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

[Luckynana]

4 hours ago, sgmn said:

My mum use to have a fake heron statue she said kept real ones away. I've secured the netting more tightly over the pond with some heavy weights to stop the heron getting her beak under. Hope it works 

Beautiful pictures, Sue.  I love your boat!!!  Nice!

When we moved here 7 years ago this month, there was a Koi pond behind our pool.  The pond had already been turned off for the Winter,  We called the Koi store the following Spring to open and clean the pond for us newbies.  The previous owners had a net over the pond.  After the young man finished with the pond, he told us he lived nearby, and our pond was deep enough that we wouldn't need the net.  Awesome!  You could see the fish so much better this way!  Fast forward an hour or so later,...as I went upstairs for a shower, I looked out my grandson's bedroom window to admire our new backyard.  Good grief!!  There was a heron with one of our huge fish in it's mouth!  By the time I got down  to the pond, three fish had already been eaten.  

Man, I was bummed!  I bought 2 heron statues, and have added 3 big owl statues to protect our fish since that day.  Jim opens and closes our pond.  We had the owner of the Koi store clean our pond last month, and he told us it's not really a Koi pond.  He said it's not really deep enough, but I'll say this...we've had 3 new baby koi born this Spring/Summer.

[Luckynana]

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Last night I called club royale, casino number, to cancel our Jan 18th sailing on Anthem.   This is one during Yeshiva week. 

I then booked a sailing for March 3rd with new offer for free balcony.   

 

I am sad we are not doing the 11 night itinerary but will be happy to board Anthem before it leaves for Asia sailings, I think out of Singapore.

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Thanks bearable is the right word. I’m looking forward to having this knee replacement just so II can be done with it all. I know I will have to go through some pain but at least I know it won’t last forever.

Greg, how are you feeling since your kidney stone episode?  All better, I hope!

 

 

Debbie, I'm sorry the first cruise didn't work out for you, but we all know you'll be happy on the Anthem  on March 3rd.🥰

 

Don't even ask how I screwed up this post!!🤔😁

[lenquixote66]

16 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Survivor coming up shortly.

The wrong person left last night ,in my humble opinion.

[Sea Dog]

9 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Greg, how are you feeling since your kidney stone episode?  All better, I hope!

 

Interesting you should ask that. Now I have come to believe that it wasn't a kidney stone as I am still having problems. With out getting too gross. My system is all out of whack. My doctor thinks it's a combination of Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) and too much gas and constipation. He has given me several medicines to take. I had real bad pain yesterday and took some laxatives for constipation and it has helped. I still don't feel 100% but I'm getting there. I am only eating bland fiber rich foods like crackers, bananas, plain toast and rice. Good news I've lost 3 pounds. Now I need to get back feeling regular and eating regular foods to prepare me for my cruise in a couple of weeks. sorry for the long answer.

[Arzeena]

Hope you feel better Greg!

Don't forget to drink LOTS of water with the fiber rich foods.

[helen haywood]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

We'll have to rethink the meals we're going to prepare to the grands next time we'll visit....

I know I’ve seen fantastic cheesecakes and pastas coming out of your kitchen!!

[Sea Dog]

20 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Hope you feel better Greg!

Don't forget to drink LOTS of water with the fiber rich foods.

Yes I’m doing that. Hard to give up my Diet Coke addiction but I’m just drinking water now.

[Ozark_Kid]

Last night at the Ice Skating show they were playing music from Tommy.  In the row in front of us a young lady, 30s, was loving it!  When they started playing Pinball Wizard she turned around excited, gave me a huge smile and thumbs up!  After the show I asked her if she grew up listening to this with her dad...... Yes! And I still have the cassette!.....  I was happy she was having such great memories.   BTW, the ice skating was great. 

[George C]

11 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Last night at the Ice Skating show they were playing music from Tommy.  In the row in front of us a young lady, 30s, was loving it!  When they started playing Pinball Wizard she turned around excited, gave me a huge smile and thumbs up!  After the show I asked her if she grew up listening to this with her dad...... Yes! And I still have the cassette!.....  I was happy she was having such great memories.   BTW, the ice skating was great. 

Totally love the ice show I refuse to book a rccl ship that doesn’t have this.

