Anniversary Tales – Episode XXI: From Galaxy’s Edge to the Wondrous Seas – WN 7/23/23 – 7/30/23

[MLH]

We are flying first class from ATL to Vancouver.  Do you go on the app  to pick your meals?

[Jax]

14 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I truly think that Delta makes it sound fancier than it is. I still think that Air Canada has a way better FC product. I just don’t trust AC to be reliable.

True, I still shake my head that WestJet maintains the same menu for the entire month. The least they could do is have several rotating menus on a weekly basis or more options on their monthly menu.  So annoying.  But they are the only carrier that flies direct from YYC to FLL and MCO so it is what it is. I value direct flights more than their in flight meal offerings I guess.  Lol I can’t wait to see the pics of your breaky! 

[Lovetocruise2002]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

But I am a budgeter that assigns value to everything. I can do luxury on a budget. I don't think doing star class/being a suite snob makes @Lovetocruise2002 , @Neesa or anyone else any less down to earth. Just like choosing only interiors wouldn't make another person cheap. 

Trust me, I total get that and respect that. This is how I was raised. My Dad and I have discussions about this all the time, but our views differ slightly now  I think a lot had to do with the last few years. The pandemic really taught us some hard lessons about how short life is, that and we feel an urgency with the kids because we feel like we are running out of time with them. But I cannot blame this one on the kids, this was all me lol.

[Lovetocruise2002]

3 hours ago, MLH said:

We are flying first class from ATL to Vancouver.  Do you go on the app  to pick your meals?

Yes, for Delta right? They should have sent you an email a week before your flight. You can also go into the app and choose as well. I always use the app.

2 hours ago, Jax said:

I value direct flights more than their in flight meal offerings I guess.  Lol I can’t wait to see the pics of your breaky! 

I am with you on that one! I am even contemplating AC again for Europe next summer because DTW does not have direct flight to Barcelona (on any airline).

[Lovetocruise2002]

@MLH it looks like this in the app. If you have not picked meals yet, it would say “choose” instead of “change”.

[Jax]

13 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

we feel an urgency with the kids because we feel like we are running out of time with them.

This ^^^^^^ and in my case it seems worse because Reyd is an only child and I can’t imagine a vacation without him. Our TA refers to Reyd as Land Genie #2.  Lol. He shares my love of travel, cruising in particular.  Lindsay not so much.

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, Jax said:

and I can’t imagine a vacation without him

I have 2 and it already feels weird to only book one of them for March 2025

[asquared17]

20 hours ago, SweetPea said:

We hate MUSHROOMS!! 

How can you be from New Jersey and hate tomatoes?? It's the best thing we have to offer the planet!! You. Are.  Literally.  Breaking. My  

we DO hate mushrooms!!

i am a bad italian because i hate tomatoes but love salsa, ketchup and tomato sauce. my father is convinced i will change my mind about them because i used to be against mustard and i changed my mind about it in the more recent years but i feel pretty strongly about this

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I eat more than I ever would in my "real" life and always lose weight

i’m definitely more active and grazing/eating more consistently than i am during non cruise time. this is why we walk all over the ship

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I don't think doing star class/being a suite snob makes @Lovetocruise2002 , @Neesa or anyone else any less down to earth. Just like choosing only interiors wouldn't make another person cheap. 

i honestly love that they do star class so i can selfishly live through their experiences!!

to me, i can budget to take several cruises in a balcony/maybe a JS here and there if we get it early on, and i would be happier doing that than to sink it all into one sky class sailing. but that’s me. 

meanwhile my parents are very bougie and do more with their sailings — they’re also in a different bracket of life than me, and they’ve worked HARD, and they should be able to do what they have earned over the years

@Lovetocruise2002 i am deeply relieved over the water situation. i was getting very nervous that the specialty restaurants would not release the acqua panna

[Lovetocruise2002]

6 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

we DO hate mushrooms!!

Wait, what? I thought you liked anything truffle??  

[asquared17]

3 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Wait, what? I thought you liked anything truffle??  

LOVE truffle. HATE mushrooms. 

@SweetPea back me up here!!

[Ampurp85]

So fresh tomatoes don't agree with me. I can eat it as salsa, sauce and ketchup. Not sliced on a burger or salad. I love mushrooms but am not a fan of truffles.......we all have strange tastes.

I also agree life is short, hence why I would never bemoan anyone who wants star class or who prefers interiors. I very much enjoy reading about everyone's experiences. I definitely feel like you work star class and get the most out of it. Every time I finish your blog, I get the card out to book, then I think......I just want to go in the casino and people watch, a genie can't help me with that.

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, Ampurp85 said:

I definitely feel like you work star class and get the most out of it. Every time I finish your blog, I get the card out to book, then I think......I just want to go in the casino and people watch, a genie can't help me with that.

