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

[Luckynana]

14 minutes ago, h20skibum said:

We are already there.   Spending the week here.  

 

Enjoy!

[bobmacliberty]

3 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

It will snow on St. Maarten before my nails ever get painted.

 

[bobmacliberty]

@firefly333 Jane - I would book your Brightline ticket now.  Since you're staying overnight in Miami, you can pick whichever morning training is cheapest/most convenient.  I'm far from a Brightline expert (never used them) and don't know how their prices fluctuate, but I'd rather have something booked.  Even if they have a sale later, I can't imagine that a currently $109 ticket would be reduced by much more than $20.  $20 is cheap for me for peace of mind. 

 

You'll then need to decide between taking an Uber/Lyft/Taxi direct to your condo or taking a shared shuttle from MCO to Port Canaveral and Uber home from there.  The shuttle may save you a few bucks but will require waiting for the shuttle to leave the airport and then transferring to an Uber at the port.  Uber/taxi direct to your condo might be more expensive but will be a lot more convenient.  Port shuttles probably all leave before 1:00-2:00 (maybe even noon??) to be at the port on time so if you go the shuttle route, be sure to book an early enough train to catch the shuttle.  

[harryfat1]

6 hours ago, Luckynana said:

That's so nice!  Thank you, Harry!  I just realized that Jim and I are no longer New York(ers) since moving to New Jersey.  LOL!  However, since Jim is retired FDNY and spent time at Ground Zero, he and I will be free whenever the time comes that he's ready.  Thank you again.🥰

You are welcome.  Glad the info us useful.

 

My phone tracks what I have been researching lately and since it's all been about NYC, this news article popped up so I figure I share the info.

 

Coming in from NJ, I would assume you will take the PATH to get out at the Oculus to walk over to the museum. The area is very nice as you can eat luch/dinner overlooking the Hudson. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sunshine3601]

It's been hot muggy here since the 4th.   Daily heat indexes ranging from 99 to 106f.   I was able to get law mowed one night (haven't had to mow for 3 weeks) and some weeding.

 

With having a 4 day weekend I was hoping to hang out at neighbors pool but we all decided way too hot to sit and relax by the pool and cannot spend all day in the pool without becoming a prune.

 

So I booked a cruise.  I was looking at doing one out of Tampa but Eric said just do Cape Liberty as he wants to check out Odyssey for last week of March (his BD week).

 

Went thru casino desk and used my free annual tier sailing for an interior and only had to pay $325 with taxes, port fees and minor upgrade fee of $45 to a OV w/large balcony.   Love getting a good casino rep. On the phone.

 

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

 

 

 

 

[Sunshine3601]

18 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

You are welcome.  Glad the info us useful.

 

My phone tracks what I have been researching lately and since it's all been about NYC, this news article popped up so I figure I share the info.

 

Coming in from NJ, I would assume you will take the PATH to get out at the Oculus to walk over to the museum. The area is very nice as you can eat luch/dinner overlooking the Hudson. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful family and photos😊

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It's been hot muggy here since the 4th.   Daily heat indexes ranging from 99 to 106f.   I was able to get law mowed one night (haven't had to mow for 3 weeks) and some weeding.

 

With having a 4 day weekend I was hoping to hang out at neighbors pool but we all decided way too hot to sit and relax by the pool and cannot spend all day in the pool without becoming a prune.

 

So I booked a cruise.  I was looking at doing one out of Tampa but Eric said just do Cape Liberty as he wants to check out Odyssey for last week of March (his BD week).

 

Went thru casino desk and used my free annual tier sailing for an interior and only had to pay $325 with taxes, port fees and minor upgrade fee of $45 to a OV w/large balcony.   Love getting a good casino rep. On the phone.

 

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

 

 

 

 

I hope you like Odyssey as much as I do.

[Sea Dog]

7 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

but Eric said just do Cape Liberty as he wants to check out Odyssey for last week of March (his BD week).

 

Sounds like fun. What’s great way to celebrate a birthday.

[harryfat1]

Here is my last set of NYC vacation photos to upload now that we are back home. Done with all the post vacation tasks like laundry and grocery shopping to restock the refrigerator after a long vacation. 

 

Trying to fight the post vacation blues syndrome by watching the YouTube videos for the upcoming December cruise as well as advanced planning for European vacation next summer. 

 

We are the uber aggressive vacationers in packing in as much things as possible on vacation and o think land based vacation fits our current speed more than an European cruise.

 

@h20skibum would appreciate the advance planning necessary to see Disney parks as one item on my bucket list is to visit all the Disney parks worldwide in the order they are build.  So we visited all the US Disney parks. Went to the 2 Disney parks in Tokyo in 2019.

 

Next up in Euro Disney in Paris. Extra challenge in trying to navigate Paris area as the Disney park is pretty far away from the city center.

