Posts Tagged ‘cruise’

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Home Again…Home Again!

Monday, July 11th, 2011

a passenger planeAs the plane touched down at “Can Do” Street airport Arthur J, Annie and Kathy looked at each other and said,”We’re home”!

When they looked out the window they saw their parents and friends waiting for them. All of a sudden they were no longer sad, just glad to be home! There was so much to share about their trip; all the things they saw and did on the cruise ship and in the ports they visited in Canada.

They ran up to their parents and hugged them. They even hugged their cousins and friends! It was so good to be home, back on “Can Do” Street. It seemed like they had been away from home a lot longer than 10 days!

Grandpa John announced that there was a little get together at the community center to welcome them home. So off they went, meeting up with their neighbors and classmates and sharing a wonderful lunch with them.

Arthur J, Annie and Kathy each got up and told a bit about their trip. Grandma Maureen promised to process the pictures she took and put them on display, at the community center, where all could see them by the following Saturday.

Just as Grandma Maureen was finishing her talk, Annie tugged her sleeve and pointed to Arthur J who was sound asleep, lying on the floor, his head on his suitcase.

Grandma smiled and announced, “It looks like we have a weary traveler that needs to go home. Traveling is wonderful, but coming home is the best”!

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Harbour Hopper and Theodore Tugboat

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

As Kathy, Annie and Arthur J skipped along the dock in Halifax, Grandma Maureen said, “I have a surprise or two for you today. Let’s walk along the harbor until we reach our first surprise.”

Arthur J. saw Theodore Tugboat first. Running up to he yelled for his sisters to follow him.

Theodore Tugboat“You found my first surprise of the day,” said Grandma. “We are taking a cruise and listen to stories on Theodore Tugboat,” she added. With that, grandma purchased their tickets and they got on board.

What a fun-filled ride; what a great surprise!

After the ride, Arthur J, Kathy and Annie were sad to say good-bye to Theodore Tugboat. Annie turned to grandma saying, “That was so much fun can we go again”?

Grandma smiled and said, “I am glad you enjoyed your time with Theodore Tugboat, but you don’t want to miss my next surprise. I think you will find to be just as much fun. It might be even more fun than Theodore Tugboat.”

Arthur J, Kathy and Annie looked at one another, then at grandma. Kathy said, “What could be more fun than a tugboat ride”?

With that they turned a corner and found themselves staring at ‘Halifax Harbour Hopper’, which looked like part bus and part boat! They had never seen anything like it before!The Halifax Harbour Hopper photo

“What’s that, asked Arthur J. “That is your next surprise. The Halifax Harbour Hopper will take us on a tour of the city and all its historic places; then it’s into the water for a harbor cruise”, said grandma.

Annie, Kathy and Arthur J rushed to get on board. Once seated, a man got on a microphone and introduced himself as their tour guide. He said he would be telling stories about landmarks and historic sites in Halifax, but first he wanted to tell them about this strange vehicle they were riding in, called Halifax Harbour Hopper. He described Hoppers as refitted vehicles originally built for US Military use to carry men and supplies from ship to shore and through jungles.

It was so exciting to go from the streets of town into the harbor!

As they made their way back to the ship, Annie, Kathy and Arthur J talked about all they could share with family and friends at home.

“What’s our next surprise,” asked Arthur J”?

Grandma Maureen smiled saying, “This is our last port of call. We sail back tonight, docking in New York City. From there we catch a plane back to “Can Do” Street.”

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The Biggest Fiddle in the World

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Arthur J woke to the sound of voices that were coming from outside the ship. How could that be? They were at sea. He got up, opened the drapes, pulled open the glass door and went out on the balcony of  his cabin. He looked below. They were in port, tied to the dock in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The voices were coming from the people on the dock; he hadn’t imagined hearing voices. They were real.

He turned to the right and saw the biggest instrument he had ever seen. It looked like a big version of the violin that Yundi played in the “Can Do” Street Community Center orchestra back home.

Just then Grandma Maureen joined him on the balcony. Arthur J said, ” Look Grandma, a large violin.” Grandmas Maureen gave him a smiled and gave him a morning hug.

larget fiddle in the worldShe replied,”No Arthur J. That is a fiddle. The largest fiddle in the world.”

Arthur J looked confused and asked, “But why is the largest fiddle in the world here and not in a big city”?

Grandma Maureen answered saying, “It is here to remind visitors of how important fiddle playing is the the people who live in this part of Canada and just how many wonderful fiddle players and other musicians come from this region.”

Arthur J thought a moment and asked, “When we get off the ship, can I get my picture taken with the fiddle for show and tell at school in September”?  Arthur J and Grandma Maureen were too busy looking at the fiddle to realize that the girls were up and standing right behind them until they began to say, “Me too, me too we want our pictures taken with the big fiddle!”

