Ok, so I've been busy.......

Wow, it's been awhile.

Life post cruise is always tough, no one is waiting on me hand and foot and I actually have to go to work. It's cold albeit sunny which is nice, but I sure miss those balmy Caribbean breezes. Worst yet, I know we can't afford to take a cruise in 2010 since our new home really needs to be finished inside. Sigh. However, life is good so I'll quit my complaining.

What's new in the cruising world? Oasis of the Seas. This innovative and stunningly HUGE ship is on it's way from the shipyard in Turku, Finland and on it's way to it's home port of Port Canaveral, Florida. There are daily video's on www.oasisoftheseas.com and they are incredibly interesting. I'm addicted of course!

This ship is so different from anything out there. It has neighborhoods on the ship with greenery and lush trees. Central Park is one and Boardwalk is another. It gives a nice twist from the standard inside stateroom, oceanview, balcony and suite. You can overlook Central Park and the levitating (3 decks!) bar, shops and eateries. In Boardwalk, you can overlook the full size carousel and other shops, bars and eateries. You can have an Aquatheatre stateroom that overlooks the aft of the ship where thrilling water shows will happen. You can get a loft stateroom - yes, a two story stateroom with huge glass windows. Another first!

There's so many different and new items about this ship that I could type all day. However, look for yourself. Oasis of the Seas - what an amazing ship. I wish I was booked on her. Guess I'll have to live vicarously through those that are taking her maiden voyage on December 5th and read about it at the cruise boards.

Happy Sailing!
Mary

We're back and rested but...

Liberty of the Seas was an amazing ship. I mean amazing. We had such a wonderful time, from the moment we touched down in Miami, stayed at the Epic Hotel (which was FAB), and of course the cruise.

Our forward balcony stateroom was fantastic. A little tight with the three of us but not bad. Jake had so much to do with the teen group that we hardly ever saw him, except at dinner. After about 3-4 nights he didn't even want to have dinner with us but with his friends. Michael and I really enjoyed ourselves. The shows were fantastic, the food delicious, the solarium (adult only) pool was our haven.

The sad part is, we can't afford to cruise next year as we have to do the finish work on our new home. Oh bugger! In the meantime I think I'll start a website with cruise info just for fun. Give me something to do other than work!!

Happy cruising,
Mary

2 more days! Liberty of the Seas here we come!!

YESSSSS! Today is my last day of work! I can remember when my coundown was about 8 months and some odd days, and now we're down to 2!!

I've gotten my hair cut, getting my nails done today, getting Jake new clothes (and thanks MOM for taking him on a shopping trip!!) and got the suitcases down last night.

Tomorrow I'm off work, so I can do all the last minute things I need to do including PACKING! I hate packing but I will have to do it tonight or tomorrow. I just received our air reminder to log in tomorrow and print off our boarding passes.

I tried to get an upgrade with RCCL since this is Jake's first cruise and I want it to be perfect for him, but that was a no go. I received a very polite brush off letter. Bummer. The thing is, there are suites still available onboard, even a Jr. Suite would be great for cabin size with the 3 of us. Oh well. Apparently the word is out that NCL does a better job of upgrading and since we've had one (as new clients to NCL) I guess that's true!! However, I still love RCCL ships more than any other.

I have to pack, must pack but before I do it's nice to take a minute and just breathe and think about the open ocean. Ahhhh..I love cruising!

PS: HUGE thanks to Rich for taking on the responsibility of the farm and staying at our house while we're gone. YAY!

Liberty - here we come

Shortly we'll be cruising on our gorgeous ship. We have a wonderful guy staying at our home and maintaining the farm. I feel better having someone there 24/7. Not to mention everyone else on the farm will be there.

We are in the single digits and wow, I'm getting so excited!!! Can't wait to see you Miss Liberty!!

2 weeks!!

Two weeks today we'll be bleary-eyed as we fly from Pellston at 6:30am on our way to Miami. I can't wait to go to Bayside, walk around and eat at Bubba Gump or Hard Rock. ( Unless we eat at our hotel, The Epic.)

Then two weeks from tomorrow we'll be boarding Liberty of the Seas. Can't wait!!

17 days!

