Rags1

I’m so happy you’re ok! But you need to ask for a copy of that tape! Couple of cruises ago I hopped out of bed one morning to get the door for room service. On Allure in the Royal Loft suite. I don’t know how many steps there are Coming down to the main floor from the loft. But I do know that I only stepped on two of them before I went ass over tea kettle all the way down! To this day I wish I had a video of my graceful descent! Again, I’m glad you’re ok but I loved your description of the whole event! Brought back memories. Still loving your writing.

I’m loving this! Can’t wait for more. Enjoy every minute!

Loving this! Great looking family

I’m so excited! Been waiting for this one. Freeloaders, ha ha! Don’t get too sentimental because they don’t go away! We have two, one mid 30’s the other mid 20’s. I call them Alexa and Siri. If I’m within 110 feet of the house and say the word “Cruise” they both appear by my side with suitcases packed. But the memories we make are pretty amazing. I hope this cruise makes magical dreams come true for your family and it goes in the books as the best yet! I can’t wait to hang on your every word on this one.

Great blog! You know how to tell a story. Thanks for taking us all along!

Have a great cruise! Enjoying following along

Beautiful family!

We’re booked in the RL on Allure again September 10th. Adoption is still an option

I’m so happy you are on board and sharing your cruise with all of us! Can’t wait for more. Enjoy every minute my friend. Happy New year to you and your family!

Thanks for taking us all along! I love your attitude!

She is the best!! A great representative of RCCL! Please tell her hello and that our family misses her!

They are back in Vegas doing corporate gigs I think. And thank you so much for your kind words! Please give our love to Jay!

Seriously. I really try to be objective and compare apples to apples. But damnit, they just keep getting better!

Quite the travel day! I’m so happy mom is ok. Have a wonderful time on your cruise. Can’t wait to hear all about it

Final sea day was pretty relaxing. Breakfast in the room again. Day was spent packing, lounging at the pool, some casino time and more snacks. The rest of the crew returned to Giovanni’s for dinner while I caught the final performance of Mama Mia. Went down to the boardwalk to say farewell to Lusi. Called it an early evening to get some rest before departure. Jay left some very thoughtful gifts for me on our last night. He had provided gifts to each of the others on their “celebration” day but saved mine for the last night. I’d share pictures but then everyone would expect a Rolex. Up the dreaded departure day to head home. Stacy and I had breakfast in the CK while the others prepared for departure. I dropped by Next Cruise to put a deposit on the “free” casino cruise as did Katie. We all said some tough goodbyes to Putu and Benjie before Jay showed up at 915 to escort us off. We were off the ship in minutes after saying farewell to the best Genie we’ve sailed with. Also said goodbye outside to MO5AIC although we ended up with two of them on the flight to Dallas. Uber to the airport, smooth check in and on time flights. While waiting for our departure I was bored so booked the same room, same ship for September 10, 2023. Had dinner in the Dallas airport where we received a video from Jay with him saying “I’m standing in front of the Aqua Theater where are you guys?”. Landed in Palm Springs at around 930pm and a short drive home to see the animals. All in all it was an awesome vacation. Next I’ll have some random, final thoughts and close this out. Thanks for following along!

Have an awesome time and tell Jay hello from our clan!

Don’t know if you follow this guy. James Van Fleet on facebook

Not sure I follow?

You’re going to love that suite!

After several hours in the room we all went down to a bar on the Promenade for a few more drinks and many more laughs! The founder and leader of the group took me aside to talk. We traded numbers and emails and he seriously told me that Las Vegas is a quick drive from us in Southern California and that they would love to shoot down and do the grand opening of our restaurant. And we chatted again about it as we were leaving the ship. Gracious guy!