 

Anyway, that's later. Here are pictures from the Granddaddy of all NYC tourist traps - Empire State Building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[h20skibum]

46 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

We sailed from there once.  If I remember, it is about a half hour ride from the airport.  We had a stretch limo arranged, since there were five of us on that cruise. I will have to look up the hotel we stayed at, once we get home in a week.  The hotel was nice, and only about a block from the pier.  
 

It is easily walkable to the French Quarter, if you plan to spend a day or two there. 
 

I always remember thinking it wouldn’t take long to get to the gulf, because isn’t NO on the gulf?  You sail for 9 hours on the river.  

[Luckynana]

@harryfat1  Beautiful pictures of NYC, Harry!  

[Ocean Boy]

This folks, is what a New England fog bank looks like...

 

[Luckynana]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It's been hot muggy here since the 4th.   Daily heat indexes ranging from 99 to 106f.   I was able to get law mowed one night (haven't had to mow for 3 weeks) and some weeding.

 

With having a 4 day weekend I was hoping to hang out at neighbors pool but we all decided way too hot to sit and relax by the pool and cannot spend all day in the pool without becoming a prune.

 

So I booked a cruise.  I was looking at doing one out of Tampa but Eric said just do Cape Liberty as he wants to check out Odyssey for last week of March (his BD week).

 

Went thru casino desk and used my free annual tier sailing for an interior and only had to pay $325 with taxes, port fees and minor upgrade fee of $45 to a OV w/large balcony.   Love getting a good casino rep. On the phone.

 

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

 

It's been oppressively hot here, also.  We've pretty much been staying inside.

How great that you've booked an OV w/large balcony with your casino rep for Eric's birthday.

Jim and I did a repo from NYC to New Orleans back in 2012.  Our hotel was just off of Bourbon Street.  We had a great time there, and thought it would be a "great adventure" to take the Amtrak train home from there.  😁  If you will have a few days in NO prior to the cruise, the World War II Museum is a must see!

[Coralc]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

 

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

 

 

We sail out of NOLA quite a bit, because my in-laws live in Houma. Yes, it is about half an hour from the airport to downtown. Cabs are fixed rate, Ubers are probably about the same. The port itself, is downtown at the end of Canal, on Julia St. It is about 10 minutes from most places. 

 

The last few times we have stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites 226 Carondelet St. It is about a block from Bourbon St. and the French Quarter. That same block gets you to Canal St, where the street cars and transportation are located. 2 stops to the river and Harrah's Casino. (non-smoking casino.) And Riverwalk shopping mall. The port is kind of right behind Riverwalk. About a block the other way is a local bar, Voodoo Lounge II, that is pleasant, and cheaper than imbibing in the quarter. It is a fun city, with lots of good dining options. 

[dbancroft]

My brother likes to send me dad jokes here is what he sent today.  Loud laughing is illegal in Hawaii, You are only allowed to lo ha.

[Sunshine3601]

6 minutes ago, Coralc said:

 

We sail out of NOLA quite a bit, because my in-laws live in Houma. Yes, it is about half an hour from the airport to downtown. Cabs are fixed rate, Ubers are probably about the same. The port itself, is downtown at the end of Canal, on Julia St. It is about 10 minutes from most places. 

 

The last few times we have stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites 226 Carondelet St. It is about a block from Bourbon St. and the French Quarter. That same block gets you to Canal St, where the street cars and transportation are located. 2 stops to the river and Harrah's Casino. (non-smoking casino.) And Riverwalk shopping mall. The port is kind of right behind Riverwalk. About a block the other way is a local bar, Voodoo Lounge II, that is pleasant, and cheaper than imbibing in the quarter. It is a fun city, with lots of good dining options. 

Thank you everyone @h20skibum, @Luckynana for your info.   This does sound like a nice easy port to fly too and a place we would definitely enjoy.

 

I'm thinking since we need to move our Sept Bermuda cruise (work conflict with Bosses surprise UK cruise) then we could check out New Orleans and go to Bermuda next year.

[BonTexasNY]

2 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

Here is my last set of NYC vacation photos to upload now that we are back home. Done with all the post vacation tasks like laundry and grocery shopping to restock the refrigerator after a long vacation. 

 

Trying to fight the post vacation blues syndrome by watching the YouTube videos for the upcoming December cruise as well as advanced planning for European vacation next summer. 

 

We are the uber aggressive vacationers in packing in as much things as possible on vacation and o think land based vacation fits our current speed more than an European cruise.

 

@h20skibum would appreciate the advance planning necessary to see Disney parks as one item on my bucket list is to visit all the Disney parks worldwide in the order they are build.  So we visited all the US Disney parks. Went to the 2 Disney parks in Tokyo in 2019.

