The Bridge
Update pending

Newsletter of the

Honeywell Retiree Social Club of Arizona

The Bridge


NOTE: This online version is a reformatted (e.g., buttons at left removed to improve readability, and all event information together following other items) sub-set of the full version sent to paid-up members, with updates to event information since the Bridge was distributed.

For example, it does not contain names of recent retirees, new members, or members who have passed away, nor does it contain the list of member email addresses which is sent out from time to time.

There will typically be a delay of a week or more before a new month's version is posted here—if you want to get the Bridge as it comes off the press, become a member and request the full-color PDF version, the eBridge, which is sent by email and can be received wherever you may be, unlike the paper version. Note that Honeywell outsources the distribution of the black-and-white paper Bridge. It is typically delivered one to two weeks after the PDF eBridge is delivered by email, so apart from news being a little old, members receiving only the paper copy may miss out on first come, first served signup for upcoming events.

Past issues of the online Bridge are available on the ARCHIVES page.


Display of Email Addresses

Per the website policy defined in the HRSC Bylaws, the "mailto:" feature of email address links, that generates a draft email when clicked, is not used with personal email addresses—only with general addresses such as Hotline@hrcaz.org or Bridge_Editor@hrcaz.org. This restriction only applies to the website, and thus this online Bridgeit does not apply to the PDF eBridge, since that is not publicly available and cannot be crawled by email address harvesters.





Regular Sections
BACK TO Home
                            Button Icon 50x50HOMEPAGE

President's Perspective

Club Leader Contacts  (Board Officers, Directors and Staff)


From the Editor

Keeping in Touch   (News of Fellow Retirees)


Memories  (Occasional Items from Memory Lane)


Laughter is the Best Medicine


Fix-It Guys

Scholarships

Reports & Photos of Past Events  (Index)


Upcoming Events  (Index)


Recurring Lunches for sub groups:
Honeywell IAC Ole Timers
Bull Old-Timers Lunch Bunch
The Honey-Bunch-Lunchers



President's Perspective

Mary Barkl

The Bridge
The Bridge


Hi everyone!  With the current COVID situation, our events may continue to be limited the remainder of this year; however, we are including events in this month’s Bridge that are sponsored by the Aero Activities Club (AAC). We are providing this information to our members so they have the opportunity to decide for themselves if they want to attend. Although the Honeywell Retiree Social Club (HRSC) is not sponsoring these events, depending on your location, you may want to attend those events and are always welcome.  We will be joining them for their Christmas party on December 9th and hope that our members will be able to join in this holiday get-together. The information for that event is included in this month’s Bridge.  If you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact the coordinator listed on the event page.

 For your information, the one-year membership extension that was put into place due to the majority of the events being cancelled in 2020 has now expired. The extension only covered the fiscal period from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021.  As a result, if you received a notice with your May Bridge that your membership had expired and/or was due to expire, it is now time to renew your membership. The dues are $5.00 per year which will renew your membership through April 30, 2022.  Signing up for multiple years is always encouraged and appreciated. As a friendly reminder, if your membership has expired, the September Bridge was complementary. The Bridge will resume once your membership has been renewed. Please use the form included in this month’s Bridge to renew your membership and follow the payment and mailing instructions provided on the form. If you have already renewed your membership, many thanks and gratitude from the Board!

If any of you have burning questions or comments, feel free to call or write me.

Mary Barkl, President HRSC
barklmary@gmail.com
480-580-5585

Regards,
Mary
The Bridge

The Bridge
The Bridge




Club Leader Contacts
Officers - Voting
Directors - Voting
Mary Barkl - President (2022)
480-580-5585

Denise Downar – Vice President (2022) 623-465-1298 Kevin Harris (2022)* 480-789-0612
Doug Metzger - Treasurer (2022)
602-319-6637 Kay Nye (2022)* 623-974-9258
Sherry (Maxson) Myers - Secretary (2023)
623-582-4481 Bruce Landini (2023)* 623-606-7449


Kirk Anderson (2023)* 602-708-9806


Shirley Krieger (2024)* 602-942-4235


Cheryl Wiley (2024)* 623-512-1634

Staff Functions (Non-Voting)
Barbara Rippstein – Travel (esp. cruises) Coordinator 623-566-1572 Vacant - Photographer
Ted Rees – Membership Secretary 623-465-7337 Kevin Harris - Webmaster 480-789-0612
Kay Nye - Bridge Editor 623-974-9258 Gary Kains - Fix-It Guys Coordinator 480-835-6060
Cheryl Wiley - Scholarship Foundation Chair 623-512-1634


*Directors have a three-year term, staggered to have two new directors per year.

