Floski

LOL! @JLMoranbeat me to a response to this but I am laughing so hard right now. 
Joe is as long winded as they come! But we love @JLMoranand he's been around for a long time. 

Sorry I missed posting this last night.

Day 5: St. Kitts, the dolphin experience
We started with breakfast in the main dining room, we set an alarm and everything. I loved the classic Benedict, I’m a sucker for hollandaise sauce, a hash brown, and the corned beef hash. The hash brown was small, and I could’ve eaten 13 dishes of the corned beef hash, it was that good.
Next was St. Kitts. My wife brought cash and her iPhone. I figured since we didn’t have service in St. Kitts, there was no use in bringing my phone. Remember the last part because it is on the test later.
We split from our group and went on our dolphin excursion. As we were waiting, we went shopping at the shops. The workers in the shops were a little pushy, but not overly aggressive. We got souvenirs for the grandkids and some of our kids, but only the ones we like.  I’m just kidding, we love all three of our children, but one son wants something from the Kennedy Space Center, so we are holding off on getting his gift until Sunday. My other son, wants an island girl. 
After shopping we got into line for our excursion. We were early, we just didn’t know how early we were. While in line we figured we were in the 10:30 am excursion line and ours was at 11:15. The excursion person said he could get us on the earlier excursion and put a green wrist band on both my wife and myself. This too is important to remember for later. On the bus I noticed some people were wearing different colored wristbands, but being the introvert, I didn’t ask, which I should’ve.
When we arrived, we put our stuff in a complimentary locker, which was an ease on my mind and it was then time to get fitted for life jackets. The man brought me a large one, how cute is that. He soon realized I needed an extra large one. After instructions, we were in the water with the dolphins. One of the most exciting things in my life. We did commands, petted, gave belly rubs, shook fins, and touched the dolphins, and it was fantastic, my wife loved it too, but was a little disappointed because we were supposed to be pushed and pulled by the dolphins. I grappled with removing my life jacket, and for a split second, I thought I might win, but winning was not in the cards for me, but luckily, one of the workers tapped in like a WWE tag team partner and we were victorious. My wife was already off to inquire about the pushing and pulling. When I caught up with my wife the employee said the person at the dock put the wrong wristbands on us, if only someone spoke up on the bus, stupid introverted me.
They accommodated us by allowing me to struggle back into a life jacket and took us back into the water just my wife and I. They kind of separated my wife and myself, which is a little problem because I have severe hearing loss and couldn’t take my hearing aids in the water with me and I rely on her a lot to communicate with me. If you are following along with my live blog you have found out I’m super sized, have hearing loss, and sleep with a CPap machine, you are probably wondering how my wife snagged such a catch, she probably wonders too.
We had a quick push and pull by the dolphins and then it was shower off, get dressed, and off to the gift shop to buy photos.
We realized we forgot our debit card, we didn’t have enough cash for photos at $40 a piece, but they did take PayPal. I have PayPal but my wife doesn’t. My wife had her phone, I didn’t. They were pushy when it came to selling the photosand I asked if it were possible to get a link and buy them when we get back to the ship. Their response was now or never. I tried for about forty minutes to log into my email on my wife’s phone to buy the photo package which was 2 for $80 or all forty-five photos for 100. Because my iPhone uses Face ID to log in and I’m not very smart ( my wife is so lucky to have me), I finally gave up and lo and behold, they suddenly came up with a link to buy the photos when we got back to the ship, but they were quite rude to us about it. I know I seem to complain from time to time, but really we are having the time of our lives and will never forget what a great time we are having.  Back on the ship I ordered our photos and after several emails back and forth, we got the link to the photos a few hours later. The photos are great, but we are only able to get 42% of the photos to download on our phones before we get an error message. The link is only good for a month so we will need to figure it out.
Back on the ship was dinner at the main dinning room. Our waiters are the best on the ship. Unlike me, my brother is a big personality and both our waiters are drawn to him for most of our meals. I ordered the ahi tuna, but since I don’t like my fish seared, our waiter had it made well done. I know the chef probably cried himself to sleep last night because he had to cook it well done, but it tasted wonderful.
After dinner was the headliner show, a singer, comedian, and impressionist. His voices of other people were spot on, but the show was mostly geared toward gen X and baby boomers. My nephew and niece knew almost none of the people he was impersonating.
Then it was off to sabor for margaritas and off to bed.
Stray observation:
Our room steward is amazing.
I have a bartender who not only remembers my drink order, but also my name which is cool because I’m pretty forgettable.
In the public men’s rooms, I like the comic strip panels over the urinals even though they are lacking in plot, character development, and a character arc.
Next up is sea day two. We have three sea days this week.

