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

[island lady]

25 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

My dad was a maintenance electrician in a local shipyard and often went up to high area's in ships being built and crane's setting up the electrical lighting cables, welding cables etc.

 

Ahh...more towards like what Bucky did then.  He worked for a worldwide company that installed Air Heaters in power plants.  Was on hand to supervise the work, with each plant supplying him a team.  He did the electrical part of it, and also worked as an electrician during the condo boom in Ft. Lauderdale.  

 

Bucky spent a lot of time up "up on the steel" he called it, walking the girders.   Good view from there...would scare the crap out of me!!  😮 

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Hey I'm a rookie compared to everyone else here. We have only been on 2 with Royal. For whatever reason, I don't mind the MDR. We like the specialty restaurants in the evening so we have had no real reason to eat in the WJ. With 3 cruises booked now, we will try and experiment a little more.

 

I pretty much only do dinner in WJ if it's stir fry. Symphony does stir fry almost every night

[island lady]

36 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

We always get the hot breakfast room service and sit on our balcony to eat it.

We usually get the breakfast delivery between 7.30-8.00am.

 

I remembered your pretty table cloth you used out there.  I bought one (but not as pretty) to bring to CA on Friday.  The two places we will stay at have nice decks with small table set up to sit outside to enjoy a glass of wine, and will hope for good weather to do breakfast out there.  

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

I married a lawyer, kind of hard to win arguments.😉

 

[island lady]

22 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Congratulations in advance Pat.

40th on August 22nd for us.

 

And congrats to you and the lovely Pauline as well!  Wow...lots of milestone anniversaries coming up with a lot of us.  🥰

[island lady]

5 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I pretty much only do dinner in WJ if it's stir fry. Symphony does stir fry almost every night

 

Light on the Soy Sauce please.  😄 

[John&LaLa]

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

Light on the Soy Sauce please.  😄 

 

I've actually gotten pretty good at creating stir fry when they are doing pasta night at the WJ hot stations. I just go find what I need at salad bar. They don't seem to mind the request

[island lady]

4 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I've actually gotten pretty good at creating stir fry when they are doing pasta night at the WJ hot stations. I just go find what I need at salad bar. They don't seem to mind the request

 

I have done that before.  Fun to "get creative".  🙂 

[grapau27]

17 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Ahh...more towards like what Bucky did then.  He worked for a worldwide company that installed Air Heaters in power plants.  Was on hand to supervise the work, with each plant supplying him a team.  He did the electrical part of it, and also worked as an electrician during the condo boom in Ft. Lauderdale.  

 

Bucky spent a lot of time up "up on the steel" he called it, walking the girders.   Good view from there...would scare the crap out of me!!  😮 

It would me too.

[grapau27]

16 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

I remembered your pretty table cloth you used out there.  I bought one (but not as pretty) to bring to CA on Friday.  The two places we will stay at have nice decks with small table set up to sit outside to enjoy a glass of wine, and will hope for good weather to do breakfast out there.  

Sounds brilliant.

I hope the weather is great and you both have a fantastic time.

[Sea Dog]

19 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Symphony does stir fry almost every night

We will be on Symphony September of 2023, I will make note of that and try it. I like the idea of creating your own stir fry. I could have fun with that.

[island lady]

12 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Sounds brilliant.

I hope the weather is great and you both have a fantastic time.

 

Thanks Graham.  Hardly remember what our suitcases look like!  They have been held prisoner in our closet since August!  😮 

[ATG]

We just took our pontoon boat out.  Dave tried to convince me we were cruising.  No music, no frozen drinks and I’m going to cook dinner.  That’s not a cruise.  But it was a gorgeous day out on the lake.

[Tree_skier]

6 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

If you get up when I do the Windjammer is quite pleasant for breakfast also.

I'm usually in the Windjammer before 7 every morning and has always been a very pleasant experience.  I have been getting up early for so long sleeping is 7 am.  I've been to the MDR a few times for breakfast but I like picking and choosing a little bit of everything so it is usually the Windjammer for me.  