Officers have a two-year term.






MISSION STATEMENT

Honeywell Retiree Social Club (HRSC) is a social organization in Arizona for Honeywell International, Inc. retirees. This organization will be open without regard to prior class of employment, race, creed, sex or geographical residence.

HRSC will provide activities, programs (such as Fix-It Guys and Scholarship Program) and projects of interest to retirees and spouses. It will facilitate effective communications between members, other Honeywell retiree clubs and Honeywell International, Inc. It will provide opportunities to renew acquaintances and promote fellowship among retirees, and will assist retirees in maintaining and enhancing the image of Honeywell International, Inc., in the eyes of the public.



Any comments or claims made within the publication are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily express the views of Honeywell Inc. or the directors, officers, staff, or members of the Honeywell Retiree Social Club (HRSC) of Arizona.








From the Editor


Halloween

.
The Bridge

The Bridge

PAPER OR ELECTRONIC?

Once again we would like to take this opportunity to encourage our members to switch from a paper Bridge to the electronic version of the Bridge. And if you are currently receiving both, there are many advantages to switching to an electronic copy only. Our goal is to keep you informed as much as possible during these trying times and to let you know that we are still here for you. The electronic Bridge will definitely make that happen! Often there is a lag in delivery of the paper Bridge that could cause members to miss current information and/or articles. In order to receive the latest information, we highly recommend that you start receiving an electronic copy of the Bridge each month. They will be sent directly to your E-mail address within one or two days of completion. An electronic copy of the Bridge can also be found on line at www.hrcaz.org. The on line Bridge, however, is not a copy of the full Bridge, only a subset. Just click on the “Online Bridge” menu button for access. We strongly encourage everyone to start using the emailed electronic Bridge which will save time in the long run and provide the most current information within a matter of days instead of weeks.

The Bridge

HONEYWELL RETIREE SOCIAL CLUB ADDRESS

The B
When mailing items to the HRSC treasurer, please ensure that you address the envelope using the full name of the club, i.e. Honeywell Retiree Social Club, so it goes to the proper location. Some people just put HRSC on the envelope and it ends up in HR which slows down the process.
The Bridg

JUST A FEW FRIENDLY REMINDERS...

• 
A variety of information for members can be found on the HRSC website hrcaz.org. Just click the menu buttons at the left of most pages.  One of these is a link to the “Event Schedule” so you can review upcoming events that you may be interested in attending.

• 
In addition to upcoming events, accessing the above website will also provide additional Honeywell-related information.  Click on the “Useful Links” button, then select “Jump to Honeywell Dashboard” at the top of the page.

•  Please address any comments or questions about The Bridge to the editor at the HRSC email address Bridge_Editor@hrcaz.org or Honeywell Retiree Social Club, 1860 W.  Rose Garden Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85027-2704. 




Keeping in Touch
The Bridge The Bridge
The Bridge The Bridge

No article this month



Memories Title


No article this month

The Bridge



Laughter Best Medicine


      Morning  ask

gas

tiger

decision



 


The Bridge
The Bridge
The Bridge
The Bridge


The Bridge
Clowns


Although we said in the May 2021 Bridge newsletter that it would be the end of the virtual tour segments, this one was just too good and special to pass up. With Frank Sinatra singing “Send in the Clowns” in the background, this video captures all of the comedians and “clowns” that we knew and loved throughout the years. If you haven’t seen this one before, we think that you will really enjoy it and, hopefully, it will bring back some pleasant memories as well of bygone days.

 
Click on the link below to watch video.......

https://www.theretrosite.com/uploads/videos/6c636bd484d7.mp4



 

Honeywell Clubs Fix-It Guys Program

Sponsored by the Honeywell Retiree Social Club, Honeywell-Garrett and Aero Activities Retiree Clubs


The Bridge

Gary Kains wants to retire as the Coordinator. If you are interested in taking over this position, please contact him at the number provided below.


Gary Kains is the coordinator for the Fix-It-Guys program. Our purpose is to help club members and/or surviving spouses who may need assistance with handyman-type repairs and will appreciate saving some money. Currently there are seven Fix-It- Guys and Gary Kains, the coordinator. If you have such a need, call Gary at (480) 835-6060 to schedule a trip to your home. If you reach voice mail, please leave a message giving your name, phone number, description of the job, and nearest cross streets. We will get back with you to schedule a visit. We provide the labor at no cost to you, and you furnish the cost of the materials.




