Zuiderdam Oct 30

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organicbeauty23

Guest
Hey everyone. We have late seating in the Pinnacle Grill the first night. We also went ahead and rented a clamshell for HMC. I hope that there is enough of HMC left when we get there. Barb, please tell me more about the designer bags and jewelry on St. Thomas....Very intriguing. Also, if I'm not mistaken, we will be going through a time change at 2am est on Halloween. (Sunday night) I have read some of the postings about making sure that your watch is set to ship time? I guess this is especially important for shore excursions? Any info on this would be helpful. Have I mentioned lately how much I love eBay? If not, I LOVE EBAY!!!!! 32 days and counting.

Erin
 
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beej

Guest
Good Morning All. Why Erin you little shopping Diva, welcome to shopping Divahood. There is an are in downtown Charlotte Amalie that is called vendors plaza. I guess it is like a big flea market. Haven't seen it yet, but you can bet Carolyn and I will be right there. They say that is where you can find copies and other good stuff? The real thing is in the stores downtown or Havensite Pier Mall. My girlfriend gets all her jewelry in St Thomas, no not at Diamond International. She got taken there, but returned it immediately. She goes to a small jeweler called Ohm or Ohms downtown. She has gotten some lovely diamond pieces there and had them appraised here very favorably.

BIG NOTICE FOR ALL OF US!! Got a notice from the Fort Lauderdale Visitors Bureau. No damage to the beach or properties. Everything is up and running. That's good news since Lisa looks like she is going out to sea. Maybe we have seen the last of hurricanes.

Gotta run, back later Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
October is finally here! We leave in only 28 days and I am so excited. I've started my packing list and I'm planning my wardrobe. Woo-Hoo!!!
 
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organicbeauty23

Guest
Hello fellow Zuider's. Only 26 or so more days!!!!! Joe and I will be in the Sleep Inn on the 28th and 29th. I am still hoping for a direct flight to FLL, but with standby it will be a last minute thing. I am about to start organizing the wardrobe. Have to get some items of mine and Joe's tux to the cleaners. Hope all is well.
I am still waiting on my passport to arrive. I will have to get an alternate copy of my birth cert for back up. The other copy went with the passport application. I hope it's not too much of a hassle if I don't get the passport in time. Have we decided how we might recognize one another? I think we should all wear the groucho glasses! (You know the ones with the rubber nose and mustache?) Could make for some interesting evacuation drill photo's.... Any ideas?


Erin
 
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beej

Guest
Good Morning 25 days to go Zuiders, Erin, now that is an idea except we might get locked up. Carolyn and I will see you at the Sleep Inn on Friday. By the way, you might consider not carrying stuff like shampoo, etc. There is a Walgreens next door and a Publix Supermarket across the street according to a review on Tripadvisor. You can buy the gotsey stuff and just carry it on board in the shopping bag they give you. C and I do this whenever we travel, and just leave the remainder behind, less to pack. They also said the Dania beach is great (prehurricane report) and it is a mile away. There are three restaurants across the street if you want to stay close to the :sleep Inn

C and I are gearing up, she in Chicago and me in Boston. We expect 35ish degree weather tonight with a hard frost. You bet I am really gearing up. I started hanging out clothes. Ed, my DH, says he can't understand 17 outfits for 7 days. Neither can I. Guess I better pull some more out :lol

Well I guess I better hit the closet :roll Barb
 
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brian1968

Guest
We are staying in Miami ( pre-Cruise ritual) and can't wait to get on the ship. 2+ changes of clothing per day on avarage, not including bathing suits.
 
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smiles196

Guest
hi:...i am on with u....just booked....my sister from houston and i from elma,ny.(suburb of buffalO) will be on....looking forward to meeting u all...at piano bar at 3..on promenade deck....my 12th cruise...lst on holland.....party time......woooooooooo hooooooooooooooooo
 
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beej

Guest
Welcome aboard smiles196 and good morning Zuiders. Glad you found us over here. Carolyn(Chicago) and I(Boston) are just learning cruising, this being our 3rd cruise since last Oct 31. I guess we are addicted. It is also our first on HAL, the other 2 on RCCL. We have other new cruisers also, so share with us some of your cruising wisdom. We would love it. :}

Erin, we are in the Sleep Inn Airport. Is this the same one :?
24 days and the phone bill should be growing if we didn't have a flat rate plan. C and I have to talk the clothes and everything over forty nine times, just to make it come quicker. Brian, love your 2 outfits and then some. I told Ed 17 wasn't enough :lol

Coffee is calling, be back later Barb 24 and closing :dance:dance:dance:dance:dance:dance
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
Updated Roll Call... Welcomes Smiles!

Brian
Carol & Nelson
Linda & John
Elaine & Roy
Barb & Carolyn
Ed & Nancy
Joe & Erin
Sandy & Steve
Smiles & Sister
 
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smiles196

Guest
thanks for the nice welcome......i like the roll call.....is the promo code for AAA still good?

smiles (chris) and sister (esther)
 
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brian1968

Guest
What are the roll call numbers required to get a private party setup while on the ship?

Clothing - With the port stops, 2 per say may be light.

