Month: December 2022

Princess Cays

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Took a tender from the ship to this beautiful beach front property known as Princess Cays. What a stellar place, and am told it is owned by Carnival. Quite a difference from my June 2022 tender trip in Iceland where rough waves and 30 degree temperatures were the norm.

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On the island, known as Eleuthera, there are shops owned by locals who sell varied trinkets with much of the gifts hand crafted and unique. 

This doll is one doll two sides. Another unique addition to my doll collection from round the world. 

Other Shops etc..

At the end of the shops was a bar with various rum drinks as well as reasonable Cuban cigars.  Tried mango rum.  Yum…

Road less traveled..

An isolated beach can be found on the road after the shops. Recommend this spot for those wanting a more peaceful visit ..

There are also excursions available on the island.  Some folks explored the stringray area, others selected motorized water vehicles, but I selected the snorkel excursion.  The $70 cost included a boat ride to the reef, all necessary snorkel equipment, and an hour exploring.  Unforgettable.  The sea holds such colorful creatures of beauty and the coral sculptures no words can describe.  Wish I had an underwater camera to maintain those memories and share this experience with you.  

And of course,,, a barbeque buffet

While on the island a barbeque buffet was served with hot dogs, hamburgers, jerk chicken, an assorted of salads, drinks (non-alcoholic), and cookies.  Delicious and eaten beach front on picnic tables added to this experince.

The end to a perfect day.

Nassau

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Nassau is a mix of hotels, souvenir shops, high end jewelry shops, and splashed with a straw market.  Was a fun, short stop.

There are many unique restaurants, bars with original Bahamian food and drink.

Note the bar on the right with its wall of dollar bills – what a hoot..

While not a drinker did break down and purchase a local, low cal beer. Give this one a try if in the area.

While visiting Nassau was enjoyable, many passengers elect to stay on the ship and enjoy the less populated and quieter ship.  During this time the ship offers movies, scavenger hunts, deck music, and trivia fun/sport games for those who remain..

And for us seniors there was also a free Puffy Eye Seminar at the spa.  HA! HA!

Then the fun begins again at 5:30 as the ship departs.  Karaoke, music, the famous/infamous Love and Marriage Show, comedy, Bingo, 40 plus Mixer as well as a mixer for  LGBTQ + folks, and movies return.

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Farewell, Nassau!

Miscellaneous Cruise Stuff: APs, and Settling in

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While not a fan of APs am learning to love them as they are an on board necessity.  One asset is staff are helpful and able to assist with navigating this creature.  As an oldie I still love paper and some cruises still reluctantly give paper itineraries if requested.  Downloading the AP is easy, and runs on Airplane mode so no WIFI is required.  Cruise WIFI is available on the ship but expensive, and unpredictable as relayed to me by those who’ve purchased it.

 

APs afford information on the following items:

  • excursion information
  • spa information
  • chat queues
  • all dining reservations are made through the AP
  • ship maps – while ship maps are helpful am hopeful a GPS is included in future upgrades.  This would assist save passengers and steps.

Settling in..

After settling in to the cabin room and finding various points of interest began the festivities. 

Room was spacious and received a window perk! What a surprise.

Decided to eat dinner early and went to the dining room.  Was seated next to a couple who ignored me, and being an elbow away from these folks it made for an uncomfortable dining experience.  Left and went to the buffet on the ship upper level. 

While being a solo is not always easy most cruisers are friendly.

Post dinner checked the AP and found free liquor tasting.  Attended and while not a fan of watermelon liqeur, was something to do.  From here explored the hot tubs meeting friendly folks who brought their families of 12 on the cruise.  Many families enjoy bringing their tribes with them.  Was a fun soak.

On to the comedy and Carnival has 2 shows a nite. Passengers of all persuasions can enjoy these comedians as they come from all cultures and walks of life.  There were two shows with one comedian from Mexico and the following comedian from NYC. All enjoyed this humor. The early comedy shows are PG 13 later shows are adult and a bit raunchy.

There are also single cruiser meet ups however had no success with connections but always worth a shot. On to the movies at pool side which featured 2 movies – Elvis and The Batman. These were a treat for all ages and many teenagers attended this event. All were practicing good behavior and appeared to be having fun.

