Translate

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Alaskan Cruise... and teddy bears


Squiggles, Grand daughter's squirrel

I'm beginning to think about this Alaskan Cruise coming up in April. If any of you have experience with this particular type of vacation, I would definitely appreciate any input... as to what to bring, things to consider, etc.

DH and the boys will be home to take care of the cats.  My friend and I will fly to Seattle, take a train to Vancouver - where we will have one day to visit before the Carnival Cruise Ship sails.  Yes, it is Carnival Cruise Lines.  Does that make me nervous... a little?

Things I'm concerned about:

1. The cold.
2. Seasickness
3. Incident at sea

Things I'm excited about:

1. Seeing Vancouver
2. Sharing my friend's 'dream trip'.

Teddy bear (for Dee to see)


Recently Dee at One Foot Out of the Box posted a blog about having a teddy bear.  I commented that I had one too. DH gave it to me when we were dating in college at LSU Baton Rouge.... and it's sat in our bedroom for 45 years now. Does Teddy look that old?  (He doesn't, but we do... oh well)  He is great for cuddling, but I find that the cats have taken over in the comforting department. They are great for that... and seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to knowing when comfort is needed.





Have to put this *teatime* picture up here.  I found it on another website just recently and hope she won't mind my sharing it.  It was just too cute...


found at Deb's blog









31 comments:

  1. I won't post any comments about the Alaska cruise I took some years back, because I'd just be repeating myself. Go, have a great time, spend more money than you intend to, eat whatever you want...have fun! :-)

    That teddy bear doesn't look to be 45 years old at all. I still have my first stuffed animal, but it's threadbare, well worn. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wait...Your granddaughter has a squirrel???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She did. She found him laying on the side of a pool - must have fallen out of his nest - tiny, no hair, etc. She fed him with a dropper. They made him a cage on the porch and he would go in and out of it, run up a tree, then run back into his cage. He did fine for several years, then died unexpectedly.

      Delete
  3. Wow..an Alaskan cruise. Now that is exciting. I'm sure your cats and DH will miss you but do have a great time. Bring your camera.
    Oh yes, that is a funny picture. You can just hear them laughing, right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a great picture. It makes me laugh just to think about it. Where in the world did you find it?

      Delete
  4. Rian, I tried several times but could not pull up your post in Chrome, so I decided to try Safari, and it came right up. I don't have any personal experience with cruises, so I can't help you there, but I can tell you the chances of another incident like the last one are remote, to be sure! I look forward to hearing all about your adventure. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't know why my post wouldn't come up in Google Chrome since that is what I'm using now...??? But glad you found it.

      And Alaska will be an *adventure* (definitely something to write about).

      Delete
  5. We've done an Alaskan cruise a couple of times. We don't do the dress up stuff and just pack comfortable, warm clothes. On days where we're just onboard I usually wear sweats. Make sure you take a warm hat and gloves. It was really cold when we were in Glacier Bay, but you want to be outside where you can hear the glacier when chunks fall off. We also took binoculars. The spouse took his GPS and a map so he could chart where we were, but he's into that kind of thing! Last time we were on Norwegian and I loved the afternoon tea. I hope you have a great trip. I think cruises are fun and you can do as much or as little as you like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you mentioned about the 'dress up' stuff because I don't plan to do that either. I have a warm hat and warm boots, but am looking for some good fleece gloves. I planned to take my camera and binoculars, but didn't think of taking the GPS... that might be interesting.

      And I *love* afternoon tea, so I hope they have that.

      Delete
  6. I've always wanted to take an Alaskan Cruise . . . or any cruise for that matter. My mother in law went on one and said it was amazing. I wouldn't worry about incidents. I'm sure there on there toes after the last one. Maybe your Doc can give you a preventative antibiotic shot before you leave?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would *hope* they would be on their toes after the last one...

      Delete
  7. A lovely photo of the wee fellow with the cat, what a smile. And the tea picture is hilarious.
    My sister did an Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago but I'm afraid I can't help you. She had a fantastic time and I hope you do as well. I do remember someone telling me though, to start taking seasick pills the day before boarding so they have time to get into your system and take effect before you sail.

    blessings,
    Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think I would be seasick unless we hit 'rough water'... but on every ship or boat I've been on (which hasn't been a whole lot), we have always hit rough water, thus - my problem.

