Has the drink package ever got you in trouble

[cangelmd]

On 8/25/2020 at 8:44 AM, bobndee said:

I haven't had that sort of trouble but here's my problem. With the premium package my wife and I get to try all sorts of liquors and liqueurs for which we wouldn't normally pay the price. Like single malt scotch and pricey digestifs. So now I have to buy single malts for me and B&B and/or Benedictine for my wife. 😄

 

LOL! I started reading this thread thinking it was about having a little too much fun, but when I got to your post, I realized this is us.
We spent most of a TA at the World Bar on Silhouette. Since then, DH has acquired a truly impressive array of bitters, liqueurs, juices and all manner of weird concoctions, plus the recipe books and new herbs growing in pots on the back porch. There are even gadgets involved, and he loves gadgets almost as much as he loves me.

maybe someday we will sail together and compare notes!

[chemmo]

20 hours ago, miched said:

I didn’t think anyone seen me do that.  😱.  
 

Thanks for the gentleman compliment.   It is a lot better than those that my wife called me.  🤗
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

What is observed on a cruise should stay on a cruise!

 

Promise, if our paths should ever cross and we should meet you on the floor of the ensemble lounge we will help you back into your chair and supply a restorative drink...

[Mike981]

11 minutes ago, chemmo said:

 

What is observed on a cruise should stay on a cruise!

 

Promise, if our paths should ever cross and we should meet you on the floor of the ensemble lounge we will help you back into your chair and supply a restorative drink...

Heck, lets get a group of us on the floor and play twister! Wait, with my hips I'll be lucky to get back off the floor.

[chemmo]

6 minutes ago, Mike981 said:

Heck, lets get a group of us on the floor and play twister! Wait, with my hips I'll be lucky to get back off the floor.

 

With my knees I’d struggle to help you! 

 

 

[miched]

52 minutes ago, chemmo said:

 

With my knees I’d struggle to help you! 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Mike981 said:

Heck, lets get a group of us on the floor and play twister! Wait, with my hips I'll be lucky to get back off the floor.

I was told that the pain in my hip is some form of arthritis.   Was told to take aspirin.   I try to walk without limping and just bear with the pain.  Mind over matter as it isn’t going to be better.  I found that a few drinks makes it feel better and eliminates most of the limp.
 

 I just look back and try to figure out what caused the joint damage. Was it:   Many years of kick starting my Harley,  I would say the clutches on the 63 Vette and 66 Nova SS that I had but that is the left leg, the Karate that I practiced for many years, the climbing up and down ladders working In the building trades, water and snow skiing,  doing the Beachbody P90x, Insantiy and etc.  not using elevators on the ships (going down the steps is harder on the joints)  now doing our daily bike ride of 20 or more miles per day?    
 

The doctor will ask what is the pain level on a scale of 1 to 10.  How do I know?  He said well 10 is the highest and 1 is the lowest.   10 being unbearable. I said it is there and I live with it and won’t let it keep me from doing what I do best and that is drinking.  He decided on 5.   I said 5 could you raise it up to the 10 drinks a day?  🤗

I always say that our bodies are like old cars.   They may look great on the outside but you don’t know what the mechanical shape is.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

Edited August 27, 2020 by miched

[drsel]

Your biggest assets are good health and time on Earth

[Frank_Howard]

Love the stories, so far nothing terribly embarrassing.

 

I realized I was taking too many liberties with a package (I think it was on Royal) a few years ago when the bartenders started cheering for me as I walked out to the pool deck the following morning. The one I referred to as "El Jefe" (his actual name was Pablo) pulled up the register tab from the previous day and started counting; they punch in the drinks that are served in packages, which seems to be a Royal policy as I don't recall other lines handing me a ticket to sign when you have a package. Anyway, the number of drinks was higher than the amount I normally drink in a one year period, I think it was 19. Spread out over 10am to midnight, that's tolerable even for a guy in his late 40's at that time.