My day concluded – time to return to the room… and a little surprise.

Carnival Cruise Freedom 2022

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Received a great deal on this cruise, (as I have the last 2 years), in the form of an August birthday card.  For $400. this card claimed a 5-day solo cruise to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral. While too good to be true, it was, and who could go wrong for that?

Was a bit concerned about the cruise as the day before departure heard of an overboard passenger luckily found in the Mississippi delta.  If you’ve ever traveled Carnival one is aware of the unruly passengers. 

As a bargain cruise line many crazies, first time cruisers, young folks, and pre-bridal parties, have their festivities on this line.  While the December 2021 cruise was quiet, (probably due to vaccination mandates), am keeping fingers crossed for this 2022 cruise.

This year Carnival has implemented a $500 fine for the unrulies, with an email was sent to all passengers.  However, with a $300 alcohol package affording the possibility of 15 drinks per day, (unsure if I got this totally right as info relayed from a passenger partaking in the plan), think the unrulies may continue.  Yet to be seen.  Maybe they’ll just pass out and not be unruly??

Onward to the Outing…

Trip to Port Canaveral was clear sailing, pardon the pun, with Florida roads clean, and parking lot availability.  Hats off to Parkway Parking, $10 a day, including tax.  Great job by friendly staff…

The cruise was off to a great start.

Once in the terminal registration was easy and quick. Need the passport and boarding pass available for this café like process.  Processing was completed in a half hour inclusive of TSA search.

Great change Carnival has implemented, hope other cruise lines catch on.

Once on the ship..

While cabin rooms were unavailable till 1:30, the 90 minute wait went quickly.  Great food was available on the top deck at the buffet.  This is also a good time to explore the ship locating formal dining rooms, bars, hot tubs, and other sites.  And since there is no longer a paper trail, download and familiarize yourself with the cruise AP to learn of ship activities and adventures.

Places to find on the ship…

Pool, Shops, Gambling, Dining Rooms.. explore and locate these areas as well as bars and music venue locations.

For the kids – cruises are the ideal places for families as they have many programs for children as well as teens. One couple relayed to me they had their 7 month old babysat by cruise personnel while they slipped away for a romantic evening. Nice.

And as they say – let the fun begin!

*Receive no financial renumeration for these endorsements, but perhaps I should look into this??

Holiday Visit 2022

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Decided to get together with daughter and beau between the holidays. 

In reviewing the weather predictions believe our decision was correct.

Climate change will continue to plague travel, and while Pete B. is on it, little he can do to control weather.  However, in his defense much has been done to change airlines regulations, and create computerized tools to assist with travel notifications.

Travelers need to plan ahead with scheduled events like a cruise.  Arrive a day or two early, and explore the area. While on my England cruise in June 2022, heard many folks speak of enjoying the Southampton area. They arrived 2 days early pre-cruise. This was wise as some missed flights and found themselves dockside with the ship departed.  And cruise lines don’t allow passengers to join at the next dock, thus loosing the entire cruise.

All that said let’s start next blog with the first leg of this holiday excursion — a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas.

Kamala Harris Vice President

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Our 58 year old first female Vice President is the product of a Jamaican and Indian union. Her mom was a cancer researcher until her death, and her father is still alive, a professor emeritus retired from Stanford University as an economist. Both were strong civil rights activists and met through a function where they were protesting. Kamala has one sister, who is also a lawyer, and a niece. She married Doug Emhoff in 2014, he too a lawyer, and he became the First Gentleman. He has 2 children from a former marriage and they form a cohesive blended family.

Kamala attended Howard University undergrad, and obtained her J.D. from University of California at Hastings. Prior to the Vice Presidency she was the Attorney General for the State of California where she was involved in a myriad of cases, many in the criminal justice sector. Later as junior senator from California she worked on energy policy and criminal justice reform as well as attempted immigration reform.

As of this writing 11/21/22, she is currently in the Philippines with her husband meeting on pertinent issues and visiting US military bases. This trip is being conducted in an effort to forge solidarity with the Philippines due to Chinese aggression.

Someone is always watching.