      Delete
  8. I had to smile because I'm only going to N.Ireland in April for son's wedding and I am worring about 2 and 3 of your concerns lol ...I'm taking some tranquilizers for the trip. As for the cold ....I would just use lots of thin layers,a good hat and thermal gloves. You have your friend and so I think you will have a fabulous time.
    blw was that a wild squirrel or bred as a pet.
    I so laughed at the 'Tea time' photo. xx
    Apparently the cooking App is an Android App(????)... available through Google ....Allthecooks ...it has recipes as part of it ....she has not yet tried to put her own in for converting but those that are there can be converted no problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angie, the *very worse* crossing I ever had was going from England to Ireland on the big 'slow' ferry. I swear we shipped off during a tsunami (the winds were that strong)in the wee hours of the morning. We should have known better since all the other crossings were cancelled. Everyone on board was sick. It was awful... and that huge ferry was being tossed about like a toy. Never again! Coming back we used the fast ferry in good weather and I took a tranquilizer. It was fine. Take the fast ferry!!

      It was a wild squirrel that she found had fallen out of a nest... and she raised it.

      Isn't that teatime photo great? I just love it.

      'All the Cooks' huh? I'll check it out.

      Delete
  9. The boy and cat picture is so adorable--that curly hair and those blue eyes and that smile. I also laughed at the tea time picture. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm sure the cruise will go amazingly well, Rian, and you'll wonder what you were worrying about. :-) I don't have a teddy-bear, but a furry toy rabbit sits on the rocking-chair in my bedroom, though DH reckons it has an evil glint in its eye......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Teddy bear or toy rabbit... what's the difference? Is your rabbit like the furry toy bunny in the Aunt Dimmity mystery series?

      Delete
    2. If I knew who Aunt Dimmity was, I'd be able to answer that, Rian. :-) Off now to do some googling....

      Delete
    3. Aunt Dimity is a series of cozy mysteries written by Nancy Atherton where Lori Shepherd inherits an English Cottage in the Cotswolds from a friend of her mother's whom she never knew. She also inherits a journal where Aunt Dimity communicates with her (yes, after death). I found it very entertaining, light reading - nothing serious. Lori owns a pink flannel bunny with button eyes that she confides in. His name is Reginald. The first book in the series (in case anyone is interested) is "Aunt Dimity's Death".

      Delete
    4. Ah, I see. Thanks for enlightening me. In that case the answer to your question is that my rabbit is not like Lori's bunny. It's a brown furry one, rather than a pink flannel one and having googled a few of the book covers, my rabbit has smaller ears which aren't floppy. :-)

      Delete
  11. Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy!!! I don't travel at all accept by car, so I am no help in this department, Rian :)

    Absolutely love that Squiggles!!! I had a friend long ago who also had a pet squirrel...I was so jealous!!!

    Teddy looks fantastic for his age!!! How precious he is.

    Nice photo with your cat. Loved "teatime"...thanks for the giggle~~~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome, Jan. Glad you enjoyed the photos.

      Delete
  12. Teeeee, heeeee, heeee on the Tea Pic. -giggggles-

    "BJ" at "Sweet Nothings" blog, went to Alaska and loved it. She will surely tell you stuff. Don't know if you read each other's blogs, but I'll tell her,you are asking.

    When that last cruise disaster happened, husband mentioned that he's never seen a cruise disaster happen, on an Alaska cruise. Are the ships a wee bit smaller, perhaps? Than those floating ocean monstrosities, which do have disasters?

    Oh look at that beautiful curly red hair! Don't tell HIM, it's gorgeous but it is!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Auntie, I know nothing about the cruise ships... whether they are smaller on the Alaskan cruises or not. But I am convinced that it will be wonderful because my friend needs it to be. She has had a difficult year.

      Delete
  13. Rian, I think you are going to have a fantastic time on your upcoming Alaska cruise. I've never had that pleasure, but have heard nothing but good things from people who have. Take lots of pictures to share with us.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think you will have a wonder filled time, Rian! I am looking forward to seeing photos, too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi ...just dropped back to say ...I did google directions believe it or not LOL ... but they only went so far and then said the final bit was a walk ...no public transport went there!!??. What with my lack of fitness and back,I was worried that I would not get there and be able to enjoy it ....no way would I have got back ...so you can imagine how confused I was when one went past. xx

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and commenting! It makes my day...