Our Regal Princess Cruise … Includes a little drama ! But cruise was great !

699 Pictures ... You can tell which plates are mine versus my mom (She doesn't do rare; and I don't do fruit nor usually tomatoes nor veggies, unless green).  Hehhe.  Enjoy !
https://cruisevacationpictures.shutterfly.com/pictures/5991

We began by getting up 5am, to get ready.  Mom is not a morning person, but she had gone to bed by 9pm.  Her hair dresser then arrived 6am, to take us to McDonalds at the Speedway, to catch our transportation to Ft Lauderdale. 

The Cruise Connection (Escot Tours) bus was already there.  Though we had planned to take mom’s scooter a part, for the bus ride, they had brought a bus with a lift.  Well, it didn’t work.  But instead of wanting to take the scooter apart, the bus driver choose to pick it up, over his head, and lift it to the level of door opening of the bus, to place the scooter.  You can only imagine, my fear of the scooter hitting the ground, and no scooter for her to ride on the cruise !  He almost dropped it, but he made it !

We pulled out by 7am, and we arrived by 11:30.  Didn’t have many stops on the way, though stopped at McDonalds for 30 min, for a breakfast break.

----------------------------------------

 

“Getting On the ship” … Not so much fun for me ! 

After coming into the terminal, I asked for assistance, with mom & her scooter.  The guy I spoke to, acted like, we’ve arrived at a busy time, for assistance, “plus”, with us not using their wheel chair, we were sort of on our own.

So here I am with 2 rolling carry-ons, her bag, my bag (which also included snacks/drinks), and my breathing machine (cpap).  In general, I am use to carrying all this stuff, but I had her too, on the scooter, and truly was expecting some assistance as in the past. 

I get into, what seemed to be the “Elite” line.  Though we were moving right along, folks kept going by us in wheel chairs.  I asked if we too, could go by the line, but was told, those folks had already checked in.   Once arriving at the checkin line, there too, were the wheel chair folks checking in too !  After checking in, the lady did take us to the elevator, which did bypass much of the line.

Once on the 2^nd level, we came up to an opening in the petition, where a guy in a suit was.  We asked where we go and he acted like he didn’t know.  He walked away.  Then a staff member with a wheel chair customer came up behind us, and motioned us to move in the coming crowd of folks.

I take a right, to go with the flow of the crowd and tell my mom to follow.  She pulled out a little, and as normal, let 20 folks go in front of her … Now between the 2 of us !

Next this guy in a suit, comes back over to her, and “now” he is ready to help.  What does he do ? Takes her the opposite direction, waiving at me, come on.  I now have to fight the crowd going backwards, with all this stuff.

Do you think mom and this guy waiting for me ? No !  They kept moving.  And as normal, folks made way for her and the scooter to come through, but I had to fight the crowd on my own, walking against them.

I finally get to an area with an empty walkway & ask the woman if she could open the rope & let me through to catch up with my mother, who is on a scooter.  She says, the whole family can’t go with the handicap person, only the care taker.  I said, I am the care taker.  She finally lets me through.   Even though I was able to get further ahead, my mom was nowhere in sight.  But at least now, the crowd is going in my direction and I’m not fighting them to get through.

Next, I am onboard.  Again, she is nowhere to be seen.

I go to the elevator & get on.  Though everyone was to go to deck 16 for lunch, I asked the staff person if they would let me off on Dolphin deck, that my mom was on a scooter and had gone to the room.  He tells me, no she has not, she has been taken to deck 16.  I get off and again, she is nowhere to be found. 

I decided to call her on her cell, and sure enough, a staff person has taken her to the room.  So I get back on the elevator, and fight with the guy to let me off on Dolphin, to go find my mother.

Ok, so I get to the room.  My blood pressure is sky high, as you can imagine.  I am foaming at the mouth !

Just by chance, if you don’t see this as I do … It’s not any different than being “parted” from your child … The one you are responsible for.  My mom has no cares in the world and would follow anyone !

Like you tell your kids, not to talk to strangers … And though, “this time”, all may be safe … I’m giving these same words to my mom !

Oh well, I won’t tell all that was said,  but you can imagine how I was feeling !  I will admit, once I found some free time, later that evening, I had my little cry (just like any parent, who finally found their “non worried” child, fine & safe) !  On top of my own worries, has anything happen to my mother in my care, I would never hear the end from my bro and how it was my fault !

For folks who don’t know my mom …. She’s care free … Worries over nothing … Can’t fathom anything ever going wrong nor can picture a disaster that may could happen.  My mom is also somewhat of a dare devil and she is actually the one you have to worry, as to what chance she might choose to take next !  She can’t understand, even to this day, why my father kept such a leash on her !