OH MY GOSH. I'm freaking out. 17 days until our cruise and I have nothing done. So much to do and not much time to accomplish it since I'm at the Cheboygan County Fair all week. ugh.
Today Jake is at the Fair and he's having a BLAST. I'm sure he's riding all the rides as I type.

17 days til blissful cruising. Can't wait!

3 weeks!!!

We're down to 3 weeks and now I'm actually starting to panic about getting things done! I can't do a thing until the 16th of August since we have the ^%$#! fair. Sorry - long day.
Oh that cruise is going to be THAT much sweeter. I cannot wait. I have to make some things for the meet & mingle, but other than that I can't WAIT.

I'll miss my babies at home, our cats and horses of course. Not enough to stay home though!!!

23 Days...and counting

Our meet & mingle is now at 111 people! I'm so amazed at how many will be on our cruise. I'm very excited about it as there are a lot of teens so Jake will have plenty of new friends to hang out with!

Because the fair is imminent, it will make at least 10 days fly by quickly. That's a good thing because I'm so excited!

Happy Sailing!
Mary

Fees for checked luggage...grrr.

We have our flights coming up for our cruise and it just makes me mad to pay to check our bags. I mean, isn't that part of our flight fee? Raise the flights then but don't charge me to check my bags.

Chris Elliott says: Airlines earned $566 million from checked baggage fees in the first quarter, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That?s more than four times as much as it collected for the same period a year before.
http://www.elliott.org/blog/5-outrageous-luggage-fee-myths-the-airlines-want-you-to-believe/

Isn't that ridiculous??? And the money comes from us - hard working people trying to pay our bills. Trying to afford vacations...I am so ticked at this.

What do y'all think?

25 Days!

Twenty five days until our cruise. I'm looking forward to it like you can't believe. This is our busy, busy time of year. The Fair takes up 90% of our time the 3 weeks preceding it and all of our time once we're at the fair.

However, 2 weeks post fair I'll be on the ship, and that makes me able to put up with all the rest. Jake is getting so psyched and already has two emails of teens his age so he can get to know them. I am extremely excited for HIM. He has no idea how much fun he's going to have and I want this to be extra-special for him. Mike and I will have fun no matter what.

25 days...go by quickly!!

I'm doing the DOC dance!

I just got my cruise documents via email. While I'm as excited as all get out, I loved the old documents you got in the mail. It made it better somehow...but I'm still very happy!

28 days until we fly to Miami and 28 days of lots to do at work, home, and everything. But now we have our docs and I'm psyched!!!

Happy dancing and happy sailing,
Mary

29 Days!

Well, we're in the 20's countdown now. Wow, i'ts really getting closer! Now i'm down to, "what jewelry am I going to wear" and "I need a pair of white shorts" blah blah trivial stuff.

I just watched the sea trials for Oasis of the Seas. It's so cool. You can watch it here: http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/news/#story64

Happy Sailing,
Mary

ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!!

Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. We are really almost there. Today is a monumental day on my countdown. I just wish my headache would go away and I wasn't at work...but other than that I am so HAPPY!!!

We have 105 people signed up for our meet & mingle. I'm amazed, that's a record for me. And since I started the whole thing I kind of feel like the hostess.

Sooo excited. Bring it on Royal Caribbean. I am ready!

Happy Sailing,
Mary

31 days...One month and we're in Miami!

Wow, one month from today we'll be in one of my favorite cities - Miami. We'll be staying at the posh and new Epic Hotel (got a great deal) and getting ready for the cruise. We have two flights to get there and I just pray to God they go ok. They've changed our flights twice so I hope they don't do it again!

Liberty of the Seas you are one hot mama and I can't wait to see you from the Hotel!!

Happy Sailing,
Mary

32 Days...Liberty of the Seas you're becoming real!

Yep, we have 32 days. 31 until we reach Miami. (God willing!) Our meet & mingle is now over 100 people strong.

I'm working on t-shirts for my hubby and son and I. Should be cute. Also was going to make nametags but since RCCL gives them out at our M&M...what's the point?

We really need this vacation. All of us NEED it. It can't come soon enough!

