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

[Sea Dog]

15 hours ago, mets07 said:

 We love Canada, but were looking for a warm/beach vacation, so we are taking the FCC/refund. Crazy.

 

Sorry you had to cancel. Hopefully you can get to a warm beach soon.

 

 

14 hours ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

Looks like you had a fun time! Interesting process.

Can I be a judge? I don't know anything about bourbon but I like to drink.

 

It was fun seeing that my judging went along with the experts. Try learning about bourbon, it's fun. and fun to drink.

 

13 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I just experienced a first.  😆 Have you ever filled up your blender, turn it on, crank it to high and then realize the lid is not on it!  🤣

 

Well then  try to share the experience here but post it in a different thread where everyone would be wondering 🤔 why did he post that. 😆   Luckily I noticed what I did and was able to delete it.

 

Done that and done that.

 

 

6 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

@Sea Dog thanks for sharing your wonderful day out.  Those cocktails look delish and the history was an interesting read.

 

Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed it.

 

4 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Looks like a great day and a cool place.  Glad you had such a good time.

 

It's something I know you would have appreciated.

 

 

On 6/4/2022 at 9:51 AM, singinalot said:

 

Nate, Sam, and I are officially Floridians. We arrived Monday after a practically straight drive from CO. The week has been packed with setting everything up, changing fixtures and hardware, ordering furniture, etc. wifi was supposed to be installed Thursday, but of course that’s not done yet.

 

 

Congrats on a successful move. The new house looks great. Now the fun begins unpacking everything.

[BonTexasNY]

16 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Bonnie, keep up the good work with your therapy.  It sounds like your visitors and Jack bringing your favorite sandwiches, etc is just the right ticket!  Hopefully your pain will soon subside.  Stay positive, kiddo!  Thinking about you!🌹

Maryann, thank you so much.  @Lionesssthank you too as well as all the well wishers in here.  Your husband sounds special, to be in the front lines of the pandemic offering comfort to those suffering.

15 hours ago, mets07 said:

Hi all, we were supposed to be on Adventure of the Seas today to Bermuda.  A simple 5 night cruise that we booked pretty much last-minute. Due to a tropical storm, we learned yesterday the cruise would go to Canada instead. We love Canada, but were looking for a warm/beach vacation, so we are taking the FCC/refund. Crazy.

 

Anyway, today we went to Jones Beach on Long Island, New York. At first it was sunny, then the fog rolled in for a couple hours, then it totally cleared up. Meanwhile, I continued to get notifications from the Royal app to report to muster, etc. 😉🙂

 

 

 

 

OMG Jones Beach.  The memories!!

6 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

@Sea Dog thanks for sharing your wonderful day out.  Those cocktails look delish and the history was an interesting read.

Yes! I totally agree.

[HBE4]

Let's Go Rangers. 

 

Crowd outside seems 50-50 split.  

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

Maryann, thank you so much.  @Lionesssthank you too as well as all the well wishers in here.  Your husband sounds special, to be in the front lines of the pandemic offering comfort to those suffering.

OMG Jones Beach.  The memories!!

Yes! I totally agree.

When I lived in NYC and I was young and healthy I went to Jones Beach many times during summers.When I moved to LI I was healthy but no longer young and living very close to Jones Beach I went there zero times.

[sgmn]

On 6/4/2022 at 4:09 PM, dani negreanu said:

 

Captain Kate and me – the “romance” that wasn’t….

 

[Spoiler alert – long story !!!!]

 

 

I’ve been following the captain since we were booked [and cancelled] on Edge (May 2021), until Beyond [hopefully not cancelled].

 

I was curious if she’ll be on the new Beyond, and, in one of her “live” in Instagram, I’ve asked, among many others who asked questions (March 2022), if she’ll be on this ship for our sailing. Some minutes after I’ve asked, I’ve heard a “ping” and on the screen there it was: “Captain Kate….”

 

She replied: “Yes, I’ll be on Beyond, and thank you for sailing with us… Where r u from?” I replied: “Israel”, and then she said: “Oh, I’ve been to Haifa [northern Israel] on board of the Summit, visited the Christian holy sites, and I’m so waiting to have the opportunity to visit again, and go to Jerusalem too”.

 

From this point on, we exchanged “notes” about places to visit, she asked if I’m Jewish, and after a few minutes, she said: “why don’t you call me on Whatsapp, it will be easier to talk…” and gave me “her” number 1-625-…..

