Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, Ozark_Kid said:

We will be cruising to Aruba for our first time in October.   I have been hearing many like it.  Looking forward to it.  

Aruba is an awesome cruise destination in my opinion.

[bobmacliberty]

2 hours ago, George C said:

I also would love to see Australia , my wife had some interesting business trips including Australia, Korea , London and Bahrain. I never traveled outside the USA for business. 

 

Business travel took me all over the world.  Combined with cruising and land vacations, I've visited 50 countries at last count.  Much of western Europe and some of eastern Europe, much of Asia, the middle east (Dubai/UAE only) and some of central/south America.  There are a bunch of Caribbean islands that contribute to that total.  While the logistics of travel are often a pain, I usually flew business class and stayed in nice hotels.  That certainly makes things easier.  I really enjoyed seeing different places and experiencing different cultures.  In many ways, people are the same everywhere.

[Ocean Boy]

39 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

What are your plans for Aruba?  We did a catamaran snorkel sail once, and the last two times we just walked to Eagle Beach and spent the day there.

 

 I think we may look into renting a Jeep with a couple friends, then exploring some other areas. 

First time there we rented a jeep and explored the island on our own. Definitely go the jeep route and not a car or you will find yourself limited as to where you can go and miss the more desert and rugged aspects of the island.

[George C]

25 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Business travel took me all over the world.  Combined with cruising and land vacations, I've visited 50 countries at last count.  Much of western Europe and some of eastern Europe, much of Asia, the middle east (Dubai/UAE only) and some of central/south America.  There are a bunch of Caribbean islands that contribute to that total.  While the logistics of travel are often a pain, I usually flew business class and stayed in nice hotels.  That certainly makes things easier.  I really enjoyed seeing different places and experiencing different cultures.  In many ways, people are the same everywhere.

I got a free trip to Germany in 1970 but army barracks was definitely not first class.

[DaniDanielle]

Charlie got a free trip to Korea in the 60’s!!

[molly361]

6 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Charlie got a free trip to Korea in the 60’s!!

So did Dan

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

What are your plans for Aruba?  We did a catamaran snorkel sail once, and the last two times we just walked to Eagle Beach and spent the day there.

 

 I think we may look into renting a Jeep with a couple friends, then exploring some other areas. 

The only place for sure we plan check out is the restaurant that was mentioned here awhile back.  It sounds like good food with a great view.  How far is Eagle Beach from the port.  I always believe if a person will go back to a beach, it has to be good enough to try.  We have never tried it yet but our cruise partners and us have talked about renting  a Jeep at other stops but have not tried it yet 

1 hour ago, lenquixote66 said:

all four of us were winning big in a casino on slot machines.

 

I like playing slots or maybe a little  Texas holdem on the ship some but I have never had a desire to try casinos at a port stop.

[Ozark_Kid]

53 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

First time there we rented a jeep and explored the island on our own. Definitely go the jeep route and not a car or you will find yourself limited as to where you can go and miss the more desert and rugged aspects of the island.

Did you rent one as a ship excursion or find one after you got there?

[Coralc]

5 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Did you rent one as a ship excursion or find one after you got there?

It is usually better to set up the jeep rental before you arrive and then just go and pick it up and complete the paperwork once you are there. 

[Ozark_Kid]

22 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Charlie got a free trip to Korea in the 60’s!!

I just missed a free trip to Vietnam.   The draft ended the year before I graduated. 

[HBE4]

48 minutes ago, George C said:

I got a free trip to Germany in 1970 but army barracks was definitely not first class.

 

42 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Charlie got a free trip to Korea in the 60’s!!

 

35 minutes ago, molly361 said:

So did Dan

 

The old "3 hots and a cot" travel plan.😉

[HBE4]

2 hours ago, h20skibum said:

 I think we may look into renting a Jeep with a couple friends, then exploring some other areas. 

 

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

First time there we rented a jeep and explored the island on our own. Definitely go the jeep route and not a car or you will find yourself limited as to where you can go and miss the more desert and rugged aspects of the island.

 

26 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Did you rent one as a ship excursion or find one after you got there?

 

19 minutes ago, Coralc said:

It is usually better to set up the jeep rental before you arrive and then just go and pick it up and complete the paperwork once you are there. 

 

Jeep rental is essential if you plan to explore the "wild side" of Aruba.  Think desert & moonscape land with waves crashing dramatically into cliffs.  The first time I was in Aruba, I rented one of those micro cars with a 3 cylinder engine.  While I made it further onto the wild side then most people expected, there were still some areas I could not get to. Next time, I booked a Jeep Excursion thru ABC Tours. There were enough people for 4 jeeps booked (more like Army trucks where you sit on bench seats in back bed) but ABC only had 3 drivers so they asked for volunteers. Driving a manual is not my forte so someone else in my group drove. I thought I was going to die. Some of the hillsides we drove down were so steep, it's amazing we did not tip over or puncture a tire on some of the razor sharp rocks. Mind you, all we were doing was following the other 3 jeeps driven by the professionals. Good times, good times!

 

ATV rental is also big on the island but there is a push to limit those as people are driving thru environmentally sensitive areas & destroying the nesting grounds for certain native species.

[Sunshine3601]

4 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

TSOTD is Aruba ,One Happy Island.

 

Earlier today I e-mailed a guy who I have known since HS to wish him and his wife a Happy Anniversary..I received a response from him thanking me and stating that he and his wife are in Aruba now celebrating their anniversary.

