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Rulocal
Rulocal

Rulocal

A really nice guy who is working relentlessly for world peace (when sober) Read more🇬🇧Ashton-in-Makerfield
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  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Med,10 JulyRulocal

    Gibraltar

    July 13, 2016 in Gibraltar ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Today we where in Gibraltar 🇬🇮, one of my favorite ports.
    We had a nice stroll into town, and after Maz had bought some stuff from the pharmacy just by the square at the town entrance, we decided to have a walk down one of the side streets, as Main St was as usual packed with tourists.
    We only walked along the next parallel street to Main St, which was Cannon Lane, but it made for a much more pleasant experience, as there were no crowds and it was quite shaded, which was a welcome relief from the sun.
    At the end of the lane we turned back on to Main St and had a drink at The Royal Calpe pub.
    It's quite nice in there and we've been a number of times before.
    After that it was a stroll back to the ship for a sleep before the evening drinks.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Med,10 JulyRulocal

    MLife

    July 13, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Well the MLife membership came up trumps again, 5 free drinks, a meal for two in Giovanni's, and no 5% charge when drawing cash at the casino.
    Considering the membership is free, it's a definite no brainer joining.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Med,10 JulyRulocal

    Sea Day

    July 12, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Still at sea and steaming for Gibraltar 🇬🇮.
    The weather has improved, but still not nice enough to sit outside.
    Anyway I spent most of the day in bed, as I've still got this flippin head cold.
    I made it to the concierge lounge for the evening drinks, so I can't be that bad, lol.
    We had quite a large company again, and did the usual furniture removing with the chairs.
    The concierge Nadja, even commented on what a large friendly group we were.
    Speaking of Nadja, she seems a lot better than the last time we met, and that was only 3 weeks ago.
    Chatted to George Barritt most of the evening, so nice to see him and James again, must be a couple of years since we last met.
    After the concierge drinks, we did the usual, bite to eat in the Windjammer and then bed.
    Exciting times.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Med,10 JulyRulocal

    Happy birthday Sheila

    July 11, 2016, Celtic Sea ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    We'd booked Chops Grill last night for Sheila's birthday, and had a lovely time.
    Great company and a great meal.
    We are crossing the bay of Biscay at the moment and it's a bit rocky.
    So a lot of people will probably stay in bed late.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Med,10 JulyRulocal

    Southampton

    July 10, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Good journey down to Southampton 🇬🇧, mainly due to Andrew Gibb texting Sheila to tell her that the A34 was completely blocked by an overturned lorry.
    We where actually only a mile or so from the A34 exit off the M42.
    So we stayed on the motorway and came around the M4, M3 etc.
    Martin and Andrew where stuck for about two hours on the A34 😵.
    Boarding the ship was very good and quick, after we'd braved the initial mob at the boarding gate doors.
    We went to the concierge lounge last night, and the gang where all there, I won't name them all as there's two many, but I will just mention George and James, who I didn't expect to see as they'd not emailed me or anything.
    Suffice to say, we should have an interesting cruise.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Last night blues

    June 16, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Usual sad goodbyes to friends old and new.
    As has become the norm I made a couple of new friends on the trip.
    But little "Diamond" Joe made lots and lots of new friends. It seemed like everyone on the ship knew him. We couldn't go anywhere without someone saying hi to him.
    He's been a star the whole trip with his waving at everyone, and also doing he new trick, which is the high five.
    Oh yes we had a nice surprise last night.
    Don't know if I told you, but Sheila and I had a balcony cabin each, all to do with some booking problems, anyway we were only using one of the cabins and the other was spare.
    Sheila and Nic had spoken to some people from Liverpool, who where with a severely disabled sister in an inside cabin, and they were having some problems with space and guest services had said there where no spare cabins on the ship, so Sheila said if they wanted they could use our spare balcony cabin.
    We didn't want any money or anything for it, they could just have it.
    Anyway we got all their details transferred to the new cabin and that was that, or so we thought.
    As last night Jayeon the diamond concierge came over and told us that guest services had issued us with a voucher for 20% off a future cruise for our kindness in letting the other family have our balcony cabin.
    Which I thought was a nice gesture. Also Nic and Joe got a 15% voucher for a future cruise discount, because Joe couldn't use the swimming pool.
    So in the end everyone is happy 😊.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Vigo, Spain

