Psycho and Barb

This may a TLDR situation, but I am going to mention it all!!!
This is a group cruise, in regard to planning it has been the group cruise from hell.
Planning for the group is always a mess because apparently nobody has any money, but they do have money, they would rather just waste/spend my money.
I communicate with everyone by an email chain. I found out that only my brother, the new vintage, and my mother's bff actually reads them. Whenever I send one, I eventually get a call from everyone else asking me to explain things. It is frustrating because now I know why there are issues. 
Last year we went on Odyssey, and it was six of us and a bit of a mess. Still fun, but a mess. While on Odyssey everyone, not me, decided they wanted to sail Allure again because that first group cruise was the best. The reason was because it was a longer vacation since we did WDW/Universal and a cruise. Allure was sailing out of Texas and everyone, not me, thought it would be great to do a road trip there and extend the vacation. It was off to Next Cruise to secure 3 aft balconies and a little bit of OBC. We got of Odyssey the week before thanksgiving, so I waited until Dec to start looking for the best way to do this road trip. My brother suggested getting a luxury RV, that way we could take the hotel stays off the docket.
We found a really nice 2020 Fleetwood Bounder that slept 8 people. I emailed the owner and asked about pricing and details. He agreed to rent it to us for 15 (two weeks or more gets a discounted day rate) days at $185/day, a $500 deposit and the cost of insurance and all the incidentals. Which would include gas, water, propane, and Wi-Fi to name a few. I put the deposit down at that price. In Jan after I came back from cruising, I emailed the guy to see about adding on 2 more days, the vintages wanted it. He stated that would be fine and then sent a doctored email that said I had agreed to $320/day and a $1000 deposit. It went from being $3,275 plus insurance to $5,800 plus insurance. 
It was literally an email that he went into the thread and changed the amounts, as if I didn't have the original email. I was shocked because that wasn't what we agreed to, and I told him that. He said he raised the prices because he was renting the RVs more and if I didn't want to pay that, he would return my deposit and rent it to someone else for $500/day. I cancelled. At this point it was too late to try to rent anything at a decent price. I wasn't too keen on doing a road trip with four vintage women anyway. But a lot of them were disappointed. They wanted to just take cars and do the road trip, which I told them to do but I wasn't going to plan it because I could no longer get the time for it off. I heard a lot and dealt with lots of mood swings and such.
My bff was very disappointed because he was amped for the road trip, and he really hates flying. So, he asked if we could catch the train or something. I looked into catching the train to Texas and........sure enough Amtrak goes. I would have preferred to fly but it was looking to be $600+ each plus the high Lyft/Uber cost from IAH. The train ride would be a full 24hrs and that seems like a lot but I asked around and everyone was excited. I was actually able to score a group rate of $150, each, round-trip on the Texas Eagle. We take the train to Longview and then a bus takes us to Galveston. The train normally leaves on time, but my brother and I are on the fence when it comes to the bus. We decided as a precaution we would rent two vehicles in Longview to complete the drive just in case we miss the bus. We would rather eat the cancellation fee, than to worry about trying to get a car the day of. Our train leaves on Friday the 13th and we are scheduled to arrive on Saturday the 14th at 2pm. The bus stop is pretty central to the port so that is a good thing. Our hotel is also not that far from the port. 
Now on to the tomfoolery of planning with vintages and wishy-washy Bffs.
I booked the rooms with a reduced deposit at NC. It was supposed to be six of us going but my mother's bff wanted her bff to come, so I put a random name on my mother's room to account for her and so they could have a 3+ room in case she did come. Nobody but my brother gave me their deposit money. They complained about the MDR the entire Odyssey sailing and regretted saying no to the UDP. They all said they wanted the UDP, internet, and some sort of beverage package for this cruise. I got the UDP during the BF sale for myself, my brother and mother. Then my mother's bff finally told me she was bringing her bff and she gave me the deposit and UDP money for them both. Right after vintage number 4 confirmed my mother informed me that she had invited a stranger along. 
Said stranger was a guy she met online a little over a decade ago. She Skypes with him and tells him all about our vacations and he always wanted to cruise. She volunteered me to book his cruise and all of the other stuff. The group went from 6 to 8. This guy is legally blind and lives in New York. I helped him pay for his room and UDP through Royal and I just linked him with all of the rest of us. My mother thought we should just let him fly to Texas and then one of us go to the airport and pick him up. I had to explain to her why that was a dumb idea. I had to explain we were taking the train. There was no telling when we would get in. So, yes, let's just leave a legally blind vintage at the airport without any assistant for who knows however long. Plus we were looking at $90+ each way in rideshare cost. They don't ever want to spend no money, but you want to tack on two rideshare cost each way? After a bit of back and forth he will fly to Chicago the night before and ride the train with us.
I let everyone know FP was in July and if I had to make FP, I was going to charge them all interest because as it was, I was on the hook for all purchases in total for 4 people. Now I talk to my Bff quite often but somehow, he waited until June to say he and his mother couldn't go. I was pissed. I asked him several times if he was sure, and he said yes. I had to call and configure the rooms. The cost of the cruise had doubled, and I didn't want to trigger a reprice, so I swapped out names, so the two of them would be on the same reservation that would cancel once I didn't make payment. I was later told that my bff was mad because they assumed I would pay for them to go and allow them to pay me later. I did this the first and second cruise/vacation and wasn't doing it again. 
I informed everyone we would now be six. I normally make FP two-weeks before it was due but decided to wait until it was a week away. This was just in case they changed their mind and sure enough I heard from them 10 days before FP. My mother speculated that they tried to book something on their own and realized all the deals I got them and called to ask if it was completely cancelled. I said no but the consequences were they would have to share a room. My bff doesn't like sharing a room with his mother......at all. They made FP and the trip was on. 
 