Dr. Jill Biden First Lady

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Dr. Biden and President Biden at a military Thanksgiving celebration 11/21/22

While not a cabinet member wanted to update my 6/29/2020 blog on Dr. Jill Biden. Jill Tracy Biden is an American educator from Hammonton, New Jersey. It is said they met on a blind date, however, Dr. Biden also worked on her future husband’s campaign. She is 71 years young, and the President’s second wife. His first wife and daughter died tragically in a car crash in 1972. The current Mrs. and Dr. Jill Biden married in 1977 after several proposals. President is always joking how he married up when referring to his wife.

She is a graduate of Villanova University, the University of Delaware, and West Chester University. They have one daughter together, Ashley, born in 1981. Dr. Biden also raised her husband’s 2 sons Beau and Hunter. Beau died of brain cancer. Ashley has no children and works in the social work field, and according to the internet is listed as an activist. Hunter is an artist.

The First Lady continues to teach, both virtually and in person at Northern Virginia Community College, where she has worked since 2009. She teaches writing courses. She holds 2 Masters degrees, and a Doctorate in Education.

She is a presence at all White House functions and the President has quipped that she is more popular than me.

Merrick B. Garland Attorney General

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This Attorney General is a Harvard summa cum laude graduate, and magna cum laude law school graduate. At 70, he is charged with 115,000 personnel throughout the US, and in 50 countries. Born in Chicago, and of Jewish descent, his father ran a small advertising company from their home.

Upon graduation Garland had several public service positions including a 1 year stint with Justice William Brennan at the Supreme Court. He was in private practice twice during his breaks from public service as a litigator. After he joined the US Attorney Office in Washington D.C., President Clinton tapped him for further assistance. His fame and notoriety came in his handling of the Oklahoma City Bombing case. He has been considered twice for the Supreme Court.

His latest concerns revolve around the 45th president’s issues and Garland has hired a special prosecutor for these situations.

Also heavy on his agenda are:

  • Voting Rights
  • The January 6th Attack
  • Protests and Threats against school personnel.
  • Civil Rights and police misconduct.

Dr. Janet Yellen Secretary of the Treasury

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This voice of clarity has been with the American people for decades. Originally from Brooklyn, her father a doctor, and mother a homemaker, she was educated at Brown and Yale University. Upon completion of her formal studies she taught at Harvard, the London School of Economics, and has been on the faculty of University of California at Berkeley since 1980, as professor emeritus. Tapped by President Bill Clinton in 1997, her rise in various economic posts and decisions have touched all Americans.

At 76, she continues to be a light writing papers with her husband, George Akerof, who shares the same field, and is a professor at Georgetown University and University of California at Berkeley. Akerof was co-recipient of the 2001 Nobel Prize for his work in  asymmetric information in causing market perversity.

Yellen’s career has been focused on unemployment, labor markets, and international market concerns. She most recently developed a minimum corporate tax policy, however, since this needed 60 votes in the Senate did not pass. However, other countries are exploring and developing this concept.

Other controversial items she has made comment on:

  • Roe v. Wade overturn will have an adverse effect on women and the labor market.
  • She is more concerned with unemployment than inflation.
  • Favors control of retirement spending.
  • Supports a policy on carbon taxation to ensure Biden’s Net Zero agenda.

When the 45th president came into office she was “let go,” however, during this 2017-2020 time period she made $7 million in speaking fees from financial companies.

Thanks for coming back when Joe asked, Janet.

Shalanda Young Director of the Office of Management and Budget

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This 45 year old woman from Louisiana was educated at Loyola and Tulane University. Her voice is key as law makers raise concerns over funding the government. Accolades from both sides are written of her, and while her office is little known it holds immense power and authority. She is a central figure to President Joe Biden. Known as a deal maker and problem solver she is one to watch and respect.

During her March 2021 confirmation hearing she was in her first weeks of pregnancy, giving birth to her first child and daughter, Charlie in October.

“She can cut through all of the, as Joe Biden would say, ‘malarkey,’ and get to the heart of the issue,” Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican and senior member of the Appropriations panel, told CNN in an interview. “She understands that members are going to have policy concerns, that we are going to have parochial interests – and that many of us want to get to an outcome.”

*CNN internet article 10/22/22