Y
ou don't have to be a contractor-level kind of handyman—just generally handy around the house. Some of you may have special skills (Computer/Plumbing/Electrical/Drywall?) that can significantly help our members in need, and you will be reimbursed for your travel. Why not try it? Please call Gary Kains, (480-835-6060) if interested. We would love to talk with you!


The table below lists our current Fix-It Guys Team.

Thanks guys—for all that you do!



HGRC
Bob Davenport Frank Holman Stu Mitnik


HRSC
Lee Rippstein Dan Schott Paul Wiley


                               AAC
Bob Farney
Kevin Vetter





Honeywell Retiree Clubs

Scholarships
                                                          for College

Scholarship Foundation









The Bridge

The Br   pumpkins flowers  OC T O B E R      pumpkins  flowers

         

The Bridge

"Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons."

Jim Bishop

Happy Fall from your Scholarship Board!
 

Our Scholarship recipients have most likely spent ‘all the gold in their pockets’ by now paying for this semester’s tuition or books, including the checks we sent them this summer.  Thanks again for your generous contributions to our Scholarship Foundation – our recipients and the Board appreciate them and you!

The Scholarship Board has made a change to the way we will be acknowledging donations.  Starting in January 2022, we will begin issuing combined annual tax receipts and thank you letters for the previous year.  You will receive yours on or before January 31 of each year, just as you do other items you may need for your tax returns.  This change was made to provide a more efficient and reliable process for everyone.

We will be featuring our 2021-2022 academic year scholarship recipients, as well as their pictures and a bit of information about them, in this month’s Bridge, as well as the upcoming November and December Bridges. We hope you enjoy reading about the students you are helping.




Otto
                                                          Brink Otto is the grandson of our Treasurer, Jim Brink! He is an honors student at ASU. Otto is currently studying Political Science but is also looking into both Pre-Law and a Film minor. Before attending ASU, he graduated from the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at North High School, which gave him a global education.Otto's interests outside of school include playing jazz trumpet and piano. He hopes to work in the film industry after graduation. II think a trumpet and piano playing film maker/politician/lawyer is just what the country will ned in the coming years. Good luck with your pursuits and interests Otto!

Ryan Carlo
Ryan is the granddaughter of Dennis Riebe.  She is a Junior this year at the University of Arizona working towards a degree in Public Health.   Ryan plans to be a Labor and Delivery nurse, bringing the next generation into the world.  She is proud of the community she will join upon graduation who have stepped up during the pandemic while facing difficult challenges. Ryan is also a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and has taken the role of big sister to an incoming freshman.  Ryan is just the kind of young woman our community needs.  We know she will make her family – and us – proud!
Paige Nye
Paige is the granddaughter of Kay Nye, our Bridge editor!  She is currently enrolled at the University of Arizona obtaining a degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science.  Paige is one of our STEM students who has maintained an A average while taking very hard classes in pursuit of her degree.  She is very interested in how the brain works as it controls every aspect of our lives. She wants to learn about the underlying pathways that help the brain function.  She is currently working in a research lab using psychological assessments to compare the way normal versus depressed brains age.  We know Paige will make a difference in the world!


WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

We received an update from one of our past recipients, Ashley Wiley, who is the granddaughter of Cheryl and Paul Wiley.

Ashley Wil3y
Ashley graduated in May 2020 from NAU with a degree in Accountancy.  In the fall of 2021, she began her MBA program at NAU while concurrently studying for her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exams.  In May 2021, she graduated with her MBA.  Ashley is on track to have her CPA license this year.  She accepted a job offer from Johanna Klomann, CPA PLLC, located in Flagstaff.  Ashley is responsible for consulting with new clients, doing tax returns, providing bookkeeping services for clients as well as mentoring new employees.  She was born in Flagstaff and plans to make her life there.  Ashley loves to hike, snowboard and go camping, making Flagstaff the perfect place for her!  She is very appreciative of the scholarships we awarded to her and thanked us for helping her through college.

The Bridge



The Bridge

April 1st is the deadline for application submission every academic year so be sure to get our information to any qualified family member in a timely manner. We have updated our on-line submission process and you will find the documents on-line at www.hrcaz.org. Here are the criteria:



The Bridg
  • •  
    Are you 50+ years of age and a member of the Honeywell Retiree Social Club or Honeywell-Garrett Retiree Club?

    •  Do you have a college student in your family who is your descendant (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and/or great-great grandchildren)?