 

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Cruise with confidence ... Lift and Shift ... 125% FCCs ... those were the good old days.  The flexibility was nice but it sure was confusing.  I wonder what happens now if someone tests positive for Covid. 
On a recent cruise, I went down to medical with symptoms rather than do an expensive excursion.  Fortunately I tested negative for Covid.  I mentioned the excursion that I missed and they said the cost of the excursion would be refunded due to "medical reasons."   I didn't get charged for the doctor visit or the Covid test.  They said it was all "Covid related" even though I tested negative.

Same on my upcoming Symphony and Anthem cruises. It's just so they can generously offer a bigger discount during the BF sale. I'm still holding out in the probably vain hope of it dropping below $19.99. 😕

I ended up getting it for $10.99 (pp/pd) with a one person, four device package. It didn't make any sense. There was nothing advertised at that price - it was a pure glitch. I think when I bought it, the advertised was $13.99 for first and $11.99 for the additional lines but when I paid the final price and then divided the nights and 4 lines, it came out to $10.99 per line per night. 
ETA: found my receipt, added pic (this was a 7 night cruise)

 

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

As someone who doesn't buy much pre-cruise, I would love to see that.
I'm afraid this year's deals won't be that great but hopefully I'm wrong. I didn't expect the random dining sales they recently had at the end of October so who knows? 🤞

They kept that price through the Cyber Monday sale then raised it back up to $16.99.  It's currently at $17.99.

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Body wallet like this one from Amazon.  if you put no metal in it...It doesn't trip the metal detectors and you can wear it on your body through most security check points. 

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Last year for us and our two-cruises booked...Our Black Friday Sale on 21 Nov 22 showed..
1. Booze package went down from $79.99 to $74.99.
2. Internet went down from $21.99 to $13.99 (We bought for both cruises)
3. Unlimited dinning went down from $208.99 to $177.99
4. 3-night dinning stayed the same at $105.99
5 Chops single night stayed the same at $49.99.
We keep a spreadsheet and track Royal Fuzy Math

Pro tip: some parents turn the couch around so it faces the wall and add sheets. Then there are nice walls on both sides and much bigger than Pack and Play. This family also put up an extra black out curtain with magnets…

 
 
 

Plus 2 more days of free internet between the 2 of us, 2 BOGO dinners, free laundry service, a free amenity gift on each sailing...
You don't have to see value in it. I sure do!

Congratulations!!!  That's a heck of a milestone!!

Congratulations!!!  That's a heck of a milestone!!

Last week on Mariner, we were in one of the new far forward Panoramic ocean view cabins (1L) which is NOT one of the suites but just categorized as an ocean view.  I am assuming that, since we had just made Pinnacle, the room attendant brought us a paper Compass every night.  I was really surprised but very happy to get it.  As most know, I despise the app and having the paper Compass was so nice.  It'll be interesting to see if we continue to get the paper Compass on future non-Suite cruises,  I'm sure that if I ask, we could get one...it was just very nice to get one without having to ask.

Psycho just made this one 😂😂😂

We made this as a joke and thought it quite funny…Especially leaving for a quickie 😂.  We thought the original sign in the picture was ridiculous…So let’s add to the ridiculousness and only took about 20 minutes on our laser engraver.  We would never use anything like this but I guess someone out there might. 🤔🤔🤔 Maybe I should list it on my online store 😂😂😂  NOT!!!