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

StanleyandGus · 2024-10-25T18:45:49Z

I noticed on my walk today that the jackrabbits are changing colours. It was 5 degrees (41 for the Americans reading!). We’ve been having frosty mornings for a bit now- I am procrastinating about pulling out my snapdragons, but I guess this is their last week before they go all nasty.

My husband is very happy because he’s getting permanently installed holiday lights. Apparently you can choose your sports teams, and when they score, there’s a wave of lights around the house in the appropriate colours!

Arzeena · 2024-10-25T18:57:59Z

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

Thank you both, I appreciate it.

I figured I'd use the roll call thread for general cruise questions not related to the Bella group and any Bella-related questions I would post either here or the Bella thread. Maybe the Bella thread since this thread can be fast moving at times & questions/answers may get lost in the crowd.

I see a lot of new posters buzzing on the roll call.

Edited 10 hours ago by Arzeena

lenquixote66 · 2024-10-25T19:07:40Z

4 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you @Ocean Boy.

Our clocks go back 1 hour on the Last Sunday in October.

Our clocks go forward 1 hour on the last Sunday in March.

Best wishes for a very happy birthday ,Graham.

Sorry for your loss.

lenquixote66 · 2024-10-25T19:09:32Z

3 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

We leave for our cruise tomorrow, sailing on Sunday. Both days of glorious weather, sunny low 80s. Three Buc'cees on the way down to Galveston!

We didn't buy an internet package. Does anyone know if we can use Cozumel, Costa Maya, Roatan free wi-fi when in port without roaming charges? What about airplane mode?

@firefly333 Hope you enjoyed your cruises so far. Looking forward to seeing you on our upcoming cruise.

Have a wonderful cruise,Bonnie.Enjoy every moment.

firefly333 · 2024-10-25T19:13:50Z

Joke or for real. In the card room where there are library books, a book on rome has a tag saying if you steal this book and take it off the ship a alarm might go off.

A couple of pinnacle couples saw it and said it's someone putting on tags as a joke, not real. She said she has been on many cruises and never saw other tags like this tourist book on rome. Any possibility it's real and royal put the tag on or someone doing as a joke.

grapau27 · 2024-10-25T19:20:20Z

12 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

Best wishes for a very happy birthday ,Graham.

Sorry for your loss.

Thank you Lenny.

StanleyandGus · 2024-10-25T19:20:48Z

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Joke or for real. In the card room where there are library books, a book on rome has a tag saying if you steal this book and take it off the ship a alarm might go off.

A couple of pinnacle couples saw it and said it's someone putting on tags as a joke, not real. She said she has been on many cruises and never saw other tags like this tourist book on rome. Any possibility it's real and royal put the tag on or someone doing as a joke.

We may or may not have a copy of Kim by Rudyard Kipling from Independence. I’m pretty sure that it was an assigned reading for a literature class, and Royal spent no money on it!

bobmacliberty · 2024-10-25T19:38:36Z

19 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Joke or for real. In the card room where there are library books, a book on rome has a tag saying if you steal this book and take it off the ship a alarm might go off.

A couple of pinnacle couples saw it and said it's someone putting on tags as a joke, not real. She said she has been on many cruises and never saw other tags like this tourist book on rome. Any possibility it's real and royal put the tag on or someone doing as a joke.

If Royal has had a problem with people taking books, I wouldn't be surprised if it's real. They might have attached a passive RFID tag somewhere on the book. They only cost a few cents. Or they just put a sticker on the book to scare people. Kind of like putting a security system sticker on your house window to scare away burglars when you don't actually have a security system.

bobmacliberty · 2024-10-25T19:43:48Z

3 hours ago, HBE4 said:

I'm also really bad at remembering names, unless it's a unique name. Also, I don't really pay attention when someones real name is used in a post so I only remember CC names.

Maybe we all can wear name tags with both real & CC names on them? 😅

Hmm, that might be a solution. I hope the guys don't mind if I call them darlin'😁😉

Took me a while to get used to being called darlin' or sweetie or baby after moving here...especially by women who are the same age or younger than my daughters. You would be the first man though. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 😁

Arzeena · 2024-10-25T19:59:49Z

9 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Took me a while to get used to being called darlin' or sweetie or baby after moving here...especially by women who are the same age or younger than my daughters. You would be the first man though. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 😁

Sweetie,😁

Sometime back I witnessed a psycho woman yelling and screaming at a younger Starbucks barista who addressed her as "my dear". She went crazy on the younger girl, asked for her name, asked for the manager, took pictures, called the head office, and all the drama!

I would rather be a "my dear" or :a "sweetie" than a "hey lady"! 😁

Tree_skier · 2024-10-25T20:08:40Z

Can't wait!