Happy sailing,
Mary

35 Days to go and wow...it's going by fast now!

We booked this cruise back in January so the time has really seemed to go by slow...until now. It's flying by! Could be because it's my busy time at work, or that it's summer, but I'm realizing I have to get some things done!

My son has grown out of almost all his clothes, so I'm slowly gathering some shorts and shirts. His suit still fits (Thank God!) but that's about it.

We have someone to come and help with the horses while we're gone which puts us at ease. I'll sure miss my Luna Balloona though when we're gone.

I have two dresses out getting shortened (damn shortness) and so that's cool. Now I just need a pair of silver heels and a pair of white shorts....loan anyone?

Our exchange student called today from Poland. Gosh we miss him. But I'm thrilled for his family, they really missed him.

Well, that's it for now,
Mary

38 days on the good side, our exchange student leaves tomorrow on the bad side.

We've made the under 40 days list, woohoo! RCCL here we come. Liberty of the Seas is going to be so wonderful, and at the perfect time for me with lots of work stress.
On a sad note, Matt is leaving us and going back to Poland. He has really become a member of the family and I'm going to miss him SO much.

Such is life.

Happy sailing,
Mary

43 days!

I decided to go back to rccl.com and look at shore trips. We've decided to kind of take it easy on this trip and not book ourselves up. Truthfully, there are some really cool adventures you can book. No dolphin experience though which is a bummer. My son really wanted to try that.

However, the great thing about not booking shore trips is having the ship almost to yourself. I don't have to be in a hurry to get on the tender or to get off the boat. We can have a leisurely breakfast and just chill. LOVE this part of cruising. I love everything about cruising but what I don't like is being scheduled too much.

43 days...can't get here soon enough!!

Happy Sailing,

Mary

Samantha Brown

44 days...

Oh I'm loving how quick the countdown is going. Summer is my busy time at work and so I'm not paying as much attention.

Jake and I watched our travel channel show of Great Cruises - Freedom of the Seas. (our sister ship) I recorded it with our dvr. Our dvr also records anything with cruises or cruising in the title so I love seeing what was recorded. Plus I absolutely adore Samantha Brown. She's so fun and she has my dream job!

RCCL we are just so excited!!!

Happy Sailing,
Mary

46 Days and it can't get here soon enough...

Oh I need to get out of HERE! It's Monday in every sense of the word. Northwest Airlines has changed my flights twice and they keep getting closer and closer to the point where I'll be running to try and catch the plane. GRRRR!

Oh 46 days, please go fast. I need my Royal Caribbean FIX!

Mary

Miami - the perfect pre-cruise destination

In 50 days I'll be in Miami. It makes the craziness of work, the endless paperwork getting ready for our county Fair and hot summer nights nothing in comparison to the feeling I'll have when I get off the plane at Miami International.
Our pre-cruise hotel is the new Epic hotel. It's part of the Kimpton line and it looks FAB! I really can't wait. It's very chic and boutiquey. (not a word I know but I can use it if I want!) We booked a water view and I really hope we can see a glimpse of the cruise ships in port. Hope, Hope! Their customer service is so flawless it should have a fancier name....Personal Attach? perhaps? Can't WAIT!

Of course, the cr?me de la cr?me would be stepping on the beautiful Liberty of the Seas itself. I really do want to kiss the floor when I step off the gangway onto the ship. Don't know if my hubby would like that though.

Ah dreaming makes me so happy and takes the dreary bookkeeping down a notch.

Happy Cruising,
Mary

Passport in hand, Online documents done!

We have 52 days until our cruise on Liberty of the Seas and our online documents at Royal Caribbean are now complete! I am getting so excited! Our meet & mingle roster boasts 77 people so far! That's huge!!

Oh the countdown is one and now that our son's passport and passcard are in my hands, I'm feeling so much BETTER!

Now it's time to save money for onboard expenses....ebay here I come. A great way to get rid of junk laying around the house and make money!!

Happy sailing,

Mary

The times they are a changin'

My sons passport has been mailed. Thank God! I've been getting nothing but the run around from the passport agency but now it's official. Of course I'll feel better once it's in my hands!

I've started thinking about what the wear each day and I do still have to get one dress shortened. The guys have tried on their suits and all is good there, although I will buy my son one new dress shirt.