See hubby doesn’t appreciate how great a wife he has.  I HATE to shop except for the grandkids and during our biannual trips to Kittery where I buy just enough clothes to get me through to the next trip.  I don’t like or wear jewelry, expensive bags, shoes or perfumes.  My idea of vacation shopping (besides the grands!) is an Xmas ornament or fridge magnet.  Maybe some spices or special coffee blends.  Can’t force me into a jewelry store.

T-Minus 12 Days 
I must admit, I’m quite envious when I hear about people booking over the water cabanas at Perfect Day at Coco Cay, or eating at Coastal Kitchen, or emailing back and forth with their Genie because unless I find a magic lamp on St. Kitts, I’m not getting a Genie. How I wish I could book a suite, I mean who doesn’t want to stay in the owner’s suite with all the space, all the amenities, and a bidet, I will miss having a bidet, but since I’m on a tight budget, my rump and I will rough it in a balcony room. Like many Americans, I live from paycheck to four days before the next paycheck. Being a cheapskate comes naturally to me. Some might even say it’s a gift. Okay, okay, no one calls it a gift, especially my wife.
Here I will chronicle our seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise on Harmony of the Seas while attempting to save as much money as possible without compromising on having fun.
I pre-booked our cruise, the deluxe drink package, internet package, and two excursions. I rushed to book the cruise instead of taking the time to try to get the best deal possible; although, I’m pleased with our deal. The reason for rushing the booking was the sale was set to expire in 1 hours and 52 minutes and I didn’t want to miss out. Little did I know that this is the sale that never ends, it goes on and on my friends. I suspect that this current sale and all the extensions date back to the day when Noah chartered the Ark of the Seas from Royal Caribbean during the Great Flood. I think I might have been bamboozled by the threat of the sale ending.
I booked all the add-ons we wanted; repricing, cancelling, and rebooking when the prices dropped. We saved on the internet package by booking one internet package with two devices instead of two individual packages. Originally, I booked the deluxe drink package for $77.99 per person/per day. My wallet wept that day. I cancelled and rebooked when the price dropped to $72.99 pp/pd. And did it once again when the price dropped to $65.99 pp/pd. My wallet no longer weeps uncontrollably, but it does whimper from time to time, not to mention, my liver is not so pleased either.
 
I’m not going to go all Ebenezer Scrooge to the point we don’t enjoy ourselves, but we are not going to spend freely like the Real Housewives of the Seas. This is our first cruise in what seems like forever and that’s a might long time, but I’m here to tell you, there’s something else, the barometer. A world of measuring how we can save on future cruses, such as the four-day Catalina and Ensenada cruise we have booked in November. The November cruise we will be thriftier. 
There are a few things I won’t skimp on and they are as follows:
1.      Gratuities. We prepaid our gratuities, but I plan on tipping above and beyond, because I may be a cheapskate, but I’m not an A-hole. Well, I may be an A-hole, but I’m not the kind of A-hole that would screw over someone else on tips just to save a few bucks.
2.      My wife made it clear that she wants something special from the ship. I plugged the words “something special” into my husband/wife translator and it comes back as jewelry.
3.      Souvenirs for the grandkids. I am thinking of something loud and obnoxious; payback is a…, well you know.   
4.      And finally, I will not lie, cheat, or scheme to get something for free. For example, if we eat at a specialty restaurant, I won’t lie to the waitstaff telling them there’s a toe in my risotto (or would it be risot-toe) just to get a free meal. Even if my risotto has a toe in it, I hate confrontation, so I’ll probably keep quite while eating around it. I’m almost certain that quality control on the Harmony of the Seas is good enough to catch a stray toe in the food being served, at least I hope so.
I will be updating a few times leading up to our cruise with my observations on the preparations and then once we board I will live blog our experience.  

