Jan115

Good morning and welcome to our newly re-named Dock - The Community Dock. Going forward, rather than beginning a new dock page each month, CruiseCrazies will now have one ongoing Dock page to keep the conversation going, I hope our new members will join us here to talk about whatever's on your mind. We also welcome the return of some of our old friends we haven't heard from in a while so we can all catch up.
See you here on The Community Dock!

Wow - we’re up to Page 4 of this Dock - first time since April 2020! Let’s keep it going! 
The weekend is winding down. The grandsons and their parents stopped in for a “pee break” when they were on their way home from the zoo on Friday. I was in the middle of cleaning the house and wasn’t ready for surprise company, but I managed to clear a path to the bathroom. We had a nice patio chat before they left, and the other 2 girls showed up on Saturday with their laundry. I really need to start charging a fee for Mom’s Laundromat.
This morning David and I walked - at 6 am. He can only do a half mile at a time, so I continued on for another mile and so glad I made the effort to get up and out. It’s so quiet in the morning before everyone is up and the roads are still empty, and I felt energized until about mid-afternoon when I was ready for a nap. 
Tomorrow our Alexander turns 8, and Papa and Grandma are going to surprise him at his house tomorrow when he gets home from school. 😁🎈🎉🍰🍨
Miranda - it sounds like things are getting better for your side of the planet, both in terms of restrictons and the weather. Enjoy the spring air!
Shari, Andi, Ray and all the rest of the Crazies - hope you’re having a great weekend and looking forward to cruising again in the not too distant future!

Your Easter meal sounds delicious, Shari. Especially the White Russian! 🙂

Happy Easter, Shari! 🌸🌿

Hi Michael, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! 
I'm not sure if you mean this summer or 2022 (no Alaska this summer), but both ships pack a big punch. Quantum class is the newest class of ship and the more technically advanced. It's known for North Star (the arm with the attached pod), Sky Diving simulator, and is very popular with teens and young adults for the activities they love. The Oasis class (Symphony) is the biggest ship at sea, and has a staggering number of bars, restaurants, and entertainment choices. Their claim to fame is the Flow Rider, Aqua Theater, waterslides, and their "neighborhoods". Both ships have more than plenty to do for your family with young kids, but I think the Symphony would be a good fit if you don't mind traveling cross country. 
Let us know what you decide! 

It's here! The news we’ve all been waiting for has arrived! It is with great pleasure to announce that Norwegian Cruise Line will return to service and begin sailing in July! Choose from three 7-day itineraries and ports of embarkation: Athens (Greek Isles), Montego Bay (Western Caribbean) and Punta Cana (Eastern Caribbean). For these return-to-sea sailings, Covid vaccinations are mandatory for all crew and guests, and other health and safety protocols are in place, as well, to ensure that guests have an enjoyable vacation! Even better - the second guest flies FREE!
Now open for booking! Contact Jan to reserve your cabin today! 
In the meantime, tune in to NCL's EMBARK Series Live on Demand FB Series "Great Cruise Comeback",  August 15, at 8:00 pm.
 

I thought I’d start an April dock. Instead of the Daily Dock, maybe we should call in the Weekly Dock or the Couple-of-Times-a-Month Dock. Our late and great friend, MaryLou, would be very sad to see what’s become of our cruise community. Anyway, enough of that!
Tomorrow is Easter, and there will be five of us for dinner, most of us fully vaccinated. Today, for the first time in a year, the grandsons will be welcomed into our home! I have Easter Bunny treats and an egg hunt waiting for them, and we are so excited!!
With the CDC’s new updates to their cruise and travel guidelines, I am beginning to feel a bit more optimistic, and I hope you all are too! We have a Florida getaway planned in May (the Sandpearl in Clearwater), and I can’t wait. With the uncertainty surrounding summer sailings, Andi and I have switched our July Oceania Bermuda cruise from NYC to Royal Caribbean, round trip from the Bermuda Dockyard to Perfect Day CocoCay. With an overnight in Bermuda and 4 days at sea, we and our faithful hubbies are all very excited! 
David and I also booked the Majestic Princess from L.A. to the Mexican Riviera in November. We got a great deal and it was too good to pass up. 
Travel is looking up - start packing!
Happy Easter to all who observe!

 

And another just added from Royal Caribbean: Round trip Bermuda to private island and an overnight in Bermuda. 
Maybe CDC will take the hint!
The only glitch I’m seeing are folks who live near or within driving distance of U.S. ports - they don’t want to fly. But hopefully there are enough vaccinated cruisers willing and eager to cruise again! The cruise lines need us!😎

Looks like you’ll be on the Carnival Glory (unless Carnival extends their suspension of cruises). No reservations needed in the complimentary dining rooms on formal night or any other. You just show up when you’re ready and wait. Reservations are encouraged for Specialty Dining venues, however. Sometimes Carnival does offer discounts on Cheers, and sometimes travel agents may do so, as well. Check with Carnival or your agent.

Yes they can!  We usually let them take a number of photos and then usually pick one (maybe 2) to buy.  Sometimes it's one of the formal night ones, or sometimes we do like the sail away photo or from one of the ports.  You can absolutely buy 1 or more or none without purchasing a package.