    June 15, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Docked at the usual place in Vigo, which is one of my favorite ports, as you dock right by the town.
    To me most of the buildings in Vigo look very British, and not in the Spanish style at all.
    It's normally a great place to explore.
    From the Rua Principe, with its modern shops and department stores, to the old fishing port part of town with its small winding streets and little tavernas or up to the castle (Castolo do Castro) with its park and wonderful views of the town and harbour.
    Which ever you choose, be prepared for a hike as the town is very hilly.
    But today it was dull, overcast and started raining ☔ so we just strolled around the harbour area for a while then Sheila and I with Diamond Joe came back to the ship, while Nic nipped off to buy the kids some presents.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Another milestone.

    June 14, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    Last night we where invited to the top tier party, so we could be presented with a certificate to mark Sheila and I reaching the milestone of 560 days sailing 🚢 with Royal Caribbean.
    We where presented this by the Captain and the loyalty ambassador, and it was a nice surprise.
    Also there was a presentation of a bottle of champagne 🍾, to Bill and John, two pinnacle friends of ours, for being the highest cruisers with over 950 days sailing. So we've got quite a bit of catching up to do lol 😁    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Diamond Joe

    June 13, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    One of the American cruisers Bob from Florida has nicknamed our Joe "Diamond Joe" 💎
    He never misses a chance to say hi to him. He was chatting with a German guy last night, who is 102 years old.
    So he asked Nic if Joe could sit on the German blokes knee so he could get a photo of the oldest and youngest guests on the ship. It made for a really nice and touching photo.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Arrecife, Lanzarote

    June 12, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    With only 5 hours here from 7am to 12pm, there wasn't much time to do anything more than stroll into town, which was closed btw as it is Sunday, and stroll back to the ship.
    Having said that, the weather was beautiful and the 20 minutes or so walk was lovely.
    I'd forgotten that in Lanzarote you don't find many high rise buildings. In Arrecife I only saw one, everything else was 3 or 4 stories, which gave the town a quaint biblical look.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    They all know Joe!

    June 12, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    It's seriously amazing how many people know Joe.
    Not only in the Cosmopolitan lounge where we spend most evenings, but around the ship people pass us and say hello Joe. And some of them are people we've not spoken to, so I'm guessing that he's sneaking out of a night while Nic is asleep lol 😁.
    He's been an absolute star, and waves at everyone, he's also learned to do a "high five" ✋.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

    June 11, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Beautiful day here in Las Palmas, but I'm afraid we're not going to get off, as Sheila and Nic had a girls night out and Sheila is a bit worse for wear lol.
    Not to bothered about getting off anyway as we've been here before.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Santa Cruz, Tenerife

    June 10, 2016 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Santa Cruz,Tenerife and we all decided to get off for a walk.
    It's quite a nice town, with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants.
    We've been a few times before, so we just strolled around. We came across a nice park, with a bandstand and a kids play area. Joe had a ball chasing the pigeons. We spent about half an hour there then headed back to the ship for lunch.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    No babies in the baby pool!

    June 10, 2016 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Here we go again, another bureaucratic, royal rule.
    We where in the baby pool with Joe, when one of the staff came over to me and asks if he is potty trained? I said no but we have him in swim diapers which are designed so babies can go in kids pools. Btw this pool is 3 inches deep so no one but babies would go in. Anyway he tells me that US hygiene law forbids babies who are not potty trained from going in the baby pool.
    I tell him that UK hygiene laws allow me to take my grandson into public pools as long as he is wearing proper baby swimmer diapers.
    But he insists, so we take Joe out, kicking and screaming.
    Now before you tell me that, rules is rules. Answer me this.
    US law forbids "kids" under 21 from drinking on board ship, fine, no problem.
    But when in UK, or European waters, they allow "kids" of 18 to drink.
    Now call me an old cynic, but isn't this just Royal Caribbean relaxing their US laws to suit themselves, when there is a buck to be made?
    Also this is the second cruise we've taken Joe O and both times been charged the full adult price of the cruise for him, which was over £1000 each time, and on the first cruise he was still breast feeding, so didn't eat anything.
    Anyway I've demanded a discount on his cruise fare, and guest services have contacted Miami requesting this.
    Oh yes the girl on guest services also said, but sir it does tell you in the small print on the website about the baby pool rules.
    But come on, be honest who ever reads the small print.
    This is just Royal, covering their arse again.
    One last moan. Joe can't even go in the tots club unless we pay $8 an hour!!
    Nice one Royal, money grabbing again.
    Other than that the cruise has been great. Lol 😁    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Isumi

