What Was My Favorite Cruise?

That is not only very difficult for me to answer,

it is downright impossible.

But today I am reminiscing about one of my 

favorite-of-all-times-ever cruise moments!

Only people who really love cruising and the ship

itself love trans-Atlantic crossings.

That would be me.

So things fell into place for me to be able to be

on board when the Anthem of the Seas

moved from sailing out of London (Harwich)

to sailing out of the United States (New York).

That meant several days at (a very rough) sea

with no port stops, but that was fine with me!

All for this--just click on--

Anthem Arriving in New York

and this!

Passing Lady Liberty

I wish I could have do-overs on this experience,
but it was truly once in a lifetime.
This was all taking place at 5:00 A.M.
on November 4, 2015.
I had no idea that so many passengers would 
get up that early.
If I had, I would have been up at 4:30 so I
could snag a place by the rail, although
I love my picture of the flag waving on the
movie screen
and of the couple waving flags,
both obviously taken from my position in
the ship's crowded middle!


I will have more confidence next time in my
videotaping ability with my little iPhone.
I have searched YouTube today for videos
of this event, and mine are the best I found!


Be sure to see the helicopter circling over us
(first video).
There was also a ship or ships spraying 
streams of water for our arrival.
And the beautiful N is for the Northstar
which rises 330' above the ship!
I got to ride it up, but the seas were too
rocky for it to swing out over them
as it is able to do!

I have gotten so excited today remembering
this experience that I have spent hours
figuring out how to share it!


"So, what have you been doing today, Linda?"
"Wrestling my computer into submission!"
(Or it wrestled me.)

TSA Pre Enrollment: Deal or Dud?

I have been fingerprinted, submitted my passport,  
and have forked over my 85 bucks.
And now...I have a Known Traveler Number.
Will that make my travel less arduous?


Pardon me if I'm pessimistic.
It was standing room only at the TSA Pre Check
sign-up desk.
And I had an appointment!
They were collecting $85 from everybody
 and his/her dog.


It just so happened that Susan flew to New York
very early the same morning I signed up.
Even though she qualified for the TSA pre-check line,
it was so long that she got in the shorter regular line!


So, you may call me "Debbie Downer," 
but my prediction is this:  the TSA will collect
tons of fees from all of us,
then fail to put enough personnel in the
pre-check lines to truly expedite our travel.


There are some other advantages,
like being able to keep on shoes and light jackets.
My age qualified me for that anyway.
And you can leave your computer in your bag.
I never carry my computer.
And you don't have to put your 3 ounce bottles
in a separate plastic bag.
That one is okay!


I'll be happy to eat my words if I find myself wrong.
This is one time I hope to be.

I'm smilin' at the airport cause I
had survived the security line!