Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[DaniDanielle]

I had my hip done three years ago and still have achy days.  My orthopedist told me he tells his knee replacement patients they will hate him for a long time after the operation!!

[Sunshine3601]

Eric went back to his ortho doc today.  He said the xrays look good, he is healing nicely.  He gave Eric a couple exercises he can start doing this week.  He is going to send order for PT but said last he heard they were running about 7 to 10 days to set up new patients.   It is the same group that helped with his broken shoulder winter of 2021 and we really liked them.

He told him we are going on a cruise and how I suggested renting a scooter for days walking on large ship is too much for him. He thought that sounded like a great idea so I now have Eric's permission to order scooter as a back up.   

I have been researching looks like specialneedsatsea company is a good option.   Anyone know anything good or bad about them?

[Bailey & Sophie]

 

Ok....who on board with Below Deck? 

[dbancroft]

Anyone who has cruised lately can you tell me what a port air tax credit is? On the Oasis cruise we just finished all 7 of us received $45.95 back onto our cruise account. That was a nice surprise of $321.65 none of us had time to inquire at guest services the line was always long. We made all of our scheduled ports on scheduled time.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

Room looks awesome. 

You could probably make a few bucks on the side and rent out some of your extra space to others. Just sayin'.

 

Was thinking about offering a guest service for husbands who are fed up being stuck in a 160sqft cabin for months on end🤣🤣

[reallyitsmema]

18 minutes ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

Ok....who on board with Below Deck? 

 

I am over Natasha and the problems with her love life.  Just do your job.

[dbancroft]

12 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Was thinking about offering a guest service for husbands who are fed up being stuck in a 160sqft cabin for months on end🤣🤣

Maybe someone can teach you how to knit

[Bailey & Sophie]

14 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

I am over Natasha and the problems with her love life.  Just do your job.

 

They've always gotta have one love-sick crew member on board to add the drama. Gives the others something to complain about endlessly.

[Ocean Boy]

20 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

I am over Natasha and the problems with her love life.  Just do your job.

 

3 minutes ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

They've always gotta have one love-sick crew member on board to add the drama. Gives the others something to complain about endlessly.

It is like a replay of the Malia-Adam plot.

[Luckynana]

2 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

YES!!  They'll all be here on Saturday for 10 days.  Let the spoiling begin!

Hooray, Bonnie!  You are going to have a blast!  How is your ankle holding up"  I just talked to my Aunt this morning;  she will be having her ankle operated on on the 23rd.  She has had a plate in it for years and is bone on bone, among other things.

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Plumbers, carpet installers, tile installers, etc. definitely do take a beating on their back and knees.    

Firemen spend a lot of time on their knees also.  The surgeon couldn't believe how messed up Jim's knees were when he operated.  Lots of bits and pieces....

47 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Eric went back to his ortho doc today.  He said the xrays look good, he is healing nicely.  He gave Eric a couple exercises he can start doing this week.  

Good to hear that Eric is healing nicely!!!

Just now, Ocean Boy said:

 

It is like a replay of the Malia-Adam plot.

I'm watching that Season now, while they're in Croatia!

[1ANGELCAT]

@Sunshine3601, regarding renting a scooter, you may need to contact Royal’s special needs department to see what companies service your port. The other company that services cruise lines is scootaround . Both companies are quite experienced with cruise needs . 
Have a great cruise.

[aussielozzie18]

4 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Thanks, aussie. Yes, they like their grandpapa food, but also my chocolate fudge cake 🤪

 

A few months ago, I hinted to my DIL that I'd very much like the grandsons to know to swim before our vacation with them next week, and offering to foot the bill, even if the swimming lessons will be private and not within a group....

 

Let's just say that my DIL is very "laid-back".... and no swimming lessons were taken....

 

The "older" one is with a basketball group and he's doing quite well. The little one also participated at the beginning in those lessons, but he's more of a DIY "personality", and, while every one was shooting balls, he was playing football in the corner.... until the coach declared that "enough is enough" 😁

 

Schnitzel  & Chocolate fudge cake sounds like a winner to me!  Can’t go wrong with basketball or football - both great for hand eye co-ordination.  Good luck with the gentle persuasion on the swimming lessons.

Edited August 16, 2022 by aussielozzie18

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

It is like a replay of the Malia-Adam plot.

Exactly!!!! Good memory OB!

[Ozark_Kid]

Here's a few pics last night of the babies loving on the baby.

 

 

At first I think Lottie was getting jealous. 

But Kenzie told her, no problem Lottie,  we can share..  

 

Really? 

Let the fun begin...

 

 

Slow down Lottie!

 

Wow

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by Ozark_Kid
Keeps posting an extra pic at the end

[CrzLvr2]

@Ozark_Kid

John, your grandchildren are sooo precious!!! 🥰

 

And I love how the captions you add to your photos of them really capture what they seem to be thinking.
 

