September 25, 2019
When we got back to our room, after attending the last crew show, and the last PG comedian, there was a bag on the bed with a large turtle sticking out. Ida, the head of the youth department, whose team supported my talks by passing out pins and other help, had asked me earlier what kind of stuffed animal Bonnie likes, and surprised her with another cute one for her collection.
Jennifer at Guest Relations scored us Luggage Tag 2 so tomorrow we will leave the ship, not with the great unwashed, but with the which of which there is no whicher. We are going to have breakfast in the dining room – the only time this cruise – and then when #2 is called head for the dock, our luggage, customs, and The Silver Bullet and point north towards Augusta. If an interesting looking antique mall appears, we may stop, and if we stop, we will probably spend the night. We’ll let you know.
Well, that’s it from the Carnival Fantasy.
Blogging out.
TTFN
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
THAR BE TURTLES HERE!
September 24, 2019
It’s not exactly Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, but, while we were ashore in Roatan, we bought a gift for Jennifer, the head of guest relations who got us moved from the dungeon of R-52 to the almost heaven of E-112. We gave it to her tonight, a sculpture of two sea turtles “swimming” along side an undersea plant. I should have taken a picture so you could have seen it – we thought it was nice, and we gave it to Jennifer wrapped up, so she had no idea what it was. I told her if she didn’t like it she could sell it on eBay. Well, when we got back to the room after dinner and the PG Comedy show (more about that in a moment) on our bed was a note from Jennifer thanking us for the turtles – she liked them – and she said she has a collection of turtles at home. And she gave these two names already: Tarta and Ruga. If anyone knows what those names reference, give an email.
And we bought a turtle for a collector back home, and a turtle for Bonnie to go with her increasing collection.
Back to the PG Comedy show. The performer, Mark Simmons, put on a good show. He is the kind of comedian I like – he told stories, wove several ideas into a routine and then changed gears to another story. He didn’t pick out members of the audience and insult them. That’s not funny. And it’s why we never sit down front for the comedy show. Anyway, before Brooks, the comedy club host, brought Mark out, he said there would be two more shows tonight, both of them adults only. And he said, if you couldn’t get a seat for this PG show – and every seat in the Forum Lounge was full, and people were standing around 3 walls – come back for the two adults only shows because there will be seats for everyone.
Now, wait a minute! If you slam pack out the one PG show and you can’t fill up the two Adults Only Shows, why don’t you have two PG shows and only one cussing, nasty AO show?
We ate supper again tonight with Tom and Jo and swapped war stories. You may think, dear reader, that cruising is all fun and games, romping on the high seas, eating great food, and seeing exotic places. Well, it is 99.5% of the time. But the other times, when recounted with folks who have been there and done that, you get a laugh out of stuff that aggravated the fool out of you before. And stuff that the folks back home would not believe, or if they did believe it, would hide your car keys and not let you cruise any more. And no, I will not share any of those stories with you because you would hide my car keys or not let us cruise any more.
Tomorrow is my last talk, and then we pack up for the drive home. And it is the only talk of this cruise that is not on the front of the Fun Times – too much other stuff going on ship wide tomorrow, what with debarkation talks, the crew variety show, and the farewell show with cruise director Rico Suave. But the talk has been promoted at the other four by me, and by the cruise director, so it will be, as one reader of this blog would say, “It’s all good.”
I’m done for tonight. Mom’s turn.
TTFN
Well, last night we turned the clocks back to Mobile time. We went to bed at about 12 am Mobile time (that’s 1 am Augusta time), but at 5 am Mobile time I was wide awake. So I got up and sat in the one chair in the room and played on my phone and sometime around 6 someone was moving furniture and the person in the room next door was flushing the toilet and opening and shutting drawers so I went back and sat in the bed. As I sat in the bed I continued to play on the phone till he got up at about 7:30. (They are moving furniture right now somewhere up above our room. Dragging chairs across the floor. Wonderful noise, NOT!)
Well, we got up showered, dressed and headed to the Lido for breakfast. When we got upstairs we discovered another ship docked, a Royal Carribean, and another Carnival in the inlet getting ready to come in and dock. That is about 8,000 people. We had our breakfast proceeded to the room gathered our stuff and headed off the ship. By the time we returned to the ship about an hour later another Royal Carribean ship had docked. So now there are about 10,000 people in port. That does not include the crew on board the ships.
It was very HOT!! We shopped a little and bought a few things including a new turtle for me and a monkey for my key chain. I will let Tate played with it when we get home, it makes a noise, cute! They had some mini cans of pringles for $7 a can, ouch. We went back on board and headed to deck 9 to play cards. We played auction rummy this time and I lost! He won. Now he is ahead.
Then, we headed to the Lido for lunch. I had a hamburger and he had hot dogs. And of course an ice cream cone. Then, back to deck 9 where he read and I did dot to dot. After a while I went to the cabin and he talked to a man from Atlanta who is a Methodist. He finally came to the cabin and we napped. We both snored loudly and woke ourselves!
I wanted to watch sail away so I dressed and we went upstairs about 4:15. All aboard was 4:30. At 5 o’clock they had started to leave the ropes go but the 2 Royal Carribean ships had beat us and one was already out and the second one was getting ready to go. We went back to the room so he could dress and then about 5:30 went up so he could stop at the desk and we could meet the dance couple for supper.
After supper we did not go to the variety show because it was a singer we had heard twice before and in 45 minutes she will sing about 3 songs and then talk and do dumb stuff with the audience. She has a beautiful voice and I like to hear her sing but I don’t like the other stuff she does. So went to the comedy show.
The comic who missed his flight to Roatan had flown into Cozumel and was doing all 3 shows tonight. Funny guy. We enjoyed the show.
Well, as David said his last 2 talks are tomorrow so we will be up at 6:30. He still needs to practice yet tonight. Also, we need to go to the disembarkation talk tomorrow at 11:15 to see what we need to know. Hopefully we can get luggage tags that will let us get off in the first group after the carry off luggage people. Then, we can get on the road early.
Love to you all, Mom, Granny and Bonnie
It’s not exactly Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, but, while we were ashore in Roatan, we bought a gift for Jennifer, the head of guest relations who got us moved from the dungeon of R-52 to the almost heaven of E-112. We gave it to her tonight, a sculpture of two sea turtles “swimming” along side an undersea plant. I should have taken a picture so you could have seen it – we thought it was nice, and we gave it to Jennifer wrapped up, so she had no idea what it was. I told her if she didn’t like it she could sell it on eBay. Well, when we got back to the room after dinner and the PG Comedy show (more about that in a moment) on our bed was a note from Jennifer thanking us for the turtles – she liked them – and she said she has a collection of turtles at home. And she gave these two names already: Tarta and Ruga. If anyone knows what those names reference, give an email.
