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

[Sunshine3601]

Busy day.    Dropped off Eric this morning at 9 am for his colonoscopy and endoscopy, came home and cleaned bathrooms, tore beds aparts, etc etc.   Frenzy of laundry today while working from home. 

Picked up Eric about 1.5 hours later and they said he did Great!    Everything looked good, the polyps he previously had 3 years ago did not grow back.   Doc said all good for another 5 years.    😍

Eric had already told me his breakfast order from local diner so we did curbside pick up and back to work at home. 

 

 

[lenquixote66]

7 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Busy day.    Dropped off Eric this morning at 9 am for his colonoscopy and endoscopy, came home and cleaned bathrooms, tore beds aparts, etc etc.   Frenzy of laundry today while working from home. 

Picked up Eric about 1.5 hours later and they said he did Great!    Everything looked good, the polyps he previously had 3 years ago did not grow back.   Doc said all good for another 5 years.    😍

Eric had already told me his breakfast order from local diner so we did curbside pick up and back to work at home. 

 

 

Great news,Debi

[DaniDanielle]

Good to hear Debbie.  Now pack!

[lenquixote66]

Does anyone have any interesting or unusual New Years Eve stories?

I have had a few.

On December 31,1962 I was in Times Square to see 1963 come in.That was fantastic.

The following year  went with a friend to a party on Colonial Road In Bay Ridge Brooklyn.The party was great .However,when we left my friend Marvin could not get his car started .We walked a mile and a half to a bus stop,no buses ,just about 100 people waiting and we wound up walking home ,5 hours.

In 1970 friends of ours were invited to the residence of a Stage and TV actor.They were able to get Toby and I an invite as well.We entered and saw that all the walls and ceilings were painted black and the floors were covered with black mats.I just googled the actor .He is in his mid 80’s but is no longer acting.

[grapau27]

21 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Busy day.    Dropped off Eric this morning at 9 am for his colonoscopy and endoscopy, came home and cleaned bathrooms, tore beds aparts, etc etc.   Frenzy of laundry today while working from home. 

Picked up Eric about 1.5 hours later and they said he did Great!    Everything looked good, the polyps he previously had 3 years ago did not grow back.   Doc said all good for another 5 years.    😍

Eric had already told me his breakfast order from local diner so we did curbside pick up and back to work at home. 

 

 

That is excellent news Debbie.

I am really happy for you both that those tests Eric had today were clear.

Graham.

[Sunshine3601]

31 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

Good to hear Debbie.  Now pack!

Yup we will start packing and take down our outdoor christmas decorations and christmas tree this coming weekend.     Always sad to put Christmas away but always nice to do it for a cruise!    

[h20skibum]

2 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yup we will start packing and take down our outdoor christmas decorations and christmas tree this coming weekend.     Always sad to put Christmas away but always nice to do it for a cruise!    

Ours will still be up in late January when we get home.  Maybe I will put hearts on it for Valentine’s Day. 

[dani negreanu]

1 hour ago, brookmill18 said:

And at least in the media, it doesn't look like Celebrity is currently having as many issues as RCCL--but I'm wondering if that's just press coverage or accurate?

 

I'm following the Celebrity board very closely since our next cruise (postponed / cancelled version #5 😢) is on the newest version of Edge - Beyond.

 

It seems to me that they follow the protocols very strictly, and, also, don't forget that the demographics in X tend to be older, with fewer kids (aka non-vaxxed ones). Moreover, X doesn't have the big ships like Oasis class. Hence, for the moment, no outbreaks.

 

Anthem is a nice ship, but I don't think it compares to the Edge class.

 

Enjoy whatever you decide 🌷

[George C]

34 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yup we will start packing and take down our outdoor christmas decorations and christmas tree this coming weekend.     Always sad to put Christmas away but always nice to do it for a cruise!    

We keep ours up until New Year’s Day. My wife listens to nothing but Christmas music starting before thanksgiving which is a bit early for me.

[George C]

24 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I'm following the Celebrity board very closely since our next cruise (postponed / cancelled version #5 😢) is on the newest version of Edge - Beyond.

