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

[bobmacliberty]

54 minutes ago, molly361 said:

@bobmacliberty I noticed that about the theme park tickets as well.  I am thinking of going to Epcot and maybe staying one or 2 nights at at the Dolphin or Swan and tickets started at $109 but ended up for the dates I looked at being $139.  And I believe that's the Florida resident rate.  Not sure if I'll end up going or not.  AND like you said if I do go and spend 2 nights, park tickets food and drink for 2 days I could do a 4 day cruise 

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

[Ozark_Kid]

Just landed in El Paso.  I didn't know it was a desert area.  To much to keep up.  Big world.

 

 

 

[lenquixote66]

15 hours ago, Luckynana said:

As NYC Retirees, we are in the midst of losing our Healthcare benefits that were promised to every NYC worker when we retired.  Long story short, many of our Union leaders have sold us out, and the City is trying to force us into Aetna Advantage, which is noted for doing exactly what you just said, Debbie.  Aetna Advantage is trying to tell us most of our doctors take their plan (most of our doctors don't), and the list goes on and on.  Jim and I have doctors and specialists in NYC, N.J., and Florida, where we can make appointments, go for tests, etc.  

Toby’s sister is in the same situation.She is a retiree from the Department of Social Services.A cousin of mine is a retiree from the Health and Hospitals Corp and her husband from the FDNY and they all are talking about this constantly.Toby had insurance from the union representing the hospital she worked for but they switched to Aetna Medicare last year.Many of her doctors do not accept the insurance.

[bobmacliberty]

3 minutes ago, Momof3gurlz said:

You can also choose from thousands of page background colors, enhancements such as banners, etc. and add text wherever you want.

 

This is what drove me crazy.  My brain is much more technical than creative.  Looking through all of the options and trying to figure out what looks best creatively would get me frustrated.  Too many choices.  We have friends that will just upload all photos and then auto generate a book from a theme.  They'd do almost no customization at all.  The books didn't make sense to the perfectionist in me, like having a suitcase or plane graphic on a page where none of the pictures were travel oriented.  But they have several books now and invested almost zero energy in creating them, while I still have none.  

 

"Perfection is the enemy of progress" - Winston Churchill.  

[molly361]

6 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

I have friends here who also are Disney freaks and they are both in their LATE SIXTIES!!  As a matter of fact that are just finishing a week there.  They go over from NSB and stay in a time share for a week several times a year.  I asked and they said they visit a different park every day.  I guess to each his own.  I have friends that don't understand how or why I cruise so much.  And then again I don't understand how my sister can do nothing but go to a beach vacation and just sit on the beach for hours and hours everyday.  

[Ocean Boy]

41 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

@Ocean Boy  Beautiful pictures!!!!!  

                                       It sure is nasty out though, for sure, here in Jersey!

The rain started about a hour ago. I have zero desire to leave the house now.

 

It is a great afternoon for a few Kraken Alexander's though!😊

[A&L_Ont]

Drove 2 hours in the rain to see the Jays play. Thank-fully we have a dome. 
 

Edited April 29, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[bobmacliberty]

6 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I have friends here who also are Disney freaks and they are both in their LATE SIXTIES!!  As a matter of fact that are just finishing a week there.  They go over from NSB and stay in a time share for a week several times a year.  I asked and they said they visit a different park every day.  I guess to each his own.  I have friends that don't understand how or why I cruise so much.  And then again I don't understand how my sister can do nothing but go to a beach vacation and just sit on the beach for hours and hours everyday.  

 

The world would be a boring place if everyone thought like I do (although certainly better 😁).  Since I'm quoting famous people...

 

"To each his own..."  - Shakespeare in Macbeth

[HBE4]

17 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

The rain gets here tomorrow afternoon. I cut the grass for the first time this year today.

 

16 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

I did too.  Looks like it is going to be a wet week.