And we bought a turtle for a collector back home, and a turtle for Bonnie to go with her increasing collection.
Back to the PG Comedy show. The performer, Mark Simmons, put on a good show. He is the kind of comedian I like – he told stories, wove several ideas into a routine and then changed gears to another story. He didn’t pick out members of the audience and insult them. That’s not funny. And it’s why we never sit down front for the comedy show. Anyway, before Brooks, the comedy club host, brought Mark out, he said there would be two more shows tonight, both of them adults only. And he said, if you couldn’t get a seat for this PG show – and every seat in the Forum Lounge was full, and people were standing around 3 walls – come back for the two adults only shows because there will be seats for everyone.
Now, wait a minute! If you slam pack out the one PG show and you can’t fill up the two Adults Only Shows, why don’t you have two PG shows and only one cussing, nasty AO show?
We ate supper again tonight with Tom and Jo and swapped war stories. You may think, dear reader, that cruising is all fun and games, romping on the high seas, eating great food, and seeing exotic places. Well, it is 99.5% of the time. But the other times, when recounted with folks who have been there and done that, you get a laugh out of stuff that aggravated the fool out of you before. And stuff that the folks back home would not believe, or if they did believe it, would hide your car keys and not let you cruise any more. And no, I will not share any of those stories with you because you would hide my car keys or not let us cruise any more.
Tomorrow is my last talk, and then we pack up for the drive home. And it is the only talk of this cruise that is not on the front of the Fun Times – too much other stuff going on ship wide tomorrow, what with debarkation talks, the crew variety show, and the farewell show with cruise director Rico Suave. But the talk has been promoted at the other four by me, and by the cruise director, so it will be, as one reader of this blog would say, “It’s all good.”
I’m done for tonight. Mom’s turn.
TTFN
Well, last night we turned the clocks back to Mobile time. We went to bed at about 12 am Mobile time (that’s 1 am Augusta time), but at 5 am Mobile time I was wide awake. So I got up and sat in the one chair in the room and played on my phone and sometime around 6 someone was moving furniture and the person in the room next door was flushing the toilet and opening and shutting drawers so I went back and sat in the bed. As I sat in the bed I continued to play on the phone till he got up at about 7:30. (They are moving furniture right now somewhere up above our room. Dragging chairs across the floor. Wonderful noise, NOT!)
Well, we got up showered, dressed and headed to the Lido for breakfast. When we got upstairs we discovered another ship docked, a Royal Carribean, and another Carnival in the inlet getting ready to come in and dock. That is about 8,000 people. We had our breakfast proceeded to the room gathered our stuff and headed off the ship. By the time we returned to the ship about an hour later another Royal Carribean ship had docked. So now there are about 10,000 people in port. That does not include the crew on board the ships.
It was very HOT!! We shopped a little and bought a few things including a new turtle for me and a monkey for my key chain. I will let Tate played with it when we get home, it makes a noise, cute! They had some mini cans of pringles for $7 a can, ouch. We went back on board and headed to deck 9 to play cards. We played auction rummy this time and I lost! He won. Now he is ahead.
Then, we headed to the Lido for lunch. I had a hamburger and he had hot dogs. And of course an ice cream cone. Then, back to deck 9 where he read and I did dot to dot. After a while I went to the cabin and he talked to a man from Atlanta who is a Methodist. He finally came to the cabin and we napped. We both snored loudly and woke ourselves!
I wanted to watch sail away so I dressed and we went upstairs about 4:15. All aboard was 4:30. At 5 o’clock they had started to leave the ropes go but the 2 Royal Carribean ships had beat us and one was already out and the second one was getting ready to go. We went back to the room so he could dress and then about 5:30 went up so he could stop at the desk and we could meet the dance couple for supper.
After supper we did not go to the variety show because it was a singer we had heard twice before and in 45 minutes she will sing about 3 songs and then talk and do dumb stuff with the audience. She has a beautiful voice and I like to hear her sing but I don’t like the other stuff she does. So went to the comedy show.
The comic who missed his flight to Roatan had flown into Cozumel and was doing all 3 shows tonight. Funny guy. We enjoyed the show.
Well, as David said his last 2 talks are tomorrow so we will be up at 6:30. He still needs to practice yet tonight. Also, we need to go to the disembarkation talk tomorrow at 11:15 to see what we need to know. Hopefully we can get luggage tags that will let us get off in the first group after the carry off luggage people. Then, we can get on the road early.
Love to you all, Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Monday, September 23, 2019
HOT AS HONDURAS
September 23, 2019
Yes, dear readers, it was hot today. I have no idea how hot it was, but we walked off the ship, went through half of the tourist trap sales area, bought a couple of souvenirs, and one Diet Coke and were back in the air conditioned air as soon as possible. Even I was hot! It is beautiful here. If they’d just dial the heat back a little bit. And tomorrow is Cozumel, probably just as hot, but we are going to venture into town and find a Mexican restaurant for our midday meal.
In the Fantasy Rummy tournament, she caught up. It is now 4-4, and in the last game, she beat me 575 to 125. I have forgotten how many times I was negative, and it hurts too much to go look. So we switched to Casino, played to 50 and she beat me by 9 points. I’m going to the ship’s casino tomorrow and get a new deck of cards. This has got to stop.
We had supper tonight with Tom and Jo Sanders, the dance instructors for this cruise. We’ve sailed with them before, but tonight was the first time we’ve been able to arrange eating supper together. Good fellowship, and an okay dinner selection. I tried the chicken liver appetizer, but it was too dry. The Japanese sea bass I had for my main course was very good.
By the time we got out of dinner, it was almost time for the evening’s variety show to begin and of course our front row balcony seats were gone. I could see if I leaned to the right, but Bonnie couldn’t see at all. So while I watched the juggler, she played Scrabble on her phone. We both had a good time.
Last night we set our clocks back an hour. Tonight we are setting them forward an hour. No one explained why because normally on Carnival you don’t change your clocks. It is always the time in the port from which you sailed. But it’s their ship and they can do what they want. At least we are back on Mobile time, only an hour earlier than Georgia.
Well, I’m finished with my part, so I will turn it over to Mom, Granny, and Bonnie.
