Harmony B2B Live

[maureencruiser]

Hey, y’all!  Where have you been for the last two years?  Time has not been kind to your girl.  Besides not being able to cruise, I am now on Disability and like everyone else, I have been locked in my house since 2019.  

 

Well, that’s not quite true.  I did manage to sneak out in September for a cruise on MSC Divina.  You can find my “critically reviewed” trip report in the MSC forum, if you dare.  

 

But, if you’ve been eagerly awaiting my return to Royal, you’re in luck.  What originally started as a March 2020 Harmony cruise and a November 2020 Empress cruise have now morphed into a B2B on Harmony, including Thanksgiving.  

 

For those of you lucky enough to have never met me, I’m Maureen, a wisecracking, sarcastic Bostonian transplanted into genteel Lynchburg, Virginia.  Yeah, that’s going well.   🙃 After struggling mightily during my Divina cruise, I am renting a scooter for this B2B.  That should be interesting.  

[maureencruiser]

So, the night before I left, I was packing my travel laptop and wireless mouse.  I went to pull the USB thing for the mouse out of my regular laptop and it broke into two pieces.  The plastic came off in my hand and the metal stayed in the computer.  No matter how I maneuvered it, I couldn’t get it out.  I Googled to find out what to do and learned it is called a dongle.  Not the first time I pulled a dongle too hard and injured it, amirite, ladies?  

 

So, rather than fuu...mess around with it all night, I headed off to Best Buy to buy a new one.  Crisis averted, problem solved.  Obviously, nothing else could possibly go wrong, right?  Right??

 

[Missusdubbya]

Very much looking forward to this! 😁 Bon voyage!

[kpark895]

Glad to see you back!  Anxiously awaiting your adventures.  (And I know there will be some, LOL!)

[maureencruiser]

Although I am sailing solo, I actually know someone on the cruise, an alumnus from my Oasis 2019 cruise, Ryma from Canada.  She is in the cabin across the hall.  Next week, another couple from that cruise are joing us, Brad and Kathryn from Tennessee.  Dale, MrFunInTheSun, was supposed to tag along, as well, but,he is unable to make it.  Luckily for y’all, my time spent in quarantine was not wasted and I believe I have mastered the art of Photoshop.  Here is a picture of Dale and I from the first day we met, in the Rising Tide Bar.

 

 

He claims he was helping me into my chair, I claim he was just trying to grab my butt.  You be the judge.  I was successfully able to Photoshop his face onto a random person’s body and I think the results are quite good, if I do say so myself.  

 

 

I always like a lot of food porn in my reviews, so, here is my dinner from my last night on terra firma.  Chinese food.  In Virginia.  They don’t know what chicken fingers are, so, I have to order sweet and sour chicken, with no sauce.  Plus, beef fried rice.  It’s pretty good.

 

 

 

 

I had to get up at zero dark thirty for my flight.  It was 30 degrees.  In Virginia.  With me in my t-shirt, capris and flip flops.  You know it’s early when the moon is still out.  

 

 

 

I zoomed in once before I froze to death, then called it a day.  

 

 

My flight from Lynchburg to Charlotte to Orlando was uneventful.  I arrived in Orlando at 1pm.

 

[maureencruiser]

Knowing I was arriving two hours before check in, I had requested early check in.  I had also requested a room near the elevator, so, I wouldn’t have to walk so far.  

 

As I said, I arrived in Orlando.  My luggage?  Not so much.  I went to the lost luggage office, filled out a claim and they told me it was still in Charlotte.  No problem, I thought.  It’ll be on the next flight, I thought.  It’ll make a funny story for my review, I thought.  

 

They told me once it was found, they would deliver it to my hotel.  The paperwork they gave me stated they would contact me as soon as it was found.  

 

[maureencruiser]

It was after 3pm when I arrived at the hotel.

 

 

I was at the Springhill Suites near the airport.  

