HappyTexan44

10 minutes ago, Tatka said:

 

Soup? I did not see a liquid in this dish.

I was speaking of Post #129.  That looks like a thin liquid in that photo.  

That lobster mac and cheese looks like a broth-based soup.  

On 1/21/2024 at 8:28 AM, A&L_Ont said:

When multiple people on my roll calls are bringing a hundred each they are not as cute. 

My daughter will be doing her level best to take care of that.  Although, I'll probably try to mandate a "No Duplicates" rule.  But then you add in that are a great many kids on the ship.  I guess I'll see whether the ducks litter the ship.  

I've been giving the duck display a lot of thought.  Most displays are to keep dust and hands off the display, so those won't work.  At the moment I'm thinking of getting wood ceiling molding all cut to the same length.   Then drilling two holes on each end, and putting knotted twine through the holes.  I've seen something similar with bigger wood to hang plants in front of a window.  

How could these guys be offensive?   They are as cute as a kitten.  

 

Why is it a problem?    Are they a tripping hazard?  Do They make you find 5 before you get off at port?  I think lots of stuff other people do are dumb, but that just means I don't do those things.  

This was one reason I decided to get a passport book even though I don't see us going out of the country again in the next 10 years.  From now on I'll have one document proving both ID and citizenship in my married name.  
I also made my married name by middle name, and it has been helpful as a bridge in various places.  That hadn't been the intent though.   I didn't have a connection to my middle name, my maiden name died with me, and it was my evil plot to force DH into learning to spell my maiden name.  

That is adorable!   And a reminder of the cruise.    If you just found it, it must have been very well hid.  
We had thought daughter's love for ducks might have faded, but no, it is stronger.   Now we are thinking of a display case as a birthday present, and a friend of hers gave her a rubber duck advent calendar.  
We have THE CUTEST ducks purchased to hide.  She is one that would have littered the place with ducks, so we got a 12-pack, and she is going to try to keep some of those.  


 

2 hours ago, Keksie said:

My husband is as much of a large case packer as I am.  His shoes are huge, so even if he only brings a pair of dress shoes and a pair of sandals they take up a lot of room. His clothes take up a lot of room and even his snorkel mask is big.  So even with less items his bag is as full as mine.  

My husband likes to pretend he doesn't bring much.   He'll set a pile of folded clothes onto the bed and say to "add it to my clothes".   But, then you add his sleep machine and his duffle is full.  If I do add his clothes to mine, he is annoyed because he has to dig though mine to find his.  

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Last cruise was close!  When I put my large suitcase on the scale at the airport it came in at 49.6 LBS.  LOL.

 

I told DW that all souvenirs were going in her suitcase.

One time on a scuba trip to Belize (pre-family) I knew my bag was going to be way over-weight.  Choosing iron for my dive tank had *seemed* like such a good idea.  I looked around for a worker that looked likely.  I asked for assistance with my bags and gave him a $10 and two $5's.   He grabbed my bags and went over to a ticket window with someone behind it but off to the side where they weren't helping anyone.  He handed my bags across and over the weight-check thing, he said something, and then palmed the other guy I assume the $5.  Presto, my bags were checked and I didn't even have to wait in the long line.  

I *can* pack extremely lean and mean.  I've done a multi-week Eurorailing trip with just a school sized backpack. Woolite is essential.   
But, I am a proud overpacker.    DH is a former long-haul truck driver, my car is a touring Cadillac and we all felt like cattle being funneled to slaughter on our last flight, so we drive for all vacations.  I bring my California King comforter and between the three of us we bring about 6 pillows.  I have a fond memory of DH saying to me while in a hotel room, "Where is the back scratcher?" and I pointed to the window ledge.  I wouldn't say I pack too many clothes, but I bring lots of stuff because it doesn't seem fun to have to do without while on vacation.  

@alphawave1  The real issue here is her giving you grief.   Maybe stop her when she starts in on you, and say something like, "How about you not give me grief about how much I packed, and I won't give you grief when you ask to borrow stuff?"    What will likely happen is that she'll still give you grief.   Then when she asks to borrow stuff, you can just clear your throat and give her The Look.   

 

I've had my luggage sent to the wrong airport because the rude person working the airline desk used the wrong tag,   So, if I can, I put my own tags on.    If I can't I insist on seeing each before it is put on.  

