3Sisters

@ChrisP It's always exciting to try a new itinerary! I wish I was exploring a new area on my next cruise but I was unable to find one in my budget. That's such a bummer some of the excursions through the website are already sold out! Are there any other Princess Cruises' excursions you are interested in that you could book? It's possible the longer you wait to book the more these options will sell out. I personally don't like to wait to book excursions onboard for that very reason; there aren't many options left over. You can choose from the leftovers essentially.

@LukeJ You actually did cue that song in my mind! That's too funny. I love that you had the opportunity to live close to family. It can be a blessing, and occasionally a nuisance, to have family live nearby. It's something that isn't common practice anymore. I actually don't live near any of my children's grandparents right now. I have seen mint jelly at the store, but I'm so used to fruit jellies I haven't gone out of my way to explore it. I'm going to have to try mint on my meat in the coming weeks and report back to you with my synopsis of the experience. You are a chef, so I take your word for it!

@LukeJ If it's a cardboard straw versus no straw, I will choose no straw. The ice on my teeth isn't always the best, but I get very impatient trying to suck up fluids through a dysfunctional device. Maybe that's the whole point of cardboard straws, to deter guests from even enjoying the thought of a straw! That's one way for the beverage department to save money. @Seaawgs That's something I did not think of, but it certainly made me laugh. An eject button could be a worthwhile thought, but maybe a safe room end location would be best. I would support with this idea if the person was "dumped" to a safe room, not "dumped" off of the ship. Some guests probably deserve that, but a safe holding area is more reasonable. I wouldn't be surprised if every ship has a safe holding area onboard already!

@LukeJ It's not fair, and you never see the wait staff working up a sweat in a hot kitchen and accidentally chopping their fingers while in such a rush. In order to be successful in the culinary world you have to be so competitive and resilient, making many sacrifices such as not seeing your family or eating normal (or any) meals during your shift. Many people don't understand that while everyone is eating hungry, the people that work in the kitchen can't eat! That's so true about the salary. It's a nonstop, around the clock job. Waiters and waitresses can almost make their own schedule, with much more flexibility and get paid more hourly. Also salary jobs are always taxed more than tips!

@Seth On August 12, 2026, there will be an eclipse that will encompass Portugal, northern Spain, Iceland, Greenland, Arctic Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. Not all cruise lines have released itineraries into mid-2026, but I will keep my eye out for any options coming out! It would be so awesome to be able to view the eclipse from a cruise ship! https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/baltic/icelands-majestic-landscapes/pricing.html#noscroll This itinerary is close but not quite! It will be in the Faroe Islands on August 12, 2026, very close to total eclipse there. This is the Iceland Majestic Landscape Viking cruise embarking August 6, 2026 from Reyjavic, Iceland.

@Cruise RN It has to be difficult to start a family while away at sea for work! Were you able to have your husband join you on the ships you were contracted on? Would you be able to bring a child along during your contract? I was always curious what certain crew members were allowed to do. As a nurse, I would imagine you could potentially bring your husband along, but it may depend on your contract/ship. I like the book title! It's cleaver to use the word "unsinkable," a great pun. You have ten days until it's out!

@ChrisP I totally understand that! My husband doesn't always do well with unexpected changes either. It's always better to be over prepared than under prepared. You will be leaving pretty soon! You must be so excited. Based on this comment, I would recommend splurging on an Uber to and from the airport. I wouldn't risk ruining your husband's experience for $100. I would be much more convenient.

@PatM Thanks for confirming that. That's such a shame! It's a minimal benefit to add, but I guess CCL is cutting corners where it can. That's a brilliant strategy to get those benefits, but you have to be strategic in order to get those rates. January fell in this same year which is great, but when was this rule actually enacted? CCL usually does a great job at honoring all veterans. Hopefully you can continue to stack those privileges! Let me know how it goes with the third party app. I'm curious to see if it will work!

@LukeJ It really was a great time in life to create those memories with her! Sometimes she does the same with my children and it's such a nostalgic feeling. I do enjoy mint tea, but I get the prepackaged tea bags. Seasonal mint chocolate hot cocoa is delicious too. I have yet to use mint with meat! I would have never thought to add it into a sauce for my meat either. Do you enjoy mint jelly? I have heard of that but have yet to try it. I think it's supposed to be on toast.

@LukeJ Wow, juice in cardboard boxes is a great choice! I'm sure they are lined with a questionable substance, just like cans but it's a really great idea. It's rare I see drinks in boxes in the US but there are some, particularly at higher end stores. Things that are compostable/recyclable are always the better choice, but cardboard straws annoy me. I have children that chew on straws and they last a matter of two minutes before they are disintegrating. Reusable bottles are great, but you still have to use soap and water to clean them. That has an impact on the environment too. It's always something. Sometimes you just have to choose the lesser of the two evils.

@LukeJ It's very true. I'm not sure why chefs aren't as appreciated! The chefs are the ones sweating, breaking their backs to provide you with delicious, safe food. The waiter just brings it out! The job of a chef is a very physically demanding job, and the hours are more than that of a server. The life of a server is less demanding. If you area the chef you have to go in early to prep all of the food. The waiter just shows up and is ready to roll! You often will tip for the food quality, and the chef/sous chefs should get a kickback for that. I think the US is more tip dominant. Gratuities are expected in many professions. Also, many professions expect good tips. It you give a mediocre tip you risk your food being tainted or bags being lost at the airport because you didn't tip enough. That's why, in the US, you have to tip well.

@Cruise RN What a cool novel! It sounds like a fun read, especially for those that enjoy cruising. What enticed you to write a book on this topic? I wonder if there was a personal experience while on the job that provoked you to write about it. How long were you a cruise ship nurse for? Did you enjoy it?

@LukeJ The idea of having four seasons in a day sounds fun, but that has to be difficult to plan for. Everywhere you go you have to bring an umbrella and winter coat just in case! Black ice is horrid! I have never experienced it, and I can't imagine having to drive in it. I wonder why the UK doesn't manage the roads better. It's not necessary to shut everything down! Where I live everything remains open unless it a very heavy snow dump, typically about 1-2 times a year. I can't imagine an area that expects snow to shut everything down because of it. If the roads were better, maybe people would feel more comfortable with traveling and going to work when it occurs.

@LukeJ Yes, but what's funny is she is gluten-free and rarely ate anything she made. Me and my friends were savages eating her cookies and brownies she made weekly as teens. She was definitely one to feed the masses. I try to buy healthy mixes and replicate what she did for me and my brother growing up, always having a baked good available to taste. It's hard to keep up with the type of mother she was. Her house was always so clean, so much cleaner than mine now. haven't tried growing mint before, but I could see rosemary thriving on my balcony in the non-snowy months. I love how rosemary pairs with meats and breads. How do you typically use your mint? I typically put it in my water, but I don't usually cook with it outside of seasonal sweets here and there. I know mint is really great for your digestive system so I would love to use it more in my savory dishes.

@LukeJ Yes, that's one thing about being a chef you don't get, tips. It's so different when you tip because you want to, not because you feel like you have to. It's a nice gesture to do when you really appreciate someone. Some bar tenders and other crew members onboard almost expect a nice tip, but it's so nice to tip when you know the person isn't expecting it. It means so much more to that person! After tipping her I wanted to go out my way to tip all off the bathroom attendants. I'm sure not all would have the same reaction she had, but the appreciation she expressed spoke volumes about her.