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So yesterday, was the DW’s Birthday, so I gave her a bracelet that she showed me she liked at Nordstrom, so I ordered it and got it at a 10% discount. The box suffered a bit in my backpack on the flights and general travel to keep it hidden. So, she got that first thing when I returned from the nearly empty diamond lounge with coffee and the raisin bread that used to be called Austrian Stritzel back in the day. Then while I was on the FlowRider, she, Sally and Shelby went jewelry shopping. Sue was not feeling great. So, Krystal became their personal shopper, and since they are not as decisive as we are. She was frustrated when she returned for lunch and prep for our afternoon excursion. She mentioned a new brand FOPE she saw somewhere. So, I knew I was in a bit of trouble. After lunch our meeting place was right outside of Diamonds International (which I don’t think we had ever made a purchase at). So, we had about 20 minutes to kill, so we went inside. They carried the same designer’s stuff, and of course, she was looking at the section where her recent present was. They had a single one in the Sapphire stones, and they must have been a price sheet behind in the store because they had it retailed for a couple of hundred less than MSRP and they offered an additional 10% off (of course). We asked how late they would be open and were told 7PM Aruba time (we are on ship time which is EST not AST). I knew we would get back before they closed. So, we boarded our shuttle for a bumpy ride to their Animal rescue zoo. Around Aruba Tours which we booked thru Viator. Spent 20 minutes feeding the animals except the Monkeys and the Birds. Then hopped on our side by side UTVs. Was a very good excursion if you don’t mind dust and dirt. The UTVs were mostly Kymco brand general purpose duty with a carry bin on back not fast ones like a Polaris Razor or other brands of fast ones. Top speed on the flat was just over 30. They made sure we knew the L (low) was for losers and we needed to stay tight together, especially on the return on the main roads. The roads got progressively worse until they were just big volcanic rocks and sand. Which on the last steepest climb (at this time we were last in line except for the mechanic on a 4 wheeler, when the cart in front of me came to a complete stop at the worst place. I came to a complete stop on this steep rocky hill before they finally pulled away. As I applied throttle the rears immediately just spun. So, I was like o crap. So, I let the UTV slip back a foot or so, and gently applied throttle, fortunately it gained traction and I was able to climb the rock that had me completely stuck. that was close. Once we were are the main roads after doing a jump from a small 6 foot cliff into a cave filled with sea water and climbed out of the sharp coral rock, and walked on a beach, among other stops the driving returned to easier driving. We managed to reach speeds over 35 MPH on some downhill sections, it was during one of these moments that Sally hit some sand while the UTV in front of her braked, he rears locked and the back in tried to come around and I thought she was going to go off the road into the ever present cactus, She managed to right it and didn’t have a crash. That was the closest thing to an accident that occurred. On the upside, she really enjoyed the tour, so it must have looked worse from our view than it actually was, she said it was like being on an icy road. After, we stopped at DI and I bought the bracelet. We must have looked a complete mess salt water sand covered homeless people. They seemed to be willing to take my Amex card though. We were supposed to go back off the ship to the restaurant Wilhelmina, but we were too tired. We went to Chops instead, dang that is expensive when you are used to having it as part of a package or the UDP. On the upside it was very good. After good nights we went off to bed. Fell asleep quickly. jc

Aruba. 5 in line was 3 for an hour

Apparently, a cruise critic pinnacle lady was looking for me today. I think it was shortly after 11:15 when I went to go to lunch. The guys in the line let me know. Sorry for whomever was looking for me. I like meeting cruise critic people. On a down note, I was surfing about 4 pm when Santa and his elf went by with a sack full of toys (I presume). I was surfing well on that run and he didn’t give me a toy. I complained to the sports staff while surfing, and the big Jamaican guy said I had been naughty all day. Everyone was laughing. JC

It is a good wave. I first in line this morning in a light rain and strong wind. The 20 somethings started showing up about 11, so I am in the room getting ready for lunch. My DW has been doing the Flash Dance practice, she thinks the routine is not awesome, she misses the Thriller dances. jc

It seems exactly the same as the Symphony from 4 years ago. More water slides than Allure. Grease versus Mama Mia. Prefer Mama Mia. Although Grease was good last night, but ended at 11:30 way past my bedtime! I liked the shows on the Symphony other than Hairspray and it was good.

