Sarah & Grandpa's Cruise. The Mariner. June 22-29, 2014

[sarawithanh]

The day has finally arrived!! I will try to liveblog our experience both for my memory/future Scrapbooking and for yours.

 

But first I must mention why it's 3:30AM EST and I'm awake. Hoping there's insight....

 

My vacation began June 13-15 with my college alumni reunion - 10 years! On June 15 my car broke down halfway to Nagshead, NC. (I have a 2002 Honda Civic with 147k) AAA towed my car 100 miles for free and we paid the 33 mile difference. It was towed to Meineke in Kill Devil Hills where they performed diagnostics and determined my timing belt skipped 6 teeth - I would need a new belt, water pump, spark plugs among other things. $1600 estimate (money hubby and I just do not have - our savings is depleted from paying his tuition for bachelors degree). Get my car back Wednesday and take it for test drive - seems fine.

 

I leave Nagshead yesterday at 7:30am and as I'm passing Meineke my check engine light (CEL) comes on. I turn Around and tell them what's up. They say oh we forgot to reset something lets check code. 420 catalytic converter code - oh no big deal the car needs to get used to spark plugs et. - "it'll regulate itself as you drive, we will clear the code. But if it comes back then get your catalytic concert checked. Totally safe to drive home."

 

3hours of driving later I'm noticing the temp slowly increase. I pull over to a gas station and hubby calls Nagshead Meineke. They tell me to go to Richmond Meineke a few miles away, so I do. My CEL comes back on as I'm pulling in. Richmond drives it and tests it and says it's fine. I ask about the code (420 again!) and they say it's no big deal but get a diagnostic on my catalytic converter when I get home. Richmond is two hours from home. I hear the guy on the phone with Nagshead guy saying they didn't find anything and putting me back on road.

 

30-40 min later, 95N has backups so I get on 17N hoping to avoid stop n go traffic. That road was backed up too! The road is under construction and gravely. At this point my windows are down and my heater is blasting (keep in mind DC is having a serious heat wave these past few days). I stop at some traffic backup. We start moving again and I hear what I think is clanking coming From my car but I'm not entirely sure. We stop again and move again and I hear clanking again. I see an opening for a shopping center (happened to be a car parts store) so I go to turn in and realize my power steering is completely gone. I park and look under hood - my serpentine belt is no longer tensioned and clearly off the wheels. I op inside and ask if anybody knows anything about belts. A wonderful man who owns his own shop in VA beach (4 hrs away) says Meineke screwed up big time. So I get my car towed to the Pohanka Honda dealership and they ran diagnostics and confirmed that Meineke ruined my car. I need a new motor for $3000! My car is only worth about $3,000 Kelly blue book.

 

I'm not really sure where to go from here. Not paying Honda to put a new motor in unless Meineke corporate agrees to give me my money back AND pay for honda to fix their mistake.

 

Still haven't returned Nagshead Meineke call asking if I got home safely. My car is sitting at honda for now. I'm trying to figure out our next steps. Sigh

 

safely

[rarin2go]

What a nightmare start, Sarah! Hope you get it sorted soon and are able to enjoy your cruise. Mariner is in great shape for you!

[I&J Cruisers]

I feel for you. Hope you get it straightened out quickly. Enjoy your cruise. Take care of Mariner. We board July 27.

 

 

 

 

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[KirkNC]

Bon Voyage! Hope you have a great time!

[RachelG]

Sarah, just focus on getting to the ship now. It is time to de-stress. And you have to take up the baton in posting from onboard! Hope you have a safe and Uneventful flight.

[nana541]

Oh girl you are needing a break! Thank god the Mariner is waiting for you....

 

Enjoy your trip and let DH figure out the car, it's kinda a guy thing and makes them feel useful :)

 

Safe journey!

 

 

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[jhp]

bad way to start a vacation, Sarah! Hope things go better tomorrow, the main thing is getting you and Gramps to the airport and leaving troubles behind for a week!

[nana541]

I think a nice glass of wine (or2) is called for :)

 

 

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[TedC]

Sarah, take some deep breaths and luxuriate on Mariner where you will be pampered and there will be no more headaches!

 

 

Have a WONDERFUL and STRESSLESS CRUISE with Gramps!

 

 

BON VOYAGE!

[WesW]

Fair Winds and Following seas 4 your Mariner voyage..enjoy!

 

 

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[jhp]

Sarah, take some deep breaths and luxuriate on Mariner where you will be pampered and there will be no more headaches!