[Coralc]

I know people have been posting photos of their plants. My joy is growing peonies. This particular variety has a presidential backstory. I received this plant (tuber) from local a grower 20+ years ago. Ever since Jimmy Carter was president, they have been the official peony provider to the White House Florist. They are used in arrangements for state dinners and White House decor. 

 

Edited April 27, 2021 by Coralc

[h20skibum]

We drove to a park in Ohio today. Hiked a few trails, and enjoyed some of the flowers in bloom. 

 

 

 

Also found a heron hanging around the lake. 
 

 

 

 

[reallyitsmema]

30 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

I'm usually in the Windjammer before 7 every morning and has always been a very pleasant experience.  I have been getting up early for so long sleeping is 7 am.  I've been to the MDR a few times for breakfast but I like picking and choosing a little bit of everything so it is usually the Windjammer for me.  

 

There is a buffet in the MDR at breakfast and lunch.  You can choose to order off the menu, you can choose just buffet, or you can choose a combination of both.  We order our eggs off the menu and then go get fruit or pastry to have while we wait for our order to come out.  At lunch, there is a really nice dessert buffet.

[Momof3gurlz]

8 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Wouldn't be on Harmony that I know of, unless I missed it, and haven't been on a Quantum class ship, but the most popular class of ship for what you are describing is the Radiance series.  But actually on those four ladies, the outside area is pretty good size.  

 

Oasis class does have the Solarium cafe that has outdoor area buffet.  

Definitely Anthem then. We haven’t sailed on Radiance class and I know for sure it wasn’t Solarium (which we also love) because it was right outside WJ at the back of the ship. 

[Tree_skier]

So today it was decided we need to do a some sort of non-cruise vacation this fall.  My schedule is jammed until the fall so anything but an overnight on the coast is out until then. We have Liberty of the Sea booked for Dec but who knows if that goes.  So we're looking at late October or November.

 

I'm looking for advise... Three options are on the table.

 

Option #1 NYC... I have always wanted to spend a week in the Big Apple.  My concern with this option is a big part of what I want to experience in NYC, like a Broadway show, is currently not available and I have no way of knowing if it will be in November.  When I go to NYC for the first time I want to experience NYC not virus NYC.  How open can we expect NYC to be by the time we get there. DW isn't a big city girl so I would want to get out of town for a few of the days and experience a little slower and relaxed environment. What would be a good driving distance destination from NYC for tourists. Any recommendations about NYC in Oct/Nov... 

 

Option #2 Hawaii... DW has always wanted to go but we never have.  May 2020 we were supposed to be on Radiance coming from HI to YVR, obviously cancelled. L&S to May 2021 cancelled again.  Now 2022/23 is booked with other cruises so Hawaii is out for a very long time.  I've never been to HI and really don't know much about it. As beginners should we stick to one island or plan for 2 or 3 or etc?

For DW flora and fauna and lava are her interests, mine are, as always city life, dining and adventure. I'd be interested in Pearl Harbor, as well. Can we satisfy our diverse interests on one island? Thoughts about Hawaii at that time...

 

Option #3 DW also suggested Branson.  I'd prefer to skip this one but since she mentioned it and I told her I was getting advise from my CC friends I would mention it as well.  I'm worried about the weather and getting showed out.  We've been to Branson several times before but usually just for a few days doing a different show every day.  Seven days in row might bore me if the weather was dodgy like it can be at that time of year and other, more exciting, activities were not available.  Thoughts and opinions...

 

 

[mets07]

7 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

 

I'm looking for advise... Three options are on the table.

OK. I was born in Manhattan and grew up in Queens, so of course I ❤️ NY.  However, I just don't know about right now given it is not the full NYC experience at the moment (and may still not be in the Oct/Nov timeframe).  Although Fall in NY is beautiful and comfortable weather-wise.

 

I have never been to Branson. Someday, I hope. 

