The Cruise I Said Wouldn’t Happen - Allure Star Class, September 10-17

[Rags1]

So about the blog title.  I need to bore you with some history so it makes sense.  Many moons ago we booked our September 2022 cruise. Then in April of last year my bride, Nurse Ratchet, decided we should buy a building and convert it to a restaurant. Yeah, seriously she did. Build and operate a

So about the blog title.  I need to bore you with some history so it makes sense.  Many moons ago we booked our September 2022 cruise. Then in April of last year my bride, Nurse Ratchet, decided we should buy a building and convert it to a restaurant. Yeah, seriously she did. Build and operate a restaurant.  Not retire and take a couple cruises a year. No. Open a restaurant.  At that point, I used the amazing negotiating skills I learned in my law enforcement career and within 20 minutes the decision was made to build and operate a restaurant !  So, with two partners (don't say it) we purchased a market in town that we would magically convert into the restaurant of Ratchet’s dreams. I told the family we more than likely wouldn't make the Sep ‘22 cruise because we'd be slammed serving up pizza and other delights and wouldn't have time to cruise. It was only April, surely we'd be open by September.  Right?  Without going into the joyous details of converting a market into a restaurant we soon realized that an opening date wouldn't happen before December. So we didn't cancel that cruise. We weren't ready to open and we had partners to monitor the project for a week so we went cruising last September, as planned. After a wonderful cruise, I was sitting in an airport in Florida on September 11, 2022 waiting for our flight home. To kill time before departure I might have perused available cruises for THIS September. Lo and behold, the very suite that we had just left an hour before, was available for September 10 of this year. But should I book it?  The restaurant was going to open in December so I wasn't sure we could plan another week away. But, we had partners!  (Don't say it). Yeah they can watch the restaurant. That was the thought in my head as I hit the ”book” button. 

 

Now I told you all of that to tell you this:  It's Aug 28, 2023.  The restaurant is not open.  There are no more partners. But by golly we're about to go cruising!  Shortly after we returned home last year the partners requested we buy them out because the project was more expensive than they had planned. So that happened. (And yes, we're still all friends).  And the construction, which I do myself, continued.  As did the requests, requirements, questions, inspections and fees from our wonderful County Building and Safety, Planning, and Health Departments. Sometime around March or April I told the girls we needed to cancel. But we didn't. I said it again just before final payment was due. But we didn't cancel. A few weeks ago I told them to go without me because this is a critical time in this restaurant and I needed to be here. And then really just days ago I finally decided that this cruise is a go - for all of us!  I need the break. Dealing with the County is like trying to un-ring a bell, wash a cat and put toothpaste back in the tube – all at the same time. I won't mention which County. (It's San Bernardino, California ). Their emails flow like blended Mojitos on the pool deck. Their direction changes as quickly as Captain Johnny trying to outrun a storm.  I feel like I'm caught in the middle of the Escape Room and the Quest!  I need a break.  And I think a cocktail on the balcony as we sail out of Galveston will provide that. So,in just 12 days we will board a Southwest Airlines jet, with two good engines, and fly from Palm Springs, Ca to Las Vegas, NV, to Tucson, AZ, to Houston Texas.  With the price of the room, budget air is a necessity ! 

 

I know this is an early start to the Blog. But after making the decision to go and reading @Lovetocruise2002live blog I need to switch from restaurant mode to CRUISE mode!  I hope some of you will follow along as Stacy, Katie, Taylor, Melissa and I head out for 7 wonderful days on our favorite Allure of the Seas.  Now I can spend a few days of not only thinking about it but writing about it. Makes it seem more real this way
 