TTFN
A small attempt at humor. It was hot in Roatan but there were rain clouds over head and I thought it got a little cooler as we walked around. There is really pretty scenery in the area where they have all the touristy stuff. We even saw three hummingbirds flying in the trees feeding on the pretty blooms. We stopped to watch them. Then, we proceeded to look around. We bought a couple of little things and he bought a nice ceramic turtle (no not for you Amy) but for the young lady who help find us a room after we got on the ship. Her name is Jennifer and she was very nice. She had given us a bottle of champagne, which we don’t drink, and we gave to another couple who do and attend our talks. I bought a cold diet coke to carry on the ship and have over ice with my lunch. It was great. We carried drinks on the ship but have no refrigerator so in the evening we have them warm poured over ice.
After cards then lunch, we went back and played some more cards. Before we resumed our card playing, we went to the Serenity deck area to see the damage done by the Panama mishap. The ship actually struck the walls on both sides. When we went off the ship on the port side you could see down about 5 feet above the water line a long black scratch. One the deck 9 on the starboard side in the Serenity area it tore up the railing and buckled some of the floor boards. It also broke some of the railing on the port side. We think they will bring on some repair crew when we get back to Mobile that will sail with next cruise and do repairs while they sail.
Then, after the second round of card playing we headed to the room for a nap. He napped I did not. At about 4:00 I went on deck to watch sail away. All aboard was at 3:30 but we didn’t actually sail away till after 5. I don’t know why.
We didn’t go to supper at our usual time so that is why we didn’t get any seats at the show. It was an okay show. It was a juggler. After the show we went to the forum lounge to watch a PG comedy routine. The comic had gotten on in Roatan. He had some funny stuff but we didn’t really like the jokes about racism and such. He said that the other comic that was supposed to have gotten on didn’t make his flight so this guy will be doing all the shows. All the other shows this evening are R rated and we do not like those. So we are back in our room. He is reading and I am going to finished my hearts game and then do some dot-to-dot puzzles. We don’t get into Cozumel until 9:30 so no rush in the morning. Tomorrow will be another slow day. Nice relaxing days.
Well, love you all. Be home Thursday unless we stop somewhere on the way home. Home for sure on Friday.
Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Yes, dear readers, it was hot today. I have no idea how hot it was, but we walked off the ship, went through half of the tourist trap sales area, bought a couple of souvenirs, and one Diet Coke and were back in the air conditioned air as soon as possible. Even I was hot! It is beautiful here. If they’d just dial the heat back a little bit. And tomorrow is Cozumel, probably just as hot, but we are going to venture into town and find a Mexican restaurant for our midday meal.
In the Fantasy Rummy tournament, she caught up. It is now 4-4, and in the last game, she beat me 575 to 125. I have forgotten how many times I was negative, and it hurts too much to go look. So we switched to Casino, played to 50 and she beat me by 9 points. I’m going to the ship’s casino tomorrow and get a new deck of cards. This has got to stop.
We had supper tonight with Tom and Jo Sanders, the dance instructors for this cruise. We’ve sailed with them before, but tonight was the first time we’ve been able to arrange eating supper together. Good fellowship, and an okay dinner selection. I tried the chicken liver appetizer, but it was too dry. The Japanese sea bass I had for my main course was very good.
By the time we got out of dinner, it was almost time for the evening’s variety show to begin and of course our front row balcony seats were gone. I could see if I leaned to the right, but Bonnie couldn’t see at all. So while I watched the juggler, she played Scrabble on her phone. We both had a good time.
Last night we set our clocks back an hour. Tonight we are setting them forward an hour. No one explained why because normally on Carnival you don’t change your clocks. It is always the time in the port from which you sailed. But it’s their ship and they can do what they want. At least we are back on Mobile time, only an hour earlier than Georgia.
Well, I’m finished with my part, so I will turn it over to Mom, Granny, and Bonnie.
TTFN
A small attempt at humor. It was hot in Roatan but there were rain clouds over head and I thought it got a little cooler as we walked around. There is really pretty scenery in the area where they have all the touristy stuff. We even saw three hummingbirds flying in the trees feeding on the pretty blooms. We stopped to watch them. Then, we proceeded to look around. We bought a couple of little things and he bought a nice ceramic turtle (no not for you Amy) but for the young lady who help find us a room after we got on the ship. Her name is Jennifer and she was very nice. She had given us a bottle of champagne, which we don’t drink, and we gave to another couple who do and attend our talks. I bought a cold diet coke to carry on the ship and have over ice with my lunch. It was great. We carried drinks on the ship but have no refrigerator so in the evening we have them warm poured over ice.
After cards then lunch, we went back and played some more cards. Before we resumed our card playing, we went to the Serenity deck area to see the damage done by the Panama mishap. The ship actually struck the walls on both sides. When we went off the ship on the port side you could see down about 5 feet above the water line a long black scratch. One the deck 9 on the starboard side in the Serenity area it tore up the railing and buckled some of the floor boards. It also broke some of the railing on the port side. We think they will bring on some repair crew when we get back to Mobile that will sail with next cruise and do repairs while they sail.
Then, after the second round of card playing we headed to the room for a nap. He napped I did not. At about 4:00 I went on deck to watch sail away. All aboard was at 3:30 but we didn’t actually sail away till after 5. I don’t know why.
We didn’t go to supper at our usual time so that is why we didn’t get any seats at the show. It was an okay show. It was a juggler. After the show we went to the forum lounge to watch a PG comedy routine. The comic had gotten on in Roatan. He had some funny stuff but we didn’t really like the jokes about racism and such. He said that the other comic that was supposed to have gotten on didn’t make his flight so this guy will be doing all the shows. All the other shows this evening are R rated and we do not like those. So we are back in our room. He is reading and I am going to finished my hearts game and then do some dot-to-dot puzzles. We don’t get into Cozumel until 9:30 so no rush in the morning. Tomorrow will be another slow day. Nice relaxing days.
Well, love you all. Be home Thursday unless we stop somewhere on the way home. Home for sure on Friday.
Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Sunday, September 22, 2019
AM I AN EXPERT?
September 22, 2019
Today’s talk was on Art, specifically “Museum Mosaic.” I talk about three museums in the Caribbean – Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Martinique – and parts of their collections and the artists who made them. If is a fun talk, and the works I’ve chosen show life at different time periods on the islands. I can show you sometime on Family Night.
Anyway, after the talk a woman came up to me and said she had gone back to college and was taking an art appreciation course. She has a project due next Tuesday and asked me if I could help her with it. I was flattered that she thought after one talk on art that I was an expert, but not so. Anyway, she talked about her project, and the things she was saying gave me a small amount of inspiration which I shared with her. She was pleased with my advice, and fingers crossed, it helps her get a good grade on the project. And if not, the chances that she will ever see me again are slim and none, and Slim has left town.
