Moby Dick

8 minutes ago, Matt said:

For some reason this thread reminded me of American Express travelers checks. I remember when those were a thing

Yep, when I was a young private in the Army, circa the 70s, AE travelers checks was the only way to go when we were traveling around the world.

This is a trip down memory lane, for sure!  

10 minutes ago, twangster said:

I have run IT organizations before.  The problem isn't the IT organization. 

IT will always yield exactly what they are funded to do.   If you don't fund an IT organization you can't expect state of the art IT infrastructure.   That can be okay because the definition of what is okay starts at the top of the organization.

Currently Royal's IT is doing exactly what senior leadership desire it to do and nothing more based on the money they are putting into their IT organization.  

Firing the IT organization would be a disaster.  All those lower level employees know how to care and feed the machine.  You can't rip and replace an IT organization without grinding the company to a halt.   More importantly if the new IT organization you put in its place is not given any more money compared to the old IT organization they won't be able to accomplish what the previous IT organization couldn't.  

If you decide your family can get by with an old car as your primary form of transportation that is your choice.  Other families around you might be getting new cars that come with new safety features and loads of bells & whistles.  It is your prerogative to decide your family doesn't need a new car payment even if you can afford it.  As the head of household you get to decide.  Your 20 year old car doesn't have a car payment but it breaks down once in while.  It needs more maintenance.  It isn't as fancy, doesn't have the latest features like CarPlay or Android Auto.  It might not even have anti-lock brakes.  Maybe it has airbags.  It's your prerogative to decide those things are not important enough to justify spending money on a new car and incurring a new monthly payment.  It is the same.  Executive leadership gets to make those decisions.  

As the head of my household I'm not trying to convenience the general public that I'm running a well oiled machine and have their every customer service needs as a top priority. And, I'm not trying to get thousands of $ from the general public to purchase my product.  I'm sorry if you took my comment, "Fire their IT Department" literally.  They need to start at the top and work their way down as far as need be and at the same time, hiring proven replacements or promote proven existing IT professionals. 

But, I understand your desire to defend the profession.   

Oh oh oh, I forgot to mention, we purchased, on our last cruise in a promenade shop, another duffle just to carry the trinkets we purchased for friends and family.

I wear hats on a cruise all the time.  None have strings/ties on them.  You just have to be aware of the wind conditions.  I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  Yes, I've even wore a Fadora.  I have never lost a hat to the wind. 

Are you going to take a Victrola, too?  

15 minutes ago, Pooch said:

I ALWAYS have 2 full days worth of clothes etc for everyone on the trip in a carryon.  And since our stuff is mix & match and wrinkle free/drip dry, I could probably get a 7 day cruise out of what’s with us.

I wish we could do that, pack in backpacks, only.  However, we always wind up with one super large suitcase each, one duffle each, two backpacks, and a bag full of my electronics (cameras, charging devices, cords, USB hubs, plug blocks, and drone).  Sometimes we bring our CPAPs, each. The crazy thing, we usually go Star Class (not to brag, just stating a fact) and unlimited laundry/dry cleaning is included.  Why we take so much is beyond me, we could literally take just a couple pair of shorts, t-shirts, undies, slacks, polo/button down shirt, and have everything laundered every day.  It's crazy, I tell ya.  We're crazy.  

1 hour ago, Marathon Man said:

I am looking through a Harmony Cruise Compass for a 7-day Eastern Caribbean.  We will be going Aug 21.  I see that they set the sports court up for pickleball a couple of days.  Do many people play?  Should I bring my paddle and shoes?

There is no way anybody can tell you from here if people will be playing Pickleball during your cruise.  But, it's better to have the equipment and not need it rather than need/want it and not have it.  I'd be willing to bet that there will be some folks wanting to play, though.

2 hours ago, Neesa said:

Happened to us right before our Mariner sailing. Either I paid it, I did not owe it, it was a canceled voom package(109.00$) or they would have taken it from Sharlas commission. Their math made no sense, I was sailing in a few days and even though I produced my cancelation proof they refused to acknowledge. We ate it because it was a good rate to begin with and I was not allowing them to cut my TA's commission. Another reason we are taking a Royal break after this 30 year anniversary sailing at the end of the month. 

Royal really needs to fire their IT department and start over.  They need some competency there.  

I hope you pursued it after your cruise.

9 minutes ago, mpdahmer said:

Are you referring to bringing the extra cash on the cruise in case of emergency? While on board don't you have a CC linked to your account?

Yes, but as mentioned, all is budgeted down to the penny.  The C.C. that we have linked to our onboard account is a reward C.C. and a little higher interest rate if not paid off.  We always pay off our C.C.s the first statement to avoid interest.  However, an unexpected/unbudgeted expense is charged on a very low interest rate, non-reward C.C.

And like you, we usually are below budget.

On 7/10/2022 at 1:02 PM, Sea Squirrel said:

Any idea what Genies are on Ovation right now. Any thoughts on them?

When I boarder her on May 13th there was Rahul, Dexter, and Agostina (was her first full fledged Genie cruise).  All good as long as they don't "injure" themselves.

On 7/8/2022 at 5:23 PM, smokeybandit said:

I don't know how you really use this in your performance review, but you really are a good ambassador for the cruise line.  That has to count for something in HR

Yep, he should be Royal's version of John Heald!

10 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

Should always have some back up plans for emergencies.  I have several credit cards and tend to keep them separated while travelling in case something happens with my wallet etc.

I don't really keep a whole lot of cash for everyday use - I do bring some for tips on a cruise.

