reallyitsmema

@dani negreanuHappy Birthday Dani!!  I hope you were able to have a wonderful, peaceful birthday!

9 minutes ago, Casino4me said:

Navybankerteacher please stop, your to negative for me. 

You originally posted this in the Ask A Cruise Question forum and that can be a tough crowd.  Your post was moved to the Royal Caribbean forum, so you should be able to get cruise specific information here.  

Your cabin steward doesn't care who sleeps where, you can get extra keys onboard and have people move to where you want them. 🙂 

2 minutes ago, Tin can said:

Thanks all, I am looking at a sailing on Spectrum of the Seas and a non connecting room so presumably a full sized sofa.

Spectrum will have a full size sofabed that has a trundle that pulls out.  The trundle can be left at a lower level to make two sleeping areas or set up at the level of the main part to make one large bed.  Many leave the trundle lower if they have someone young sleeping in it.

8 minutes ago, Tin can said:

Could a 3 person cabin be made up with a pull down bed rather than a sofa bed or do all 3 & 4 person cabins have a sofa bed.
 

I’m specifically after a cabin with a sofa bed for us as I don’t want our son having to use a pull down.

 

If sofa beds are standard then great, if not how do I know which cabins have them.

 

 

 

 

The deck plans used to specifically say if there was a sofabed or pullman but now they are more generic and say they can sleep 3 or 4 people.  What ship are you sailing?  That will help you get correct answers.

27 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

A few nights ago I must have scratched myself in my sleep.  Woke up with a red raised sore spot.  Unfortunately on my chest just where my bra would rub against it.  So I put a bandage on it.  That night when removing the bandage I find the skin on my chest/upper tummy is evidently sensitive to the adhesive of the bandage.  Sigh.  Now I have irritated red splotches surrounding the red sore.  Called my PA to get a referral to my dermatologist to hopefully get the original spot frozen and some soothing ointment.

 

Then I pick up Minnie to carry her from the bathroom to the bedroom.  Do this every night.  But last night suddenly our neighbor’s alarm system goes off.  Poor Minnie is startled/frightened and catapults herself off my chest.  I know she didn’t mean to hurt me but she deployed her claws to get maximum thrust.  So now my chest and both arms are shredded.  And I know I can’t put a bandage on my chest.

 

So George has to swab me down with alcohol and put gauze pads and surgical tape on the slashes.  This morning I find I’m sensitive to the surgical tape the same as the bandage adhesive.  I now have slashes AND large red irritated areas on my abdomen.  Sigh.  I shower and go buy bandages for sensitive skin and am thankful I don’t earn my living as a porn star because I look like the proverbial dog’s dinner!

Oh no, I hope you start healing soon.  Time to lose the bra for a while.

3 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

My son had both shoulders done and sailed right through.  He was fairly young then, maybe that helps.

Everyone reacts differently to pain and rehab, he might do just fine with it.  Some tears are left to heal on their own and don't require surgery.  The MRI will tell you what is up.

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

 

 

I think Boston Rob is one of the reasons I stopped watching Survivor. Specifically because the producers kept bringing him back year after year under various formats (All-Stars! Hero vs Villains! Fan Favorites!)  until he finally won one season.  It seemed like the producers really wanted him to win, although he kinda won a few years earlier when he started dating and eventually married fellow contestant Amber who won that season. Since then he's been in several other reality shows including Amazing Race where he tried to manipulate his way to a win. It failed.

 

I know reality show producers like a strong "love-them-or-hate-them" personalty as they are good for ratings but enough already.  And as to why his fellow contestants don't eliminate him earlier, I wonder if the producers subtly suggest to the contestants (during the interviews) that it might be in their best interest to keep him around. Again, for the ratings.  Or to do their "dirty" work of double-crossing other contestants.

 

Reality TV has evolved and many have now made it their career.  Boston Rob, Johnny Bananas, CT, Kate Chastain, Cirie Fields, Cody Calafiore, etc have all been on multiple shows including Survivor, Big Brother, The Traitors, Deal or No Deal Island, The Challenge, Below Deck, and many more.  Boston Rob has even had two of his own shows and also does a lot of celebrity gambling events.

I have no issues with Boston Rob, he knows how to work the charm and manipulate people without them even realizing it.  If it works for him and supports his family, go for it.  He has the most adorable four girls that look just like their mother.

35 minutes ago, brenderlou62 said:

Any idea what you would have to bid to get an upgrade from balcony to junior suite?

Minimum bid on an upcoming cruise for upgrade from balcony to JS is $200.  Have seen much higher minimum bids in the past.

34 minutes ago, Etta1213 said:

I eat chicken breast and read that it's contaminated with arsenic, with highest concentration in the breast meat. I don't even think I could buy homegrown chicken in my area. Sometimes I feel defeated. Am caregiver for my 84 year old spouse so I need to try to stay healthy. 