What's all this got to do with a cruise? LOTS! Especially if you're a cruise geek like me. I calm down a lot once I'm on the ship, but I like to plan everything before we sail.

We're winging it this year with shore trips. Decided we didn't want to spend upwards of $500 and up for organized shore trips and just plan on checking out the ports and relaxing. Can't wait.

I still have to lose about 20 lbs before we sail and now it's less than 2 months so that means I have to hit the gym. Starting TONITE! Wish we luck and happy sailing,
Mary

67 Days, 67 days!

Holy Wa! We are getting closer to our family cruise onboard RCCL's Liberty of the Seas!

I bought this fab reversible dress, just perfect for those resort casual nights. I also bought some tees and a pair of shorts...and have one more formal dress to shorten and then I'm ready!

Oh cruise fairy, please get us to Miami soon!

Happy Sailing, Mary

We are paid and ready to go!

It was crunch time, so we paid our cruise off and that means it's official!!

I like to wait until it's close to the deadline in case the price of the cruise goes down, it did awhile ago but now it was time to pay.

We are so excited, I am just psyched! Now it's getting clothes ready time. I have to shop! I need shorts, tshirts, etc.

Happy Sailing all,

mary

Horrid Allergies...what to do?

You know that horrible feeling when you lay down to bed and your nose is all stuffy? I do. It's so hard to fall asleep when you can't breathe and because of our cold weather here in Michigan it's getting to be full allergy season. ARGH!

I'm thinking a mattress and pillow protector might help. Of course the greatest will be when we cruise because the most ocean breezed are wonderful for your sinuses.

OH I can't wait. Really hoping for an upsell to a Jr. Suite...keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Happy Sailing,

Mary

Cruising and You Tube

I absolutely love You Tube. Not only because you can find a video of almost anything but because you can find thousands of cruising video's. Not sure what your ship looks like? Just put your ships name in the search box and go for it. I've seen some really informational video's and some that are just silly. Thing is, they're all FUN.

You can hear the ocean, experience the honking of the ships horn at the sail away, see a full dining room on formal night, watch as people dance under the stars or watch a movie under the starts. It's all cruising and it's all wonderful!! What a great way to research an upcoming cruise. Thanks You Tube!

Happy Sailing,
Mary

Jimmys cruising right now!

My friend Jimmy is cruising as I type with his two kids. One thing that is common amongst cruising addicts is we get so excited for friends of ours that cruise as well. I have to wait 89 days until I'm in Miami but I've sure lived vicariously through him while he was getting ready.

Have fun Jimmy. I expect a full report when you return!

90 days to go

Wow..tomorrow I can choose our seats for the flights. Making it all the more real!

We applied for our son's passport and passport card so another job done with.

Then mom's seamstress was over so I stood on a chair and got my beautiful red formal sized for shortening.

With all these activities going on, you know we're going on a cruise!!

Dreaming of Alaska

Yes I have a cruise in 98 days but I'm already dreaming of an Alaskan cruise. I'm a caribbean girl through and through but the pictures I've seen from friends who have gone to Alaska are BREATHTAKING.

Mike really wants to go to Alaska but it would take a miracle to book another cruise in this economy. *sigh* I need to make more money!

Have a happy Memorial Day and thank you to all the troops throughout the years,

Mary

Double Digits...

We're finally at double digits. 99 days until we board Liberty of the Seas, our beautiful home for one week. (wish it was more!)

My good friend Jimmy from 'Nawlins is cruising at the end of next week and so he's pressing his clothes, dry cleaning his suite, getting everything together. He's cruising with his 2 kids and I know that's going to be a very special time for all three of them.

See, cruises bring families together! I helped some friends book a cruise and they said it really brought them closer together!

So - the family that cruises together, stays together. Of course any excuse for a cruise is a GREAT excuse.

Happy Sailing,

Mary

Welcome Shiloh !

Our newest addition to the ranch, Shiloh was born this morning at 12:45am. She's a beautiful quarter horse filly and so now we have a another baby - what fun!

Here she is!

Cruise Pub Crawl

There was a post on www.cruisecritic.com about funny things to put on t-shirts for a group. I wasn't in a group but made a cute sign that my best friend and I wore around our necks on Explorer of the Seas which we cruised on two years in a row.

















