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Has anyone had the Key on the Anthem recently and did it include an extra IFly session? thanks jc

Was curious since we have UDP on our upcoming Anthem transatlantic. I would assume we could eat lunch in any of the venues that is open? Any idea which are open? jc

Thanks George, we have done that previously. We are looking forward to the outdoor pizza place we stumbled upon near where the ferry is located too for lunch again. Last time we visited we couldn’t get crown tickets. Speaking of Hamilton, we went to our local theatre for the traveling version of Hamilton Friday night. I have never seen so much security at the theatre. They even scanned us for weapons entering. Never have I seen that at our theatre and we have being going to this venue for the entire 25 years it has been open.

Speaking of the Key and our cruise. The Key on our sailing is now 22.99, the internet is 18.99

Jimbo, we are staying at the Double Tree at Penn station so we can take the train into Manhattan for the 3 nights we are staying there before our TA departing May 1 on the Anthem. I have heard that the walkway might be closed at night. We have crown tickets for the Statue of Liberty Sunday out of NY. JC

CVS, Walgreens, pretty much any store including grocery stores.

It was a long time ago, 2005, but the internet on the Holland Amsterdam was crap at Cape Horn. Although Cape Horn is less far south than Greenland is north.

You can have two devices on it. They could both be yours, if a third device logs in they will say you have reached your device limit and do you still want to join, if you say yes one of the two devices will be kicked out. Price seems on the high side. Would be a good price for the key, a meh price for internet. jc

Your dinner looks like breakfast to me.

When we were there on our trip in 2004, I think we were there for 4 nights, the hotel offered us a water taxi to the Island of Murano and Burano for said glass blowing tour for free. I knew all about blowing glass because my first real job was working at Silver Dollar City was in the cut glass shop, candle shop, gun shop and candle shop when I was 16 for a season. I knew that watching the glass blowing would be at best ok. (There are some amazing artistic glass items for sale at amazing prices in Venice). However it represented a quick way to get to these islands. After visiting them, we took the Vaporetto back to Venice. Which was a lot slower. On the upside we really got to see a lot of city and surrounding area from the water. Krystal bought a lovely dress and an amazing hand made scarf on Burano. Murano glass Burano clothing/scarves. jc

We visited Venice in 2004 with another couple, we did book our hotel near the water bus, but we arrived via bus from Marco Polo, after lugging 2 suitcases and backpack over the 4 bridges and no straight pathway, I swore to never travel like that again. We usually only have a total of 2 suitcases for both of us. Venice is lovely, but it is a challenge to get around especially with suitcases. jc

When I had covid in December, my severe flu like symptoms went away in less than 48 hours and I didn’t fill the Paxlovid script my doctor gave me. I did take Ibuprofen to cut into the fever and body aches. My doctor was not very positive about taking it, so I skipped it. I am not young 64, reasonably good health with controlled high blood pressure. JC

Yes, that one got me reaching for the Roku remote. I figured Rodrhi the Welsh Terrier might have stepped on it next to me on the sofa. When I realized it was on the table, I was like what is going on. Then realized it was a commercial. jc

Yes, Napa, is full on nuts, found that out on our last trip in 2018. Paying for tastings, beyond a minimal charge really makes it less appealing. We did a testing on our lat trip to Temecula before thanksgiving, and it was a great experience with our own private session on a patio overlooking the fields and mountains. Lovely, we did a few free ones the next day, of the traditional kind. Free ones are rapidly becoming a historic oddity. We loved our balloon ride in Napa back in 2006. JC

I have visited Coppola a few times, used to be a club member. Nice property, have not eaten at the restaurant. Coppola makes some very good wine (Rubicon is on par with Opus). Opus One is a Mondavi/Rothschild winery. We visited it 30 years ago. Love the wine, hate paying for them.

