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

[lenquixote66]

41 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

I interviewed with UPS for a corporate IT job in 1990 and they had a strict no facial hair policy. I think I could have kept my mustache but the beard had to go, even though I kept it short & neatly trimmed.  The real deal breaker was no eating or drinking at your desk. At the time I was a caffeine addict and couldn't function from 8 am until noon unless I had a cup of coffee in my hand at all times.  For those 2 reasons, I turned down a job offer even though the salary & benefits were better. A week later, I had 2 other job offers from other companies that had competitive salaries & I could eat and drink at my desk and keep my beard.

 

Prior to becoming President of the baseball team you root for he was a lawyer with a prominent NYC firm.His firm represented the company that I worked for and over the years we had many casual conversations including the wearing of beards .I laughed to myself when he became President of a sports team that does not allow players and employees to wear beards.

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, doghog said:

I can remember those days of being judged by the length of my hair. The song "Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band comes to my mind. 

Many of the people who were critical of longed hair men now have long hair .

[HBE4]

35 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

When I go in Sept I'm planning on going to see Wicked. Should I just wait until I'm there and buy these discount tickets your are talking about or should I pre-buy to make sure I get tickets.  What is the probability that they would be sold out on a Tuesday or Wednesday nigh?

 

I would buy it ahead of time to make sure you have the tickets you want, especially since you are traveling.   While I've been surprised in the past by the amount of big, popular Broadway shows that were available on a Saturday, it is hit-or-miss.  Sometimes the selection is great, other times disappointing in which case I walk away & get a nice dinner somewhere. But I that flexibility as live 90 minutes away.  Also, sometimes the tickets are the less desirable last row, way off to the side of the theater seats.

 

If you feel daring & want to monitor what's available, you can use this link which is updated the day of performance. Wicked isn't appearing so I'm guess it's sold out.  Weird for a Tuesday in the middle of winter. Must be an extended MLK holiday or people playing "hooky" on a snow day.

 

https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdf/tkts-live/

 

 

Edited January 16 by HBE4

[lenquixote66]

37 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

When I go in Sept I'm planning on going to see Wicked. Should I just wait until I'm there and buy these discount tickets your are talking about or should I pre-buy to make sure I get tickets.  What is the probability that they would be sold out on a Tuesday or Wednesday nigh?

You might want to sign up (free) for playbill.com .They discount many productions

[Tree_skier]

6 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

I would buy it ahead of time to make sure you have the tickets you want, espically since you are traveling.   While I've been surprised in the past by the amount of big, popular Broadway shows that were available on a Saturday, it is hit-or-miss.  Sometimes the selection is great, other times disappointing in which case I walk away & get a nice dinner somewhere. But I that flexibility as live 90 minutes away.  Also, sometimes the tickets are the less desirable last row, way off to the side of the theater seats.

 

If you feel daring & want to monitor what's available, you can use this link which is updated the day of performance. Wicked isn't appearing so I'm guess it's sold out.  Weird for a Tuesday in the middle of winter.

 

https://www.tdf.org/discount-ticket-programs/tkts-by-tdf/tkts-live/

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no show tonight according to the Wicked website.  That being said, I'll probably end up buying my tix in advance to make sure I get what I want.  I have a long way to go they aren't even selling tix for the two days I'll be in NYC

[George C]

12 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

There is no show tonight according to the Wicked website.  That being said, I'll probably end up buying my tix in advance to make sure I get what I want.  I have a long way to go they aren't even selling tix for the two days I'll be in NYC

If you really want to see a certain show I would by in advance but I am sure there will be many good shows at tkts , I prefer going to tkts at Lincoln center which is about a mile from Times Square , they normally have no lines and you wait indoors. We saw wicked last May with tickets from tkts. 

[Luckynana]

44 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

There is no show tonight according to the Wicked website.  That being said, I'll probably end up buying my tix in advance to make sure I get what I want.  I have a long way to go they aren't even selling tix for the two days I'll be in NYC

Wicked is an awesome play!!!

[Tree_skier]

3 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Wicked is an awesome play!!!

DD and SIL saw it in LA when it was on tour a year or so ago...  They raved about it. I have wanted to see it for quite some time.  Where better to see it than in NYC where all began.  

 

I saw Les Mis in London. 

[ATG]

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

I interviewed with UPS for a corporate IT job in 1990 and they had a strict no facial hair policy. I think I could have kept my mustache but the beard had to go, even though I kept it short & neatly trimmed.  The real deal breaker was no eating or drinking at your desk. At the time I was a caffeine addict and couldn't function from 8 am until noon unless I had a cup of coffee in my hand at all times.  For those 2 reasons, I turned down a job offer even though the salary & benefits were better. A week later, I had 2 other job offers from other companies that had competitive salaries & I could eat and drink at my desk and keep my beard.