 

Next up in Euro Disney in Paris. Extra challenge in trying to navigate Paris area as the Disney park is pretty far away from the city center.

 

Anyway, that's later. Here are pictures from the Granddaddy of all NYC tourist traps - Empire State Building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your pictures never disappoint!

[George C]

One of my poker buddies had to evacuate today , he just built a house on the Texas coast , he wanted to be able to use his 60ft yacht on the ocean . His house was also flooded a month ago . I definitely wouldn’t want to live that close to an ocean , I am sure his house is fantastic but I don’t want to deal with hurricanes . 

[Arzeena]

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

It's been hot muggy here since the 4th.   Daily heat indexes ranging from 99 to 106f.   I was able to get law mowed one night (haven't had to mow for 3 weeks) and some weeding.

 

With having a 4 day weekend I was hoping to hang out at neighbors pool but we all decided way too hot to sit and relax by the pool and cannot spend all day in the pool without becoming a prune.

 

So I booked a cruise.  I was looking at doing one out of Tampa but Eric said just do Cape Liberty as he wants to check out Odyssey for last week of March (his BD week).

 

Went thru casino desk and used my free annual tier sailing for an interior and only had to pay $325 with taxes, port fees and minor upgrade fee of $45 to a OV w/large balcony.   Love getting a good casino rep. On the phone.

 

Eric and I have casino offers for Brilliance sailing out of New Orleans for November/December.   Does anyone have experience for this port?  Is it easy access to get to the port?

How's the airport?

 

 

We have sailed from NOLA a few times on NCL. Airport is about 30 mts away from the town. We have stayed at the Hilton there and it is a nice one, right by the port. NOLA is a lovely port to sail from. We have also stayed at the Westin.
You will be sailing in the river for quite a while, passing a lot of things till the ship makes it out into the Gulf. If you do a cruise from there, I would highly recommend going two or three days early. Do some tours, visit a plantation, Bourbon street, French quarter, etc etc.

[h20skibum]

The kids approve of their accommodations.  Nice kitchen area
 

plus dining and living room area

 

The boys wanted this room as theirs

 

one of the baths that is pretty good size

 

Daughter and granddaughter captured this one. 

 

And nice views to wake up to each morning 

 

 

.  

[helen haywood]

The girls keeping a close (albeit drowsy) watch on me.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8 by helen haywood

[George C]

1 hour ago, Arzeena said:

We have sailed from NOLA a few times on NCL. Airport is about 30 mts away from the town. We have stayed at the Hilton there and it is a nice one, right by the port. NOLA is a lovely port to sail from. We have also stayed at the Westin.
You will be sailing in the river for quite a while, passing a lot of things till the ship makes it out into the Gulf. If you do a cruise from there, I would highly recommend going two or three days early. Do some tours, visit a plantation, Bourbon street, French quarter, etc etc.

New Orleans is a fabulous city to leave from so many great restaurants and so much live music, haven’t been there for years but really would love to return, I remember talking to my dad and visiting some of the same restaurants he visited during WW 2 ,like Antonies . 

[Coralc]

Funny about New Orleans. The last time we were there for a Majesty cruise. We went down a few days early and rented a car to go out and go to lunch with his dad and stepmom. It was just a few days before Mardi Gras, and some of the festivities had already started. 

 

We saw the Hard Rock Hotel that collapsed (It looked like it melted) And sadly, there may still be workers. 

 

The cruise was fine and fun! About day 3, we started hearing reports of a Princess cruise ship under quarantine in Japan. 

 

I think it was night 5 or 6 when we encountered a large storm in the Gulf and the Captain announced that our disembarkation would be delayed when we returned to NOLA. It was a little pricey to change and rebook the flights. RCI assisted a bit. But the cool thing was that we were able to cruise up the Mississippi River in the daytime. It was really neat to see everything along the river in the daylight. It is usually done at night. We arrived back in port at 1 PM. ☺️

 

And then Mardi Gras became a super-spreader event....

[ReneeFLL]

On 7/5/2024 at 8:45 AM, dani negreanu said:

@ReneeFLL

 

Wishing Mike a very happy birthday. Have a wonderful celebration 🌺🌹💐🥂

 

21 hours ago, grapau27 said:

Happy birthday to Mike.

 

14 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

…Happy Birthday to Mike…

 

13 hours ago, Luckynana said:

 

@ReneeFLL  Please wish Mike a Happy Birthday from Jim and I!🎈

 

12 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

@ReneeFLL Tell Mike Happy Birthday from me! I hope he had a great celebration.

I showed Mike the Birthday Wishes and he said thanks for them. Hope I didn’t miss anyone.

[ReneeFLL]

11 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

You have anything booked for this coming winter?

No, but we can. We have this Aug/Sept and then not until Bella’s cruise in Feb.