Nowadays we don't drink as much in fact I hardly drink at all. I do love the frozen drinks and so I get them virgin, but may have a few Kahlua's. (I can't change my ways overnight!)

Our meet & mingle group is getting quite large and I'm really excited about that. I'm always checking you tube for pics of the ship and just thinking cruise in general.
This time we have our son on the cruise so I don't think we'll be getting too crazy.

The last time Michael and I cruised it was our pre-wedding honeymoon and that was a wonderful time in a Penthouse suite on the NCL Jewel. It was absolutely lovely, and we were spoiled for sure.

I sure have fond memories of our old days on RCCL with pub crawls, devil horn & angel headbands, karaoke and dancing til dawn. Not to mention the giant carrot we took back from the dining room (laughing the whole way) to surprise our room steward.

Here bunny bunny,

Mary

The Meet & Mingle

We now have almost 50 people signed up for our Meet & Mingle. What's that you're wondering?

It's something that Royal Caribbean offers and it's just wonderful. What happens is this: Someone starts a thread on a cruise site, like www.cruisecritic.com and www.cruisemates.com.

As I'm the cruise addict I usually end up starting this thread with a title like the one I have going right now: Liberty of the Seas Aug. 29-Sept. 5, End of the Summer BASH! Then others that are sailing on your ship on the same week you're sailing joins the group. You get to chat ahead of time and once you're on the ship, usually the second day, you all meet up. Some of the ship dignitaries willI join us like the cruise director, hotel director and such. It's a fun party. I've made some wonderful friends this way. Friends I've had for 5 or more years and still communicate with regularly.

I highly recommend dong this if you have an upcoming cruise. You won't regret it!!

Happy sailing,

Mary

Oh the weather outside!

It was 20 degrees this morning. The frost was on the grass and it was f-r-r-reeeeezing in the house. I looked past the window to the horse pasture and my little filly was just running around like nothing was wrong.

I'm looking so forward to stepping out our stateroom balcony and feeling the balmy, romantic caribbean breezes. There is nothing like it to soothe the soul and dissolve all those "damn cold Michigan morning" ramblings.

I do love where we live. I love that we share the most amazing farm with my in-laws. I love the views out my window day and night. But on these really cold May mornings it makes me yearn for that cruise ship. How many days now? 109!!! Not that I'm keeping track or anything. :)

Happy sailing,

Mary

No longer an Aft hog...

My new hubby and newly adopted son and I are cruising Aug. 29th. I had upgraded to an aft stateroom (D1) but my gut said you better not surprise him, just show him the difference between the aft balconies and the side.

Darn good thing that I showed my hubby our aft stateroom 1404. He didn't like it! Always go with your gut. He prefers being on the side. Well the hump balconies were sold out and with the 3 of us I need something with a sofa sleeper. Soooooo...we booked the first stateroom on deck 7 on the port side, 7514. I had hoped to get an upsell to a jr. suite but I doubt that's going to happen. You know what...no big deal. We are cruising soon and that's just fine with me!

To take my son on his first cruise at 16 years old is priceless!!

Happy Sailing,

Mary

112 days and counting...

Aft hog? Is there such a thing?

On my last cruise we had an aft junior suite stateroom but were able to take an upsell to a forward Penthouse which was amazing. This cruise I booked an aft again and am thrilled when I saw our large balcony, which is typical of most ships but not all.

I have to be truthful and hope to get an upsell again, but being that the cruise is booking up I'm not sure. Having a superior aft balcony would probably be one of the first thought to go up to a Jr. Suite. That would be great.

I'm dreaming today, cannot wait until we go down to Miami. We're spending a pre-cruise night at the Epic hotel and I can't wait to check out that amazing hotel as well.

Oh summer go by quickly so we can sail!!

Mary

Time is slooowly passing...

We have 4 months, one week and one day til our cruise. Wonderful thing is our Meet & Mingle is now at 37 people and we still have a lot of time for people to join in!

I love meeting new people and the Meet & Mingle's are great for that. In fact one friend I've had for 4 years because of meeting her on the ship.

We still have to look at shore trips and because our son is coming I know that wondering through the shops may bore him a bit, so better to be prepared!!

