Beachdude

Of course, your reference to Iola Boylan chewing each bite 32 times confirms my thankfulness for my time dining - people who are only comfortable in a fast food environment and who need boob tube metaphors to express themselves do not make ideal dinner companions.

This highlights what I miss; staffs before the big changes of 9/11 had fewer responsibilities leaving them more time (opportunities) to serve the passengers more personally.

Dinner was an "event" of elegance (even on non-formal nights ), it was not just a nightly cattle-call to ease hunger pains as it seems now. And it was not unusual to see three wait staff standing together looking for an opportunity to happily fill the water glass. After the 2nd night, the waiters knew your name and new your personal style of dinning pleasure. They acted to your needs even before you asked; as if they were reading your mind.

Room stewards had fewer cabins, so they had the time to be more attentive of your needs and made special arrangements (without your request) to make your cruise more enjoyable, if not special.

Of course their were more amenities in those days, but I mostly miss the staff of those days.

Burt

I have a different opinion about trying to do too much. My trophy wife on our first cruise 18 years ago filled her agenda with doing as much as she could do until she dropped. I personally had a much more relaxed agenda, but I wasn't getting in the way of the rolling boulder wanting to experience it all. And she still looks back fondly on that cruise as one of her favorites. No regrets. She also won $600 in bingo, which she hasn't ever done again.

My suggestion is learn what activities the ship offers from this forum and each of you plan your daily agenda. We humans tend to have few regrets by slowing down to catch our breath than pacing ourselves slower than what we should have done. What you learn from this experience will help you plan better the next cruise.

My only other advice is take a pair of binoculars if you have a balcony.

Burt

Binoculars are always good for having handy when on the balcony. We enjoy the sunrise, and sunsets, breakfast, snacks or dinner on the balcony, sail into new ports or watching for pier runners and then the sail away. Cocktails in the afternoon or night cap before bed. All are great when on your own balcony.:D

Pretty much what he said. Plan roomservice to bring breakfast, or at least coffee to enjoy the early morning. Enjoy watching the ports and the quiet evenings watching the stars or a thunderstorm miles away. As for the door, different ships react differently. Crack it open and see what happens. We don't typically leave ours open, but the AC on our last trip forced us to crack it open and made for some enjoyable moments. How is it some say here, "it's your cruise, enjoy it your way".

Burt

We found Hawaii to be a pleasant surprise for having both the lifestyle that we are used to in the states, and the tropical serenity of the Caribbean and Mexico.

Some here may not understand that revelation, but after traveling to Mexico and Caribbean for 30 years, Hawaii resembles many of Mexican and Caribbean destinations enough to put one in a sense of an unrealistic expectation. Of course we feel silly later for the discovery, but sometimes a little experience is required to paint a reality.

I admit that after a couple hours of contending with a continuous steam of peddlers on a beautiful beach in St. Martin beach last month, I was longing for a quiet day on a Hawaii beach.

Burt

. As she started to stuff as much into her mouth as possible,the waiter appeared and asked if she would like a cup of tea. With her mouth crammed full and dribbling chocolate,she replied " Ave yer got any ot choclit mate" (have you any hot chcocolate mate) she then coughed and splattered the waiters clean white shirt,covering him in chocolate. Without showing any kind of revulsion he replied " I shall just get it for you Madam" Needless to say, we looked at each other and left.

I think we were seated at the table next to this couple in Chops on the Oasis of the Seas last month.

It was formal night and the couple were dressed nice, her in a low cut red evening dress, and him in a nice tux. As we sat down, the gentleman left for a few minutes (she told us later he went to get more wine from their room so they wouldn't have to pay). While she waited, she spread garlic butter for the bread on her bread "dish" and licked it off. My wife was speechless and I turned my head because I just couldn't watch. The gentleman made it back with two very full glasses of wine and their meal was served. She ate everything with her hands and licked all the plates. His manners were not as obnoxious, but he acted as if her behavior was normal.

I was a annoyed by the couple because they were keeping my trophy wife distracted (entertained). Their final act for our part of the evening was trying to sneak out of Chops without paying the bill. However, the waiter caught them at the door and called over the head waiter. When the waiters asked for their sign-and-sail cards, the woman exposed her rather large right bosom reaching way down between the peaks for her card.