 

Mowed my lawn earlier this week for the first time. Was little late so I had to set the mower on its highest setting. Was hoping to do one more cut at it's regular setting but oh well. With a week of rain on tap, it'd be nice & thick next time. I wonder if I can borrow any of @A&L_Ont farm equipment to cut it back to size. 😃

Edited April 29, 2023 by HBE4

[Ocean Boy]

12 minutes ago, molly361 said:

 I have friends that don't understand how or why I cruise so much.  

Good thing too. Imagine what RCI's pricing would be now if everyone wanted to cruise.🫨🫨🫨

[Ozark_Kid]

37 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

Our 3 kids and their families all went with us in January.   Expensive yes!   I think, hope, it will be awhile until we all go again. 

We had annual passes but did not renew them about 2 years ago.  Now there is no option to get them.  It was neat to have them during the restart with very few people there.  Our cruise friends are still renewing them.  They go several times a year. 

 

Edited April 29, 2023 by Ozark_Kid

[lenquixote66]

10 hours ago, Coralc said:

I am just figuring out this Medicare stuff, but I don't see how they can force you into an Advantage plan. I really dislike HMO's. I purchased a Medigap plan G, and a drug plan, part D. They are really cheap, compared to what my prior subsidized insurance cost. Advantage plans aren't accepted nationwide, so it doesn't make any sense that it would be in your best interest. 

If you have insurance from a former employer you have to accept the insurance from said employer .The alternative is to buy your own insurance which would be very costly.

[HBE4]

5 hours ago, h20skibum said:

And while we are talking about Medicare and supplement plans, do things in the healthcare fields really cost that much?   I was just reviewing one of my statements this year, and one of the tests I had done said they billed $9,000, but the Medicare approved amount was $1,100, and that was accepted.  Most of the other tests had similar wide differences.   Why such a wide difference, and who would have to pay $9,000?

 

I've always wondered the same thing.  My EOB's from the insurance carrier will always list things like: "Dr. So-and-so charged $2,000, We think it should be $1,000 and will pay out $800 (80%). Your provder might bill you for the remainder. "

 

So I wonder if I'm going to be billed $1,200 or $200? Most of the time, I never get a bill. Not sure why nor will I try to find out.  I figure it's up to them to come to me. 😇

 

[lenquixote66]

5 hours ago, h20skibum said:

 

That sounds very similar to what happened to my mother.  She had worked for our state DOT, and when she retired, the state was promising free healthcare for life for all their retirees.  With no copay or deductibles, and being able to see any doctors, it was a nice plan. I think the state realized, as health costs increased, that it was not sustainable.  They moved their retirees into an Aetna plan, and she was not happy with it at all.  I hope you are able to keep what was promised to you.

 

 

I don’t they are talking about a Medicare plan, but a city healthcare plan provided to retirees. 
 

I have been on Medicare for several years now, do the same as you with the medical plan and part D drug plan.   They one thing I don’t like about the Part D plan, is the insurers are constantly dropping drugs from their plans.  I think I have had to change my part D plan four or five times now, because they would no longer cover certain drugs.  
 

And while we are talking about Medicare and supplement plans, do things in the healthcare fields really cost that much?   I was just reviewing one of my statements this year, and one of the tests I had done said they billed $9,000, but the Medicare approved amount was $1,100, and that was accepted.  Most of the other tests had similar wide differences.   Why such a wide difference, and who would have to pay $9,000?

I was downsized after working 25 years for a company.I was offered free health insurance for life for not suing the company.There were no co-pays but I paid the co-insurance.Their insurance company was excellent and I opted to except it .Shortly thereafter the company ceased to exist and they were then an Aetna company .I am finding currently that many of the doctors that I would like to go to do not accept Aetna.I have a good Dental benefit with Aetna but many dentists do not accept the plan.

[lenquixote66]

17 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

The rain gets here tomorrow afternoon. I cut the grass for the first time this year today.

My next to last job was with an IPA.In my opinion it is a better option for medical doctors to be affiliated with an IPA than for said doctor to deal with Insurance companies and be subject to their determinations of URC.

Would you agree ? I should say that I left the IPA in 1999 and there is a possibility that things have changed.