 

What really got my attention though was the time I had an appointment for routine lab work the day after we returned from a cruise. Didn't think a thing about it, until my physician started cursing about my liver enzymes being quite high. I just pulled up my past results, it was ALT level of 160 IU/L, which should be 0-44. He was going to send me for a liver scan, until I fessed up regarding excessive drinking for a week prior to the lab work. On a repeat a few months later, it was 23. 

 

So yes, sort of got me in trouble, but my doctor is an old grouch who also partied in his time. He understood, and my wife got a kick out of it when I told her. She also had the package, so I can't blame the quantity on drink sharing...

 

It was probably this time:

[miched]

33 minutes ago, drsel said:

Your biggest assets are good health and time on Earth

  
Somewhere I read that when looking at a tombstone there is the date you were born, a short dash, and the date of your death.   That short dash represents your life.  
 

It is like a cruise.  It seems as soon as we leave the muster drill, unpack, settle in we are packing up as  the cruise has ended and are getting off. 
 

My favorite hobby is waking up in the morning.   
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[drsel]

you need to take longer Cruises dear

[miched]

1 hour ago, drsel said:

you need to take longer Cruises dear

We have done B2B 14 day cruises and it is very  difficult to do anything  longer as we have to get home to let  the dog out.    😱
 

happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[bobndee]

22 hours ago, cangelmd said:

LOL! I started reading this thread thinking it was about having a little too much fun, but when I got to your post, I realized this is us.
We spent most of a TA at the World Bar on Silhouette. Since then, DH has acquired a truly impressive array of bitters, liqueurs, juices and all manner of weird concoctions, plus the recipe books and new herbs growing in pots on the back porch. There are even gadgets involved, and he loves gadgets almost as much as he loves me.

maybe someday we will sail together and compare notes!

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

We too have greatly expanded our drink repertoire. We used to drink bourbon exclusively. Now we have multiple gins (different gins for different drinks) multiple rums (including 15 year old for sipping), multiple scotches, vodka, brandy, various liqueurs and, of course, multiple bourbons since, at heart, we're still bourbon snobs.

[cangelmd]

1 hour ago, bobndee said:

 

Sounds like a plan.

 

We too have greatly expanded our drink repertoire. We used to drink bourbon exclusively. Now we have multiple gins (different gins for different drinks) multiple rums (including 15 year old for sipping), multiple scotches, vodka, brandy, various liqueurs and, of course, multiple bourbons since, at heart, we're still bourbon snobs.

We are wine snobs, not at all snobby about cocktails... enthusiastic would be a more accurate term. DH likes single malts, I enjoy tasting them, I find the history and the dramatic taste differences interesting. We aren’t big bourbon or whiskey drinkers beyond Scotch though - perhaps an opportunity to expand our horizons!

[Mike981]

22 hours ago, miched said:

 

I was told that the pain in my hip is some form of arthritis.   Was told to take aspirin.   I try to walk without limping and just bear with the pain.  Mind over matter as it isn’t going to be better.  I found that a few drinks makes it feel better and eliminates most of the limp.
 

 I just look back and try to figure out what caused the joint damage. Was it:   Many years of kick starting my Harley,  I would say the clutches on the 63 Vette and 66 Nova SS that I had but that is the left leg, the Karate that I practiced for many years, the climbing up and down ladders working In the building trades, water and snow skiing,  doing the Beachbody P90x, Insantiy and etc.  not using elevators on the ships (going down the steps is harder on the joints)  now doing our daily bike ride of 20 or more miles per day?    
 

