A Reflection Back on 22 Years, An Adventure into Many More – AD 7.27.2024 & RF 8.2.2024

[WAAAYTOOO]

12 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

So I might have done a thing….

I just booked us a backup flight, fully refundable, later in the day on Thursday. I am not sure if that was the best idea, but the more I watch things, the more nervous I am getting. I figured if we get on our morning flight; then I cancel. If not, at least I have one other option now later in the day

I think you did the right thing.  I just got an alert that Delta is still canceling lots of flights.  Best of luck.  This just sucks.

[Lovetocruise2002]

35 minutes ago, JohnK6404 said:

Happy Anniversary in advance!!!!!

Enjoy your time together without the "freeloaders", LOL! 

Thank you! 

[Jax]

18 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

That sums up my relationship with Delta, but not the loyalty perks, it’s the delta hub and best scheduling. 

This is my story too, except with WestJet. Their head office is YYC and they are the only carrier that offers direct flights to MCO and FLL. We overlook annoyances for the convenience of a direct flight 

[WannaCruise]

23 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

So I might have done a thing….

I just booked us a backup flight, fully refundable, later in the day on Thursday. I am not sure if that was the best idea, but the more I watch things, the more nervous I am getting. I figured if we get on our morning flight; then I cancel. If not, at least I have one other option now later in the day

So stressful, and am sorry you have uncertainty now.  Think that's a great idea...esp if refundable.  Here's hoping your original flight is a go and you don't have to use it.

Years ago, it was just winter flying that you had to worry about...now it is any time of year, and for multiple reasons.

[Lovetocruise2002]

Quick search on Google Flights tells me that Delta and Spirit are my only options for non-stop to MCO out of DTW. My goodness we need prayers lol

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 minute ago, WannaCruise said:

Years ago, it was just winter flying that you had to worry about...now it is any time of year, and for multiple reasons.

That's so true isn't it. We have built in two days before sailing since our March 2022 fiasco but it's still stressful.

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Quick search on Google Flights tells me that Delta and Spirit are my only options for non-stop to MCO out of DTW. My goodness we need prayers lol

Been busy with real life stuff as I mentioned so not sure of the specifics here but hope everything works out as smoothly as possible!

FWIW, I flew Spirit once b/c it was the only non-stop to Atlantic City from here and we had a wedding to attend there. It wasn't pretty but we made it!

[Sweety]

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Quick search on Google Flights tells me that Delta and Spirit are my only options for non-stop to MCO out of DTW. My goodness we need prayers lol

Praying that everything works out for your best. I was in the glitch last Friday.

[Lovetocruise2002]

44 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

FWIW, I flew Spirit once b/c it was the only non-stop to Atlantic City from here and we had a wedding to attend there. It wasn't pretty but we made it!

We used to fly Spirit a lot back in our early 20s. However, we gave up on that airline a long time ago due to delays, bad scheduling, and the final straw was once we sat on the runway for 4 hours in the heat because they had no gate for us to de-plane.

[Lovetocruise2002]

20 minutes ago, Sweety said:

Praying that everything works out for your best. I was in the glitch last Friday.

Thank you! I honestly thought that it would have blown over by now. I was wrong.

[Lovetocruise2002]

Onto happier things…FOOD! 

Here are the specialty restaurant menus sent to me from shoreside. We are planning to try all of them once, except Lawn Club Grill. That place seems like it would be heavy with a lot of meat, and because it’s a 3-night sailing, we would have to drop one anyway, so that one is it. One thing I already like about Celebrity is that, according to the app, specialty restaurants open on port days as well. There’s also a place called The Porch. They never sent the pdf for that, but I saw in the app that they have a lobster roll so we will be doing that for lunch too one day. 

Lawn Club Grill

Le Petit Chef

Murano 

Sushi on 5

Tuscan Grill

 

[Ampurp85]

The Tuscan Grill and Lawn Grill are the only ones that fully appeal to me. I could possibly find something modified to enjoy from the other two. But the aforementioned ones are easy to do. I wonder if I can get a 2night dining package on a 4n cruise?

[Sweety]

How did I miss this cruise?

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

due to delays, bad scheduling, and the final straw was once we sat on the runway for 4 hours in the heat because they had no gate for us to de-plane.

this can’t be legal.

[GregD]

I feel like I just typed in a recent blog post about cursed traveling.......

