First of all, I was looking on a website called Vacations To GO for information on our particular cruise ship......I have included the list and basic specifications of all the ships in the Royal Caribbean ship inventory far below.

Then just below you will find more details on the our specific ship.....Magesty of the Seas:

Majesty of the Seas
The seven-story Centrum is the hub of this ship, an atrium of polished marble and gleaming brass that's surrounded by bars, lounges and shops. Favorite gathering places on board include the elegant champagne bar, the nautically themed Schooner Piano Bar and the Viking Crown Lounge, which is perched high atop the ship and offers spectacular views. Work out with a view in the ShipShape Fitness Center, spend a few pampering hours in the spa, or play basketball on an open-air court. There's also a cinema, casino, showroom and three lounges for dancing. The Windjammer Café is a casual alternative to the two formal dining rooms.
Ship Statistics    Year Built 1992     Refurbished 2002     Refurbished 2007     Tonnage 74,000 tons     Registry Bahamas     Length 880 feet     Beam 106 feet     Passenger Capacity 2,744     Crew Size 827     Total Inside Cabins 445     Total Outside Cabins 731     Cabins & Suites w/ verandas 63     Suites 13     Maximum Occupancy per room 4     Age Restrictions One person must be 21 or older     Dinner Seatings 2     Seating Assignments Assigned     Dining Hours 6:15 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.     Dining Room Dress Code 3- & 4-day cruises: 1 formal night, others casual or smart casual.     Tipping Recommended? Yes     Tipping Guidelines Waiter, $3.50 per person/day. Asst. waiter, $2 per person/day. Maitre'D, $.75 per person/day. Cabin steward, $3.50 per person/day. 15% tip included on beverage orders.		Services & Amenities   Movie Theatre    Yes    Casino    Yes    Chapel    Yes    Disco/Dancing    Yes    Elevators    3    Hot Tub    2    Internet Access    Yes    Laundry/Dry Cleaning    Yes    Library    Yes    Onboard Weddings    Yes    Self Serve Laundromats    No    Shops    Yes    Showroom    Yes    Spa    Yes    Video Arcade    Yes    Bars/Lounges    9    Beauty Salon/Barber Shop    Yes    Fitness & Sports Facilities   Basketball Court    Yes    Fitness Center    Yes    Golf Simulator    No    Ice Skating Rink    No    Jogging Track    Yes    Mini-Golf Course    No    Rock Climbing Wall    Yes    Swimming Pool    2    Tennis Court    No    Water Sports Platform    No    Cabin Features & Amenities   Telephone    Yes    Television    Yes    24-Hour Room Service    Yes    Hair Dryer    Yes    Safe    No    Kids Facilities   Babysitting    Yes    Children's Playroom    Yes    Kiddie Pool    Yes    Supervised Youth Program    Yes    Teen Center    Yes    Special Needs & Requests   Adjoining Cabins      (private connecting doors)    Yes    Kosher Meals    Yes    Single Occupancy Cabins    No    Single Share Program    No    Wheelchair-Accessible Cabins    4

	SHIP	PASSENGERS	BUILT
	Adventure of the Seas	3,835	2001
	Brilliance of the Seas	2,501	2002
	Enchantment of the Seas	2,446	1997
	Explorer of the Seas	3,835	2000
	Freedom of the Seas	4,375	2006
	Grandeur of the Seas	2,446	1996
	Independence of the Seas	4,375	2008
	Jewel of the Seas	2,501	2004
	Legend of the Seas	2,076	1995
	Liberty of the Seas	4,375	2007
	Majesty of the Seas	2,744	1992
	Mariner of the Seas	3,835	2003
	Monarch of the Seas	2,744	1991
	Navigator of the Seas	3,835	2002
	Radiance of the Seas	2,501	2001
	Rhapsody of the Seas	2,435	1997
	Serenade of the Seas	2,501	2003
	Sovereign of the Seas	2,850	1988
	Splendour of the Seas	2,076	1996
	Vision of the Seas	2,435	1998
	Voyager of the Seas	3,835	1999

Current Mood: excited

Well....as far as I can tell...I have made the last bit of arrangements needed for our cruise.

