travel

I just got back from a Royal Caribbean Cruise that was held back because of Covid and wanted to share with you the following notes.

(1) The crew and staff could not be more courteous and professional.

(2) Sabor was the best dining experience that I had on the cruise. The food and drinks were exceptional while Giovanni’s I’m sorry to say didn’t meet the mark maybe because I’m NY spoiled with Italian food.

(3) Ice Skating was the greatest sensational entertainment while Saturday Night Fever needs a redo.

(4) Excursions were a bit too difficult to negotiate as there should have been some direct contact for this person upon the ship. Be that as it may the Tandem was an awesome drive.

(5) If you like to gamble it is reported that the 1st day is the best and stay away after. I am another confirmation to this sad state of affairs.

(6) Loved the gym overall although the classes were way too early.

(7) Karoake is always fun especially when people have the liquor package.

(8) By the way the liquor package is probably not worth it unless your one to drink in double digits daily.

(9) The pool and activities on it were limited then should be the case.

(10)  Park West Gallery always has some beautiful works to see.

(11)  Getting off the boat was the most difficult but that might have been to our old not so friend security.

(12) There could have been better ways to bring couples together and make lasting friends.

Overall the cruise gets *** 3/4 stars out of 4 .

FOOTNOTE-I added at least an extra 1/4 star for effort.

Ketchikan Alaska is something to see especially if you’re from New York.  If you think there are potholes in New York then take a jeep up those treacherous mountains and I’ll show you a bumpy ride. Yet this ride was exhilarating especially with the view you see below.  Then we took a magnificent canoe road  in the beautiful clean waters of Ketchikan which lead to the deep forests of Alaska.  We not only had a wonderful view but our minds were expanded as well with the knowledge the tour guide provided us in an enthusiastic manner.  To finish up our tour we ate a restaurant that had some  of the best fish tacos you could imagine it was called “Alaska Fish House” (great food not too original name).  Ketichikan Alaska might be the place any New Yorker should visit if only to see how nature exists without them.

The lousy part of trips is that all the great memories have to be captured at that moment or could be lost over time but with a film cruise you’ll have a keep seek that your whole family can enjoy now and generations later. A Film Cruise will capture all the special moments that you and your group have from the moment you enter your cruise, to the wild and crazy moments in between all the way till the goodbye’s.  The film cruise will even have little skits that you and your group can participate in as well as if you had your own television show. A film cruise the best way to capture the moments without having to hold the  camera.

It is day 2 of my cruise to Alaska on the Celebrity Milennium and it has been a quite unique experience for me in terms of cruising. I won this trip with all the bells and whistles and they surely have been provided including my own butler (what do you have a butler do anyway). The  food and service has been above top notch with fish as soft and flaky as if jumped out of the sea into your mouth. The crew couldn’t be more thoughtful and caring well at least of the crew.

As for the cruise ship it’s activities lets say are a bit more for those that not only enjoy seeing the white on the ground but have a bit more white in the hair. In other words the cruise ship itself is not built for the type A personality unless you keep  active with drinking and other adult activities. Last nights show was geared to the older generations with ballroom dancing but still was extremely entertaining with music from all different generations and wild dance moves that everyone should appreciate it.

The amenities need  a bit more updating with showers  which are a bit colder then expected, while some of the gym equipment is a bit older then some of my gray hairs,  The best attraction on the ship is the indoor salt water pool that has a wild current as if it’s in the middle of the sea unfortunately I only brought one bathing suit to enjoy it.  Yet the reason you go on such a cruise is not to stay active on one’s ship but to see the majesty of Alaska and today is that day! Stay tuned for that exciting part of my journey.

Vacations are strange since there goal is to take you away from your life.  You’re not supposed to worry or think about your daily activities that you constantly worry and think about every other day.  It’s if you’re planning your own mortality and possibly your loved ones as well (depending on who goes with you). When you return you see how your world existed when you’re not there. Will this world survive or crash during such a period and will they be better off in some ways or worse in many other ways? Vacations a break from reality or maybe your life as a whole.

In a relative short time I’m planning to be on a trip of my lifetime …. Alaska!  A trip I would never probably book myself but when you win it well then I say go for it!  I can’t imagine taking this much time off to do anything except maybe dying.  What will happen only G-D knows but I’ll report to you about this journey and these answers (below) if I can?

(1) Can a workaholic spend this much time away from work without going insane or become lazy?

(2) Are Grizzly Bears more friendly then portrayed in the movies?

(3) Does Salmon truly taste better in Alaska?

(4) What was the right clothes to pack for this trip?

(5) How many pairs of socks will I be left with?

(6) Will my dogs remember me when I get back?

(7) Does Cruise food grow on you like lice or a fine wine?

Imagine a cruise geared to you and your special loved one where you’ll find romance and friends that will last a lifetime. This cruise would have all the activities geared to couples and meeting those couple friends in a fun and exciting way.  No longer will you have to worry about spending time with the children for this is a cruise is one vacation they’ll be staying home.  If you’re there to spend this precious time with your loved one exclusively well we’ll leave the do not disturb sign up all cruise long. Couple cruises will be the one vacation you and your loved one will have to take.

Anthem of the Seas was the trip that ended way to soon.  The activities aboard the ship (see below) insured that time moved too quickly even when it rained. Of course if you decide to slow down time by resting the 2 pools (indoor & outdoor) gave you plenty of time to do just that but for extra active people such as I this trip was time well spent even if it passed like a day. The Dynamic dining led to many choices that aren’t available on many other ships and although it’s not 5 star the food satisfies the active stomach. I know part of the journey of such a trip is the destination but I went more for the travel then the arrival and both exceeded their marks.  The only negative comment I find is there wasn’t that personal touch that help lead you and your group to the correct path and the journey to fun was all up to you.  I’m glad that this is path  I could navigate.

ACTIVITIES PARTICIPATED IN AND REVIEW

(1) Air Hockey-Dynamo table need I say more- extra $$

(2) Thriller Dance Class- Difficult but loads of fun.

(3) Shows- The best show was “The Gift” but I had a bit more fuel to enjoy it yet any show featuring Van Halen 5150 is a winner to me.  “We will Rock You” didn’t rock me that much for the story was too silly but I kept tapping my foot. Spectre was meant for those taking the illegal form of fuel although it was quite entertaining.

(4) Bon Jovi tribute band one word… AWESOME

(5) Dodgeball  loads of fun even if I lasted a minute

(6) Art Auction- All I can say is a bought some paintings when my attention was to get a free glass of Champagne.

(7) FlowRider- I became an expert surfer (in my mind) after 2 tries do to a great instructor and “hanging loose”. Bring a towel it gets windy in the back of the ship.

(8) Ripcord- I’m now ready to jump out of plane or at least see it in the movies. Awesome feeling that needs to be experienced at least once.

(9) Gym- It wasn’t NYSC  but it’s good to change up the routine and there assortment of machines helped make sure the lbs of eating went to the right spot. Benching is a bit more challenging.

(10) Karaoke- Who doesn’t enjoy singing among total strangers? Of course I don’t but they might … those tomatoes were delicious.

**** Anthem of the Seas

It is the perfect vacation for the active family. For there are enough activities to keep your mind and body spinning all day and night long but for those less then active a trip to the beach might suit you as well.  I’m the more hyper vacation type but I’ve discovered that my family isn’t wearing the same suit.  The food and accommodations are fine but you don’t go to Woodloch for the scenario it’s the activities that count and if you’re not into this world then it’s time to visit a different location. Therefore it appears my time at this wonderful resort might becoming to an end unless I can recruit some new hyper friends or loved ones to join me for my next trip.