Ret MP

Ginger Beer. Got any Kraken Rum!

Friends of ours, Rita & Mario, unfortunately Mario died of COVID last December, used to love to go to the Trellis Bar for Mojito's. They thought that they were the best Mojitos they ever had. This was on the Symphony a few years ago. We miss you, Mario!

Well, I won't say that the Coastal Kitchen is a good reason, alone, to try a Quantum or Oasis Class ship. But, I do think everyone should at least try one, especially the Oasis Class ships. My opinion - Size means a lot when it comes to cruising. Much more options for just about everything.

What? No nukes? I guess I'll just have to leave mine at home in the garage. Damnit!

You can bring drones onboard. You just can't fly them on the ship: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/can-guests-bring-drones-onboard

Coastal Kitchen is good option for Suite guests on Quantum and Oasis class ships (not sure if Coastal Kitchen is on other class ships). I still prefer a full buffet though for breakfast.

Shortly after having Bariatric Sleeve Surgery I went on a cruise. I ate in any and all restaurants. I just happened to waste or sent a lot to the recycle bin a lot of the food. In some cases, my wife and I just split her plate. But, we still wound-up wasting some food. I wouldn't worry about it. Just eat what you can/should and the recycle bin will take care of the rest.

I like a good breakfast buffet. It's all about the bacon and sausage. In a full service venue, you get 3 or 4 strips of bacon or 2 or 3 links of sausage. In a buffer, I can get as much as I want as many times as I want. I just like to get my copious amounts of bacon/sausage on my own and not have to ask for it. The buffet usually has an omelet station and that makes me happy too. Other than that, I'm not much of a buffet fan for other meals. I may, if I'm in the area and it isn't too busy, stop in to get a piece of cake or pie.

One person's watery tasting beer is another person's perfect beer.

You accuse someone of lying and then you want to let it go. You are special, aren't you!!!!

Kewl

I don't know if this is still true but they add tax to you're drinks (anything purchased) while still in port or within 3 miles of the U.S. Coast. So, even today, I don't drink until the Casino opens. Just a thing of mine, I don't like paying taxes if I don't have to. Well, I have been know to have a beer while still within the international boundary. But, that is all.

Can't say as I blame her, one bit. LOL

I am retired from being the General Manager of the parking facilities at Port Everglades and the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. It's been a while since I've visited the area but I can say that when we cruise out of Port Everglades or the Port of Miami, we always stay at one of the FLL "AIRPORT" hotels. They all offer shuttles to the port, some included in the hotel cost, some not. They are located at Griffin Rd and I-95 interchange. They are located just about a mile away from Tropical Acres Steakhouse, one of the best steakhouses you'll find in S. Florida and the Rustic Inn if you like crab and other critters. If you are driving and want to park at the port, Griffin Rd is almost a straight shot into the Port, you can't go wrong with the signage. BTW, if you are there for a day or two before or after the cruise, you must check out Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor in Dania Beach. I'm 70 and I used to go there on almost a daily basis when I was a preschooler, when my mom gave me a dime a day. It's on US1 and Sterling Rd., in a small strip mall.

I'm not asking anyone to make sense of it. I'm not! My life will not change one bit if someone eats or doesn't eat "Pork Belly". Your life will not change one bit if I eat or don't eat hunted products. My only purpose of mentioning it was to brag about getting the unwanted product and explain how I got it. I really had no intent on this turning into a "justification" process. I'm done here!

Retired from active duty, U.S. Army, 95B40V5 (SFC, Military Policeman and Investigator). Love to travel and cruising is on the top of my love to do list. We're loyal to Royal Caribbean and the Oasis Class ships. Our next booked cruise is on the Harmony of the Seas, out of Galveston in January 2024. But, I'm sure we will be cruising again before then.