 

I have been to Hawaii once (although a long time ago) and would lean toward that. I spent most of my time in Maui but did visit Pearl Harbor as well. Went with some friends and absolutely loved it. It seems it would be a good combination of things you both like (minus the city part). Aloha? 😉

[Momof3gurlz]

10 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

So today it was decided we need to do a some sort of non-cruise vacation this fall.  My schedule is jammed until the fall so anything but an overnight on the coast is out until then. We have Liberty of the Sea booked for Dec but who knows if that goes.  So we're looking at late October or November.

 

I'm looking for advise... Three options are on the table.

 

Option #1 NYC... I have always wanted to spend a week in the Big Apple.  My concern with this option is a big part of what I want to experience in NYC, like a Broadway show, is currently not available and I have no way of knowing if it will be in November.  When I go to NYC for the first time I want to experience NYC not virus NYC.  How open can we expect NYC to be by the time we get there. DW isn't a big city girl so I would want to get out of town for a few of the days and experience a little slower and relaxed environment. What would be a good driving distance destination from NYC for tourists. Any recommendations about NYC in Oct/Nov... 

 

Option #2 Hawaii... DW has always wanted to go but we never have.  May 2020 we were supposed to be on Radiance coming from HI to YVR, obviously cancelled. L&S to May 2021 cancelled again.  Now 2022/23 is booked with other cruises so Hawaii is out for a very long time.  I've never been to HI and really don't know much about it. As beginners should we stick to one island or plan for 2 or 3 or etc?

For DW flora and fauna and lava are her interests, mine are, as always city life, dining and adventure. I'd be interested in Pearl Harbor, as well. Can we satisfy our diverse interests on one island? Thoughts about Hawaii at that time...

 

Option #3 DW also suggested Branson.  I'd prefer to skip this one but since she mentioned it and I told her I was getting advise from my CC friends I would mention it as well.  I'm worried about the weather and getting showed out.  We've been to Branson several times before but usually just for a few days doing a different show every day.  Seven days in row might bore me if the weather was dodgy like it can be at that time of year and other, more exciting, activities were not available.  Thoughts and opinions...

 

 

Only input I can provide is re: NYC.  Within driving distance from the city, I’d suggest Long Island.  My daughter lived on the north shore in Port Jefferson for a couple of years.  When we first visited her there, it was not at all what I expected.  Lots of cute little downtown areas, wineries, farmland and of course the high end Hamptons.  But I would share your concerns about what type of NYC experience you’ll.  We love the city, the lights, the sights, the excitement, all the different neighborhoods and fabulous food.  Not sure you’ll get the true experience this year?

[h20skibum]

I would give a vote for Hawaii.  For a first time visit, I would do one week in Maui and one week in Oahu.  There are lots of things to see and do on both of those islands.  
 

I have been there 7 times now, and my favorite is Maui because it is much more laid back. 

[mets07]

Just now, Momof3gurlz said:

Within driving distance from the city, I’d suggest Long Island.

I do second the Long Island idea if you go to NYC.  Robert Moses State Park is a beautiful area. It is the western most part of Fire Island and the Fire Island National Seashore.  There is a lighthouse to visit and one can walk a mile to the beach town of Kismet and have lunch at one of a few local establishments. 

 

[Coralc]

Yes. But you should spend a few days in Hilo to visit Volcano National Park, and take a helicopter excursion if you can . Paradise Helicopters out of the Hilo airport. It is awesome, and you will get the best view of the active lava along with a narration from the pilot.  Volcano National Park and then Lava Trees State Park. Have breakfast at Ken's Pancake House. 

Edited April 27, 2021 by Coralc

[BonTexasNY]

5 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I've actually gotten pretty good at creating stir fry when they are doing pasta night at the WJ hot stations. I just go find what I need at salad bar. They don't seem to mind the request

They really do go out of their way for you.  On LOS lunchtime, I asked a waiter in the WJ if he knew which foods were low sodium.  He had someone come over, escort us to a table, asked what my food preference was.  Not 10 mins later he brought over plates filled with low sodium salads/dressing, veggies, chicken, beef, no salt laden gravy.   He told me to ask for him anytime we were there.  Now, THAT deserved an extra tip.