It never ceases to amaze me what folks will do for free drinks and how their basic upbringing goes out the window when the trough is open. Case in point, tonight’s Captain’s reception, complete with hor d’oeuvres and free booze – mixed drinks, wine, champagne, and beer. Holy cow! As Bonnie and I were going into the theater to relax, have a glass of fruit punch and listen to a live band, we were almost knocked over, crippled and beheaded as the thundering herd punched through. After the event I noticed one couple carrying out three beers each and no telling how many they consumed before they left.
Tomorrow is Roatan, Honduras and your favorite cruisers are going swimming. And no, we will not take pictures. You will have to take our word for it.
Well, She Who Must Be Obeyed says she is going to blog tonight. So by request, here’s Bonnie!
TTFN
Well, this is our seventh day cruising and only the second time I have written anything so I have a lot to make up for. Ha Ha!! Basically except for Saturday my days have been pretty routine. Get up at 6:30 am, shower and dress. Go to breakfast on the Lido deck at the buffet and then I go walk for about 30 or 35 minutes on the jogging track while he goes to rehearse. Then, I go back to the room switch bags getting my crochet stuff and then off to the talk. He talks, talks, talks and talks. Then, I gather up his computer and clicker and unplug and pack up his stuff while he schmoozes with the crowd of idol worshipers.
Then, we take our stuff back to the room, he changes clothes and we go up to the smokey 9 th floor where the casino is and find a table and play cards, which currently I am losing 3 to 4 games!!! Then, about noon we head to the Lido again and have a bite of lunch. Then, off to the cabin for a short nap, he sleeps I usually play on my phone.
After nap he changes clothes again and we head back to the lounge for his second talk of the day. He talks, talks, talks and talks and schmoozes with the crowd while I pack up his stuff. Then, back to the room where I usually dress for supper and then, we head out about 4:30 to get in the chow line at Anytime Dining. Usually we are through with supper about 6:30 or so and we head to the doors to the theater and wait for them to open for the show. We watch the show afterwards heading back to the room for a coke and then, blogging and to bed.
One evening we went to a PG comedy show. It was funny. But they usually only have 1 of the four shows each evening that is PG.
On our port day we walked into town and visited one variety store (everything from school supplies, party supplies etc) and one very old church. It was beautiful inside. Limon Costa Rica is a VERY poor town. We were docked in the port where one side was our cruise ship and on the other side was the cargo port. The only thing is there was NO cargo there to be loaded or any ships to load. It was absolutely empty. No people, no containers and no ships. I am pretty sure when we were here the last time there were containers on the dock. The town is very run down and looks very unkempt and very old. David looked it up on line and the average monthly income is just over $100. There is a small area where you get off the ship where they have set up a tourist souvenir area. They have a lot of hand made items and most are very nice. But once you leave that area and go into the town it is very different.
Of course you read about our mishap at the Panama Canal. Well, today they had the area all repaired. Also, we were supposed to be all aboard at 3:30 in Limon but 2 tour buses were more than an hour late so we were almost 2 hours late leaving.
Well, we are supposed to be in Roatan tomorrow at 8:30 and back on board at 3:30. Then, it is on to Cozamel and then a day at sea and home. All too short a cruise.
Well, I am hot so I am going to have a cold drink of diet coke, play on my phone or draw some dot to dots. Then, we will be off to bed. We do not have to get up early tomorrow. So we will just take it as it comes.
Love you all and miss you.
Hey, Jen how are you and the girls? How was Arts in the Heart? Hope it was good.
Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Today’s talk was on Art, specifically “Museum Mosaic.” I talk about three museums in the Caribbean – Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Martinique – and parts of their collections and the artists who made them. If is a fun talk, and the works I’ve chosen show life at different time periods on the islands. I can show you sometime on Family Night.
Anyway, after the talk a woman came up to me and said she had gone back to college and was taking an art appreciation course. She has a project due next Tuesday and asked me if I could help her with it. I was flattered that she thought after one talk on art that I was an expert, but not so. Anyway, she talked about her project, and the things she was saying gave me a small amount of inspiration which I shared with her. She was pleased with my advice, and fingers crossed, it helps her get a good grade on the project. And if not, the chances that she will ever see me again are slim and none, and Slim has left town.
It never ceases to amaze me what folks will do for free drinks and how their basic upbringing goes out the window when the trough is open. Case in point, tonight’s Captain’s reception, complete with hor d’oeuvres and free booze – mixed drinks, wine, champagne, and beer. Holy cow! As Bonnie and I were going into the theater to relax, have a glass of fruit punch and listen to a live band, we were almost knocked over, crippled and beheaded as the thundering herd punched through. After the event I noticed one couple carrying out three beers each and no telling how many they consumed before they left.
Tomorrow is Roatan, Honduras and your favorite cruisers are going swimming. And no, we will not take pictures. You will have to take our word for it.
Well, She Who Must Be Obeyed says she is going to blog tonight. So by request, here’s Bonnie!
TTFN
Well, this is our seventh day cruising and only the second time I have written anything so I have a lot to make up for. Ha Ha!! Basically except for Saturday my days have been pretty routine. Get up at 6:30 am, shower and dress. Go to breakfast on the Lido deck at the buffet and then I go walk for about 30 or 35 minutes on the jogging track while he goes to rehearse. Then, I go back to the room switch bags getting my crochet stuff and then off to the talk. He talks, talks, talks and talks. Then, I gather up his computer and clicker and unplug and pack up his stuff while he schmoozes with the crowd of idol worshipers.
Then, we take our stuff back to the room, he changes clothes and we go up to the smokey 9 th floor where the casino is and find a table and play cards, which currently I am losing 3 to 4 games!!! Then, about noon we head to the Lido again and have a bite of lunch. Then, off to the cabin for a short nap, he sleeps I usually play on my phone.
After nap he changes clothes again and we head back to the lounge for his second talk of the day. He talks, talks, talks and talks and schmoozes with the crowd while I pack up his stuff. Then, back to the room where I usually dress for supper and then, we head out about 4:30 to get in the chow line at Anytime Dining. Usually we are through with supper about 6:30 or so and we head to the doors to the theater and wait for them to open for the show. We watch the show afterwards heading back to the room for a coke and then, blogging and to bed.
One evening we went to a PG comedy show. It was funny. But they usually only have 1 of the four shows each evening that is PG.
On our port day we walked into town and visited one variety store (everything from school supplies, party supplies etc) and one very old church. It was beautiful inside. Limon Costa Rica is a VERY poor town. We were docked in the port where one side was our cruise ship and on the other side was the cargo port. The only thing is there was NO cargo there to be loaded or any ships to load. It was absolutely empty. No people, no containers and no ships. I am pretty sure when we were here the last time there were containers on the dock. The town is very run down and looks very unkempt and very old. David looked it up on line and the average monthly income is just over $100. There is a small area where you get off the ship where they have set up a tourist souvenir area. They have a lot of hand made items and most are very nice. But once you leave that area and go into the town it is very different.