I booked a car between the airport at Ft. Lauderdale and the Port of Miami.

It is a private van / car. and it picks us up at the airport and whisks us to the port. It costs $73.00 total (one way), or about $18.25 each.

Now I can rest easy as we make our way down to Miami.

Current Mood: happy

This is kind of a cool world....little mechanical things to do your every wish.

Ok...so that's a little far fetched.....but who would think you could make money selling a robot to clean gutters for $69.00.....well, IROBOT does I guess, because I just found the robot shown at the left on WOOT.COM.

Here is how they wrote it up: (yes, I admit that WOOT.COM is an odd site.....that often has good deals)

Longbot Is Looooooooooong

Current Mood: curious

I don't know how Kim, Kristen and Doreen feel...but I'm getting excited about the cruise. It is Wednesday.....I and that means only a few more days to go before I feel my toes in the soft white sands of a Bahama's beach!


DOREEN'S GRADUATION:
But there are several things before the cruise that are exciting too. Last weekend I was excited to attend Kimberly's graduation. Well, this weekend Doreen is graduating, and that starts off with a Baccalaureate Service on Friday night......then the actual graduation on Saturday. It is all going to be great....and it all begins to unfold only a couple of days from now!

This whole graduation process is a nice cap to a fairly long and worth-while journey for Doreen......and at the same time, it is the beginning of a new leg of that same journey too. So it is so really is such a nice  thing to be be a part of, to witness, to participate in. I am sure it is a very proud and happy moment for Doreen, her parents and kids.....her whole family.....for me too!


HEART WALK IN RYE, NH:
Then on Sunday, I am walking in the Heart Walk at Wallis State Park in Rye, NH. This is an event that Kristen and I did last year, and even though the weather wasn't very good, it felt so good to do it.

Heart disease is a very big problem as we all know....but it turns out to be big issue for women.....the reason we lost Cheryl just over a year ago. The heart is one of those key organs in our body that we just don't have a back-up for.....unlike our lungs, kidneys and the like.....the heart has not back-up. We need to take care of it.


THE CRUISE TO THE BAHAMAS:
The week then starts with a nice plane flight to Florida, and the start of a 4-day cruise. I look forward to sand between my toes, sun on my shoulders, and the sound of waves lapping up against the bow of the ship as we cruise from island to island.

Below is a paste from the cruise line webpage......lots of tips for the trip too.

		Add "Adventurer" to Your Resume Bahamas Cruise Package, Bahamas Cruise Special;lt;gt;Bahamas Cruise Special: Swim with dolphins and tropical fish in the turquoise waters of the Bahamas. Read on for more highlights on our Bahamas Cruise Package. Close to the East Coast of the United States, the Bahamas are known as a refuge from the harsh winters of the north. But there's more to this paradise than sugar-white beaches and warm sunshine. You can swim with dolphins and tropical fish in the turquoise waters. Or soar above the sea in a parasail. Then explore the islands' thrilling history as a haven for pirates - a "Privateer's Republic" was formed at one point with Blackbeard himself as the magistrate.    View Region Map