 

When I worked as a consultant, UPS was one of the clients I worked with.  They didn’t even have water or coffee for meetings at their office.  They were also one of the few clients we all had to dress up for.  Business suit with heels for me.  I hated going there.  I’m a coffee addict and couldn’t work without it.  I’ve cut way back in retirement, but still enjoy it.

[bobmacliberty]

I'd also suggest buying Wicked tix in advance.  Our show (Saturday matinee) was sold out, although some of those tickets could have been sold earlier by TKTS.  The line for the TKTS booths was VERY long...extending well past the roped off area for the line and snaking around Father Duffy Square.  I'm guessing it was at least 30 minutes long, maybe even an hour.  I doubt that's not normal but certainly possible.  We glanced at the monitor showing which tickets were available and there were very few Broadway shows listed.  Mostly just off Broadway stuff.  We were there midafternoon so maybe the good tickets were sold earlier in the day??

[bobmacliberty]

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

Were you able to venture to Bryant Park?

 

We took a stroll through Bryant Park.  The Winter Village physical booths were still there but most were empty, other than signs showing what used to be there.  People were still enjoying the ice rink and food/drinks.

 

 

[h20skibum]

3 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Hard to find "deals" like they were after the start up.  We used to book our on.  Now we find our best deals from "the" TA.  Group rates and OBC. He can check out a time period or a particular departure port.  In the past year or so using a TA has been the best option.   Easy and less expensive. 

Agree we will never see deals like they were after the startup, at least not until the next pandemic.  
 

Can always get good group rates, but there were also other sweeteners like Celebrity including premium drinks, or other things.  
 

I think even the days of decent group rates will be gone, if people keep booking at ever higher prices.  

[bobmacliberty]

Thursday had the best weather forecast so we decided to go to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Thursday morning.  This is one of the 5 observation decks that now exist in NYC.  The OGs are the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.  The newer players are the SUMMIT OV, One World Observatory at One World Trade Center, and The Edge in Hudson Yards.  We chose SUMMIT OV because of the immersive art experience and its proximity to Grand Central Station, the NY Public Library, and Bryant Park.  I'd highly recommend it.

 

SUMMIT OV covers the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd floors on the One Vanderbilt Tower, which was opened in 2020.  There also some introductory things in the lobby area at the ground floor.  The elevator ride to the top is very quick and barely feels like you're moving.  You are let out on the lowest of the 3 floors and you work your way up.  The lower 2 floors are completely indoors with floor to ceiling windows everywhere, and the top floor has an outdoor area.  The immersive art experience comes from the mirrored floors and ceilings, a silver mylar "balloon room", and a large digital display screen.  There's also a completely glassed in area (including floor) that you can stand in.  The website does a better job of explaining the "art" than I can.

 

Here are the views from the lower floor, starting with the view west looking at Hudson Yards and New Jersey.

 

Then looking north toward Central Park

 

And then east toward Queens/Brooklyn, wrapping around to see the indoor space

 

 

I didn't take a video facing south but got a few pictures in that direction.  Of course, I had to include a picture of the Empire State Building.

 

 

 

Interesting point of view looking DOWN at the Chrysler Building

 

 

And I worked up the courage to overcome my fear of heights and stand on the glass floor.  Looking 1100 feet down to Madison Avenue. 🫣😵🥴

 

 

You may notice the little booties on my feet.  Everyone had to wear these to protect the mirrored floors.  The also gave you sunglasses if you didn't have your own (to be returned at the end) since all of the mirrored surfaces brightly reflected the sun.

 

Here's the open area of the bottom floor, called Air: Transcendence.  

 

 

And looking down toward that area from the floor above.

 

 

It can definitely be a little discombobulating.  And finally, what the artist calls Air: Affinity, but what I call the balloon room.

 

 

Like I said earlier, I'd highly recommend SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

 

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

Wicked is an awesome play!!!

 

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

DD and SIL saw it in LA when it was on tour a year or so ago...  They raved about it. I have wanted to see it for quite some time.  Where better to see it than in NYC where all began. 

 

I had low expectations for Wicked and loved it! One of my favorites, up there with Chicago, Book of Mormons, Spamalot, Kinky Boots & Come From Away.  That's kinda what my taste in Broadway.

 

38 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

  I'm guessing it was at least 30 minutes long, maybe even an hour.  I doubt that's not normal but certainly possible. 

