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

[brillohead]

On 10/12/2022 at 7:29 AM, Ocean Boy said:

Lets see, would I rather be home with my high speed internet or be on Explorer with its pre dial up era internet. Hummm, tough decision. Yeah. I'm feeling a lot of empathy for you.😁

 

Seriously though, the internet on Adventure drove me crazy so I actually do appreciate your frustration.

Yep, a bad day on a cruise ship beats a good day at home!  I'm spending Turn Around Day channeling my inner Super Mario -- brought my laptop up to the Solarium to FINALLY get caught up on this thread. 

 

I moved one room away from my first week's stateroom, and just that extra few feet moved me far enough that I have no signal in the room most of the time.  Signal is strong in the Solarium, and most people haven't logged onto the internet yet (still in Miami), so I have pretty decent speeds for catching up here:

 

[DaniDanielle]

24 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

We saw quite a few police talking to some teenagers afterward, so I know they were trying.

 

It was eerie walking out and seeing all of the shoes(!), spilled drinks, dropped food, etc. that was left behind in the panic.

What an experience.  On a happy note, your family is beautiful!!

Renee, imagine the poor shopkeepers when they have no idea what purse people want to buy😳

[brillohead]

On 10/12/2022 at 8:41 AM, grapau27 said:

Our 2 days each D+ free internet on Anthem last month  which we used on sea days was very good.

Explorer still has the old-fashioned internet service, not even the O3B, so it's pretty horrid.

[brillohead]

On 10/12/2022 at 12:39 PM, Momof3gurlz said:

I’m a little annoyed with RC right now.  Our last few cruises we’ve purchased drink packages once onboard. Andy doesn’t drink alcohol, but does love espressos, Diet Coke, virgin Pina Colada’s and an occasional Red Bull. Onboard, we’ve been able to purchase the DBP for me and Refreshment Pkg for him with no problem, but paying full price for both.  I recently read some drink thread that mentioned doing this over the phone ahead of time and getting a discounted price.  So I called today, the rep initially said, yes we can do this.  Then she needed a supervisor to override, put me on hold for about 15 minutes and came back to say the can’t do it because no more changes can be made to our cruise planner (we sail 10/30).  When I questioned this, the reason became “the drink packages are sold out”. Huh??  I replied that’s odd because I can go into the cruise planner right now and purchase DBP for both of us, so it’s clearly not sold out - seems more like you just don’t want to give it to me at the discounted price.  She just kept giving me the company line so I gave up.  I’m not sure it’s worth the aggravation of trying again, or just pay more onboard.  

 

Try purchasing just the Refreshment for one online, then call in and add the DBP for the other over the phone.

 

[jagsfan]

A week ago today our daughter Lisa and her husband Jon single-handedly hosted almost 70 people for a family reunion. 
A number flying from other states, but none of our Maine relatives made it. We were all disappointed about that but managed to have a two day blast, anyway. 
Jon did all the cooking, lunch and dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday. 
Then pizza in the afternoon Sunday because nobody was leaving. 
It was so wonderful to be together for fun and not funerals!

I wish I was techno savvy! 
These pictures are not in the order I put them in! 

The moon was up, center left, and the trail you see bottom right is a launch  from Canaveral, a couple of hours south. 

Our son-in-law Jon, probably the only time he sat down. Then a close up of the rising moon that one of the guys took with a much newer iPhone. Second one was taken by me with my 8Plus. Big difference!

And Lisa, me, and my son Scott. 

And last, Dick, whose family we were celebrating, with two of our granddaughters, Megan, who is now a practicing attorney in Chicago, and Hannah, our CPA 

 

Most of the out of towners and a few diehards ie my immediate family. 

 

[HBE4]

On 10/14/2022 at 10:48 AM, DaniDanielle said:

We will be there end of next week.  I will come find you!!!

