CravingaCruise

We’re team older vehicles. 
 
We have three…one 2005 and two 2008s….the mileage on them ranges from 144k to 242k.  I’d drive any of them across the country with no hesitation   
I’m fortunate enough to be able to do any and all vehicle maintenance needed.  It’s been my side hustle for almost 25 years. 

OK, I'll chime in. I had a 2001 Pontiac Aztek (the ugly car most people know from Breaking Bad, lol). By fall 2020 it only had 80,000 miles (I worked from home the majority of those 19 years) but it needed so many repairs it wasn't worth the bill so had to get rid of it.
My 2020 has just over 5,000 miles and many of those come from driving an hour to my wife's parents' house or an hour to PC for cruises.
Wife had to get a new car at the same time and her work commute is only about 5 miles each way so she doesn't even have 10K yet. We use mine for all the longer trips to put SOME miles on it.
Not worrying about gas prices and hoping to get 20 years out of a car is a nice perk to our lifestyle. Goes well with the frugal state of mind I always mention.

@SweetPea, I have a "vintage" car, too.  2010 Buick Lacrosse !!  Also no interest in a new car...especially at today's prices.  We rarely ever get in a car around here.  Just about the only time I drive a car is for a doctor's visit or going on a cruise !!

❤️Thank you! But seriously hoping I won’t have to take you up on that offer lol

😄 My Infiniti may be 13 years old and they don't make my model anymore, but ... i seriously love my baseball cap car (as my nephew calls it) and we maintain it well and I have no interest in a new car. 
Bonus: as @asquared17will attest, we do not pump our own gas in NJ. 😁 I never wait in line for gas with my gas tank on the passenger side! If you need a ride from Detroit (550 mi from me),  I'm there (Just let our favorite person know.). I'll even pick you up.  I work in Operations.  It only makes sense to establish a somewhat half-way point. 😀

Omg you two! Don’t jinx it!
But if we have to drive, we’ll be in an Infiniti too! Lol. I knew we had a lot in common 🤣

I am thinking about it….
Although let’s hope for not too many “thrills”. We don’t want to drive to Cape Liberty lol

Tick tock.....time start your live blog for next cruise in 24 days......
Each live blog gets better and better with thrills, laughs and suspense
"Memoirs of Lovetocruise series available" 

You're behind in your blog reading! I gave that up so long ago 🤣

How do you start a live blog 6 weeks early if your next cruise is that close???

Oh!  I had the ships mixed up. Wrong side of the world!  😂😂

I do! Fun fact, that was our very first SC trip too in that cabin.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/10695-“i-dream-of-genie”-–-star-class-harmony-of-the-seas-–-031019-031719/
 

We also have 1722.  We are super excited.  Did you have a blog for that trip?

They pretty much do. I would say that on all our star sailings, regardless of the ship, the bags have not been delayed more than 1 hour after we boarded. For HM in March 2023, the bags were there within 30 mins of us boarding, I think maybe even less than that. For WN, the sailing that we just left, it took a bit longer. We went Playmakers for lunch, and it was already there when we returned. All without and hour or so. Make sure you give your bags to the Star Class porter. They put different tags on it to expedite it. 
Yes, it was loud. I would not recommend these suites if you have a young child who needs to sleep early, or you go to bed early. You hear every Aqua show loud and clear, and we were on Deck 10. I imagine it would have been even louder on Deck 8. Even when there is no
Aqua show, any time something is going on in the Aqua Theatre, you will hear it from the room. We did not mind any of this at all, and we go to bed late (as you can see from some of my posts) but keep in mind when you book this room.
We did not visit the Yoda guy this time. We just stopped by a few months ago in March 2023 and he was still there.
I wasn't thinking about it, I already have it booked. I don't really like that location at all. All the pictures that I have seen of those aft suites on Freedom class don't look great to me at all. However, I booked it because I wanted the room, and it's not located anywhere else on the ship. You'll see on my next blog...unless I win another RU (which I highly doubt), I am stuck in one of those Freedom class aft cabins.
Harmony is a great ship, and the Star Loft is a gorgeous room! We had 1722, which one did you book? How exciting for you guys!

No, were on Greek isles out of Rome this Sunday and the the transatlantic back to ft Lauderdale in October.

CPS has a teacher shortage. Our new mayor was a union rep. He says teachers have a life outside of schools. I have so many sick days they are asking me to take some.

A, now you're just being silly. I have Batman insured to the hilt for exactly this reason ...

I was considering liberty for a five night time Bermuda....no royal suite class but not a bad ship...they do have savor and the usuals lol ...never understood why they don extend perks to the older ships....🤷🏻‍♂️

Mine were almost as flat as the parchment paper I baked them on lol

Sadly mine were the same. I love the Ranger cookies and mine did not come out anything like they should have. More fluffy. Definitely not as good as the ones direct from the source. 

i would sleep on the couch downstairs for you 🤣 i don't snore!!

That's what's in our contract, too.  Fortunately we have a Superintendent who has five kids and really pushes SEL initiatives in the district, so as long as you don't abuse the privilege and are honest when you put in the request, he'll generally grant it.

Yeesh!

100%
My wife is very close with her parents/family (the ones who put us in Sky Class of course) and they only live an hour away so holidays have always been a non-starter, which is fine. We've added Spring Break to the rotation starting next year though so hopefully we can do at least 3 cruises/year and possibly more if she can get back out of the classroom.
Just need prices to not get any crazier than they already are.

Our board goes one step further...if you call in sick on a day that backs into/or after a holiday, you have to provide a doctor's note.