.  Not retire and take a couple cruises a year. No. Open a restaurant.  At that point, I used the amazing negotiating skills I learned in my law enforcement career and within 20 minutes the decision was made to build and operate a restaurant !  So, with two partners (don't say it) we purchased a market in town that we would magically concert in the restaurant of Ratchet’s dreams. I told the family we more than likely wouldn't make the Sep ‘22 cruise because we'd be slammed serving up pizza and other delights and wouldn't have time to cruise. it was only April, surely we'd be open by September.  Right?  Without going into the joyous details of converting a market into a restaurant we soon realized that an opening date wouldn't happen before December. So we didn't cancel that cruise. We weren't ready to open and we had partners to monitor the project for a week so we went cruising last September, as planned. After a wonderful cruise, I was sitting in an airport in Florida on September 11, 2022 waiting for our flight home. To kill time before departure I might have perused available cruises for THIS September. Lo and behold, the very suite that we had just left an would hour before, was available for September 10 of this year. But should I book it?  The restaurant was going to open in December so I wasn't sure we could plan another week away. But, we had partners!  (Don't say it). Yeah they can watch the restaurant. That was the thought in my head as I hit the ”book” button. 

[MrsRags]

You are simply the best!  I can't wait to make new memories with you on this cruise!  Love you!  Nurse Ratchet

[Rags1]

I forgot to mention. Usually when we have a September cruise in the Caribbean we spend the latter part of August watching hurricane forecasts for the week of our cruise. Yeah, not this year. We’re located in the DESERT of Southern California about 18 miles from Palm Springs. The DESERT. As in dry.  Tumbleweeds. Sand. And we spent last week dead center in Hurricane, turned tropical storm Hilary as she blew through town. Ok. We got the hurricane out of the way, we can cruise now

[Sweety]

I am loving this blog. Love the energy 

[Lovetocruise2002]

I cannot wait!!! I love blogs by @Rags1! 

[JVPIII]

22 hours ago, Rags1 said:

I know this is an early start to the Blog. But after making the decision to go and reading @Lovetocruise2002live blog I need to switch from restaurant mode to CRUISE mode!  I hope some of you will follow along as Stacy, Katie, Taylor, Melissa and I head out for 7 wonderful days on our favorite Allure of the Seas.  Now I can spend a few days of not only thinking about it but writing about it. Makes it seem more real this way

Writing about it does make it real!! I cant wait to join on your adventures. I love your blogs!!

[Rags1]

A few of the details.  We’ll sail September 10-17 on the Allure in the Royal Loft, 1740.  It’s the third sailing in a row in that particular suite so I guess we’re in a pretty good rut!  It’s an awesome suite that we’ve been spoiled to sail in. This trip will be our “core” sailing group of my bride Stacy, the nurse and restaurant owner, Katie the Nurse Practitioner, and Taylor the preschool teacher.  Joining us this trip will be someone who would legally be described as a close friend but in reality is another daughter, Melissa who works in retail and hospitality.  She sailed with us about six years ago on our very first Star Class voyage in the RL and we’re excited she’s joining us again this year!  
I received the generic Star Class survey right about 60 days out. I filled one out and seriously don’t even remember my responses. We’re all convinced it’s hit and miss on if they’re read or not. We do communicate often with the Genie we sailed with last year.  Several weeks ago he returned from vacation and I messaged him saying we would love to sail with him again. He responded and told me to please ask for that in the survey!  Oops. So I submitted a second one. I don’t recall my exact answers on that one either but they were something like this:

Who is sailing with you?  Jay.

if you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be?  Jay.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?  You’d have to ask Jay.  
You get the picture for the rest

I received the email from our Genie at 31 days out. We were somewhat shocked, but thrilled, that we’ll be sailing this year with Royal Genie Jay!  Our family had such a great time with him last year. I don’t believe we have ever laughed as much or had such amazing spontaneous memories as we did sailing with Jay. He’s fun. An example is our schedule he provided to us. Note the travelers names on the top.

