Honolulu Blue

Thank you. You're right about everything, of course. I'll find a window for it eventually, just not sure when.

In the latest Jazz Cruises newsletter, it was announced that the McDonald LaBelle Cruise I will be on in April is having a pre-cruise webinar that will explain some things about this cruise and answer some questions. It will be next Thursday at 3 PM EST. I'd like to attend, but at that time I plan to be in Port Canaveral... on Mariner of the Seas... soaking up the atmosphere on The 80s Cruise. I'm sure I'll get to that webinar eventually. Speaking of TEC, I was thinking about my next concert and how it would almost certainly be on The 80s Cruise. It looks like there are three choices. Trial By Fire, the 80s era tribute band, will have a sailaway concert by the pool at 4. I disliked the pool layout last year on the TEC; only those who were in the pool or lounging by it had a good view of the band. But maybe I'll brave it and give this a look. At 7:15 in Studio B is Animotion. They had a few hits back in the day that I kind of liked. That's probably enough to sustain me through the rest of the hour. Besides, the rest of their catalog might surprise me. At 9:30 in Studio B figures to be one of the highlight concerts for me - Sheena Easton. It's hard for me to explain how much of an influence her music had on my life in the 80s. She has a way of making any old song sound really good, which I think is a sign of real talent. (Carefully scanning the crowd here) And she's easy on the eyes, which never hurts. 😛 To put it into percentages, I'll put the chance of my first concert being TBF at 10%, Animotion at 50%, and Sheena at 40%.

From Mr. Lazaroff's latest newsletter: Both Smooth Jazz Cruises for next year remain wait list only TJC 25 is over 77% reserved Botti at Sea 25 will be over 50% booked McDonald LaBelle is down to 70 interior cabins remaining MLC will have a webinar on Thursday, February 29, at 3 PM EST. I'd like to attend, but I'll be on another cruise then. ☹️ A few more details were released about the Journey of Jazz cruise:

Thanks. For some reason, Royal and Celebrity don't like to sell guarantee cabins to solo travelers, and that's the only cabin type that I showed as available for this particular cruise. In my research, I did find a couple of ocean view cabins as available if you're willing to settle for that. They're not much more than IGs that they're willing to sell to couples.

It is stupid. Did you try going in through the back door by booking with a travel agent? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't try this. My preference is to not deal with companies that do stupid things.

The only change I can recall is that Princess GC discount was 10% until about a year ago.

For a different perspective on things... I was on the Magic in November and the Dream last month and the Guy's on both had bacon patties on their burgers. And there were sauteed onions available on both at the condiments bar. I know, onions are cheaper than mushrooms, but still. And all the servers gave out various amounts of slices of bacon to me at the trough (when offered), always more than two at a time. And, of course, they always gave me more on the rare occasions when I wanted more. It must be because I'm a growing boy - out, not up. 🙃

It looks like another busy week of running around to concerts and interviews on TEC. It could be challenging fitting meals in some day, but be assured that I won't starve. 😛 It's sad that I won't get to do the Sheena double, as she's up against Stephen on Friday and there ain't no way I'm missing him live. Also, keep in mind that this is a tentative list. I can't be in two places at once, and I'm unlikely to see the same performer twice (with some possible exceptions). WHEN WHO & WHAT WHERE Thursday Embark (Back to the 80s) 400-515p Trial By Fire Pool 715-830p Animotion Studio B 930-1045p Sheena Easton Studio B 1100p-1245a TEC 25 lineup / Jessie's Girl Studio B Friday at sea (Salute to Sci-Fi) 900-1015a Breakfast w/Stephen Pearcy Jamie's (11) 1100a-1200p BTM-38 Special Studio B 100-215p Wang Chung Pool 630-800p Stephen Pearcy Theater 715-830p Sheena Easton Studio B 930-1045p Animotion Studio B Saturday at sea (Camp 80s/Punks and Preps) 1000-1100a BTM-Sheena Easton Studio B 1230-130p BTM-Stephen Pearcy Star Lounge 200-300p BTM-Wang Chung Studio B 300-400p Wine tasting w/Sheena Easton MDR (3) 630-800p Debbie Gibson Theater Sunday Aruba (Kick Back and Glow) 1000-1100a BTM-Debbie Gibson Studio B 715-830p Ray Parker Jr. Studio B 930-1045p Midnight Star Studio B Monday Curacao (John Hughes Prom) 330-430p BTM-Air Supply Theater 715-830p Midnight Star Studio B 930-1045p Ray Parker Jr. Studio B 1130p-1245a Wang Chung Studio B Tuesday at sea (Pop Icon) 315-400p Auction Studio B 400-500p BTM-Ray Parker Jr. Studio B 500-600p BTM-Animotion Star Lounge 630-800p Air Supply Theater 1200-130a Piano Bar Jam w/Tommy Tutone & All-Stars Star Lounge Wed. at sea 1000-1100a Dance class w/Debbie Gibson Studio B 1115-1145a Ask ECP Ellington's (14) 330-430p BTM-Midnight Star Star Lounge 630-800p 38 Special Theater 1100p-mid Heavy Metal Show w/Trial By Fire Studio B

