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The Old Man and the Sea - Allured back to Star Class


Rags1

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Day 6/At Sea:  We began the morning with a family breakfast in the suite. Romina insisted on the tablecloth’s and setting everything up. After breakfast the gang went to the pool while I explored and took photos. A leisurely morning!

Lunch the family went to Izumi Sushi. Sine I’m not really a bait eater I ate in the WJ and then went to the boardwalk for two reasons.  First, our good friends back home own an ice cream shop and they asked for a picture of the cupcake sundae. After getting one of them for the photo…I ate it. All of it!  And I had just eaten lunch. The second mission was a hot dog. This is our 5th Oasis class in a row and I’ve never gotten a hotdog. I crossed that off the list with a regular dog with grilled onions. Ate it all. WJ, Cups and Scoops and the Dog House all within an hour!  And reservations for chops in 3 1/2 hours. 
 

Relaxed on the balcony while posting here then time to eat again!😂. The whole gang went to Chops. I had another filet along with a shrimp cocktail. And two lobster tails that I didn’t order but appeared. I finished off with the warm chocolate cake and ice cream which I could eat all day. We finished dinner and headed to the ice show. Great performance by amazing athletes. 
Stacy had mentioned to Romina how the four who went to Chefs Table enjoyed the dessert that I think is called the the World or Globe or some other round thing  four of them showed up at Chops  

The kids and I then went to see the ventriloquist. Only Taylor had seen it the first night. They enjoyed it and Cody was the chosen person for the guy to interact with. He had a great time. We finished off with some casino and club time before getting some sleep before our FINAL day of the cruise. 

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Day 7 - Sea Day. This was a really laid back day without many plans. Everyone went their own way for breakfast. Stacy and I ate in the WJ again. She really likes the variety of food and I’m content with an omelette and some tomato juice!  The rest of the gang spent some time at the pool and I relaxed on the balcony and explored a little. A couple of the family did the flow rider. All of us went to the boardwalk to take LDT on her first ride on a carousel, which she loved. Since we were there we decided to do lunch at Sabors. As we were about to see if they had a table Romina appeared out of thin air and, poof, we were in!  The Sabors staff is amazing. So friendly and welcoming.  Followed that up with a family stop at Cups and Scoops. After lunch some napped, some went to the pool and Taylor and I took our “throwback” photo. 
   We had dinner on our balcony from the main dining room. We’ll, everyone except Taylor did. Taylor had a dinner date in Choos with someone so may, or may not, work for Royal. Someone who may, or may not, have been our Genie😂. The steak Diane was very good. Enjoyed some beautiful weather and family time. Then the youngsters were off to gamble and dance. Everyone was packed and dreading leaving the following morning. 
   We thought about using the jacuzzi but for the third night it wouldn’t heat. We had informed our steward but I also let Romina know. Hopefully they fixed it for the next guests. 
   A note about Cups and Scoops. The first time I stopped in I met Lucy who works there. What a walking, ice cream scooping, giggling bundle of fun this lady is!  I explained to her that I didn’t want anything, that I just wanted to take some photos. I told her that my friends here at home own an ice cream shop and I wanted to show them what her store looks like. She was so pleasant and gracious. After I took photos she asked if I was sure I didn’t want anything.  I said I’d have one scoop of ice cream. I laid down that black Star Class card and she said “Oh my, black card!”  She wanted to send cupcakes to the room!  She was the person that every first time Star cruiser should meet!  She couldn’t do enough. So on day 7 as we were eating at Sabors, the Johnny Rocket staff did their dance on the boardwalk. And just a few notes into the music, Lucy joined the dancing line!  She is a jewel. The whole family went in to meet her after lunch. When we got back to the room later Lucy had sent cupcakes up for everyone!  

