Geezer Of The Seas

Carnival Corp has 1.2 billion plus shares outstanding. Royal Caribbean Ltd? About 30 or so percent of that total. And most recent net margin, Royal leads the pack at 12.8%, Carnival and NCLH are hovering around 1.5-2%. Carnival IIRC also pledged 17 ships across their total fleet as collateral against high interest loans or high yield bonds (junk). All 3 lines are heavily leveraged still, but Royal appears best positioned to shovel their way out, though I wonder how by all that's holy they all keep making enormous capital expenditures on infrastructure and ships in the current environment (cost of money). Seems like when/if 'the music stops again' all could be left without a chair............

Arrrrggg!! Reading me prior post it looks like I was dipping in the grog a wee bit too much.............

Aarrgg, we sailed her graceful hull most of near2 years past . She's weathered her voyages well, save for needing fresh paint on the lifeboat Davits a scrape of the hull and fresh paint above and below the waterline . A fine ship She is, should rughtfully be returned to Port Canaveral. Arrrrggg!!!!!!

Credit freeze is a good idea.....but not foolproof. A credit lock is allegedly the most effective but all 3 credit reporting agencies charge for the 'privilege '. I recently froze my stuff with all 3 (you have to create an account with all of them). Experian is an utter PITA with endless marketing. Mrs Geezer froze her files last year after Bank Of America welcomed her for opening her Celebrity Cruises Visa.......which she never did but someone in South Florida did.

Carnival should do an adaptation of "5 o' Clock Somewhere, changing it to 4. Couple months ago was looking at PZTV port cams, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Miami, Bimini. 4 ports, 4 Carnival ships simultaneously putting out to sea. Had no idea how choreographed ship movements were.

I'll venture to say you scored a direct hit!!!

Related................sorta. Disney Experiences has announced implementation of a screening program for their Disability Assistance Program at WDW. Seems there's been a problem with visitors with no physical/developmental disabilities taking advantage of the program by flat out....................I don't know LYING about their need because it's cheaper (free) than purchasing the express option or whatever it is that allows you speedy access to rides. I'm left to conclude 'theme park hogs' is a thing...................

A Gobbler bowl from Wawa is a better Thanksgiving meal than the one we had in the MDR on Jewel of the Seas November '22. The Centrum was decorated and the 8 day itinerary to the ABC Islands was great. Reality is, no theme park, cruise ship, hotel, resort or restaurant is gonna beat holidayhome cooking. But I'm grateful Jewel's culinary staff worked so hard so Mrs Geezer & I didn't have to......especially the cleanup and dishes part.

If Oasis shares the same layout as Wonder, the main smoking area is the pool deck, starboard side, extends from about the pool bar to just outside the entrance to the Windjammer. There is also a smoking area (just a couple benches and ashtrays Deck 4 (?) port side, aft. Biggest challenge as a pipe smoker may be emptying your pipe bowl when finished. The ashtrays are rather small and have a top with a spring loaded disc ( or at least it's self closing) that would require you either hold the disc open with something or remove the top and replace it. I smoke a cigar or two on a cruise; believe me the ashtrays were built for cigarettes in mind and nothing else.

OTOH, the click bait, "If It Bleeds It Leads" media has done an admirable hatchet job on NCL. My impression is these passengers started with social media posts and/or they or family contacted their local media outlets and gave one side of the story. The latest chapter is the 80 year old woman who suffered a stroke on the excursion with her daughter and son in law on TV uttering legal phrases like "duty to care". After a 24 hour hospitalization and a confirmed stroke diagnosis she was denied reboarding and they don't get why? A ship's medical center isn't an ICU and would be ill suited to provide critical care. Many blanks to fill in, travel insurance, (anyone have it & adequate coverage?) payment methods carried by the passengers that were provided for by the one couple (debit cards or a cc not internationally accepted)? Anyone attempt to call a US Consulate/Embassy to see what assistance they might offer individually or perhaps prod NCL to give a little? Less than complete story, just don't understand how crying to the media/social media is step 1 in problem resolution.

Last trip on Mariner (11/23) , the minute we completed the muster drill routine, we entered the ship and fixed my gaze on the Schooner Bar, which was not busy. Since we tend to check in around 1230, it wasn't long after we finished our drinks and the cabins were open for occupancy. Went to our cabin, dumped the carry on and backpack, attacked the cheese platter we ordered; that held us until dinner at the MDR.

I was a firefighter for 31 years. Never a moment when coffee wasn't available. Drank everything from battery acid to crankcase sludge "coffee", so the ship coffee is no problem. Stopping at a 7-11 in the middle of the night for a cup while returning from a call was like a gourmet experience.

In our experience with Royal we've purchased only the Refreshment Package (twice) and always a la' carte on alcohol. 2-3 drinks a day apiece and we're good. Last 2 trips we didn't bother with the Refreshment package because the dynamic pricing is getting too dynamic for my taste. We're not coffee snobs, so whatever free bilge water and fake juices served are good enough. $4 bucks for a can of coke or $10 bucks or so for a specialty coffee, no big deal. Matter of personal preference and experience as others posted.

Loss of life, indefinite closure of an important port and budding cruise port. Memories of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in 1980.......

Now that's efficient right there. Pickling those jalapeños while pickling your liver.