We all like what we like.

We had an amazing CK experience last month. I doubt it could ever be matched crew-wise, the food was good, and I'm thankful to be able to experience Sky Class every once in a while b/c I'm definitely not paying for it myself. But just like after last year's family suite cruise, I got home and thought "I should have gone to the standard included food venues more often."

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, asquared17 said:

LOVE truffle. HATE mushrooms. 

@SweetPea back me up here!!

I am still confused? Aren’t truffles also mushrooms? Lol

[SweetPea]

4 hours ago, asquared17 said:

LOVE truffle. HATE mushrooms. 

@SweetPea back me up here!!

Truffles are to Dom Perignon like Mushrooms are to Korbel ....

[Lovetocruise2002]

7 hours ago, SweetPea said:

Truffles are to Dom Perignon like Mushrooms are to Korbel ....

Ah, ok, now you are speaking my language! Lol

[MLH]

15 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@MLH it looks like this in the app. If you have not picked meals yet, it would say “choose” instead of “change”.

For future reference:  

Delta Menu (mydeltamenu.com)  Just change the SEA to your departing airport code in the url.

[DDaley]

18 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am even contemplating AC again for Europe next summer

We took AC to Greece last summer by way of Montreal and had such an amazing experience! We were severely delayed leaving Athens and nearly missed our Montreal connection but the gate attendant re-opened it for us and sent us down anyway. I know she did not have to do that!! We were only in premium economy (a step above steerage) but it was well worth the money as we got to fly first on two of the legs. One day I will be an all FC-flying, full-suite snob like you!! 

[Lovetocruise2002]

30 minutes ago, DDaley said:

We were only in premium economy

Their premium economy product is definitely better than Delta. For us to fly AC, it would be a drive to Toronto which is about 4 hours, compared to a drive to Detroit, which is like 45 minutes. That is always the hard part to get over.

[Lovetocruise2002]

Random musings on a Friday afternoon when you don't have to work:

- I REALLY need to start packing.

- Packing this time seems like it's going to take forever. Not sure why?

- Normally, I pack way faster than this, and have a plan in place already with clear goals.

- D14 and I are just sitting here chatting and I think this is all because I am not juggling the craziness of work/kids in school/having to pack.

- Normally, because life is so busy, any small amount of time I have, I am clearly focused to do whatever needs to be done. Now that's summer, and we have all sorts of time, I am missing that pressure to get started which leads me to sitting here thinking...Oh, I better get started, but yet I am not moving.

- Maybe work is good for me? Nope. Not going there lol

- Anyway, I really should get packing....

#countingmyblessings 

[Lovetocruise2002]

2.5 hours later…

My closet looks like it exploded. Then I realized that a lot of what I need to pack is in the hamper one load of laundry in; 2 to go.

However, the shoes are pretty much ready to go! I will probably add 2 more pairs of flip flops. @asquared17…notice no kitten heels

Also, pro tip. If you are a tea snob, you bring your own tea.

Only one Genie ever has been able to get “my tea”, and that was without me even asking. No clue how that happened. 

[Lovetocruise2002]

Hubby wanted me to post this. He wants all of you to know that Star Wars is serious business in this household. This 29 inch luggage is coming with us empty…but will likely come back on the 30th completely full.

This is in addition to the other 29 inch that we always bring.

[SMOKEY0202]

Stars Wars for Hubby=Another sparkly Effy piece or 2 for you that Hubby can treat you so that's a win overall plus with the RU bid win

[Sweety]

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Hubby wanted me to post this. He wants all of you to know that Star Wars is serious business in this household. This 29 inch luggage is coming with us empty…but will likely come back on the 30th completely full.

This is in addition to the other 29 inch that we always bring.

Tell hubby about my Star Wars Anniversary jersey gift to my husband.  A new cruise was worth the jersey.

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 hours ago, SMOKEY0202 said:

Stars Wars for Hubby=Another sparkly Effy piece or 2 for you that Hubby can treat you so that's a win overall plus with the RU bid win

I like the way you think!

I truly don't know if I need anymore Effy right now. I am pretty happy with the RU win. Although, if we venture into St. Thomas and Ash is there, then I suppose you never know lol

1 hour ago, Sweety said:

Tell hubby about my Star Wars Anniversary jersey gift to my husband.  A new cruise was worth the jersey.

I really need to look up this Star Wars Anniversary jersey.....

[Lovetocruise2002]

Hannah has also confirmed over email that Wonder's priority policy for the Flowrider is one session (1 hour) on a sea day. Skip the line seems to be becoming a thing of the past.

 

[MLH]

26 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Hannah has also confirmed over email that Wonder's priority policy for the Flowrider is one session (1 hour) on a sea day. Skip the line seems to be becoming a thing of the past.

