This Could Be Financially Dangerious If.........

[UPNYGuy]

On 8/14/2023 at 10:29 AM, Ret MP said:

Well, that puts us 6 1/2 hours away from the Port Of Galveston and 8 1/2 hours away from the Port of Canaveral.

 

DW and I live 2.5 hours from Boston, Bayonne, or the 2 NYC ports, and about 6 hours from Baltimore. We make frequent use of all of them 🤣.

[Ret MP]

On 8/14/2023 at 1:02 PM, OCSC Mike said:

 

Cheers to that... except for my electric bill last month. 😭

I hear that.  

[Ret MP]

On 8/14/2023 at 1:02 PM, OCSC Mike said:

 

Cheers to that... except for my electric bill last month. 😭

Still waiting on a vacancy, and still #1 on the waitlist.  But, when we do move in, no more utility bills and no grocery shopping except for goodies. Transportation to most desired activities (casino(s), shopping at civilian stores and at the Air Force and Navy PX and commissary(ies), medical appointments, and various other big-time activities like NASCAR races, NOLA celebrations, and so on.  Very little need for a car except for travel.  

 

All of that and I'm conveniently located between many great cruise ports.  However, Galveston will be my port of choice/home port if I return to cruising after my next cruise, January 2024, Harmony out of Galveston.  I can't wait to experience the new terminal even if it is to walk into the Star Class entrance, quickly through the Star Class lounge, and then on to the gangway.  Should be about a 10 or 15 minute experience of the terminal.  

[Ret MP]

Well, I sure hope that we are moved in (still #1 on the wait list) before this wonderful cruise promises to be, the drive to the port will be much shorter.  Final payment date is quickly approaching and as I like it, no excursions booked, yet.  My wife will probably see to it that we get in at least one.  She wants to visit the chocolate factory, but it is booked up, LOL, I love it.  However, I wouldn't mind seeing a sloth, though.  No big deal if I don't.

[lovesthebeach2]

On 8/14/2023 at 10:36 AM, DigiPro said:

What a great problem to have!  I’m very close to Tampa and Port Canaveral, so spoiled being that close!  Good luck on getting into the retirement home.  

 

On 8/14/2023 at 10:53 AM, OCSC Mike said:

 

Very spoiled indeed. I wish that stupid bridge in Tampa didn't prevent Voyager class and above from sailing out of there. I'm just not a fan of anything smaller. 1st world problem, of course. I'll continue to appreciate my hour drive to PC.

We’re also right between both Pt Canaveral and Tampa ports.  We really like cruising from Tampa because it’s more laidback and not as crowded and easier for us to get to traffic wise….but I totally agree about the bridge being too low. BUT we do love Radiance class ships, just not the limited itineraries mostly to western Caribbean. How fortunate for us that these issues are such little things some people would love to have,😁

[lovesthebeach2]

On 8/14/2023 at 10:29 AM, Ret MP said:

We have applied for and been accepted for residency into the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS.  We are #1 on the waitlist for a couple's apartment.  What does that have to do with Royal Caribbean?  Well, that puts us 6 1/2 hours away from the Port Of Galveston and 8 1/2 hours away from the Port of Canaveral, and an easy peasy road system to get to both.  So, if Royal Caribbean comes to its senses and makes its cruise fares reasonable again, we'll be cruising frequently again.  BUT, we have double trouble, being almost in the middle of two cruise ports AND being in the middle of several casinos in the Gulfport/Biloxi area.  Man, I'm in trouble.  

 

Just in case you are wondering, NO, I wouldn't consider cruising out of New Orleans or Tampa.  It would be perfect if RCCL started cruising Quantum and/or Oasis class ships out of Mobile, though.  But, I know that ain't gonna happen.

 

 

Congratulations! 

[barbeyg]

You will love the area, and the people.  Of course, I'm biased because I was raised in Biloxi, and worked right down the beach from the old retirement complex in Gulfport when Katrina hit.   There are several very enjoyable festivals in the area.  There are always seafood festivals, including the Blessing of the Fleet in Biloxi.   If you love old cars, wait till you experience your first Cruising the Coast, when people from all over come down and cruise between locations across the coast from Biloxi to Bay St Louis.  We always enjoyed taking lawn chairs and an ice chest and parking on the service drive in Pass Christian to watch them drive by.  Also, Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Springs is not to be missed either.  We live in TN, call it home now, but will be travelling down next year after retirement for our niece's wedding, and will go early enough in November to do the Peter Anderson festival.  

 

Hope you get a placement soon.  Welcome to the Gulf Coast, where the food is awesome (proximity to NOLA doesn't hurt), the people friendly. 🙂

[Ocean Boy]

On 8/14/2023 at 1:33 PM, Another_Critic said:

I haven't sailed Freedom class yet (will next month), but I actually prefer Voyager class (sailed 2x)  over Quantum class (sailed 8x).  I've only sailed Oasis class 1x, but it was at the restart, and only 50-60% full.

If you prefer V class then you will also love the F class. They are stretched versions of Voyager class.