 

[Rags1]

We sail from Galveston this year, a first for all of us. Two ports, Roaton and Costa Maya will also be a first for all of us. We’ve all been to Cozumel. This will be our first Royal sailing not stopping at one of the private islands and it feels strange since we really enjoy them both. (That’s if you don’t count a quick 5 night on the Navigator we took a couple years ago. Or the Royal trips I took in my younger days long before I met Nurse Ratchet. Back when I sailed on on The Song of Norway and The Song of America.  And actually one of those Songs took me to Coco Cay when it was just a plain, beautiful island where we bbq’d on the beach. I think the Captain on that trip was either Cook or Columbus. )
In Roaton I have hired a car and driver to spend the day with us. Not sure yet exactly what we’ll do all day but I know a sloth visit will happen. The kids all have asked for that. I think it’s because they can relate:  they move slow, eat, enjoy hugs and would love to sleep most of the day. No plans yet for the other stops. 
As you can see from our schedule we will once again eat well!  We’ve left the last night TBD so we can repeat the restaurant we enjoy the most during the week. Since this is our third consecutive sailing on the Allure, we’ve seen it, done it and love it!  So there’s no pressure to do, eat or see anything specific. It’s actually been kind of a rough year for all of us so we’re looking forward to RELAXING, laughing and just enjoying our time together. And, we’re looking forward to seeing Lusi who works in Cups and Scoops!  Last year Jay provided really awesome, detailed cakes for special occasions. Mid-week we found out that Lusi was the artist who created them all. We had met her but didn’t know she was the one making the cakes. She is bubbly, extremely personable, happy, smiley and knocks it out of the park out dancing in front of Johnny Rockets!  Meeting her was one of the highlights of the trip and we can’t wait to see her again. 

[SweetPea]

Why do i get the feeling that the moniker Nurse Ratchet is ironic?

Looking forward to following along!

[Rags1]

Checking entertainment for next week MO5AIC will be the headliners. If you followed my blog last year you might remember that they came for dinner in the suite and gave us a couple hour private show!  They’re not only talented but down to earth fun guys. One or two of the guys communicate with the daughters now and then on Instagram, or Instacart or one of those chat things. He told her a month or so again they would be on this cruise but I thought he was joking. What a coincidence.  Almost a year to the day!  Looking forward to seeing them!

[MrsRags]

Wasn't that a fun night??? And that moon on the ocean looked like a movie set backdrop!  Those guys are as nice and fun as they are talented!  Can't wait to see them again and catch up!

 

[MrsRags]

On 8/30/2023 at 5:32 PM, Rags1 said:

We sail from Galveston this year, a first for all of us. Two ports, Roaton and Costa Maya will also be a first for all of us. We’ve all been to Cozumel. This will be our first Royal sailing not stopping at one of the private islands and it feels strange since we really enjoy them both. (That’s if you don’t count a quick 5 night on the Navigator we took a couple years ago. Or the Royal trips I took in my younger days long before I met Nurse Ratchet. Back when I sailed on on The Song of Norway and The Song of America.  And actually one of those Songs took me to Coco Cay when it was just a plain, beautiful island where we bbq’d on the beach. I think the Captain on that trip was either Cook or Columbus. )
In Roaton I have hired a car and driver to spend the day with us. Not sure yet exactly what we’ll do all day but I know a sloth visit will happen. The kids all have asked for that. I think it’s because they can relate:  they move slow, eat, enjoy hugs and would love to sleep most of the day. No plans yet for the other stops. 
As you can see from our schedule we will once again eat well!  We’ve left the last night TBD so we can repeat the restaurant we enjoy the most during the week. Since this is our third consecutive sailing on the Allure, we’ve seen it, done it and love it!  So there’s no pressure to do, eat or see anything specific. It’s actually been kind of a rough year for all of us so we’re looking forward to RELAXING, laughing and just enjoying our time together. And, we’re looking forward to seeing Lusi who works in Cups and Scoops!  Last year Jay provided really awesome, detailed cakes for special occasions. Mid-week we found out that Lusi was the artist who created them all. We had met her but didn’t know she was the one making the cakes. She is bubbly, extremely personable, happy, smiley and knocks it out of the park out dancing in front of Johnny Rockets!  Meeting her was one of the highlights of the trip and we can’t wait to see her again. 

