Live and Solo: B2B on Oasis Feb 4 - 18, a Running report

[GetToLivin]

3 hours ago, DandDM said:

And no run this morning, bummed about that!

Hey, are you really on vacation if you don't have at least one "recovery" day? 😉

[DandDM]

Sorry for going dark, feel like I have some explaining to do!  Will call this post: “What not to do on a cruise if you’re over 50 and not in drinking shape.”  
 

Going back to Wendnesday morning, had a nice breakfast and the a run. By the time I cooled down and showered, skipped lunch and went to the wine tasting. That had four California wines, all related to the Camus family, including a Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting included a small plate of cheese and meats. 

 

Feeling great after this, went to the pub for a Voodoo Ranger hazy IPA (favorite beer on the ship) then the Love and Marriage Show. As usual, the show was both cringeworthy and sweet, this one more to the cringey side. Back to the room to get laundry out and clean up for the evening.  
 

Right at five pm, being a little hungry, showed up at SL for snacks (and drinks). Ended up having three cocktails in short order while figuring out plans for next week and Super Bowl. I think folks might be seeing where this was going!  Took another cocktail down to the casino to lose some money before dinner. 
 

Finally made it to dinner around seven, and had a nice conversation with the folks at the table next to me. Had more wine. Only two pictures, one of the bread (that I forgot to ask to not get, but did’t eat) and a seafood dish that I didn’t realize was a creamy soup!  Also had Pork medallions and pasta, too busy talking at that point and forgot photos. 

It was good that I had food, but really too late to help much. After dinner I introduced myself to Mario (he had a section roped off in smoking area) and then back to Vintages. 

Met a nice guy named Don, who was also a runner, and we talked about the aches and pains of running as well as other stuff. Went through my Diamond plus vouchers, then paid for a glass, then bought a bottle. Ended up there until they were closing up, I think at 11?  Had the Open Sky production show reserved at 10:30 and missed that. 

 

Vaguely remember getting back to the room….

 

and that was my Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

Edited February 9 by DandDM
Added photo

[DandDM]

Yesterday, Thursday, I woke up feeling the pain for my bad choices the night before. One thing about cruising solo is that you have all the freedom to do what you want, but you also don’t have the same guard rails up, as I would not have wanted to let down/embarrass my late wife if she were here.

 

Anyway, not wanting to waste the day, I crawled out of bed around 10am and found some bland food and took some ibuprofen. Was really hoping this would get me going (might have worked 15 years ago…). It failed as I couldn’t keep the food down and spent the afternoon napping on the balcony. 
 

By the time I started to feel better, was getting close to all aboard time (ship was at Labedee) so I never even made it to shore. All I did was wander the ship, eat a hot dog, and snipe a photo of the elevator piano guy. 

 

One positive - during all that, avoided the elevators!

[cruisinconniebean]

On 2/3/2024 at 8:37 PM, ckrobyn said:

Following along!

I will be sailing Oasis for my first solo cruise on February 25th 😀

I'll be solo on the same cruise!

[DandDM]

20 hours ago, HBE4 said:

@WrittenOnYourHeart & @DandDM

 

Thank you for your replies.  Going to pull the trigger on my first solo cruise so just wondering how others did it.

Go for it! This is my third solo and I’ve really enjoyed them all.  I see in the Compass that there are nightly solo gatherings at Vintages if you’d like to meet others. A benefit of eating solo is that it can be much quicker..most of my meals have been around 45 minutes. 
 

another benefit is that if you go to a show late, can usually find a pretty good single seat (provided you don’t mind sitting between others). 

[DandDM]

I think this catches up daily compass. 
 

 

found this sheet about tiers, probably a common document, but will share in case anyone can use. 
 

 

 

Edited February 9 by DandDM
Added benefit sheet

[GetToLivin]

46 minutes ago, DandDM said:

Sorry for going dark, feel like I have some explaining to do!  Will call this post: “What not to do on a cruise if you’re over 50 and not in drinking shape.”  