Yep. And it's not just disabled for a 15% discount, you must be at least 50% Disabled AND you must enroll in their rewards program. In the Port of Galveston, your service only counts if you are a 50% disabled Vet. Check out question #1 below: https://www.portofgalveston.com/FormCenter/Disabled-Veteran-Discount-Request-Form-4/Disabled-Veterans-Purple-Heart-Recipient-37 Form Center Search Forms: Select a Category By signing in or creating an account, some fields will auto-populate with your information and your submitted forms will be saved and accessible to you. Disabled Veterans & Purple Heart Recipients Discount Form Sign in to Save Progress Check Box If: I certify that I am a Disabled Veteran with a minimum of 50% service-related disability or a Purple Heart Recipient. yes Check Box If: I certify that I am a requesting a parking space for myself as a disabled veteran and not for the use of another person. yes First Name* Last Name* Address1 Address2 State Zip City Upload supporting document* Upload Award Letter showing service-connected disability of 50% or higher OR DD-214 showing that the individual was a recipient of a Purple Heart Medal. Identification Documentation* Drivers license or state-issued ID must match the name on the DD-214 or Award Letter.

You may want to check out this information with your cruise line. But, I've been told that, at least with Royal Caribbean, if you receive medical services while on the ship, the medical bill must be paid before the final debarkation. And many hospitals/medical facilities in foreign countries will require payment before discharge, even with trip insurance. So, one thing to think about is that you might want to take a credit card along that has no or very low balance to cover the out of pocket fees that you may have to pay. Yes, it's likely that TRICARE will reimburse you for your fees paid. But, YOU take the initial hit. If your travel insurance has a good concierge and you or someone from your party communicates with him/her, they may help you negotiate payment from the insurance company, not out of pocket/C.C. Or, better yet, discuss this with your travel insurance company before purchasing their product(s), that includes TRICARE. TRICARE MAY have hospitals in foreign countries that are approved for direct payment from TRICARE, but I'm not sure about that.

I have never done an Adults Only cruise. But, I would love to. Only problem, I'm loyal to Royal. I've asked why they don't do an adults only cruise like maybe once a quarter. I've also asked, when I used to cruise on another cruise line and both just give me the same old tired answer, "We are a family friendly cruise line". Okay, I get that. But, adding an itinerary, every once and a while, that is "Adults Only" wouldn't change that. After all, there are families that don't have underage people and have no desire to share their vacation with underage people.

Yep. To be honest. If it wasn't for the candied part of the Chop's Grill Pork Belly, I probably wouldn't eat it. I don't like large layers of fat, especially soft/seemingly undercooked/kind of like jellied fat. But, the candied (I think it is actually a very sweet BBQ sauce and I love BBQ Sauce) just overrides that for me with Chop's Pork Belly.

When I get into a shot drinking frenzy, I like to do several shots, like: Ouzo, Jägermeister, Fireball Whiskey, and then the ultimate challenge, The Boiler Maker. Wash, rinse, repeat. For the lighter nights: Peppermint Schnapps, Lemon Drop Schnapps, Butterscotch Schnapps. But, always finish up with a shot of Jägermeister or Fireball Whiskey or both.

BTW, don't you know anybody that won't eat Venison, or Moose, or anything that is hunted in the wild? Some people just have psychological hang up by the way things are presented/called/named. Bacon vs. Pork Belly is obviously one of them. There are lots of them. Of which, I'm one. If it doesn't have USDA stamped on it, I don't want it. Not that I won't try it (I've tried Venison, Moose, Duck, and others), I just don't want anything wild. I don't do Mountain Oysters, either. YMMV

One teenager and two or three 30 somethings. I'm 70+. I don't think it has anything to do with age. I'm going to stick my neck out here but I'll say exactly who wouldn't try it, the girls/women. All the males at least tried it. One didn't like it. I've stopped trying to figure out people a long time ago. It ain't worth it. They do them and I do me. In this case, I benefit. To add to a few previous posts: If I like Chops Grill more than Golden Corral or Metro Diner and I eat everything on my plate at Chops Grill but, I leave/waste much of my food at Golden Corral or Metro Diner, my perspective is that Chops Grill is a much better choice and value for my money even at 5 X the money at Chops Grill.

Do you use the OTC or prescription kind?

Good Info.