Frustrated to Tears

On March 6th when I left the 

Norwegian Breakaway,

I left my cherished little black Moleskine notebook.

 I had carefully arranged my treasures in the

space above my bed.

That's my pink Kindle in the center,

my iridescent travel journal on the left, and,

although it can't be seen, my black Moleskine

is on the right.
(If you click on the pic below to enlarge, you can just
see the outline of it.)

Big mistake.

Why did I take it?

Well, because it had my passwords written in it.

Sometimes I need them for the internet on the ship.

But...

it also had stories from days of Jack's illness.

Precious stories not recorded anywhere else.

I was heartsick.

As soon as I realized I had left it, I called Norwegian.

"No, we haven't received any information about it."

My room steward and I had been very cordial, so

I just knew he would turn it in.

Several days later I called Norwegian again.

The girl I talked to sounded strange and asked to

put me on hold.

When she came back she said she had not 

wanted to get my hopes up until she talked 

to her supervisor, but that it had been located

and was en route to the Miami office.

She said her supervisor would call when it arrived.

I subsequently got a voice mail from a man with Norwegian

 who said he was UPS'ing the notebook to me.

He was most concerned, however, that I send him

a check or a money order by return mail

for the amount of the postage!

The doorbell rang this afternoon.

It wasn't UPS, but it was FedEx.

I fought Charleigh-Girl off and went gleefully out

onto the front porch...to sign!

The very young man held my package but said

that it was C.O.D. (!) and that there was

no amount shown to charge me.

He fumbled, he scanned, and he called someone.

Very apologetically he told me that

he was going to have to take my package back!!!

He said he would get in big trouble with

Norwegian if he left it without collecting.

Well the whole world is in trouble with me!

Was it Norwegian's fault for not putting the amount

of the C.O.D.?

Or not trusting me to pay the postage?

Or was it FedEx's fault for letting the package

get all the way to me before discovering 

the mistake?

Ultimately I have to realize that it was

my fault.  I'm the one who left it.

I should have known better 

than to take it in the first place.

I should have noticed when I put it there so neatly

that it couldn't be seen.

And now I have to worry about not being here

tomorrow if it is re-delivered.

I have important appointments 

(hair and nail related).

Goodness knows it won't be left without the money!


**************************

Follow up the very next day...

I called FedEx, and talked to someone very nice and
sympathetic who assured me my package
would be delivered late today.
And here it is:

 That's my room number--10507

I will do no more complaining.
(But it was Norwegian's fault!)
It is a miracle I got this back.
My name was not written in it at all.
There is a timeline of Jack's illness on the
front page.

And I will never, ever take my "little black book"
on another trip!
But I may sleep with it under my pillow tonight.
"Thank you, Lord, for your undeserved favor
to me."

It Wasn't Perfect--Again

As long as I tell you the good things first,

I don't mind sharing the little problems.
(Jack called them "opportunities.")
My trip was wonderful, but not perfect!

Hiccup #1

I got a great fare in December from AA

 but not a great seat.

I intended to diligently haunt the website to 

seek improvement.  I forgot.

So I was stuck in a middle seat.

When I got to the airport I asked for a window

or aisle, but the only one available was what I shall

lovingly refer to as "the latrine seat."

Yes, it was an aisle seat, but it

backed up to one of the lavs.

Surely the middle couldn't have been that bad.

Oh, yes it could have.

Hiccup #2  

Since this was a special event for me,

I bought close up tickets for my shows.

I didn't wait for "1/2 Price Tickets,"

even though it was right across from my hotel.

I forked over the dough, and

for An American in Paris,

this is who sat down in front of me.

Now I thought the hat would be the problem.

It wasn't.

Actually, neither was the hair--exactly.

She was tall and had such great posture!  See how far
 her shoulders extend above the back of the seat?

Couldn't she have slumped just a little

(or preferably a LOT)?

So help me, I was the only person dodging 

this way and that trying to see!

Now don't you dare tell me she is your cousin Boopsy

or your Aunt Flossie,

(although that is probably what I would do to you.)

Hiccup #3

This ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, was not

a good choice for me.

I wanted a studio (only 3 Norwegian ships have them)

and I loved sailing from New York.

I got those things and great food, but...

it is a mega ship, and one feels it.

Unlike Royal Caribbean's Oasis and Allure

 (both larger)

the Breakaway felt crowded all the time.

Especially the atrium area, where my favorite

event, the Celebrity Dance Off was held.

You're seeing the couple live 

and just the lady on the big screen.

If you ever cruise on a Norwegian ship, look for this!

And go very early to get a seat.

Tendering is required to reach Great Stirrup Cay,

Norwegian's private island.

I usually love tendering.  
Just another adventure for me!

But these were huge tenders which were 

packed with over 300 people.

 This was incredibly s..l..o..w and h..o..t.

And the island was--no surprise--c..r..o..w..d..e..d.

 Then the reception area back onto the ship was too

small to accommodate scanning and checking the bags   

of anywhere near 300 people at a time.

Other ships use smaller tenders and zip them

back and forth efficiently.

Hiccup #4
I was forewarned about this one on Cruise Critic.
I cannot imagine the punishment which was dealt
to the person who designed the theatre seats
for the Breakaway.
There is a limited amount of cushion, behind
which is a board.  Yes, as in a wood slat.
If you sit back in your seat at all, your coccyx
(trying to be couth and not say tail bone)
rests on a piece of wood.
And there are a jillion of these things!
Yeah, I picture the designer weaving straw for
hut roofs in Outer Mongolia...
whilst being forced to sit 
 in one of the Breakaway theatre chairs!