 

It seems to me that they follow the protocols very strictly, and, also, don't forget that the demographics in X tend to be older, with fewer kids (aka non-vaxxed ones). Moreover, X doesn't have the big ships like Oasis class. Hence, for the moment, no outbreaks.

 

Anthem is a nice ship, but I don't think it compares to the Edge class.

 

Enjoy whatever you decide 🌷

Agree celebrity has way fewer children because it doesn’t have the things that attract children. We just loved the edge , if suite is possible celebrity suite perks are way way better same for there suite restaurant. But rccl still has the best entertainment.

[Sunshine3601]

6 minutes ago, George C said:

We keep ours up until New Year’s Day. My wife listens to nothing but Christmas music starting before thanksgiving which is a bit early for me.

For the last couple of years (except Jan 2021) we usually go on cruises January so I like to have everything put away before leave.    I agree with you about starting the music I usually wait until after Thanksgiving.    

[dani negreanu]

6 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Thank God Jim's reflexes are still good.  Heading into Ft. McHenry Tunnel a car came flying towards my passenger door..Jim put the medal to the pedal and avoided our getting slammed.

 

3 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Maryann I’m glad it did not end serious. I hope they are over the worst of it and will get better soon.

 

+2 👍

1 hour ago, DaniDanielle said:

Good to hear Debbie.  Now pack!

 

+1 @Sunshine3601 Excellent news about Eric 👍

 

6 hours ago, Luckynana said:

@lioness Beautiful memory of your dad teaching you to drive, and your wonderful conversations together   lucky lady you are, Sue!💕

 

@Lionesss

Lucky indeed. Being an only child/daughter, I can easily relate and also had a very special relationship with my dad and I cherish my conversations with him along the years.

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by dani negreanu
adding the extra "s" to lioness

[h20skibum]

37 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

Hence, for the moment, no outbreaks.

Maybe they are just not getting the numbers and the press that a couple of the biggest and newest Royal ships have been getting.   According to the CDC color coding chart, almost all of the ships (Royal and Celebrity) have had cases enough to put them in the yellow category.  These are the codes as of 12/28

 

 

 

 

[Ozark_Kid]

My BIL and I had sushi for lunch.  We shared an Auburn Tiger roll and a ***** roll.  We thought it might be a little odd ordering(I was wearing and Arkansas t-shirt) so my BIL took charge.  When the waitress came to take our order my BIL told the waitress the he wanted the Auburn Tiger roll and that I would enjoy the ***** roll 😀  

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Ozark_Kid
I didn't know you couldn't post the word Vi agra

[BonTexasNY]

1 hour ago, lenquixote66 said:

Does anyone have any interesting or unusual New Years Eve stories?

I have had a few.

On December 31,1962 I was in Times Square to see 1963 come in.That was fantastic.

The following year  went with a friend to a party on Colonial Road In Bay Ridge Brooklyn.The party was great .However,when we left my friend Marvin could not get his car started .We walked a mile and a half to a bus stop,no buses ,just about 100 people waiting and we wound up walking home ,5 hours.

In 1970 friends of ours were invited to the residence of a Stage and TV actor.They were able to get Toby and I an invite as well.We entered and saw that all the walls and ceilings were painted black and the floors were covered with black mats.I just googled the actor .He is in his mid 80’s but is no longer acting.

Oh yes, I have a New Year's Eve Story 1967 or 68.  This has been told before in here.  I was dating the brother in law of a songwriter who wrote songs for Spanky and Our Gang, the Animals among others. He asked us to come with him and his wife to a New Year's Eve party in a fabulous apt on the upper east side of Manhattan belonging to Neil Sedaka's songwriter, Howard Greenfield.  When Howard found out I was a Neil fan, he called Neil on the phone, "introduced" me and Neil sang Happy Birthday Sweet 16 to me over the phone.   Lenny, I remember your Sedaka story.  On the phone he sounded wonderful.

 

After our phone goodbye , Sally Field, yes THAT Sally Field entered the apartment with 2 of her entourage.  Sally was rude and hit on my boyfriend, picked up various canapes, smelled them and threw them back on the platter.  Yuck.  People were gushing how absolutely famous and talented she was.  Blechh was all I could think.  And my boyfriend didn't take the bait or I hope he didn't at the time.  To paraphrase a song I love, "Oh What a Night!!