 

That is normally at8 am followed by Key guests at 9am.  Last time there were 15 star people which really was not any better than the normal line. The only positive is it wasnt a split surface for boogie boarding.  I took a video and sent it to the powers that be.  Would much rather have skip the line.

[Lovetocruise2002]

9 minutes ago, MLH said:

That is normally at8 am followed by Key guests at 9am.  Last time there were 15 star people which really was not any better than the normal line. The only positive is it wasnt a split surface for boogie boarding.  I took a video and sent it to the powers that be.  Would much rather have skip the line.

In March, Harmony had it at 9am so let’s hope it’s closer to that time lol. I will keep you guys posted.

[asquared17]

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

 @asquared17…notice no kitten heels

BECAUSE KITTEN HEELS ARE THE DEVIL!!

give me a six inch platform or give me death I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL [shakes fist at the sky]
 

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Also, pro tip. If you are a tea snob, you bring your own tea.

amen. my mom does this as well (hers is from ~france ) and of course, i have no room to talk with my cold brew dependency

7 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

D14 and I are just sitting here chatting

not sure why but this really got me in the feels happy you guys are having this time even if the back of your mind is flinging guilt because it wants you to pack

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

My closet looks like it exploded

rip i spoke too soon i know this struggle all too well. the saturday before our harmony cruise, i decided it was prime time to go through my ENTIRE CLOSET. eight hours later, i emerged victorious but the day was gone

21 hours ago, SweetPea said:

Truffles are to Dom Perignon like Mushrooms are to Korbel ...

this was so well stated and i am once again, reassured in our friendship (you’re not the only one betrayed by tomatoes!!)

[Lovetocruise2002]

52 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

not sure why but this really got me in the feels happy you guys are having this time

I cherish our mother/daughter kitchen table chats. It’s a regular occurrence in our house, but never once do I take them for granted.

52 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

eight hours later, i emerged victorious but the day was gone

I just finished drying and folding that last load of laundry from earlier. Today is practically a packing write off. But at least I am mentally prepped now. Tomorrow should move way faster with the clothes. It’s the toiletries that are going to take forever. But I know you get me with that too that will have to be a Sunday/Monday task. 

[BobbieS]

SO excited for your RU! That just makes the anniversary trip even sweeter! It sounds like it is going to be perfect for both of you - Star Wars and Star Class! 

[OCSC Mike]

7 minutes ago, BobbieS said:

Star Wars and Star Class! 

New thread title perhaps?

“From Star Wars to Star Class”

BTW, I’ll jump back into the discussion when it gets back to the cruise itself. The amount of stuff you guys (and of course by that I respectfully mean women) go through to pack & prepare blows my mind. I can admit I’m very spoiled being able to drive an hour to my cruises & don’t get dressed up & am a guy. More power to ya!

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

10 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I cherish our mother/daughter kitchen table chats. It’s a regular occurrence in our house, but never once do I take them for granted.

Absolutely!  I truly enjoyed my years bringing up 3 awesome children.  The teen years may have had some ups and downs (most definitely !) but we survived it all!  My daughters are now 42 and 41 with families of their own and I still cherish our times together.  Not to leave him out…my son is 43 and an absolute gem!  
Family is the most important thing at this point in my life and I am thankful for every single minute we get together!

Oh and the bonus is I have 5 grandchildren whom I get to spend so much time with and do not take any of it for granted!  

You are in the midst of building the foundation for yours and their future and you are doing a great job!

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 hours ago, BobbieS said:

Star Wars and Star Class! 

 

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

New thread title perhaps?

“From Star Wars to Star Class”

Haha! If I had been able to predict what was going to happen….

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

The amount of stuff you guys (and of course by that I respectfully mean women) go through to pack & prepare blows my mind. I can admit I’m very spoiled being able to drive an hour to my cruises & don’t get dressed up & am a guy. More power to ya!

Hubby won’t think about any packing or anything until Tuesday night. that blows my mind lol

17 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

The teen years may have had some ups and downs

That’s where we are right now! All I can say is that I thought the toddler years were hard. At least I knew where they were at that age! 
 

19 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Family is the most important thing at this point in my life and I am thankful for every single minute we get together!

That just sums it up perfectly! That is the foundation I was raised on. Our family is tight and we are so thankful for that. My mom, sisters, and I still have kitchen table chats when we are able to. Just had one a few days ago. Such a blessing. 

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Hubby won’t think about any packing or anything until Tuesday night. that blows my mind lol

This will really blow your mind then...

I pack most of my stuff the day before... but I don't fold and pack my shirts until embarkation morning b/c we get up early and I don't like wrinkles, lol. I pull them from my closet and iron if needed the day before but then they're all lined up hanging from one of those small hanger bars on wheels waiting for me in the morning.

[SweetPea]

3 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

New thread title perhaps?