FYI … I did report this to Princess.  I was told, they should have never turned me down, with assisting me !  And I learned later … Remember the guy in the suit, in the terminal, who 1^st, had no idea what to do and then took my mother in the opposite direction ?  He was one of the management staff in the cafeteria.  I saw him (but I said nothing), on our last morning, eating breakfast, before getting off the ship.

 

-----------------------------------------

Ok … Once I finalllllly calmed down … We were then ready for what would be, as expected … A great cruise !

First we headed up the cafeteria for lunch.  Their cafeteria is such a beautiful place with so much to offer.  What we enjoyed visiting the most each day, was the desert isle !

Next, the boat drill.  We didn’t go get the life preservers because you had an option to go to the regular life boat drill or just go to the Wheelhouse Lounge, 30 min later, and just listen to the talk.  But before we got to the Wheelhouse, one of the staff checked us in, so we didn’t actually have to go there either.

Well, we took off running with all that was going on.  We first went to the Internet Café & got the coffee card.  15 coffees or ice cream Sundays for $30 + tip.  This would take both of us through the whole week.  We did all coffees except one day, we had a fabulous Sunday !

We then toured the boat.  I had been onboard this ship before, so this made it fairly easy for us.

Dinner was 5:30pm.  We had already decided to not change for dinner, so we didn’t even go back to the room first.  We met some great folks for dinner.  2 couples but 2 extra chairs.  The next night, one couple choose a different dining, but we gained another new couple.  We enjoyed our mates for dinner all week !

Lots going on after dinner.  We went to a game show.  Then the regular show. Then music.  We finally went back to the room, maybe closer to 12 midnight.  And then unpacked.

Next morning, like every day, my mom ordered room service and stayed in the room till noon.  I most often went to the back of the boat, where they had a sitting area with coffee, etc.  Then go back to the room by noon to get her, for lunch.

So the 2^nd day of cruise, we ate at the pizza restaurant.  The 3rd day for lunch, we went to the Wheelhouse Lounge for fish and ships.  4^th day, we wanted tacos, at the cafeteria.  The5th day, she wanted a hot dog, so I got a hamburger.  The 6th day, we made it to the dining room. The 7^th day, we ate at the cafeteria.  Though we didn’t actually eat at the cafeteria till the last day, we actually went to the cafeteria each day, for our dessert.

After lunch, there was always something to do around the ship.  Whether it was a culinary class, a chocolate class, pain class, and more.  Except for the last day, we would eventually make it back to the room, for a nap, even if only for 30 minutes.  We didn’t drink enough water onboard, so with the rich foods and lack of water, our ankles swelled, and we felt it a good idea to rest those ankles once in a while.

I didn’t get much use of the balcony.  But mom would sit out there each morning, with her coffee & breakfast, crochet and reading a book … Before noon !  And the last day after lunch, she decided to spend a quiet afternoon there, while off in another area of the ship, typing about our cruise experience (last day).

The evenings, we stayed very busy.  Unless I post the schedule, you just can’t imagine how much there was to do !  Some nights, the 1^st show would be at 6:30pm, which we could not make, but other nights, it was at 7:15pm, which we could (We enjoyed their shows of dancers/singers).  2 nights, we went to the “Movie Under the Stars”.  One night we went to see the “Light Water” Show – fabulous (this was at the pool deck).  There was Beatle Maniacs Show onboard.  A Soul/Motown Music show.  We saw the comedian twice (mom believes she had seen him before –he was good).  We did get in the bed between 11pm-1pm.

The food.  Oh my.  You will have to see all my pictures !  Normally I would choose a couple of entrees a night, but the food was so good, I really didn’t have to (note, I ask them to remove any veggie not green and potatoes).  Of course, I might order 2 soups, select nights.  A few nights salad. And most nights I did have an appetizer.  Some nights again, we didn’t do the dessert, but would instead go upstairs to the cafeteria to see the variety !  And of course, that one night, we had the Sunday !  If you look at my different pictures, you can tell which plates were mine & which were mom’s.  She loves fruit; not me.  She loves tomatoes; not me !

Mom also gambles a little (not a lot, like my dad).  So we spent a little time in the casino.  She debated on Bingo, but never made it there !

The 2^nd day of the cruise (Monday), we were at Princess Cays.  I didn’t opt to go in.  And I knew mom wouldn’t want to go. 