 

Ah, it would have been nice to finally meet someone in person but unfortunately I'm going in the beginning of the week.  While Hard Rock was generous in luring me back to help me spend my money, they weren't generous enough to comp me weekend nights. The offer was good for Sun night - Thur night.   Normally I would book as late in the week as possible as I feel they energy level gets higher as the weekend approaches - more people, more things to do, bands, shows, etc. Early in the week tends to be quieter. But I have my annual physical on Thursday & I need to be home and detox for a few days prior. I had thought about rescheduling but my family doctor is so popular he's now booking 14 months out!

 

However, I am hoping that quiet casino leads to more available slot machines that pay out more often & lower table limits.

 

[Sunshine3601]

39 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Sounds like you are getting better.   Thankful.   Thanks for following along.   I hope I can help entertain while you need to isolate.   Thankful you have such a caring husband.   Make sure he brings you plenty of 💧 water.  😁

I'm sitting on lounge chair with a 1 liter bottle of smart water while he is mowing and mulching up some leaves.  Almost feels like I'm on a cruise😁

I hope you, Sharon and your friends have a great time.    Glad you were able to get your reservations done and enjoy nice lunch at Giovannis.

Are you going to check out West Deck Restaurant in Aruba for dinner and sunset?

 

[TravelGirlinDallas]

27 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

And Lisa, me, and my son Scott. 

Nice to see a photo of you! Glad you had such a nice family reunion.

Edited October 15, 2022 by TravelGirlinDallas

[lenquixote66]

12 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Ah, it would have been nice to finally meet someone in person but unfortunately I'm going in the beginning of the week.  While Hard Rock was generous in luring me back to help me spend my money, they weren't generous enough to comp me weekend nights. The offer was good for Sun night - Thur night.   Normally I would book as late in the week as possible as I feel they energy level gets higher as the weekend approaches - more people, more things to do, bands, shows, etc. Early in the week tends to be quieter. But I have my annual physical on Thursday & I need to be home and detox for a few days prior. I had thought about rescheduling but my family doctor is so popular he's now booking 14 months out!

 

However, I am hoping that quiet casino leads to more available slot machines that pay out more often & lower table limits.

 

I met Arzeena from this board but over the years I have met many people who post on CC .

[Sunshine3601]

13 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Ah, it would have been nice to finally meet someone in person but unfortunately I'm going in the beginning of the week.  While Hard Rock was generous in luring me back to help me spend my money, they weren't generous enough to comp me weekend nights. The offer was good for Sun night - Thur night.   Normally I would book as late in the week as possible as I feel they energy level gets higher as the weekend approaches - more people, more things to do, bands, shows, etc. Early in the week tends to be quieter. But I have my annual physical on Thursday & I need to be home and detox for a few days prior. I had thought about rescheduling but my family doctor is so popular he's now booking 14 months out!

 

However, I am hoping that quiet casino leads to more available slot machines that pay out more often & lower table limits.

 

Good luck and have fun!

Lbi chowderfest is tomorrow, expect lots of traffic on parkway, etc. This weekend and Monday.

[lenquixote66]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I'm sitting on lounge chair with a 1 liter bottle of smart water while he is mowing and mulching up some leaves.  Almost feels like I'm on a cruise😁

I hope you, Sharon and your friends have a great time.    Glad you were able to get your reservations done and enjoy nice lunch at Giovannis.

Are you going to check out West Deck Restaurant in Aruba for dinner and sunset?

 

I hope you are feeling better ,Debbie.It feels like Spring here today,67 and sunny.

[Sunshine3601]

25 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

A week ago today our daughter Lisa and her husband Jon single-handedly hosted almost 70 people for a family reunion. 
A number flying from other states, but none of our Maine relatives made it. We were all disappointed about that but managed to have a two day blast, anyway. 
Jon did all the cooking, lunch and dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday. 
Then pizza in the afternoon Sunday because nobody was leaving. 
It was so wonderful to be together for fun and not funerals!

I wish I was techno savvy! 
These pictures are not in the order I put them in! 

The moon was up, center left, and the trail you see bottom right is a launch  from Canaveral, a couple of hours south. 