We might be on a collision course at some point with the whale tail Carnival ship as we seem to be narrowing the gap! We are definitely fractionally faster! jc

So, all of my videos are raw right now. I usually start the camera on a tripod and it runs for 14 minutes. I edit them when I am home. I could probably find one from my last sailing on Smugmug and post it, if I had some time. Which I rarely do here. I know I posted some from a bad sea day that I posted from last year on the Allure on this thread or John’s Bella thread. I was proud of that one because the wave was horrible and I didn’t fall.

The view from our balcony this morning and now.

Ugly day. Clouds rain wind 75. Four of us waiting for Flowrider

We definitely have a Mayflower ancestor on my mother’s side. Didn’t know it was a thing? jc

Lunch

I got to the room saw they were doing MDR at 12:15. So responded on my. Found them at a table for four. Eating in WJ. On upside I can see the wave. Used Insta X3 haven’t viewed videos

Hi LB you just need to swap 2024 TA so the key was just me and a kid who alternated between boogie and stand-up. It was a sweet hour!!!! Probably 15 plus runs. the primary wave has been 8 to 12 not bad

The key line. Me

Got in 6 runs, the wave was pretty good, a super skinny young woman, who had some skills, was talking about the water was too deep, and that they were going to drain the wave overnight. Personally, the water is always about an inch deep, and the more water equal more force, which equals a better wave. So, shortly I will learn if she has insight, knowledge, or wisdom. I quit in time to go to the cabin, the gang was all out and for the first time in like 30+ cruises, all my stuff was already in drawers or in the closet. What a good wife. I imagine I will pay for that the entire cruise. 😆 We watched sailaway, as one Princess boat moved from across the channel to a solitary pier behind us. I am guessing they are overnighting? The other 4 ships sailed out and we were last. Then i put on pants and went to dinner. MTD was a bit odd. We had 6:30 the line was out the door and past the stairs on the port side. They told 6:45 reservations to get out of the line. Odd. This lasted for 5 minutes as we were 5 early. Then everyone quickly went in. Our wait staff was not great. Slow service as we wanted to go to the 8:15 Aqua Theatre, and of course, that show always begins before the official opening. So, I made Sue mad, when I said, at 7:45… the dessert had better show up in the next minutes or we are skipping so when it showed up about 8 minutes later… I was like eat fast. I am now on her bad list. Food was ok to good. We rushed out, all my ducks in a row, and up the stair 3 flights across the boardwalk, no chairs left for 5 but one of the benches on the starboard far left was open. We took that. Show was a lot more dancing than any of these shows I have seen. Thought it was good, but missed the trampoline stuff. They barely used it, and only a single woman doing flips. ODD. The diving wasn’t really highlighted it sort of happened behind all of the other stuff. I enjoyed it. Thought it was odd. We went to our cabin, the others I am sure entertained themselves on the ship. We sat on the balcony sipping Gran Marnier and watching the other ships lights in the distance and the stars. 9AM Key FlowRider this morning, so I am off in a few to take it on. Hopefully, there will not be many people there. Fingers crossed. jc