Finally, the tentative 80s Cruise is out and ready for review. I'll do a first scan review of the performers and other items that are of interest to me. But here and now, I'll review the main theater performers each day: THURSDAY - Soft Cell early and late FRIDAY - Stephen Pearcy (early) and Debbie Gibson (late) SATURDAY - Debbie Gibson (early) and Stephen Pearcy (late) SUNDAY - Sebastian Bach (early) and The English Beat (late) MONDAY - The English Beat (early) and Sebastian Bach (late) TUESDAY - Air Supply (early) and 38 Special (late) WEDNESDAY - 38 Special (early) and Air Supply (late)

A little bit of news from Foreigner: Mick Jones confessed on the group's social media pages that he has been battling Parkinson's for the last several years and that's why he rarely performs onstage anymore. I'll link a site with an article that quotes him: Foreigner's Mick Jones Reveals Parkinson's Disease Battle (consequence.net) . Sad news. I really feel for Mr. Jones. I was hoping against hope that perhaps a cruise would help soften what ailed him and he'd show up for a cameo our little Rock & Romance Cruise. I've officially given up hope for that now. ☹️

I was on the Dream last month - the same cruise @firefly333. I had a great experience on hsr. Here's the LIVE thread I did for it:

Thanks for the details and heads up.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm unusual in that I haven't had pizza on any cruise I've been on. These aren't appealing enough to get me to try one, but I appreciate the attempt.

Correct - the HOF Band will be doing a tribute to Badfinger. And it sounds like what you've described with Peter Asher is what we're going to get on this cruise.

Peter Asher looks like he's doing the same (or similar) acoustic show for us on Monday night/Tuesday morning. He also has a matinee, solo, on Tuesday afternoon. I'll take your recommendation in mind, but it's going to be tough to squeeze him in when there's so much going on. Thank you for your kind words. This does look like a very full and interesting schedule. It looks like I'll be hanging around by the pool a lot. I'd better prepare for that. Badfinger didn't quite meet my standards, arbitrary as they are. Too many better choices, IMHO, not enough time. I'm happy you hung around with him and saw him perform. Curious - what kind of music does Naledi perform? I might check him out if he's doing something appealing. You've mentioned LSB before. I want to go see them... but their themes are meh (again, IMHO) and they're mostly up against stiff competition. I'll take another look.

OK, after running through the schedule once, here's what I found that's of most interest to me. Keep in mind that I can't be in two places at once, and I might not watch the same performer twice. I note that I didn't see a Q&A for Foreigner. WHEN WHO & WHAT WHERE Thursday Embark 330-500p Sailaway - Queen Nation Pool 945-1045p Cara Lee (Cher) Rendezvous 1100p-mid WAR Pool Friday at sea 100-200p Pablo Cruise Theater 200-300p Ambrosia acoustic Sky Lounge 500-530p Interview w/Lonnie from WAR Sky Lounge 630-800p Foreigner Theater 745-845p Lez Zeppelin Rendezvous 1100p-mid Queen Nation Pool Saturday at sea 200-300p Lez Zeppelin Pool 400-500p WAR Pool 745-845p Troubadours (Carole King & James Taylor) Sky Lounge 1100p-mid Bee Gees Gold Pool Sunday Aruba 630-800p Ambrosia & Yacht Rock Theater 715p-815p Cara Lee (Cher) Rendezvous 1015-1115p Bella Donna (Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac) Sky Lounge 1100p-mid Orleans Pool 1215-115a Creedence Revived Sky Lounge Monday Curacao 200-300p Cara Lee Pool 630-800p Dave Mason Theater 745-845p Rockin' the Yacht Pool 1100p-mid Doobie Others Pool Tuesday at sea 1200-100p Hotel California Pool 400-500p Orleans Pool 630-800p Generation Radio Theater 745-845p Bella Donna (Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac) Pool 1215-115a Bee Gees Gold Sky Lounge Wed. at sea 1000-1100a Creedence Revived Pool 1000-1100a Bowie's Late Years Theater 1200-100p Rockin' the Yacht Pool 200-300p Hotel California (The Eagles) Pool 400-500p Doobie Others Pool 630-800p Randy Bachman Theater 1215-115a Farewell- Lee, Trullinger & Stamper Sky Lounge

