IRMO12HD

On to food -- with just over two weeks before I board Navigator, I am looking forward to . . .
Salads, salads, salads!  Yum!  My go-to lunch in Windjammer.  Load up with the dark green leafy veggies, add in some protein and some fiber (AKA chicken and chickpeas), a few carbs and then top it off with oil and vinegar.  AND . . . I don’t have to clean, chop, or wash anything.  Life is good. Food, glorious food! 
I purchased one Specialty Dining (Izumi) and have a plan for what I know I will want to sample in the MDR.  Izumi is going to be the first night, but I also love the Maryland Crab Cakes (yes, I know it's not real crabmeat in there!), so I'll plan on visiting my MDR table just long enough to order JUST the appetizer :-).  Then I'll head on up (over?) to Izumi for my main meal.  
That’s it – that’s my meal planning!  After Night 1, the world is my escargot – or something like that.  I’m looking forward to sampling more of the Indian dishes, which is a cuisine that I don’t have much experience with.  I may – just may – have to find someone to share a stack of Playmakers onion rings with, and I’m seriously considering trying an adult milkshake from Johnny Rockets. Any suggestions?
 
 

Double Reds is two ways but using just 1 access port.  Basically, you give a pint, the pint gets process to remove the red blood cells, and return everything else to your body.  Repeat.  What is interesting about the process is you will get a metallic taste in the back of your throat.  They will give your Tums to combat the taste.  It takes about twice the time of normal donation (~15-20 minutes).  I can only do it every 16 weeks (twice as long as a normal donation). 

With three (3) days to go (really 2 days and a wake-up!), I have finished:
1. packing (had to wait and see if my team (Go Zags!) made it to the Sweet 16 (they did, for the 8th straight year), so I could add all of my Gonzaga gear to my suitcase (didn't want to jinx them)
2.  checking in for my first flight (it's never direct from Eastern Washington to anywhere -- except Seattle, Denver, SLC or Vegas)
3.  eating up all of the leftovers in the refrigerator that I know my better half won't touch
4. finishing up the chores (well, most of them) that I wanted to get done before I left.
 
On to planning my first day on the ship:
1. Figure out where my table is in the MDR
2.  Checking with Shore Excursions about my preference for a single kayak in Ensenada
3. Signing up for reservations on the app for the Ice Show
4. Locating and consuming my first Diamond drink of the day :-).  Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it will be (or should be)?

With three (3) days to go (really 2 days and a wake-up!), I have finished:
1. packing (had to wait and see if my team (Go Zags!) made it to the Sweet 16 (they did, for the 8th straight year), so I could add all of my Gonzaga gear to my suitcase (didn't want to jinx them)
2.  checking in for my first flight (it's never direct from Eastern Washington to anywhere -- except Seattle, Denver, SLC or Vegas)
3.  eating up all of the leftovers in the refrigerator that I know my better half won't touch
4. finishing up the chores (well, most of them) that I wanted to get done before I left.
 
On to planning my first day on the ship:
1. Figure out where my table is in the MDR
2.  Checking with Shore Excursions about my preference for a single kayak in Ensenada
3. Signing up for reservations on the app for the Ice Show
4. Locating and consuming my first Diamond drink of the day :-).  Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it will be (or should be)?

Thanks for being a donor, @FireFishII!  I, too, hope you never need my donations, but I'm honored to be able to donate.  I find platelet donation to be much easier to tolerate than whole blood ever was; sitting in a reclining chair for 2 hours watching TV/Netflix, and getting almost all of my fluids back really helps.  Is the Double Reds a one way (as in just blood out) donation?

With three (3) days to go (really 2 days and a wake-up!), I have finished:
1. packing (had to wait and see if my team (Go Zags!) made it to the Sweet 16 (they did, for the 8th straight year), so I could add all of my Gonzaga gear to my suitcase (didn't want to jinx them)
2.  checking in for my first flight (it's never direct from Eastern Washington to anywhere -- except Seattle, Denver, SLC or Vegas)
3.  eating up all of the leftovers in the refrigerator that I know my better half won't touch
4. finishing up the chores (well, most of them) that I wanted to get done before I left.
 
On to planning my first day on the ship:
1. Figure out where my table is in the MDR
2.  Checking with Shore Excursions about my preference for a single kayak in Ensenada
3. Signing up for reservations on the app for the Ice Show
4. Locating and consuming my first Diamond drink of the day :-).  Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it will be (or should be)?