Highlights
Parasail over our private island, CocoCaySM. Swim with dolphins in clear-blue water. Follow the legendary footsteps of Blackbeard. Soak up the sun on a white-sand beach. See sharks, barracuda and other creatures of the sea at "Predator Lagoon." Experience the rush of the Thriller powerboat adventure.
Areas of Interest
Nassau The Bahamas' capital has beautiful beaches and charming old-world architecture. But Nassau is also a vital contemporary area offering shopping, restaurants and more. Cross the bridge to Paradise Island to see the extravagant resorts, or discover more than 300 species of beautiful plants and flowers at the Royal Victoria Garden.
CocoCaySM This private island paradise is available exclusively to Royal Caribbean guests. Its sugar-white beaches are a wonderland of adventure and activity. With nature trails and aquatic facilities, CocoCay offers activities for everyone, from parasailing to sipping delicious "Coco Locos" on a hammock. And every visit to this exciting port is topped off with a mouth-watering beachside barbeque.
What to Pack
Days onboard are casual and you'll be most comfortable in sport clothes and resort wear. Shoes should be low-heeled for deck activities. Bring a few swimsuits so you'll always have a dry one. You don't have to bring towels, as they are provided. And don't forget your camera and binoculars, so you don't miss a thing. For evening wear, count on three basic types of attire: Casual: Dresses or slacks and blouses for women, sport shirts and trousers for men Smart Casual: Dresses or pantsuits for women, jackets for men Formal: Cocktail dresses for women, suits and ties or tuxedos for men (you can arrange to rent a tuxedo onboard) Ashore, you'll need comfortable walking shoes as well as a hat and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

Current Mood: excited

I was so totally absorbed with having a good time yesterday, and totally missed posting this.

Happy Mother's Day to all out there reading this Journal.

Kristen traveled down to Florence's house to with her Grandma a Happy Mother's Day, and I did a few things with Doreen to celebrate her up and coming graduation.

First, I went with her and her kids to the last service she participated in at her field study church. Everyone there was sad to see her go, yet very happy to have been a part of bringing such a fine preacher into the world.

They gave Doreen some nice gifts and cards after the service, and of course very nice words of praise for all the great things Doreen has done there. She was truly loved.

The the four of us went to Doreen's sisters house for a graduation party that her family was having for Doreen! (as well as a Mother's Day party for their mom too)

The party for Doreen was a total surprise, and everyone was good in keeping it a secret. Doreen was actually surprised, and everyone attending had a great time. I played cards, and generally gabbed it up with everyone.....but along with my camera, I forgot my jacket....so I stayed away from the big-time vollyball game.

Next time I bring my sneakers, and a pair of shorts......I'm no vollyball expert, but it's a fun game that I used to be able to play before by hip issues. (nothing that a bottle of Ibuprophen would not help)

I totally forgot my camera at the party.....so no pictures! (took the wrong car!)

So Happy Mother's Day to all out there......

Current Mood: happy

Friday Five for 09 May 2008

beethovenette87

Current Mood: contemplative

This clearly isn't something I noticed today.....but starting many years ago in Boston.

I remember the city as a place with millions of Pigeons.....we used to call them flying rats.

When you walked along, they were all over the ground....almost close enough to kick....and swarming around trying to get even the smallest morsel someone might drop.

But the Pigeon have slowly disappeared over the years.....and I never really paid attention to why....except that I knew people felt they were unclean and a real issue. (I always loved them myself...they added character to an otherwise dull man-made concrete jungle)

I saw perhaps a dozen or so today.....that's it...ALL DAY LONG!

I read this interesting quote about Pigeons on this website.....

"They are very successful birds. Unfortunately some people don't like those who are too successful. Bill Gates is successful--people love to hate him just like they love to hate pigeons."

Current Mood: curious

FIRST WE ATE:
Kimberly and I got together tonight at about 5:00pm to do a few things. We had talked about possibly going to do something earlier, but I was so slow with my tasks at the apartment, that I didn't get going until way late.....and even then, I took a wrong turn on 4th street....ended up in a not so good part of town, and all that resulted in my being even later!

But we did get together at the Fulton Subway stop, and took a walk down by the various eating places near her apartment / school.

We decided on the Madiba Restaurant, a place serving South African cuisine that had really good food.

My goodness, I had something called Bobotie, which I myself would describe as a sort of a Curry-Hamburger Meatloaf covered in a Yogart sauce. It came with many different condiments on the side, beside a cup of spicy rice.

Oh so good......

Kimberly had what I think was called Bunny Chow, though I am not sure. It is a sort of Curry Chicken Stew in a bread bowl.....I tasted that too, and it was so nice.