This one bridges the gap between my 7 day last month on Navigator and my S2S on Icon/Oasis leaving at the end of November.

I need everyone's opinion on the upcoming S2S coming up in a month. On both cruises I have the UDP booked. DW is encouraging me to cancel the UDP on Icon. We have friends who were on Icon in April and they have bragged about the food on Icon so much that she thinks it is a waste of money and just wants me to cancel but book lunch on Embarkation at Giovanni's just to avoid the mad crush, We would keep the UDP on the second week when we are on Oasis.

Thoughts?

BonTexasNY · 2024-10-25T20:47:01Z

4 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

That depends on your carrier or if you can log in to a facility you are visiting.

Are you doing excursions or just staying on the ship?

No excursions. We plan on walking around the port areas. Places at the ports advertise "free wifi" so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some cell action. Not too important, just curious.

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Dont hate on me but for me this week I'm either too hot or too cold. Florida I left 88 or 89 highs. Last 2 weeks I was fine. Last sunday it was 70 in Galveston and I didnt pack anything warm. So I bought a top and bottom fleece. Others also were caught and cold. So they must have turned off the ac. The WJ that night was a sauna. Little kids screaming and felt like 90. Went down to casino later that night and also like a sauna so hot as it too was packed with bodies and no ac.

Then the next night I promised this one lady who is all that showed up to Mdr I'd come. I was so cold i was shivering. I shivered for 20 minutes in a light weight dresserier top and then my stomach started too and I couldn't eat. I said sorry but i need to go get my fleece. Night 2 is dress up night but I kept her company. I keep my condo 82 to 84. I'd guess it was 75 or 76 in the Mdr. I really was shivering, my stomach still hurt the next day.

I talked to another couple who flew in from SC and he bought a light weight kinda wind breaker in the logo store that looks nice I think looks better than fleece. He pointed to his wife and says she bought one of those $10 shawls she was wearing. They too were freezing. This was in the crown lounge. Last night I'm freezing again. Costa maya wifi out all over the area. So I'm told, so phone service didnt work.

Last stop is today cozumel. My tablet takes such poor pictures idk if you can tell but its pouring and foggy. I have my cabin ac turned off, it's still cold in here imo. Maybe I'm just old but my body isnt adapting to these constant texas changes. I now gotta get a whole bulky outfit, top and bottoms home, I bought the pants too. Others besides me I overheard say the ship is having trouble adapting to suddenly cooler weather.

Idk if you can see how hard it's raining here in cozumel. I took a picture of the carnival ship that maybe shows it's also kinda foggy. I know my picture taking stinks. But it's raining hard here. I dont care for me, but too bad for families. My suitcase will be brimming over. I also got a crystal block. I gave away all my champagne but will have another bottle next week if you want. Flying so cant the champagne home. I'd give away the block if my arm was twisted a bit. My suitcase will be FULL. Looking forward to seeing you next week.

So sorry you experienced this. I always pack a light sweater and a hoodie, one or two long sleeve tops, the rest short sleeve. I find the nightclub always cold. There was cold air blowing under the seats freezing our legs. 🙁 I ordered a Miami Vice to warm me up. 😉

Are the balcony chairs the same as those on Oasis? I found the chairs on Bella comfy and read quite a bit out there.

You sure keep your thermostat high at home.

Based on the long range forecast, we're prepared for bad weather. No cooking, cleaning, food shopping, or medical appointments, etc., will still be a definite plus no matter the weather.

#55worktoplay · 2024-10-25T20:53:16Z

20 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

The heater helped me to stay on the deck to catch this....

Last week our LR family spent Thursday and Friday night here. Before they went home the GKs went to the annual Scottish festival.

They are all so sweet.

firefly333 · 2024-10-25T21:10:41Z

19 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

No excursions. We plan on walking around the port areas. Places at the ports advertise "free wifi" so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some cell action. Not too important, just curious.

So sorry you experienced this. I always pack a light sweater and a hoodie, one or two long sleeve tops, the rest short sleeve. I find the nightclub always cold. There was cold air blowing under the seats freezing our legs. 🙁 I ordered a Miami Vice to warm me up. 😉

Are the balcony chairs the same as those on Oasis? I found the chairs on Bella comfy and read quite a bit out there.

You sure keep your thermostat high at home.

Based on the long range forecast, we're prepared for bad weather. No cooking, cleaning, food shopping, or medical appointments, etc., will still be a definite plus no matter the weather.

