Cactus527 Posted September 6, 2024 Author Report Posted September 6, 2024 4 days to boarding. I had a guest visit my room this morning...on the 15th floor of this building. I'm so glad this was something like 9:30am and I was just working in my room and DRESSED. Earlier would have been a disaster. Conferencing is long. I'm so ready to be on a ship. Looks like the tropical storm/weather that everyone has been worried about is not going to affect our ship/area, so all is well there. Royal has sent about 2067029 emails to remind me that the CP will be closing for purchases tomorrow night. I'm SO excited to do the first class flight on Sunday! Just need to get through 2.5 more days of this... MaryS, twangster, SweetPea and 5 others 4 3 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 6, 2024 Author Report Posted September 6, 2024 3 days until Miami. I'm ready. BE DONE WITH, WEEKEND!!!! I am a planner. I have my calendar ready months and months in advance. If you ask me what I'm doing in April 2025, I can whip out my planner and tell you already. This trip has been planned for MONTHS, with the only change being a lunch at Chop's instead of Izumi in the past month. So, when I see my cruise FB group asking about transportation options, where to stay, etc., and there are 3 DAYS TO GO, I want to pull my hair out. I realize it takes all kinds of people to make the world go around, but...I can't do last minute. Not now, not ever. I hope they survive. SweetPea, PPPJJ-GCVAB, MaryS and 5 others 3 5 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 2 days to go. I was able to check in for both my flights and hotel this afternoon. Surreal. This is actually happening! Very excited to go CVG - ORD - MIA tomorrow afternoon FIRST CLASS. If I wasn't so flipping tired right now, I think I'd be giddy. This 6am-12am stuff is for the birds, I'm too old for this. *fist shake* People on the FB board are posting photos of their drives and flights to Miami already, making me INCREDIBLY jealous that I still have to work tomorrow before I can travel. There's also a Bengals/Patriots game going on here right about the time I need to get to the airport, so this should make the roads interesting. Interesting observation today: we were in a conference room and saw police directing traffic on the street below us. Couldn't figure out why until we heard a whole bunch of Bollywood music and saw a HUUUUUGE Indian wedding party in the street with someone being led through the throngs of people ON A HORSE. Brightly colored clothing, lots of dancing, great music, and the person on a horse - again, jealousy reared its ugly head because that looked SO fun compared to where I was! Wish I would have taken a picture. Also interesting, but in a disgusting way: PDCC is supposed to be 97F, 90% humidity, and sunny when we're there with Symphony on Wednesday. I'm going to die...or only go ashore until 8am. I *did* start the rum intake early though. Lovetocruise2002, Sweety, MaryS and 5 others 6 2 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 Are both legs of your flight FC? I have flown to a cruise about 3x in FC (funny enough 2 were after a conference)and it does make for a more enjoyable start. Sweety, MaryS and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote
ScottD Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 ALRIGHT! I'm home and settled in from my adventure on another cruise line, and now I can get all caught up with the live blogs, starting with yours! Sounds like a fun one, I have also never done a solo cruise, but wouldn't hate it. This last one was as close a I'll get- no kid and the wife relaxed in the room for about 1 1\2 days, so I did wander around a bit on my own. OOOF- 97degrees and 90% humidity sounds like literal hell... get off early, get wet early and stay wet! WAAAYTOOO, MaryS, Cactus527 and 2 others 5 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 10 hours ago, Ampurp85 said: Are both legs of your flight FC? I have flown to a cruise about 3x in FC (funny enough 2 were after a conference)and it does make for a more enjoyable start. Yes!!!!!! SweetPea, WAAAYTOOO, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 1 other 2 2 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 4 hours ago, ScottD said: 97degrees and 90% humidity sounds like literal hell... get off early, get wet early and stay wet! I may die from being so wet, internally and externally. SweetPea and ScottD 1 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 You guys... PPPJJ-GCVAB, SweetPea, WAAAYTOOO and 3 others 6 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 11 hours ago, Cactus527 said: PDCC is supposed to be 97F, 90% humidity, and sunny That would make me consider skipping Snack Shack... and you know that's saying a lot, lol. It was bad in June/July but not THAT bad. Cactus527, WAAAYTOOO, ScottD and 1 other 3 1 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 I can attest that in May on Freedom there was a 98 I believe day at PDCC and my brother got off. He loves the heat. He said people were collapsing from the heat and the birds were cuckoo bananas. He said the shade was almost nonexistent and the water was very warm. I remember trying to do my walk on the deck and just suffering the humidity that I gave up and went back to the cool casino. It sucks because you can't get food before 10:30/11 and that is probably when the heat will start to be at its worst. SweetPea, PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO