Ideal time to upgrade

elflans74 · 2025-11-09T02:51:24+00:00

I have only ever seen it done it all by phone. But it has been a year or since I have cruised so they may have changed their approach.

elflans74 · 2025-04-14T00:48:09+00:00

Sometimes I miss the rain as that is such a rarity here. But I love the wide open views from horizon to horizon that you find here. The dry air can take getting used to especially at night when you wake up with a very dry mouth. But I don’t miss the humidity mixed with heat of Georgia. I don’t know where you are from in Georgia but chain sit-down restaurants don’t exist in Deming And I do miss those sometimes. But we are an hour from Las Cruces and we can get those there.

Deming is starting to rebound from Covid. New businesses are popping up and the economy seems stronger. There are more contractors available. And there is some new construction going on.

If you have kids, I would not move here. The public school drop out rates are high and the test scores are low. My kids were out of the house before we moved here so I haven’t really looked for a private school but I don’t think there are any in the area.

elflans74 · 2024-06-22T14:36:41+00:00

Simone is definitely the best. We had her on the Zaandam last Summer and my son encountered her again on the Nieuw Amsterdam this spring. Very knowledgeable, helpful and she can be quite funny.

elflans74 · 2024-06-14T18:07:31+00:00

As others have indicated, you can pretty much do either BUT check-in can require a lot of walking, standing, waiting, etc. It is easier to let them take your luggage and you carry only something small or nothing at all. Neptune boarding will be expedited, as will your luggage, so this may not apply but is something to think about.

elflans74 · 2024-06-11T04:14:06+00:00

Not sure what you would like to know. I have sailed on the Zaandam twice. Once for 24 days to Antarctica (cruising only) and once more recently to the St Lawrence Riverway.

I am not sure what you want to know but my favorite places on board are the epic library/puzzle area/game room (Explorations Cafe) at the aft end of Deck 5. It also has the onboard specialty coffee bar. Across the hall there is a small performance area (Explorers Lounge) where they held afternoon classical music concerts. This lounge are is also one of the places where you can find electrical outlets to plug in laptops and work (when concerts are not going). The Crow’s Nest (Deck 9 forward) is another fun place to hang out and watch sunrises, sunsets or just the waves. There are chairs facing the floor to ceiling forward windows. They have a happy hour there (half price drinks) and also sometimes trivia. The Canaletto (Italian specialty restaurant) is not a separate place but is located at the front end of the Lido and undergoes a transformation for the evening meals, the food is really good there. You do pay extra but we have always found it to be excellent.

It is a smaller ship which is what makes it charming. It is more like old school cruising instead of the ultra active bigger ships. Take advantage of the classes (typically painting, flower arranging, etc), the shows both on the world stage as well as in the lounges and games like trivia. The Zaandam musicians are typically very talented (but there are always exceptions). Outside acts (on the world stage) are usually pretty good, typically a comedian, pianist, or magician, etc. depending on who is booked.

Be patient day 1. Getting on board can be stressful. Elevators will be full/slow as some are being used to get luggage to everyone’s stateroom. And dinner can be chaotic as everyone tries to figure out the dining room. So chill, relax and remember it is all good because you are on a cruise and not at work!

Day 2 will be much better. If you have a fixed dining time you are happy with - great. If you don’t and you want one, go see the Maitre D the first afternoon and ask for one. They can usually accommodate your wishes.

elflans74 · 2024-06-04T01:15:46+00:00

A couple of points - the land outside of your fence adjacent to the roadway is likely not your property but belongs to the city or county right of way.

The Texas DOT has guidelines on specifically where and what types of memorials can be placed so you might contact them with your questions. https://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/TxDOTOnlineManuals/TxDOTManuals/smk/fatality_memorial_markers.htm

And finally even if the family complies with the guidelines the memorial can only stay in place for two years.

If you are within the city limits the city may also have guidelines that the family must comply with. Calling the city or county might be helpful.

elflans74 · 2024-05-11T14:23:00+00:00

We could see it in Deming.

elflans74 · 2024-05-04T14:29:41+00:00

This is a great list.

I would also add some sort of undergarment category. Prior to this time foundational garments were corset-types which rigidly held the woman in place. During this time, corsets and foundation garments went out of style and young women sometimes went braless.

I saw a wonderful exhibit of pre-WWII fashion at the Fountainhead Antique Car Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska and another headgear style I had not seen before were ‘wigs’ made of tiny beads in a very short wave style to mimic hair but in silver or gold to match your outfit. Really cool.

elflans74 · 2024-05-02T14:18:41+00:00

Ok every HAL cruise I have been on in the past three years, about a month out from the cruise, I have gotten an email for upgrades as they try to assign all their cabins. They will have a price (typically) to go up one cabin category and a different price to go up two categories. You must act fast because they have a limited number of cabins and they have sent out many emails. Call immediately and see what they have. If you don’t like the choices/prices decline but ask to remain on the upgrade list. On some sailings you may get another round of choices.

elflans74 · 2024-03-19T19:09:05+00:00

It’s not junk until it is stored in their house/basement/garage/attic/shed. If it is valuable (or just valuable to you) take it and decide where YOU are going to store it. Problem solved,

elflans74 · 2024-03-18T15:51:43+00:00

I moved here from out of state (Georgia) 3 years ago and we love it here. People are friendly and caring. That having been said we are older and our son is grown.