19 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

it now takes 2 weeks unexpedited to get a passport for a minor. And you never know when you might have an emergency.

Yes, it was shockingly quick.  We applied just before Thanksgiving and got the passports early-Dec.  That was a new passport for daughter, and a marriage name change for me.  There is a passport renewal times thread here.  

Does make me what to take some screenshots though showing I have a paid-for cruise.  

1 hour ago, pcur said:

Provolone, swiss, cheddar, fig compote, celery, small slices of dark rye bread, grapes

Thank you!   That is a respectable selection.  Not what I'd have picked, but better than my expectation for a restaurant.  

We'll be on Voyager, does the library/game room have playing cards?   

I wonder though if Royal can convert the new people into loyal customers?     One downside of attracting customers looking for the latest shiny, is that they are easily tempted away with another shiny.   There isn't an unlimited supply of families with money.   
Maybe they'll stay, after all, as parent of a 13-year-old I can see the appeal of a vacation where daughter is active and happy while I am relaxing.  
 

Oh, I have a bunch of those around somewhere.  My grandfather used to bring home the excess cards from when he volunteered at the VA Hospital.  They'd get so many of those donated that they littered the place.  
 

What is a casino card?

2 hours ago, pcur said:

We also have 3 of the cheese/fruit plates brought daily to our table of seven for nibbles between courses.

Do the cheese/fruit plates have the sort of stuff that would be handy to bring back to the room for snacks later?    Do you remember what types of cheese and fruit were provided?   Mostly interested in the cheese.  

48 minutes ago, NoShoes2 said:

 

We are on Symphony Jan. 27th sailing. I was surprised that the earliest available time was 11:30. 

Could it be that other people have taken all the earlier times?  

2 hours ago, doghog said:

Just voicing my opinion, as unpopular as it may be on the RCI forum. 😉 ✌️ Curious, what's your starter cruise? First cruise?

Yes, it is to see if we like it.    I was one of those that always said I'd be bored on a cruise and I wasn't interested.   Then several people we know went on cruises and told me about them.  After, I told the family about one of those, they said, "Why don't we try a cruise?"   So, I looked into the idea and it seemed reasonable.  I looked for a cruise in the 5-7 day length leaving from a drivable port, Galveston or New Orleans, with a big water slide (for me).   I've already been to many places in the Caribbean, and the family has been to none, so ports didn't matter.  We wanted to do it as cheaply as possible, since there is a chance we'll hate it.   Fall 2022 I booked Voyager 5-day in Feb 2024.  We got two promenade rooms for 4 people for $1400.  

One nice thing, I really wanted DD aged 13 to be safe AND have fun.  So, we invited one of her friends to come along.   The rule will be that they need to be together, or with us, or in the room.  The girl's parents said Yes, and then later they decided to come too.  They are one of the people I know that cruise often.  
 

13 hours ago, doghog said:

Makes sense to me. Celebrity does it. I also believe if kids are cruising under the KSF program they shouldn't be receiving CAS points for those cruises. Would you still cruise if she wasn't earning CAS points? 

Well, even I'm not cruising for the points.   We have our starter cruise coming up, so we're cruising to see if we like it.  But, I'd think it was pissy of them to not give her points just because she was a kid and it would be a ding against Royal if they did that.  We're paying adult prices for her, but even on KSF I'd think they should get the points.   Adults on a casino comp cruise get points.  

 

12 hours ago, Etta1213 said:

You eat Triscuits??🤔

No, that would be Scared of eating Triscuits.   🙂  

Thank you for asking this.  

Looking back at the menu after reading what people have said, the Pesto Tagliatelle and Garlic shrimp entrees being combined sounds awesome.  My all-time favorite dish is Shrimp Alfredo.  

Good thing I like Butter Chicken.   When eating Mexican-ish outside of Texas or Mexican, my go-to dish is enchiladas because I *thought* that was a dish that no one could mess up.  I used to think that about lasagna until a restaurant served one without tomato or dairy products.  

Side note, we got the 10:30 arrival time.  Our friends going with us are experiences cruisers, and she said the only thing keeping her gang from arriving at 7am with their faces pressed to the glass is the hotel breakfast.