JRT

Michelle has served us well for over a year now. Can't say enough about how much help she as been during these crazy times.

Michelle has served us well for over a year now. Can't say enough about how much help she as been during these crazy times.

Michelle has served us well for over a year now. Can't say enough about how much help she as been during these crazy times.

I haven't been on Lady G since 2017 but I think you have to be careful reading reviews that "paint" older ships as tired and run down.  
Radiance class and older are getting up there in age.  It's a matter of expectations.  If you sail Symphony and enjoy all that modern decor then all of the older ships won't have that vibe.  
I have a twenty year old car.  It's in great shape for a car of this vintage.  However it doesn't have that new car smell (or look or feel).  It's got some wear here and there but it's in really good shape and I love it.  The A/C blows cold air and I upgraded the radio, added bluetooth and some LED interior lighting so it's been refreshed.  However some might say it has an old and tired look.  Duh!  It's twenty years old!  But it's still in great shape. 
Compared to a brand car it doesn't have that new car feel but that doesn't mean it still isn't fun to drive and enjoyable.

I've been learning a new video editing program while at the same time going back to my 2017 videos from the helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier.  This is why I've been delayed posting to this thread.
When I took this excursion I was focused on taking still pictures.  I had a GoPro with me so I strapped it to my head to capture the ride without thinking about ever posting the video publicly, it was just for me use to remember this excursion.   I've learned a lot since then including that a GoPro on your head isn't the best way to capture an experience (I didn't use a GoPro to capture the Five Glacier Float Plane video posted earlier).  Nonetheless the GoPro video of the helicopter excursion is what I had to work with so I've put this video together because I think it does a better job portraying the overall experience compared to looking at some pictures.
This excursion remains one of my top excursions ever and it's something I highly recommend.  Every time I have seen a glacier since the memories of seeing the Mendenhall Glacier up close and walking on a glacier come flooding back.  
I booked this excursion through Celebrity and last year as I monitored pricing of my other Royal Alaska excursions it was priced the same as it was back in 2017.  When it went on sale for several weeks cheaper than what I paid in 2017 I was tempted to do it again but had other plans.  The point is to check your excursions for price drops frequently, you just never know.
With all my excuses out of the way (I'm saving blaming the dog for use later) here is the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter video:

 

When a hurricane spins up during cruise season a lot of people just want to cancel based on an emotional reaction.  Instead Royal stays the course and waits until closer to determine what cruises can operate normally or near normally and don't NEED to be canceled.  That frustrates some people who watch the Weather channel hour after hour and get freaked out.  Meanwhile the smart business play is to only cancel cruises that truly need to be cancelled.  
I've sailed on a cruise that left the day after a Hurricane swept up the FL East coast.  We flew past the Hurricane on the flight down being one of the first planes to land after they reopened the airport.  It was a smooth flight and a great cruise with awesome weather.  Some people were frustrated when they didn't cancel the cruise but the truth is they didn't have to.  By waiting it became clear they didn't need to cancel the cruise.  
That's not a perfect analogy to this pandemic but if they cancel too far out they might be cancelling cruises that can operate.  This week we learned of a new 5 minute test that could be a game changer.  We may be on the verge of getting a vaccine coming to market.  The smart business play is to wait and not cancel cruises that might be able to operate despite the speculation of the public. 
As far as the delay of the Healthy Sail Panel I think that is also smart.  If they announce findings now while the CDC public opinion period is open it will induce thousands of submissions with opinions on the panel's findings from an arguably non-scientific public dwelling over every detail.  All the arguments for both sides of the mask debate will be submitted in the thousands resulting in delays to the CDC progress as they pour through the responses.  That's just one example.  Enter the great "I should be able to serve myself in the buffet" debate or "I should be able to check in whenever I want to" debate or "I must be able to book my own private excursions" debate and so on and so on.  By waiting until after the public response period is closed they save the CDC from facing an onslaught of new opinions being submitted which will just slow down the CDC.   

I called the RCL office and they are telling me that I still owe them money and it is an IT issue.   Fingers crossed!

The Captain gave me permission to stick my head out and snap a picture at warp speed.  It's a pretty smooth ride as we skip over the swells but the sea mist stings a bit when it hits at this speed.

We should arrive by 5 he said... time for bed.

I bet they were sharing the drink package as well.
 
Just attempting to have a normal cruise board ?

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

And here I tough we were special.

And here I tough we were special.

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

And here I tough we were special.

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

After waiting since the middle of March we have received all of our refunds. We would also like to say a big thank you to Michelle @ Mei Travel for all the hard work she has done for us during this crazy time.

Just wanted to let you all know we  receive all are refunds today. We have ben waiting since the middle of March.