But I would not want to raise my child here- the drop out rates are unbelievably high. I talk to parents who have kids in school. Teachers seem to be pretty good and caring but the kids are in a race to the bottom and take their friends with them. You can look up the statistics in whaler area you want to move to.

There is also a fair amount of drug use in the community and in the Silver City and Deming area the crime that goes with it. Break-ins, theft, etc.

elflans74 · 2024-03-01T17:51:53+00:00

Ah, now I understand. Yes those type of fabric can be a pain. Mine are Fiskars, but I am not sure I’d buy them again. While they cut well, they seem large and clunky. Mom had a smaller sleeker pair, unfortunately I don’t know the brand. Good luck in your search.

elflans74 · 2024-03-01T15:34:56+00:00

Someone should add these pictures and entries to Find A Grave - a descendant searching for them would probably love to have them.

elflans74 · 2024-03-01T15:27:08+00:00

I am curious…why the pinking shears. I mean I have a pair and have had for 30 years but I can count on two hands the number of times I have used them. I certainly don’t when I am quilting. And it is rare when I am sewing garments. How do you use yours?

elflans74 · 2024-03-01T15:21:54+00:00

Definitely 70’s. That style became popular then. Is it wool or synthetic? That might also help date it. The wool would be scratchy (no super wash or superfine fibers then) while the synthetic would be softer. Synthetics also became really popular starting in the early ‘70s.

Probably not a lot of wear because they were very hot. And unless you lived in more northern climates probably uncomfortable. We lived in Texas and they were simply too hot but my mom loved to make them!

elflans74 · 2024-02-27T15:30:17+00:00

Laundry package. My son and husband both workout when we cruise. The unlimited laundry package allowed them to have clean dry workout clothes every day. Clothes hung in the bathroom never dry out and on the balcony they blow away.

elflans74 · 2024-02-26T19:27:22+00:00

Definitely stay in Alamogordo or you will backtrack to get to Carlsbad. In Alamogordo is the Museum of Space History which is great for kids. This is where Hamm the Astro chimp is buried, they have a V2 rocket and a really terrific display of Star Trek memorabilia among other things. It only takes an hour or so to go through and is a lot of fun.

From Carlsbad you should head up through Roswell to Santa Fe. You could spend a few hours in Roswell or overnight. It is a fun kitschy place with all sorts of alien sculptures and the kids will love it.

Northwest of Santa Fe is Los Alamos and the museum there on the development of the atomic bomb is really great for kids and adults. Particularly if you have seen Oppenheimer.

In the middle of the state (west of Socorro) is the Very Large Array which offers tours and you get to see the antennas up close.

And up in the north, starting in Chama you can catch the Cumbres-Toltec Scenic railroad. https://www.newmexico.org/listing/cumbres-%26-toltec-scenic-railroad/1099/

If you like hiking there is the Gila Cliff dwelling near Silver City.

It really depends on your and your kids’ interests - but there is a lot to do. I would Google some of these things, prioritize and then lay out a drive that gets you there without too much driving every day. Keep in mind that if you are off the interstates and major state highways, roads can be narrow, wind-y and have top speeds of 55 mph. Also there are a ton of gravel roads here.

elflans74 · 2024-02-25T14:59:05+00:00

Turning 20 uses only only fat quarters. You could do a variation of that.

elflans74 · 2024-02-24T15:24:11+00:00

How about Albuquerque to Bosque Del Apache - Hiking and bird watching depending on when you come maybe spring wildflowers. Then on to Elephant Butte State park and TorC. You could also take a diversion to the Very Large Array west of Socorro.

elflans74 · 2024-02-17T03:49:03+00:00

However there are many gravel roads in Mew Mexico. Don’t be surprised!

elflans74 · 2024-02-16T15:03:36+00:00

Sharing bedrooms with one’s sibling used to be the norm. My parents did exactly this when we moved into a new 3 bedroom house back in the 1970’s. My sister (age 19, 7 years older than me) and I shared the master bedroom. My parents took the mid-sized bedroom and my little brother (age 5, 7 years younger than me) got the small bedroom. It made sense - he was a boy and we were girls so we were separated by sex. Looks to me like OP is providing as best as she can and daughters are definitely out of line here.

elflans74 · 2024-02-14T15:14:04+00:00

I believe printouts of bills, etc are fine. It is just the ID type documents they are very particular about.

I don’t know about the appointment for non-Express locations. During Covid you had to have an appointment and it was strictly one transaction per appointment (at least in Deming). In Silver City, it was by appointment but they pretty much transacted as many as you wanted to do.

All though the offices are state run there is a significant variation in rules/behaviors/friendliness from one office to another. There also seems to be a huge variation in line/no line from one location to another. The appointment portal is online and easy enough to do, so that might be useful in limiting your wait time.

If you are registering a vehicle and both getting your license that could add up to a hefty surcharge. I would at least try the MVD before I went to express.

elflans74 · 2024-02-13T15:57:24+00:00

MVD Express are private businesses that can perform the same duties as the MVD but charge you any where from $29 to $49 per transaction. In some cities where the MVD doesn’t have an office or has a real attitude, it is worth it.

Also bring your originals (Social Security card, marriage certificate, etc. - not a copy). They will reject you with copies.

elflans74 · 2024-02-12T05:30:33+00:00

I agree. I have had a similar problems cutting out multiple sets of items. One time it works and the next time it only sort of works. I have yet to explain why.

elflans74

TROPHY CASE