That meal goes down as the strangest thing I've ever seen on a cruise.

Burt

I know many people fly with just carryon's. How do you deal with this? Shop for these things when you get to your destination??

Yes, that is what we typically do when we fly to our destinations.

Burt

So...is it "fine" or "risky"? Seems you contradict yourself.

No contradiction, I just didn't feel like lecturing the OP like the other posters. If the plane arrives on time, no problem. With less time for late arrivals, there is simply more risk.

Some folks handle risks better than others. Sometimes I like to live on the edge by not taking the extra insurance when I rent a car. Call me crazy, but it feels exhilarating.

I'm thinking about walking under a ladder next week.

Burt

You are fine if your flight is within a couple hours of the planned arrival time. Kind of risky, but living on the edge can be exhilarating.

Burt

Is this argument really still happening????:confused::p

It is interesting to watch. I think some forum members here just feel the need to flaunt their morality and start these kinds of discussions to do so. Kind of a self-esteem booster shot. I wonder how many of these moral streakers are part of the "It's my cruise" group.

Burt

At least they removed Skywalkers from the Grand - this removed the grocery cart handle.

While I agree the Skywalkers was ugly, we sure enjoyed it for its view.

Burt

The Windjammer has signs asking patrons to exit after finishing their meal so other hungry cruisers can sit down. We saw the staff ask four ladies playing cards (at a table for six) to move their game to another part of the ship.

Burt

Sally is CPA, so I loose my wife for about 3 months out of the year. She uses the cruise to rest and get back to feeling normal and I look forward to getting reacquainted.

Burt

If you are a coffee or juice drinker, the drink package also includes the better coffees (excluding Starbucks) and freshly squeezed juices. That might make it worth considering.

Burt

I buy a fresh bottle bf mouthwash before boarding because it still has the plastic packaging seal on the lid. And I bring it on board with me so our suitcases are less likely to be opened for inspection.

As for the brick, why would the cruise line care about a brick? Door stop?

Burt

It isn't illegal to bring booze aboard, it is a violation of the contract. Bit of a difference.

Yes, but one has to admire the creative writing skills.

Burt

After 20 years and 22 cruises, the only traditions I can think of are leave a couple days early to tour the departure city (3 days in NYC and Boston) and get an aft balcony cabin.

Oh, we like a relaxing drink before dinner in one of the bars to start an elegant mood for evening. I learned that our now adult kids carry on this tradition when they cruise.

Burt

We rarely use the elevator because we like the exercise. But we will grab one on occasion when Sally's formal attire (she looks really good in a tight dress and long high heels) prevents walking the stairs safely, or we are very exhausted from our port outing.

I learned a trick from this forum to walk one deck lower than the popular crowded deck to wait for an elevator where almost nobody waiting. After one long day at the beach on St. Johns last month, we walked down to deck 2 while two dozen exhausted passengers waited on deck 3. It worked because the elevator goes down to the lowest deck. Fast and easy.

Of course now that the cat is out of the bag........

Burt

Yet another "?"est post on CC . How many threads of this type do we need on CC. I imagine that we already have lots of "weirdest" thread on CC.

 

DON

That's why it's called a discussion forum and not a library.

The better question is why does someone enter a discussion on a subject they know they don't like and then highjack the thread to complain?

Burt

We found renting a Jeep in Cozumel and Grand Cayman very enjoyable. The shore on the other side of the island in Cozumel is beautiful. Grand Cayman has several places worth stopping like the turtle farm. And the jeep can add some adventure for the kids by simply putting the top down.

Burt

My wife tried to change and they would allow the discount for the next package.

Also, the drink packages don't include Starbucks anymore even if it was included when the package was purchased. Starbucks was strangely quiet on the Oasis in October.

Burt

It's really hard to say because the agent may be saving you money simply by how they process the booking. As they get more experienced, they learn tricks or better approaches to their techniques. So while they may be giving you what they consider a normal fee, it could be a lot different from the next TA simply by their personal habits of working style. I know our TA doesn't always even mention everything she saves us because it hidden far in the details to appreciate.

Burt

Just about everyone watches other people, but some on this forum feel like being contrary when they spend too much time in front of their computers.