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity both announced 7-day Bahama & Caribbean vaccine-required cruises beginning in June. Both lines are beginning their journey to the sea with a single ship, new health and safety protocols and a host of other new policies:
Royal Caribbean - Adventure of the Seas; new Home Port of Nassau
Celebrity Millenium - new Home Port of St. Maarten
Let’s get some discussion going. I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts on these new cruises, whether you will cruise with a vaccine requirement, and if these cruises will be just the thing to get you back on board a ship.

Jan...and Andi...I can read a little bit, but a can't read a lot.  Thank you, for saying this.

Hi Jana, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! 
Congrats on your first cruise! It looks like you’ll be on one of the first sailings when cruise ships return to the water, so I hope you will come back here and share your experience, as it will be helpful for all of us here with cruises scheduled in the upcoming weeks.😎
A passport is always better, but as long as you are cruising round trip from an American port to the Caribbean or Bahamas, DL AND birth Certificate (with raised seal) will be fine. Passports are taking longer than usual to process, and unless you are expediting them (for added cost), you’re probably too late obtaining PP for a June cruise. Passports are taking around 12 weeks and expedited passports 6-8 weeks.
For a first or any cruise, it’s a great opportunity to get a family formal portrait done. You’ll also see the ship photographers appear around every corner. I remember for our first few cruises we used to stop and pose for every one. Now we usually just keep walking. Still, it doesn’t hurt to stop for a pic - the first one when you board is always fun. You can always buy ones you like or just ignore them all. 

For more helpful tips for newbie cruisers, check out my blog post: https://7seajourneys.com/what-to-expect-on-your-first-cruise/
Also, be sure you’re aware of all the covid health and safety precautions pertaining to your ship.
Have a great cruise! 😎🛳🏝

Welcome Jana!  Just to add on to what Jan said, excursions are a nice way to get an overview of a port that is unfamiliar to you.  Oftentimes they take you well away from the port area to give you a true flavor of an island, such as a drive up to a mountain top or a visit to an historic site, or my favorite - something out in nature like a botanical garden or national park area.  I like to choose an excursion that might also give me time to wander a bit if the port area has little cafes or pubs where I can get a local drink or try some new foods.  And yes, please do come back and tel lus all about it.  We have several cruises booked this summer and have fingers crossed that we will all get on a ship soon!

Hi Jana, and welcome to CruiseCrazies! 
Congrats on your first cruise! It looks like you’ll be on one of the first sailings when cruise ships return to the water, so I hope you will come back here and share your experience, as it will be helpful for all of us here with cruises scheduled in the upcoming weeks.😎
A passport is always better, but as long as you are cruising round trip from an American port to the Caribbean or Bahamas, DL AND birth Certificate (with raised seal) will be fine. Passports are taking longer than usual to process, and unless you are expediting them (for added cost), you’re probably too late obtaining PP for a June cruise. Passports are taking around 12 weeks and expedited passports 6-8 weeks.
For a first or any cruise, it’s a great opportunity to get a family formal portrait done. You’ll also see the ship photographers appear around every corner. I remember for our first few cruises we used to stop and pose for every one. Now we usually just keep walking. Still, it doesn’t hurt to stop for a pic - the first one when you board is always fun. You can always buy ones you like or just ignore them all. 

For more helpful tips for newbie cruisers, check out my blog post: https://7seajourneys.com/what-to-expect-on-your-first-cruise/
Also, be sure you’re aware of all the covid health and safety precautions pertaining to your ship.
Have a great cruise! 😎🛳🏝

Ready to think about cruising again? Cruise lines are working hard to get you safely back on board, and Carnival has a deal too good to pass up! Message me to book your cruise today! Or contact me at: https://7seajourneys.com/contact/

Thanks for adding me. Can't wait to sail again.

Hi Jiggy,   We have done that sailing twice - both times with Royal Caribbean, on the Radiance.  This cruise sailed from Vancouver and ended in Honolulu, so it was only 11-days for the cruise itself.  We have also done roundtrip from LA on Princess, which was 15 days.  We did love the roundtrip, but the one-way gave us many more days in Hawaii....the itinerary itself was more port-intensive, and we tacked on a few days in Honolulu afterward.  We loved sailing out of Vancouver toward Hawaii; the weather was perfect in both September and October and after the first day or so, it was warm enough to be on the pool deck - in our bathing suits! 
Now that Celebrity and Holland are both sailing from Vancouver you have more choices - so go with the itinerary and dates that work best for you.  We love the Koningsdam and now that I know it is going....I will definitely look at that itinerary!  BTW - We are two seniors in a balcony - you will love the sea days on your balcony on this cruise!!
Be sure to tell us what you choose and when you go - we will cheer you on!

Hahaha - you caught that before I fixed it 😁

This looks like a beautiful ship - it just might get me to try Carnival....which I said I would never do....hmmm!

Welcome back to CruiseCrazies. Looks like you joined us in 2010. No one is cruising now, but do you have any cruises coming up to look forward to? I look forward to chatting!😎🛳

Thanks for continuing to keep us updated, Jan!

Andi - My office is done. I still use the downstairs desk for bill paying and household stuff, but the majority of the stuff has moved upstairs. Now I can close the downstairs hutch and keep people guessing. They probably think there's a TV in there - or a bar! Actually, now that I think about it, that's not a bad idea ... 😁
Not only was RBG an inspiration and role model as a supreme court justice and advocate for women, but she was a dynamo at the gym. Here she is - planking - at age 85. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of The Notorious RBG -