 

I always knew I’d be on TV one day.

 

 

The room was very nice and the people were very friendly.  

 

 

They even provided this giant rolling tray for me. 

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

Side note, I had terrible swelling on my last cruise.  My legs, thick as tree trunks usually, were much worse, to the point of being painful to the touch.  I read all the threads here on CC about how to avoid swelling and decided to do ALL the things.  Chengpk75 always says, on every thread, it is NOT salt in the water.  I have the utmost respect for Cheng and believe everything he says. Despite all that, or as we say in Boston, irregardless, I decided to only drink bottled (canned) water, and, as much of it as I can.  I also got a prescription for Lasix, bought compression stockings (fancy ones with zippers!), got cherry capsules with celery seed, I’m planning on putting my legs up in the air three times a day (insert your own joke or anything else you’d like to insert).  I’m avoiding soup, ice, as much as possible, and eating as much fruit and vegetables as possible.   Even with the scooter, I’m trying to walk as much as I can every day. Of couse, the problem with doing all the things is, if it works, I won’t know what worked.  I’ll have to continue all the things on every cruise.  

 

[mcgore83]

Excited for more Maureen!

[poocher]

Have not yet met you (or any previous posts) but I suspect you are my kinda girl!!  Looking forward!!

[Debcork]

Love your reviews. So glad you’re posting. 😀😀

[tde1969]

Already loving this, tell me more, tell me more

[AKR2011]

I'm so happy to see you back at sea and back on Royal. I can't wait to read about your shenanigans...because I know there will be plenty. Happy sailing!

[maureencruiser]

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, I was starving and dehydrated.  I wanted to go to Bonefish Grill for some Tito’s and lemonade and Bang Bang Shrimp.  

 

I checked the bag tracking app and, success!  My bag had arrived on the 4:30 flight.  I figured it would take them an hour or two to sort it out and once I had my bag I could head out for some well deserved adult beverages.  They said I had to be there to sign for the bag.  

 

5:30, 6:30, 7:30…… I had eaten my leftover Chinese food for breakfast at 5am.  I started poking around in the AA app, looking for a number to call.  There was none.  

 

I opened my laptop to start this review and it was dead, completely black.  The charger was in the suitcase.  

 

8:30, I had ordered 5 bottles of wine from Aldi, delivered by Grubhub.  It’s not Two Buck Chuck, but it’s close.  I started drinking it out of a coffee cup. 

 

 

 

[maureencruiser]

 I called the front desk, just to make sure it wasn’t already delivered.  I was especially concerned because they were supposed to notify me once they found it.  If they had it, but just couldn’t deliver it yet, that’s one thing.  Not having it was another.  I started having visions of some random person watching it spinning on the carousel and just taking it.  I decided to see what I had in my carry on.  

 

 

 

Hmmmm, it’s not looking good for a two week cruise with just six bags of candy, 96 Cruising Ducks, 84 Cruising Ducks bracelets and one Hello Kitty.  I enjoy doing the Ducks and wasn’t planning on doing the 26 Acts of Kindness again, but, when I started packing, I found 26 small gift bags.  I figured since I had my big suitcase, I would do the Acts one last time.   I had to scramble for something to put in them.  I had a dozen decks of playing cards laying around.  I bought some candy, just missing the after Halloween sales , and a few Christmas/Winter decorations.I couldn’t print the cards explaining the Acts, so, I figured I’d use the ducks to let people know they could take the bags.  

 

9:30, I’m practically in tears and I decide to take the hotel shuttle back to the airport, hoping I didn’t cross paths with the guy delivering it, missing him.

 

I told the shuttle driver, I wanted to go to B40, which is where the baggage office was.  He said I should go to the lost and found, which was somewhere else.  I still had visions of my luggage on the carousel and that’s where I wanted to go.  Mind you, I’m walking with a cane, I left my walker at home because I couldn’t imagine wrestling all that up the gangway on my scooter.  