 

I've usually waited 30-45 minutes. When the weather is nice & you've got a good crowd, time goes by quickly.  I've never done it during the winter months.

 

[HBE4]

12 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Like I said earlier, I'd highly recommend SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

 

Amazing.

 

One of these days I'll allow myself enough time to go up there.

Edited January 16 by HBE4

[George C]

4 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

 

I had low expectations for Wicked and loved it! One of my favorites, up there with Chicago, Book of Mormons, Spamalot, Kinky Boots & Come From Away.  That's kinda what my taste in Broadway.

 

 

I've usually waited 30-45 minutes. When the weather is nice & you've got a good crowd, time goes by quickly.  I've never done it during the winter months.

 

Again hardly any wait time in Lincoln center tkts , I am surprised not that many shows currently on tkts, the ones we liked are 

Beautiful Noise- Neil Diamond

Book of Mormon 

Spamalot 

Some like it hot

 

we bought Some like it hot tickets from tkts and seats were tiny , I am 6’4” and 270 , we asked usher if there were any way we could buy better tickets, he asked us to wait , we were ten passed to a couple of people, then they put us in a private booth that could seat 6 people, seats were fantastic, the woman in charge said we should always ask.

 

[akcruz]

40 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Thursday had the best weather forecast so we decided to go to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Thursday morning.  This is one of the 5 observation decks that now exist in NYC.  The OGs are the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.  The newer players are the SUMMIT OV, One World Observatory at One World Trade Center, and The Edge in Hudson Yards.  We chose SUMMIT OV because of the immersive art experience and its proximity to Grand Central Station, the NY Public Library, and Bryant Park.  I'd highly recommend it.

 

SUMMIT OV covers the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd floors on the One Vanderbilt Tower, which was opened in 2020.  There also some introductory things in the lobby area at the ground floor.  The elevator ride to the top is very quick and barely feels like you're moving.  You are let out on the lowest of the 3 floors and you work your way up.  The lower 2 floors are completely indoors with floor to ceiling windows everywhere, and the top floor has an outdoor area.  The immersive art experience comes from the mirrored floors and ceilings, a silver mylar "balloon room", and a large digital display screen.  There's also a completely glassed in area (including floor) that you can stand in.  The website does a better job of explaining the "art" than I can.

 

Here are the views from the lower floor, starting with the view west looking at Hudson Yards and New Jersey.

 

Then looking north toward Central Park

 

And then east toward Queens/Brooklyn, wrapping around to see the indoor space

 

 

I didn't take a video facing south but got a few pictures in that direction.  Of course, I had to include a picture of the Empire State Building.

 

 

 

Interesting point of view looking DOWN at the Chrysler Building

 

 

And I worked up the courage to overcome my fear of heights and stand on the glass floor.  Looking 1100 feet down to Madison Avenue. 🫣😵🥴

 

 

You may notice the little booties on my feet.  Everyone had to wear these to protect the mirrored floors.  The also gave you sunglasses if you didn't have your own (to be returned at the end) since all of the mirrored surfaces brightly reflected the sun.

 

Here's the open area of the bottom floor, called Air: Transcendence.  

 

 

And looking down toward that area from the floor above.

 

 

It can definitely be a little discombobulating.  And finally, what the artist calls Air: Affinity, but what I call the balloon room.

 

 

Like I said earlier, I'd highly recommend SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

 

 

Neat pictures, we did the Edge last fall and while it was nice definitely not worth a second try, this looks so much better, will have to remember if back in NY any time soon.  Looks like you had a beautiful day.

 

 

As for TKTS, there used to be a window by South Street Seaport, DH worked a few blocks away, he would go at lunch time and if anything good was there I would drop the kids off at grandma's and take the train in.  Saw many good shows that way.

[bobmacliberty]

After SUMMIT OV, we decided to check out Grand Central Terminal and have lunch in the lower level food court.  The food was surprisingly good, and we witnessed some of the mental health issues in NYC first hand.  Sad.

 

 

We then took a walk to the Public Library.  You couldn't go into the main reading room unless you were doing research or quiet reading (no tourists walking around, talking, and taking pictures).  However, there was an exhibit called Treasures that we were able to view.  It was an interesting mix of various "treasures" across a wide variety of topics, like an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Dickens desk and reading material, original manuscripts from Mozart and Beethoven, and various documents from a variety of religions. One of my favorites was the original stuffed animals that belonged to Christopher Robin Milne, and inspired his father A.A. Milne to write Winnie-the-Pooh.