    •  Are they currently enrolled at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona as either an undergraduate or graduate student?

    •  Are they maintaining a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or better?

The B
If you can answer YES to all of the previous questions, then your college student is eligible for a scholarship from the Honeywell Retiree Clubs Scholarship Foundation. This means FREE MONEY $$$ for your student to aid them with their college expenses, help them achieve their goals in life and become productive members of the community and society. These funds are available to our students through the generous contributions of our retiree club members and Honeywell. The scholarships usually range in value from $500-$1,500 per academic year, depending on total donations.

WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE?
  • The Scholarship Program is qualified as a 501(c)(3) so donations should be tax deductible on your state and federal returns (check with your tax advisor).
  • We live in a global economy.  The ability of the United States to maintain its leadership role in the world, and the resulting benefits which accrue to us as citizens, demand an educated workforce as well as educated citizens and voters.
  • Supporting education by donating to scholarships is in your own interest!  When you donate money to our scholarship fund, think of it as paying it forward by investing in a student’s future.
  • By helping someone afford a college education, you are raising their salary potential and hence the tax base. This is a good thing for everyone - better roads, better schools, better teachers, more doctors just to name a few.
  • Successful, well run communities attract more investment. Not to mention more folks with jobs paying into Social Security and Medicare which is something all retirees are interested in preserving.
  • Giving makes you feel good, strengthens personal values and shows your children and grandchildren what you care about.
  • Best of all, giving to the Honeywell Retiree Clubs Scholarship Foundation means every cent is used for scholarships.

Please review your charitable contributions and consider adding this Scholarship Program to your list of worthy causes.

If you would like to donate at any time throughout the year, please make your check payable to:  Honeywell Retiree Clubs Scholarship Foundation.

You can mail your check, together with the form below to either of:


Jim Brink
Doug Metzger
Scholarship Foundation Treasurer
Honeywell Retiree Social Club, Honeywell, Inc.
1860 Rose Garden Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85027-2704
HRSC Treasurer
Honeywell Retiree Social Club, Honeywell, Inc.
1860 Rose Garden Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85027-2704


The Bridge

ATTENTION!

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU WRITE OUT "HONEYWELL RETIREE SOCIAL CLUB" IN FULL ON YOUR ENVELOPE OR IT MAY GET LOST IN HONEYWELL'S MAIL.

THANKS!




– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Honeywell Retiree Clubs Scholarship Foundation Donation Form
(PLEASE PRINT)

 

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address, City, State, Zip: _______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________
 

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Donation Amount: ___________________________________________
__________________________________



– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –





The Bridge

The Bridge
If you have any questions; you can find information about our Scholarships on the website at hrcaz.org.  Click on the SCHOLARSHIPS tab which can be found on the left side of the page. Our Foundation Board members are also happy to help.



Board Member
Phone
Email
General Questions
Cheryl Wiley, Chair
623-512-1634
azwileys@cox.net
Application Questions
Frank Holman
602-695-2565
frankholman@cox.net
Contact for ASU - Arizona State University
Brian Unsworth
480-946-5194
brianuns@aol.com
Contact for UA - University of Arizona
Paul Christopherson
480-363-9952
pdchristopherson@gmail.com
Contact for NAU - Northern Arizona University
Cheryl Wiley
623-512-1634 azwileys@cox.net
Donations
JimBrink, Treasurer
602-993-6308
azstbbjb@cox.net






 



Past Events Index


BACK TO Home Button
                                                    Icon 50x50HOMEPAGE





Tovrea Castle Tovrea Castle Tour
AAC - Keith Hughes

THE EVENT WAS ON, BUT WITH COVID 19 PRECAUTIONS.

November 20, 2020

Christmas Lunch

December 10, 2020
Canceled
Sanderson Ford
The Sanderson Village and Museum
  AAC
May 14, 2021.

Oktoberfest
HGRC - Diane Bennett
October 6, 2021

Arizona Broadway Theatre
AAC - Kevin Vetter
October 7, 2021

Tovrea Castle
  AAC
- Keith Hughes
November 4, 2021

Lake Pleasant Cruise Tour
AAC - Steve Flood
November 5, 2021

St. Mary's Food Bank Tour
AAC - Steve Flood
December 1, 2021




Go back to start of index for past events.



Upcoming Events Index


Singles Welcome at all Events!

