TheSkipper

Hi Gang, Just want to let you know that Shari2 and I had a couple chances to get together during our 16 day rountrip to Hawaii on board the fantastic Infinity! Just got home this afternoon and have not even opened a suitcase as yet, trying to catchup on mail and email!! Cruise was great with perfect weather in the islands. Shari2 was among many on board who were a little under the weather our first day out of San Diego due to very, very, rought seas! Both my Sister-in Laws had to go to the ship's Doctor for shots for sea sickness. Worked like a charm! Well, that's all for now, review will come later. :cool:

After 40+ cruises the only thing I recommend is be sure your insurance is "Third-Party". Cruise line insurance has some built-in risks.

I would think it will depend on the time of year somewhat. But, the seven day from NYC is great! We did it a few years ago aboard Celebrity's Zenith to Bermuda. My video and pics leaving the NYC harbor show the twin towers! Seas we calm, sunny skies, great trip.

This just in: "JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 54-year-old passenger vanished as a ship returned home from a five-day cruise to the Bahamas, and the Coast Guard launched a search. A search boat and helicopter scoured 340 square miles off Florida and in the St. Johns River for Glen Sherridan of Richmond, Va. His wife, Gloria, reported him missing Thursday when she could not find him after the Carnival Cruise Lines ship Celebration docked. The ship's crew conducted a full search to make sure Sherridan wasn't still on board. The vessel's electronic exit and entry program showed the man did not leave the ship after it docked in Jacksonville, Carnival said. Sherridan's wife last saw her husband at 1:30 a.m. Thursday. She said he was an early riser and might have fallen overboard as early as 4 a.m., said Coast Guard Petty Officer Bobby Nash. Nash said the ship then would have been about 13 miles off the northeast Florida coast, heading for the St. Johns River and Jacksonville. Vance Gulliksen, a Carnival spokesman, said Friday that it was very unusual for a passenger to be reported missing, but didn't have an exact number. He said Carnival carries about 3 million passengers a year. The Celebration, which can carry nearly 1,500 passengers, sailed back to the Bahamas with a fresh load of passengers later Thursday. Nash said the Coast Guard would decide later Friday whether to continue the search by a patrol boat and a helicopter crew. " :sad:

Great news, John!! I think you will love the Mercury. IMHO, she is a great ship! And Celebrity is hard to beat! I know we are looking to going "home" to Celebrity aboard the Infinity on 12/5. Looks like you will be aboard the Mercury for Christmas, that will be great. We have taken a couple of Christmas cruises over the years. Will be looking for your review upon your return. :wink:

John, I do things about the sameway you do. I always do my own packing! I will do it on Saturday the 4th for our Sunday departure for San Diego. Have checked my prescriptions and dry cleaning (still have to pick it up). Guest room bed is full of my wifes's dresses, etc. I did put my Swiss Army Knife, binoculars, cruise calling cards on the bed. Just some small stuff I don't want to forget. Will check video and digital cameras tomorrow and make sure I have everything we are going to need photography wise. Will also check the snorkeling gear. After 42 cruises this packing thing is pretty much down to a routine. Got one trip to the dentist out of the way, but have to make one more visit on tuesday morning. 10 days to go and all is well with the World! :grin:

We are getting ready to board the same ship as Shari2, so are going through the same drills. Not putting up the Christmas tree this year since we will not be here to enjoy it. Got the house/pet sitter lined up, neighbor to get us to the airport is good to go, essentials are on the bed in the guest room, I have a dentist visit tomorrow, and my doctor gave me a thumbs up after my recent surgery, so we are good to go medically. Changed internet ISP so am busy advising everyone of my new email address. Got to get all our Christmas Cards in the mail before we sail. Hawaii here we come!

Hi, Just booked a two week European river cruise from Amersterdam to Vienna for next July. Wondering if anyone has cruise with Uniworld Cruises in the past and can provide any insights that might prove helpful??

Hi Shari, I'll be watching for you at the pier in SD. You should be easy to spot, the lady strolling along with her purses and her faithful DH following three steps behind with a ton of new luggage!! A couple of years ago we bought a couple of large wheeled 29" "World Cruiser" bags and matching roll-on and shoulder bag. They have worked great! Easy to handle in hotels as well as at embarkation. In September we cruised from SD and parked across Harbor Blvd, about a two block walk. We just grabbed all our stuff and easily made it through customs, out of the building and across the street to the parking lot. This time we are flying to SD arriving at about 12:30PM, claim our luggage and grab a cab to the pier. Should be checking in by 1:30 or so. We will be in the Captain's Club line. Hawaii here we come! See ya,

We were aboard Celebrity's Horizon last Thanksgiving. Traditional turkey Thanksgiving dinner which was great. Other than that it was just another day on a cruise.

