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

[FromSea2ShiningSea]

8 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Those oysters near the front in the shell look huge. Did you try some? How do food prices compare to here? Can you tell or with everything in japanese it's hard to figure out? 

Yes, we did try some.  They were very good and fresh.  I would say food prices are fairly reasonable here due to the exchange rates being very good right now and prices for food at home has gone up so much that restaurant have no choice but to raise their prices, too.

[A&L_Ont]

7 hours ago, firefly333 said:

They want us to stay home the day of the eclipse. I think schools are closed too.

 

"To avoid gridlock the Dallas Office of Emergency Management encourages employers to treat April 8 like a snow day, with only essential workers heading into the office."

When did eclipses become such an “emergency for safety”. In my life I have lived through multiple ones (5 I can easily think of) without losing my sight and 2 of them I was in grade school. Rules for eclipse haven’t changed, I guess society has just gotten dumber. With warnings in coffee cups I guess I should not be surprised.

 

6 hours ago, Coralc said:

Seriously? 😄 And they say California is weird. LOL. When we had the almost full solar eclipse in 2017, everyone went to work and school, and we just paused our day and went out to look at it for a while. (with eclipse glasses) There was a lot of hype here, too. But it was just a regular day, with an event. 

 

You can get photos, if you take them through the lense of the glasses. And yes, we usually do have fog in August. 

I was in San Francisco during this eclipse. We were driving there from Monterey and were just checking into the hotel at the height.  Afterwards we went to Alcatraz.

[FromSea2ShiningSea]

10 hours ago, firefly333 said:

Sleeping on the floor shhhh. I hope your back is ready for this. It's pretty. 

 

10 hours ago, taznremmy said:

LOL!!  My first thought was trying to get out of bed in the morning. 🙀 😂

 

10 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Same here.  I thought to myself Eric being 6'3"  would definitely have problems.

 

8 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

Somehow I think I would have a hard time getting out of bed with my knees. 😉

I told you all we were going on an adventure. 😆 But to be honest with you, I had the very same concerns.  How am I going to get down on the floor and how am I going to get up?  I actually managed okay.

 

9 hours ago, George C said:

Great pictures , this reminded me to watch. Next episode of shogun 😁, how was your flight ?

 

Flight was long but thankful we didn’t have any plane problems.  It made it to our destination in one piece.  

[TravelGirlinDallas]

1 hour ago, A&L_Ont said:

When did eclipses become such an “emergency for safety”. In my life I have lived through multiple ones (5 I can easily think of) without losing my sight and 2 of them I was in grade school. Rules for eclipse haven’t changed, I guess society has just gotten dumber. With warnings in coffee cups I guess I should not be surprised.

It's not because the eclipse itself is dangerous. It's because they expect thousands of people to travel to our area to view it, which will cause massive traffic/crowding issues. And this eclipse is a bigger deal than most since it's total. Still seems like a bit of overkill to me - I guess I'll find out on 4/8!

https://www.fox4news.com/news/eclipse-total-solar-eclipse-traffic-texas

Edited March 27 by TravelGirlinDallas

[KmomChicago]

12 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

It's not because the eclipse itself is dangerous. It's because they expect thousands of people to travel to our area to view it, which will cause massive traffic/crowding issues. And this eclipse is a bigger deal than most since it's total. Still seems like a bit of overkill to me - I guess I'll find out on 4/8!

https://www.fox4news.com/news/eclipse-total-solar-eclipse-traffic-texas

We are going to Indy. We went to Paducah in 2017 and traffic north afterwards was like nothing I had experienced. Spent the prior weekend in town but assumed we’d drive back immediately following the event. 
 

So we this time have rooms at a relatively crappy low end chain the night before and after to avoid traffic day of. We will monitor return traffic the evening of the 8th and make a call around 8pm whether to hit the road or stay through until morning. 

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Yes, we did try some.  They were very good and fresh.  I would say food prices are fairly reasonable here due to the exchange rates being very good right now and prices for food at home has gone up so much that restaurant have no choice but to raise their prices, too.

I'm just so amazed that you all can plan so much in such detail. Like flying in and catching the correct train and catching the ferry to your hotel. So many details. 

 

Are you staying there for a while. I googled it and it says sun rise and sun set is glorious there when the tourists are less early morning. I know you love sun rise pictures. How did your back like sleeping on the floor, or almost. Wow.,

 

I'd like to try those oysters. What a treat. I saw the huge spread for dinner. So many things to try. Please keep us filling in. 