 

 

 

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, ATG said:

When I worked as a consultant, UPS was one of the clients I worked with.  They didn’t even have water or coffee for meetings at their office.  They were also one of the few clients we all had to dress up for.  Business suit with heels for me.  I hated going there.  I’m a coffee addict and couldn’t work without it.  I’ve cut way back in retirement, but still enjoy it.

 

From what I understand, many of those rules were from the company founder. He wanted to set the company apart from its competitors by making sure all the employees from top to bottom were  clean-cut and professional looking, whether or not they were customer facing.  I guess the no eating in the work place fell in line with the clean, organized & efficient look,

 

I wonder in today's relaxed work environment with casual dress code, tattoo's, etc, what the rules were.

 

And I've cut back to 2 cups of coffee in the morning. One to get the heart beating and one to get the brain working. 😁

 

[HBE4]

49 minutes ago, George C said:

Again hardly any wait time in Lincoln center tkts , I am surprised not that many shows currently on tkts, the ones we liked are 

Beautiful Noise- Neil Diamond

Book of Mormon 

Spamalot 

Some like it hot

 

we bought Some like it hot tickets from tkts and seats were tiny , I am 6’4” and 270 , we asked usher if there were any way we could buy better tickets, he asked us to wait , we were ten passed to a couple of people, then they put us in a private booth that could seat 6 people, seats were fantastic, the woman in charge said we should always ask.

 

 

Next time, I'll have to try Lincoln Center booth.  

 

Thanks for the tip about moving seats, it never occurred for me to ask.  At 6'2", I have trouble fitting into some seats. I love the beauty and old fashion grandeur of some of the old theaters but man, are the seats cramped! And not very well laid out with restrooms and bars in the most inconvenient locations. Of course, $40+ for 2 drinks, I'm not hitting the bar too often,

 

[bobmacliberty]

When I was working, I had one cup of coffee on the drive to work, and one after I got there.  I enjoyed having something hot to drink so I'd usually have a couple more decafs after that.  After several trips overseas, and with a better understanding of how ounces in equals ounces out as you get older, I've switched to a double espresso every morning.  Gets both my heart and my brain jump started in one go.  No more caffeine after that.  

[HBE4]

32 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

After SUMMIT OV, we decided to check out Grand Central Terminal and have lunch in the lower level food court.  The food was surprisingly good, and we witnessed some of the mental health issues in NYC first hand.  Sad.

 

While mental health issue @ GCT was always there, it's gotten so much worse since the pandemic.

 

Did you try the whispering gallery/echo chamber?

 

Edited January 16 by HBE4

[maggieq]

7 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

We got back from our NYC trip Sunday night.  Played golf and watched the Bills game yesterday, and am sitting at home now while it rains here.  Finally caught up on this thread.

 

We had a great trip.  The Billy Joel concert was incredible.  His energy and his voice at 74...just amazing.  The Book of Mormon was hilarious.  Definitely a lot of adult content.  We did a few other fun things while there and of course had some great food.  Weather was pretty good...mostly in the 40s and even peaking up in the 50s, with some wind.  Temps dropped on Sunday and the wind picked up, delaying our flight out of LGA for an hour.  I watched 4 straight planes trying to land on runway 22 before having to do a go around right before touching down.  They ended up closing that runway and had everything both landing and taking off on runway 31.  I think there were 12 planes waiting in front of us to take off and we spent an extra 30 minutes taxiing. 

 

I'll separately post some pics and videos of the weekend.

@bobmacliberty we agree about the concert.  Voice still amazingly great but did see that he moved with a little challenge.  
 

first trip into nyc prior to Covid. No real traffic on drive in or out. Parked in dock parking and good experience. Had apps and drinks at Fridays.  Not our first choice but they had room immediately and it was warm inside 😊 

 

 

we lucked out with the weather as this week, well that’s another story ❄️ 🧊 🥶 

 

 

Edited January 17 by maggieq

[bobmacliberty]

3 minutes ago, maggieq said:

@bobmacliberty we agree about the concert.  Voice still amazingly great but did see that he moved with a little challenge.  

 

 

 

We noticed that also...he had to shuffle a bit walking around.  He also messed up the lyrics once starting the wrong verse and we wondered if he was reading lyrics and/or music from the tablet/prompter that he had sitting on his piano.  I just assumed that he could play any of his hundreds of songs without even thinking, but that might not be true (anymore).  None of that detracted in any way from our enjoyment.  And we're happy that we got the MSG experience.

[#55worktoplay]

@bobmacliberty  wow, thanks for sharing your tour. Pictures are amazing. I don’t think I would be able to walk in the mirror glass area, I am sure I would walk into a wall or something and not only that I would look like an idiot trying to walk around.