 

Here I admit I was a bit surprised… To call her? On one hand, it was Saturday night, I knew she’s in France while Beyond was still in the shipyard, without her hubby, figured maybe she’s a bit lonely and bored. On the other hand, I’m quite good in writing English, but talking?? My accent is horrible, and she tends to speak very quickly.

 

With some trepidation, I’ve called “her”, and, truth to be told, was quite relieved when “she” didn’t answer.

 

A few mins afterwards I’ve got a Whatsapp saying “I was at the bridge, we’re not allowed to talk privately, can I call you back at MY convenience”? I said “yes”, and decided to let “her” take the initiative.

 

About a month afterwards she took to the social media, asking for a snack she’s fond of from Trader’s Joe, which she cannot buy in Europe.

 

I decided to help her and published the request on several of the approaching Beyond roll calls. I wrote to her about it, and she replied: “Thank you, I was very hungry when I’ve asked for these snacks”.

 

People replied to me either “it is sold out”, or “I’ve ordered those on A---on, how will I get them to her”?

 

When I’ve wrote her about the “sold out” or “where shall I deliver”, her replies started to be “off”.

 

I couldn’t get a straight answer from “her” and decided to give up. Let her contact me if she wanted to continue our “relationship”.

 

Sure enough, she started to write me “I was today in X”, sent me videos of her with other cruisers, etc. I replied politely and noncommittally, I had the feeling I’m “speaking” with a boot…

 

So, last week I’ve got a “plea” for help from “her” – a strange request about her Whatsapp being “logged out”, and that “she” needed another SIM card… I decided to “play along” and told her that should I buy her a SIM card, it will be an Israeli number.

 

“She” said “Yes, just send me the verification number”. I continued playing the “technically challenged” and “she” started to push me: “Please, I need your help, I need it today, when can you buy it?” Told her I’ll drive to the city and try to buy it. I had anyhow some errands, so, after dealing with them, I went into a mobile shop and asked about the “sting” the “captain” wanted to pull on me. They agreed with me, and told me to tell “her” that in Israel, for security reasons, you cannot just “buy” a SIM, you have to IC yourself, etc.

 

I have to tell that at this point, I was absolutely sure that someone hacked into “her” number and is taking advantage of me.

 

When I got back home, I wrote “her” that….. “security, etc.”.

 

“She” was not pleased. Told me again: “I’ll understand that you don’t want to help me…”.

 

By this time, hubby and me decided to block “her” number. Hubby thought to alert her on other social media/s, but turned out that lots of “her” profiles are fakes too…

 

Yesterday, when our eldest was here, I’ve shown him the “history” of my correspondence with “her”, and turned out that someone somehow hacked the “live” conversation the real Captain had with her fans, and started to correspond with me.

 

I was in shock – at least I’ve thought that part of the time I’ve been actually corresponding with her, since at the beginning, the hacker was quite good in impersonating the Captain….

 

So sad that these days you have to be careful and wary of everything, what a world we live in there are so many people trying to scam others 😔 

[sgmn]

23 hours ago, George C said:

Totally enjoyed the new Top Gun movie, highly recommend it. It was enhanced with a large margarita on the rocks I added a small water bottle filled with patron to give it a little more kick 😁. 

We loved it too, saw it in the cinema last week. Excellent movie 

[jagsfan]

20 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Sorry I have not been around today. Full day of a fantastic event. Most of you know my passion for good bourbon and recently Missouri’s very own distillery Holiday Distillery released their first bottled in bond bourbon in over 35 years.

 

Today at the distillery they had bourbon and brunch with  mingling with bourbon experts Doug Frost, (one of only four people in the world to hold both Master Sommelier and Master of Wine titles and spirits.) Kyle Merklein, (head distiller at Holladay) Maggie Kimberl, (Content Editor at American Whiskey Magazine) and Michael Veach, (Author  and bourbon historian and a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame) as well as master mixologists from the Kansas City area.

 

 

 

 

Master distiller Kyle Merklein and myself.

 

 

The judges.

 

 

we did a  sampling of bourbon cocktails from the local master mixologists. Each bartender will bring a unique cocktail to the table to be sampled and scored by our guests for a “People’s Choice” award and then judged by our panel of bourbon experts!

 

My winner and winner of the people choice. A version of an old fashioned made with blackberry jam converted into a simple syrup and believe it or not balsamic vinegar.