I'd like a deluxe Hochberg special, please.  With a Kraken floater.  And a shot of Kraken.

I'd like a deluxe Hochberg special, please.  With a Kraken floater.  And a shot of Kraken.

I've been on 6 cruises (2 Freedom, 2 Oasis, 2 Harmony) and the best beer I've ever seen was La Fin du Monde.  I also prefer
my beer from the tap, but never, ever, ever in a frosted mug.  
Before Covid, when we had an Allure cruise (missed the $18/day DBP 😞 ) scheduled, RC announced that they were collabing
with Funky Buddha for a special Coco Cay beer, but I'm not sure it ever got off the ground.  I love some FB.
I do agree with the poster that they should open a craft beer bar (how about ditch the waste of space called the Bionic Bar?).
 
Since the beer choices basically suck, and I get the DBP, it's all liquor, all week for me.

I'd like a deluxe Hochberg special, please.  With a Kraken floater.  And a shot of Kraken.

I've been on 6 cruises (2 Freedom, 2 Oasis, 2 Harmony) and the best beer I've ever seen was La Fin du Monde.  I also prefer
my beer from the tap, but never, ever, ever in a frosted mug.  
Before Covid, when we had an Allure cruise (missed the $18/day DBP 😞 ) scheduled, RC announced that they were collabing
with Funky Buddha for a special Coco Cay beer, but I'm not sure it ever got off the ground.  I love some FB.
I do agree with the poster that they should open a craft beer bar (how about ditch the waste of space called the Bionic Bar?).
 
Since the beer choices basically suck, and I get the DBP, it's all liquor, all week for me.

I'd like a deluxe Hochberg special, please.  With a Kraken floater.  And a shot of Kraken.

That's why I don't drink beer onboard.😎

Playmakers on Navigator had Terrapin, Stone and Funky Buddha (which they were out of) last month.

Yes you can. 

Okay, so if I was to test positive on the Friday before a Sunday sail, 
can't I go to another place and re-test?   I'm not 100% confident in 
the results of these tests.

Okay, so if I was to test positive on the Friday before a Sunday sail, 
can't I go to another place and re-test?   I'm not 100% confident in 
the results of these tests.

Same here, but I still won't like paying a $73 per day base price for it.  
So fair warning to Royal, don't make me roll up my sleeves and go on a mission all week!  

That's why we call him The Bot

Booze package would have to be in the neighborhood of 100 bones per day for me not to break even. Between the coffees and pelegrino with every meal and mucho booze in between, poor royal loses money on me. 

$72.99/day for Wonder in Dec, but Josh Crothers will be on there so I had to bite the bullet.
There may be some drankin' goin' on.  Hoping for a better sale to come along.  You'd think
that the dearth of high-end liquor aboard would make the price go down.

My first cruise was on Freedom in April 2015, and I was that guy with the jaw on the floor.  I was absolutely 
blown away, from how easy it was to board all the way to disembarkation.  The ports (St Thomas, St. Maarten, and 
the original Coco Cay) were fantastic as well!
Loved it so much that as soon as I got home, I booked the exact same cruise for the next year.
So, two Freedom, two Oasis, and two Harmony's later, I'm stoked for Wonder in December!!

My first cruise was on Freedom in April 2015, and I was that guy with the jaw on the floor.  I was absolutely 
blown away, from how easy it was to board all the way to disembarkation.  The ports (St Thomas, St. Maarten, and 
the original Coco Cay) were fantastic as well!
Loved it so much that as soon as I got home, I booked the exact same cruise for the next year.
So, two Freedom, two Oasis, and two Harmony's later, I'm stoked for Wonder in December!!

Do not take financial advice if you are allergic to financial advice. Side effects of this advice may cause nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, fever, weight loss, weight gain, jaundice, headaches, or alien babies.

Carnival is floundering.  NCL is on even thinner ice.  Royal could strike a dagger in their hearts by making internet free... and super fast.  Just sayin... 

He was very approachable, and easy to talk to - both on and off camera.

Chris, congratulations - that is quite a coup!    You handled yourself brilliantly!