This was my favorite cake that Lusi made! My husband and Jay surprised me with a retirement party, and this took the cake pardon the pun!

[Rags1]

4 minutes ago, MrsRags said:

This was my favorite cake that Lusi made! My husband and Jay surprised me with a retirement party, and this took the cake pardon the pun!

We’ll just look how you roll Ratchet!  It took me 2 1/2 years to learn how to post a picture!. But I agree this cake was the most thoughtful 

[SweetPea]

I want to cruise with you guys!!

[Rags1]

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

I want to cruise with you guys!!

Come on!  Actually we’re pretty boring. I just try to make us sound better on here!

[SweetPea]

1 hour ago, Rags1 said:

Come on!  Actually we’re pretty boring. I just try to make us sound better on here!

Somehow i know exactly what you mean!

[Lovetocruise2002]

13 hours ago, SweetPea said:

I want to cruise with you guys!!

Get in line! They are supposed to take me first! lol

[Lovetocruise2002]

15 hours ago, Rags1 said:

Checking entertainment for next week MO5AIC will be the headliners.

What are the odds? You guys are so lucky! I have been hoping to catch these guys again for years and no luck. 

[Rags1]

3 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

What are the odds? You guys are so lucky! I have been hoping to catch these guys again for years and no luck. 

I would think the leader of our Suite Snob Nation would only need to let Miami know of your wishes and it would happen!  Seriously, I hope you do get to see them again. Such talent. And when they did the impromptu performance in our suite you could tell how much they enjoy what they do and their relationships with each other!  Lots of laughing and joking.

[MrsRags]

18 hours ago, Rags1 said:

We’ll just look how you roll Ratchet!  It took me 2 1/2 years to learn how to post a picture!. But I agree this cake was the most thoughtful 

It literally took me about 15 tries and as many minutes!  HAHAHAHA!

[MrsRags]

17 hours ago, SweetPea said:

I want to cruise with you guys!!

Yes please!

[MrsRags]

7 minutes ago, Rags1 said:

I would think the leader of our Suite Snob Nation would only need to let Miami know of your wishes and it would happen!  Seriously, I hope you do get to see them again. Such talent. And when they did the impromptu performance in our suite you could tell how much they enjoy what they do and their relationships with each other!  Lots of laughing and joking.

My favorite song is Don't Stop Believing so we named our restaurant "Just A Small Town Grill" instead of Girl and the guys sang it for us that night substituting the word Grill for me!  How fun is that????

[SweetPea]

37 minutes ago, MrsRags said:

My favorite song is Don't Stop Believing so we named our restaurant "Just A Small Town Grill" instead of Girl and the guys sang it for us that night substituting the word Grill for me!  How fun is that????

Great. Now every time we hear that song at Howl at the Moon, i know what I'll be singing along ...

[Rags1]

Two days and counting!  I spent the day buttoning up the yet to be approved restaurant. I’ve spent several weeks in the kitchen experimenting with our menu. Today I decided to try and use most of the product I have on hand before leaving. So pizza day it was!  Since we’re a small town I know most all of the other business owners. Pizzas were delivered to our local fire department, gas station, ice cream shop, cactus store, feed and novelty store and a tire shop.  The reviews have been good!  I like Sorrento’s but I do believe that Just a Small Town Grill’s pizza is better!

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

I know Morongo Valley !  Back in the last millennium my [ex] husband was stationed in 29 Palms.  Lovely garden spot (sarcasm). I’m certain you will do very well.

[Rags1]

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I know Morongo Valley !  Back in the last millennium my [ex] husband was stationed in 29 Palms.  Lovely garden spot (sarcasm). I a, certain you will do very well.