 

I went to the baggage office and there is my suitcase, just sitting there with two other suitcases.  I was livid and Boston came out.  I ranted and raved as I was getting my suitcase, tossing out a few choice words on the way out.  I called the hotel to come pick me up, it had been about a minute since he dropped me off.  

 

They told me to meet him at A4.  A whole other terminal, with a cane and a 45 pound suitcase with two broken wheels, courtesy of AA.  Again, tears welled up in my eyes.  I got outside and took a taxi, $16 I really didn’t need to be spending right now.  I got back to the hotel and  opened the suitcase to discover I had left my hanging toiletry bag at home.  In tears, I ordered curbside from Walgreens and planned to Uber in the morning.  Again, money spent that I don’t have. I tried to order food from Grubhub or UberEats, but couldn't get the apps to work.  I called the front desk, asking which restaurants just deliver on their own.   They said Bronx Pizza and Outback.  I called Bronx Pizza, they were closed, Outback said they don’t deliver.   More tears.  I just went to bed, determined to put this behind me and enjoy the cruise.  I was starving.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by maureencruiser
forgot broken wheels

[maureencruiser]

Trust me when I tell you, I  was up early for the hotel breakfast and had to wait for Walgreens to open and fill my order.  I had plugged in the laptop overnight and had a few hours to kill before my Cortrans shuttle so I figured I’d start my review.  The  laptop  was still black.  More tears, I texted Ryma and told her I was thinking of just cancelling the whole thing.  She talked me down off the ledge and finally I was off to the port.

 

 

That giant, purple suitcase is the one they couldn’t find, sitting 10 feet in front of their desk with 2 black suitcases.  It is pretty discrete.  Notice the turkey peeking out of my carry on.  My friend lent me her turkey hat after I made three promises.  I would wear it for embarkation, I would wear it on Thanksgiving and I would try to get a picture wearing it with the Captain.

 

 

 

Promises made, promises kept.

 

 

[maureencruiser]

I had an inside cabin near the Boardwalk.  I figured that way I could get food, drinks, and entertainment even if I had trouble with the scooter.

 

A peek inside the room.

 

 

I had originally ordered 2 water packages, once I knew I was getting 5 drink vouchers per day.  I later cancelled and ordered the Refreshment package.  The water arrived anyway.  I sleep on the left side of the bed.  You can see they placed the water in prime middle of the night, toe stubbing territory.

 

I can see myself getting up, stubbing my right foot then falling into the scooter and stubbing my left foot.

 

 

 

My luggage arrived quickly.  I put all four bottles of wine in one small bag, expecting it to be sent to the naughty room, but, it wasn’t.   

 

 

 

I've told my steward twice about the water, it's still here.  Ryma thinks they're not going to pick it up.  We both hate the cans, these are glass bottles.  I'm thinking if they don't pick it up by the end of the week, I just might shuttle it across the hall to my other cabin.  

 

 

[maureencruiser]

I forgot to mention, Ryma is across the hall.  I’m in 6677, she’s in 6678.  Next week I’m in 6672, she’s in 6676.  I upgrade to a balcony next week.  I asked the steward today if my next room has the bed by the balcony and he said it did.  That will help with scootering. It’s hard enough getting the scooter in and out on my own.  I can’t imagine having to lift the scooter over the bed.   My steward did tell me I could call them and they’d take my scooter overnight to charge it and return it in the morning.  He said to call them 15 minutes before I needed it.  I’m going to assume that means give them an hour.  I kept checking with Royal to see if any handicapped rooms were available.  There were none.  Meanwhile, a woman on our roll call booked a guarantee balcony and was assigned a handicapped room.  She called them and they said it was fine.  She put in for a Royal Up and was assigned another handicapped room.  C’mon, Royal, you can do better than this.  

[Missusdubbya]

Oh Maureen what a sucky start to your cruise, I would have cried too.