[Tree_skier]

9 hours ago, sgmn said:

 

Out with my brothers and partners last weekend. Stopped in Windsor for a picnic lunch and then on a bit further where the river runs alongside Windsor Great Park. 

 

Is that Windsor Castle?

[dani negreanu]

9 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Is that Windsor Castle?

 

Not Sue 😉, but yes, it is. This round structure is very distinctive.  

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

It’s good. Is it 100% as good as a regular knee? No as I still have some nerves pain where the nerves were cut and they have to slowly grow back. I still have some numbness but it is ok. The great thing is that I don’t have any pain in my knee which is fantastic. I can walk or climb stairs pain free. That’s a big win for me.

That is great news Greg.

[brillohead]

8 hours ago, sgmn said:

My mum use to have a fake heron statue she said kept real ones away. I've secured the netting more tightly over the pond with some heavy weights to stop the heron getting her beak under. Hope it works 

 

We used to have owl statues around our swimming pool to keep birds (ducks) from pooping in the pool while they swam around!

[brillohead]

5 hours ago, helen haywood said:

Thanks for the information re the shipboard internet.  For the cruise only fare sailing we have where I was going to purchase internet, I’ve since found out Celebrity doesn’t sell the Basic internet service…that is just what is included in the AI package.  They only sell the Premium…so I’ll have to purchase that.  Waiting hopefully for a Black Friday or some other sale.

FYI, if you're Diamond or higher on Royal, you're Elite on Celebrity, and you get a discount on purchasing the upgraded wifi.  I think you have to call in to make the purchase, though.

 

[brillohead]

17 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

I stayed on board when we docked at Costa Maya in Feb.  My friend used the tram from the ship to the port but it wasn't there to get her back to the ship.  She said she didn't think she would make it.  I didn't want to take that chance.

I have never been able to understand why they are so willy-nilly with the tram operations at Costa Maya.  That is a LONG pier, and there really is no excuse for not having the tram running anytime there is a ship docked there. 

They seem to make good tip money, so it's not the cost of operating it that prevents them from having it available at all times.  And if it is a money thing, just charge $1/ride... most people will gladly pay it!

Either that, or just have a bunch of wheelchairs with locals to push them for tip money, like they have in Cozumel.

 

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Last night at the Ice Skating show they were playing music from Tommy.  In the row in front of us a young lady, 30s, was loving it!  When they started playing Pinball Wizard she turned around excited, gave me a huge smile and thumbs up!  After the show I asked her if she grew up listening to this with her dad...... Yes! And I still have the cassette!.....  I was happy she was having such great memories.   BTW, the ice skating was great. 

Do you remember the name of the ice show? I'm just wondering if it is the same from when I was aboard years ago. I remember there was a Gloria Estefan song that I really like... Reach... in it.

[dani negreanu]

2 hours ago, helen haywood said:

I know I’ve seen fantastic cheesecakes and pastas coming out of your kitchen!!

 

After such a compliment, I couldn't resist to "show off".... Since our allergic to wall nuts, etc. grands are far away, DS1 asked for my [according to his HO] "delicious brownies".

 

Asked DH to take a pic, and, as usual, he doesn't "just" take a pic, he has to "stage" it. "Pls. bring me a plate..."  I obliged. "Not this one, I've used it last time...", "Oh, this one too...", "Yes, it will do..." ☹️

 

 

 

[Ozark_Kid]

20 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Do you remember the name of the ice show? I'm just wondering if it is the same from when I was aboard years ago. I remember there was a Gloria Estefan song that I really like... Reach... in it.

Ice Odyssey was the name of the show.  

Something cool just happened.   I was making this response in the Windjammer.   I couldn't remember the song Reach so I YouTube it.  I am about 1/2 way through the song and..... The song starts playing in the Windjammer!  ... what are the odds!

None of us remember the Song being in the show.  Several songs from Tommy. We were on Voyager in 2011.  Don't remember the show. 

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

 

We used to have owl statues around our swimming pool to keep birds (ducks) from pooping in the pool while they swam around!