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Day 8 - Departure.  Up early with the vibrations from docking. Stacy, Shari and I had breakfast in the Coastal Kitchen. Most of the others slept as late as possible. Katie had an early appointment at Next Cruise to plan the “free” cruise from the casino. Romina met us in the suite at 830 with two gentlemen with luggage carts. It may have been 10 minutes from leaving the room until we were checked in with the Go Port Canaveral folks for our transportation. Very smooth. Go Port worked well for us again this year. It’s transportation from the airport, the hotel room, transportation to the ship and then the return to the airport. There was a large selection of hotels in both Orlando and the Port area. Clean and comfortable passenger busses and friendly staff. I recommend them. 
   Grabbed a quick bite of airport junk food in Orlando. Had a bumpy ride to Dallas for our 3 1/2 hour layover. We ate at Fridays in Dallas before the flight into Palm Springs. It was a long but smooth travel day. And that wraps up the trip. I do have some comments on random things to post in a bit. 

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The beginning of Random Stuff:

Romina set us all up with WhatsApp so we could communicate with her while onboard.  The first couple of days there were times when someone in the group was late for a show or dinner. I began to use this photo, which I think was outside Giovanni.  I sent it it with the text “It’s time for dinner!”  Can you hear me now?

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I mentioned our server at Chops in an earlier post. Her name is Janelle. She not only is the most efficient and professional server I’ve encountered on any Royal ship but she has a bubbly, wonderful personality that instantly makes you love her. Our first night she went around the table asking our names. She left to go put in drink and appetizer orders and when she returned a few minutes later went around the table in the opposite direction with each of our names!  I actually made sure there was nothing written on her tray😂. She anticipated our needs, insured the courses flowed just right and laughed and joked with us the entire time. We specifically requested her the second night. She’s easy to talk to and when dinner is over you feel like you’ve made a new friend!  SHE SHOULD BE IN A POSITION TO TRAIN OTHERS WITHIN THE COMPANY!  CAN YOU HEAR ME ROYAL??66B90645-9E9D-4439-BE23-33D70838627F.thumb.jpeg.ce2b9961320abc5cc726cf422d60e164.jpeg

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On 10/5/2021 at 5:08 PM, Rags1 said:

Here’s the greatest thing so far:  someone asked on a FB group if anyone was going to be on the Allure in the next few weeks. I responded that I would be aboard on the 17th.  He then asked if I’d be willing to purchase some tuna pouches and Ben’s rice and take it to Romeo at the Champagne bar. Seems Romeo had taken great care of this couple and had also indicated that he missed his tuna and Ben’s rice!😂. So of course I will now be shopping for those items before we leave. I explained to the gentleman that as I get older the “firsts” in my life come less often. But this was a first!  A total stranger asked me to buy some tuna, cart it about 3000 miles and then give it to another guy I don’t know and haven’t met. I’m all in!  The tuna caper. It shall be blogged!

 

 

Another mission accomplished!  I packed all of this in my suitcase tucked in every open space around clothing. I prayed all the way to Florida that those tuna packages didn’t explode at altitude!  I’m not sure that the free STAR laundry service would’ve helped with that problem!

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After the reenactment of the daddy/daughter photo I had the urge to sit up on the piano like Dean Martin used to do on his television show😂. But I thought Taylor looked much cooler up there!  The second picture is when I was changing after the photo. I threatened to go to dinner dressed like this. My wife threatened to call security. And a divorce 😭

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We’ll, time to wrap this one up. I’m just posting things probably only of interest to me at this point!  Closing thoughts:

- Romina was wonderful. Great personality, flexible and accommodating. 
-  Regret not getting to meet @twangster.  Maybe he is a bot.

-  Covid protocols are hit and miss. I was told verbally and in writing that no crew would come in the room when we were there. You must pick up food at the door from the cart. They all came in the room.  
-  Service was outstanding, except for Giovannis. Service was so bad there at lunch that we canceled our dinner there and didn’t return.

Thank you for following along with me. Stacy and I will be on a four night Navigator sailing in 32 days to celebrate her birthday. I might bore you again😂

Happy Sailing everyone!

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