!!!