OB, glad to hear you are improving, your Covid sounds like mine before Xmas after getting off the Harmony sailing, as symptoms starting the day after flying home. We sailed the Adventure out of the old terminal, not the new RCI terminal in Galveston, our Uber driver said that she might not be able to take us to the door, but generally when she showed up early it wasn’t a problem (we arrived after 10 approx 10:30), she showed us where she is supposed to drop us. It would have been a 5 to 10 minute walk, max. Many Uber drivers do Lyft as well but Uber generally pays them more. I use Uber because I get a monthly $15 credit on Uber with my Amex Platinum card. That said, Lyft is equally easy to use with the app. I do not believe the same restrictions affect the new terminal, but have no first hand knowledge. Galveston is a good port, but it is a bit of a challenge to get to Galveston since most fly into Houston. Hobby is not too far, but George Bush is a long way away. I made the DW a special Red Sea Breeze before the kick off while I was air-frying some yummy chicken wings, and I had a Southern Peach, also Red (key ingredient obviously cranberry juice), it was a very entertaining game, even though my team was being systematically kept off the field in the first half. There were 3 calls regarding catching the ball that were reasons why I am not a huge football fan. 2 went the Eagles way. Then there was the missed penalty doing a flagrant hold/pass interference in the first half against Bradberry, and then the one at the end of the game that finished the game which was a bit ticky tacky. Officiating is bad, and instant reply just makes it worse. JMHO jc

Greenland would be cool. I assume some coastal US and Canada ports?

Jimbo, I am reading this thread and it seems like you are cruising again, and on RCI? Which one of us has lost our minds?😂 jc

It is a good price, but I think you will get tired of the same menu. I find Giovannis has the better food and menu usually, but they do get old after a while. That said, with the changes that are currently being implemented in the MDR, I would probably book the UDP on your sailing at that price. I booked it for our upcoming 11 nighter on the Anthem TA. Just remember they now add an 18% gratuity when you check out of the cruise planner, and you still will need to pay tips. JC

We have done it 3 times, first time was magic, the following times were fine. I really think it is a fun one time experience, it doesn’t change enough to be a multiple time experience, that said we have UDP coming up in May and will probably eat there a 4th time.

Our last cruise, December Harmony prior to these changes, we ate every single meal in the MDR, WJ, or the Solarium bistro. The food was mostly good, although the WJ was a bit of a miss. On our next sailing after the changes, we booked the UDP…. I will be fine. I can afford to pay more to have good food, and still get the things RCI does that make me want to sail with them. That said, I hope (but do not believe) that they will go back to the way they used to do it. Long term, it has been obvious for a while that they want us to book specialty and pay more. I guess I will oblige them. jc

I would think sailing from NY City would be great… like the old days. You could easily take the subway to the dock, I would like that. That said, I don’t think Royal ever sails from the city. Royal is the only cruise with a Flowrider, so at this point don’t care where other ships sail from! 😂

Exactly this. It is a wine pairing dinner with Chops menu. If you get with the wrong group it could be a 5 hour, mess. We did it one time on the Anthem out of NY City, and there was a family of 8 with the Godfather who was a boring attention hog, who drug the whole process out way way too long. We were two couples of the 16 and the wife’s left before the main courses were served, the men soldiered on until the end 5 hours in… the food was good, the wine was copious and the event was so bad, I wouldn’t do it again if they offered it to me for free. I know I am an outlier on this, but if you get the wrong table mates, it will or at least can be the worst dinner of your life. JMHO and YMMV jc

Which cruises leave from NYC and not Bayonne? QE2?

We have done two side by sides on RCI cruises since, we were last told that we were too old to book an excursion of the exact same nature. My name here is XP… CDOO. SEADOO J me K DW…. I live on adventure sports, it is what I am. I waterski, I wake surf, I ride the FlowRider, I ride side by sides, I snow ski, I play golf, heck I only quit playing softball a few years ago. I get told I am too old to ride a side by side by RCI when it is no more adventurous than mowing the yard. Wow… Frustrating, I get it the lawyers run the world defending their client the insurance company, but good lord it sucks. jc