Ya, I actually have several C.C.s that I don't carry with me, in our safe.  Like you, I don't carry a lot of cash, normally, NONE while at home base and out shopping.  And I only carry TIP cash while cruising.  I'll just start carrying one of the many C.C.s that I don't usually carry around for the emergency back up.

There is another tread going right now that is talking about the Airlines losing your luggage and not making it to the ship on time.  Made me think of doing something I've never done before.  If you're like me/us, we have to budget just about every penny we plan on spending on a cruise and all its ancillary expenses.  So, I was thinking of holding back some cash or a little extra in my C.C. for emergency clothing purchases in case of lost luggage.  All the insurance in the world will not help put clothing on your back for and extended period of time, like days/weeks after your cruise.  Come to think of it, I have seen lots of shirts and T-Shirts in the shops on a ship but I don't remember seeing lots pants/shorts.  Especially for males.  So, if I fly, which is very doubtful, I'm thinking of setting aside an extra $300.00 - $500.00 each just to help purchase a minimal wardrobe and accessories.  Oh, maybe not just when flying, either.  The port porters, especially at Seattle pier 91 (one terminal, 2 ships being serviced), aren't immune for losing luggage.  

Thoughts?

11 minutes ago, fireclan said:

I knew it wasn't the scenery!

If you can manage to find when this place is open, their breakfast is really good.  It is a tourist trap but a good tourist trap:

https://www.dellspaulbunyans.com/hours

3 hours ago, bobroo said:

I will NEVER understand the reluctance of cruisers to fly in a day or two early to start their vacation.

Likewise, I will NEVER understand cruisers who want to end their vacation early and buy a plane ticket for the absolute earliest time possible on the day of arrival.

 

And to top it off, these people come here and ask for pseudo permission.

 

<shakes head in disbelief>

 

True!!!

4 hours ago, fireclan said:

Uh oh...we're heading to the Wisconsin Dells tomorrow for vacation.

My reasons are political.  Just enjoy yourself, you'll be fine.  

Just go everywhere the adults go.  You just can't drink the alcohol.  I can't think of a venue you can't go into, other than the age restricted younger venues.  So, just enjoy yourself and put yourself out there, SAFELY!  

I never pay more than the required deposit at booking.  I make my full/final payment on the last day/minute possible.  I treat my money as an employee, I try to have it work for me, not be lazy and sit in a non-interest growing place.  Not that a few thousand dollars are going to make me a rich man.  Not only that, if an emergency comes up and you have to cancel your cruise to access that money, it could take days to get back (thankfully, that hasn't happened to me, yet!  But, anything is possible).  So, I would recommend not paying a cruise off until the last minute.  I also would recommend that if you want to make payments to your cruise account, do it to your own "savings account" or under your mattress, what ever.  I also keep in mind that most cruise lines are just one pandemic away from going out of business.  Limit your exposure as much as possible.    

10 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

According to google maps from my house in Chicago to PortMiami if I were to drive it would take me 21 hours and 27 minutes. Your post peaked my interest seeing that I've never driven to Florida and I was hoping it would fall within the 18 hours you prescribed.  However at over 21 hours I just can't see myself spending that amount of time behind the wheel of a car and it would be me driving because my husband is the worst driver I've ever met.  I let him drive once on our way to Wisconsin Dells we didn't even make to past O'Hare before I made him get off the expressway so we could switch. I don't know how some people got a driver license.

LOL, yep you are between a rock and a hard place.  I used to drive truck for a living, all over this country, for about 3 years.  I had to itch that scratch, as a kid I always wanted to be a truck driver.  After I retired from the Army, I took care of that itch.  Anyway, I typed 18 hours just because with the cost of hotels going way up and up, I really don't want to spend more than 1 night in a hotel.  So, I'll do that 18 hours behind the wheel and spend one night in the hotel the night before the cruise.  I'm not adverse to spending $200.00 - $300.00.  But, for a bed that I probably can't sleep well in and for only about 6 hours, no, I'll pass as much as possible.  

BTW, Wisconsin Dells used to be a favorite vacation spot for us.  No longer.  Can't say why, here . 

Well, we are a diverse segment of society, aren't we!  Some love the Freestyle machines while other hate it.  Some love the old style tumblers while others hate them.  Our tastes for the type of soda we enjoy is all over the place.  

I really enjoy reading about our diversity and why some people do this and others do that.  I've got a lot of good ideas and understandings from reading, not only this thread but many many others.  

Let's keep on keep'in on!

If I'm within an 18  hour drive to the port, I drive.  If I have to fly, I book at least a day early.  Haven't missed a cruise yet.  Under no foreseen circumstances would I fly in on the same day as an embarkation, even pre-pandemic and this current airline debacle.   

I think they'll bring the shooting and golf back when they bring back the Keeling of misbehaving crew.  I understand they'll have parimutuel betting when they bring that back.

11 hours ago, TXcruzer said:

Cigarette butts aside, NEVER sleep with your balcony door open; you are severely affecting the air conditioning capacity of your neighbors that are in your same zone.

YES!  It's no wonder I go to bed nice and cool and then later wake up totally drenched in sweet, sometimes.  

On 7/9/2022 at 12:09 PM, big foot said:

I don't mind the smoking in marked areas. I don't like the casino allowing it but there are areas.

If there isn't a smoking area in the Casino, smokers would have to leave the Casino to go to the "outdoor" smoking area.  The more time they are not in the Casino, the less time and money they are spending in the Casino!  Not a good business practice.  

What we need to do, as non-smokers is demand that Royal, et al, upgrade their ventilation/filtering system(s) in the indoor smoking areas and regularly maintain them.