Wednesday, we were in St Thomas.  We didn’t dock at the regular dock.  In the morning, I went downtown, to shop under the tents.  Didn’t stay but about an hour.  I then went back to the boat & we had lunch.  Then, with her scooter, we went in the port for her to ride around through the few shops.

Thursday, we were in St Maartin.  I took the ferry to town.  I walked up Main Street, before taking the ferry back.  It was terribly hot and the dock was a long way back to the ship.  We then went to lunch.  We didn’t opt to go into the port.  The dock was windy and would have messed up her hair.  And I personally didn’t want to walk that dock again !

We met lots of nice folks !  A couple, we may stay friends for years, but others were just folks, we’ll just have to be thankful for the time we spent together onboard.

 

-------------------------------------------------

I gave my mom a couple of scares myself !

First one.  One day, when I was coming back to the room, to get her for lunch, my hand slammed in the door.  With the balcony door open, it caused a pulling draft.  So when I went to shut the door, my hand slipped in between the door, as it slammed.  Luckily, the pain was gone in about 15 minutes and apparently nothing broken.

 

2^nd one.  How many folks get acid reflux ?  I’ve really only had it about 8-9 times.  Usually happens when I’ve eaten “more” than just over eating !  Of course, I am known for indigestion often, which I get just from eating carbs … Which is why, other than when on a cruise, I try to eat “low carbs”.

Well, one night, I had the acid reflux.  It was after having pizza and ice cream, must before bed.  It jumped me up in bed, like It’s done before.  Not sure if you are aware, but “gases” are often released, when you have acid reflux.  That’s what happened.  Gases can take your breath.  Which is what happened this time ! 

Valuable Health Insight To Know.  FYI, if you are not aware, there are select foods out there, that automatically release gasses, such as vinegar.  If you suck down the fumes, you can lose your breath.  And if you don’t know what to do, you could easily die !  The 1^st time this happened to me, I was about 29 or 30.  I was in a restaurant with other folks, and we were all laughing & having fun.  When all of a sudden, I lost my breath.  Don’t know how I knew to do this, but what you must first do, is blow the “gasses out”.  Not breath in, but blow the gasses out !  Slowly.  Then if you must take in a breath, you breath in very slowly, just enough air, so that you can then breath more gasses out !  You have to keep doing this till you can breathe normal.  My mother has had this happen, even when driving, and I have taught her this technique, which I hope she remembers, if it ever happens again.  Again,  don’t panic, but remember, to breath “out” !

OK, back to story.  So here I am breathing out, but when I breathed “in”, I was wheezing.  It woke my mother up, because it sounded like I was gasping for air.  I wasn’t actually panicked at all, but she was, asking, “what can I do”.  Matter of fact, I walked into the bathroom & used it, while I was still trying to catch my breathe !  heheh.  I would say this is probably the 4^th time in my life, this has happened.  And the others did not come from acid reflux !  Anyway, all was well, and we went back to bed !

--------------------------------

 

Getting off ship, much smoother !

 

We were "Pink 2” tags.  We had bought the “Cruise Connection” transportation, r/t Daytona, through Princess, so they knew exactly when we needed to get off the ship.  The connection had told us, between 10-10:30am, and the ship had us scheduled for 10:35am.

 

With mom’s scooter, we were told to arrive 10 minutes early.  So we stayed in bed till 8:15.  Went to breakfast 9am.  Had our last coffee, with the coffee card.  Back to the room by 10am and we left @ 10:15am.  We left the ship about 10:30am.

 

And yes, they helped.  And I was glad they did.  Cause when leaving (mom wanted to drive scooter off), she couldn’t get over the exit ramp, so they pushed her up over & all was fine.  The staff also carried mom’s carry on bag.  He took us to the elevator (actually the correct elevator than we had come onboard), and we went straight down to the luggage area.  

 

There was a porter there, who went straight over & got out bags and we went thru customs quickly.  Then the porter took us to the area, where other “Cruise Connection” folks were (the other didn’t buy from Princess, so their color tags cause them to get off the boat much earlier than us).

 

About 30 minutes later, our bus arrived.  One of their staff helped me take our luggage to the bus.  This bus had a small ramp to put mom’s scooter on, and we were all ready to come home.

 

We did make a couple stops on the way home, with our 2^nd stop, we had to change busses.  Again, no problem dealing with the scooter.

 

The last hour, it rained heavily !  But we still got home in record time.  We were back at McDonald’s, near the Flea Market by 4:15pm.  But mom’s hair dresser must have forgotten how to get there, cause we had to wait about 20+ minutes for her !

 

 

That was our cruise !  Another great one !