Thanks, Peggy and JoAnn. Having no idea of logistics and costs - Just what I needed to know.

Thanks Joann--I guess we'll just see how it goes. I'll definitely ask Regent to put us in the first group off the ship, but if we miss the flight, they'll hopefully put us on another one --it wouldn't be the first time I waited all day at FLL to get on a flight standby. :(

Denise, I agree with JoAnn about the cab. It is much better to grab a cab. Kathy and Frank and Diana and I had a rather bad experience trying to get a van last December after our SAND cruise. Much cheaper and better to do individual taxis.

Thanks, Don. I agree.

I remembered it was a very short ride from the airport to the dock. Glad to know the costs. Thanks!

Yeah, the van driver loaded our luggage and then when we went to hop in there was not enough room for all four of us to sit! Then he did not want to give us back our luggage without paying for the ride! Fortunately, there was a dockworker there who helped get our luggage out and then told us her mother was in charge of the transportation and he wouldn't be allowed back! But there were not a lot of cabs waiting at the port either - why we took a van in the first place. We did end up with a van for the 4 of us only.

If there's not lounge, I may have my friend pick us up at the dock and then get a bite to eat and visit with her.

Yeah, I was afraid Frank was going to have to beat the guy up! LOL Just part of the memorable disembarkation experience. ;)

We certainly are a chatty bunch. Can you believe we have more than 1,000 posts on this thread? Anyone who meets us may not be able to get a word in edgewise! :D

Very very funny Priscilla <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> Didn't know how many posts had been made, but did note that we are 21 pages!!! LOL!

We'd better pace ourselves. We may run out of conversation by November! :rolleyes:

Yeah Denise, we wouldn't want all us CROSS cruisers to get all TAPped out now, would we? LOL

I doubt that we will ever run out of topics to discuss - we can chat about anything that CROSSES our minds.

Being TAPPED out just CROSSED my mind. Let's CROSS that bridge if and when we come to it.

CROSS my heart and hope to die we are so excited about meeting y'all we can't stop TAPping our feet! :banana:

We arrive in Funchal 5 months from this Saturday! :woh:

It is a good thing this isn't a nude cruise, otherwise we would all have our CROSS to BARE!!! :eek:

:app:

Don, can't wait to catch your lounge act! Kenny Smiles better be looking over his shoulder! :D

Don "Smiles" is our LCT lounge act - and appreciated for his humor and honesty while accomplishing his amazing weight loss - maybe you can TAP dance in lounge on CROSS Don? Good "cardio" workout

OMG this is getting too funny and ....... Wine please!!!!!

I've spent time with Don at a few LCT gatherings. I think he's just warming up!

Thanks Denise! In addition to being a SINGER, I guess I could try my hand at comedy and see if I can keep everybody in CROSS-stiches! I just hope that the ship won't be a BOBBIN while I'm on stage! I'm also a little afraid of being booed at. I'm not sure that I could take that kind of NEEDLING! Boy, this is quite a THREAD, isn't it?

uh oh Don, We're at a CROSSroads of hilarity now!

Oh my Don, I just remembered you and Diana were supposed to be in the cabin next to us on MUSH before you had to cancel and you were going to be singing on the balcony in the mornings.

The people that took your place were a young couple with a baby under 2, maybe even under 1, and instead of singing in the morning we got crying --- well, let me say they were actually very considerate of those around them -- so that was somewhat of a joke!! I think though overall, would have loved your singing on the balcony.

Don if you are just getting warmed up I think we all better pack some Depends and keep our legs CROSSed! :p :woh:

None of us will gain weight due to all the exercise we will get from talking and laughing!

Sue, exactly 5 months from today (with or without Depends! LOL) we will be joining the rest of the CROSSer's in Funchal for 8 fun filled days of talking, laughing, and partying, all the way to Ft Lauderdale! :banana:

Thanks for making my day Don - 5 more months - Yahooo! :app: <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

Can't wait!!!

But first the family beach trip on June 30 - Outer Banks here we come!!

Speaking of beaches, we leave on Friday for a week at Beaches in the Turks and Caicos with our two granddaughters, age 10. We take two of our grandchildren somewhere every year--they call it Camp Grandma. Since Beaches is all-inclusive, it'll be like a land cruise.

A long weekend by the beach in Santa Barbara is on our agenda for now, in celebration of Alan's birthday and our anniversary.

CROSS will be here before we know it!

Sounds great Peggy and Denise.

What a great idea Peggy - have to keep that in mind for future years, when the Grandkids get a little older.

Denise - Happy Anniversery and Happy Birhtday to Alan.

Yes, we're busy getting ready for next week's travels - I am getting really excited. Everything is in place except waiting for the time to pass!

Denise, have fun in Santa Barbara. We go regularly - Frank's daughter lives there and stayed after she graduated UCSB so we are up there about once a month. I highly recommend eating at The Palace Grill on 8 Cota Street or Holdren's which is on State Street. The Palace Grill is New Orleans Style food - good value and extraordinary service - excellent food. Holdren's is a steak and fish place with also good offerings and reasonable price. For over the top, Bouchon is one of our favorites for a special occasion.

On July 14, we're off to the Canadian Rockies until the middle of September. Then only 1 month until we leave for NY, the QM2, 9 days in France and CROSS. The anticipation of the European trip has kind of paled Banff for me, but once I get there in the mountain air (and away from the Florida humidity), I'll be more than ready to enjoy it as usual.

Nini

Hi Nini,

You have some wonderful travel to look forward to. Enjoy!

Thanks, Kathy. We love Santa Barbara. A great and easy getaway for us. Next time you're visiting Santa Barbara, give Ca Dario and Tupelo Junction a try. They're fantastic. The owner/chef of Ca Dario is from Venice. Tupelo Junction is Cajun/Creole. Reservations for Ca Dario are a must.

I bet you're getting excited about your Oceania cruise. Wishing you and Frank a super time.

WE with everyone a very happy and healthy summer and look forward to seeing you in November. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as the case may be) I do not have a computer in Banff - I do check in periodically from the public library so I can still see what is going on.

Nini

We've been to Ca Dario but not Tupelo - we will have to add it to the places to check out. Well, have fun up in Santa Barbara. For authentic food from Italy, there is also Pano e Vino in Montecito. We go there frequently. The chef there is also from Rome.

Y'all talking about all these trips before CROSS has Diana and I thinking. We just don't think we can go five months without a trip or some type of cruise. With sales being a little slow, we needed to go a little conservative, so we just found a mighty fine deal on a river cruise.

So we booked an outside cabin on the Bubba of the Seas. Anybody got a hankerin to join us?

Hey Don, with that River cruise, you can sail over to Funchal and tie it up to the Voyager for a tow and save on cruise fare! You'll have an Aft Ocean view suite!

Oh, Don....You tempt us so!!! Any chance of Bubba serving lots of shrimp????

OMG, Ca Dario is to die for!! Both daughters went to UCSB (now graduated) so this brings back wonderful memories. That is the best Italian food ever!!!

Ah, another Ca Dario fan! Dining there brings us back to our awesome dining experiences in Italy on VOF!

Marcie, I think we need an OC to SB to Ca Dario roadtrip!

We love SB - only 3 trips, so far, but what a great place - ate at Bouchon all 3 times - French - ate outdoors - little over the top for me -