Btank

Hit that PT hard, pal! 🤜💪 --bruce T.

Yep. I tip extra because: I know the steward is only getting a small portion of the daily tip amount. Traveling with my mentally disabled brother, we tend to be a little messier. With 4 Royal and 2 Celebrity cruises under our belts, I have yet to meet any stewards who do not exceed my expectations. --bruce T.

On Liberty last December, we were able to reserve our shows when we dropped off our carry-on bags on the way to the Chops lunch. --bruce T.

Not an endian food story, but this reminds me of our last cruise with my aunt and her friends (9 days on Anthem). She was not feeling well on the cruise, so she was eating light and at off hours. We ate all but two dinners in the Windjammer. On the 3rd day, the Windjammer head chef came over - he had noticed that we were there a lot, and wanted to make sure everything was OK (e.g were we upset with the MDR?). We explained why we were there, and he told us how happy he was that we were spending time with him and his staff. The chef asked if we wanted anything special; my aunt asked if there would be any food to celebrate Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year) in a couple of nights. As it turned out, he was from Kerala in India - which has a large Jewish population! Not only did he make sure that there was a traditional menu available (with a great brisket🤤)... he also got them an invitation to a "private" seder that he was "catering" in a closed-off section of the Windjammer. Sadly, that was our last cruise with my aunt - "not feeling well" turned out to be colon cancer, and she was gone within a year and a half. But the cruise was a great time with her - more so because of a little guy from India who appreciated their kind words for him and his staff. --bruce T.

Both "Certified" and "Introduction" SCUBA excursions are being offered for Adventure on the 8th December sailing. --bruce T.

There is a great little beach below the ruins and a staircase to reach it. I don't know if that is the beach on the excursion or not. Even if the Playa excursion doesn't include lunch, there are many places you can eat for a reasonable price! Our favorite is Karen's - we've been going there for years. An added bonus: they have an air-conditioned section! OK, the elephant in the room: the ferry ride. It can get choppy on the ride across to Playa and back (which you will take for all three options). If you're prone to seasickness, plan appropriately. As far as land transportation: you'll be comfortable and safe. Please bring a few bucks to tip the driver and tour guide. If you choose the Playa option, do any souvenir shopping there instead of Cozumel - you'll find better prices! Enjoy yourself! --bruce T.

Yep. I also tip a buck to the guys at the coffee bar in the morning. On my last cruise, by the second day they would recognise me walking up and start making my coffee. By the time the people in front of me in line were done ordering, my drink was ready and I just had to pay - no waiting. --bruce T.

You could try something like this, but it's anyone's guess if you'll get away with it. I would keep it in your carry-on and be prepared to show them that it's not a surge protector. Do you need multiple outlets for multiple phones / iPads / etc? You might consider one of these. I have one, and I can highly recommend it. One bonus is that if you have a newer laptop (that charges over USB C), this can usually replace your existing charger. --bruce T.

Nice writeup about the new terminal in the Houston Chronicle yesterday. Still on track for 9th November! (I'm a very trusting soul) --bruce T.

Yeah, navigating around there can be a bit challenging. You're one of the last sets of RCL passengers from Terminal 2; the Houston Chronicle said the new terminal is on track to open on November 9th. --bruce T.

Ok, I admit it - I get massages regularly, and I usually get one onboard despite the inflated prices (2x what I pay at home). So, I went out to take a quick look at what was being offered for my cruise (Adventure of the Seas - 8th December out of Galveston). Looking at Cruise Planner, the "From" prices shown for an "Aroma Stone Therapy" massage: 50 minutes: $125, or $2.50 per minute. 100 minutes: $209, or $2.09 per minute. Kinda makes sense, right? Entice customers to buy the longer package by offering a "quantity discount!" 75 minutes: $146, or $1.94 per minute. Wait, what? Yes, I realize that some queuing theory might be at play here - for example, maximizing facility utilization while minimizing the challenges of scheduling longer blocks of time that might not sell as well (I could go into incredibly boring detail but I'm retired and I'll have flashbacks). And, the availability of discounted slots on the port days (where the "From" prices are found) will vary - and some are cheaper than others. Still, the message here is to shop wisely. If I can fit it in during our port day for a good price, I'll gladly get 75 instead of 100 minutes and have a couple of nice glasses of wine for dinner for a couple of nights! Amusedly yours... --bruce T. P. S. Yes, I know that I can get massages much cheaper in Cozumel or Playa del Carmen. No, I'm not that interested. 😅

Dog, I don't know if this would help - but there is a Walmart a few miles away from you (Central City & Seawall). If it would help, you can pick up a cheap foldable luggage cart there for your carry on(s). --bruce T.

Other winners at Buc-ee's: coffee (really good!) and scones. I'll bet you didn't have "travel stop scone" on your Road Trip Bingo card! NOTE TO THE UNINDOCTRINATED: It's a "travel stop" because there are no trucks allowed... hence it's not a "truck stop". --bruce T.

I'd be more concerned with the magnet "sticking" through the bag material to the sides of the luggage carts, x-ray machines, ferrous parts of other bags, etc. That could cause a jam up on the equipment belit, a delay... or even lost luggage. Also, PLEASE tag the bag with a warning label so that an unsuspecting porter or crewmember with an implanted medical device (such as a pacemaker) knows to keep it away from their vital areas - many of the newer devices use external magnets to put them into a "safe" mode for MRI's, etc. Finally... things might also get entertaining if it is accidentally attached to the deck or walls in your cabin. You might be unable to pry it up without damaging the carpeting or wall covering. --bruce T.

You betcha. --bruce T.

OUT-standing! Everyone needs to experience this at least once in their lives. Their bathroom stalls are nicer than my first apartment. 🤣 --bruce T.

Just starting to follow this, so wondering if you'll have a visit to Buc-ee's as part of the trip. 😁 --bruce T.

We do it every time. Better (and cheaper) restaurants as well as better (and cheaper) shopping. Just watch your return times - the ferry companies used to have a 2 hour break in service in the afternoon. Also remember that you do have a (short) taxi ride from the ferry terminal (downtown) to the International Cruise Terminal (where RCL docks). You can walk it if you have time and feel ambitious (about 2.5 miles), but be ready to meet LOTS of friends along the way trying to sell you things. My preference is the Ultramar ferry service (yellow & blue), but we've also taken Winjet (orange). If you're nervous about the timing and logistics, book a shore excursion through the cruise line that includes 5th Avenue. --bruce T. P. S. Our go to place to eat in Playa del Carmen? Karen's - it's just down 5th avenue from the Playa ferry terminal. We love it - it's turned into a tradition!

It would be difficult - they like to live with an unobstructed view, and putting them in the dome beneath the existing satellite hardware could clock some of that. --bruce T.

Last December on Liberty, they were only included with the beverage package if you ordered food. You couldn't go in and get one a la carte without paying. --bruce T.

I used to book direct, but then a childhood friend became a TA for a smaller agency. I get only a few perks compared to the big box TAs, but it's nice to not have to worry about pricing / etc. Not to mention the fact that I feel good about supporting her. --bruce T.