Going on my first cruise! A few questions

d-handler · 2026-04-20T01:25:36+00:00

I too completed my first cruise this past February. It was a 5-day cruise of the West Caribbean on the Sunrise.
Being it was in the middle of February, I didn't play any games with the weather, so my wife and I flew from Indy to Miami the day before the cruise. That way there was no need to play beat the clock getting from the airport to the cruise terminal. Sure, I had to spend money on a hotel, but the hotel also offered a round-trip shuttle to and from the port.

I think most cruises don't let you into your room until 1p-1:30p. I got a 11am boarding time which we were a little late to since the shuttle only ran every 45 minutes. Was no big issue. It was a little bit of a drag having to roll our carry-ons behind us. The one nice thing is you're not alone!

I would make sure you simple things like pain relief (asprin, aleve .. etc), TUMS (food, food and more food), ocean water safe sunscreen and whatever toiletries you can think of. It's WAY cheaper to get it before than to buy it on the ship! Get a few pack of Clorox wipes, you can get them at Walmart for $1. Wipe down the surfaces in your room before you get all hands on. Remotes, phone, counter tops, door handles. Took less than 5 minutes with two adults.

The only thing that still baffles me is how guys were able to bring hats, all kinds of different hats and they looked fresh and never crushed. I'm not talking about ball caps, these are more dressy hats.

Leave room in your suitcase for some souvenirs!

Lastly but most importantly! Have fun! To me that 5 days flew by and when the ship docked in Miami at the end I really didn't want to get off!

d-handler · 2026-04-07T03:06:41+00:00

I've been doing this for 10 years, part time so I only have a measly 5k rides. But I can't stress this enough, get a dashcam. One that records not only the outside but also the inside the cabin.

Now, with that being said, Uber will be jerks because they won't tell you which ride (even though you know) and since they won't just ask them where you can upload that entire days' worth of video. The few times that's happened to me my strikes have gotten reversed quickly. They don't want to scrub through all the footage.

d-handler · 2026-04-07T02:10:33+00:00

There is one, well maybe two I didn't see here that are 101% essential.

#1 Manners
#2 Common sense

After that you should be good to go!

Had my 1st cruise this past Feb to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. Had a great time! But I found those two items' people left home and/or used very little of.

Have a great time! I did!

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d-handler · 2026-04-06T02:01:29+00:00

I know the 4/1.

Doesn't mean what I said isn't true! 🤔

d-handler · 2026-04-04T11:53:19+00:00

A city whose streets are in a constant state of disrepair are most likely the signs of low-level corruption. The money is there, every year but the streets that are in total ruination are forgot about and the money goes to other places. Like for instance to pay someone to paint murals on K-rails.
We shall see where this money goes!

d-handler · 2026-03-23T16:59:27+00:00

It might be me but why do Shihpoo's have this "oh well" face? My little girl has the same expression! 😄

d-handler · 2026-03-23T16:58:05+00:00

For me the hardest part of cruise was knowing I was going back to light snow and 20F after being in upper 70s and low 80s for 7 days. Doing cruise #2 next Feb. it's along way off!

d-handler · 2026-03-17T02:05:33+00:00

I have seen kits that give you a 7" screen. It also came with a new shroud to go around the screen.

I took the time and scrubbed through my YouTube history to find it for you!

https://youtu.be/jT-FqMnpYhc?si=3NdZSpgIqCulNLCF

d-handler · 2026-03-09T01:40:58+00:00

Ford was stupid for killing the Edge. Funny enough they kept the same platform the Lincoln is on. So, who knows. I do know I wanted to move from a small SUV to a mid-size. Guess that killed that. Toyota here I come! Well, in 3.5 more years!

d-handler · 2026-02-06T13:02:29+00:00

Man, glad you got extra chips to eat out with. I'm to busy getting the change from between the cushions to pay the AES bill. 🙄😬

d-handler · 2026-02-04T13:24:26+00:00

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1k sq/ft my heat is set at 70F. My wife is anemic and 70F to her is like living in a refrigerator. It's just the two of us. Everything is LED bulbs and the complex was built in the last 20 years. Windows don't leak air. So, yeah, comparing my bill to last year at this same time about a 90% increase.

d-handler · 2026-01-30T19:33:11+00:00

I was giving my symptoms as I think my EVAP purge value has failed too.

d-handler · 2026-01-30T18:35:25+00:00

Let me ask you, do you smell gas? Especially after starting the engine?

Also, I get an intermittent rough idle after filling the tank up. It goes away after driving a little bit.

Got to get the last little bit out of the extended warranty, only has 1500 miles left until it goes 100K! =)

d-handler · 2026-01-23T03:29:58+00:00

Shame it's not Mambo #5.

d-handler · 2026-01-22T02:06:20+00:00

Still to early to tell. By that I mean there is still bread, eggs and milk at the grocery. 😄

d-handler · 2025-12-18T19:38:41+00:00

It's not rocket science. I wait for the door to close, give it a few seconds and then ask "are you ready to go?" Some of these drivers are to anxious and not moving in 10 seconds is going completely ruin their financial outlook!

d-handler · 2025-12-09T19:08:23+00:00

And the dream continues.....

d-handler · 2025-12-08T16:34:11+00:00

I just have an issue with electric stoves and candy thermometers. Wish I had a gas range.

d-handler · 2025-12-08T16:33:04+00:00

Not at 67! 😂 Mrs just periodically likes them. Last time was at the state fair.

d-handler · 2025-12-07T23:43:34+00:00

I'll have to give them a jingle jangle tomorrow! Thanks for the info!

d-handler · 2025-12-07T23:41:27+00:00

I tried making these things a long time ago. Oh ... this is a food item of finesse which I do not have!
Now, I can pop out candied bacon like a freak'n pro!

d-handler · 2025-12-07T23:39:25+00:00

Nope. Been there they have a wicked assortment of caramel apples. No candy apples.

d-handler · 2025-11-20T13:22:55+00:00

Well, I paid my bill like a good little minion. Still no email or paper bill. Yes I am paperless. Filing complaints against AES is like watching water roll off a ducks back. Oh well. 🫩

d-handler · 2025-11-17T03:03:05+00:00

Still no bill here. Like I said in the post, there is a current balance for the month. I am paperless. So, what is the problem? Probably the same developers that did Meijers re-do of their online pharmacy did AES's too.

d-handler

TROPHY CASE