    June 9, 2016 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We booked in to Isumi, the Japanese restaurant on board, and what an excellent meal we had.
    To be honest we were a bit apprehensive about it thinking that it might be all sushi 🍣 and the like.
    But it wasn't at all, we had a spicy miss soup, which is sharable, I had crispy pork wontons with sweet chilli sauce, Sheila had some chicken starter, and Nic actually tried the tuna carpachio, which she loved, I tried a bit and it was good and didn't taste of fish, which shows how fresh it was. We finished off with Nic and I having chicken and beef skewers, and Sheila having just beef, cooked on hot stones at the table. Very different and wonderful.
    Along with Wonderland, it's a restaurant I would definitely recommend.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Funchal, Madeira,

    June 9, 2016 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Today we dock in Funchal, Madeira, but not until 1pm, which is late, we are staying until 8pm, so plenty of time to have a look around.
    We where all here six months ago and did the cable car which takes you from the old town up to Monte, which was brilliant as the views going up, down and from the top are fabulous.
    This time we are just going to have a walk around the town and maybe take a look at the market.
    Last night we had another nice night in the Cosmopolitan Club, where Roy and Jill joined us for the evening.
    Joe had a ball walking around the lounge and waving at anyone and everyone. He looked gorgeous in his sailor suit.
    At about 7.30pm people started turning up in weird and wonderful footwear. There was a guy going around photographing them and their shoes.
    In the end there must have been about 60 or 70 adults and children all wearing outrageous footwear.
    There was one woman who seemed to be in charge, so naturally I asked her what it was all about, and it turns out that it's a personal development group who decided to have a "happy feet" gathering. Apparently they are all business people from around the world, who have joined this personal development group. I suppose to develop their outlook on life.
    I'll definitely try and find out more. So watch this space!    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    He's still a babe magnet!

    June 8, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Our Joe is still a babe magnet, even more so now that he's walking.
    He waves at everyone which is really cute.
    Yesterday Joe and I were walking along our corridor and he waved at two elderly people just going in their cabin, they waved back, so Mr lovable does no more than follow them straight in to the cabin. Lol.
    He's a joy, and he never stops exploring the ship.
    Anyway last night we all went to Chops Grill for a meal which was quite nice. Sheila and Nic went for a drink afterwards, but I went straight to bed, well it was turned 10pm after all, and that's way past my bed time.
    We've got another sea day today then Funchal in Madeira tomorrow.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    More old friends

    June 7, 2016, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Last night I went in to the Diamond Lounge looking to see if Roy and Jill where in and who should I find instead? Roman and Jean, they had got my email about the future cruises I had booked and when they saw that they were on this one as well, said nothing and decided to surprise us, which they did.
    It's always lovely to see old friends.
    The friends you meet and make on these cruises are what I think is the best part.
    I know that It's something that I keep banging on about but it's true.
    Anyway tonight is the first formal night, and Sheila, Nic Joe and I are booked in Chops Grill, so that will be nice.
    Hopefully Master Joe will be asleep by then, 😴 lol.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    it's all about visibility

    June 6, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    We are in the diamond lounge, well outside the lounge as we have Joe, and no kids allowed during happy hour.
    Anyway that's fine because the concierge is lovely and said no problem with taking the drinks out of the lounge.
    The other thing is, this is the first night, and already two of the head chefs are in the diamond lounge saying hello and chatting to people.
    To me that is important, it shows that the staff appreciate your loyalty and go out of their way to say hello.
    The last ship I was on not one of the senior management team came around the lounge.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Muster

    June 6, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Just done the muster, it was outside but the weather here is still beautiful, so no complaints there, lol.
    Our Nic and Joe were in the next muster station to Sheila and I, and when the general emergency signal was sounded it frightened the life out of him.Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Navigator, Canaries JuneRulocal

    Wigan to Southampton

    June 6, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    The drive down from Wigan was as usual brilliant.
    Took just about 4 hours, including a coffee stop on the M42.
    Joe was a star on the way down.
    Just on the ship and straight away bumped into Roy and Jill.
    So we had a bite to eat in the Windjammer, and did a bit of catching up.
    He told me all about the fiasco on the Harmony cruises they have just been on.
    We are now in the Star lounge waiting for the cabins to be ready.
    Joe is knackered already.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Explorer TranspacificRulocal

    Ashton in Makerfield, Allways the way.