[dani negreanu]

21 minutes ago, George C said:

Agree celebrity has way fewer children because it doesn’t have the things that attract children. We just loved the edge ....But rccl still has the best entertainment.

 

... and I agree that RCCL has the best entertainment 😁

 

6 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

Maybe they are just not getting the numbers and the press that a couple of the biggest and newest Royal ships have been getting.

 

@brookmill18

 

Thanks, Mark, for posting this chart. I'm ashamed to admit that I was not aware of its existence...

[DaniDanielle]

Lenny, my daughter lives on Colonial Road!

[Arzeena]

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

I do not like the fruit bowl. I don't want them leaving anything in the cabin that I can get myself in the Windjammer. Just keep the wine bottles coming.😊

Pass on the fruit bowl to me. I'll bring you the wine!😁But do not bring that towel!!!!!

[Arzeena]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

Anthem is a nice ship, but I don't think it compares to the Edge class.

 

Enjoy whatever you decide 🌷

Agree 100%.

[bobmacliberty]

I've been off CC for almost a week.  Can't tell if I feel good about breaking my addiction, or sad about all of the posts that I've missed.  I was tempted to skip the last ~25 pages and just jump right back into it now, but I couldn't do it.  After more than an hour of reading, I'm finally caught up.

 

We drove to Cincinnati to spend Christmas with our daughters who still live there.  We drove part way on the 22nd and stayed overnight at the Village Hotel on the Biltmore Estate.  We had a 3 course candlelight evening dinner at the Stable Cafe, and then a candlelight evening tour of the Biltmore House.  I'll post more about this in a few days but I'd give the whole experience about a 5 (maybe a 6) out of 10.  

 

We had a great but short 3.5 days with our daughters and their boyfriends and followed several of our family Christmas traditions, including Alaskan King Crab legs and Rice-A-Roni for Christmas Eve dinner.  I don't remember how that combination came to be, but traditions must be followed.  DD26's BF is a chef and we also really enjoyed eating at his restaurant one night and then again in their apartment as he prepared a multicourse meal at home.  

 

We drove part way back to Florida and stayed in Spartanburg.  We saw the latest Spiderman movie while there.  We had heard some people say that it's the best Marvel movie yet, I'm guessing largely because of the plot twist that happens with the multiverse (no spoilers).  I definitely wouldn't agree with that, but it was enjoyable...other than the VERY loud sound system in the theater.  We then drove the rest of the way home today.  

 

We're home for a couple of hours to do laundry, check Cruise Critic, and get some sleep.  We are up at 5:30 tomorrow for another trip.  We have 4 couples from Cincinnati who were all neighbors and very good friends.  The husbands are all going to Streamsong Resort south of Orlando for 3 days of golf and the wives are all going to a condo in Bradenton that one couple has rented for the winter.  Once the guys are done golfing, we'll meet the wives in Bradenton for New Year's Eve/Day.  I'll therefore be off CC again for a few days.  There really is life outside of Cruise Critic!

[Arzeena]

We just got this email.

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest, With the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, our public health guidance continues to evolve and we want to let you know what to expect as we prepare to welcome you onboard. All our crew members are fully vaccinated, have received booster shots when eligible, and are tested on a weekly basis with high contact front of house service staff tested every three days. All your fellow guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated and tested before boarding. And the small number of children sailing who are 11 and under get a second test at the terminal and are increasingly vaccinated. Typically, your onboard cruise community vaccination rate is in the 95% range. As a result of Omicron, which we have seen is much more transmissible with much milder symptoms for those fully vaccinated, we have further strengthened onboard health protocols, such as the requirement to wear a mask indoors at all times unless eating or drinking, and temporarily not allowing smoking in the casino. Even with such a high onboard community vaccination rate and enhanced protocols in place, there is a possibility of positive cases arising during your sailing, just as there is an inherent risk of COVID-19 anywhere people congregate or gather. Our protocols anticipate this possibility and we implement them as needed to protect the health and safety of everyone.  We also work with local governments in all the ports of your itinerary who are informed of the ship’s public health status before arrival and together, we decide if we can debark in their country. When we make these decisions, we consider the number of COVID positive cases onboard, and also the number of cases in the destination community along with factors such as the community vaccination status. Should we need to cancel a port of call, we will always do our best to find an alternate destination or work through a resolution for our missed port. You should also note that some onboard activities, such as ice skating, rock climbing, laser tag, production shows, Adventure Ocean, etc., could be impacted during your sailing, as we adjust our plans to ensure that the health of both our guests and crew remain our priority. For our full protocols, please click here. As always, health and safety protocols are subject to change. If you have questions about these protocols, please reference our FAQs for details. For sailings departing through January 17th, if you prefer not to sail as a result of this information and would like to reschedule your cruise, we are available to assist you. To avoid waiting on the phone to reschedule or cancel, click here and we will get the process started for you or contact us at 1 (866) 562-7625 or 954-628-9290. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon! Sincerely,