Rock and Romance wins the race! Their schedule is out first, beating TEC (though both are late - naughty naughty 🤬). Some very early notes as I scan through it quickly: Day 1 main shows - Gino Vannelli (early) and Don McLean (late) Queen Nation on embarkation day by the pool starting at 3:45. I should make it there. Will they play Bohemian?? Cara Lee at 9:45 on day 1 in Rendezvous. I'll try to stay up for this. WAR by the pool at 11. If I'm up for Cara, it should be easy enough to make this one. Pablo Cruise does a matinee at 1 on day 2 in the main theater for us holding gold cards Ambrosia is doing an acoustic show at 2 in the Sky Lounge. If I were a certain Heisman-trophy-winning rental-car-pitchman (I'm not allowed to say his name anymore in public), I might have a shot at making it from the theater to the Sky Lounge in 5 minutes. For me, and most normal people, it's going to be more like 10. Which means I'll probably have to pass on this and wait for another concert from these guys. Sigh. ☹️ Day 2 has Foreigner in the main theater early and Gino Vannelli late Lez Zeppelin at 7:45 by the pool. Sorry girls. Queen Nation will be by the pool on day 2 at 11 PM. I doubt I'll make this one. More about this schedule later. I'm still studying it.

I found a post on R&R's FB page from a StarVista rep dated Friday that said they were going to release the tentative schedule "next week". It is now next week. The R&R and TEC schedules should be out any time. Not yet, though. 😠

Wow! That does sound like a fun time! Thanks for sharing. I've done several charter cruises with lots of music, but none with a clear headliner like this one.

Forgive me, but I have questions on your Matchbox Twenty cruise. How many times did they perform? Did they perform anywhere besides the main theater? Were there any other bands or artists besides them? Do you remember the group that chartered the cruise (I'm assuming it's not one of those Carnival LIVE! concert experience they used to have several years ago)? TIA! In exchange, I'll answer some of your questions. As others have mentioned, just check in on the app when you're ready and eventually you'll get a table. In the past, it was even easier (IMHO) - just go to the dining room when you're ready and eventually you'll get seated. No app necessary then. Amber Cove is on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, which is an interesting place to be (IMHO). Check the excursion list for a list of interesting places to go. I thought the dock area was interesting to explore for an hour or two. My first and only visit here was about two years ago. It wasn't on a Carnival cruise. Grand Turk isn't much more than a beach and water sports stop, but at least it has a dock. It's pretty if you like that. Royal totally stole FTTF from Carnival and called it "The Key" Enjoy your cruise!

It's 24 hours from the time you purchase it

Thanks for sharing your experiences and opinions on VV. I mostly quoted this so I have it on record for future reference. I don't have any particular questions at this time. The fact that VV sails from sunny San Juan is a big point in their favor (IMHO), but there are enough little things I don't like that make me wary of paying much of a premium for the experience.

Thanks for sharing this. I also saw it. There's a possible arbitrage opportunity here. Since the itinerary is currently bookable on Celebrity, one could put a deposit on a cabin and wait for the inevitable cancellation. They have to refund the money paid in (I can't see any way they would let those who already booked stay with the charter), but they might sweeten the deal with future cruise credit and/or some OBC. It's interesting to see what happens with this. BTW, details are scheduled to be announced for this cruise on March 15 - including the full itinerary and some performers.

I'm not Elite, yet, but I kind of back doored my way to Platinum status. My first booked cruise on Princess was canceled due to the pandemic. It was a solo cruise, which I got double credit for. I booked two more cruises on Princess (both solo), and found myself with Platinum status as I embarked on the second one. I currently show with 8 cruises sailed, but only 24 days. I have another Princess cruise scheduled for later this year (7 days). I assume I'll get 2 cruise credits for that one too. So, in my unique case, it wouldn't necessarily take me many years to get to Elite. Three more cruises of any length would do it. I could, in theory, have fewer than 50 days when I get to Elite status. Thanks in advance for the kind words. 👍 Sorry for the distraction. I'll go back to lurk mode now.

I've taken four music cruises, all of which were full charters. The 80s cruises on Princess weren't charters; Princess picked the theme and controlled all the bookings. They let anyone on, whether they cared about the theme or not. I assume part of the contract between the agency and Princess allows the agency to control venues and the times the bands play and/or practice. That would mean closing off access temporarily to those who aren't members of the group. The other passengers won't like it, but too bad for them. 😋 They COULD have pool deck concerts, but that area is likely too big to close off entirely. In which case they could open up those concerts for everyone, or just take them somewhere inside.