Of course you read about our mishap at the Panama Canal. Well, today they had the area all repaired. Also, we were supposed to be all aboard at 3:30 in Limon but 2 tour buses were more than an hour late so we were almost 2 hours late leaving.
Well, we are supposed to be in Roatan tomorrow at 8:30 and back on board at 3:30. Then, it is on to Cozamel and then a day at sea and home. All too short a cruise.
Well, I am hot so I am going to have a cold drink of diet coke, play on my phone or draw some dot to dots. Then, we will be off to bed. We do not have to get up early tomorrow. So we will just take it as it comes.
Love you all and miss you.
Hey, Jen how are you and the girls? How was Arts in the Heart? Hope it was good.
Love Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Saturday, September 21, 2019
THEY BROKE OUR SHIP
September 21, 2019
It’s made Google News and YouTube. They broke our ship. As the Fantasy was coming through the old locks on our way to the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was not under power, but was instead being pulled by the “mules” – locomotives that are attached by cable to the ship. In the last section of the lock, they pulled the ship against the side, doing damage on Decks 9 and 10 aft, specifically to the “Serenity” lounge – chairs, pool, hot tubs that are adults only. The safety of the vessel was not impeded in any fashion. The Serenity is closed for repairs.
We did not do a tour in Limon today. The first time we were here we did a Bus, Train and Boat Excursion that was fun, but today we just walked out into the city and strolled around in some intense heat. Even I was hot. We walked to the Roman Catholic Cathedral that you’ve already seen in my emails, peeked into a store that looked like it sold yarn, but was instead a vendor of cloth and ribbons, and then into a general store that had a Spanish Monopoly game (we did not buy it). We picked up two souvenirs out in town and then browsed through the tourist trap stalls just off the ship, coming back into the air conditioned ship for lunch and rest.
We played two Trivia games. One on Alaska where we got 7 answers right and the winner had 12. The other was history and we came in second, 18 to the winner’s
19. If I had remembered it was John Adams who died the same day as Thomas Jefferson, we would have tied. But we’ll get them next time.
And I am now ahead 4 games to 2 in the Fantasy Rummy contest, coming back in the bottom of the 11th to score a walk off.
Bonnie enjoys watching sailaway and we stood by the rail on Deck 10 for a long time, waiting for the lines to be cast off, but by the time the ship was underway, we were in the dining room. Two ship’s excursions were late getting back and departure was delayed for over an hour. We have not heard why they were late. But if you are going on an excursion, do a ship’s tour because if they are late getting back the ship will still be tied up waiting for your return.
Tonight’s variety show in the Universal Lounge, the ship’s main theater, was a country music show which we’ve seen before. The good old boys and girls of Alabama were expecting something different I think – a regular country show – but this one tells the story of four male country singers who meet four female country singers and form a joint band. Cheesy, but good.
And now we are back in E-112 where Mom is playing Scrabble on her cell phone and I am getting ready to rehearse my art talk for tomorrow. And tomorrow is the last formal night of the cruise. Then two stops back to back, one more day at sea, and land-ho in Mobile.
TTFN
It’s made Google News and YouTube. They broke our ship. As the Fantasy was coming through the old locks on our way to the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was not under power, but was instead being pulled by the “mules” – locomotives that are attached by cable to the ship. In the last section of the lock, they pulled the ship against the side, doing damage on Decks 9 and 10 aft, specifically to the “Serenity” lounge – chairs, pool, hot tubs that are adults only. The safety of the vessel was not impeded in any fashion. The Serenity is closed for repairs.
We did not do a tour in Limon today. The first time we were here we did a Bus, Train and Boat Excursion that was fun, but today we just walked out into the city and strolled around in some intense heat. Even I was hot. We walked to the Roman Catholic Cathedral that you’ve already seen in my emails, peeked into a store that looked like it sold yarn, but was instead a vendor of cloth and ribbons, and then into a general store that had a Spanish Monopoly game (we did not buy it). We picked up two souvenirs out in town and then browsed through the tourist trap stalls just off the ship, coming back into the air conditioned ship for lunch and rest.
We played two Trivia games. One on Alaska where we got 7 answers right and the winner had 12. The other was history and we came in second, 18 to the winner’s
19. If I had remembered it was John Adams who died the same day as Thomas Jefferson, we would have tied. But we’ll get them next time.
And I am now ahead 4 games to 2 in the Fantasy Rummy contest, coming back in the bottom of the 11th to score a walk off.
Bonnie enjoys watching sailaway and we stood by the rail on Deck 10 for a long time, waiting for the lines to be cast off, but by the time the ship was underway, we were in the dining room. Two ship’s excursions were late getting back and departure was delayed for over an hour. We have not heard why they were late. But if you are going on an excursion, do a ship’s tour because if they are late getting back the ship will still be tied up waiting for your return.
Tonight’s variety show in the Universal Lounge, the ship’s main theater, was a country music show which we’ve seen before. The good old boys and girls of Alabama were expecting something different I think – a regular country show – but this one tells the story of four male country singers who meet four female country singers and form a joint band. Cheesy, but good.
And now we are back in E-112 where Mom is playing Scrabble on her cell phone and I am getting ready to rehearse my art talk for tomorrow. And tomorrow is the last formal night of the cruise. Then two stops back to back, one more day at sea, and land-ho in Mobile.
TTFN
Friday, September 20, 2019
MAC N CHEESE
September 20, 2019
Tonight’s menu offerings were presented in the same format as on formal nights, but it was not formal night. It means that there are more upscale offerings, but less overall choices. I ordered teriyaki salmon for my main course. The sides which accompanied it were a rice cake (yuck) and some island vegetables (tasting them was also yuck).
Anticipating that I might not like the vegetables, I asked Nelson, our waiter, if mac n cheese was available – Carnival’s is very good (haven’t yet tasted CFA so I can’t compare – maybe some of my readers can). Nelson said it isn’t available. I asked him, with a smile indicating I was joking, “Are there any other restaurants?” Moments later I decided if I had to eat island vegetables, I’d at least be warm – it was brrrrr cold in our part of the dining room – and headed to our room to get my sweater. As I passed Nelson, I said, “I’m going looking for mac n cheese.” He smiled.
When my dinner came the above offerings were on the plate, and then Nelson came back with a large bowl of mac n cheese. He asked the kitchen to make an order especially for me. I appreciated it, cleaned the bowl, and told him how much I appreciated it. The rice cakes and island vegetables were returned to the kitchen virtually untouched.