Some of you folks have seen some pretty weird things; a man in diapers? Wow!

I saw a rather elderly woman sunning on deck in her "sheer" bra and panties on our first cruise 20 years ago. After 22 cruises, I still can't seem to burn that image.

But on our cruise last month, we saw a middle aged well dressed couple in a red formal dress and tux at the Chops Steakhouse eating everything with their hands. The woman ate the rice like a dog and licked all her plates after she was finished. The kicker was the couple tried to sneak out without paying their bill before being stopped by the waiter at the door. When the matradee asked for their Sign and Sail cards to pay for the drinks, the women exposed one of her breast while searching for the card tucked deep in the valleys. Not as weird as the diaper guy, but quite a show.

Burt

The easiest way is to take the turnpike. If you want to save some toll money you csn switch over to I-95 at Ft. Pierce. The roads parallel each other all the way to Miami. Its about 3 1/2 hour drive, with not much to see. I would leave a little earlier than 7am, never know what will happen on Florida roads.

We do this one every couple of years. I typically take I-95 because of tolls, but our rental covered the tolls this year so I took the turnpike. One seems as fast as the other. Both have a lot of traffic early in the morning. I-95 seems to have more opportunities to stop for a break. I would count on 4 hours that time of year and week.

Burt

 

They are both very different vacations. I love both!!

 

I think really experiencing island life is a land trip, doing one thing in each port (feeling slightly rushed) it a cruise thing, but we do love sea days, which is part of why we enjoy the 15 day cruise to Hawaii. Have never done the cruise out of LA, but we have out of SF.

QUOTE]

 

Have you done a Bermuda cruise? It also has a few sea days with a few relaxing port days on a wonderful island. And a bonus for us is adding a few days in NYC or Boston. Great trip.

 

Burt

I don't get the whole "you must spend a week to experience it". Really one should live somewhere for a few months to truly experience local culture. But if we only spent a week anywhere then we wouldn't see most of what we see cruising. I'd rather spend one day in Reykavik, for example, than to never go at all. Just my (long-winded) opinion, of course. :)

It's a good opinion.

I can't really explain how spending a few days in one place is so completely different than hoping off the ship to cram as much as one can in five hours. I can only say that I can't wait to go back and sit on the beach with a cup of coffee each morning to watch the sun rise out of the blue water. I don't have the words to color the moments of just listening to the waves and watching hermit crabs race around the sand.

on some mornings, a local ladies club shows up to swim out past the coral just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. Hey, it turns out that my favorite sitting spot on one beach is in front of the Pierce Brosnan's Beach home. My wife is more impressed by that than I am, for me it's just a great place for my soul to come alive.

As the serenity of the morning fades into the day, the choice of taking swim after breakfast or taking a long walk on a jungle trail is surprisingly difficult. Or maybe neither as you discover surfers heading out to the waves. Who would have thought that watching surfers would be so mesmerizing?

As lunch approaches, there are also the typical tourist attractions like zip lines and helicopter rides, or scenic roads to explore in your convertible. No fixed agenda for our day really, the mood of the island is laid back, so is our efforts of seeing all that each island has to offer are just as relaxed.

On our way back in late afternoon to our beach rental (or near beach rental), we discuss whether to pick up steaks or freshly caught fish to cook on the grill that evening. We also grab a few vegetables and fruit at road side stands or markets, and a bottle of wine to take with us to the beach as we watch the waves beat the sun back down into the ocean.

Sometimes we cook and eat before the sunsets, sometimes we just sit quietly and watch the beach and find it's dark before we know it. No real need to track time (except helicopter reservations) because if you missed it today, there is still have tomorrow.

Funny, on our last trip we had hoped to see whales from our beach view, but not until our last two hours before leaving for the airport did the whales surprise us to fill our last moments on our beach. It seems that even when you think the trip is over, Hawaii still has surprises.

As for spending time in only one place, hopping islands is relatively cheap, so staying on two islands or even three during one trip is a practical option.

But I understand; some folks like to plan and fill every moment of they day so that they get their worth of the visit. That is not us, and it's one reason why cruising is not an option for Hawaii. Now Bermuda, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska an other cruises are great for cruise vacations. And we very much enjoy them as well.

Burt