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

[Arzeena]

15 hours ago, singinalot said:

Going to take a pause in the story while I work on the vlog for that day. ☺️

 

Love your pictures! They are just WOW. I would have never seen all that in real life.

Thank you for taking us along.

[Arzeena]

13 hours ago, h20skibum said:

Things have been crazy lately, and I just got caught up from being about 15 pages behind.  So I will start out with a 

 

FSOTD

 

This was just delivered this morning. A new wing collar formal shirt to replace my old one.  I usually take two different styles. Now to wait for the cruise to get here, since final payment was just made. 😁

Where and when will you be sailing? I am already looking forward to your cruise pictures and review.

[Arzeena]

11 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Re Wisdom teeth discussion.  Funny thing happened when my daughter had 4 out last summer.  The day surgery gave her ice blocks to wear wrapped in a bandage around her face to reduce the swelling.  On the day after surgery, which was a Saturday, she went to the freezer to retrieve them and they were gone.  Her brother had taken them to keep in his drinks cool in the esky/cooler at cricket. She was not impressed.

Aaah cricket.....used be a passion with Great Grand Dad, Grand Dad and a little bit with Dad. Two were professional players.

[Arzeena]

4 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Welcome "back", Pat 😁

 

After catching up, since most of us live vicariously through the "pioneers" reviews, some words about the renewed cruising experience ? 🌺

 

 

+ 1

LOVE reading cruise reviews.

[Arzeena]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

It is absurd to remove healthy organs from the body.... in my opinion.

Agree 100%.

[h20skibum]

16 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Where and when will you be sailing? I am already looking forward to your cruise pictures and review.

Sailing Oasis in January.   It will be our first B2B, so we are doing eastern and western.
 

I know it is not Royal‘s final payment date, but our TA takes it out in time to see if there are any issues before Royal’s date.  
 

It may be interesting getting tested on NYE or New Year Day, if the 2 day testing is still in effect. 

[Sunshine3601]

4 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Are you all ready to go to Seattle with me before we sail to Alaska on Ovation OTS?

 

There’s our plane waiting for us to board —September 9, 7:45AM

 

So empty.  Pick a seat, any seat.

 

 

We’re almost there.  You can see a cruise ship right above the wing and the Space Needle just below the wing.  

Ladies & Gentlemen, prepare for landing.

 

We’ve  arrived.  Welcome to Seattle.

 

We use the Link and bus to get to our hotel. 

 

 

 

Ready to go explore and get some lunch?    To walk to Pike’s Place Market from the hotel is very doable, only a mile so let’s walk.  On the way, there’s the Space Needle.  We won’t stop as we’ll come back later.  Let’s keep walking.

 

Oh, look.  A poke place.  There’s a long line so it must be good.  Let’s try that and miso soup.

 

So good.  No wonder the long lines and all the online orders.  Let’s continue on and walk it off.

 

 

 

Look what we could’ve had for lunch.

 

 

Seafood looks so fresh here.  It is a fun place to watch fish throwing. If someone buys a whole salmon, the guy will throw the salmon to the guy behind the counter to catch it and they’ll throw it back and forth to each other several times without dropping it.  Gets quite a big crowd around there.

 

 

 

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

 

 

And flowers.  Especially dahlias.  They must grow very well in Washington.

 

 

Beautiful.   Love the look of this market.   How fun...fish throwing.  Great way to start your (our) trip!!     

Looks like we have to have some fresh seafood for dinner.

[island lady]

17 hours ago, grapau27 said:

 

 

LOL...kind of funny though.  Something labeled "brown sauce" could really be just about anything brown.  Like buying something labeled "meat".    🤔🤭 

[Sunshine3601]

5 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Sailing Oasis in January.   It will be our first B2B, so we are doing eastern and western.

You will love doing a b2b and cruising in January.  That is our favorite time of the year.  Weather is perfect in the caribbean.  

[Sea Dog]

9 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

kangaroo paw for his garden

What a beautiful flower. So cool that you did that for him.

[Sunshine3601]

11 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Not for me at those prices. Almost $2000.00 for an inside. 😬

 

I just saw those prices, definitely too much for a 4 day cruise.

[Sunshine3601]

11 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Kenzie has been practicing her  driving for the next vacation.

 

Then later relaxing.

She has to show her Dad she knows how to drive😉

She has the sweetest smiles and always looks happy and content🥰💕

[c-leg5]

17 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I wish I could get here in the states but it is not legal to sell in the US

What makes you think it is illegal?

 

There are various brands in UK but I have seen HP for sale in some grocery stores in US and certainly available online. 

[Sunshine3601]

11 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Lottie’s 5 month old pic.

Another cutie.  I love this age.  Lots of smiles and giggles🥰

[island lady]

Solid rain all day yesterday up here as we wrap up our 2021 Maine summer season.  And rained all night, and is STILL raining!!  😮 

 

Three days ago I packaged up the Anniversary wind chimes my sister gave me, and in another box, I stuffed full of things I can't get in Florida that are Maine staples.  Rays mustard from Eastport Maine, and dry Marfax and Yelloweye pea beans (both Maine grown favorites), then mailed them to myself.  Cost more to mail than what I paid for them.  😉 

 

Yesterday, drove in the rain for 1.5 hour trip back to one of our first cottage rentals.  Super nice owner of the cottage had offered to store our stuff we want to use next year (mostly bird feeders 😉of course) plus crockpot, a favorite fry pan, coffee grinder, favorite utensils...etc.  (which had been delivered from Amazon at first house we stayed at in May).  Her sweet ocean front cottage is the first one we will stay at again next year.  

