Geezer Of The Seas

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. 

1 hour ago, KWong said:

I've definitely had worse drip coffee on a ship. To be honest, I find cruises to be a good time to cut down on the caffeine. 

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.......

53 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

Jalapeño marg from cantina Fresca. 

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

Aaarrrggg! May be a little nautical for ya' coming in matey! Gale warnings from West Palm Beach to the Straits. Small craft warnings from West Palm Beach northward. 

Peculiar weather last 2 days, especially  South Florida and the Keys. Batten down the hatches......

On 10/19/2021 at 8:27 PM, Galveston Steve said:

We have often placed magnetic signs on our door, and enjoy seeing how others decorate their doors. Last week I observed an unrelated safety issue onboard that led me to review the Guest Conduct Policy in detail.  I was surprised to see that placing items on doors or in corridors is prohibited by the Guest Conduct Policy.  So in the interest of being completely accurate in this post: decorating your stateroom door without permission is technically prohibited, but is probably never enforced.  This would also apply to those ducks that people like to hide around the ship.

Quote from the Guest Conduct Policy:  Inappropriate or abusive behavior is not permitted. This includes: uninvited physical contact, solicitation, harassment, vandalism, theft, violence, use of fake/false identification, underage drinking (see Alcohol section below), providing alcohol to those under the allowed age (see Alcohol section below), possession of illegal substances/items, placing materials (including signs, banners, decorations, etc.) anywhere on the exterior of the ship, placing materials anywhere on the interior of the ship (including stateroom doors, along corridors, etc.) without the express permission of ship management or which may be deemed by ship management as inappropriate, or any other illegal or offensive conduct.

Not advocating for or against, right or wrong, but as a retired firefighter I understand the likely reason for no corridor or door decorations. The interior finishes and floor coverings in the corridors are likely flame retardant. Stuff placed on corridor walls or doors, perhaps not so much. It isn't as much the fire hazard as much as smoke generation should a fire occur. 

Smoke packed to the floor in the primary means of escape should an evacuation be required........

Surprising a cruise line wouldn't enforce their own policy. Then again , our first cruise to celebrate Mrs Geezer's 48th anniversary of her 21st  birthday had decorations on the corridor side of the cabin door that I ordered from RCL.

9 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

eww

I will see your "Eeewww" and raise you 1 "GROSS"!!! 

Would much  prefer watching a Code Brown cleanup like we did on Mariner last November.  Mojito and cigar in hand.......

Boy the crew is fast with the drain, clean, sanitize and refill.

3 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

 She apparently can't find her house key, and then I see her walk around the side of the house. WTF? So I called her to figure out what had happened. DQ had forgotten her house key today, so she went around to the back of the house and CRAWLED THROUGH THE DOG DOOR.

 

THAT, was resourceful!    

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2024/03/12/brightline-gives-green-light-to-cocoa-stop-for-its-rail-service/72940551007/

SWEEEEEET! 

A long way off I know,  but if the plans to connect SunRail to Brightline at MCO come to fruition, we could Uber 5 miles to the Longwood SunRail station and never put a wheel on godforsaken I-4 or 528 until the Brightline Cocoa station!

Wow! This is like Christmas!!!!

1 hour ago, TexanTwoStep said:

 

 

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of the turmoil and Haiti will be able to start the rebuilding process.

Not political, just an observation. Since before I was born, Haiti has known nothing but turmoil. I was 4 (1957) when' Papa Doc' Duvalier came to power............and the state of affairs of the country have deteriorated further since; if that's even possible. 

32 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

 Hubby was off to a shaky start. He said yesterday the board here was different.  

If memory serves, you recently posted your beloved mentioned or contemplated the purchase of his own board for FlowRider.

I believe this is a cry for help.............

Our most enjoyable cruise itinerary thus far, was 8 days Southern Caribbean  to the ABC Islands on Jewel from Port Canaveral ; but Jewel is no longer homeported in Port Canaveral. 

Jewel doesn't have the WOW! factor of Wonder, but nonetheless was an enjoyable cruise. We're not beach nuts so why do we go? To boldly go where Mr/Mrs Geezer have never gone before. I was especially fascinated with Bonaire, which is probably less 'touristy' (except for scuba diving) than Curacao & Aruba.

And as close as I'll likely ever be to South America & the Equator.

11 minutes ago, markinct said:

I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that you have THE BEST message board handle. EVER. 

And looking at my prior post can see waaaaaaaay into the future.  

3 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

They let prisoners out and are trying to take over the airport. Can trying to take over a ship be far behind? 

A quick read of the Internet & Wikipedia last night revealed that political situation in Haiti has indeed disrupted port calls to Labadee. 20004 due to a coup and Freedom of the Seas called off a visit in 2016 when boats occupied by citizens blockaded the the entrance to the harbor.

4 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

If only they had  Koegel's hot dogs and Vernors.

Then all would be right in the world

Vernor's? OMG!!! My late father told me stories of Vernor's and a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the neighborhood pharmacy fountain...........and the Vernor's was draft.

Didn't experience that, but growing up in Michigan, I got to drink Vernor's when it was only sold in glass bottles and became....................whatever it is now.

On 7/14/2023 at 8:46 AM, tjcruisers said:

Koopman testimony struck me in that he wasn't working with Royal at the time, not like he was a an officer on board that day (how the heck did lawyers find him in particular). 

Reading a cruise law site I see this "Royal Caribbean had tried to counter this aspect of the Wiegand’s case by arguing that Officer Koopman is a disgruntled ex-employee who shares an attorney with the Wiegands, so his testimony should be discredited." Looking at his linked in page he went from a CSO on the ships to a few some smaller jobs, does look like he didn't leave Royal voluntarily, which supports Royal's statement.

 

In the end there has to be some concept of common sense, which this grandfather didn't appear to have 

Will never happen in my lifetime, but the frivolous lawsuits could be ended with one simple change; loser pays the other side's legal fees. Not the current system where the absolved party has to go through a bunch of legal caca raca for a judge's ruling ordering payment. The trial attorneys will fight to the death to keep things status quo.

On 2/19/2024 at 8:47 AM, Ampurp85 said:

Born and raised in Chicago its a disgusting staple. All beef hot dog on a poppyseed bun with sport peppers, onion, relish and a pickle.......no ketchup ever and mustard.

 

Sacrilege!!!! Hot Dog Nirvana. I'm still mourning the closure of a Chicago Dog joint that was a couple miles from home in Altamonte Springs. Owned by 2 women (Chicago natives), served Chicago Dogs, Polish, Italian Beef and a smash Burger dubbed the Ditka, along with the best fast  food fries I've ever eaten. Victims of the pandemic and the insane increase of commodity prices (they used only Vienna Beef dogs). How I miss it.........

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

That does seem low.  Unless he meant mixed drinks vs. pouring wine or beer.

Ummm, I wasn't on his ship?

Just kidding........

I walk with Mrs Geezer every cruise at least once, all my back will allow. First cruise on Mariner I was a traffic obstruction to joggers, even in the designated walking lane.

On subsequent cruises, we just went down to the "embarkation" deck of the ships (Jewel, Wonder, & Mariner again).  Mariner we had to cut across the Promenade at the bow end to complete a circuit,  Wonder  was a full outdoor circuit, Jewel as well IIRC. Encountered joggers as well but no problem since the deck is wide to accommodate lifeboat boarding. Outdoors and a little sea spray, but enjoyable.

2 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

We're dating ourselves. LOL.

No truer words spoken...........