[Lovetocruise2002]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

The Tuscan Grill and Lawn Grill are the only ones that fully appeal to me. I could possibly find something modified to enjoy from the other two. But the aforementioned ones are easy to do. I wonder if I can get a 2night dining package on a 4n cruise?

Not sure that I have ever seen a 2 night. Let me try to post The Porch menu from the app. I think I might really like that place. That could be your 3rd night

3 hours ago, Sweety said:

How did I miss this cruise?

I still can’t believe I will just miss you on Adventure. 

2 hours ago, asquared17 said:

this can’t be legal.

Oh it happened! We were coming back from either Fort Meyers or Fort Lauderdale, I cannot remember. This would have been in the early 2000s. That was our last flight with Spirit. 

14 minutes ago, GregD said:

I feel like I just typed in a recent blog post about cursed traveling.......

Probably because lately each trip I go on seems to involve messed up flights

[Lovetocruise2002]

@Ampurp85 The Porch menu 

Lunch apps 

Dinner apps 

Raw apps same for lunch and dinner 

Soup & Salad same for lunch and dinner 

Lunch Entrees

Dinner Entrees 

Desserts same for lunch and dinner 

[Ampurp85]

You are right the Porch is a restaurant I could get into, that polenta cake sounds divine.

But I want to say given the airline shenanigans of late, Spirit might not be too bad. In all honesty, if it is a direct flight, at an appropriate time, I might not care who I fly with. 

[Kelseylovestocruise]

9 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

You are right the Porch is a restaurant I could get into, that polenta cake sounds divine.

But I want to say given the airline shenanigans of late, Spirit might not be too bad. In all honesty, if it is a direct flight, at an appropriate time, I might not care who I fly with. 

This! I have reached this stage! 

[SMOKEY0202]

ATL has been a nightmare since the ordeal.  Not enough man power to even see relief to get back to somewhat normal.  Cancelled flights and lost bags.  Then add the moods of passengers in limbo and crowds.

This afternoon bad weather and flights were grounded.

Need multiple back up plans just to sail the high seas.

 

[Jamesszy94]

I mean... if push comes to shove... you could always Uber from DTW to MCO

I kid I kid.

Praying for miracles to happen

[asquared17]

6 minutes ago, Jamesszy94 said:

 

I mean... if push comes to shove... you could always Uber from DTW to MCO

I kid I kid.

 

QUELLE HORROR!!!!

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

But I want to say given the airline shenanigans of late, Spirit might not be too bad. In all honesty, if it is a direct flight, at an appropriate time, I might not care who I fly with. 

For sure, if that was our only option, I would still take it.

58 minutes ago, SMOKEY0202 said:

ATL has been a nightmare since the ordeal. 

Trust me, after last summer, I will avoid ATL at all costs lol

54 minutes ago, Jamesszy94 said:

I mean... if push comes to shove... you could always Uber from DTW to MCO

I know we are joking but I actually did consider driving our own car to Florida. The problem is the return. I have to be home on the 5th. I wouldn't be able to do that driving.

 

[Lovetocruise2002]

So remember that Plan B refundable flight that I grabbed this morning? Well it went down $500. So I just cancelled and re-booked it. Hubby said, "Wait a second, so now you are price adjusting a back up flight?"  old habits die hard lol 

[asquared17]

AW YIS!!!!!

[Lovetocruise2002]

4 days before cruise day…time to flashback to a day when the MDR was amazing, and quality and flavour were a true 10! 
Oh, and at the time, the WJ was not too bad either. Look at the flowers they used to have on the tables! 

[Jamesszy94]

Is that lobster I see in the last picture?! Back when lobster was complimentary?!?! Also very nice pictures!! You should recreate them when you get on Adventure

[Lovetocruise2002]

13 minutes ago, Jamesszy94 said:

Is that lobster I see in the last picture?! Back when lobster was complimentary?!?! Also very nice pictures!! You should recreate them when you get on Adventure

Sure is lobster! Complimentary, and way larger portions! Don’t give Hubby any ideas about re-creating these. Thank goodness he never reads these blogs

[Jamesszy94]

Do you have any photos of you inside the Windjammer 

[Jax]

6 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

We used to fly Spirit a lot back in our early 20s. However, we gave up on that airline a long time ago due to delays, bad scheduling, and the final straw was once we sat on the runway for 4 hours in the heat because they had no gate for us to de-plane.