The doctor will ask what is the pain level on a scale of 1 to 10.  How do I know?  He said well 10 is the highest and 1 is the lowest.   10 being unbearable. I said it is there and I live with it and won’t let it keep me from doing what I do best and that is drinking.  He decided on 5.   I said 5 could you raise it up to the 10 drinks a day?  🤗

I always say that our bodies are like old cars.   They may look great on the outside but you don’t know what the mechanical shape is.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

I don't think I am going to get accused of looking great on the outside. 😄

 

I have always been gravitationaly challenged and grew up loving to play sports. Somewhere in my mid-teens I hurt my left hip. When I was 18 I went to a famous surgeon who dismissed it as nothing. So from then on until I was 34 I dealt with the pain and then finally pulled the plug because I was bone on bone and finally had it replaced. It was fantastic! I made sure to do all of the physical therapy (hint-hint) and that was huge.
Now twenty years later, my right hip is getting close to needing a replacement. I believe it was compensating for my left hip for so many years that did it in. I'm due for another cortisone shot in the next few months and depending how that goes, will determine when I get the surgery for my right hip. 

As for drinking, I AGREE. After the surgery on my left hip, I went back for my two week follow up and my doctor started writing a prescription for more Percocet and Vicodin, I told him I didn't need it. He looked at me and said, what are you doing for pain? I said, whiskey. He told me he did the same when he had his ankle redone and would prefer booze over pills for all his patients.

[miched]

2 hours ago, Mike981 said:

and would prefer booze over pills for all his patients.

I had kidney stones years ago  and was told drink a few beers a day to prevent it.  I forgot all about that and now remember why I still do that.

 

Sounds  as if you have a great doctor. 
 

The  doctor we had died a few years ago.   He didn’t believe in pills unless really needed. He claimed that all the drug companies wanted was for everyone to be on them to make more money.   

The ads on TV are really crazy.  Ask the doctor if you should be taking this pill.   They don’t even tell you want it is for.  Doc, I was watching a TV show and was told to ask you if I should be taking this pill????????

Too bad that alcohol isn’t covered by a drug plan 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

[4774Papa]

We never do the drink package.   We enjoy the elite happy hour and drink mostly wine.  Also, we don't drink alcohol until 5PM, so we do fine without the package.  

[4774Papa]

17 minutes ago, miched said:

I had kidney stones years ago  and was told drink a few beers a day to prevent it.  I forgot all about that and now remember why I still do that.

 

Sounds  as if you have a great doctor. 
 

The  doctor we had died a few years ago.   He didn’t believe in pills unless really needed. He claimed that all the drug companies wanted was for everyone to be on them to make more money.   

The ads on TV are really crazy.  Ask the doctor if you should be taking this pill.   They don’t even tell you want it is for.  Doc, I was watching a TV show and was told to ask you if I should be taking this pill????????

Too bad that alcohol isn’t covered by a drug plan 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

My Physicians have advised me that 2-3 alcoholic drinks a day are best for my health.   Also that red wine and brandy are the best, since they actually expand my circulation.   I probably drink about 4 glasses of wine a day on a cruise, more than what I drink at home.

[miched]

9 hours ago, cangelmd said:

We are wine snobs, not at all snobby about cocktails... enthusiastic would be a more accurate term. DH likes single malts, I enjoy tasting them, I find the history and the dramatic taste differences interesting. We aren’t big bourbon or whiskey drinkers beyond Scotch though - perhaps an opportunity to expand our horizons!

We drive to Fl and back.  We extend our cruise experience by enjoying various areas on the way there and back.  On the way home one year we did part of the Bourbon Trail.  After that we became bourbon drinkers.   
 

I highly recommend doing some of that trail.   The distilleries are amazing and their grounds are beautiful.  Makers Mark,  Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam are some of the best.

Heaven Hill has redone its museum.   Lux Row is very nice.  The distilleries inside are actually cleaner than the ships If you can believe that.   Polished brass and stainless.  

 

Makers has a lot of Chihully glass on display.  
 

I highly recommend traveling to Bardstown and spending a few nights.   There are many distilleries In the area.   Then go to Louisville.    That city has a lot to see and do besides all of the distilleries tours there.   The home of the Louisville Slugger,   Mohamed Ali  museum etc 

 

Then there are also all of the various wineries on the way there
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Edited August 29, 2020 by miched

[stunned]

[cangelmd]

1 hour ago, miched said:

We drive to Fl and back.  We extend our cruise experience by enjoying various areas on the way there and back.  On the way home one year we did part of the Bourbon Trail.  After that we became bourbon drinkers.   
 