    May 17, 2016 in England ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    After flying thousands of miles from Manchester, to Dubai, on to Sydney, then Seattle to London, without any turbulence, we get thrown all over the place on the short hop from London to Manchester.
    Not to bad I suppose. Lol    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Explorer TranspacificRulocal

    Lahaina, Hawaii, Continued

    May 12, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    As I said earlier, we had all decided to go ashore today, and I'm very glad that we did.
    We got in the tender at about 9.30am after a very short wait in line.
    The ride over to the pier was smooth and pleasant, unlike the choppy sea horror stories from the day before.
    When we got to the pier and first saw Lahaina, it looked beautiful and very like Key West, in the Florida Keys.
    The place was a lovely bustling small town with plenty of shops and restaurants etc, nothing like the posts I'd read on cruise critic and similar sites, which all said that there was nothing there.
    One of the first things I saw was the Banyan Park, which has the largest Banyan tree in the USA.

    The park is quite small but beautiful, with the Banyan tree's branches covering it, giving some much needed shade from the hot sun.
    There are also a couple of museums in the town, which we didn't get to see as Maz, Sue and Sheila are not really into that kind of stuff.
    We decided to head left along the beach road towards the outlet mall, so the girls could do a bit of shopping.
    It was a really lovely walk with shops on the right hand side and for the most part a beautiful sea view on the left.
    We arrived at the mall and did our shopping, actually picking up some bargains.
    Then we had a coffee in Starbucks which pleased Maz and Sue.
    We also decided to stop at the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant for lunch on the way back, and had one of the best burgers I've ever had, along with the sea views from our table, it was an excellent meal.
    After that we headed back to the tender and as luck would have it, walked straight on to a tender, and straight back to the ship, unlike the later passengers who ended up in a quarter mile queue, waiting to get on the tenders.
    So all in all it was a great day out in beautiful Lahaina.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Explorer TranspacificRulocal

    Lahaina Hawaii

    May 10, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Today we anchored off the small town of Lahaina, on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
    It is a tender port, and so once again they give out tickets for the tenders.
    I normally like to wait until the open tendering starts and then go ashore, thus missing the crowds. But due to high winds the tendering took ages, and by 12.30am they where still calling numbers, so I decided to give going ashore a miss.
    Maz and Sue went ashore as they had booked a whale watching trip on a catamaran.
    Sue said that the tender ride was like white water rafting, because the bay was so choppy, but out at sea on the catamaran was lovely and they had a great day.
    As we are anchored here for two days, we've all decided to go ashore tomorrow, even Sheila!
    So once again watch this space.    Read more

  • Rulocal2016 Explorer TranspacificRulocal

    Honolulu, Hawaii

    May 9, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Well all the panic about long lines for the immigration check proved to be as expected, with the line snaking up and back down the royal promenade.
    We arrived very early and were right at the front of the queue.
    We had all our paperwork and our tour tickets to prove that we had an early pickup.
    It turns out that they didn't even ask for our proof of pickup and we sailed through the immigration check, except for the officer who checked my passport minutely examining the stamps in it and asking why I had so many for the middle east.
    Paranoid or what?
    Anyway as I said we sailed through it all, not like the poor buggers who stuck to their allotted times and ended up in the massive queue

    I love the USA but their immigration officers are the worst and most paranoid on the planet.
    We boarded our tour bus right on time and had a great day at the Pearl Harbour memorial site.
    The only one down side of the trip, was that we didn't get to see the USS Arizona monument up close as the navy had suspended the ferry out to the ship, due to high winds or something.
    But the rest of the Pearl Harbour site was brilliant and very moving.
    On the way back our guide, the very knowledgeable Keith Fujiyama, gave us a great tour of the city and its interesting sites.
    I must admit that I can see why people fall in love with Hawaii and especially Honolulu.    Read more

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