[HBE4]

1 hour ago, QueSeraSera said:

Its Warren, wife's name is Karen.  Thank you all for the kind comments.

 

Welcome and glad you decided to stick around. Don't worry about trying to keep up. Whenever I fall way behind, I usually only go back 4 or so pages.  You can usually get the jist of what's been happening but most of us (I think)  will usually miss a few topics. But as @brillohead said, nobody will get upset or take it personally  if you missed a topic, whether it be good news, bad news or just sharing a recipe or favorite TV show. Plus, I think there are a few lurkers out there that don't post too. It's all good.

[akcruz]

33 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

 

My daughter and family went to Universal in early March for a long weekend, 6 and 4 year old, they stayed on property.  Said it was pricey but worth it all as they all loved it. They were planning on buying 1 wand but if course ended up with 2.  In the pictures she shared you could see the joy in the kids faces.  They are talking about going back in the fall, we will see.

[akcruz]

I did one shutterfly photo book after our 2 week Europe trip a while back, took a bit but it ended up very nice.  Still look at it once 8n a while.  Tried doing one from my daughter's wedding but had way too many pictures I wanted to use.  Got frustrated and gave up.  Should try again, they are nice to have.

[Luckynana]

34 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

The world would be a boring place if everyone thought like I do (although certainly better 😁).  Since I'm quoting famous people...

 

"To each his own..."  - Shakespeare in Macbeth

Belated 25th Birthday wishes for your daughter, Bob!  It's great that you and Michelline got to spend the day with your DD.  Unfortunate that these parks, ballgames, etc. are so darned expensive for families.  

[Luckynana]

37 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

    Our cruise friends are still renewing them.  They go several times a year. 

 

Speaking of cruises, enjoy your cruise, and have a great time meeting our CC friends onboard!!🛳️

[BonTexasNY]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

We took a Disney cruise 31 years ago when our daughter was 5.  4 days on the ship and 3 days at Disney World.  Park admission was already included with the cruise tickets, but I could not believe how expensive one ticket was...$39 !!!  Those were the days!

[Luckynana]

38 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

If you have insurance from a former employer you have to accept the insurance from said employer .The alternative is to buy your own insurance which would be very costly.

Exactly what we are hoping to avoid;  however, if in order to keep our doctors, etc., we may have to do just that.😔

[h20skibum]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how young families can afford Disney.  Tickets alone for 2 or 3 days for a family of 4 can be outrageous.  Throw in a hotel and possibly airline tix and you're talking about an expensive proposition.  I have a friend who's 30 year old daughter and husband are Disney freaks.  They live in St. Augustine, about 2 hours away, and have had annual Florida resident passes for several years.  Several times a year, they'll drive down for a day.  They said this will be their last year because it has become so expensive.  

When my daughter, her husband, and their two kids went last summer, they stayed on Disney property. I know that with the room, park passes and fast passes, they spent over 10k, and I don’t think that included food.  Those parks are getting too expensive. 

[DaniDanielle]

We just got back from Atlantic City, celebrating our 52nd Anniversary.  With what we lost it would have been cheaper to go to Disney😳

 

@Luckynana When some of our doctors didn’t accept our insurance we paid them a fee for service.  At least hospitals and prescriptions were covered.

[BonTexasNY]

1 hour ago, George C said:

We enjoyed James Corden’s last show also, his parents have been in his audience many times over the years . We need to start researching Medicare supplementals , I have been covered by her insurance for almost a decade and she will retire in approximately 2 years, will have to have a budget then also. 

When the time comes, make a list of all your and your wife's doctors and drugs.  

We had an independent Medicare agent, not affiliated with any company, come to our house and do the research and came up with the best cost effective plan that included all of our doctors and drugs.  I would refer her to you but honestly, we didn't much care for her.  Cold personality.  I did some research on my own and came up with the one company she suggested. 

 

Will your wife's company allow her to continue with company insurance when she retires?

 

It's good to do some research on your own, since some Agents do not give you information on all available plans.

 

Know the difference between HMO and PPO Advantage plans.

 

When the time comes, good luck!