Tree_skier

It's funny about accents and speech mannerisms... I still often get people telling me they can hear my "Canadian" accent. What is funny when I have gone back to Canada and met new people for the first time who don't know background I am often asked what part of the US I am from LOL. I'm a man without a country.

The saltines just make it look lame.

I think this is the likely outcome. I always leave autograts on and have typically tipped extra cash because almost every attendant I have had has been worth it. My suspicion is that with the once a day service, the extra that my cabin attendant would do for me is likely to be diminished making me less inclined to tip extra or at least not as much.

Great stuff

This isn't true. This wraps all the way around the forward portion of Deck 17

No you need to take the shuttle. It is $5 per person for a round trip ticket. Once downtown there a lot of the typical shops and restaurants. Don't bother getting off early. The first time we went to Ensenada we got off right away and headed downtown on the shuttle. That was a waste. A lot of stuff was still closed then. If you getting off to shop I'd wait till 11 or so. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast relax.

I don't bother with excursions at Ensenada. I have been to La Bufadora and shopped the stalls I was one and done with that. The last time all we did was get off late and take the shuttle bus into town. We wandered the shops for a little while then went back to the ship. Next time I won't get off the ship. At Catalina I go play mini-golf and wander the a few shops then head back to the ship. Next time at Catalina I'll probably do that again because I have GK's with me but otherwise I'd stay on the ship. If I was on short cruise out of Florida it'd probably be different since it would stop of Cococay.

This has nothing to do with American healthcare or Canadian socialized medicine. You are talking about your extended healthcare benefits provided by private insurance which is paid for by your private employer and yourself and is a benefit by your private employer. Why throw shade at Americans

I love Picanha... I was at Texas de Brazil on Monday night. 🙂 Enjoy!

When I was in London in 2013 we went to a Fawlty towers Dinner show. It was held at an hotel and you were the guests at "Faulty Towers". Basil, Sybil and Manuel served you dinner... It was one of the funniest evenings of my life. The actors weren't the original cast but they were remarkably similar in appearance.

Here is a video of 1852. It would the mirror copy of 1802. Doesn't look bigger than other spacious ocean views.

Good for him. Unfortunately for you he wouldn't qualify for "old boys" until 40 usually. Maybe its different at his club. At least that was my experience. You couldn't have got me to play 5 minutes in the front row like you son. LOL. What goes on up there is beyond my comprehension. MLR has been an incredible boost to US rugby. The quality of play has really improved over the last few years. We're still a very long way from UK or Kiwi or Ozzy standards but it keeps getting better. Quite a few top pros from overseas have come and used it as "retirement league" similar to what happened in the MLS in the 90's. I don't imagine it'll ever get to the same level internationally as MLS has but you can always hope. My old home town, Vancouver, is taking a run at getting an expansion franchise. I know a couple of the guys involved in the planning. I'm hoping for the best for them.

I played for five years in high school and then went on to play senior mens after that. In my late 30's the body started breaking down and I stopped playing. I reffed for a few years but was still very connected to my local club. When I turned 40 I got talked into joining the "Classics" 40+ side at the club. Still physical but a little less intensity. I also coached high school for the last 6 years before we moved. Both boys sides as well as girls sides. I think I loved coaching more than playing. Rugby is a unique sport. I don't know of any other that creates such a unique sense of community. Ferocious competitors doing real bodily harm to one another will immediately share a clubhouse and drink beer together minutes after the referee blow the full time whistle. Any and all animosity is left on the pitch. I once had an English friend explain it to me this way. "Football (soccer) is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, Rugby is a hooligan sport played by gentlemen." I liked that analogy. 😉 I have stumbled across small clubs in city's all across the US while working in various places and upon showing up pitch side on game day embraced like long lost family member. It's really hard to put into words how unique the camaraderie and brotherhood is. As for Owen being slotted in at Fly Half... he must be a tremendous athlete and athletically intelligent. Fly half is a pivotal position and to put him there as a first year player is surprising. For those not familiar with Rugby, Fly-half would be to Rugby what Quarterback is football. I played a lot of years at Fullback. Some in the centres and then near the end, when my speed started to fail me, at flanker. I really I hope he enjoys the experience. It is a sport that can last you a lifetime.

Or just fill in this form. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs

Usually yes... Last time on Navigator, I had them comp a couple drinks for me unexpectedly one night. It just happened on one evening when I had been at the table for a fair while. Then everything went back to normal the next day, but it is possible. I'd expect to pay for your drinks if you don't have the drink package though.

My last two had denials came the day before but with the caveat that it would be considered by ship staff and they could contact me up until the evening of embarkation day. Nothing came of the caveat but...

This is the first time I have noticed you mention rugby with Owen... Is this his first year playing? It is a fabulous sport, I've played and coached. I was involved in the sport from the age of 13 right up until 51. I finally hung both the cleats and the whistle when we started considering our move to the US.

Sorry about your knee Graham... I hope for a quick and successful hip replacement. Hopefully not... Back when we still lived in Canada. I waited for 13 months for an MRI on my knee. DW's cataract surgery was an 11 month wait.

I have always just left it to be added to our account on a daily basis but for Harmony of the Seas coming up in Dec. I had my TA add it to the invoice. This cruise we are taking DD, her husband and the 3 kids along. I'm paying the whole thing however, any extra spending onboard like shopping, the spa or the arcade they are on their own. I wanted the auto-grats covered before they got on board so we didn't have to sort through it onboard.

Some of the best conversations I have ever had have been with myself. 🙂

Of course because people book the The Chef's table with the expectation that they will be grouped with other people. Nobody expects that when booking and arriving at a specialty restaurant.

The Chef's table isn't a specialty restaurant reservation it is a dining "experience".

Yeah, I think when we originally booked in Nov of 2019 the price was around 4300. After several price drops, by the time we got to final payment in 2022 it was around 2600. That was a really good deal.

Not in specialty restaurants... I've never heard of them seating a solo at a random table of strangers.

My TA can work with people in all over North America. I know he works with people in Texas. 🙂