There is organic chicken sold in supermarket that show that it is non-gmo, antibiotic free, etc.  It costs more, but I find that it tastes better than the cheaper, supermarket non-branded chicken.  I just looked at a couple of brands I buy but neither is sold in Texas, which is where your location says you are located.  I would check out what is available where you shop.  🙂 

6 hours ago, BANV said:

Hi - can anyone share their recent experience in Oasis if the sea? We are first time cruisers and booked on GS western Mediterranean cruise in July. I thought we have a separate embarkation & disembarkation area? Someone recently posted that it just goes back to general line.Since I get nervous in enclosed spaces - have heard of ppl queuing up for 3-4 hours in corridors to get off their ships. Was expecting GS perk to be easy & not crowded. Any feedback? Tks 

We have sailed in a GS on Oasis a few times but not in the Med, so not sure about how embarkation will be there.  As far as disembarking and queuing for hours, that is not going to happen with you in a GS.  You will receive suite luggage tags and information from the suite concierge about the disembarking procedures.  In our experience, they will have you meet in Coastal Kitchen and/or the Suite Lounge and then they will escort you to a dedicated elevator.  Once you get off the elevator, one of the concierges will either escort you off the ship or at a minimum, to the front of the line of people waiting to get off the ship.  Really depends on port and current procedures.

11 minutes ago, Keksie said:

My grandmother's white iris are blooming now.  My mother got a few bulbs from her mother and kept moving them each time she and my father moved.  When they were moving into assisted living she gave me a few bulbs.  I have moved them with me and they are multiplying like crazy.  Grandmother would be happy.  I also have schoolhouse lilies I keep moving that were given to me by a friend.

I was surprised to see a purple hyacinth up in my yard.  We have had such a bizarre winter, plants seem to be starting early.  I have other bulbs just starting to break through but the hyacinth is flowering.

1 minute ago, Keksie said:

@Jimbo I saw my doctor yesterday and got a prescription for Metformin.  My A1C was 5.7 and I want to lose a few lbs.  Diet and exercise has not changed an ounce in the last few years so I need to try something.  My insurance only covers Metformin or Jardiance so we are trying the Metformin first.  It was $6.00 for a month's supply.  I will have blood work in 3 months to see what happens.

If you end up on Jardiance, they have a coupon program that you can apply for which has saved us a lot.  CVS pharmacy actually suggested it to us and my DH filled out the online form and got the coupon immediately.  It works for an entire year and then you just reapply.  It took a $200 prescription down to $50 on our old insurance and has it at $25 on our current insurance.

The Walking Dead second season is going to be filmed in Boston and the surrounding area starting in April.  They are holding a casting call, looking for people with "weathered faces" and tall, thin people to be "walkers".  They are paying roles but do not include transportation or food.  Anyone looking for work? 🤪

12 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Just got to see Kenzie!  She is helping with the flowers again today. 

Question from a black thumb gardener, why pull the bulb up too?  I leave them in for the next year, though the chipmunks and squirrels eat them or relocate them.  They don't touch daffodils though.

This article has both the negatives and positives of berberine.  The more I read about this, the more I know I wouldn't take it. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/berberine-supplements-what-to-know-benefits-risks-side-effects-rcna87065

6 minutes ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Yesterday morning, a tire fell off of a United Airlines jetliner bound for Osaka, Japan during its take-off from SFO.  The plane made an emergency landing in LAX. That loose tire smashed into a small compact car in an employee parking lot where it then bounced off and totally crushed a red Tesla.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.

 

This is the same flight/plane we will be taking for our trip to Japan in 2 weeks.  Yikes! 😬  I hope it will be a boring non eventful flight for us.

United had another incident today too.  A plane went off the runway in Houston.

16 minutes ago, George C said:

I was in high 6.? My doctor has me taking Metformin twice a day now I am in low 6.?

My DH had an A1C in the double digits when he was first diagnosed and a fasting blood sugar over 300.😱  

5 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

First, welcome back... again.🙂

 

So with the little info I know about your situation you most likely have type 2. This means you are manufacturing insulin from your pancreas but your sensitivity to it is decreasing. There are various reasons for this but I can't get into all that here. I have never heard of the supplement that you mentioned so I cannot comment on it. The key in the initial management if type 2 is lifestyle changes. Decrease your simple sugar consumption and be careful with the amount and type of carbohydrates that you eat. Exercise and weight loss is also key. Then see how your lab values respond.

 

I have many times been able to manage type 2 using no medication at all when people have been willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes. Of course, there are always some who just won't put the effort into their health and want meds to fix everything. I've never been a big believer in better living through chemistry. Then there are those you end up on meds no matter how hard they try.