[Ocean Boy]

On 9/4/2023 at 9:07 PM, UPNYGuy said:

 

DW and I live 2.5 hours from Boston, Bayonne, or the 2 NYC ports, and about 6 hours from Baltimore. We make frequent use of all of them 🤣.

I have only used NYC once and neither of the other two.

[Ocean Boy]

@Ret MPI want to thank you for this thread and making be realize how fortunate I am to have to fly to cruise.😉😁

[Another_Critic]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

If you prefer V class then you will also love the F class. They are stretched versions of Voyager class.

Yes, I knew that F class was stretched V class.  While Liberty was close to Adventure, there was some venue location and configuration differences, but she was familiar.

[George C]

13 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Yes, I knew that F class was stretched V class.  While Liberty was close to Adventure, there was some venue location and configuration differences, but she was familiar.

I love all ships that have ice shows ,love voyager and freedom class , one advantage on freedom is a broadway play (I know at least two have a play)

[Ret MP]

4 hours ago, barbeyg said:

You will love the area, and the people.  Of course, I'm biased because I was raised in Biloxi, and worked right down the beach from the old retirement complex in Gulfport when Katrina hit.   There are several very enjoyable festivals in the area.  There are always seafood festivals, including the Blessing of the Fleet in Biloxi.   If you love old cars, wait till you experience your first Cruising the Coast, when people from all over come down and cruise between locations across the coast from Biloxi to Bay St Louis.  We always enjoyed taking lawn chairs and an ice chest and parking on the service drive in Pass Christian to watch them drive by.  Also, Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Springs is not to be missed either.  We live in TN, call it home now, but will be travelling down next year after retirement for our niece's wedding, and will go early enough in November to do the Peter Anderson festival.  

 

Hope you get a placement soon.  Welcome to the Gulf Coast, where the food is awesome (proximity to NOLA doesn't hurt), the people friendly. 🙂

Thank you very much, great info.  Maybe we can meet somewhere when you are down that way, and of course, we are actually living there by then.  I'd be honored to buy you an adult beverage or Iced Tea (sweetened of course).  

[Ret MP]

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

@Ret MPI want to thank you for this thread and making be realize how fortunate I am to have to fly to cruise.😉😁

It's a curse, for sure, a financial curse.  One I'm willing to take my chances with LOL.  

[barbeyg]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

Thank you very much, great info.  Maybe we can meet somewhere when you are down that way, and of course, we are actually living there by then.  I'd be honored to buy you an adult beverage or Iced Tea (sweetened of course).  

We would enjoy meeting up with you there!  🙂  And if you have any questions about the area, I would  be very happy to answer them.  Just tag me here, and I will get the notification.   We lived on the MS Gulf coast for our first 45 years before relocating to east TN, but have travelled back home regularly to visit family. 

 

Really looking forward to longer stays down there after retirement.  When you get moved, two communities that are very enjoyable for great food, eclectic stores, and enjoyable music are Bay St Louis and Ocean Springs.  We usually stay in Ocean Springs, because we love the quaint little town.  Living in Gulfport near the Biloxi line puts you right in the middle of everything, and easy access to it all.  

 

If you like to walk for exercise, besides the campus where you will be living, we can highly recommend driving down to the service road (parallels Hwy 90, just elevated) in Pass Christian for a nice walk in the shade of the big live oaks to downtown Pass.  Great walk with beautiful old homes to enjoy.  Nice sidewalks, and great food once you get to the downtown area.  A couple of our favorite restaurants are there as well.  🙂 

[ReneeFLL]

 

On 9/5/2023 at 1:56 AM, Ret MP said:

Still waiting on a vacancy, and still #1 on the waitlist.  But, when we do move in, no more utility bills and no grocery shopping except for goodies. Transportation to most desired activities (casino(s), shopping at civilian stores and at the Air Force and Navy PX and commissary(ies), medical appointments, and various other big-time activities like NASCAR races, NOLA celebrations, and so on.  Very little need for a car except for travel.  

 

All of that and I'm conveniently located between many great cruise ports.  However, Galveston will be my port of choice/home port if I return to cruising after my next cruise, January 2024, Harmony out of Galveston.  I can't wait to experience the new terminal even if it is to walk into the Star Class entrance, quickly through the Star Class lounge, and then on to the gangway.  Should be about a 10 or 15 minute experience of the terminal.  

Have you toured the rooms? I was curious about the place so I googled, but Mike wouldn’t qualify anyway since he’s an officer. The rooms are very small and no kitchen. They are like dorm rooms. The single rooms are about the size of a grand suite. I don’t know about the couples rooms, but I would hope they are a lot bigger. The rest of the amenities sound nice.

[Ret MP]

3 hours ago, barbeyg said:

We would enjoy meeting up with you there!  🙂  And if you have any questions about the area, I would  be very happy to answer them.  Just tag me here, and I will get the notification.   We lived on the MS Gulf coast for our first 45 years before relocating to east TN, but have travelled back home regularly to visit family. 

 

Really looking forward to longer stays down there after retirement.  When you get moved, two communities that are very enjoyable for great food, eclectic stores, and enjoyable music are Bay St Louis and Ocean Springs.  We usually stay in Ocean Springs, because we love the quaint little town.  Living in Gulfport near the Biloxi line puts you right in the middle of everything, and easy access to it all.  