Day 1 went pretty well. We left our room at a few minutes after 10AM, went out onto the covered front entrance way to watch Green Iquanas come down from the palm trees to eat some wet grass at about while the hotel shuttle pulled out taking people to the cruise port at $15 a head. The driver on the ride to the hotel had convinced four out of five that he was the best option for the trip to the ship. One out of five knew better. The shuttle was $15 per person, and I am not sure which of the 6 ships in port would get first service and which last. So, I literally, had to tell them each as they were checking in and the shuttle sign up sheet was right there to ignore it. At 10:25, I found out Uber had changed it so you can’t (at least I couldn’t find it) get two Ubers on the same account at the same time. So, as I swapped to Krystal’s phone nope showing current ride. Crap. Hi Shelby, do you have Uber on your phone, yes but I don’t think I have ever used it. So, grab his phone, add a credit card, search for a ride, ride selected. Our Grey Honda was passing the Taco Bell next to the hotel, and a Red Sentra was right behind it. Success. I overpaid for our ride it was 11.92. Shelby’s was 8.98. Traffic at the security check point was light and we got thru in about 5 minutes. We gave our bags to a porter. Told the man at the door that we were in a suite and had the Key. That all five of us were together. So in the door, bags thru the scanner, bags out of scanner into the queues immediately a lovely lady was checking in all five of us from my Apple Wallet as each passed their passports forward to her and she took all of our pictures. In no time at all she said we were cleared to be on the ship. Walked thru the middle area behind the official check in desks, had a group photo up the escalators where the Key and Suite waiting areas are, they are empty, we follow the herd around all of the seating and followed the herd into a waiting area. I told Krystal that this was not right. Since, I was Sherpa, with bag full of surf stuff, cameras Flowboard, heavy backpack with more electronics and medicines and small gym bag with wine a few bottles of water. She went to the attendant, and he quickly called out to us from about 60 feet away, as I approached he said everyone who knows this lady come on thru. A man stood up and said I am Mike and shook Krystal’s hand. He said, I know her. All laughed. Needless to say, we were shortly on the gangway. As we entered I asked where was the Key drop off, he looked confused for a second and said deck four. I have gone to the theatre to dump bags on other ships, so off I went. Got there a Russian (Slavic) crew person told me it was a muster station in broken English and had no idea where the Key was. So, I figured it was in the MDR on 4. Which was correct. Dropped our bags it is only a little past 11. Way too early for lunch and I didn’t think the FlowRider would open until 1. So, off to the Flowrider with a lot less stuff, sign the waiver, and the waiver for my board, I then discovered the FlowRider began at noon. Crap. Do, I have to do the boogie board, and the sports staff gentleman from Greece even though I obviously know how to ride, as I have my own board. Yes, we can’t have people going why didn’t he have to do it, and I said, how will they know it happens on two different waves. Anyway off to the Key lunch. It was fine. Nothing special. Then left the group, and went to the bathroom where I changed from street clothes to board shorts and rash guard realized my hats and extra camera stuff was in the main suitcases. Stood in line for 30 minutes for a 10 second boogie board ride. Then off to the FlowRider, where there were about 6 people, including Rodney who was on last year’s Allure. We did a quick man hug and I joined the line. More later. JC

Joe’s Diner was exactly that a kitschy diner next to the Publix grocery store. Inside and outside seating, all sorts of weird decorations. Simple food. I had the French toast deluxe, 2 eggs over easy and bacon. Very good. Free coffee until 9AM. I had already had my daily cup in the room. Now finishing packing, and I am jumping into the shower. Will order two Ubers most likely as I am a bit uncomfortable trying to get 5 of us with luggage into an Uber 6 jc

In the morning, the bedside alarm goes off at 6AM. I did not set the alarm, I was barely aware there was a clock in the room. After the 3rd repeat, apparently in the dark the snooze button is easy to hit. I turned on the lights and figured out how to turn it off. Back now to yesterday, Originally we were booked in a hotel closer to the Intercoastal on the 17th Street prior to the bridge, and the restaurant, The Boatyard, looked nice, especially the large outdoor deck next to the yachts lining the canal. I had Shelby (he is retired), call and make a reservation for 5 out on the patio. So, they wouldn’t guarantee the patio, but did make a reservation. When we arrived at our time of 6:30, the patio was closed for a private event. So, they set us at a large table with view of the deck and the private event but no views of the yachts. We ordered a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, and a bottle of Belle Glos Clark and Telegraph Pinot Noir. Dinner ordered, shockingly Sally who doesn’t like seafood ordered the shrimp scampi, as did I and Sue. Shelby ordered lobster ravioli, and Krystal ordered Grouper Piccata. Waiting for dinner the yawns started in the group, the 2 something wake-up in the Midwest was catching up with us. The food arrived promptly and it was simply excellent. My scampi was odd in the way it was made, but it was delicious. Shrimp with bread crumbs and Parmesan on top of Orzo, with a mild lemon butter sauce (light on sauce) with greens and cooked lemons. Everyone of us enjoyed dinner. With tip about $450. After dinner Sue wanted dessert, as she gave Shelby have her Scampi. The rest of us, especially me were too stuffed to contemplate dessert. About our flights and experience yesterday, our flight left departed the gate on time at 5:25AM and landed a bit early in Charlotte, where we went to the Centurion Lounge with Sally, while Sue and Shelby went to the Admirals club. I had a nice breakfast and 2 mimosas. Next flight equally on time. Luggage found we walk out the door to the shuttle loading area. Almost immediately about 50 yards further down, a hotel shuttle appears I can read the Holiday Inn Express logo, so wait for the next shuttle. Finally 5 minutes later the shuttle drives off and as it goes by, I see on the back half of the shuttle Four Points by Sheraton Airport and Cruise port information. Crap, as it drives by. Call the hotel, said please send him back around. They did about 15 minutes later. Note to self check the shuttles sometimes they are multi hotel oriented. I still can’t figure out how those two are partnered as they are completely different parent corporations. I guess maybe the same local owner?? I am going to miss the Centurion Lounge. Amex charges $695 per year to have the card. It has some good perks 1 the lounge 2 $200 a year credit for things like the cost of checking my flowboard bag on Airline of Choice ours is American Airlines. 3 $35 a month for Uber, which I will spend this morning. 4 credit for TSA/Global Entry every 4 years. There are a lot more items of value. Beginning in February, they are taking away the privilege of taking 2 guests to the lounge, unless you spend $75,000 a year on the card. I probably spend that much on all of my cards, but no way on just that card. I like Amex, I am not willing to marry Amex. Rant off. Anyway we are probably going to eat a joint called Joe’s Diner if it exists near us, at the shopping center that has the TJ Maxx and Total Wine. Then back here to get an Uber to the ship. More later. jc