Any trip from which I get home safely is a good trip!
I will still say, 
"I've never met a cruise I didn't like."
Howsomever,
I might not be so impulsive in my choice next time.

Sailing Solo in a Studio

It was a short taxi ride from the Doubletree to Pier 88
in New York City!

Here she is:
The Norwegian Breakaway

Nothing subtle here, but I LOVE it!!!

Got on board quickly and was able to drop my heavy

coat and my carry-on in my room, a studio for one!

Here's a tour I did of my little cabin after I had placed

everything in its spot.

I actually had two of these closets--plenty of space.

That's the shower wall on the right side of the pic.

It is full size and very adequate.

That's my wireless speaker and iPod on the window!

(Later I figured out how to open my blinds!

My room steward didn't even know!)

TV above. I kept up with the election nonsense progress.

I think our studio hallways are beautiful.

The Studio Lounge--only steps from my cabin door.

 Lattes, cappuccinos, etc. at our disposal!

We sailed past the Statue of Liberty,

which never ceases to thrill me.

Then we sailed under the Verrazano Bridge,

which connects Staten Island and Brooklyn.

My first room service:

Day 1 turned out to be most exciting.

I went down to the shopping area just to browse.

Two ladies asked me if I would like to have their two

tickets for the upcoming jewelry giveaway because

they had to leave for massage appointments.

Then I was given 3 more.

You know--the kind that look like this:

All of a sudden I realized it was time for the drawing

and I was still holding both halves of my tickets.

I had to squeeze through the throng of people packed

into the shopping area to get to the place to 

drop in my tickets. 

I can't even estimate how many people and tickets

there were, but A LOT.

This is a mega ship with over 4,000 passengers.

(And I think they were all crowded in there!)

So the girl said she wanted us to "make some noise"

if we had the numbers as she called them.

"Five," lots of noise, same with four and one,

cause we all had them;

then "Zero," and much less noise, then "Zero," again, 

and I kinda went numb,

then "Six."  

I, Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, had WON!!!!!!

I had 541006!

Here's my prize:

It's a tiny tanzanite and tinier diamond.

But the thrill of hearing MY number called--

that was HUGE and PRICELESS!

Some of my favorite things about Norwegian:

The fish on the hall carpet always swim FORWARD!

(Which helps only if you know which way you

need to be going!)

Your room card must be in the slot for the lights

to operate, making it easier to keep up with the card.

(I only lost mine once this trip!)

Ahhh.  The Mandara Spa.

Right down this hall!

 Beats you to a pulp!

The salt room.

Heated tile recliners.

H.e.a.v.e.n.l.y.

I guess you might be wondering about ports!

Yes, we did stop at 3, but I only got off at one.

It was Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island.

 My prize picture of the Breakaway from 

Great Stirrup Cay was the best thing about the port,

 along with...

meeting Charlie while waiting for the tender.

As our third friend Debbie took this picture,

she said I should start making up my story then!

Charlie was on spring break, lived in Philadelphia,

and works with the Wounded Warrior Project.

I'm out with my selfie stick trying to get me and

the Atlantis Hotel in Nassau.

It didn't look near that far away on my phone!

If you've hung in there with me,

THANK YOU!

I was not kidding when I said that traveling

alone would not be near as much fun

without friends who would look at my pictures!

If I were onboard, I would treat myself to a

latte and a cookie!

Breakin' Away!

February 26, 2016!
London worked out so well that
I decided it was time to try New York!
I certainly never thought I would see this day!

I stayed on the 33rd floor of the Doubletree,
Times Square, as recommended by the Metzgers.

My first dining experience--very New York!

A street vendor hot dog and trimmings!  Yum yum!!
(I actually went down and got a second hot dog!)

My day had begun at 3:00 A.M., 
so I took advantage of this for a little nappie poo...

 until it was time to get ready to go to
the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to see
Finding Neverland.

The theatres are so beautiful and elegant!

I loved Finding Neverland.

And it was right across the street from my hotel.

Dining experience #2...from the hotel gift shop.

Well, you see, it was late, and I was tired!

Night, night, lovely New York!

My plan was to ride the red double deck bus around.
I discovered that I had already seen all the
spots on the tour and that it was pretty cold.
So I decided to have lunch at the hotel--
at Ginger's (as in Rogers)

I really think this sign could do with some glamorizing!!!
Maybe a few exclamation marks!!!
But it was early, and I was the only one there!

My quesadillas.

Then it was time for An American In Paris,
which was only steps from my hotel.

The Doubletree doorman stepped out and took
this picture for me!

And a fellow theatre goer took this one!

And I took this one.  I had a great seat

for another fabulous show!

Tonight I'm going to have a real New York meal.

On my way in, I walked right by

outside this window where

Bryan and Deanne Hammons

were dining!

I think Bryan almost choked on his dessert!

I knew they were in NY, but they didn't know I was!

It's truly amazing that we saw each other!

 I had a long wait, so I went next door to
 Junior's Bakery.
One is supposed to buy cheesecake there,
but I couldn't get past the lemon coconut cake!

Ahhh.  After dinner dessert and coffee in my room. 

Hey, it's Sunday morning, and look what I see
from my hotel window!
That's the Norwegian Breakaway
waiting to whisk me away from my daily drudgery!
{Oh, I can just hear Jack guffawing!}

Please come back tomorrow!
Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother,
You're breakin' away, breakin' away.
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're breakin' away, breakin' away.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, breakin' away, breakin' away.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, breakin' away!

Thanks, Bee Gees, and sorry!


**Remember**
Click on a picture to enlarge it!
(In case you want to see my hot dog or cheese
crackers better!!!)