 

I just looked up that supplement because I have never heard of that one either.  My DH is a diabetic, as was his mother who lived with us, so have seen way too many diabetes medications over the last way too many years.  What I googled had it being compared to Metformin but with lots of side effects.  Originates in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.  I will have to ask my DH if his endocrinologist ever talked about that one.

28 minutes ago, shelly1128 said:

Thank you.  Can I do that in advance or once I am on board?

You are supposed to request through special needs at least 30 days prior to your cruise but you can ask onboard too.

5 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Charlie had both eyes done for cataracts.  Really didn’t cost us much out of pocket for new glasses.  Surgery was fully covered.

My Mom had cataracts done in both eyes too.  She paid extra for the multi focal lenses and is glad she did.  Not sure what the extra cost was though.

On 3/5/2024 at 1:44 PM, CuseJeff44 said:

We just were assigned 6274 on Oasis. Based on this thread it seems like a solid placement, but does anyone have any more specific feedback on this area of this ship? 

We have stayed in that are on Oasis and Allure and love the location.  It is very convenient and wasn't noisy.  The bathroom you see on the deck plan is accessed from the elevator lobby, not the cabin corridor, so that isn't an issue.

15 minutes ago, shelly1128 said:

Does anyone know if these cabins on 6 have a small refrigerator?

Yes, they have the small "cooler" refrigerators.  If you need to store medicine, I would request a medical refrigerator from the special needs department.

2 minutes ago, crazyank said:

Royal absolutely DOES care.  Our grandson was told that he was not allowed on any of the slides with a cast.

They don't even allow glasses or goggles on the slides, no way a cast will be allowed, as you experienced.

1 minute ago, Needz2Cruise said:

Thanks for all that info! I've already seen that website, looked at the excursions and the videos, etc. Much more informative than anything I've seen so far.

 

Are you saying that you meet the land tour at the hotel, and not at the airport? I was under the impression that there was at least a transfer provided from the airport to the tour hotel. No big deal if not; I can always return the car to the airport and uber/lyft from there to the hotel.

There is a Royal Caribbean rep in the baggage area at the airport that coordinates the transfer from the airport to the hotel.  At the hotel, you will meet your tour guide, who will discuss plans and the optional excursions.  We just were not aware that she wouldn't be at the hotel until much later and would have flown in later in the day than we did.  We did two days DIY in the Anchorage area before our land tour partially to adjust to the different timezone as we flew in from the east coast.

On 3/2/2024 at 4:05 PM, Needz2Cruise said:

For those of you that have done the RC land tour starting in Anchorage: we're flying in a couple days early and renting a car. Presumably we're to meet our tour guide or RC rep at ANC airport for the first night of the tour. Since I haven't seen any info from RCCL yet, about what time of day should I plan on returning the rental car to ANC, since we won't be coming in on a flight that day? Thanks!

We started our land tour in Fairbanks, not Anchorage, but we had flown into Anchorage to tour around for a few days prior to our land tour.  We flew Anchorage to Fairbanks early on the morning of our land tour and met a rep at the airport who got us connected with the transfer to the hotel.  Once at the hotel around 10am, we found out the leader of our land tour would not be at the hotel to meet people until 2pm.  This was not told to any of us in advance and we weren't the only ones already at the hotel.  I would really try to get some information from the cruise line about what you schedule is or find a review in the Alaska forum of the same cruise tour.  We knew we were staying at the hotel we were transferred to for a couple of nights but thought the first day wouldn't be just a throw away day.  We ended up getting a shuttle to downtown and doing some stuff on our own but we should have rented a car like another couple did and gone farther on our own as we ended up downtown the next day on the land tour and had already seen most everything that interested us.  The following link should give you an idea of you schedule a bit:

https://www.royalcaribbeancruisetours.com/

You can also see the optional excursions that you can purchase for your tour under the resources tab.  You book those when you meet your tour guide the first day.  We had decided what we wanted before and were able to just fill out the form we were given and didn't miss out on any of the excursions that don't have a lot of spaces.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

Well the pulmonologist isnt going to work out. I need to find out why I'm coughing all night and what's wrong with me. He cant see me until sometime in May for new patients. 

 

I cant wait over 2 months to find out what to do to stop coughing. Contacting my overly busy gp again. Idk why he couldn't run a test when I fasted and went to his office and gave blood in the first place.  Don't they have tests for this kind of stuff?

 

Making progress otherwise. We are closed on the new condo, called fpl, saw the tax guy to get things started. 

Are you coughing all day long too or just at night?  If it is just at night, there could be something in your bedroom that you are reacting to.  Have you tried a humidifier?  Have you brought something into your bathroom that wasn't there before?  If it is a productive cough or a dry cough?  I have had lung issues my whole life and can sound like a seal on a good day.