 

Now that we are that much lighter, getting laundry done today to start packing our suitcases for the flight back home to Florida tomorrow morning.  Good thing to do on a rainy day, but sad to think we are now leaving my "other home state".   No luck on buying a 2nd home up here, but will try again next year.  

[Sea Dog]

8 hours ago, taznremmy said:

@Sea Dog  🎉 Congratulations on your two nominations! What a fabulous way to end a career. 

Is this virtual event something anyone can watch? 

 

As for retirement....best "job" I've ever had. 😂

Pat

Thank you so much Pat. Yes anyone can watch though it's long. I'll post a link on the day of if anyone is bored and wants to watch. I'm really excited and scared of retirement. I've never not worked since I was a little kid. I thin I can handle it. I have not met too many people that said oh I hated retirement I wish I would go back and work. 😁

 

7 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

@Sea DogCongratulations on your nominations!  

Thank you so much!

 

 

7 hours ago, Coralc said:

 

Adding my congratulations to Greg. 

 

And Bon Voyage on your cruise! We are all looking forward to you having a wonderful time! 

Thank you Patti. Looking forward to hooking up with you in Tortola. I can't wait.

 

 

 

5 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

 

Different times, so, yes, she was amazing. Pity she died so young from AIDS.

 

I had two of her albums. Beautiful with a beautiful voice. So sad she died so young.

 

 

5 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Are you all ready to go to Seattle with me before we sail to Alaska on Ovation OTS?

 

Thanks for taking us along. So happy for you and I know it will amazing. The pictures are incredible. I love Seattle.

 

 

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

TSOTD

 

 

On my bucket list. I really want to do the Panama Canal.

[island lady]

19 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You will love doing a b2b and cruising in January.  That is our favorite time of the year.  Weather is perfect in the caribbean.  

 

It's funny, we are so used to doing B2Bs now, that if we do a single week cruise...it's like "What you mean I have to get off the ship already!!" 😮😉 ).   

 

Agree...turnaround day is always fun.  Great time to wonder around to enjoy the empty ship.  

[derorim]

4 minutes ago, island lady said:

...as we wrap up our 2021 Maine summer season

 

I have enjoyed visiting Maine vicariously this summer through your posts.  Thanks for taking us along!

[h20skibum]

20 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You will love doing a b2b and cruising in January.  That is our favorite time of the year.  Weather is perfect in the caribbean.  

We usually sail every January, when we get done with our house rental for the holidays.  I agree January is a good time to sail. 
 

We rent a house big enough to bring the kids and grandkids in for the holidays, then go off to relax as they go home. 

[Sunshine3601]

8 hours ago, taznremmy said:

@Sea Dog  🎉 Congratulations on your two nominations! What a fabulous way to end a career. 

Is this virtual event something anyone can watch? 

I am way behind on reading this thread.  Just returned home from two weeks on Serenade OTS and playing catch up, but my "notifications" had so many people congratulating you, I had to jump into the middle to see what was going on.

As for retirement....best "job" I've ever had. 😂

Pat

Welcome home from your cruise.  How nice to do a b2b on Serenade in Alaska.

Look forward to hearing about your trip.

Curious, did you happen to meet a waitress Grace?  Either head waiter in Mdr or speciality dining.  She is one of our favorites.

 

[island lady]

4 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

 

On my bucket list. I really want to do the Panama Canal.

 

I keep forgetting to add my congrats to your award.  Congrats!!  Nice achievement!  

 

And yes, you need to do the PC cruise.  It was interesting, and happy we did it, but not one of our finest cruises.  I still pick Alaska for that.  😉 

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, derorim said:

 

I have enjoyed visiting Maine vicariously this summer through your posts.  Thanks for taking us along!

 

Thanks!  Will be good to get home to my sweet little home in Florida, but always miss Maine when we leave.  🙂 

 

Just happy to be already booked for next summer. 

[Sea Dog]

3 minutes ago, island lady said:

I still pick Alaska for that.  😉 

ON my list Alaska is higher than Panama. But my wife doesn't like anything cold so I have to work on her for Alaska. She really wants to do the canal.

[Sunshine3601]

17 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

What makes you think it is illegal?

 

There are various brands in UK but I have seen HP for sale in some grocery stores in US and certainly available online. 

I was referring to black pudding not HP sauce.   Sorry for any confusion.  

[dani negreanu]

Just now, island lady said:

No luck on buying a 2nd home up here, but will try again next year.  

 

Just now, derorim said:

I have enjoyed visiting Maine vicariously this summer through your posts.  Thanks for taking us along!

 

Your posts, Pat & Joy, made me "musing" to myself -- which is preferable?

 

A 2nd home in Maine, or renting different properties during the "Maine season" and waking up, every 3 weeks or so, to a different view.... "Grounded" in a local community, or "dislocated"/moving house every so often.

 

Somehow, I would prefer the latter 😕