😀

It sure is One Happy Island.   One of our favorites.   My TSOTD  is Antigua, purchased in Jan.   Another one of my favorite islands.

I phoned our neighbor, the cat sitter.  Everyone is fine but giving her problems when she calls them to come in.  She finds them stretched out on lounge chairs all the time.   I suggested no dinner until they come in.  

[Sunshine3601]

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

 

I actually never cruised to Aruba, just visited the island as a destination itself 8 or 9 times. Last time was Nov 2020 for 3 weeks. That was right after the 1st Covid wave ended & just before the 2nd started. They had pretty strict testing requirements at the time - much tougher than what cruise ships require now.  Love the beaches, casinos, food, friendly people and consistent weather.  The only real complaint I've ever heard is that it's too "commercialized" or "westernized", it doesn't have that relaxed tropical feel to it. 🤷‍♂️

 

Enjoy, October is a great time to visit.  No hurricanes, although if there is a hurricane somewhere in the Atlantic, it may pull the tropical breezes away from Aruba, leaving it a bit steamy.

We have vacationed there twice.  Once in November and once in Jan/Feb.   Great weather each time.

I think a lot of the islands are becoming to "westernized" but still find many nice places to enjoy.

[aussielozzie18]

9 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

How many hours does it take to get from Sydney to London?

This route -  10hrs to Tokyo.  She landed there 30 mins ago.  From Tokyo to London - 15hrs.

[Sunshine3601]

We had a rainy morning but cleared up by noon.   I went and browsed around some various shops.   Eric was amazed I didn't buy anything.   We drove to Barnegat Lighthouse and had lunch at Kubels.   We were next to Anthony Boudains favorite booth.

 

@Ocean BoyI tried to get you a picture of Old Barney but he's getting a makeover.

[Sunshine3601]

The Coast Guard was doing some drills/maneuvers at the inlet.  We sat and watched them for a bit.

[George C]

38 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I just missed a free trip to Vietnam.   The draft ended the year before I graduated. 

I was extremely lucky I was in 1969 to 1971 without going to Vietnam, spent one year in Oklahoma and one in Germany, I had worked in computers for two years before getting drafted so I just had a civilian type job in computers for my two years.

[lenquixote66]

57 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

The only place for sure we plan check out is the restaurant that was mentioned here awhile back.  It sounds like good food with a great view.  How far is Eagle Beach from the port.  I always believe if a person will go back to a beach, it has to be good enough to try.  We have never tried it yet but our cruise partners and us have talked about renting  a Jeep at other stops but have not tried it yet 

 

I like playing slots or maybe a little  Texas holdem on the ship some but I have never had a desire to try casinos at a port stop.

 

57 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

The only place for sure we plan check out is the restaurant that was mentioned here awhile back.  It sounds like good food with a great view.  How far is Eagle Beach from the port.  I always believe if a person will go back to a beach, it has to be good enough to try.  We have never tried it yet but our cruise partners and us have talked about renting  a Jeep at other stops but have not tried it yet 

 

I like playing slots or maybe a little  Texas holdem on the ship some but I have never had a desire to try casinos at a port stop.

I generally do not go to a casino on a port stop but that day we were in Aruba on an excursion and the bus dropped us off at a shopping area so we decided to go into the casino.

[Ocean Boy]

58 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Did you rent one as a ship excursion or find one after you got there?

Rented one after we got off the ship.

[lenquixote66]

15 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It sure is One Happy Island.   One of our favorites.   My TSOTD  is Antigua, purchased in Jan.   Another one of my favorite islands.

I phoned our neighbor, the cat sitter.  Everyone is fine but giving her problems when she calls them to come in.  She finds them stretched out on lounge chairs all the time.   I suggested no dinner until they come in.  

My cats have always been indoor cats so we never had that problem.

[lenquixote66]

2 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Business travel took me all over the world.  Combined with cruising and land vacations, I've visited 50 countries at last count.  Much of western Europe and some of eastern Europe, much of Asia, the middle east (Dubai/UAE only) and some of central/south America.  There are a bunch of Caribbean islands that contribute to that total.  While the logistics of travel are often a pain, I usually flew business class and stayed in nice hotels.  That certainly makes things easier.  I really enjoyed seeing different places and experiencing different cultures.  In many ways, people are the same everywhere.

The furthest I traveled on business was exotic Rhode Island.

[BonTexasNY]

Thank you all again for your get well wishes, too numerous to respond to in here but you know who you are.  You rock!

 

I mentioned the "one legged walker" to my Physical Therapist team who cautioned me against it saying my balance would be questionable to safely use it.

 

3 days less than 9 months to go!

 

@grapau27 Graham I love all of your food porn photos but the last one (yogurt) was way too healthy for me to salivate.  Kudos to you for eating the right stuff in your beautiful and serene backyard oasis.

[aussielozzie18]

Daughter says the food on Ana Nippon is really good.  She is only in economy.  Chicken curry with rice, Caesar salad, prosciutto & cold salad, biscuits, cheese, bread and a bag of snacks.  No spare seats as it’s a full flight. 3hr stopover in Tokyo airport.  Airport very quiet.

[aussielozzie18]

DD has travelled extensively but this is the first time she has flown with meds.  Had her pill cutter confiscated.  Never occurred to her to put it in her luggage rather than carryon.  Lesson learnt.  First stop London will be the chemist.  She is looking forward to travelling on the brand new Elizabeth tube line when she lands.