Rags1

We each had one rolling suitcase so it was easy. Kept them all the way to the Star Class banner. And @Lovetocruise2002 your’e right, the waiter didn’t sit down to chat because of me!? But the Chef at Izumi today did list my name as Handsome. I’ll take that. And the food. Coma is real.

@Andrew72681, I’m not sure I could even figure that out! Maybe my 20 year old a can. I’m actually amazed that Jack Daniels and I have been able to even do this much?

@Lovetocruise2002 I hear your pro tip about blogging solely from my phone. Here is an elderly tip: I can barely see the damned thing!??

Here are a few more pictures from the items in our room when we arrived. Each of our preferred drinks. Ranger cookies for Taylor. Graduation cake for the Dr. Birthday cake for the twins. Gifts for everyone. And we have already asked for adoption papers for our room steward. Her name is, sing along now, G. L. O. R. I. A. GLOR-I-A!!!. Her assistant is Iwayan. Pictures of these two sweethearts will follow.

Good morning, it’s day 2..This blogging thing that some of you make look so easy, isn’t! I’m still learning how to transfer pictures from the camera and my phone to the IPad. Also still figuring out how to actually post them. I should have it all mastered by day 7? So back to yesterday. We took an Uber from Staybridge Suites at MIA to the port. 5 people, 5 suitcases, $30. At Terminal A we got out and walked the last 200 yards because it was faster! Gave our names at the Star Class kiosk and we were whisked upstairs to the lounge. The checked us in and called for Allan This all took about 10 minutes. Plenty of drinks and snacks were there. Super Mario was definitely the celebrity in the room! Taylor immediately began her quest to eat her weight in Ranger cookies. Allan took us and one other family immediately on the ship and into the suite lounge. We were on deck 17 eating more snacks 20 minutes after getting out of the car an it was still only 1040am Allan pulled me aside to explain that he was making sure all of his welcome surprises were ready in the room. After 10 minutes he escorted us to the room and I found out how fun and creative he is! From gifts to jokes to cakes he did an amazing job of welcoming our family We hung out in the suite for a little and then ventured out to Playmakers for lunch i believe we ordered all of the appetizers. Our waiter, Djuro from Bosnia, was amazing! Today is his niece’s 4th birthday. His mother back home grows all of her own vegetables. He appreciates his parents more now that he’s older. You think we had some time to chat??? This is one of th great things about cruising - the interaction with others from such diverse and different backgrounds. This young man was just great fun to talk with. And, according to the bevy I’m cruising with he’s not too hard to look at either!

I’m downloading pictures now from my camera and then will post some of them. I think I only took 275 or so since we boarded. We had lunch at Playmakers. Maybe a star class tip here: it was empty. Pretty much had it to ourselves. We sampled almost everything and it was all good. The suite is amazing, as always. We have met with Allan now several times. I’m impressed! Just the things waiting in our room showed creativity and humor. I think this will be a very good week! And for the M&M gang - we had M&M’s in the room?

We are Home! Suite 1740!

We are on!

The included breakfast at the hotel. Leaving for the O-Asis in about an

So I started this whole thing by quoting Garth Brooks. Tonight it’s Tom T. Hall. Y’all sing it with me...”I was sitting in Miami, pouring blended whiskey down..”. And I did.? Lots more to share about today, including our shuttle to the hotel with the most talkative and funny guy every. We are now tucked into our two bedroom place at the Staybridge Suites which is comfy and ok for the 5 of us. We’re all ready for some sleep and ready to be on the ship! We are due to meet Allan at 10:15 to begin the food and fun frenzy! Thanks for coming along.

I did. Like 30 bags. They will be a part of the blog, obviously.?

@JLMoran, the one front left is my beautiful Bride Stacy. Next to her, with the candy bag covering her face, is the camera shy youngest daughter, Taylor. On the right the Gingy is daughter Kaitlyn and Stacy’s twin Shari.

One more flight note: American Airlines knows exactly squat about Star Class. ?. Off to Miami now.

Welcome to Dallas! One step closer. By my standards in was an excellent flight - we had an equal number of take offs and landings. I watched a “free” movie that AA had, Angel has Fallen. Action flick with probably 3000 rounds fired, bodies everywhere and lots of blood. Having served nearly 8 years in the White House I can confirm it portrays a typical day in the life of a Secret Service agent. ?? Had a gentleman fall ill about 30 minutes out of Dallas so we were met by paramedics at the gate. He appeared to be not too serious and left under his own power. As luck would have it he was seated next to Katie so he had his own private nurse until we landed. Had lunch at Friday’s and are now waiting to board the flight to Miami. More from Miami in a couple of hours!

On the way!

I got these two guys for Taylor when they were really tiny. They would go to sleep in her lap. Now she has grown and moved away. And they have grown into big old ugly goats that I feed everyday. That’s the story @WAAAYTOOO. Say hello to Sammy and Oreo. You can guess which is which.

Well it is almost time to get this party started for real! In 15 hours we will hopefully depart Palm Springs, Ca aboard the always wonderful American Airlines. I decided to take the day off today to wrap up last minute “stuff.” Did some cleaning so our house sitter won’t know how we live. ? Went to get hay for our two Tennessee Fainting goats. Yeah, really, two goats. Then I sat down to check in all five us for our flights tomorrow. Nothing tougher than getting M&M’s on the Oasis except maybe doing that 5 person check in! I think it took longer than tomorrow’s flight to Dallas will.Then just to make sure that i am super impressed with the food on Oasis, I had a frozen Stouffer’s meat loaf for lunch! I’m all packed and ready for an 0430 departure from the house in the morning. Stacy and Kaitlyn are out getting their nails done. Taylor is still at work for another couple hours. We will meet the twin at the airport in the morning. I’m going to relax now with a Jack/7 and let the 3 dogs, 3 cats and the two fainting boys know that were leaving them behind for a bit. But they’ll be in good hands. I will email Allan once more tonight for any final updates. I’m glad some of you are going to follow along on the trip, it’ll make it more fun to be able to share it. Tomorrow I’ll begin posting much more often and with pictures. I know you’re all on the edge of your seats waiting for someone to post a picture of another airport.? It’s almost time to ‘Slip on Down.....”

I just checked the Mars, Inc website. Seems as though they do not sell pretzel M&M’s in Palm Springs, Ca or on the Oasis of the Seas. ?

I’m not worried. This is just the 1st time I haven’t had a dinner/entertainment schedule in my hand this close to sailing. I’m confident we’re in good hands

Traded emails with Allan today inquiring if the entertainment schedule has been firmed up. He sent a tentative line up for next week with the caveat that it was “being reviewed by the CD and staff and will change.” I’ll share that schedule with you as soon as I know it’s really going to happen. Seems strange to me that the entertainment schedule is still tentative this close to the cruise, but what do i know? We’re really counting down now to our departure for Miami Saturday morning. My mind is already on the cruise. I sat in a meeting today about a building project. Others in the room thought I was using my IPad to research local fire codes when in reality i was looking at the weather forecasts for our ports. ? Two more work days.... Did some last minute shopping on the way home.

Glad you’re here @jensspark! Hopefully you will be able to find something helpful here - if I ever get serious?

And this is the reason I love this site. You people have a sense of humor!? @amanuel2992 welcome, I hope I can continue to make this thing enjoyable! Thanks for following along.

Or I could just go outside and shoot myself in the foot now,?.

I’m almost packed... !

I totally understand, One only needs to read a few trip reviews to know the inconsistencies in the Star Class program. It’s going to be an awesome trip! I’m just happy Jack Daniels is not a “branded candy!” I’ll post pics of that filet...