Today was the partial Panama Canal transit. Since we’ve been privileged to do this before, we did not go up and join the throng crowding around the bow of the ship, but rather enjoyed the passage into the lake from the starboard side on Deck 10. Interestingly, we went into the lake from the new locks and came back out into the Atlantic Ocean through the old locks. We’ve never done that before, and it was kind of neat.
One of the activities today was Coloring at Sea in the Cat Lounge (there are large pictures of cats and we will remember to take pictures of them for the folks at 2042). We had our choice of adult coloring books, plus colored pencils and colored makers. Mom colored a turtle, I chose a mermaid. She used colored pencils. I used the markers and colored outside of the lines (remembering when Mac was chastised for coloring a picture in black – we artistic types must have our individuality recognized!). At the conclusion of the hour our hostesses, Gemma, who is also the comedy club host, and Lucky Lizzie, also the bingo host, told us we had to turn in our coloring devices – which we anticipated – and our coloring books – which we did not anticipate. They did tell us we could tear our pictures out of the books. We took ours, plus three more for later.
In the Carnival Fantasy Panama Canal Cruise 2019 Rummy Contest, I have won the last two games to take my first lead 3 games to 2. I keep saying my opponent is cheating me, but with her injured wrist she can neither shuffle nor deal so I am doing both. How she is bamboozling me is a mystery, but I have finally taken the lead.
On Carnival Journeys cruises, there are additional activities for the guests not available on regular cruises. One, of course, are the enrichment lectures, delivered on the Fantasy by yours truly. Another is a ball room dance couple giving instruction to the willing, able, and not so able (also us), led by friends of ours from previous cruises, Tom and Jo. A new one on this sailing is a caricature artist and we got an appointment today and sat for him. It is a fun drawing, and as with all caricatures, there are recognizable features, and some changed for just the drawing. Bonnie said, “I love it! I have boobs and a narrow waist!” I still do not have any hair.
Well, it’s Puerto Limon, Costa Rica tomorrow, and we’ll report back from our adventures.
TTFN
Tonight’s menu offerings were presented in the same format as on formal nights, but it was not formal night. It means that there are more upscale offerings, but less overall choices. I ordered teriyaki salmon for my main course. The sides which accompanied it were a rice cake (yuck) and some island vegetables (tasting them was also yuck).
Anticipating that I might not like the vegetables, I asked Nelson, our waiter, if mac n cheese was available – Carnival’s is very good (haven’t yet tasted CFA so I can’t compare – maybe some of my readers can). Nelson said it isn’t available. I asked him, with a smile indicating I was joking, “Are there any other restaurants?” Moments later I decided if I had to eat island vegetables, I’d at least be warm – it was brrrrr cold in our part of the dining room – and headed to our room to get my sweater. As I passed Nelson, I said, “I’m going looking for mac n cheese.” He smiled.
When my dinner came the above offerings were on the plate, and then Nelson came back with a large bowl of mac n cheese. He asked the kitchen to make an order especially for me. I appreciated it, cleaned the bowl, and told him how much I appreciated it. The rice cakes and island vegetables were returned to the kitchen virtually untouched.
Today was the partial Panama Canal transit. Since we’ve been privileged to do this before, we did not go up and join the throng crowding around the bow of the ship, but rather enjoyed the passage into the lake from the starboard side on Deck 10. Interestingly, we went into the lake from the new locks and came back out into the Atlantic Ocean through the old locks. We’ve never done that before, and it was kind of neat.
One of the activities today was Coloring at Sea in the Cat Lounge (there are large pictures of cats and we will remember to take pictures of them for the folks at 2042). We had our choice of adult coloring books, plus colored pencils and colored makers. Mom colored a turtle, I chose a mermaid. She used colored pencils. I used the markers and colored outside of the lines (remembering when Mac was chastised for coloring a picture in black – we artistic types must have our individuality recognized!). At the conclusion of the hour our hostesses, Gemma, who is also the comedy club host, and Lucky Lizzie, also the bingo host, told us we had to turn in our coloring devices – which we anticipated – and our coloring books – which we did not anticipate. They did tell us we could tear our pictures out of the books. We took ours, plus three more for later.
In the Carnival Fantasy Panama Canal Cruise 2019 Rummy Contest, I have won the last two games to take my first lead 3 games to 2. I keep saying my opponent is cheating me, but with her injured wrist she can neither shuffle nor deal so I am doing both. How she is bamboozling me is a mystery, but I have finally taken the lead.
On Carnival Journeys cruises, there are additional activities for the guests not available on regular cruises. One, of course, are the enrichment lectures, delivered on the Fantasy by yours truly. Another is a ball room dance couple giving instruction to the willing, able, and not so able (also us), led by friends of ours from previous cruises, Tom and Jo. A new one on this sailing is a caricature artist and we got an appointment today and sat for him. It is a fun drawing, and as with all caricatures, there are recognizable features, and some changed for just the drawing. Bonnie said, “I love it! I have boobs and a narrow waist!” I still do not have any hair.
Well, it’s Puerto Limon, Costa Rica tomorrow, and we’ll report back from our adventures.
TTFN
Thursday, September 19, 2019
ARE WE THERE YET?
September 19, 2019
Today my talk was in the astronomy category and I talked about celestial navigation with the title “Are We There Yet?” and assisted by Shrek and the Donkey. Both crowds were good with the Forum Lounge two-thirds full. Today was also International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and for my opening jokes, I did some of the pirate humor that I have done in the series about pirates and exploreres. The answer is: R. The answer is: A Buccaneer. The answer is: Arurba. And the questions?
We cut out of supper early tonight, leaving dessert behind, so we could get to the theater and claim our front row balcony seats for tonight’s presentation by the Playlist Productions (i.e. “the kids” – the ship’s singers and dancers) entitled “The Brits.” Music by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and many more from the British Invasion of the 60s. This was the second show by the cast, and there is one more coming up dedicated to country music. We’ve been privileged to see each of them several times, but with different cast members, the shows are always different, and always good.
Tomorrow’s entertainer we’ve also seen. His name is “Shoener” and is billed as a mentalist. We’ve figured out his big finish, and Mom doesn’t like him anyway, so we will stand out on deck tomorrow night, look at the stars and eat ice cream cones.
The weather is good, the sea is calm, the food is abundant, and I can’t think of anything else to blog about tonight. Shame on me. Oh, I am thinking about borrowing Bonnie’s razor and shaving my knees – maybe for tomorrow’s post Panama Canal excitement.
I am tired and Bonnie is tired, so this one will be brief. See you tomorrow night with reports of our partial Panama Canal transit.