With three (3) days to go (really 2 days and a wake-up!), I have finished:
1. packing (had to wait and see if my team (Go Zags!) made it to the Sweet 16 (they did, for the 8th straight year), so I could add all of my Gonzaga gear to my suitcase (didn't want to jinx them)
2.  checking in for my first flight (it's never direct from Eastern Washington to anywhere -- except Seattle, Denver, SLC or Vegas)
3.  eating up all of the leftovers in the refrigerator that I know my better half won't touch
4. finishing up the chores (well, most of them) that I wanted to get done before I left.
 
On to planning my first day on the ship:
1. Figure out where my table is in the MDR
2.  Checking with Shore Excursions about my preference for a single kayak in Ensenada
3. Signing up for reservations on the app for the Ice Show
4. Locating and consuming my first Diamond drink of the day :-).  Anyone want to hazard a guess as to what it will be (or should be)?

Back to being home Genie now. Laundry is done, the Costco run has been made, and need to think of something to eat for dinner. Ending this off for now with a few pictures that D14 took. She thought it would go well with this blog. Harmony is a great ship still. It's well kept and in great shape. Thank you all for following, it's fun to be able to share. Until next time...
📸D14
Somewhere out at sea....

From the beach in St. Maarten

Docked in St. Thomas next to little Vision of the Seas

Thrill Waterpark, Perfect Day CocoCay

Just take me back....

What a beautiful carousel.  I have visited the antique carousel (1917) that is located at Put-In-Bay, Ohio.  It still has 12 of the original 36 horses.  My kids loved it.
I tried to be an ARC Platelet donor but I have TRALI and was rejected.  🙁  So, I can only donate whole blood or double reds. Thank you for being a platelet donor.  I hope I never need your donations.  😀

It's the Ides of March today, and only 7 days left until we set sail!  I'm finishing up a bunch of appointments this week, including one on Saint Paddy's Day for platelet donation.  It's something I do about every two weeks, and it means a lot to me.  I'll be bringing/wearing several of my ARC Platelet Donor shirts (and hats) on this cruise, hoping to raise awareness of it.  I spent this morning helping with the annual spring cleaning of our local pride and joy - an antique carousel. Here's a picture of it, with my two tasks represented in the cleaning of the railing around the carousel, and the application of wood preservative/protectant applied to the "platter."  
I've decided to go the carry on route -- although I'll probably check my suitcase to go on the ship so I don't have to lug it around.  Next step (probably tomorrow) -- clothing layout time so I know what goes where.  

It's the Ides of March today, and only 7 days left until we set sail!  I'm finishing up a bunch of appointments this week, including one on Saint Paddy's Day for platelet donation.  It's something I do about every two weeks, and it means a lot to me.  I'll be bringing/wearing several of my ARC Platelet Donor shirts (and hats) on this cruise, hoping to raise awareness of it.  I spent this morning helping with the annual spring cleaning of our local pride and joy - an antique carousel. Here's a picture of it, with my two tasks represented in the cleaning of the railing around the carousel, and the application of wood preservative/protectant applied to the "platter."  
I've decided to go the carry on route -- although I'll probably check my suitcase to go on the ship so I don't have to lug it around.  Next step (probably tomorrow) -- clothing layout time so I know what goes where.  

It's the Ides of March today, and only 7 days left until we set sail!  I'm finishing up a bunch of appointments this week, including one on Saint Paddy's Day for platelet donation.  It's something I do about every two weeks, and it means a lot to me.  I'll be bringing/wearing several of my ARC Platelet Donor shirts (and hats) on this cruise, hoping to raise awareness of it.  I spent this morning helping with the annual spring cleaning of our local pride and joy - an antique carousel. Here's a picture of it, with my two tasks represented in the cleaning of the railing around the carousel, and the application of wood preservative/protectant applied to the "platter."  
I've decided to go the carry on route -- although I'll probably check my suitcase to go on the ship so I don't have to lug it around.  Next step (probably tomorrow) -- clothing layout time so I know what goes where.  

Kids ducked out of dinner early and found the Stowaway Piano Player, except he wasn’t “stowed away” tonight. 
📸 D14: She said she took the pic for me cause she knew I would want it for the blog ❤️
 

I only take on a carryon. When I get off the plane, I am ready for my cruise ship.

A month of pre planning with ampurp? AND a cruise?! Woohoo!