hello, from the Four Points Sheraton ,…. Check in was a complete mess. So many of these hotels have never really recovered from Covid. Landed on time, got a text saying our room was ready, boarded the shuttle, arrived, no King rooms (all 3 rooms of our party are those). No biggee check luggage into the closet off to lunch at SouthPort Raw Bar (Hi @Jimbo ). Lunch. Not bad not great. Lovely day out on the patio by the water. Back to the hotel, stopping at Total wine for two wines to carry on. Still no rooms… ladies sharing a cabin sharing a hotel room are starving waiting for a queen to be available. I said, we just stuck our bags in the closet and went to lunch on our own. They thought it was a great idea after they got a room…. Which took a bit. K and I immediately got a room at this point it is 3:30 after the check in time. (I had checked in on the BonVoy app yesterday telling them our arrival at 12:30…. Good lord. Anyway, Nurse Sally apparently had to fight to get a room they were trying to move her to a different room…. I ignore all of the noise. More in the morning

So, DW, Krystal, dealt with a loose tooth from her implant yesterday evening, then dealt with figuring out what to do with her FSA and dental insurance this morning to pay for a new implant that won’t have a loose tooth, and telling her 96 year old mother we are off on vacation. I got to go to the bank, to get some cash for incidentals and tips, and I took Rodrhi to the pet resort, where he will be to the morning of the 19th when he will get a bath before Krystal picks him up. Then home to finish packing. Krystal began packing this afternoon. Grilled a hamburger for me, and an ostrich duck fat burger for her (she has alpha gal) watched last nights Amazing Race (least favorite of the 3 finalists wins). Now heading to bed. Clock set for 2:45AM…. Wellington aka Wellie the Wire fox terrier who is 12-1/2 will be managed thru the 15th by our friend Tim, when he leaves for vacation, to be taken over by our friends Adrian and Stephanie and kids thru the weekend. I hate the night before an early morning, because I usually think about the need to fall asleep and don’t. Wide awake right now….. sigh. Ciao

I hope this is not the case, but it was mostly the case on the Adventure back in May. Hopefully, the kids are in school and this cruise is mostly people my age. Therefore less people surfing. On the upside there are two waves, on the ship… Hopefully, I get a belly full of surfing.

Cool. The MINI is in the garage. I ordered it from the factory in 2002, and the dealer picked us at the Airport on March 17, 2003 took us to the dealer and we brought Tiki Home. We were returning from 24 days to New Zealand, a cruise to Hawaii, and a flight home. Hence my MINIs name, Tiki. It has about 90K on it, and I am probably going to part with it in the next year or so. Just don’t have time to play in it. Fun little car. Love country roads. I will be easy to find at the FlowRider because I always have my little camera at the bottom of the wave or on the glass wall filming the wave. This trip I will have the Insta X3, and one of my friends will probably be filming me and others with the 10 foot selfie stick. I will have a floppy hat on and blue and white sandals, and I always wear long sleeve rash guards for sun protection. Plus I talk nonstop to everyone in the line. 🤣 jc

Wolfie I am not a fan of Sabor…. We have much better Mexican food on almost any street corner here. The margaritas were fine, but nothing else makes me regret not eating there. Sea Dog I rarely drink a pina colada kraken or otherwise. Will they make me a Kraken mai tai or something? I am usually only drinking after a full day of FlowRiding, which means, I just want something easy. Mostly that is Gin and Tonic. Then dinner and wine, then after dinner and Gran Marnier. 😂 Then sleep…. Repeat jc

True this

Can I take these things on the dragon?