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Of course. Bucharest was where we flew into for a 2 or 3 night pre-cruise. We walked all over the city ate and drank all of our meals for the time there during our wandering around. Surrendered our passports one day in order to go into the Parliment building the departed dictator had tastes to match his power. Quite the monument on a hill he built before it all fell apart. We were it the old quarter the morning before our departure having lunch and a nice glass of local wine, when armored vehicles and police/soldiers in black started deploying all over town. We were sitting outside in the October sunshine when I saw the first. They were very orderly as they deployed men and women everywhere. The wait staff seemed to not notice or be concerned so we acted accordingly. After lunch we walked back to our Hilton to get our stuff and take the bus ride to the river. It was the next day I figured out what was going on…. Hungary was in town for a soccer match…. This was 2014. I had to count back trips. 😆 Unfortunately, we didn’t go to Transylvania. Once we sailed we only got off the ship in the countries to the south. It was a fascinating cruise, as we sailed east it seemed that the countries became richer and more expensive. We stayed in a very nice hotel in Bucharest for less than a $100 a night, including an amazing breakfast and daily cocktails, to the hotel in Buda Pest a Marriott from the socialist times, with a good breakfast for $199 a night, and finally the Grand Hyatt in Vienna at about $800 a night. JC JC

Good thing you hated it, or you might have eaten the glass and spoon

Reminds me of our first river cruise, sailing from Romania. We were staying at the Hilton where we booked independently, but was Avalon’s hotel for their guests doing an extended stay. On the morning of the cruise, we were to depart at 1PM for the dock, about a 45 min plus bus ride to the Danube, and I noticed a couple of Americans and one of the men had his arm in a sling and his face looked like he had fallen off a bike. With bandages and a wrap around his hairline. Turns out they were on our cruise. He had fallen and broken his arm (hairline) and pretty painfully tore up his face. I must say he gamely went thru the whole cruise. He participated in all of the activities, and partied loudly all night during and after dinner! I imagine, Greg. 🤣 Sorry about the collar bone. That sucks. jc

We went to Tulsa to go to Hadestown at the Tulsa Performing Arts Hall a couple of weeks ago. After our run to Trader Joe’s we were looking at a place for a quick lunch on our path to downtown, and we decided to go to Whataburger before the 1PM show time. I haven’t eaten at one prior unless it was as a kid a long long time ago as Don McLean would say. It was a bit of an odd experience as both clerks were new, and the manager was busy telling them everything they were doing wrong while refilling the straws and paper napkins. I ordered a double cheese burger, and the wife the grilled chicken with an order on onion rings. The burger was good, messy, but not exceptional. The DW felt the same about the chicken. The onion rings were very tasty, and the Arnold Palmer we drank was a bit off. That said, it is better than a lot of burger places, but not quite to the OMG level I was hoping for. jc

I don’t use Uber except when I travel. So, I am not an expert, and I last used it in May. The app, can cause anxiety, when you check prices now, and then when you check when it is time for people to start heading to the port. Pricing can swing wildly from great to O crap. It usually swings back. You used to be able to say, I want an Uber at 10:30 and could book at 8. Now it takes you to future reservations, and the pricing is higher. This has been my experience, haven’t used it since May. That said, I hate shuttles, especially ones that are not free. Our group of 5 in December will be following in your footsteps. 🤣

I have taken Uber the last several trips from FLL, so that is generally the cheapest most efficient way to get there. (Uber = Lyft)

Skip it. Only one FlowRider!😉 We are doing this same itinerary out of FLL on 12/10 on the Harmony. jc

This sucks. Sorry guys!

So, yeah, have done both multiple times. I think it was a bit over $100 for both of us 5 years ago to do the IFly on land. It was 10 minutes, in a much larger tube with far greater wind speeds. Much better experience, as you are allowed to fly on your own, albeit a foot above the bottom. You get to experiment with using your hands to make you spin in a certain direction, then the other. The experiences are completely different. The ship experience is not worth near what the land experience is.

I am completely guessing, but I am betting that Starlink is cheaper than the previous system to RCI, hence why they chose it. jc

Cool pic. What a great memory and experience. I am jealous. We must have met the descendants of your llamas. There were several amongst the ruins. jc

Chichin itza is just a long day on a bus, or better a short plane ride from Coz or Playa. Machu Pichu is another matter. You have to go from the sea to the high mountains, Cusco, then train to MP? That must be a multi day stop in Lima I can’t imagine acclimating with all of the aged people on the cruise with less than 3 days in port. Even then a challenge. How long are you in Peru? jc

I watched Survivor… I have seen a few ads for the New Love Boat… I was out before the first episode. On an honesty note. I didn’t like the original Love Boat. I did like Fantasy Island and a little bit Dallas (contemporaries) jc

The prices on Galveston Express are pp

ARGGGHHH!!! I posted an elaborate reply and it went poof. Short version, From Hobby we paid $49 for Uber to our hotel. Galveston Express (shuttle service)is between $30-35 to from Hobby(HOU). $35-40 to from Bush (IAH). Prefer Uber to shuttle do to direct routing, IE time saved. JC

The only part that was a ship tour was the bus ride. We ran all over the place on foot all day. JC

First cruise in Europe we did the Rome trip. Long bus ride each way. Left the port at 6AM got back on the ship a 8PM on a ship tour. We visited the Colloseum, the Vatican and the Sistine chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Arch of Constantine, Sant’ Angelo Castle, St. Peter’s piazza, and we ate pizza from a street vendor. We slept well that night. I was 22 years younger then.

Hmm… lots of coastline, Not sure what else. Of course, lovely place history everywhere.

Yeah, the Normandy beaches is doable from there. We rented a car right at the port back in 09 and visited the area. Very easy. I would never visit Paris while on a cruise landing in Le Havre.

Good for you. That is hard.

Just an FYI, Uber and Lyft may or may not take you directly to the drop off point. Our experience in May with Uber was a bit odd. The first woman in her small car full of her personal stuff showed up at our Hotel Hilton Galveston Island Resort, and saw our two suitcases and my FlowBoard bag, and quickly decided she didn’t want us. The porter /bell hop at the hotel said he had never seen that in all of his time at the hotel. We then booked another car all of this near 9:30-10AM since we had the Key. There was a coast guard inspection going on so everything was a bit on a slow path. Then next uber showed up with another woman, we loaded in. She told us that the port people hassle Uber rides later in the morning. So, she doesn’t do trips to the ship after about 11:30. We got to Harbor Drive and she said, this is where we are supposed to drop you (several hundred yards from the entrance to the ship). She then drove us right up to the door, where there was a line for suites, pinnacle and Key and another line. Check in was painless, everyone was moved to a waiting area on the second floor until the coast guard inspection ended. I used this 45-60 minutes to book all of our shows for the week using the app. Then armed with this information I was able to hook up with a specialty restaurant person and book our 5 nights dining package, which meant 3 nights in Giovannis and 2 in Chops (Adventure of the Seas). I know they were opening up another pier for the Allure for later in the season, the above advice/experience may not apply to that pier. JC

I appreciate your review! jc

Haven’t seen it…. I am out. 😇

Ouch. Sorry to hear.

After about 4 hours on the mountain top with heavy goretex hiking boots and ski socks, long under wear, and lots of layers, taking pictures my hands and feet were frozen. 🤣 Everytime I had to adjust something on the camera I had to remove my gloves, everytime I put them back on they were frozen! It was one of the best experiences we have ever done. Would do it again in a heartbeat. jc