@WAAAYTOOO, I Believe most Marines still consider 29 Palms a Garden spot. (More sarcasm!). But times have changed. This entire high desert area has become a playground for folks from Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles Counties. They flock here for beautiful night skies, overpriced vintage/flea market type stores, boutiques and hundreds of Airbnb locations.  Not to mention a National Park. And they all have to drive right by our little restaurant!  When one enters the high desert from any of those counties, we are the second building on the Highway.  The first is the post office.  And they don’t sell pizza and beer!  Location, location, location!

[Babsy47]

Well, Morongo Valley is not too far from my equally small town of Running Springs.  We are on the way to Big Bear and our local pizza place does all right!  Sounds like a great adventure!   

[Rags1]

Leaving Las Vegas!

[MLH]

Maybe you can teach Sorrentos how to make pizza!

[Lovetocruise2002]

6 hours ago, Rags1 said:

Leaving Las Vegas!

Have a safe flight!! 

[Sweety]

Can’t wait to hear about the journey thus far,

[Rags1]

Well it’s not been an uneventful day. Four of us have arrived safely in Galveston and the fifth should be arriving in about an hour. More on that tomorrow maybe.  I’ll begin the Galveston report with our transportation. It was awesome. It was a hoot!  We booked with Rock the Ride Galveston. Private van from Hobby Airport.  Our driver was Monty. Used to be a prison warden. Knows EVERYTHING there is to know about Galveston. But this guy was not just a driver. He had more entertainment in his van than you’d find in the Aqua Theater!  Karaoke. Digital trivia screens. Phone and tablet chargers everywhere. A basket of props for different karaoke tunes. Guitars. The best singer in our group by far!  Courtesy stop at Buckeys. Offered to stop anywhere we wanted. Cost was $95 for five people. When we arrived in Galveston he said he’d be happy to show us some sights if we wanted. 2 1/2 hours later we really felt that we’d toured the town!  This guy was amazing. Corny jokes but a book of knowledge. If you want a different transportation experience, well you just hook yourself up with Monty!  He’s even going back to the airport tonight to pick up our straggler. 

[Rags1]

Two pretty hard landings today by Southwest. But we had three successful landings and that matched the number of takeoffs, so there’s that. First cabin crew out of Palm Springs was seriously funnier than any Royal comedian I’ve ever seen!  Movies were free so I watched Mama Mia to prep for the week. We’re staying at the Holiday Inn Resort Galveston-On the Beach.  The name is much nicer than the building but it’ll do for one night. Had a quick dinner in the hotel restaurant and are calling it a night. 

[Rags1]

You can tell I’m not from around here…it’s Buc-ee’s

[Rags1]

Interesting tidbit from here. One of the big hurricanes long ago snapped many of the huge beautiful oak trees that line the old town streets. Instead of removing the stumps some folks had them carved into masterpieces.

[Rags1]

[SweetPea]

Buc-ees is AMAZING! They just opened one at my FIL's hometown in TN, and i would happy working there full time. 

For those who aren't familiar, i do love this YT channel where Brits feed high schoolers American food and American high schoolers British food and film their reactions. Clean fun. One of my favorites is where Brit kids try a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the first time. This is my second favorite.  This is the one where Brits visit Buc-ees

 

 

[Rags1]

Good morning from Galveston!  Thought I would share this beautiful photo that perfectly captures the beauty of the Holiday Inn Resort’s HVAC system.. Polyanna opened the curtains and said “Honey come and look at how beautiful this is!”  I’m like “Yeah the coils need cleaning.”  That folks is why she is always happier than I am!  
But…IT’S CRUISE DAY!  (Sorry @Cruisin and Boozin). 
The girls are still asleep in their room dreaming of frozen mojitos. But I just texted them this: “open your curtains.  Look at the flags. Re-pack those short dresses!”

Departing on the hotel shuttle at 9:30. 

[Cruisin and Boozin]

It’s almost all yours lol

[Rags1]

5 minutes ago, Cruisin and Boozin said:

It’s almost all yours lol

We have one extra space in the suite!  You guys can flip a coin. Be safe today!