So that is just what they did after getting dressed and having breakfast; they got off the ship and got their pictures taken with the Biggest Fiddle in the World!

Be sure to come back soon to read more about Arthur J’s,  Annie’s and Kathy’s continuing cruise adventures!

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It’s Cruise Day!

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Arthur J, Kathy and Annie were so excited as they made their way into the cruise terminal with Grandma Maureen.

Their cruise ship looked so tall and long to them !

The night before their parents saw them off at “Can Do” Airport. They flew to New York City where they spent the night in a hotel. It was their first time on a plane and they loved it! They watched a movie and had a snack on the plane.

When they got in the cruise terminal, they had to go through a security check. Then they had their pictures taken and were given an ID card to wear on board.

When they got on the cruise ship they couldn’t believe their eyes! It was beautiful! Their stateroom had a small sitting area, bathroom, refrigerator, TV and bedroom area with four beds and an outside balcony. Kathy said, “I love this cruise already.”

Everyone quickly unpacked so they could have lunch in the buffet restaurant. For dinner they would go to the dining room. Kathy said, “Grandma, you went over dining room manners, but what do we need to know about eating in the buffet restaurant”?  Grandma Maureen thought a moment and said, ” Just use you school cafeteria manners and you will be fine.” Arthur J looked nervous and said, ” Um, my cafeteria manners aren’t so good. Please tell me what I should and shouldn’t do.”

Grandma Maureen sat Arthur J, Kathy and Annie down and went over the following manners for cruise buffet dining:

  • Get on line at the end of the line and don’t cut in line
  • Don’t jump ahead of someone as they are selecting their food; wait your turn
  • Take only what you think you can eat;you can always go back for more if you are still hungry
  • Once you put food on your plate you cannot put it back on the serving dish
  • After you get what you want, wait for each other and we will all find a table together
  • If you go back for seconds, get a clean plate; don’t use the plate you just finished eating from
  • Don’t look for napkins and utensils; they will be at the table when we get there
  • Don’t look for something to drink; when we sit down the waiter will get us what we want to drink

The “Can Dos” were amazed to see all the foods they had to choose from in the cruise buffet…salads, fruits, sandwiches, hot meals, breads, cakes and cookies.  They tried a little bit of everything and then went out to the ice cream bar and got cones.

After lunch they signed up for a crafts activity and Grandma Maureen took a nap. After the craft session, they all went swimming and then back to their room to change for dinner.

Soon it was time to use their cruise dining room manners. They were seated with a grandma and grandpa traveling with their grandchildren, Billy and Julie who turned out to be around the same age as Kathy, Annie and Arthur J . By the time dinner was over, they were all friends. The kids went to an evening movie in the kids cruise camp and Grandma Maureen went to a show in the theater with her new friends from dinner.

That night, as the kids were falling asleep, they all thanked Grandma Maureen. Arthur J spoke for Kathy and Annie when he said, I can’t wait until tomorrow. Taking a cruise is the best!”

To Be Continued…

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Cruise Manners

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Grandma Maureen invited Kathy and Annie and Arthur J for dinner to talk about the cruise they were going to take together.

Grandma Maureen is so excited about winning a cruise for four to Canada. She’s thrilled to be able to treat her three grandchildren as a reward for their good grades. She wants to make sure they know what to expect on a cruise and know picture of grandma Maureenhow they need to behave.

Grandma Maureen set the table the way it would be in the dining room on the cruise ship and she played the part of the waiter.

Arthur J, Kathy and Annie practiced how to order from the menu that Grandma Maureen made for them. During dinner they brushed up on their table manners to make sure they knew when to use what fork during meals. Grandma gently reminded her grandchildren to; cover their mouths when they burped and say excuse me, not talk with their mouths full, and cut their food in bite size pieces before trying to eat it.

“Remember children, the two magic words…please and thank you,” said Grandma Maureen. Arthur J, Kathy and Annie nodded in agreement.

While her grandchildren ate ice cream and cookies as their treat, Grandma Maureen shared about cruise camp where they would meet other children their age, play games, go swimming, see movies and do other activities during the days they were at sea. On the days they were in port, in different places in Canada, they would take tour buses and visit interesting sites and eat lunch out.

Annie asked, “Are there any special manners we need for the cruise other than table manners”? Grandma Maureen smiled and said, “Why yes there are. Let’s go over cruise manners right now:

  • Take the stairs when you can and leave the elevator for those who need to use it because they have trouble going up and downstairs
  • Always hold the door and let adults go before you unless they say that you can go ahead
  • Its OK to be friendly with other adults when I am around
  • Always say please, thank you and excuse me and say it like you mean it
  • No shouting, running or throwing things”

“Wow, grandma, that’s so much to remember,” said Arthur J. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there to remind you of your cruise manners,” said Grandma Maureen with a smile.

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