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

 

 

 

I told you all we were going on an adventure. 😆 But to be honest with you, I had the very same concerns.  How am I going to get down on the floor and how am I going to get up?  I actually managed okay.

 

 

Flight was long but thankful we didn’t have any plane problems.  It made it to our destination in one piece.  

I saw united from LA to Japan horrendously oversold a flight and was thinking of you. It left the same day you did and was over sold by 50 seats. They were offering up to $1500 to give up your seat to japan. 

[Sea Dog]

5 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Thanks.  3 body problem sounds like a better choice for me than the Lockerbie doco that DH just recommended to me.  Started watching the doco & then decided watching it 2 weeks before a 15hr long haul flight is not a good idea.  

Tip: if you watch 3 Body Problem and have a hard time understanding what’s going on there are some good YouTube videos out there that explains each episode. We have watched these after every episode we watch and it help a in the understanding. Just search 3 body problem explained.

[DaniDanielle]

My grandson’s poem:

[firefly333]

I've been searching rome hotels just because I'm ancy. Putting in 1 pax and several hotels have french beds. I googled it and a french bed is 1.5 size of 2 twins pushed together. Smaller, though I'm sure still enough for 1. Never heard of French beds before. Got a lot to learn.

 

People say book direct but prices are about double what I see on sites like Priceline. Is Priceline really that bad for booking in rome?

[firefly333]

2 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

My grandson’s poem:

I can identify with these feelings. I'm irish and it's on my list just for that reason.

 

Good poem.

[DaniDanielle]

We have to get him to Norway, only trip he wants to take.  His dad always told him they would go.  He would honor his memory.

[Lionesss]

Good morning. 
 

Well just a little change of topic from me. 
 

When I cruise with my spouse I have a daily budget that I allow in the casino. When it’s gone POOOF!!!!!!  So am I for the day.

 

Last year was a great year. 
Broke even.

Yup

That’s a good year. 
 

I had 14 hand pays from 3 cruises. 
Payout ranged $1400s - $3500. 
 

So I did what any self conscious American citizen would do while filing my taxes. 
 

I turned in my paper work from the cruise that I got with every hand pay and also the RCI requested win/loss form. ( which was emailed quickly). 
 

So our accountant called me and asked for my gambling log. 
 

I go. 
“what do you mean”

 

She goes and I para quote……

”…in order for me to submit I need the log you kept tracking ALL the money you put in and in addition all the money you acquired on winning spins which includes anything and all amounts.  Even if it was just “2” registering for let’s say cherries….”

 

 

I go. 
“ Your kidding…..right”. 
“ a log”. 
 

She unfortunately goes. 
“No”. 
 

So. Now I get to inform the spouse that that BIG refund we are getting is not gonna happen. 
 

And. 
 

We have to pay this year. 
 

But. 
 

The good news is we are “ Married “. again for tax purposes ( we are happily married celebrating 33 years in August). We don’t have to file separately ( like we have done every year previously) 
This should make him happy. 
NOT. 
 

Be safe. 
 

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I saw united from LA to Japan horrendously oversold a flight and was thinking of you. It left the same day you did and was over sold by 50 seats. They were offering up to $1500 to give up your seat to japan. 

United is on a role lately between maintenance and over booking.

[Ocean Boy]

13 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

We have to get him to Norway, only trip he wants to take.  His dad always told him they would go.  He would honor his memory.

I sense another family trip coming up.....

[Ocean Boy]

12 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Good morning. 
 

Well just a little change of topic from me. 
 

When I cruise with my spouse I have a daily budget that I allow in the casino. When it’s gone POOOF!!!!!!  So am I for the day.

 

Last year was a great year. 
Broke even.

Yup

That’s a good year. 
 

I had 14 hand pays from 3 cruises. 
Payout ranged $1400s - $3500. 
 

So I did what any self conscious American citizen would do while filing my taxes. 
 

I turned in my paper work from the cruise that I got with every hand pay and also the RCI requested win/loss form. ( which was emailed quickly). 
 

So our accountant called me and asked for my gambling log. 
 

I go. 
“what do you mean”

 

She goes and I para quote……

”…in order for me to submit I need the log you kept tracking ALL the money you put in and in addition all the money you acquired on winning spins which includes anything and all amounts.  Even if it was just “2” registering for let’s say cherries….”

 

 

I go. 
“ Your kidding…..right”. 
“ a log”. 
 

She unfortunately goes. 
“No”. 
 

So. Now I get to inform the spouse that that BIG refund we are getting is not gonna happen. 
 