 

 

Have a WONDERFUL and STRESSLESS CRUISE with Gramps!

 

 

BON VOYAGE!

 

 

Absolutely! I am so excited for you, Sarah, you are the same age as my adult kids, and I feel like you are one of my own headed off for vacation!

[sarawithanh]

Housekeeping: 32yo female traveling with 87yo grandfather

 

car update: meineke is working on it. We are givin themselves the chance to redeem it

 

Trip update:

 

I've been up since 4am Friday June 20 - stress from car, anxious about trip, finishing school work for the week. Met my parents and grandpa at Airport.

 

Business lounge rocks. Thanks to all who encouraged it. I still wasn't able to sleep in those chairs. Oh well. But the food was so fresh and delicious and the extra leg room to move around was awesome

 

Wheel chair assistance at Frankfort took a while to get moving but once we did - they had a system down, it was early so airport was a breeze, motorized assistance entire way to gate

 

I slept on shorter flight from Frankfurt to Nice. Was feeling nauseous/motion sickness. Mom gave me sea bands but of course I packed them.

 

When we landed neither of us was payin attention to baggage claim number. Not a big deal. Once we got closer to baggage claim Regent was there and told us to meet at #6. So we did and then they loaded suitcases onto porters and had us follow to bus. It was relatively orderly. Then we proceeded to sit on bus for half hour or longer while waiting for 2 others. Started getting cranky. Also no provided water but 1 euro for private seller. No biggie

 

This was 10am. They told us rooms wouldn't be ready til 3pm so they were taking us on a tour of Nice and we could walk around. Beautiful! Exhausted. Met the bus again and had a nice narrated tour from Nice to MC. Arrived 15mins before 3. Unloaded bags. I was leery if them sitting there but turns out they were on top of it and after we checked in they had labeled our bags. I was worried

 

We had to wait 20mins to check in bc nobody would occupy the regent desk til 3, we got our room key quickly. Others did not. Went upstairs. Key didn't work! ***. It was fixed relatively quickly.

 

Going to take a 2hr nap and then dinner and casino tonight

 

Tomorrow is breakfast 7-10:30am. Our bags are expected outside doors at 10am - this is checkout time. So I think we will put our bags out at 9:45 and head to breakfast. HOWEVER our transfer isn't til 1pm to the ship!!! *** are we supposed to do for 3hrs?? I have two bags that I cannot check (camera and laptop) and they are heavy. Also 3hrs is like barely enough time to do some sort of tour. Super frustrating. Not sure why regent can't get a later checkout time...

[RachelG]

Glad you made it safely, and hope you are getting rested up. Now you understand why I never take the ship's transfers and hotels. Just too much of a mess. Easier and cheaper just to do your own. ( yes, I know you did this because grandpa wanted the all inclusive. Just saying for future reference.)

[sarawithanh]

Totally understand Rachel. Others were miffed about the time too

 

Grandpa going crazy cuz he can't remember where he packed stuff

 

Also go into it at restaurant in hotel for asking us if we want water and charging us 8 euro for still. He thinks he shouldn't have to be specific that when he says "water" it means tap. Story of my life but now he knows.

 

I'm havin trouble posting pic from iPhone. So u won't get pix til I get wifi on ship.

[gnomie1]

Totally understand Rachel. Others were miffed about the time too

 

Grandpa going crazy cuz he can't remember where he packed stuff

 

Also go into it at restaurant in hotel for asking us if we want water and charging us 8 euro for still. He thinks he shouldn't have to be specific that when he says "water" it means tap. Story of my life but now he knows.

 

I'm havin trouble posting pic from iPhone. So u won't get pix til I get wifi on ship.

 

Sarawithanh: Please make you grandpa aware that it is almost impossible to get tap water in Europe at most eating establishments - this is mostly an American custom. On the ship you can get unlimited water and I suggest you carry some with you at all times. Anyway, you may not want him to drink the tap water, although it is perfectly safe, since it is different, it may cause your grandpa some GI upset, which you want to avoid!

 

Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy every minute of it!

 

gnomie. :)

[sarawithanh]

Gnomie agree bout water but oh well

 

Fairmont hotel was not on same page for telling regent customers where breakfast was. We got mixed messages. That was confusing. I leave u with a pic of lunch

 

Getting on the bus was challenging. We thought orange was called but it was "red" a darker version of highlighter orange. Funny. So we were the last bus out I think. Bus ride and checkin a breeze

 

Big Fan of la veranda buffet. So fresh and clean. Yummy

 

[vitacura]

Glad you made in onboard! Enjoy the cruise! I look forward to your updates. :)

[nana541]

Enjoy!