 

 

 

Judges picked was this tasty cocktail. Complete with cherry tomato garnish.

 

 

 

Another interesting was this one with smoked pineapple juice and a thyme simple syrup.

 

 

The food and cocktails were amazing as well as talking to these experts in their field.

 

 

A little bit about Holiday Distillery. It all started with the limestone spring. First discovered in what would become Weston, Missouri, by Lewis and Clark during their 1804 expedition, a pure limestone spring was a rarity whose potential was recognized by two enterprising young brothers by the names of Ben Holladay and Major David Holladay. After visiting the site, which was then a meat-packing house, the Holladay brothers divined an even greater purpose for that limestone spring: Bourbon.

Together, they founded this distillery in 1856. Ben Holladay went on to great fame and fortune as the “Stagecoach King,” running the stagecoach lines from Missouri to the West Coast that later became the Wells Fargo Express, and ultimately acquiring the Pony Express as well. It is the oldest distillery west of the Mississippi river.

 

It’s on beautiful land and the tour was so interesting.

 

 

Yeast doing it's thing. They let us stick our finger in and taste. This was a future wheated bourbon. Nice and sweet.

 

 

Copper still

 

 

Limestone well for the water source.

 

 

One of two rickhouses.

 

 

This is where the magic begins. Some of these barrels will stay here for 6 years.

 

 

Each barrel weighs over 500 pounds. Watch your feet.

 

 

Local corn and rye.

 

 

 

All in all a beautiful day to learn about bourbon, it's history and the making of. I learned a lot and really enjoyed some amazing cocktails and wonderful conversations.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a perfect day. When you anticipate something and it exceeds its potential, it’s glorious!

[jagsfan]

5 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

That's too bad, Ellen.  I hope she comes to her senses soon.  My Mom wasn't going to let me come see her, even though I am now testing negative, because my DH is still testing positive and is at day 7.  We are still wearing KN95 masks in my house and are distancing but she was nervous.  She finally relented and I saw her for the first time in more than three weeks!  I stayed masked and distanced, windows were open, ceiling fan on and her air purifier was on, so she should be good.  If she ends up sick, I am sure I will be blamed even though she was at the doctors office, lab and grocery store this week. 🙂 

So many people have had it, I quit worrying about it. I’m sure at some point, Dick and I will join the club. 
Last night I played Mexican Train with 5 friends. Two had COVID in March, and one mid May. 
I honestly didn’t think about it till just now. 

[DaniDanielle]

I think most of us probably had it at one time or another!

[reallyitsmema]

14 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

So many people have had it, I quit worrying about it. I’m sure at some point, Dick and I will join the club. 
Last night I played Mexican Train with 5 friends. Two had COVID in March, and one mid May. 
I honestly didn’t think about it till just now. 

 

2 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

I think most of us probably had it at one time or another!

 

I agree that we all will get it or have had it.  My Mom is just feeding off my sister's paranoia over Covid.  It also didn't help that my son, my DH, Me, one of my brothers, my niece and my niece's other grandmother all had covid at the same time.  Granted, there were four different states involved in all these cases, but my Mom just sees it as a huge outbreak. 😱

[DaniDanielle]

Sigh

[Luckynana]

20 hours ago, mets07 said:

Hi all, we were supposed to be on Adventure of the Seas today to Bermuda.  A simple 5 night cruise that we booked pretty much last-minute. Due to a tropical storm, we learned yesterday the cruise would go to Canada instead. We love Canada, but were looking for a warm/beach vacation, so we are taking the FCC/refund. Crazy.

 

 

 

 

Sorry to hear about the change in destination;  I had read about Canada becoming the exchange for Bermuda.  Great idea, heading to Jones Beach for the day!

[dbancroft]

Today is my grandson's 7th birthday. He is enjoying spending the weekend in Hershey Park. My Daughter was even able to get a picture of him and his sister together.

[Luckynana]

20 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I just experienced a first.  😆 Have you ever filled up your blender, turn it on, crank it to high and then realize the lid is not on it!  🤣

Years ago, after making Pea Soup, the recipe said to put soup in the blender,  so I did!  I did have the lid on, though.  The soup was hot, which caused the lid to blow off once I had turned the blender on.  Peas soup was everywhere!!!  After I had cleaned the mess up (or so I thought) the soup had dried, and I then saw spots that I'd missed on the cabinets.  Never again!!!😜

12 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

@Sea Dog thanks for sharing your wonderful day out.  Those cocktails look delish and the history was an interesting read.