Day 34..........
Yesterday I had $100OBC for my Premier Pass troubles.............well I had it for about a good hour🤣. Today I have $50 OBC and that is still good. I won't be drinking delicious champagne or lunching with officers but that's enough for a lunch at JR and dinner/snacks at Playmakers.
Any how current plans
Freedom of the Seas sails from Miami and goes to:
PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY NASSAU, BAHAMAS Room #3555, Midship
Incoming Flight SWA from MDW to FLL 5am on day of embarkation.
Departing Flight UA from MIA to FLL 12:58 on day of disembarkation.
I hate MIA airport: its filthy, weird, and old. Flights to MIA were double the cost of flying into FLL, so even with the added Lyft cost, I am still saving. I only paid taxes, fees, and gratuity for this sailing which was a whopping $182.30. There was no way I was going to spending $536 for plane tickets. I originally said I wasn't going to fly SWA again because I hate how they board. But I had a hard time finding direct flight for Sunday the 16th after 7pm, when my workday ends, but was able to score a "business select" ticket for $113 on the first flight out on the 17th. The return ticket for a Friday departure was high all around but I was able to book United for $192.50 with priority boarding. Bringing the total cost for this cruise to $487.80, for reference the cost of an interior room is...........
 
 
I am booked in Interior room 3555, which is walking distance from all my plans for this cruise vacation. Most of my cruising adventures and vacations in general have been solo. My brother has committed to 3 cruises a year with me, I am sure the annual family cruise is included in this total, but I am grateful for this. That being said I have decided to be smart about this. I love to gamble but not enough to make it to signature. That basically means that anything over the initial 2500pts.........is just gambling. I thought it would be great to get another seapass card for my brother and gamble under him so he could be prime and then I can combine our offers. That being said I plan to only be in the casino for this cruise making prime for 2024, so that I can only be in the casino on Allure in Oct and make prime for my brother. I had seen a lady do this when I was on Navigator so she and her husband could consistently cruise in free/discounted rooms. I also plan to earn another free room certificate because my Sept has opened up. 

I am only taking a carry-on, which will be packed fairly quickly as my cruise clothes are mostly wrinkle free, and a backpack. I have no plans to give my small carry-on to the porters because bags can now be delivered as late as 7pm. I also have read that rooms are now being advised to be open after 2pm and cabin service is once a day. Since I am an ice girl, I will opt for evening service. All the suites are sold out for this sailing, and I have not gotten the option to RoyalUp. Doesn't matter though I am happy to be on a ship and look forward to the amazing time I will have. 

I'll be sure to post pictures of the menu and of my choices 🙂

35 Days............
I didn't think I was going to cruising so soon but lots of changes and developments. I was hoping that eventually, just maybe a casino comp would come my way and I might be able to meet some of the blog members. I kept getting nothing but $100 off offers and I was like I won't be at sea until hurricane season. I had originally only one cruise schedule for this year with my family in Oct on Allure. But at least I/we had a bunch of land-based vacations on the docket. All but one has been scrapped. Lots of cost increases with minimal offerings. I was scheduled to go to Vegas Easter Sunday, but everyone who was going cancelled. One of the vintages lost her niece in February, that she raised since a baby, and then had issues with a tenant; she is scheduled for court on April 10th. Two of the other people just got new contracts and no longer have the vacation time. Then the owner of the RV we wanted to rent tried to pull a fast one and almost double the rental cost. I was like ........shakes fist at universe...........you don't want me to live my best life in 2023.
On the day this all happened, I checked my Prime offers and couldn't believe I had a free offer. I actually have not had one since last year around April. The offer was for mostly Alaskan sailings starting in May, but I saw a sweet 4N on Freedom that worked with my schedule and jumped on it. The rep said they only had two rooms left and I took a midship interior. As it happened, I booked this sailing right when check-in opened and was able to snag an 11am, which was the first check-in time. I also should note that before I called I had to do a bunch of research..........while actually working. I started a new schedule in February. It is a bit of a mess. I am primarily remote, with the exceptions of 2 days a month at a hybrid office for meetings but I work Saturday to Wednesday now. I needed to check flights and see what was feasible, thankfully April's office hours were the Tues after Easter, so I could get my regular work done on the ship.
I decided to try a bunch of different things on this sailing that I wouldn't normally do. First, I was supposed to be D+ after my Grandeur sailing in Jan. But my brother joined me, so I was short 4 points. It did burn me a little, I wanted to start my Oct family sailing with all those sweet D+ perks........even though nobody else will have any🤣. That being said I will make D+ after this cruise as I am sailing solo. Rare for me, given my experience on Grandeur in the MDR with the new menu, I have decided not to get any dining packages. I vacillated, hard. Compounded by the fact that I have 8pm traditional dining, which means I will be sat with strangers each night. I have also decided against any sort of drink package. I always get the soda package but it's $11.80/day with grats and I can't justify almost $50 in soda for 4 days when I will mostly be in the casino. Plus, I have yet to use my 4 diamond drinks to the fullest. Lastly, I will not be purchasing internet ahead of time, I will use my free day and then my 30% off prime for the remainder of the cruise. It comes out way cheaper as now its 25% off with the "sale." I also had purchased a Premier Pass for this cruise and received the $100 OBC for the confusion. So the plan is to use that at Playmakers, JR and possibly room service. 
I will update more .........Also yaaaaaaaaaaay for the Premier Pass fiasco OBC. 
 