And. 
 

We have to pay this year. 
 

But. 
 

The good news is we are “ Married “. again for tax purposes ( we are happily married celebrating 33 years in August). We don’t have to file separately ( like we have done every year previously) 
This should make him happy. 
NOT. 
 

Be safe. 
 

One more reason, besides smoke, to avoid the casino.

[firefly333]

14 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Good morning. 
 

Well just a little change of topic from me. 
 

When I cruise with my spouse I have a daily budget that I allow in the casino. When it’s gone POOOF!!!!!!  So am I for the day.

 

Last year was a great year. 
Broke even.

Yup

That’s a good year. 
 

I had 14 hand pays from 3 cruises. 
Payout ranged $1400s - $3500. 
 

So I did what any self conscious American citizen would do while filing my taxes. 
 

I turned in my paper work from the cruise that I got with every hand pay and also the RCI requested win/loss form. ( which was emailed quickly). 
 

So our accountant called me and asked for my gambling log. 
 

I go. 
“what do you mean”

 

She goes and I para quote……

”…in order for me to submit I need the log you kept tracking ALL the money you put in and in addition all the money you acquired on winning spins which includes anything and all amounts.  Even if it was just “2” registering for let’s say cherries….”

 

 

I go. 
“ Your kidding…..right”. 
“ a log”. 
 

She unfortunately goes. 
“No”. 
 

So. Now I get to inform the spouse that that BIG refund we are getting is not gonna happen. 
 

And. 
 

We have to pay this year. 
 

But. 
 

The good news is we are “ Married “. again for tax purposes ( we are happily married celebrating 33 years in August). We don’t have to file separately ( like we have done every year previously) 
This should make him happy. 
NOT. 
 

Be safe. 
 

At least you dont pay taxes on the amount a free cruise would cost if it wasnt free. Still ahead.

[lenquixote66]

12 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Just got through binging Netflix's The Gentlemen. I thought it was excellent. I always admired Guy Ritchie's work.

 

We then moved onto Netflix's 3 Body Problem which is a sci-fi thriller from the guys that brought you Game of Thrones. I am really liking this one. Deep and some amazing characters.

 

I highly recommend these two.

I agree that The Gentlemen is excellent.3 Body Problem was highly recommended to me.I will be watching it next.

[DaniDanielle]

23 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I sense another family trip coming up.....

We seriously have to look into it.  My grandson is graduating eighth grade in June and most likely will be valedictorian.  I can only imagine who his speech will be dedicated to.  I did mention to him not to forget his grandmother who supplies him with junk food!!

[Lionesss]

19 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

At least you dont pay taxes on the amount a free cruise would cost if it wasnt free. Still ahead.

Great point. 
 

Yup Symphony cruise in 3 weeks in a GS cost us only Port Fees. 
So the both of us  are paying a grand total $247.  ( not each - combined). 
 

So that makes the situation even better. 
 

😳

 

 

[grapau27]

[grapau27]

Good afternoon.

It is raining here at 16.47pm.

We had a nice church service this morning then took our McDonald's breakfast wraps and coffees to the beach.

I hope everyone is safe and well.

 

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, DaniDanielle said:

My grandson’s poem:

What a wonderful poem. I hope he makes the trip. Well done.

 

54 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

 

So our accountant called me and asked for my gambling log. 
 

I go. 
“what do you mean”

 

She goes and I para quote……

”…in order for me to submit I need the log you kept tracking ALL the money you put in and in addition all the money you acquired on winning spins which includes anything and all amounts.  Even if it was just “2” registering for let’s say cherries….”

 

 

I go. 
“ Your kidding…..right”. 
“ a log”. 
 

She unfortunately goes. 
“No”. 

 

 

I have never heard of that. I would maybe get a second opinion as I know most people who gamble at casinos here in my state don’t have to do that. Who sits at a slot machine with a pad and pencil jotting down everything you do.

 

 

34 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

After all these years I found myself a TA. Should have done this a while ago. Too bad we can't mention names here.😉😇

 

If it’s who I think it is you will be in great hands. Great choice.

 

Edited March 27 by Sea Dog

[grapau27]

[FromSea2ShiningSea]

Day 3- 3/27

East is to the right of us and west is to the left of us so we don’t really get sunrise or sunset.  This was the best I could get from our balcony.  There is an oyster farming boat with the blue light going out.

 

 

 

After a hardy Japanese breakfast, we are ready for this day’s adventure.

 

On the way, I couldn’t resist getting another shot of the O-torii Gate in water.