BACK TO Home Button Icon 50x50HOMEPAGE


Acronyms used to denote sponsorship for each event:

HRSC - Honeywell Retiree Social Club (Covers all parts of Honeywell, including GE, Garrett, Sperry, Bull, AlliedSignal, etc.)
HGRC - Honeywell-Garrett Retirees Club (Formerly known as Garrett Retirees' Club)
AAC - Aero Activities Club (Formerly known as Sperry Retiree Club)


Regardless of sponsoring organization(s), all events are open to members of all three retiree clubs.

NOTE: HRSC Sponsored programs and events, where payments are required in advance, will provide refunds any time there is no cost to the Club. We will make every effort to provide refunds when requested; however, for some


Square Dance Club
  AAC - Keith Hughes
Club Meets first Wed of month

First Class Wed July 6, 2022

MIM Tour with Signature Event HRSC - Barbara Brockett February 5, 2022

MIM Tour with Legendary Instruments Exhibition  
HRSC - Barbara Brockett
April  14
Cruise Ship
5-day Cabo Cruise
HRSC - Barbara Rippstein
April 24, 2022

RSC-AAC SPRING PICNIC
- Mary Barkl
April 28, 2022

7-Day Alaska Cruise out of Seattle
HRSC - Barbara Rippstein
AUGUST 24, 2022






Recurring Lunches




BACK TO Home Button Icon 50x50HOMEPAGE

Lunch Buffet


Honeywell IAC Ole Timers
Location TBD
(Was Second Monday of March, second Tuesday of June, second Wednesday of September, second Thursday of December)
All at 11:15 AM

Contact: Mary Barkl  barklmary@gmail.com

Whoops! - COVID is back - Lunches on hold until further notice.
TBD

Bull  Old Timers Lunch Bunch
NEW LOCATION - Harbor Seafood Super Buffet, 10030 N. Metro Parkway, Phoenix.
(Third week of month. Jan - Apr: Tue; May - Aug: Wed; Sep - Dec: Thu.)
All at 11:30 AM
The Bridge Contact: Bob Hetrick  honeybulloldones@gmail.com
Thu Oct 21
Thu Nov 18
Thu Dec 16

The Honey-Bunch-Lunchers
Golden Corral, 5679 W Northern Ave
(First Tuesday of each month)
All at 11:30 AM
Contact: John Mollerus  molljj@cox.net

Go/No-Go decision on a monthly basis.
Canceled until further notice.

Dates will be provided as they become available


Jump to Upcoming Events Descriptions BACK TO Home Button Icon 50x50HOMEPAGE



Reports & Photos of Past Events

(Approximately one year of past events is shown to give an idea of the extent of club activities. Some have reports and photos.)

See back numbers of The Bridge in Archives for more details of these and older past events.





Tovrea Castle Tour


  Tovrea
                                                          Castle

AAC - Keith Hughes

November 20, 2020

Awaiting report and/or photos


Sponsored by the Aero Activities Club



Sanderson Village and Museum

AAC - Keith Hughes

Friday May 14, 2021
Awaiting report and/or photos



Sponsored by the Aero Activities Club

Oktoberfest
HGRC - Diane Bennett

Wednesday, October 6 2021

Awaiting report and/or photos

Sponsored by HGRC

Arizona Broadway Theatre
AAC - Kevin Vetter

Thursday October 7, 2021


Awaiting report and/or photos


Sponsored by Aero Activities Club






Tovrea Castle 
AAC - Keith Hughes
Thursday November 4, 2021

Awaiting report and/or photos

Tovrea
                                                          Castle

The Bridge

“We will be takin


Sponsored by the Aero Activities Club




Lake Pleasant Cruise Tour
AAC - Steve Flood
Friday, November 5, 2021


Awaiting report and/or photos

Pic 1

Pic2    Pic 3

The Bridge

Sponsored by the Aero Activities Club




St. Mary's Food Bank Behind-the-scenes Tour
AAC - Steve Flood

Wednesday, December 1, 2021


Awaiting report and/or photos

The Bridge
Food Bank
                                                          Pics

Go behind the scenes and find out St. Mary’s Food Bank is able to distribute 250,000 pounds of food to people in need every day. It is done with the help of volunteer hours, cash donations and their network of food donors and food drives.