and 2 others 3 1 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 @OCSC Mike and @Ampurp85, I'm really seriously reconsidering what I want to do in both Nassau and PDCC. If the heat and humidity or that bad, it might be safer to stay on board! Thankfully, I don't have any short excursions purchased. SweetPea, OCSC Mike, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 4 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 4 minutes ago, Cactus527 said: I'm really seriously reconsidering what I want to do in both Nassau and PDCC. I don't blame you. I'm not sure I've gotten off in Nassau in at least a decade and you know I only get off at PDCC for the food (and b/c vouchers work there). I let myself get too hot in June and it wasn't all that enjoyable (my brain was so fried I never even got funnel cake). In July I made sure to take far more frequent dips in the pool to cool off and drank tons of flavored water from Chill Grill (along with a couple frozen drinks of course) and it was far more bearable to me. I would probably still get off at PDCC first thing like we normally do and then see how bad it got but I can totally understand skipping it in that weather. As you know from my blogs, we've mostly only been getting off at one port besides PDCC per 7N cruise so PDCC was built in as our 2nd "excursion" just to break up chilling on the ship. On a shorty, I could easily not leave the ship at all. Cactus527, Ampurp85 and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote
asquared17 Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 when the humidity is a wet blanket, i stay indoors with AC. no desire to practice my drowned raccoon impression. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Cactus527, Ampurp85 and 5 others 8 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 49 minutes ago, asquared17 said: when the humidity is a wet blanket, i stay indoors with AC. no desire to practice my drowned raccoon impression. I sweat like crazy. Part of the reason I brought a whole bunch of extra clothes is because I sweat like crazy and I knew I was going to be in the Caribbean in September! Ampurp85, MaryS, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 4 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 Showed up at the airport, checked in, dropped off my luggage, went through security, and as I got to the concourse, I get a notification that my flight to Chicago is delayed by 3 hours. That means that flight was going to leave an hour after my flight in Chicago is supposed to leave for Miami. That's not going to work. As I was speaking to the American representative in the airport, I got rebooked. Thankfully, still getting into Miami tonight, now I'm just concerned that my bags get transferred over to the correct flights. I'm really glad that an American has a great functioning baggage tracking thing in the app, and they did take all the information to make sure that the bag gets pulled from the other flight. It's actually situations like this that make me really glad that I make my bags highly ugly and identifiable! So, I'm leaving Cincinnati a half hour after I thought I was going to, but I'm still going to get into Miami at about the same time that I initially was supposed to. Fingers crossed that everything goes the way it's supposed to. Must be a football game going on or something. PPPJJ-GCVAB, SweetPea, Sweety and 4 others 2 5 Quote
WAAAYTOOO Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 Now for the important information. Are you still in First Class ? Cactus527, MaryS, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 1 other 2 1 1 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 1 hour ago, Cactus527 said: Must be a football game going on or something. Steer clear of angry Bengals fans. Home loss to New England? Oof! Cactus527 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said: Now for the important information. Are you still in First Class ? YES!!!! PPPJJ-GCVAB, Ampurp85, MaryS and 1 other 4 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 11 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: Steer clear of angry Bengals fans. Home loss to New England? Oof! I didn't realize it was going poorly, lol. That would explain why the bars were pretty quiet when the game was running as I passed them. I felt like a salmon swimming up the wrong orange stream walking around this morning. WAAAYTOOO, OCSC Mike and PPPJJ-GCVAB 3 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 First class! 1F, which isn't ideal, but FIRST CLASS!!!! Everybody is still boarding and they've already served us drinks. Bonus- my bags made it onto this flight! Philadelphia bound, then MIAMI. twangster, Dan Curtis, OCSC Mike and 9 others 6 6 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 1 hour ago, Cactus527 said: Philadelphia bound Say hi to the cheesesteaks and pretzels for me (and @ScottD). Safe flights! Ampurp85, PPPJJ-GCVAB, Cactus527 and 1 other 4 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 It's great weather in Philadelphia. 1st class snacks are amazing too. PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, OCSC Mike and 6 others 9 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 8, 2024 Author Report Posted September 8, 2024 PHL is not laid out in any semblance of normal (to me). Why is 25 so far from 22 but right by 32????? On my next flight. Miami bound! MaryS, Ampurp85, Mrs. Regular and 2 others 3 2 Quote