I highly recommend doing some of that trail.   The distilleries are amazing and their grounds are beautiful.  Makers Mark,  Buffalo Trace and Jim Beam are some of the best.

Heaven Hill has redone its museum.   Lux Row is very nice.  The distilleries inside are actually cleaner than the ships If you can believe that.   Polished brass and stainless.  

 

Makers has a lot of Chihully glass on display.  
 

I highly recommend traveling to Bardstown and spending a few nights.   There are many distilleries In the area.   Then go to Louisville.    That city has a lot to see and do besides all of the distilleries tours there.   The home of the Louisville Slugger,   Mohamed Ali  museum etc 

 

Then there are also all of the various wineries on the way there
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

The Bourbon Trail is quite fun, although all we have done is Makers Mark. Our daughter went to law school at Vandy and we went on basically a day trip with her to Makers Mark. I’d like to do some of the others.

We have a friend whose family owned a bourbon house. They were hard hit by Prohibition and became just farmers  - my friend became a surgeon. Anyway, the husband of a cousin revived the brand, keeping the name which was the family’s last name, and put a picture of my friends father on the label, which to me is remarkable - about as close as I get to fame!

Would enjoy seeing more of the Bourbon Trail. Not bourbon, but Jack Daniels is an interesting side trip too.

Edited August 29, 2020 by cangelmd

[miched]

1 hour ago, cangelmd said:

The Bourbon Trail is quite fun, although all we have done is Makers Mark. Our daughter went to law school at Vandy and we went on basically a day trip with her to Makers Mark. I’d like to do some of the others.

We have a friend whose family owned a bourbon house. They were hard hit by Prohibition and became just farmers  - my friend became a surgeon. Anyway, the husband of a cousin revived the brand, keeping the name which was the family’s last name, and put a picture of my friends father on the label, which to me is remarkable - about as close as I get to fame!

Would enjoy seeing more of the Bourbon Trail. Not bourbon, but Jack Daniels is an interesting side trip too.

Jack Daniels is very interesting and also nice grounds.  

 

The bourbon industry really struggled for many years.   They were considered the lowest  form of whiskey.   It wasn’t until the mod 80 s that they were really realizing a profit. Contrary to belief the people in the industry will tell you that the best thing that happened was when the Japanese bought them out as it poured a lot of money into the companies and allowed them to upgrade their facilities and products.  it was considered  blasphemy that a foreign country would buy out a KY institution

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅
 

 

[DENIE]

We enjoy the package, and get our money's worth.  Never had any regrets! 🙂

 

[ORV]

On one cruise I had two servers and one bartender tell me that the F & B manager showed them all my picture at their morning meeting. The server at the back bar on 15 got a kick out of it as I was a regular there. 

 

It actually was after the third time that I went to Guest Relations to discuss why I was charged for drinks while I had the Premium package. The picture was to make sure that I wasn't charged for any drinks. Apparently I made an impression after the third time I went down there to straighten it out. 

[miched]

23 hours ago, ORV said:

On one cruise I had two servers and one bartender tell me that the F & B manager showed them all my picture at their morning meeting. The server at the back bar on 15 got a kick out of it as I was a regular there. 

 

It actually was after the third time that I went to Guest Relations to discuss why I was charged for drinks while I had the Premium package. The picture was to make sure that I wasn't charged for any drinks. Apparently I made an impression after the third time I went down there to straighten it out. 

The BTs are amazing on how they can recognize people, and most times remember what you usually drink and the package you have.  I go to many different bars and some of the BTs don’t bother taking my card.    I am sure that you know who gets a little more grease at the end of the cruise 

 

It could be a few months or years later on another cruise and they still recognize you.  
 

I say amazing because of all of the passengers that they have dealt with.

 

The same happens with us in Vegas.  My wife and I mostly play VP sitting at a bar.   The BTs know us by name  when they see us and it is at many casinos and we don’t live there.  
 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Edited August 31, 2020 by miched