[Sea Dog]

@bobmacliberty sounds like you had a great Christmas. Crab legs and Rice-a-Roni sounds interesting. I’d love to know how that got started. Love it you made it into a tradition.

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, Ozark_Kid said:

My BIL and I had sushi for lunch.  We shared an Auburn Tiger roll and a ***** roll.  We thought it might be a little odd ordering(I was wearing and Arkansas t-shirt) so my BIL took charge.  When the waitress came to take our order my BIL told the waitress the he wanted the Auburn Tiger roll and that I would enjoy the ***** roll 😀  

 

Sushi looks great. I never could figure out how they name rolls. Some of them make no sense.

[DaniDanielle]

12 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

We just got this email.

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest, With the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, our public health guidance continues to evolve and we want to let you know what to expect as we prepare to welcome you onboard. All our crew members are fully vaccinated, have received booster shots when eligible, and are tested on a weekly basis with high contact front of house service staff tested every three days. All your fellow guests 12 and older are fully vaccinated and tested before boarding. And the small number of children sailing who are 11 and under get a second test at the terminal and are increasingly vaccinated. Typically, your onboard cruise community vaccination rate is in the 95% range. As a result of Omicron, which we have seen is much more transmissible with much milder symptoms for those fully vaccinated, we have further strengthened onboard health protocols, such as the requirement to wear a mask indoors at all times unless eating or drinking, and temporarily not allowing smoking in the casino. Even with such a high onboard community vaccination rate and enhanced protocols in place, there is a possibility of positive cases arising during your sailing, just as there is an inherent risk of COVID-19 anywhere people congregate or gather. Our protocols anticipate this possibility and we implement them as needed to protect the health and safety of everyone.  We also work with local governments in all the ports of your itinerary who are informed of the ship’s public health status before arrival and together, we decide if we can debark in their country. When we make these decisions, we consider the number of COVID positive cases onboard, and also the number of cases in the destination community along with factors such as the community vaccination status. Should we need to cancel a port of call, we will always do our best to find an alternate destination or work through a resolution for our missed port. You should also note that some onboard activities, such as ice skating, rock climbing, laser tag, production shows, Adventure Ocean, etc., could be impacted during your sailing, as we adjust our plans to ensure that the health of both our guests and crew remain our priority. For our full protocols, please click here. As always, health and safety protocols are subject to change. If you have questions about these protocols, please reference our FAQs for details. For sailings departing through January 17th, if you prefer not to sail as a result of this information and would like to reschedule your cruise, we are available to assist you. To avoid waiting on the phone to reschedule or cancel, click here and we will get the process started for you or contact us at 1 (866) 562-7625 or 954-628-9290. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon! Sincerely,

I forgot, which ship is this?

[bobmacliberty]

8 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

@bobmacliberty sounds like you had a great Christmas. Crab legs and Rice-a-Roni sounds interesting. I’d love to know how that got started. Love it you made it into a tradition.

 

I don't really know how that tradition started.  We've been doing it for so long that I've forgotten.  Micheline loves crab legs and I think we decided to go with something a little different on Christmas Eve since Christmas dinner itself is typically turkey with all the fixings.  Our daughters have loved Rice-A-Roni since they were little.  I'm guessing we made it so that they would have something they liked while they learned to enjoy crab (which they now love!). 

 

Congrats on Lizzy AND Charlie.  That is awesome news.  Adding Charlie was probably not an inexpensive decision, but they will be best friends throughout their lives.