Leaving on our cruise in the morning

We are leaving here about 10 in the morning to head to Charleston.  Will spend the day/evening with my daughter and s.i.l.  Sunday morning around noon, we will check in and go aboard our cruise ship.  Same ship, same cruise as last year.  Carnival's Fantasy ship doing a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas.  Spending a day in Freeport and Nassau each.

So far weather looks perfect for the duration, though still a little warm for me in the Bahamas, upper 80's.

This year, we plan to scale way back on shore excursions, as I am in much worse physical shape than I was even a year ago.  I am concerned about all the excessive walking required on board the ship.  Yes,  they have central elevators, but still tons and tons of steps and stairs.

The way my hips keep giving out on me, and with as much pain as I have in my legs and feet, just not going to be as mobile as I was before, so afraid of me falling down and breaking something, like my hips.

Like before, we won't be taking any cell phones or computers on the trip.  Taking a technology break as well.  Plus, they charge $1 a minute to use the internet on the ship, and I would never pay for that.  So unless there is a real life or death emergency, we are out of touch until the following Saturday.  This way, we feel like we are getting a real break from everything and everybody, and gives us some special dedicated time just to ourselves.

Hope everyone does well  this coming week.  I will check back in here when we return home.

David in SC

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 10/11/2013 3:49:47 PM (GMT-6)

David, I hope you and Peg have a great trip!

Jim

Bon voyage, smooth sailing and hope you are close to the elevators when you need them!

Hope you have some fun, David.

Hi David,
As I said, my wife and I are big time cruisers, one reason we live near the ports down here in So. Florida.

Should be nearly a full moon this coming week. Love to cruise with a full moon at night. In fact, I usually book a cruise during a full moon.
I don't usually get off the ship much in Nassau. Beautiful port and you have the ship to yourself.

My wife and I love to just sit and read on the Promenade deck which usually leads to nap in thelounge chair. Works for us.

Lots of elevators so you can avoid the stairs.

Have fun and relax!!!!

Bill from Florida

thanks, one and all.

made sure this year, that our cabin is much closer to one of the main elevator areas, and still have a nice picture window instead of a port. we are on "M" deck, as near the middle of the ship as possible. travel agent told us before, the closer down to the water and the closer to the middle, less rolling. she was right last year, and that was never an issue.

we enjoy the sea days more than the days in port, to be honest. just like being at sea. didn't find the Bahamas all that exciting, still so much hurricane damage from years ago, and I am not big in touristy places.

we plan to just go to the beach when in Freeport, and there were a few more interesting things in easy walking distance in Nassau. in Nassau, the ship docks right up, about block from the center of town, but in Freeport, they dock in a commercial cargo ship area, quite a few miles from the city, so you have to take buses to get anywhere.

but it was incredibly cheap this time around, under 900 bucks for both of us, including travel insurance on both tickets. couldn't hardly do anything else for that price, especially considering the quality of the cabins, the food, and all the amenities on the ship. I see it as a bargain, and once aboard, you don't have to worry about a thing. you only have to unpack once, and the stewards take care of everything else.

david

thanks, Andrew. we started planning this cruise less than a month after we go back from last years, we are definitely cruising converts, but at least not cruise virgins anymore.

so looking forward to the complete change of pace and scenery.

david

Completely thought through on all my special medical needs, meds, canes, Ostomy supplies (you would never be able to find what I have to use away from home, so we over stock just in case).

Will already be in a nice covered, guarded warehouse for parking, and its free if you have a handicap tag, which saves us almost 90 bucks in parking alone. Then we will be taken by cart to the terminal, which cuts some of the walking down a bit.
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Bill in FL: forgot about the full moon part, that should be nice. On the Fantasy, they have the adult only Serenity deck at the aft of the ship, we love sitting there watching the wake of the ship. And no noisy kids to disturb you there. It's also the start of whale season on this route, so hoping we may get to see some. We were a month too early last year.

It's amazing to me that you can see the Vertical Assembly Building at Cape Kennedy, event that far at sea, but you can. This time, remembered to take my binoculars. But leaving all my expensive video gear at home. I still have film clips from last year (about 50) that I still haven't rendered into usable movies, and its one less thing to have to worry about getting stolen.

David

David I hope that you and your wife have a wonderful trip mixed with some fun and relaxation.

Michael

HAve a safe and great trip....

jerry - thanks, my friend
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Hey Barb, hugs. Left you a couple of late posts on the Lupus site hoping you would find them.

Thank you, the hardest part for me, will be the long car drive to Charleston. Anything more than an hour in a car (even a comfortable car like I have), just gets my back aching so bad. So I will have to plan at least a couple of stops just to stand up a bit. I usually use the seat heaters on my back once it starts to flare up.

As far as PT goes, this is why it's always been a catch-22 for me. And why my dr. had me take a break from it for a few months. Exercise is suppose to be good, but on the other hand, even the little bit I do is enough to make me flare into a bad pain session. Plus, after over 2 years plus, it is discouraging to me that there has never been any forward progress or notable improvement. I am still spiraling downhill, a little at the time. But the therapist still feel its better than me giving up and doing nothing. Last time I did that during that break, the lost of mobility, endurance, and strength was frightening over such a short period of time- noticeable enough to make my doctor to change his mind and order me back into the program. All I can do, is tough it out and keep on going, for as long as I am able, don't know what else to do.

I will worry about you, because I know too much about what you are going through, but I will check in with you as soon as I am back in town with access to a computer. you take care of yourself.

David

Aaaah. Cruising--our favorite thing. And i am all for leaving your cell phone home. SO, win some trivia contests, play some miniature golf on the top deck, spring for a massage and sign up for the Chef's Dinner with the maitreD as soon as you get on board. Worth every penny! Oh, yes, and win a big jackpot on video poker or at least enter the blackjack or slot tournament!

David go to bed!! Your going to be exhausted before you get started! Lol

Maybe you can put the pics on a special fb page made just for your trip? The weather is great down here off the coast right now and even though our temperature is reaching 80 daytime its breezy with nights in the 60s! Clear and should be gorgeous out there for nightly ship strolling.