StayFrosty

Here.

Don’t worry the refill was just out of frame.

See you there!

Day -1 After being delayed, then less delayed, then not delayed we made our way from BWI to FLL. You are used to seeing pictures form Grandeur blogs going under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Here is one going over. Don’t forget the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel along with the shipyards and naval base. We are staying at the Comfort Suites south of the airport right next to 95. I didn’t include a photo because it looks like any other recently renovated hotel. Lots of space with a big shower and no tub. There is a large pull out couch and a separate sitting area (though that last bit might be because we are on the corner). Breakfast included. We’ll see what that looks like in the morning... We ate dinner across the street at Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine. It appears to be a local chain. Food was good and the portions were big. I don’t remember what our dishes were called by but mine was a breaded flat steak with ham, mozzarella and some kind of sauce. Rice, beans and plantains were also included. My wife had a great chicken dish. The sangria was decent as well. We then waddled ourselves back to the hotel where my wife rolled her ankle a little in a pothole that was filled with water. She is fine but put some ice on it just in case. Navigator in the morning!

Update. I asked Southwest on Twitter and they said it was due to an “upline mechanical issue”. Now I see they switched planes and we are on time again.

It’s vacation day! And you know what that means? It means everything is going off the rails. My daughter, who will be staying with the inlaws, might be coming down with a cold and I wake up to find that my 5pm flight to FLL is delayed by two hours. Not sure why, the incoming flight is still listed as coming in on time. Maybe they are shuffling airplanes. Who knows, but now we are not getting in until 10:30pm. Not thrilled, but that’s why we fly down the day before, right? Question: knowing that my flight is delay by two hours, do you think I am safe delaying my departure to the airport as well?

I will be there on Wednesday. I plan on doing fully documenting any changes due to the start of construction. Keep an eye on my live-ish blog .

I know it’s apples to oranges but Celebrity Equinox just came out of dry dock and they upgraded from magnetic stripe to RFID.

If there is only one US style outlet and one Euro style outlet. Just plug the usb charger into the us outlet and then use an adapter to plug into the camera charger into the Euro style outlet. Make sure that on whatever device you plug into the Euro outlet check the small print on the charger. Where it says input, the high number should read 220 or 240. If it is lower than that it will only work in the us style outlet.

Just get a cheap European adapter and use that for one of them. Here is a really cheap one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C5TG278/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Q7acDbJYNAS6R

I will definitely try to make it. I have brought a performing group on a cruise before and it’s hard to get other cruisers to attend these performances. Talk it up with everyone you meet and make sure RCL puts it in the Cruise Compass (with the correct times, we’ve had problems with this in the past), and even better, try to get them to make some announcements. Try to get the ear of the cruise director, they could likely help with that promotion.

One week to go!!!!! Here is a little update. Booked a massage for my wife while I am off at the flight simulator, but mainly I am trying to finish all of the stuff around the house that needs done before we leave. We have an uncovered exterior stair well in the rear of our house. We have a toddler, so we’re are constantly worried she will fall down those stairs. My in-laws are staying with her and my two collies while we are on the cruise. I didn’t want them to have to worry about it so I got it fenced in. Sounds good right? Wrong, my younger collie is afraid of the gate and will no longer go down the stairs... Oh well, cruise in a week!

It seems that many people find their way to this message board via google and not by way of the main website/blog and the excellent information that is found there. Here are some links to some of the many articles aimed at first time cruisers on this site. They all recommend using a travel agent along with a bunch of other tips and insights. Best of luck. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/01/03/first-time-cruisers-what-know-booking-royal-caribbean-cruise https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/06/15/why-first-time-cruisers-should-use-royal-caribbean-travel-agent https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/10/30/8-cruise-tips-first-time-royal-caribbean-cruisers https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/07/17/first-time-cruisers-ten-mistakes-avoid https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/02/28/first-time-cruisers-what-you-need-know-about-taking-royal-caribbean-cruise

Where did the ship dock in Marseilles?

I have stayed in a number of hotels in that immediate vicinity. The area is nice. Good views, pathways along the river, and nearby shopping for stuff you forgot. Two blocks north is the PATH train to manhattan. It will take you directly to Harold Square (Macy’s) in Midtown. (You can also take a train or a series of trains, depending on the time of day, to the WTC downtown). We like to see a show in Time Square then walk 10-15 minutes to the PATH station at Harold’s Square then back to the hotel.