Mrs. Regular Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 Have a great last leg of your flight! Cactus527 and Ampurp85 2 Quote
asquared17 Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 THOSE ARE THE BEST GUMMIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!! i like to bite their heads off for stress relief MaryS, Cactus527, OCSC Mike and 3 others 1 5 Quote
Dan Curtis Posted September 8, 2024 Report Posted September 8, 2024 I have to ask, did you try the Cincinnati Chili. Cactus527 1 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted September 9, 2024 Report Posted September 9, 2024 26 minutes ago, asquared17 said: THOSE ARE THE BEST GUMMIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!! i like to bite their heads off for stress relief They really are, they also taste the best no matter what flavor. I always bring some on a cruise, never enough but some Cactus527 and asquared17 1 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 3 hours ago, Mrs. Regular said: Have a great last leg of your flight! So easy. Loved Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 1 hour ago, asquared17 said: THOSE ARE THE BEST GUMMIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!! i like to bite their heads off for stress relief LOL that's exactly what I did!!!! 1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said: They really are, they also taste the best no matter what flavor. I always bring some on a cruise, never enough but some Gummy bears are definitely along my favorite snacks. Ampurp85 and asquared17 1 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 1 hour ago, Dan Curtis said: I have to ask, did you try the Cincinnati Chili. I barely went anywhere outside of the hotel and office building we were in. I did not do the chili. But I'm in Cincinnati every year this weekend, so there's a chance I might next time. Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 Currently sitting on the tarmac in Miami waiting for our gate. Food and service was excellent, the seat was massive and comfy, and I'm ready to be in a hotel room for SLEEP. CRUISE DAY IS COMING. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Lovetocruise2002, SweetPea and 6 others 5 4 Quote
ScottD Posted September 9, 2024 Report Posted September 9, 2024 8 hours ago, Cactus527 said: It's great weather in Philadelphia. 1st class snacks are amazing too. I can see my house.... well, the general area of my house... BUT you can see the USS United states which is finally about to be moved after years of sitting there, rotting away. MaryS, Cactus527, SweetPea and 2 others 4 1 Quote
Ampurp85 Posted September 9, 2024 Report Posted September 9, 2024 Happy cruise day! Cactus527 1 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 9, 2024 Report Posted September 9, 2024 11 hours ago, asquared17 said: THOSE ARE THE BEST GUMMIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!! My wife will only eat Haribo. When her class parents ignore that part from her "favorite snacks" list and get another brand, they go to me of course and I really like those too. They are squishier with more flavors, IIRC. Cactus527, SweetPea, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 1 other 1 2 1 Quote
OCSC Mike Posted September 9, 2024 Report Posted September 9, 2024 2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said: Happy cruise day! +1 Cactus527 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 4 hours ago, ScottD said: I can see my house.... well, the general area of my house... BUT you can see the USS United states which is finally about to be moved after years of sitting there, rotting away. I actually got a video of it as we were coming in for landing because Spouse loves naval ships. ScottD 1 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 16 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: My wife will only eat Haribo. When her class parents ignore that part from her "favorite snacks" list and get another brand, they go to me of course and I really like those too. They are squishier with more flavors, IIRC. We saw the Haribo factory in Wisconsin when we were driving through there this summer. asquared17 and OCSC Mike 2 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 GOOD MORNING, MIAMI, IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! asquared17, MaryS, SweetPea and 3 others 6 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 Backing up - this hotel is just fine for one night. It's Tru by Hilton - Miami West Brickell. One of the things I love is that it seems to be located more in a neighborhood versus in the city. Literally just sitting here having breakfast this morning (free/included), I just saw a school bus making its rounds. One weird thing is that there doesn't seem to be a closet in the room, just kind of a hanging hook area for the things that you would like to hang up. However, staying up near the top of this eight-story building, it was quiet as a pin last night. Caveat: I'm exhausted, so maybe an atomic bomb went off last night, but I didn't notice. I had Hilton Honors points to use, so I don't know if I would stay here again if I had to pay full price. Nonetheless, perfectly fine pre-cruise stay. Ampurp85, MaryS, SweetPea and 3 others 4 2 Quote
Cactus527 Posted September 9, 2024 Author Report Posted September 9, 2024 13 hours ago, Mrs. Regular said: Have a great last leg of your flight! I'm following your blog too! Mrs. Regular and ScottD 1 1 Quote
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