Has anyone booked shore excursions yet? We've booked the Kon Tiki party cruise while in St. Thomas. I understand this is a pretty good time...

Brian
 
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Cindarella

Guest
Howdy from Houston! Chris' sister, aka EstherBunnie, here !

This will be my 6th cruise in three years, but first on HAL.
Chris: did we get early or late seating for dinner ???
Still have to check out the excursions. Kon Tiki is a possibility.
 
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beej

Guest
Hi gang, Sorryn to tell you Brian, RCCL is the only one that does a meet and greet based on rollcall number. We will have to have our own in the piano bar. Can't go wrong with an EstherBunnie in our midst. :grin Carolyn and I booked with Godfrey in St Tom. We have been before, but we did St Johns and Trunk Bay. This time we do the island, Megans, I think, and shop. We did book the Tortola tour that stops for an hour or so of swimming. Tortola is not very built up and there is not alot to do., from what I hear.. We still don't know where we put our heads down or when we eat. It will be a surprise when we get there, I guess.

Till we sail and piano bar party :party Barb

Glad our group is growing, can't wait much longer Bye for now :wave
 
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smiles196

Guest
hi all again.....estherbunnie...i have early seating....for dinner.......asked for largeeeeeeee table....lol......
looking forward to sitting on veranda with a glass of wine or two..........will check out tours.....check your name spelling on letter from pat...mine wrong..will email him now.,..does anyone know if those aaa promotions are still goood...do u have to book with aaa.....thanks....
 
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FloridaBrit

Guest
Hi Everyone

I've been lurking for some weeks reading your posts etc. Thought I would respond to Erin's question about ship's time. Ship's time doesn't change, and we always sail on ship's whatever time zone we're in. Ship's time is the time zone in which we embark. I know they always warn you on excursions not to change your watch to local time - or you risk being left behind. And as they say, that's one view of the ship no one wants to see.

I'm Paul, originally from Great Britain, but living in the US for 10 years, the last 7 in Florida. I'll be travelling with my friend Karl. This is my fifth cruise (2 European, 2 Caribbean -previously) but first time with HAL. Karl is a newbie to the delights of cruising.
 
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organicbeauty23

Guest
Thanks for resolving the time dilemma. (FloridaBrit) As far as the AAA shipboard credit, Joe and I had our TA get this for us just last week, so it's probably still an active promotion. We each received a $50.00 per person credit. $100.00 is $100.00. No complaints here. WIll probably help with the adult beverage costs. Brian, we too have looking into possibly doing the Con Tiki. Still not sure what we will be doing as far as excursions. I was kinda interested in the rainforest /beach excursion in Tortola. In St Thomas, I will certainly be shopping, but for the sake of Joe's nerves (and wallet) we will probably do something relaxing and fun. I am considering staying onboard in Freeport. Been there, done that. Not too impressed. Welcome to all newbie's. I am glad we are continuing to grow. Yes, we are also at the Sleep Inn Airport. (Barb) Not sure what room yet. Will have to ask my Hubby. Must return to eBay now. Can't wait til we sail.

Erin-organicbeauty23
 
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beej

Guest
Good Morning Zuiders and welcome Paul and Karl :cheers. We are growing and that is great. Seems like we have a large number new to HAL, Carolyn and I included. We can enjoy the adventure together. Karl, this is C and my third cruise since Oct last. Be prepared it is an addiction you will love.

Erin, Ed does Ebay all the time for parts for his old cars, right now a 1973 TR6. He is winning most of the auctions and loving it while saving a bundle. He just bid and won a Profi drain unclogger for our bathroom. :toilet I saw it on QVC for $28.00 he won it for $1.99 + s/h. I.m not nutsy, it works on air pressure and we have a septic system, so it is ideal if we have a problem. He won't let me look at clothes :lol I'd be dangerous.

Guess I better some work done. Glad we are all here and growing, and if I don't stop going out to eat I will be growing before I even embark. Lordy be, man the lifeboats! Be back later. Have a good Thursday :wave Barb
 
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nu2cruisin

Guest
It's getting closer guys! I am in desperate need of some new clothes and finding time to shop is getting harder and harder.

Has anyone figured out a good way to distinguish ourselves in the Piano Bar? Unless we think of something quickly we will have to use Erin's idea (groucho glasses).

We are 19 people strong now:

Brian
Carol & Nelson
Linda & John
Elaine & Roy
Barb & Carolyn
Ed & Nancy
Joe & Erin
Sandy & Steve
Chris & Ester
Paul & Karl

Smiles - I didn't book with AAA and got the credit ... also $50/pp.

See you all soon....
 
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beej

Guest
Elaine, I,m thinking that a balloon tied to a chairwill work well. On our last cruise, we just looked for a group sitting together and said okay are you us. That worked also. Even if it is not, you get to meet some great people.As for clothes, Erin said ebay is great. Haven't used it for clothes yet, though. I know Sears has a big selection of dressy things in stock. I was there yesterday picking up a tool piece for Ed and walked thru the clothes. Some really cool looking long dresses. Of course, you can always shop in St Thomas and hopefully get some great deals on designers. Now there is a plan.

Off to hip PT. Hopefully I only have 4 more and the new hip lady will be released.

Back later Barb :wave
 
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