deep1

You're lucky to even see an ice sculpture or a sculptured watermelon anymore.

I think those days are gone.  They are only left in old re-runs of "The Love Boat"

I admittedly miss the midnight gala or the midnight buffets from the "old days"   But I also remember during the "old days" the regular buffet wasnt nearly so expansive as they are today.  I seem to recall the usual fresh fruit and salad, but the entree selections were incredibly limited while now  the entree selections are so vast I couldnt possibly dream of anything else.
 
Not to mention, if I'm really feeling noshy at midnight, I can call up room service and make my own midnight buffet!  It just wont have carved fruit or ice sculptures.
 
Maybe the lack of midnight buffet can be chalked up to food waste.  Buffets can really waste a LOT of food. And having not just your standard breakfast lunch and dinner buffets, but also a separate midnight buffet?  Yah that's a lot of wasted food.  Though something at midnight would be nice.  Even if it takes one of the premium lines doing it, that might bring back midnight food.  There's also the staffing needed for a midnight food offering even if its just for setup and takedown.  Not to mention, most ships today dwarf the ships of yesteryear.  While midnight buffets used to be able to serve a ship full of 2500 passengers on larger ships, can you imagine a fully loaded Oasis having a midnight buffet?  Sounds great on paper but trying to coordinate 6k people blasting into one area at midnight is bound to disappoint people in terms of lines.  

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

An interesting side note....just popped into my head lol. Sea water is 36,000 ppm salt. (I used to test ship's water, oil,  fuel and that's one of the few things I remember). Carry on....

sounds like you found the perfect way to vacation.    Regardless of the circumstances, more people need to take your attitude to "stop and smell the ocean".   While my wife and I have always been landlocked in our professions, we truly find solace in the sea.   Plus it's just fun as hell!

I was in the Navy too and my Navy friends laugh about how much I love to be on a cruise ship especially as I didn't love being underway for my job.  The only thing I really miss on cruises is seeing the stars.  There's too much light really see the stars.  

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I hopes so... Last time I opened a screw top wine bottle I'm pretty sure I could see vapor trails like the cartoons emanating from it... ?

I hopes so... Last time I opened a screw top wine bottle I'm pretty sure I could see vapor trails like the cartoons emanating from it... ?

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I can relate. I'd never seen the ocean until I joined the Navy....saw ALL the oceans! Around the world cruise on a brand new warship, we were underway 95% of the time while I was on board. I thought I'd never want to float on salt water again. Wrong. It gets in your blood. Being landlocked I longed for the coast, see the ships, tugs. seagulls, smell the aroma of the sea, tell sea stories. I realized every now and then I need to get back to sea....always will. I understand fully what you are saying.

Grew up on boats down here in south Louisiana. Duck hunting, fishing, crabbing, trapping, crawfishing, water skiing, etc.
Still feel the best when on a cruise ship. Nothing else comes close.

I hope your depression abates and you come around to your senses?

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

I'm a big game fishing boat captain by trade... roughly 5000 days at sea (wish I could turn them into rewards points).  Most sane people do something as far away from their livelihood as they can find when taking a little vacation time. I do enjoy a trip to the woods now and then but nothing flips my pancakes like a cruise. I started with the Sea Escape one day things and slowly graduated to some older classic ships like Britanis and Oceana.  I remember seeing Majesty for the first time and thinking "what a monster"!. How does it float? I dreamt of one day going on a realllllyyyy big boat.  I did family on Westerdam and couldn't help having "RCCL" envy... I sailed Sovereign, Legend and yes even Majesty amongst others...  Its like gold fever... Doing Independence this go around and already feel the burn to do not just Oasis class but  maybe even do a transatlantic...
I'm like a kid when I get aboard. I want to know every nook and cranny. I can't help that the instinctive captain comes out in me.  I critique in my head the dock and basin  maneuvering. I check GPS stats, check forecasts, eyeball the radars. Then I settle back. "Here I am on a floating city. Somebody else is driving. I don't have to rig baits, cut fish or wax the hull. Time for more running around and getting familiar. The pools, the endless food options, the glitz and glamour. In the casino I feel like saying "Bond, James Bond".   Music and shows and games. Endless stream  of fun "STUFF". Sleep is something I find hard to do before and during a cruise.  I can do it when I get home. I can't get enough!  Who else?
 
 

The Key might just be sold out for your sailing.
I checked my cruise planner today, because of the 30% sale, and found that the excursion that I'd booked for June had gone down $18 per person, so I was able to cancel and rebook it.  I was sort of terrified that I'd cancel it and find that it would sell out in the 2 minutes it took me to rebook it, but all went well.

I'm a carnivore... My date will no doubt tear up some bisque... ?