Gregswife

Keith, glad to see you back around here. I look forward to your pics and hearing about your cruise. Hope your birthday was a good one...

Andrea, wishing you a wonderful cruise and anniversary. You know that once the girls cruise, they won't you and dad go without them, don't you? 48 hrs. from now, you will be in Galveston - enjoy the anticipation.

I usually look to see if there is a Comfort Suites in the area. Not just a Comfort Inn - I prefer the Suites. It has to also be rated 3 diamonds or higher by AAA. I also will not book a hotel that does not have pics on their website. All Comfort Inns and Suites offer continental breakfasts, but we aren't usually out and about by the time they end, so we rarely partake. If we have flown to our embarkation city, I do look for one that has a shuttle to take us to the port. If we are driving to the port of origin, that isn't an issue because I prefer to park at the port. If there was a Staybridge Suites in the area, I would book it instead. Andrea, are you staying at the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Galveston or the other one? I have heard negative things about the Sunspree and I think Robert has had some bad experiences with them. The Comfort Suites on 89th is very nice, was just built last year and the rooms rival some of the nicest hotels we have stayed at both here and abroad. The rooms with balconies face the ocean and they are quite reasonable, so next cruise, you should check them out.

Well, I was going to say something about you two lovebirds dancing the nights away, but I see that rascal, Kevin, has beat me to it, so I will just wish you and Rita, a wonderul, relaxing and romantic trip...

Rose, wishing you and Howie the best cruise ever. Seems like I was just wishing you Bon Voyage just a few days ago!!!

Debbie, I know how disappointed you are that Marcy and James cannot make the trip with you. We have a cruise scheduled for Oct. with our best friends and as he lost his job a few weeks ago and has not found anything yet, we are fearful that they too will have to cancel. We will still go alone, as you and Jerry are, but it just won't be the same.

Jim, wishing you the best cruise ever. May you have calm seas and clear skies.

I bought some, but have not used them yet. As we drove to the port of Galveston for our last cruise and the next one sails from there also, how much luggage I take isn't a big issue when we aren't dealing with the airlines. The ones I bought are the ones Howard was referring to, where you roll the air out of them...

Mary Lou, wishing you and Jim clear skies, calm seas and many wonderful memories. Bon Voyage....

That's a great pic Howard. How fitting for a Cruise Crazy hat to be afloat on the sea. Greg had a Panama Jack hat that he wore on every trip (it was his "vacation" hat). He had pins all over from the various places we had travelled to, on it. While standing on the dock in St. Maarten, it blew off his head and into water - he went running down the pier and I was afraid he was going to jump in after it. 3 years ago, for our anniversary, I bought the same hat from Panama Jack's website, and thru the miracle of the internet, was able to buy pins from all the places he had pins from before. Now when he is walking near the water, he always has a hold of his hat!!!

Congrats on the doc, Ed. It won't be long now...

I agree with that Debbie. They can be quite annoying. I think I would make a cruise totally all-inclusive. All drinks, alcoholic or not, should be included in the price.

New question: if you had the ability to force the cruise lines to make one change, what would it be?

Our first cruise was July 2, 1995. We sailed on the Carnival Fantasy out of Port Canaveral. We had an inside cabin on Main deck. It was a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas. I remember well being in Nassau on the 4th of July. The ship spent the night in port and we were docked right next to a naval ship. It had U.S flags drapped all over the sides and they were allowing the passengers from our ship onboard to take a look. There was a fireworks display put on that night on shore - I assume it was for the military and American tourists in port. We were hooked after that first cruise and booked the next one as soon as we got home. The boys loved the teen programs -they were 13 and 14 at the time, and probably would have been up for anything that got them away from mom and dad.

Howard - now there's a seasoned cruiser who won't let some bad things overshadow the fact that he is on a cruise. Welcome home.

Shaunna, isn't it great? I know you won't get a chance to answer until you get home, but I have so many questions: what was your impression when you first set foot on the ship? How about when you caught that first sight of her, and what or who are A League of Their Own?

Now Kevin, she said she was getting rid of the things you are hoping to find!!! Shaunna, I hope you have a great cruise. AND STOP STRESSING!!!!

We do not have a lot of experience cruising compared to many others here who are seasoned veterans. Our 12th is on deck, and all have been on Carnival. The reason we originally cruised with them was because we started sailing when our kids were young teens and our travel agent recommended that cruise line, for the kids programs and the cost, which were both factors back then. I know that there are a lot of members here who do not like Carnival at all, but price wise, we have found that you absolutely cannot beat their cost of a balcony stateroom and I would not want to sail without one. Our last cruise and our upcoming one are with our closest friends, who live in Texas and we have to sail from there as the husband will not fly and will not drive to a distant port, so we are limited on what ships we can sail on where they are concerned. I would like to try RCCL or Celebrity one day, but will have to do so when they are not sailing with us. I am hoping that one of those lines will sail from the new Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston and we can give them a trial run. Of course, we could just go by ourselves and then could sail from wherever we liked, but it was so much fun sharing the experience with them...

Congrats Mary Lou - having them in your hands makes it seem all the more real, doesn't it?

Thanks for the pics Rose. Looks like you and Cynthia had a wonderful time. She looks like you....

Howard, wishing and the Mrs. a fantastic cruise. May you leave all your worries on the pier when you embark and have nothing but wonderful moments onboard!!!!

Robert, wishing you and Annie the best cruise you have ever had. You did so much to help those who had suffered devastation in Galveston, and not it is your turn to be taken care of. Relax and enjoy!!!

Time for both you and Howard's households to be pulling out the luggage and start packing!!!

Carmen, it is almost a full time job, wishing you Bon Voyage. Little missy, I hope you have a great cruise....

hpygrmy, welcome to the friendliest forum afloat. Hope to see you posting soon...