Totally agree!

@Sea DogGreg, I finally remembered to ask my neighbor about the bourbon that tasted so "smooth".  Her wife wasn't sure which bottle it was;  she showed me a bottle of "The Original Jesse James America's Outlaw Honey Flavored Whiskey"  Tavern Strength...again, she's not sure what I was given that evening.🤔

 

8 hours ago, h20skibum said:

Daughter is feeling good after her surgery, but she will miss the rest of the school year.  

Now my goal is to at least test negative by Tuesday, so I can celebrate Susan’s birthday. 

  Great news about your daughter!  I do hope your goal is reached to celebrate Susan's birthday!!

[Luckynana]

18 minutes ago, dbancroft said:

Today is my grandson's 7th birthday. He is enjoying spending the weekend in Hershey Park. My Daughter was even able to get a picture of him and his sister together.

 

Happy 7th Birthday to your handsome grandson!

[Luckynana]

HAPPY SHAVUOT to our dear friends Dani, Bonnie, Lenny, and all of our Jewish friends on CC!❤️

[Luckynana]

11 hours ago, molly361 said:

I think once you get covid some people think of you as a leper.  I have asked my BFF (and sometimes dog sitter) a couple of times to let me know when she would like me to take her to lunch and I still haven't heard from her😇

Sorry to hear this, Ellen. ☹️

10 hours ago, Lionesss said:

 

My DH is a respiratory therapist in charge of the department at out local hospital and covers one other in the area (level one trauma center).

To think that first year my DH had to wear a Hazmat suit when caring for those in the hospital on Ventilators and/or regular floors.

 

We have a new circle of friends, plus some of our understanding Pre COVID friends.

Please thank your DH for his unending and compassionate service, Sue!  Enjoy your many friendships!

 

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

I agree that we all will get it or have had it.  My Mom is just feeding off my sister's paranoia over Covid.  It also didn't help that my son, my DH, Me, one of my brothers, my niece and my niece's other grandmother all had covid at the same time.  Granted, there were four different states involved in all these cases, but my Mom just sees it as a huge outbreak. 😱

((Hugs))

[Momof3gurlz]

We are in Freeport Maine for a quick overnight trip. We have a funeral tomorrow in the area. Andy’s brother-in-law’s mother passed away. We only met the woman once but wanted to attend out of respect for Andy’s sister & BIL.  Anyway, sitting outside a little tavern across from the LL Bean Superstore, having what’s called a Down East Margarita.  Tequila, triple sec, lime juice and  cranberry. It’s like a cross between a margarita and a Cosmo  @Ocean Boy @DaniDanielle

Edited June 5, 2022 by Momof3gurlz

[DaniDanielle]

Looks really good.  I might force one down!

[DaniDanielle]

41 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Happy 7th Birthday to your handsome grandson!

Very handsome😃

[brillohead]

10 hours ago, Lionesss said:

We did not win a trophy, but we won 2 baskets at the Chinese basket raffle.

Well, I learned a new phrase today!  

I've seen the process, before, but had never heard it referred to that way.  

[Ocean Boy]

34 minutes ago, Momof3gurlz said:

We are in Freeport Maine for a quick overnight trip. We have a funeral tomorrow in the area. Andy’s brother-in-law’s mother passed away. We only met the woman once but wanted to attend out of respect for Andy’s sister & BIL.  Anyway, sitting outside a little tavern across from the LL Bean Superstore, having what’s called a Down East Margarita.  Tequila, triple sec, lime juice and  cranberry. It’s like a cross between a margarita and a Cosmo  @Ocean Boy @DaniDanielle

Might have to make a road trip.🙂

 

I am presently enjoying an Ocean Spray cranberry/Mango with vodka and Kraken Rum. Thanks @Sea Dog

 

[broadwaybaby123]

I helped Sophia shop for our cruise!  She's beyond excited!  She got a new formal dress and I'm told the color is fabulous on her (dark blue with little gems on it).  She got shoes to match!

[John&LaLa]

Bolts Win⚡⚡

 

And so it begins

[John&LaLa]

40 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Might have to make a road trip.🙂

 

I am presently enjoying an Ocean Spray cranberry/Mango with vodka and Kraken Rum. Thanks @Sea Dog

 

 

I tried to modify a Cape Codder with peach vodka. No good. Might be OK without the lime