Sponsored by the Aero Activities Club




December 9, 2021

A   waiting report and/or photos

Xmas
                                                          Santa


Upcoming Events
Singles Welcome at All Events!
BACK TO Home
                                                          Button Icon
                                                          50x50HOMEPAGE




Twirlers Square-Dancing Club Keith Hughes

Club meets first Wed. of month, 2022 .Click for details

Sponsored by AAC

Musical Instrument  Barbara Brockett Museum Tour with Signature Event


February 5, 2022



mim signature
Sponsored by AAC



Musical Instrument Museum Tour With Legendary Instruments Exhibit
Barbara Brockett

APRIL 14, 2022



Sponsored by AAC


2022 HRSC-AAC Spring Picnic
Thursday April 28
Mary Barkl

2022 Spring picnic





Cabo San Lucas Cruise
HRSC - Barbara Rippstein

April 24-29, 2022
 
Cabo
                                                          cruise




The Bridge

Due to the current COVID situation, we will continue to assess the feasibility of the cruise and provide updates as they become available.


Sponsored by the Honeywell Retiree Social Club



HOW SAFE IS TRAVEL AMID COVID?


It’s all over the news.  When will it be safe to return to our former lives?  Can we fly or cruise?  How about hotels and restaurants?  I can’t speak for all the travel business, but I can tell you what I found in August.

My husband, Lee and I, went on a cruise to the ABC islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.  We sailed on Celebrity Cruise Lines.  Our flight did not ask for vaccination information.  But the airport and the plane were mask only; however, when we landed in Fort Lauderdale, we did notice that people shed their masks quickly outside the terminal.

Although the hotel did not have mask requirements, their staff was masked.  The room had notices about their COVID cleaning practices.  Everything looked very clean.  There were no glasses in the room, everything was paper or plastic.  We had a pickup take out meal that evening. A breakfast buffet was available.  Table spacing was obvious.  Although it was self-serve, the other hotel guests also used care in dishing their meals.

Upon arriving at the ship terminal, we had to go through multiple checks with our vaccine paperwork.  In addition to proof of vaccine, all passengers had to have an Antigen test taken within 72 hours of boarding the ship.  Anyone without both was not allowed to board the ship.  The ship’s crew were tested multiple times per week.  The ship boasted a 98% vaccination rate, the 2% was for small children.  At check-in, we were given a watch type accessory called a tracer.  If someone were to come down with virus symptoms, this watch would identify anyone who was within 6 feet of the infected person. The ship quarantined anyone identified until they were tested again in two days.

After boarding the ship, we went to a lunch in the buffet room, the only dining room open to us.  There were multiple sanitizer stations around the ship, especially near the dining rooms.  Because I was using my mobility scooter, I was assigned a young lady crew member to help me.  At every counter, the food was served by the waiters.  Neither the staff members nor I touched the food or even serving utensils. It was very safe.

Every staff crew member wore a mask whenever they were working around passengers and in the open areas.  Our cabin was sparkly clean, as was all of the ship.  We saw crew members cleaning the elevators and slot machines often. The only crew members without masks were the dancers and singers in the shows.  I never heard any of the crew complain.

The ship, which could hold 2500 passengers, had less than half on this cruise.  Consequently, the dining rooms easily used table spacing.  Most people were placed at tables for two unless they were families traveling together.  The only crowded areas on the ship were the bars.  Cruise lines now offer bar packages and passengers were trying to get their share.  The elevators were mostly empty.  The theater wasn’t filled at all allowing for spacing.
The islands we visited were grateful for tourists. Store clerks wore masks, restaurants asked clients to wear masks.  People on the streets were a mixture of masked and unmasked.  We purposely did not go into any crowded places.

At the end of the cruise, getting off the ship was easy.  Taxi drivers were all masked.  Everyone at the airport and on the flight home were masked.

As we talked about the cruise at home, we realized it was a very restful trip.  We often had conversations with some passengers, 5 or 6 other couples.  Everyone observed COVID protocol  

For cruises in the spring, I expect the same level of awareness.  I do think that as the COVID danger decreases, the cruise lines and hotels will ease their requirements.  Airports and airlines will probably keep the present requirements for another year.

Would we go on another cruise soon? Yes, we are planning cruises now.  I have already scheduled a 5-day group cruise to Cabo San Lucas for April 2022.  A 7-day cruise in August 2022 to Alaska is also on the schedule.  Going in a group will be much more fun for all.  There is information in this issue of the Bridge about the Cabo trip.

If you have any questions, please call me at 623-566-1572

Barbara Rippstein 

The Bridge






T



  • 7-DayAlaska Cruise out of Seattle
Barbara Rippstein
August  24-31, 2022


alaska cruise
alaska_cruise2

Sponsored by the Honeywell Retiree Social Club












BACK TO Home Button Icon
                                              50x50HOMEPAGE