Well, this has been a long time coming so I apologize in advance if this is long winded:

'Greetings' fellow CT'ers from the Cruise Maryland Embarkation Terminal for the Celebrity MERCURY in beautiful Baltimore! It's my first vacation in over SIX years, and this has literally taken me five very difficult years of blood, sweat, and tears to save up for this. I can't believe it took this long to get back on a ship! 

No, this isn't the amazing Allure, a new Cunard Queen, a Dream from Disney, nor Norwegian Epic, nothing Nieuw or exciting here, and certainly this beauty can't 'Eclipse' any of the newest, biggest, or nicest Celebrity has to offer. But Mercury's remaining days with Celebrity Cruises are now very, very short in number (only 6 more sailings), as well as Celebrity's days sailing from Baltimore, so I thought I better take this opportunity to sail in her again before she transfers over to TUI to be with her sister. I am also glad I had the same opportunity to sail in GALAXY before she went away but that's another story.

Before the cruise I had an absolutely wonderful 3-night pre-cruise stay in a nice hotel at Baltimore's gorgeous Inner Harbor and did quite a bit of sightseeing (and dining) in superb (but very cold) weather, and I also have a 1-night post-cruise hotel stay upon my return. This will be a great two week vacation.

And believe me, I've earned this! 

This cruise? It's 9-(wonderful)-nights to nowhere particularly special, places I have already been to (plus 4 glorious days at sea!). But the chance to sit back and completely, totally relax was too good to pass up especially after watching the rates drop so low and snagging me a *Single Occupancy* rate including *ALL* of my port charges and taxes for ONLY $865.00! Total! For 9-nights! I know! And from the landlocked (snow covered) Mountaineer State of West Virginia I didn't even have to get on an airplane to get to the ship. Yea!

But here's the cool part. I had originally booked a Category 11 Inside cabin down on the Plaza Deck (it's what I could afford) then a price drop before final payment allowed me to bump UP to a 9A inside on Sky Deck for $100 CHEAPER! Yea! Then 45 days before departure Celebrity had a WV Resident Rate where I could upgrade my 9A Inside cabin to a Category 2A Balcony for ONLY $65 more! Yes, just Sixty-five! Go figure! Now I am in a balcony for 9-nights for cheaper than what I had originally booked an Inside cabin. Big Yea!

Oh, by the way, yesterday I had the grand opportunity to tour the historic NS Savannah docked here in Baltimore. It was an exceptional 2 1/2 hour personal guided tour group of just 4 people. I'll have to wait to post pictures once I return home. I hope they come out OK. It was an amazing tour thanks to our tour-guide Mr. Erhard Koehler, the Manager, Nuclear Ship Savannah Programs. He is also the Senior Technical Advisor, N.S. Savannah and now acts as the Savannah's designated licensee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He was very gracious and incredibly informative. All I can say is WOW!!!

Needless to say that I won't be around on the 17th when OCEANIC goes through the Panama Canal so maybe someone can get the webcam grabs of her in the Gatun and Miraflores Locks for Deborah DAmbrosi! ;-)

http://webcams.pancanal.com/webcam/hd-gatun.jpg

http://webcams.pancanal.com/common/photo/webcam-hd-miraflores.html

Well, time to start boarding is at 11am. Already checked in and waiting, me the first person in line!!!! I am so excited I am about to cry!

Wish me 'fair winds and following seas'. I hope I don't get seasick! I hear it can get rough around Cape Hatteras?

Signing off for now, 

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Originally posted by desirod7:
Mercury is a lovely ship. It is a shame to see her leave the North American market like her sister the Galaxy.[...]

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Come on, it's not that these ships drop off the planet.
With some good will it is entirely possible for a non German speaking person to travel with these ships.

I know, for many from the U.S. this is 'way out there' but I can assure you that you do not have to be fluent in German to do that! You will certainly be able to communicate with the crew - not all are German anyhow and they certainly know how to communicate in English - beside that there will be enough passengers who speak English. All that should not be an issue with some basic travel experience (no, you don not have to be well traveled). There is no excuse for someone who is interested in ships to avoid 'German' ships.

The changes to Galaxy are of course a question of taste and whereas not cheaply executed and in some cases actually quite 'chic' for a cruise ship I do understand that they might go against the original design concept. However, this is not worse than other refits (probably it's actually MUCH better) and the change to TUI is certainly not a step down for these ships.

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
Ok, Ernst, if you insist. I will begin to try and enjoy this trip! [...]

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OK where do Americans book Mein Schiff?

What sort of pricing?

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Originally posted by desirod7:
For Ernst,

OK where do Americans book Mein Schiff?

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Ask your travel agent or call TUI. In many cased I booked directly with the cruise line - it never was a problem. Yes, they do not advertise it in the U.S. but I am sure it's possible to book a cruise with them.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

What sort of pricing?

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Check their webpage or ask them.

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Originally posted by desirod7:

What does it offer that an American line in Europe does not?

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Well, they offer the ship(s) you seem to miss so much on the North American market.

[ 12-11-2010: Message edited by: Ernst ]

My dining room table is one away from the very back of the ship and half way between centerline and port side. Like GALAXY there is a distinct vibration but at my table we can feel as well as hear a somewhat loud noise that sounds like a gigantic washing machine directly below our feet. Is that the actual propellor we or the propellor shaft?

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
[...] at my table we can feel as well as hear a somewhat loud noise that sounds like a gigantic washing machine directly below our feet. Is that the actual propellor we or the propellor shaft?[...]

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[ 12-13-2010: Message edited by: LeBarryboat ]