 

I feel hungover after reading this 🤣

[DandDM]

Fantastic run this morning!  Ship had just docked in Jamaica so no movement. A little more crowded than expected, being a port day, but few groups blocking the course. 
 

Did an easy five miles. By ‘easy’ mean: no hills, no obstacles or slow downs, and most importantly, no significant aches or pains. Finished in 54 minutes. Body felt like it could go further, but I got very thirsty (may still be a little dehydrated from other day). I think I’m going to bring a water bottle on next run and find a spot to put it around the track somewhere. 
 

some photos from the track, one from balcony. 
 

Edited February 9 by DandDM
Typo

[DandDM]

A perfect lunch!  Wish I had the will power to eat like this all the time (sans the key lime pie). Dishes: beet salad, Atlantic salmon with balsamic reduction, and key lime pie for dessert. Went with iced tea instead of wine…for obvious reasons!  

[ATG]

You missed a beautiful beach day yesterday.  We had a bungalow at Columbia Cove and it was amazing.  The only issue was a man in the first bungalow smoking a cigar.  The people next to them got someone to make them stop.

[DandDM]

45 minutes ago, ATG said:

You missed a beautiful beach day yesterday.  We had a bungalow at Columbia Cove and it was amazing.  The only issue was a man in the first bungalow smoking a cigar.  The people next to them got someone to make them stop.

That sounds amazing (other than the smoke). If you have any photos you could share, would love to see them!

 

Speaking of smoke, been very lucky so far (*knock on wood*) - today was the first day I smelt any smoke on the balcony and it was very mild. 

[DandDM]

Welcome to Falmouth!  

 

Walked around, wanted to walk more, but after leaving the ship area, was constantly hounded. A simple ‘no thank you’ and walking away didn’t work, each guy stayed with me for a few minutes and I had to get firm before he moved on. I gave up and went back to the ship. 
 

saw some local wild life and a stately old building on my short walk. 

Some photos from the port area. Only about two third of the shops were occupied, margaritaville was shuttered!  Frankly, the area is pretty big so I wonder if over supply is a bigger issue than lack of demand. 

 

 

 

[DandDM]

Guess what I am doing?

 

[Coralc]

Cats? ☺️

[amster77]

Another ghost tour??

[DandDM]

1 hour ago, Coralc said:

Cats? ☺️

You got it!

1 hour ago, amster77 said:

Another ghost tour??

Fitting response!  Was a bit of a ghost town in the theater….

[DandDM]

Almost forgot about Cats as it was at an odd time - right at the end of a port stop and overlapping with sail away. Maybe that’s why not many folks were there - very lightly attended. 
 

I enjoyed it. Now, I won’t be going back next week, but I thought it was well done and am glad I went. The shorter time (from what I’ve read) was huge, as 90 minutes was fine, but I wouldn’t have given up 3 hours of the cruise for that X2. 
 

some photos…the folks in front of me left half way through so no more heads in the way. 
 

 

[HBE4]

8 hours ago, DandDM said:

Go for it! This is my third solo and I’ve really enjoyed them all.  I see in the Compass that there are nightly solo gatherings at Vintages if you’d like to meet others. A benefit of eating solo is that it can be much quicker..most of my meals have been around 45 minutes. 
 

another benefit is that if you go to a show late, can usually find a pretty good single seat (provided you don’t mind sitting between others). 

 

Thank you!  Glad to hear this. 

 

[HBE4]

8 hours ago, GetToLivin said:

I feel hungover after reading this 🤣

 

I think the title needs to be changed from "A running report" to "A drinking report". 😄

 

j/k

[HBE4]

9 hours ago, DandDM said:

Sorry for going dark, feel like I have some explaining to do!  Will call this post: “What not to do on a cruise if you’re over 50 and not in drinking shape.”  
 

Going back to Wendnesday morning, had a nice breakfast and the a run. By the time I cooled down and showered, skipped lunch and went to the wine tasting. That had four California wines, all related to the Camus family, including a Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasting included a small plate of cheese and meats. 