 

 

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[sarawithanh]

After Checkin:

 

We went for a lovely lunch at La Veranda. as I shared earlier. This was 2pm. By 2:30pm our rooms were ready as promised! AND even better, by the time we made it downstairs to look at our room, my suitcase was there :D so I unloaded everything into the walk in closet - love love love.

 

Then we went through excursions to verify things, and I went off to run some "errands"

 

Reception desk to see if I could get euro cents - no dice!

Destination services to trade in some double booked tickets, change one of grandpa's excursions, and verify hills for any of excursions

Picked up gym schedule

 

Muster drill at 5:15. then tooled around and hung on balcony while grandpa took forever unpacking and resting.

 

Went to compass rose for dinner at 8. phenomenal!!!!

 

I edited a school assignment, am typing this and headed to bed now - midnight :) ciao!

Edited June 22, 2014 by sarawithanh

[Mudhen]

Hi Sarah,

I'm enjoying your posts! Hope you're having a fabulous time. Monte Carlo is great, isn't it?!!One of our favorite ports. Loved the Fairmont as well......like "Lives of the Rich and Famous"!!

Please continue to keep us posted for your adventures.

Linda

[xrvlcruiser]

Sarah,

 

Please keep posting!

 

Peggy

[rcandkc]

You are a very special granddaughter. My dad is almost 86 with memory issues so this trip would be too hard now but a few years ago he could have done it and it would have been extremely special for him to have done it with one or both of my sons your age. There are going to be some stressful times, but the memories, good and bad that then become laughable so good, really will be priceless. I am reading every word and so proud of you.

I'll be on the voyager in August and look forward to our adventure too.

[sarawithanh]

I've been sending my mom all the "issues" gramps and I get into. Hehe. I have a good sense of humor about it. She says it's the same things she and my dad ran into when they went to Israel with him a few years ago.

 

Struggled to wake up at 8am. The beds are AMAZING!!!!! So comfortable. I like it cold in the room and snuggling with the thick comforter.

 

Since our excursion today isn't until 1pm we decided to wake up and head to Compass Rose for a served breakfast. I got western omelette with hashbrowns and crispy bacon. The bacon was perfectly crispy. Not impressed with the hashbrown PATTY. Super lame. I prefer shredded hashbrowns or home fries. Oh well. Grandpas lox and bagel was fantastic.

 

Went back to the room. I felt really sleepy so I took an hour nap! Woke up and then showered and now we are at Coffee Connection. I realized I needed caffeine. I hate coffee/espresso but I managed to scarf a extra sweetened frappe latte down :). I love the selection of snacks at coffee bar. I had some fruit meat and cheese as my lunch before our excursion.

 

Grandpa is on his 3rd cup of coffee and sleeping in the chair next to me. I'll wake him up in a few mins to head to theater for excursion

 

He said the coffee in compas rose is better than coffee connection.

[debijaynes]

You are a very special granddaughter. My dad is almost 86 with memory issues so this trip would be too hard now but a few years ago he could have done it and it would have been extremely special for him to have done it with one or both of my sons your age. There are going to be some stressful times, but the memories, good and bad that then become laughable so good, really will be priceless. I am reading every word and so proud of you.

I'll be on the voyager in August and look forward to our adventure too.

 

I could not have said it better! What a lucky girl you are to be doing this with your Grandfather!

Debi

[sarawithanh]

Today we did the Cruising The Italian Riviera in Portofino at 1pm.

 

Everything went smoothly. Our guide was great. Port of Comiglio is super cute. Relatively light walking for gramps. Found places to sit. The cruise down riviera was nice and informative. Free time allowed me to treat gramps to gelato. Yummy! Cruise back to Portofino was good - we tasted Italian white wine and focaccia.mmmmm focaccia. Love that stuff. I was dozing off on the cruise back but choppy waves kept startling me awake.

 

We got back in time to shower and make it to the Chris Plante Reception. The reason we went on this cruise was bc grandpa heard about it while listening to Chris Plante. After that we gathered our friends and went to dinner at Compass Rose. Another fabulous meal with great service.

 

Got out late and saw tail end of Broadway show. Very good. I was dozing off again!!!

 

Time for bed. Early excursion tomorrow.