I'll be sure to post pictures of the menu and of my choices 🙂

…i’m sorry, how did i NOT know about the adult milkshakes at johnny rockets?!?!
im going to need a ~moMENT. 
(ps i do not know this man 😂)
all of that aside though, this sounds like a fantastic trip!! will be following along 💚 the virtual balcony always intrigued me…

We are also trying carry on only.  We actually have “test-packed” once, adjusted and test-packed again.  We are going to “final pack” this weekend.   It’s a challenge as I am large so my clothes occupy more space than typical.  We shall see how it goes!

Good points!  I do believe I am tending toward the carry-on only.  And . . . I don't really need the wine!  Many times, if I'm staying in an AirBnB, I bring my host a bottle of Washington wine -- but am "hoteling" it this time.  Thanks for your suggestions 🙂

Start with the carry-on only and switched to the checked bag only if you have too. As far as the wine - try a new wine.  You may be surprised.  OR could you ask your Lyft/Uber driver to stop by a liquor store if you give them a nice tip?  If you don't ask, the answer is always NO.

Nineteen days, 12 hours and 30+- minutes until I board Navigator.  Time for a little cruise planning, I think, now that I’ve figured out how I’m getting to California.  
As I mentioned, I’m in a Virtual Balcony, on an upper deck, near the bow of the ship.  Can’t wait to see the screen and find out if it’s the same camera feed as last time (starboard midships, kind of high up).  That’s Activity #2.  Activity #1 is seeing where I’m sitting in the MDR.  I honestly don’t mind sitting with others as a solo, so will do a recon more out of curiosity than out of planning.
Our itinerary for this 5-night cruise is:
Day 1: Embark from San Pedro World Cruise Terminal
Day 2:  “At Sea” on our way to Cabo San Lucas
Day 3:  Arrive at Cabo at about noon; I believe we’ll be the only ship in port (yippee!), so hopefully tenders won’t be much of an issue.  I’m actually rendezvousing (wow, I didn’t think that would be an actual word) with my daughter and several of her friends as they’ll be in Cabo on a land-based vacation.  She had wanted to go whale watching, but they won’t have a car so I haven’t quite figured that out yet, since our “all aboard” will probably be around 6:30 p.m. or so.  Maybe I’ll just go hang out at their resort.  When she and I were in Cabo previously on a Mother-Daughter trip, we took the “Luxury Sailing and Snorkeling Tour” through the resort, and really enjoyed it, so have seen the Arch, Pelican Rock, Chileno beach, etc.  Key word today: flexibility
Day 4: “At Sea” on our way to Ensenada
Day 5:  Ensenada.  Here I’ve booked the RCL tour “Kayak Tour at La Bufadora.”  I love kayaking (I have my own little 10’ kayak that I use on local rivers and lakes), but have never been on the ocean in one, so I’m really looking forward to this (as long as I can have a single kayak – gotta check in with the Shore Excursions folks as soon as I board, so make THAT Activity #1!)
Day 6:  Day of gloom and despair, AKA Disembarkation
As far as meals:  oh, that’s tomorrow’s topic!  Good night, all!
 

My hypothesis has now devolved into two quests:
Hypothesis/Question 1.  (Can I) use the 50% off a glass of wine or beer (common to all C&A Members) to get 50% off a (glass?) pitcher of beer in Playmakers for a net price of $9.00.
Hyptothesis/Question 2.  (Can I) use one of my Diamond drink vouchers toward a pitcher of beer in Playmakers for an equivalent $14 off the $18 price for a net price of $4.00
So guess what!  in 9 days I'll be able to test both of my hypotheses.  I'll be sure to report back 🙂