Our son-in-law Jon, probably the only time he sat down. Then a close up of the rising moon that one of the guys took with a much newer iPhone. Second one was taken by me with my 8Plus. Big difference!

And Lisa, me, and my son Scott. 

And last, Dick, whose family we were celebrating, with two of our granddaughters, Megan, who is now a practicing attorney in Chicago, and Hannah, our CPA 

 

Most of the out of towners and a few diehards ie my immediate family. 

 

Beautiful family.   Sounds like everyone had a lot of fun.  🥰

[HBE4]

12 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Good luck and have fun!

Lbi chowderfest is tomorrow, expect lots of traffic on parkway, etc. This weekend and Monday.

 

That you for the reminder. I forgot chowderfest was reschedule. Not to mention the warm and sunny weekend is going to have sun worshipers tying to get the last of the beach days in.

 

EDIT: And feel better. Hope the symptoms are mild and wishing for a speedy recovery.

Edited October 15, 2022 by HBE4

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, jagsfan said:

A week ago today our daughter Lisa and her husband Jon single-handedly hosted almost 70 people for a family reunion. 
A number flying from other states, but none of our Maine relatives made it. We were all disappointed about that but managed to have a two day blast, anyway. 
Jon did all the cooking, lunch and dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday. 
Then pizza in the afternoon Sunday because nobody was leaving. 
It was so wonderful to be together for fun and not funerals!

I wish I was techno savvy! 
These pictures are not in the order I put them in! 

The moon was up, center left, and the trail you see bottom right is a launch  from Canaveral, a couple of hours south. 

Our son-in-law Jon, probably the only time he sat down. Then a close up of the rising moon that one of the guys took with a much newer iPhone. Second one was taken by me with my 8Plus. Big difference!

And Lisa, me, and my son Scott. 

And last, Dick, whose family we were celebrating, with two of our granddaughters, Megan, who is now a practicing attorney in Chicago, and Hannah, our CPA 

 

Most of the out of towners and a few diehards ie my immediate family. 

 

Looks like a fun time.

Lovely photos.

Graham.

[Tree_skier]

On 10/14/2022 at 12:52 PM, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

It was a long flight, didn’t get much sleep on the plane but we made it to Rome.  From there we took the train to Florence.  Checked into our hotel- Palazzo Niccolini al Duomo, right near the Florence cathedral.   

 

We had to rest a bit since Merv was not very happy from all that sitting on the plane and then all walking we had to do.  We ventured out and found a cute little place near the hotel to grab something to eat.

 

Spaghetti alla Carbonara with Bacon & Eggs

 

Pappardelle al Cinghiale- Pappardelle with Wild Boar Meat Sauce

 

Ossobucco di Vitelli alla Fiorentina- Marrow Bone Fiorentina recipe.  It was all excellent.

I'm envious!  I hope you and Marty have a great trip!

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, helen haywood said:

Has @John&LaLa started a review?

 

Test back. Will start soon😁

[MJSailors]

@TravelGirlinDallasMy goodness, you and you hubby and son had a frightening experience at the fair.Seems to me that causing a stampede should be illegal as calling out “fire”in a crowded theater. Hoping you can remember the good part of your day spent together.

 

@jagsfanThank you for sharing your photos. Your son-in-law is exceptional that he could do all the cooking for the company !

He looks like he is a very kind man.

 

@Sunshine3601 Good that you are feeling better. Fresh air and sunshine,plus water are all good medicine ! Hoping your health continues to improve.

 

Sending good wishes to all-

MJ🙋🏻

[Sunshine3601]

2 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

I hope you are feeling better ,Debbie.It feels like Spring here today,67 and sunny.

I just woke up from a nice long nap on the lounge chair in the sun.   The sun and fresh air felt soo good today.   Time for more water.   

[DaniDanielle]

Valentina hopes you are better❤️

[helen haywood]

12 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I just woke up from a nice long nap on the lounge chair in the sun.   The sun and fresh air felt soo good today.   Time for more water.   

The girls recommend a bath followed by a nap!