I guess I like it kind of warm. I took pictures of the new chairs. I'm sure you too have seen comments on this thread about zip ties that were cut to allow the chair to go back more. I didnt cut these. They are angled back. Not what I had on oasis, I think I I had one of ewch a upright and one like this. Now all are like this. I took a picture showing the angle and a close up of the zip tie that keeps it from the position being changed. Though idk if there are other slots. But I've always had at least one upright chair. These are half and half. Not upright and not loungers.

c-leg5 · 2024-10-25T21:14:25Z

20 minutes ago, BonTexasNY said:

No excursions. We plan on walking around the port areas. Places at the ports advertise "free wifi" so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some cell action. Not too important, just curious.

In the port our cell service covers us in Mexico. I have never lingered long enough to use port service within International. Costa Maya used to have it intermittently within the port mainly around the pool but unless they have upgraded it recently I can’t see it being too good with all the increased cruisers descending on Costa Maya. I see @firefly333 said services were down this week in port which is often the case-also in Roatan. Roatan we go to the bar just outside the port but I am sure they have probably improved service within the port now they have started new developments although as stated above service is often out on Roatan.

firefly333 · 2024-10-25T21:14:59Z

1 hour ago, Tree_skier said:

Can't wait!

This one bridges the gap between my 7 day last month on Navigator and my S2S on Icon/Oasis leaving at the end of November.

I need everyone's opinion on the upcoming S2S coming up in a month. On both cruises I have the UDP booked. DW is encouraging me to cancel the UDP on Icon. We have friends who were on Icon in April and they have bragged about the food on Icon so much that she thinks it is a waste of money and just wants me to cancel but book lunch on Embarkation at Giovanni's just to avoid the mad crush, We would keep the UDP on the second week when we are on Oasis.

Thoughts?

I read on some thread that icon has a bigger food budget than other cruises. It's still doing a seafood buffet the day you board with lobster and shrimp. Idk f it was ken or who said they talked to someone who confirmed a bigger food budget. Like for fruit there were a lot of berries to choose from added to the standard fare.

bobmacliberty · 2024-10-25T22:06:29Z

53 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I guess I like it kind of warm. I took pictures of the new chairs. I'm sure you too have seen comments on this thread about zip ties that were cut to allow the chair to go back more. I didnt cut these. They are angled back. Not what I had on oasis, I think I I had one of ewch a upright and one like this. Now all are like this. I took a picture showing the angle and a close up of the zip tie that keeps it from the position being changed. Though idk if there are other slots. But I've always had at least one upright chair. These are half and half. Not upright and not loungers.

I think I'm going to need to bring "industrial nail clippers" on our upcoming Wonder cruise. 😉

Diagonal Wire Cutter

BonTexasNY · 2024-10-25T22:31:00Z

5 hours ago, HBE4 said:

I had the same question. Is that mountain goat? It's huge!!

Maybe the camera adds 10 pounds or it's been eating is or too many candy bars from tourist.

I had no idea what that animal was. Now I know it's a goat on steroids!

1 hour ago, c-leg5 said:

In the port our cell service covers us in Mexico. I have never lingered long enough to use port service within International. Costa Maya used to have it intermittently within the port mainly around the pool but unless they have upgraded it recently I can’t see it being too good with all the increased cruisers descending on Costa Maya. I see @firefly333 said services were down this week in port which is often the case-also in Roatan. Roatan we go to the bar just outside the port but I am sure they have probably improved service within the port now they have started new developments although as stated above service is often out on Roatan.

I need to find out if our cell service covers Mexico. Thanks for the info. This thread really is a wealth of information.

h20skibum · 2024-10-25T22:44:24Z

It has been a really busy week for us, and a busier day today. Our grandkids had no school today, so we planned a full day with them. Lots of traveling to see things and do things.

We started off the day with a visit to a cemetery.

This place was located way out in the country.

I can’t imagine how much this family has invested in their display.

I know most of those large skeletons are pricey.

The kids loved this place. I hear it is more impressive when lit at night.

h20skibum · 2024-10-25T22:50:30Z

Since we were on a Halloween theme morning, we traveled to Ohio to show them the scarecrows I had posted earlier. There were now pumpkins added to the displays.

There were literally hundreds of carved pumpkins. Here are a few.

I am not sure who some of them represent, but this looks like Beatlejuice.

Another mystery one

I may have to try carving one of these.

Perhaps a lion?

A&L_Ont · 2024-10-25T23:00:02Z

53 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

I think I'm going to need to bring "industrial nail clippers" on our upcoming Wonder cruise. 😉

Just put them in your checked bag for flights. 😉

h20skibum · 2024-10-25T23:02:13Z

Moving on from our Halloween theme morning, how about some Christmas? I mean it is only two months from today. Probably a place that @Sea Dog would enjoy.