Thanks so much for sharing them with us! 😊  

 

Sue

[harryfat1]

Continuing on with the Alaska post cruise summary:

 

Day 5 - Juneau.  State Capitol of Alaska.  Interesting fact about the city is there are NO roads to go into the city.  You either fly in or come in via ship.  No outside roads connect to Juneau due to all the glacier around the city.  Any road they build will be destroyed by the glaciers.

 

Probably our favorite port of the 3 as I guess we prefer more active vibrant places.  ISP doesn't do it for us but I can see how some people like the tranquil nature of the place.  Personal preference thing.

 

Anyway, depending where your ship docked, you either make right or left after existing make your way to the bottom of the Mt. Roberts tram where you will see a ton of tour operators more than happy to hook you up on any tour.  I was a little surprised at how aggressive some were in trying to drum up business as you walk by.  Not as aggressive as some Mexico ports where they walk with you side by side to sell you something but I was asked numerous times walking down the pier if we need to book a tour.  

 

Juneau was full that day so this NCL ship had to tender in her passengers

 

 

HAL came in after us and guess what region they love?

 

 

 

We were docked a ways down so had to walk an extra few minutes to get to the central area

 

 

As mentioned previously, can't get a good line shot with access all blocked off. Alaska docks tie their ships way high compared to say Cozumel.

 

 

This board walk looks new.  I don't recall seeing this back in 2009 the last time we were in Alaska.

 

 

Vendors....

 

 

And more vendors:

 

 

There were many more but you get the idea...

 

We typically take the M&M tour (blue bus) to Mendenhall.  The dude in the right in red coat.  The blue bus (yes, they actually repainted the kids school bus type to be blue color) comes every half hour and on the hour to take you to Mendenhall Glacier.

 

 

What I like is there's no time limit as in an organized tour where you feel rushed to go from place to place.  They just say the last bus is around 5:30 coming back from Mendenhall.  You better be on that bus or else you are calling a taxi to pick you up. 

[harryfat1]

So what do you see once you get to Mendenhall Glacier?  Fist of all, it's US National Park run so there are park rangers around to answer questions as well having a visitor center.

 

Visitor center away from the cold and rain:

 

 

 

Pictures showing how much the glacier has receded due to climate change.  I remembered it was much bigger back in 2002 and 2009 when we were there previously.  

 

 

Compare the 1958 picture to now - pretty sad to see. I told my son by time he brings his grandkids out there, there probably won't be much to see.

 

 

 

In case anyone haven't seen enough of Glacier pics from me:

 

 

If you have the time and energy, walk down the trail to see Nugget Falls. 

 

 

 

 

Here's a short video clip to show the sounds of the gushing water.  Hopefully the upload works.

 

 

 

 

[taznremmy]

@Ozark_Kid  I see a model in Kenzie's future!  She is so photogentic.......and her smile, makes me smile.  Thank you for the photos.

[taznremmy]

@harryfat1 Thank you for the reminder of the Blue Bus.  I will be in Juneau on 8/26, and will definitely look for the guy in the red coat.  I haven't been to Mendenhall Glacier for several years.  It will be interesting to see the changes.

[aussielozzie18]

@Ozark_Kid the girls are adorable.  Finley is such a beautiful baby.

[aussielozzie18]

I think DD should buy a lottery ticket - 12 flights across 6 airlines, multiple countries and their baggage never got lost at all.

3 outdoor concerts, 3 outdoor music festivals and one indoor hockey game across the UK, USA and Canada in 8 weeks and neither of them got Covid.

DD landed safely home this afternoon at Sydney airport.

 

 At the same time DS checked in at Honolulu airport for his flight to Anchorage via Seattle. He is flying Delta not Southwest.

[sgmn]

13 hours ago, Jimbo said:

 

First day of School for Pulaski, Va. High School here was yesterday August 14th.

 

May 26th 2023 will be the last day.

so our state schools dont break up for the summer hols until around 20th July for six weeks roughly.  Personally I think it should be earlier as by August summer is nearly over.  But they do get two weeks at Christmas and Easter and three half term one week breaks around mid Oct, mid Feb and mid May.

so each half term is around six weeks long  

[sgmn]

10 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Your Grandsons are very handsome young men!    Enjoy every moment 🥰

I love chicken schnitzel.   What type of schnitzel does your DH make?

i make a pork schnitzel, having spent a lot of his formative years in Germany it is my husbands fav meal 

[sgmn]

9 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Would your DIL be okay with if you taught the boys how to swim?   I think the boys would really appreciate learning from you.

ive already bought 15 month Isaac some swim trainer nappies, and a tiny splash pool for our back garden. hoping to take him to the toddler open air splash pool at our local childrens play area before the end of the Summer .

Like Dani I love swimming and all things sea related, I think Isaacs mum has taken him to baby swim classes already.  Think once they have had all their baby jabs they are ok to go   

[sgmn]

today its a little cooler thank goodness but still no rain yesterday or today yet.  They keep promising rain but it keeps missing our area.  Very humid though and thunderstorms are forecasted