“From Star Wars to Star Class”

BTW, I’ll jump back into the discussion when it gets back to the cruise itself. The amount of stuff you guys (and of course by that I respectfully mean women) go through to pack & prepare blows my mind. I can admit I’m very spoiled being able to drive an hour to my cruises & don’t get dressed up & am a guy. More power to ya!

Literally made me

I'm with you there, and I'm a chick!

[WAAAYTOOO]

54 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

This will really blow your mind then...

I pack most of my stuff the day before... but I don't fold and pack my shirts until embarkation morning b/c we get up early and I don't like wrinkles, lol. I pull them from my closet and iron if needed the day before but then they're all lined up hanging from one of those small hanger bars on wheels waiting for me in the morning.

It literally takes Dan and me 1 hour to pack for a cruise.  Most of the "cruise stuff" just stays in the suitcases.  Our cruise clothing strategy is so simple...we just wear what we usually wear.  I take a couple of dressy(er) pants outfits; sometimes Dan brings his tux but less often, these days.  2-3 pair of shoes each....couple of bathing suits.  Yep.  That's about it.  Done and gone.

[OCSC Mike]

5 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

It literally takes Dan and me 1 hour to pack for a cruise.  Most of the "cruise stuff" just stays in the suitcases.  Our cruise clothing strategy is so simple...we just wear what we usually wear.  I take a couple of dressy(er) pants outfits; sometimes Dan brings his tux but less often, these days.  2-3 pair of shoes each....couple of bathing suits.  Yep.  That's about it.  Done and gone.

I like it! I basically grab a t-shirt for each day (plus an extra or two just in case) and a polo for each night. Shorts for day, pants for night, two pairs of swim trunks and a rash guard for each (b/c I burn like Neesa's daughter), sandals, flip flops, one pair of shoes for at night, done.

My wife isn't too different, t-shirts or tanks for day, casual dresses at night, few extra pairs of shoes/sandals, and she brings a few workout outfits b/c she used to run almost every morning (now she walks).

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

but I don't fold and pack my shirts until embarkation morning b/c we get up early and I don't like wrinkles, lol

I do this with my dresses. They hang in a dress bag in my closet (unzipped) right up until we have to leave for the airport. Then I fold in half, put it in the luggage as Hubby loads the car. As soon as we get to our hotel, the first thing that comes out is the dress bag. This is all to try and avoid wrinkles too. Hubby hates this system because it throws him off every time. He think we have tons of space in the large 29 inch checked luggage and then the dress bag goes on and all the space vanishes.

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Literally made me

I'm with you there, and I'm a chick!

@OCSC Mike , @SweetPea, @WAAAYTOOO maybe it's driving to the port vs. flying to the port thing. I wouldn't know; don't have that luxury here in Southern Ontario. Unless I want to do a Great Lakes cruise, which my aunt tried to convince me to do last weekend lol...pass.

Some standard cruise stuff never gets unpacked, for example, the magnetic hooks and clips, beach bag, etc., but I seriously have to think through each day and outfit. That is what takes a while. This time we have Disney in the mix and like @OCSC Mike said, it's boiling hot so I would need my lightest clothing items. Then we have my Orlando shopping day so I need a cute outfit for that, lol...you get the picture. My poor Dad had 3 girls, every trip we took, he was miserable when it came to luggage time. I haven't grown out of that 

 

[Lovetocruise2002]

Oh, and to continue to justify why it takes me so long to pack, it requires a good amount of strategy because I always pack like I am going to lose my checked luggage. So a certain amount of organizing has to take place while packing. Those driving to the port don't have that problem.

On top of that, I always say to Hubby and the kids, we don't want every single suitcase opened and sprawled out in the hotel room pre-cruise. The goal is to organize it so that we only open 1-2 suitcases. The rest stays locked until we get on the ship.

My family says that I have too many "systems". As I type this, I am beginning to see why. But systems work and makes things efficient  I should stop talking about my systems and go continue my packing!

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

This time we have Disney in the mix and like @OCSC Mike said, it's boiling hot so I would need my lightest clothing items. Then we have my Orlando shopping day so I need a cute outfit for that, lol...you get the picture.

 

2 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

maybe it's driving to the port vs. flying to the port thing. I wouldn't know; don't have that luxury here in Southern Ontario

Yeah, it's understandably more complicated factoring in all that stuff (especially the cute shipping outfit ). Haven't been to the outlets in ages.

Packing for 18 days in Alaska was quite the experience but we did a great job. It involved visiting the world's, ummm, let's go with "most interesting" laundromat towards the end of our 10 days on land to wash almost everything we brought before the southbound cruise. Then we spent a lovely 16 hours in your fine country, although far too many of those hours were in the freaking Vancouver airport waiting for a red eye, lol.