This reminds me of a nightmare we had with Allegiant. We were driving to Las Vegas and Reyd was very young so we decided that Reyd and I would catch a flight from Great Falls MT.  Without getting into too many details, when Reyd and I pulled up to the hotel, Lindsay was 2 vehicles ahead of us!! That was the one and only time we flew Allegiant.  In hindsight I don’t know why I thought this plan was a good idea. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

10 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

WOW !  White jacket for dinner.  It's been a LONG time since I've seen that.  Truthfully, I didn't even remember this until I looked at your picture.  ....and that lobstah is UUUUUGE.  ...and he cut it out for you.  AHHHHH...  ...and look at that mound of rice !  You don't get it like that anymore !!

These are incredible photos, Sabrina.  What a beautiful family you have.

[Lovetocruise2002]

10 hours ago, Jamesszy94 said:

Do you have any photos of you inside the Windjammer 

Yes, the pic before the MDR pic is from the WJ 

9 hours ago, Jax said:

This reminds me of a nightmare we had with Allegiant. We were driving to Las Vegas and Reyd was very young so we decided that Reyd and I would catch a flight from Great Falls MT.  Without getting into too many details, when Reyd and I pulled up to the hotel, Lindsay was 2 vehicles ahead of us!! That was the one and only time we flew Allegiant.  In hindsight I don’t know why I thought this plan was a good idea. 

Oh my. One day you will have to tell me the full story. 

28 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

WOW !  White jacket for dinner.  It's been a LONG time since I've seen that.  Truthfully, I didn't even remember this until I looked at your picture.  ....and that lobstah is UUUUUGE.  ...and he cut it out for you.  AHHHHH...  ...and look at that mound of rice !  You don't get it like that anymore !!

These are incredible photos, Sabrina.  What a beautiful family you have.

thank you! And yes, that’s why I said back when the MDR was a true 10. There‘s more “blast from the past coming”. Sort of makes me sad to see how it’s gone downhill a bit. But I still love cruising! 

[Lovetocruise2002]

OG delta flight checked in and on time so far

[Jamesszy94]

9 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yes, the pic before the MDR pic is from the WJ 

Oh my. One day you will have to tell me the full story. 

thank you! And yes, that’s why I said back when the MDR was a true 10. There‘s more “blast from the past coming”. Sort of makes me sad to see how it’s gone downhill a bit. But I still love cruising! 

Haha! Proof that she once ate at the Windjammer!!

Honestly, when I sailed on Carnival Spirit in 2016 and Celebrity Infinity/Ovation of the Seas back in 2017, they had complimentary lobster in the MDR's!! At least I think it was complimentary.... we ordered lobster and didn't have to pay. (Maybe someone in our party had paid beforehand?)

And you could order as much as you wanted!!!! Now they skimp on everything. Lobster has an upcharge...and the portion is very small!!! not trying to give Royal any ideas... but I wouldn't be surprised if they charged for bread in the future...

[Lovetocruise2002]

According to the statement Delta put out earlier this afternoon, and the Points Guy (who I follow on IG), Delta only cancelled 1% of flights today and by tomorrow, they said they should be back to normal operations. Fingers crossed that by this time tomorrow, I’ll be having a margarita at Margaritaville. I am still keeping my backup flight just in case. 

[SMOKEY0202]

Can't get here soon enough.  What's plan for dinner tomorrow there?  

[Ampurp85]

57 minutes ago, SMOKEY0202 said:

Can't get here soon enough.  What's plan for dinner tomorrow there?  

If they are staying in FLL I am sure La Bamba is on the menu 

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, SMOKEY0202 said:

Can't get here soon enough.  What's plan for dinner tomorrow there?  

 

16 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

If they are staying in FLL I am sure La Bamba is on the menu 

No La Bamba this time

We are flying to Orlando tomorrow. And on the 2nd when we make our way to Fort Lauderdale to hop on Reflection, there won’t be time for La Bamba. I am going to try to drag @Jax there in December

@SMOKEY0202 it will be somewhere you won’t expect….if delta gets us there in time 

[Lovetocruise2002]

3 nights before cruise day…blast from the past time. IFKYK

[Jax]

51 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

there won’t be time for La Bamba. I am going to try to drag @Jax there in December

Pulling up menu now.