 

If you like to walk for exercise, besides the campus where you will be living, we can highly recommend driving down to the service road (parallels Hwy 90, just elevated) in Pass Christian for a nice walk in the shade of the big live oaks to downtown Pass.  Great walk with beautiful old homes to enjoy.  Nice sidewalks, and great food once you get to the downtown area.  A couple of our favorite restaurants are there as well.  🙂 

Just got back from my daily 3.6 mile walk with one of the Danes (my daughter's.  Had to put one down the day before yesterday).  Love to walk, but I'd prefer to run, which I do about 3/4 of a mile of that 3.6, just getting too old and fat.  

 

Thanks, I'll definitely keep you in mind when we finally get to moving there and looking for some good ole down home information.  The Armed Forces Retirement Home (afrh.gov/gulfport) has a pedestrian bridge from the property across the highway (US-90) to the beach.  Ya, I'm not much in to walking the same old path every day.  I'll walk the beach sidewalk this way today, that way tomorrow, and another way after that, ..............  

 

Thanks again!

[Ret MP]

3 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

 

Have you toured the rooms? I was curious about the place so I googled, but Mike wouldn’t qualify anyway since he’s an officer. The rooms are very small and no kitchen. They are like dorm rooms. The single rooms are about the size of a grand suite. I don’t know about the couples rooms, but I would hope they are a lot bigger. The rest of the amenities sound nice.

Yep, we toured the rooms and everything else.  The single rooms are 450 SF and the couples are 500 SG.  Yes, they are small but laid out very nicely, with tall ceilings, large windows, and a glass door to the balcony, a lot like a cruise balcony room door.  There is a kitchen sink, a place for a refrigerator and microwave, and a kitchen table with 2 chairs.  Not allowed to cook in the rooms/apartments so no need for a stove.  They provide 3 meals a day and the meal we had was great (stuffed peppers for me and fried shrimp for my wife).  You can have a toaster and Microwave, though.  AFRH.GOV/GULFPORT has a great tour/video of the place, it's no B.S., it's as we saw it.  The residents asked if we, and they didn't know us one bit, were thinking of moving in and we said yes.  Almost all said that we should be ready to be spoiled and others said it was like living on a luxury cruise ship.  

 

Small, no doubt.  But, large in amenities and savings.  

[Ret MP]

On 8/14/2023 at 1:28 PM, Another_Critic said:

I'd sail on any ship (promenade or centrum) if there was a good deal.

My wife is like that, "A good deal is a good deal", is her motto.  Me, not so much.  I'm one of those who thinks that "if a little is good, a lot is better".  Bigger is better as far as ships are concerned, in my opinion.

[Ocean Boy]

On 9/21/2023 at 7:35 AM, Ret MP said:

My wife is like that, "A good deal is a good deal", is her motto.  Me, not so much.  I'm one of those who thinks that "if a little is good, a lot is better".  Bigger is better as far as ships are concerned, in my opinion.

I feel about the same. A good deal for a ship I don't really want to be on is no deal at all for me.

[kruzerci]

That’s hardly close. Lol…

 

 

We are 5 minutes from Tampa’s terminal, 1.5-2 hours from Port Canaveral and 3.5 from FLL/Miami and usually opt to fly to South Florida 😏.

[Ret MP]

22 hours ago, kruzerci said:

That’s hardly close. Lol…

 

 

We are 5 minutes from Tampa’s terminal, 1.5-2 hours from Port Canaveral and 3.5 from FLL/Miami and usually opt to fly to South Florida 😏.

LOL, I hear ya,

 

However, being prior Law Enforcement, Truck Driver, and military, long-distance driving is not a big deal for me.  A 10-hour haul is like a walk in the park.  

[renza]

Yes I know how it goes. We live 2 hours from port canaveral, 45 min from port Everglades and an hour to Miami. We cruise a lot and are fortunate our son works at Royal so we get lots of free to near free cruises. 

[wayne_trisha]

On 8/14/2023 at 11:21 AM, OCSC Mike said:

 

While we prefer Oasis class (never did Quantum), we went back on Indy for the first time in a while last year and had a good time. I missed a couple things from Oasis class but I'd sail any ship with a promenade if there was a good deal.

Yep! 25 minutes to Port Canaveral. We keep to ourselves, not really beach people, but not really a fan of the smaller ships. Also would cruise on any ship currently ported at PC except Marella Discovery. Saw Vision OTS in port this past week and damn it is tiny. Not a class for me. But did quite a few Monarch/Sovereign OTS cruise. I think it comes down to cruise length/ship size. Longer the ctusie the bigger the ship I want. Allure coming back next month for Baham runs. Excited!

[OCSC Mike]

23 minutes ago, wayne_trisha said:

Allure coming back next month for Baham runs. Excited!

 

I actually have Allure's 1st cruise out of PC on hold... just because there were some good prices last week and it sort of fits my wife's schedule. Waiting for her to decide; she has until Tuesday.