The price hasn't dropped further but I'm waiting to pay it in full in case it does, otherwise I'm out of luck.

Happy sailing,

Mary

Saving money and getting closer!

Royal Caribbean gave all Michiganders a break on our cruise prices. Ours went down $340 which is awesome! Go RCCL!!! Now instead of owing just over $ 2k it's $ 1700! Now that's what I like to see!

Jake is starting to get excited. It's his first cruise and so he doesn't know the delights that await him. Michael and keep saying it can't get here soon enough.

My wonderful TA from America's Vacation Center -Tonya- called the cruiseline to get the discounted rate. Love her! She's the best.

Anyway, just a happy rant going on here. We still have to get Jake's passport but my new one came and Mike still has his.

Ah bliss. Now if only it would warm up here in Michigan!!

Less than 6 months now!

Liberty of the Seas is calling us but it's so hard keeping this as a secret! On the 23rd we'll be able to share this with our son as it will be his birthday.

I've downloaded all kind of LOTS (Liberty of the Seas) pics and of course have one on my desktop at work, not to mention my pic screen saver.

It's so excited knowing that I'll be stepping foot on a cruise ship in under 6 months. If you've never cruised I imagine that you would look at me like a fruit cake!! But fellow cruisers know exactly how I feel.

Happy Sailing,
mary

It's official! The cruise is booked, we started a Liberty of the Seas roll call and we joined our Meet & Mingle. That means.....drum roll please.........we've book on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas. My gosh she's a beauty!

We've got lots to celebrate with this cruise. Our son's official adoption and his 16th birthday. We couldn't go this time of year, he's in school and it's too hard for my DH to be gone. After school won't work because we have two new foals to play with. Summer is tough for my work schedule so it's August 29-Sept. 5 End of Summer Bash! Suh-weet!

Now this is a hush-hush adventure and he doesn't know a thing. But I will post pics or video of his surprise when his bday rolls around. Teehee.

Life is good.
mary

OK.....I'm probably too excited to type without typo's...but here's my proclamation:

We booked a cruise!!! Yes - the moons aligned, God smiled down on us and our karma was happy.

We're going on Aug. 29th on Liberty of the Seas. My hubby, 16 year old son and I. Can't wait. Will talk more later - gotta work to pay for this thing!

The happy sailor,
Mary

Happy Monday...

Well it's Monday. Not good but almost over.

My college roomie is taking a cruise with her family - her first cruise. I feel
almost as excited for her as if I was going.

I found them a great deal and so they're off towards the end of Feb.
It's wonderful to be able to get other people as addicted to cruising as I am.
A little naughty but fun. Can't wait to hear what they have to say!!

There are some wonderful prices to Alaska right now which is my prime target.
I think I'll wear my ruby slippers and click them together.....
"There's no place like a cruise.....there's no place like a cruise..."

Happy Sailing,
Mary

Why you should give me a cruise for free....

1. Because I talk endlessly about the wonderful cruises I've taken and have and roughly 15 friends booked cruises because of it.

2. Because I know a LOT about cruising and give excellent advice.

3. Because I'm cute and cuddly and fun as well. I've missed my calling as a Cruise Director.

4. I'm very persuasive.

5. I can give a gazillion reasons why people should choose YOUR cruise line.

6. I know my way around the Caribbean and can be an impromptu guide.

7. I know how to make a monkey towel animal.

8. I can fill in for the captain when need be...as long as we're securely tied-up in port. (c'mon you didn't really think I can drive the boat did ya??)

9. I could totally entertain the bored with exciting tales of former cruises.

10. Did I mention I'm cute and cuddly?

Happy Sailing - and apparently dreaming,
Mary

Well it's been too long...

Wow, I didn't realize how busy I've been until I looked at my last blog. Holy Wa.

I've been helping all my friends with low cruise prices (but i'm not a travel agent) and bumming because I can't take one myself right now.

But lo' and behold - I'm escaping the snow and frigid temps to spend 5 days with my sis and my parents in Alabama - gold coast. I cannot wait.

My VERY sweet husband said I should go even though it's a hardship for him to be gone. I mean, what a MAN!!! So I can't wait for March!