TTFN
Today my talk was in the astronomy category and I talked about celestial navigation with the title “Are We There Yet?” and assisted by Shrek and the Donkey. Both crowds were good with the Forum Lounge two-thirds full. Today was also International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and for my opening jokes, I did some of the pirate humor that I have done in the series about pirates and exploreres. The answer is: R. The answer is: A Buccaneer. The answer is: Arurba. And the questions?
We cut out of supper early tonight, leaving dessert behind, so we could get to the theater and claim our front row balcony seats for tonight’s presentation by the Playlist Productions (i.e. “the kids” – the ship’s singers and dancers) entitled “The Brits.” Music by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and many more from the British Invasion of the 60s. This was the second show by the cast, and there is one more coming up dedicated to country music. We’ve been privileged to see each of them several times, but with different cast members, the shows are always different, and always good.
Tomorrow’s entertainer we’ve also seen. His name is “Shoener” and is billed as a mentalist. We’ve figured out his big finish, and Mom doesn’t like him anyway, so we will stand out on deck tomorrow night, look at the stars and eat ice cream cones.
The weather is good, the sea is calm, the food is abundant, and I can’t think of anything else to blog about tonight. Shame on me. Oh, I am thinking about borrowing Bonnie’s razor and shaving my knees – maybe for tomorrow’s post Panama Canal excitement.
I am tired and Bonnie is tired, so this one will be brief. See you tomorrow night with reports of our partial Panama Canal transit.
TTFN
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
NO ICE FOR YOU
September 18, 2019
I know there was a TV show where someone said, “No soup for you.” Well, I think our cabin steward has said, “No ice for you.” Everyday we’ve been in E-112 we have told her we want ice in the evening, she does not have to bring us ice in the morning. Every morning she has brought us ice. Every evening she has not brought us ice. Last night we had enough left over to mix our Diet Coke and Diet Mountain Dew, but tonight, I had to go to the Lido with the ice bucket to get enough cubes for our drinks. A small annoyance in the scheme of things, and considering we are on a 10 day Panama Canal cruise, not big at all. But it does make an interesting opening paragraph to tonight’s blog.
There was good attendance today at both talks on Photography, and lots of questions afterwords. I have noticed as I’ve done these Journeys Cruises that the morning crowd, no matter how large or small, is always the best crowd. More enthusiastic. More receptive to my stuff. And more appreciative of my jokes. The afternoon crowd has eaten too much and struggles to stay awake. But bodies in chairs are preferable to empty chairs, so I did as I did at church – I let them sleep.
Tonight’s show was a man with 30 years experience performing on Broadway, Chuck Wagner. I invite you to go to his website – he told Mom and I to do it, so I’m passing it on – chuckwagner.com – and listen to a beautiful baritone voice. For five years he was the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He did songs from Into the Woods, the Man of La Manchu, Camelot (he played Lancelot and was knighted Sir Lancelot by the original Lancelot, Robert Gullet), Oklahoma and more. Incredible performance that garnered him a well-deserved standing ovation. He has come to each of my talks and we’ve chatted back and forth, so it was neat to attend his performance. And he sold all but three of his CDs (and no smarty pants – you know who you are – he brought more than 4).
Well, I’m blogged out for tonight, so hereeere’s Bonnie!
TTFN
Well, where shall I start. I guess as the song says at the beginning. Well lets not go there. Today is day three of 10 days. The talks have been well attended as he said and he has had a good time. The days are pretty much the same, up at 6:30; shower, dress have breakfast. He then goes to rehearse and I go up to the jogging track to walk. Eleven times around is a mile. I have gotten around 9 times so far because I have to be at his talk at 9.
Then, after his talk he puts his stuff up, changes clothes and we go play cards til time for lunch. After lunch it is back to the cabin for an hour nap and then, to the second lecture. After that it is back to the cabin, change clothes and head off to supper so we can be done in time to make the first show and get a good seat. After the show it is back to the room for a drink, blog , rehearsal and bed. On the Panama Canal day on Friday and port days it will be more relaxed.
I have gotten some crocheting done. We have visited the shops but nothing much to buy. He did get his usual can of pringles.
Lots of nice folks on the cruise. Some have cruised with us before and remember his talks and have come back bringing their friends.
The afternoon talk is a little more chaotic because the chairs will all have been moved from the morning talk because of other things going on between the morning talk and the afternoon. So they have to put everything back together before we can start.
Between my headaches, heartburn and slightly sprained left wrist, arm or something I am having a rough time. But it will all get better. I am hoping on the Panama Canal day to get some time just to go sit on the deck and enjoy the sea air. I love the fresh air and so far all I have gotten of it is in my morning walks. I am averaging about 8000+ steps a day. Looking forward to hitting 10,000.
Well, he needs to rehearse and I will do some dot to dots or play cards on my phone or kindle. Love you all.
Mom, Granny and Bonnie
I know there was a TV show where someone said, “No soup for you.” Well, I think our cabin steward has said, “No ice for you.” Everyday we’ve been in E-112 we have told her we want ice in the evening, she does not have to bring us ice in the morning. Every morning she has brought us ice. Every evening she has not brought us ice. Last night we had enough left over to mix our Diet Coke and Diet Mountain Dew, but tonight, I had to go to the Lido with the ice bucket to get enough cubes for our drinks. A small annoyance in the scheme of things, and considering we are on a 10 day Panama Canal cruise, not big at all. But it does make an interesting opening paragraph to tonight’s blog.
There was good attendance today at both talks on Photography, and lots of questions afterwords. I have noticed as I’ve done these Journeys Cruises that the morning crowd, no matter how large or small, is always the best crowd. More enthusiastic. More receptive to my stuff. And more appreciative of my jokes. The afternoon crowd has eaten too much and struggles to stay awake. But bodies in chairs are preferable to empty chairs, so I did as I did at church – I let them sleep.
Tonight’s show was a man with 30 years experience performing on Broadway, Chuck Wagner. I invite you to go to his website – he told Mom and I to do it, so I’m passing it on – chuckwagner.com – and listen to a beautiful baritone voice. For five years he was the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He did songs from Into the Woods, the Man of La Manchu, Camelot (he played Lancelot and was knighted Sir Lancelot by the original Lancelot, Robert Gullet), Oklahoma and more. Incredible performance that garnered him a well-deserved standing ovation. He has come to each of my talks and we’ve chatted back and forth, so it was neat to attend his performance. And he sold all but three of his CDs (and no smarty pants – you know who you are – he brought more than 4).
Well, I’m blogged out for tonight, so hereeere’s Bonnie!