[dani negreanu]

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Beautiful family.   Sounds like everyone had a lot of fun.  🥰

 

@jagsfan, Mimi, + 1 😘 🌷

 

 

@Sunshine3601, Debbie, so glad you're on the mend. Keep up the good "work", the first days are annoying, then it gets better.... so long as you've not lost your smell and taste.

[LucasLikesToCruise]

28 minutes ago, singinalot said:

so our good friends caught a 7.5’ gator in the lake…time for a gator fry

 

but charcuterie first

Fried gator is very good, had is several times from all my years living in South Florida. 🐊 

[h20skibum]

3 hours ago, jagsfan said:

A week ago today our daughter Lisa and her husband Jon single-handedly hosted almost 70 people for a family reunion. 

Looks like a great family get together.  We have a family reunion that they have kept going each year, for 120 years.   Of course, Covid years were not well attended.  It includes the descendants of my great great grandfather.  When those older generations had a dozen kids, the numbers really add up.

[BonTexasNY]

5 hours ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

The Fair is very fun, but go on a weekday during the day. The last few times I went, it was with co-workers from SWA during our annual Fair afternoon. I had forgotten how crowded it can get at night, and on a Friday night it was PACKED. It made the whole experience much less fun with rude people pushing to get around you and waiting in line forever to do anything.

 

AND THEN, at the end of the evening, shortly after 9:00 p.m., we were waiting in line to buy tickets to ride the iconic Texas Star Ferris wheel. Suddenly, a huge stampede of screaming people came running by and swallowed us up in it. We had to run or be trampled. I was so worried about Brian since his balance is not great and he tends to fall anyway, because I knew if he fell in that crush of people, he would be seriously injured. We were eventually able to turn into an alley and get out of the crowd; I was trying to shield Andrew from what I assumed was someone with a gun, and Brian was trying to find us.

We thought it was an active shooter situation, but it turned out to be a false alarm. We hid for a while and the panic seemed to die down. Once the coast was clear, we left the Fair immediately. That was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. For a moment, I really thought we were all going to meet Jesus last night. So thankful no one was hurt.

 

One of my friends told me later that the incident actually made the local news, and they closed the Fair an hour early due to the scare. I found a news article online that said some kids were yelling about a shooter (I guess as a prank?) to start some chaos. It worked.

Oh my, how terrifying!!  So glad you were able to duck in that alley. I think I'll pass on the Fair!

4 hours ago, jagsfan said:

A week ago today our daughter Lisa and her husband Jon single-handedly hosted almost 70 people for a family reunion. 
A number flying from other states, but none of our Maine relatives made it. We were all disappointed about that but managed to have a two day blast, anyway. 
Jon did all the cooking, lunch and dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday. 
Then pizza in the afternoon Sunday because nobody was leaving. 
It was so wonderful to be together for fun and not funerals!

I wish I was techno savvy! 
These pictures are not in the order I put them in! 

The moon was up, center left, and the trail you see bottom right is a launch  from Canaveral, a couple of hours south. 

Our son-in-law Jon, probably the only time he sat down. Then a close up of the rising moon that one of the guys took with a much newer iPhone. Second one was taken by me with my 8Plus. Big difference!

And Lisa, me, and my son Scott. 

And last, Dick, whose family we were celebrating, with two of our granddaughters, Megan, who is now a practicing attorney in Chicago, and Hannah, our CPA 

 

Most of the out of towners and a few diehards ie my immediate family. 

 

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family.  

48 minutes ago, singinalot said:

so our good friends caught a 7.5’ gator in the lake…time for a gator fry

 

but charcuterie first

Very beautifully displayed. I could eat every item on that board in a NY minute. 

[dani negreanu]

22 minutes ago, LucasLikesToCruise said:

Fried gator is very good

 

And here I was thinking Crystal ( @singinalot) was kidding... didn't know "gator" meat is edible 😕

 

@xpcdoojk, JC, just curious, did you visit Bucharest or other parts of Romania on this occasion?

 

... "Reminds me of our first river cruise, sailing from Romania."  ....