h20skibum

We walked the airport to get some exercise in before the flight. Pictures of the new terminal under construction. It is to open in 2025. A couple of the concourses were very empty. Even found a phone booth in one, and someone was trying to figure how it works.

We are all flying Southwest. I was just saying last week that it would really be a welcome change if you could select your seats. It wasn’t a day later that I read that they will scrap their open seating and let you choose seats, sometime in 2025. Their earnings have been down, and 86% of their passengers cite this as a reason for leaving them. Their cattle call is a pain when traveling with young kids, and unfortunately it will continue for these flights to Florida and back. Meanwhile, we just hope there are no exploding soda cans onboard. We tried to get early boarding, but they were sold out, so we have the mid B position. Guess we will see who wants to sit with these kids.

I guess they had the wait times right today. Off the shuttle at 7:10, checked the bags, and we were through security by 7:17. I don’t remember ever seeing lines this short. Even the tram to the airside terminal was almost deserted.

We all arrived at Fast Park, and their shuttle got us to the airport by 7:10am. I can’t tell you how much I hate flying during summer travel season. When we flew to Myrtle Beach, the security lines in the morning were horribly long. Before we got to the airport for that flight, online it said it was only a 10 minute wait, but the line was long with a 45 minute wait. I was hoping it wasn’t that long today. Today, it said a 2 minute wait.

He was just as sweet as the real Ricky, because he turned around and went back to our car to retrieve the phone I left behind.

Pittsburgh airport has been undergoing a major construction project that makes things a real mess getting in and out. When we flew back from California a couple months ago, we noticed how often one of the off site shuttles came by as we waited four our hotel shuttle. So we decided to give Fast Park and Relax a try when we traveled to Myrtle Beach. I was surprised how quick and easy this was, and it was half the cost of airport parking. We pre booked our parking reservation. For anyone flying from Pittsburgh, I highly recommend them. The kids were amused that the driver’s name was Ricky.

Today is travel day. Time to load the suitcases and backpacks in the SUV. Our original plan was to all travel to the airport in our Highlander because it has seating for eight. But after six of us traveled to fly to Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago, we realized we would not all fit with our large suitcases. So now, we are in two vehicles for the drive to Pittsburgh airport. Trouble already IMG_1981.mp4 Now that the kids are older, they are always jockeying for the shotgun seat, or as I call it, the death seat! I expected that of them, but not Daryl.

Thanks to all who are following and commenting. After staying up late to finish packing, I am up long before I need to be. It is getting closer…… Rabbit, Rabbit, White Rabbit. We need all the luck we can get.

Speaking of ducks!! Yes, we are going to be some crazy duckers this cruise. After all my hard work collecting ducks, Susan told me those would be too small. So she found some of these ducks that light up. Of course, Daryl wanted to be on the tag. Somehow, I think a few of these may find their way back home with the grandkids.

We had all the grandkids stay over last night. I had to be up early to drive my daughter into Pittsburgh for a procedure. On our way down I-79, we passed Cooper’s Lake, and the venue was filled with tents. I mean, the tents were almost on top of each other and there were thousands of them. Turns out there is a Pennsic event going on there for a couple of weeks. I didn’t even know this medieval event was a thing. It appears they have a huge crowd.

Knowing Daryl, that might be wishful thinking. I seem to recall appropriating Greg’s video idea, and beating him to the punch on one of my earlier Lives. Does that mean he is giving me a run for my money? Time to step up the game. 😁 I would not contribute to his delinquency. Although he may go visit that Pesky Parrot.

What else was going on in August, 44 years ago? Oh, yeah, this was…….. This lovely couple got married, and took that cruise for a honeymoon. So on boarding day, on Friday, we celebrate our 44th anniversary.

Thank you, @Lionesss, @Momof3gurlz, @DaniDanielle, @Havin'fun, and @gambler Daryl is getting really excited.

We were sailing on this….. No, that isn’t the Titanic, but the SS Norway. The largest cruise ship in the world at the time, but no comparison to Utopia.

So, she happened to book this cruise on the anniversary of our one, and only August cruise. And what happened then? Only the longest, sustained Cat 5 hurricane of the 20th century.

After Susan had said “It will be fine!”, I said, “Yeah, it will be fine.😏 That is, until they bring these out. “ I said, “You just booked August, that’s hurricane season! It could get bumpy. Don’t you remember the last time we sailed in August?” Her: “No, have we ever sailed in August? That would be early in the hurricane season, wouldn’t it?” How soon they forget.

Welcome aboard, Greg. No specialty restaurants this cruise. I will be looking at this from a new perspective, with the grandkids along. We thought about booking the railway, but they advise against it for those susceptible to motion sickness. Didn’t want to tempt fate.

Why was that Carnival sailing the only one for our daughter? She got very seasick on that cruise, and never wanted to sail again. Meanwhile, the grandkids have been begging….. Please, please, take us on a cruise! And our son-in-law was saying…. I really, really want to go on a cruise. I hear there is lots of food and drink! Finally, Susan (that’s my wife, for those that don’t know) convinced our daughter that she should go. She tells her. “The ship is sooooo big, you won’t feel it move, and you will be at a different port each day. It will be fine!

Who, besides Daryl will be sailing with us? We have three grandkids, ages 11, 11, and 9, plus our daughter and son-in-law coming along. With the exception of our daughter (and Daryl), it will the first time on a cruise for the rest of them. The one, and only time our daughter sailed was in 1996 on the Carnival Imagination. (That was our first, and only sailing with Carnival)

@Ocean Boy, @Cruising to Retirement, @Tree_skier Thanks for following along. If you have any questions, or want to see photos from somewhere on the ship, just ask. I will probably have a bunch.

Before we go too far, how about a short video of where this cruise will take us.

You might have to check in on the LIVE I just started, if you want pictures.

I know, you are saying “Who the heck is Daryl?” Well, here he is. There is a back-story to Daryl. If you happened to see the LIVE I did from Symphony last December, Daryl came with us. Our grandkids made a deal with us. They would send us photos of the Elf on the Shelf every day leading up to Christmas, if we sent them photos of Daryl every day from the cruise. Don’t be surprised if Daryl shows up in a few photos on this cruise.

The excitement is building.

Buckle up, as Daryl explores the latest ship in Royal’s fleet. He is so excited to be the first of his kind onboard. A LIVE like no other.