TTFN
Well, where shall I start. I guess as the song says at the beginning. Well lets not go there. Today is day three of 10 days. The talks have been well attended as he said and he has had a good time. The days are pretty much the same, up at 6:30; shower, dress have breakfast. He then goes to rehearse and I go up to the jogging track to walk. Eleven times around is a mile. I have gotten around 9 times so far because I have to be at his talk at 9.
Then, after his talk he puts his stuff up, changes clothes and we go play cards til time for lunch. After lunch it is back to the cabin for an hour nap and then, to the second lecture. After that it is back to the cabin, change clothes and head off to supper so we can be done in time to make the first show and get a good seat. After the show it is back to the room for a drink, blog , rehearsal and bed. On the Panama Canal day on Friday and port days it will be more relaxed.
I have gotten some crocheting done. We have visited the shops but nothing much to buy. He did get his usual can of pringles.
Lots of nice folks on the cruise. Some have cruised with us before and remember his talks and have come back bringing their friends.
The afternoon talk is a little more chaotic because the chairs will all have been moved from the morning talk because of other things going on between the morning talk and the afternoon. So they have to put everything back together before we can start.
Between my headaches, heartburn and slightly sprained left wrist, arm or something I am having a rough time. But it will all get better. I am hoping on the Panama Canal day to get some time just to go sit on the deck and enjoy the sea air. I love the fresh air and so far all I have gotten of it is in my morning walks. I am averaging about 8000+ steps a day. Looking forward to hitting 10,000.
Well, he needs to rehearse and I will do some dot to dots or play cards on my phone or kindle. Love you all.
Mom, Granny and Bonnie
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
THE FIRST DAY AT SEA
September 17, 2019
It was a good day today. We were up at 6:30 to prepare our morning toilet and head up to the Lido for breakfast. Each sea day I have a talk at 9 o’clock (and later at 3) hence the early rise because after sustenance, I come back to the room and rehearse one last time before the presentation.
This morning’s crowd was around 40, and not bad for the first morning of a cruise with an early starting time. Carnival really doesn’t do a lot to promote the talks, but then neither do they do a lot to promote the ball room dance instructors (and the couple on this cruise are friends of ours from a several cruises, Tom and Jo). But I did get a blurb on the front cover of the Fun Times, the ship’s activities paper. The afternoon crowd filled the Forum Lounge where I do my presentation. Mom said it looked to her like 150. High standards to keep for the rest of the cruise.
There was a Sea Day Brunch today which starts at 8:30 and goes until 1 p.m. We did our lunch there and I had a very good pasta dish and Bonnie had a so-so Caesar salad – wilty lettuce and runny dressing. Where we sat we could see out the window and the sea so far has been smooth as glass. We’ve both commented that the only other time we saw it this smooth was a late season Atlantic crossing. The waters can stay like that for the rest of the trip. Calm seas and following winds.
I made my first onboard purchase of the cruise. Are you ready for it? Can you guess? No peeking! Here’s the reveal. A can of Pringles.
Well, before I wrap up this tale told on our first formal night (Tuxedo on, look in mirror and say, “Bond, James Bond.”) let me fill you in on yesterday’s getting to our stateroom.
When I receive my boarding email from Carnival on Thursday, I checked out the location of our cabin and was dismayed to see we had been assigned to a cabin with one twin bed and one Pullman bed (which is code for a bunk bed – and talking to Tom and Jo today, they were also assigned similar less than desirable quarters). I told our agent, “No way!” Mom can’t climb a ladder and I don’t want to. And I told him, if you can’t get it changed we won’t do the cruise. Bless his heart it wasn’t his fault, but he became our advocate and began working the phone lines.
Because we still hadn’t been assigned a new room by the time we got to the dock yesterday we carried all of our luggage on by ourselves. Once on, and as our friend Sheilah from Macedonia would say, “to make a long story short” we talked to more people, and finally, Jennifer, the Customer Service Director said, “I think I have it worked out.” And she did. It was with gladness of heart that we moved from R-52 to E-112, unpacked and went to sleep. With thanks to Jennifer, and especially to the Good Lord whom we beseeched earnestly, we are settled in and ready for a good cruise.
And that’s all for now.
TTFN
It was a good day today. We were up at 6:30 to prepare our morning toilet and head up to the Lido for breakfast. Each sea day I have a talk at 9 o’clock (and later at 3) hence the early rise because after sustenance, I come back to the room and rehearse one last time before the presentation.
This morning’s crowd was around 40, and not bad for the first morning of a cruise with an early starting time. Carnival really doesn’t do a lot to promote the talks, but then neither do they do a lot to promote the ball room dance instructors (and the couple on this cruise are friends of ours from a several cruises, Tom and Jo). But I did get a blurb on the front cover of the Fun Times, the ship’s activities paper. The afternoon crowd filled the Forum Lounge where I do my presentation. Mom said it looked to her like 150. High standards to keep for the rest of the cruise.
There was a Sea Day Brunch today which starts at 8:30 and goes until 1 p.m. We did our lunch there and I had a very good pasta dish and Bonnie had a so-so Caesar salad – wilty lettuce and runny dressing. Where we sat we could see out the window and the sea so far has been smooth as glass. We’ve both commented that the only other time we saw it this smooth was a late season Atlantic crossing. The waters can stay like that for the rest of the trip. Calm seas and following winds.
I made my first onboard purchase of the cruise. Are you ready for it? Can you guess? No peeking! Here’s the reveal. A can of Pringles.
Well, before I wrap up this tale told on our first formal night (Tuxedo on, look in mirror and say, “Bond, James Bond.”) let me fill you in on yesterday’s getting to our stateroom.
When I receive my boarding email from Carnival on Thursday, I checked out the location of our cabin and was dismayed to see we had been assigned to a cabin with one twin bed and one Pullman bed (which is code for a bunk bed – and talking to Tom and Jo today, they were also assigned similar less than desirable quarters). I told our agent, “No way!” Mom can’t climb a ladder and I don’t want to. And I told him, if you can’t get it changed we won’t do the cruise. Bless his heart it wasn’t his fault, but he became our advocate and began working the phone lines.
Because we still hadn’t been assigned a new room by the time we got to the dock yesterday we carried all of our luggage on by ourselves. Once on, and as our friend Sheilah from Macedonia would say, “to make a long story short” we talked to more people, and finally, Jennifer, the Customer Service Director said, “I think I have it worked out.” And she did. It was with gladness of heart that we moved from R-52 to E-112, unpacked and went to sleep. With thanks to Jennifer, and especially to the Good Lord whom we beseeched earnestly, we are settled in and ready for a good cruise.
And that’s all for now.
TTFN
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