 

For us, it was our Golden Retriever.  When we saw ducks in the pool we'd yell "DUCKS" and open the back door.  No matter where our dog was, or how sound asleep she was, she would immediately fly out the door and start barking loudly.  The ducks would quickly fly away.  She'd come trotting back into the house, very proud of herself.  Of course, she got some serious lovings for being such a good girl.

[Ozark_Kid]

I learned a new trick getting in the hot tub in the Solarium!  Instead of using the stairs I transfer over from the side! Sit down on the side, spin around and then slide into the hot tub on the side! A little challenge but we were able to get in and out on our own!

[BonTexasNY]

6 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Thanks bearable is the right word. I’m looking forward to having this knee replacement just so II can be done with it all. I know I will have to go through some pain but at least I know it won’t last forever.

Greg, I hope the next knee surgery recuperation will be easier than the first.

4 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Thanks, Bonnie.

 

My back pain is much better to the point that it let me sleep at night... As for DH, he's still weak due to low hemoglobin, started to eat chicken liver to boost his iron levels.

 

As an aside, we traveled to be with DS2 for Rosh Hashana, and DH wanted to cook at least 2-3 traditional meals. With the "gefilte fish" DS2 didn't succeed in finding a "suitable" replacement to the carp we're using in Israel, so that dish was a complete failure.

 

We were happy to find chicken liver, but it turns out the taste of the chicken in Holland is so very different from the taste here. We were ready to "blame the chef", but when I tried to do schnitzel, or just baked chicken breast, the grands were not keen... The meat was tough to the point that you couldn't chew it.

 

Back here, it's another "world".... So happy.

 

We'll have to rethink the meals we're going to prepare to the grands next time we'll visit.... They so longed for "Savta Dani's schnitzel" 😉

Dani, when we're with our grands, there are 2 dishes I must make either in my house or the grands house.  First is grandma's chicken soup and 2nd is grandma's schnitzel.  No excuses.

3 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Interesting you should ask that. Now I have come to believe that it wasn't a kidney stone as I am still having problems. With out getting too gross. My system is all out of whack. My doctor thinks it's a combination of Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) and too much gas and constipation. He has given me several medicines to take. I had real bad pain yesterday and took some laxatives for constipation and it has helped. I still don't feel 100% but I'm getting there. I am only eating bland fiber rich foods like crackers, bananas, plain toast and rice. Good news I've lost 3 pounds. Now I need to get back feeling regular and eating regular foods to prepare me for my cruise in a couple of weeks. sorry for the long answer.

Greg, I am sorry you still aren't 100%.  Hope you feel better real soon!

You'll be a tiger in time for your cruise!

[bobmacliberty]

We have a couple of peacocks that like to wander around our neighborhood. I was walking by one of them last night and decided to take a video. I don’t think he liked that. I didn’t know that peacocks could honk. 

 

 

Oops...coverting from .mov to .mp4 somehow rotated the video.  You get the idea.

 

Edited October 5, 2023 by bobmacliberty

[Tree_skier]

12 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Ice Odyssey was the name of the show.  

Something cool just happened.   I was making this response in the Windjammer.   I couldn't remember the song Reach so I YouTube it.  I am about 1/2 way through the song and..... The song starts playing in the Windjammer!  ... what are the odds!

None of us remember the Song being in the show.  Several songs from Tommy. We were on Voyager in 2011.  Don't remember the show. 

The ice shows are my favorite entertainment onboard the ship. I haven't been been on Explorer yet but my favorites so far are Liberty and Navigator.  Oasis was good but not as good as the others and I can't remember Adventure, it was to long ago... Dec 2019.  My memory only goes back a little ways after that it all blurs together.  

 

I had a photographic memory but I ran out film when I was 7.

[bobmacliberty]

2 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

The ice shows are my favorite entertainment onboard the ship. I haven't been been on Explorer yet but my favorites so far are Liberty and Navigator.  Oasis was good but not as good as the others and I can't remember Adventure, it was to long ago... Dec 2019.  My memory only goes back a little ways after that it all blurs together.  

 

I had a photographic memory but I ran out film when I was 7.

 

I think Symphony has been my favorite.  Started with the synchronized drones flying to The Who's I Can See For Miles.

[Tree_skier]

Navigator starts with those synchronized drones as well.  I can't remember the what the music was though.