 

I am glad you and the turkey hat made it! 

[Yorkvillain]

I think there is photographic proof in a previous live thread of you pulling a dongle too hard. 

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

14 minutes ago, maureencruiser said:

I kept checking with Royal to see if any handicapped rooms were available.  There were none.  Meanwhile, a woman on our roll call booked a guarantee balcony and was assigned a handicapped room.  She called them and they said it was fine.  She put in for a Royal Up and was assigned another handicapped room.  C’mon, Royal, you can do better than this.  

 

 

That is really disheartening to hear. 

 

I like that you're keeping your chin up anyway! Hope you have a great cruise! Brought her over for you on the TA and loved every minute.

 

🦃 👒 is awesome!

[maureencruiser]

Meanwhile, I was  scootering around as if I was born to do so.  By that I mean sending small children scattering and causing adults to cower in fear. I made my way to the pub and Sorrento’s for pizza and a drink.  Yes, I know that’s salty.  I’m not a monk.  I had the Boston Iced Tea Party.  It was on the card and I really didn’t want to bother with scanning a QR code right now.

 

 

I met up with Ryma and we moved to the Schooner Bar, another venue with easy access from my cabin.  

 

 

I had a Lavender Daiquiri.

 

 

Ryma likes specialty dining and I’m doing the MDR.  She wants to eat in the MDR on Thanksgiving, though, even though she celebrated hers in October.

 

I’m in MTD, Deck 3, with a 7:15 reservation each night.  I requested the first table when you walk in the door and I got it.  It’s perfect.  I see everybody coming and going.  

 

The pumpkin bread, my favorite.

 

 

Moooo!  Prime Rib with the dreaded 2 pieces of broccoli from the Why no vegetables thread.  Also, that thread let me know it was alright to request a baked potato.  I did eat the broccoli, Mom would be proud. 

 

 

 

 

Some kind of hazelnut shenanigans, I couldn’t even finish my meal.  The only thing I ate all of, was the broccoli!

 

 

 

 

Back in my room for an early night.  I was asleep by 10pm, I put a tea light on the water so I could see it. 

 

 

 

I woke up at 4am, worrying about my computer and thinking I could buy a new one in St Thomas, if they’re open on Thanksgiving.  There’s a Kmart and an Office Max.  I just need a lightweight laptop for cruising.  They seemed to have ones for around $200, that should fit the bill.  I literally cannot stop spending money on his cruise.  I woke up again at 8am and Googled Acer Chromebook won’t start and was able to do a hard reset and it worked!  

 

That gets me through Sunday, I’ll do Monday and Tuesday tomorrow, so I can catch up, the beauty of sea days.  Internet is terribly slow, keeps cutting out, of course, but, I’ll do the best I can.  Things are definitely looking up! 

 

[maureencruiser]

43 minutes ago, Yorkvillain said:

I think there is photographic proof in a previous live thread of you pulling a dongle too hard. 

 

Funny, you didn't complain then.  There's really never a bad time to share those pictures. 🤪 Villain, when do you cruise next?  I can't get Dale or Andrew to go, I guess I'll have to settle for you.  

 

My memory is really bad, so, forgive me if I'm repeating myself.  I had requested a room at the hotel near the elevator, I didn't want to take a handicapped room away from someone in a wheelchair.  They gave me one 19 doors away. 🤬

 

I just got Dale tucked in for the night.  

 

 

[JamesEM]

Enjoying your postings, short story, my wife needed a wheelchair on our last cruise and I "accidentally" ran over a crew member checking to see if we were Diamond + for our seating for the show.  Next day I got called to security, seem the crew member was a dancer and filed a complaint.  Went down to security and and a very nice man apologized after seeing the security film and realizing I'm in my 70's.

[Lionesss]

I love your thread

 

I cannot believe your uneventful events.

 

I hope it gets better, and you are on a cruise so it should.

 

Eagerly awaiting more.

 

Be safe