 

Feeling great after this, went to the pub for a Voodoo Ranger hazy IPA (favorite beer on the ship) then the Love and Marriage Show. As usual, the show was both cringeworthy and sweet, this one more to the cringey side. Back to the room to get laundry out and clean up for the evening.  
 

Right at five pm, being a little hungry, showed up at SL for snacks (and drinks). Ended up having three cocktails in short order while figuring out plans for next week and Super Bowl. I think folks might be seeing where this was going!  Took another cocktail down to the casino to lose some money before dinner. 
 

Finally made it to dinner around seven, and had a nice conversation with the folks at the table next to me. Had more wine. Only two pictures, one of the bread (that I forgot to ask to not get, but did’t eat) and a seafood dish that I didn’t realize was a creamy soup!  Also had Pork medallions and pasta, too busy talking at that point and forgot photos. 

It was good that I had food, but really too late to help much. After dinner I introduced myself to Mario (he had a section roped off in smoking area) and then back to Vintages. 

Met a nice guy named Don, who was also a runner, and we talked about the aches and pains of running as well as other stuff. Went through my Diamond plus vouchers, then paid for a glass, then bought a bottle. Ended up there until they were closing up, I think at 11?  Had the Open Sky production show reserved at 10:30 and missed that. 

 

Vaguely remember getting back to the room….

 

and that was my Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

Not that I'm counting but I think I counted 10 glasses of wine, a beer, 4 cocktails and a bottle of wine.

 

Seems to me you are in fine drinking shape. 🙂👍. Kudo's

[JamesEM]

When I attended Cats last year after the intermission only about half the audience returned for the 2nd half.

[perfect match]

14 hours ago, DandDM said:

Sorry for going dark, feel like I have some explaining to do!  Will call this post: “What not to do on a cruise if you’re over 50 and not in drinking shape

So, you’re starting to understand what happens to one’s body as one gets older! 😂 I’m well past 50 and let’s just say that with every year that goes by I find more and more things that I’m way better off not trying to do any more. 😱 On the other hand I’m always pleased when I find things I still can do, and even new things that I’ve never tried before. Happens to all of us, each at our own schedule. Life is way better when I listen to what my body warns me not to do and enjoy the things I still can do. You’ll figure it out. 😀

[DandDM]

Dinner yesterday…tried a bunch of stuff. 
 

Started with mushroom risotto, very good, but maybe not quite as good as Giovanni’s. 

 

Salmon sashimi. A little spicy (surprisingly). 

 

Scallops. These were my favorite. 

and then gnocchi. The greens on top were crunchy and very well seasoned. The vegetables, nice and buttery. Altogether, very tasty, but the gnocchi was filling so I couldn't finish. 

 

had a few bites of this chocolate bar for dessert. 

 

 

Spent some more time in the casino and only lost a few bucks. Feel pretty good about that based on the horrible pay tables on VP. 
 

[DandDM]

8 hours ago, perfect match said:

So, you’re starting to understand what happens to one’s body as one gets older! 😂 I’m well past 50 and let’s just say that with every year that goes by I find more and more things that I’m way better off not trying to do any more. 😱 On the other hand I’m always pleased when I find things I still can do, and even new things that I’ve never tried before. Happens to all of us, each at our own schedule. Life is way better when I listen to what my body warns me not to do and enjoy the things I still can do. You’ll figure it out. 😀

Agree. I just can’t seem to learn the easy way! 😃

[DandDM]

Busy day on the ship - last day, a sea day, and good weather. Everyone is out and about!  Made it for a run, got ten laps in but legs were just so heavy today. No surprise that the amount I eat and drink the night before inversely impacts the run!  
 

spreaking of that, ended up in Vintages again with my new friend Don. Behaved much better than the other day. 
 

Found a spot for a water bottle and spotted another Royal ship sailing by. 
 

Edit to add: think that was a Royal ship. Looked like it with my naked eye, but not sure when looking at the photo. 

 

Busy out on deck!

 

about to do another wine tasting, this time I ate first. 🙂

 

 

 

Edited February 10 by DandDM