The curry was`a very light tasting touch....I say not nearly as strong as most Indian curry flavors. But the main thing that struck me was the medley of flavors offered by the different condiments....banana, peppers, chutney, coconut, etc.....

I did photograph our dinners (Kim's and Mine)...but NOT before we had eaten most of them. (they were really good....who can blame me for forgetting)

A TRIP TO KIM'S APARTMENT:
We then took a short walk over to Kim's apartment.....a place I have not seen since we moved her in.
(here are some pictures of the place)

She has done a fair bit of decorating, and the place looks great.

I also met Kim's cute cat Pacha.....who was quite cute, though a bit shy. I tried all kinds of things to get her used to me so I could pat her. She wasn't thrilled with the camera flash, so I put it away....then Kim tried luring her in with her favorite chase toy.....then I tried getting down on the floor, making little noises, and trying to attract her with slow playful swishes and motions with my hands.

No dice....she came up to me several times....let me pat her a few times, and took off for under the counter, bed or into the bathtub. Oh well....she started to open up, but never quite got there. Maybe next time.

LOTS OF NICE TALKING:
One thing I miss with the girls away, are some of the little talks we would have. I had some of these sort of talks with Kristen this morning at breakfast where we discussed, debated and outlined each of our ideas on what Utopia would be...and how close or far we might expect plain old regular imperfect biped humans to get to those standards.....

The talking with Kim was as you might expect, about how her life will be changing and developing as she finds her way into the job market.

But the topics were very wide ranging and different....from vaccuum cleaners, to interview ideas, to what sort of design jobs and companies she would love to work for/at.

Let's face it....she is turning an exciting corner in her life, and has the opportunity to go in so many great directions.....oh so cool.

MY TRIP HOME TO 388 BERGEN HOUSE AND WAIT FOR KRISTEN:
My travels home were a lot less exciting then those out to Kim. I didn't get lost....nor meet any interesting people. It was pretty quick and uneventful....but that was just fine by me as I wanted a cup of tea and to get my shoes off.

Kristen called and she had missed the 10:00pm train...so was catching the 11:00pm train and would be in the house at about midnight....and she arrived right as she suggested.

She had a nice day with friends, and we exchanged stories before she went off to bed.

TOMORROW, AWAY EARLY...BUT BY SUBWAY, NOT CAR:
After thinking about what time we were going to be leaving in the morning (8:00am) I decided that trying to drive the car anywhere at rush-hour was probably dumb...never mind closer to the school where 1000 other graduates families would be coming too.

Parking would be hard.....so why not leave the car right where it is, and take the subway!?!

So that is the plan for the day.....then come back to the car and day's end and off to home from here......all I have to do is Mapquest directions out of the city from here, and viola.....we are all set.

Time for bed....it is late now.......

Current Mood: happy

Yes....the graphic to the left has little to do with what I am going to write about....except for the fact that I like it, and until about 9 years ago, would have considered myself strictly a coffee drinker.

Even then, I used coffee mainly as a drug....coffee and tea were always FREE at work, and I would use coffee to stay awake at night as I drove home after a long day.

I only marginally liked he taste of coffee, and didn't pay all that much attention to tea.

My mother was a fairly big tea drinker, but she was also probably equally into Coffee. My dad....I never saw a cup of tea in his fingers, and don't think I've ever even heard of any passing across his lips. (except perhaps when my mother made her tea, whiskey and honey drinks to fight one sort of chest cold or another)

Cheryl was much more of a tea drinker though. In fact, I don't remember her drinking coffee all that much....though I know that is a lie if I think about it because we always had some sort of coffee at the house. (I guess for guests and parties)

But my mom and Cheryl's taste in tea was very generic....you know, pretty much any black tea. I suppose I don't even know if I can remember the tea they liked.....things like Irish Breakfast, maybe Earl Grey (all of which are apparently blends or flavored black teas)
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