In our initial planning with Jay we had asked for a casual dinner in the suite for night 7. Well as you may have read my comment on the blog by @CravingaCruise, we were in for a surprise! Jay arrived with two room service guys with a BUNCH of food. And then guests that only I didn’t know about arrived. Our Headliner entertainers from earlier in the week, MO5AIC. Jay said he set it up because he thought both the group and our family would enjoy being together. And I believe he was right. We dined and drank and laughed for over an hour. I’m not sure how many filets and lobster tails were devoured!We listened to their stories, laughed as they teased each other and answered their questions about us. And then they performed in the living room of the suite. They were casual, laughing and amazing. They sang Don’t Stop Believing for Stacy and her new restaurant, Happy Birthday to Taylor and many others. For around two hours we all just hung out and enjoyed their talents. I was amazed with their interaction with us. I once served in our White House on details for four U.S. Presidents. Later I served on protective details for other high ranking government officials. During those years I had many opportunities to meet and be around many, many entertainers, actors, sports figures and other celebrities. But I have NEVER met anyone who was as down to earth, gracious and humble as these five gentlemen. They were in no hurry to leave the party and we gladly skipped the ventriloquist show to hang out with these guys. They sang and drank in the living room and they sang and drank on the balcony. After the first hour it was like we were old friends. All thanks to Jay!

After a little rest we hosted a small cocktail party in the suite. We had another of Jay’s guests and @Lonnie, his wife and friends who were sailing with Genie Alan up for snacks and drinks. It was a great couple of hours of stories, jokes and laughter! Jay and Alan came by for a visit also. Alan came with a tray of fireball shots. Then a room service young man came with another tray of Fireball shots. Rinse and repeat you know? I’m not saying any Genie or room service dude actually drank any of them they’re just holding those shot glasses for the photos . We all had a blast or as Alan would say, Oohh-La-La!

Day 7 turned out to be by far the best day of the cruise. Maybe even the best day of any cruise I’ve been on. It was a relaxing, casual day at sea. We had breakfast in the room as usual. A little morning pool time for the girls while I explored. And then our first surprise of the day - an invitation to lunch at Izumi with our new best friend Jay. This guy was so fun and pleasant to be with! We spent a good hour or more eating bait and learning about his life. He may or may not have told us of some of his horror story guests. I’ll have more about him later but If you ever have a chance to meet him you’re in for a treat!

Day 6. Breakfast on the balcony as we pulled into Curaçao. Taylor and I were the only ones who went ashore. Jay walked us off and negotiated a great rate for a cab to stay with us and take us on a tour. We first went to Mambo Beach. I know I told you we went there in Aruba but we didn’t. Because Mambo Beach isn’t in Aruba. I might have been drinking that day. Or now. Whatever, we we went there this day! Then it was off to the Queen Emma Bridge. It’s a pretty cool floating bridge with propellers so it can be rotated to allow boats to pass. When Taylor was only 5 we visited on a Disney Cruise and she must have ran across that bridge 15 times with me in pursuit! Thank God she’s calmed down and we only walked across once! Then a little shopping and back to ship. I got off again later and walked to the port shopping area to buy a gift for sweet Lusi in the ice cream shop. Then had a couple, maybe more, Jack Daniels to prepare for Chef’s Table. I have no idea why I went. I’m not a wine person. And I’m not a foodie. I’m a simple steak or hot dog kind of guy. So when you bring me a saucer filled with something that looks like snot and you call it scallops I don’t get too excited. And folks who have enjoyed this event know it’s not a quick meal. But this one…this sucker was four, I say four, hours long! I was nearly ready to swim back to Ft Lauderdale. To add to the excitement I was seated next to some blow hole that just never took a breath but yacked about everything under the sun. I didn’t take pictures of the food but from my description of the scallops was enough. Four hours. The only good thing about the evening was sharing it with @Lonnieand his group.

I forgot to post theses photos on day1. I have a laser at home that I use to make goodies sold at a couple local businesses. I made each of the Genies one as a small gift. Had I known what I know now I would have filled Jay’s and Alan’s with Fireball. Just saying