Lisa, The e-docs are eight pages long with all the usual stuff you find in docs such as the cruise summary details, reservatio ID #, ship name, dates etc. Also has the Itinerary. Your ticket contract, shipboard account setup, driving directions to the pier. Under Ship Baggage Tag it has a preprinted minature bag tag and says: "Please be sure to attach any personal ID to each piece of luggage before you leave home. Ship baggage tags are available from our Porters at the pier. To assist you in filling in the required tag information uon your arrival at the pier, please copy from the information provided below. Stateroom and Quadrant boxes which appear blank indicates the assignment will be made at the pier." So, I guess we get to stand there and fill out baggage tags in the middle of the embarkation mess!

The Grand Princess in St. Martin. OR, it could be the Golden, sterns look alot alike.

Shari, Looking forward to meeting you in person aboard the Infinity on Dec. 5th!! Did you get paper docs? Ours were E-Docs and arrived on 10/30. Now as I told you in another post we have had our Staterrom upgraded, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that our bags find us in the new Stateroom!! Not really comfortable with the E-Doc process of having the Porters generate the luggage tags on the pier. But, then the airlines have done it for years I guess. Anyway, glad your docs are in-hand and that we will be seeing you aboard!

We recently received our first ever E-Docs. Never used this type of docs before, so I though I'd check and see who has used them and what your experience has been at the pier with time. It would seem to me that this system would hold up the checking of luggage with the porters who must now generate the luggage tags on the spot rather that just taking the pre-tagged bags under the old system. Any observations you may have had with this new system would be welcomed. BTW, we are sailing on Celebrity's Infinity out of San Diego. Thanks,

Hi Shari, We received our e-docs on 10/30; however yesterday we received a one cat upgrade from 2001 to 2127, which takes us off the bow and puts us mid-ships whch is great with us. This will be the first time we have used e-docs, should be interesting. We are arriving in SD about 12:30Pm on Sunday and cabbing to the ship. We sailed out of SD in September aboard the Legend of the Seas, so we kinda know the drill. Since that cruise we spent a week in Albuquerque and and few days in Palm Springs, CA., so we have been on the move and I have not been spending much time on-line. See you soon,

Don't know too much about Bayonne, but it has got to be New York as an embarkation port!

Not to worry, you will get plenty of information while on board regarding tipping. With over 40 cruise under our belts, we have never been left in the dark regarding the recommended tipping amounts!

Can't help you with specific hotels, but he cruise dock is an easy walk from the Bourbon Street area. NO was a port of call not too long ago on one of our cruises. Shari2 are you packed of our cruise to Hawaii???????????????

Go with Carnaval. You will all have a great time. I too have sailed on all of the lines you mentioned and a bunch more, but based on your priorities and ages I think Carnaval will work best.

Hey Shari2, Don't forget Florence when you get to Italy!! IMHO, right up there with Venice! Santorini, Greece is a great spot as well. See you in a few weeks on board the Infinity. Trying to figure out which video camera to bring. Since we have rented a van on every island, I think I will bring my larger one, a Sony VX-3. It is bulky, but professional grade, but with the van should not be a problem. Now I need to look at my tripods to see which will travel best on the short flight to SD from Las Vegas.

Three deep is a good thing Lisa. We are now down to only two booked out in front, so we will have to get something nailed down quickly to catch up with you. We will be aboard the Diamond Princess on January 29th with a group of 40 or so folks I put together as a fund-raiser for our Church, so will be able to give you a full report before you sail. BTW: When you booked where did the say the departure would take place. It was originally to depart from the Carnival facility at Long Beach, but I heard on the net she will be going out of San Pedro again starting this month. What do you here?? :undecided:

I can relate to your feelings. Just booked Mini-Vans for our five stops in Hawaii on our December Infinity cruise. Roe's two sisters will be with use with husbands, so there will be six in our group. Now a couple of guide books and we are all on our way! :grin:

With 41 cruises under our belts it would be pretty tough to detail them all. Never been on a bad cruise!! However, I would have to give Silver Seas top honors for the best of the best. But, who can afford their prices every year. Right now more is better to us. Rather do two or three cruises per year than blow all our mad money on one Silver Seas cruise. Now we are ready to try a Europen River Cruise. :cool:

Now, now ladies, I love the "Vegas Style" shows and I live in Vegas! :wink:

Welcome to Cruisecrazies! You can find my review under the "reviews" section and searching by the name of the ship. You are correct on the Legend going into drydock in April. Had lunch with the Captain and he informed us of that. Minor stuff only, she is in great shape overall. You will love her. :wink: