Today is a full sea day. We left Coco Cay last evening and we will sail until tomorrow. We are scheduled to arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 11:30 a.m. The gangway should be open at Noon. It’s going to be a short day in San Juan as all-aboard time is 6:30 p.m.
You know, it took me seventy years to learn to quit barreling forward and, instead, to take the time I need for myself in order to remain well for whatever years I have coming yet to me. I guess I’m trying to say that you -can- teach an old dog new tricks.
I’ve indicated a few days ago that my seasonal lung problems crept up when I landed in Miami. Bronchitis and gunk that settled in my lungs. I followed my doctor’s advice and began my antibiotic and steroid regimen so that my lungs don’t incur more damage.
I’m feeling better, the gunk is not as heavy, and the cough is more manageable. That being said, the captain announced at his Noon Report today that tomorrow in San Juan is going to be in the 90’s. With the heat and the humidity there, my lungs gasped. I said, “Hold on there, lungs. Let’s go talk to somebody.”
So I went to shore excursions with my ticket and asked to cancel the hop on/hop off trolley scheduled for tomorrow. I told the person at the desk that I knew it was too late for a refund but that I wanted to cancel in case someone else is looking for a spot on that excursion.
She told me that Royal would cancel my ticket and that they were going to refund me even though I’m over the cancelation deadline. My lungs and my wallet both breathed a sigh of relief.
As I said at the outset, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. This is my way about worrying about you. If you need to do something to protect your health, please do it. I know I’m glad that I changed plans. Especially in a port that we have few hours available to us. I would be rushing to see/do things and that would not be good.
When I boarded the ship Sunday and checked out my table assignment, I saw that they put me at second seating (6:45 p.m.) at a table for eight. No, no, no. This is the fifth cruise in a row with Royal that I have had to see someone to change my assignment. This time, the headwaiter refused to give me a table for two at first seating. He said that they were all requested and booked.
I showed him the photocopy of my invoice where it clearly indicated that I am a diabetic and that I need first seating because of my medication schedule. Royal is supposed to be committed to their passengers health requirements.
He said that the best he could do Sunday night was have me wait for fifteen minutes after the 5:00 p.m. time and then he would place me at a table for two. I asked if that would be my table assignment for the week and he said that he would have to work on it and assign me a table the next day (yesterday).
Fast forward to yesterday, I went to the podium and asked for my table assignment. I was told by another staff member that I would have to come each evening and wait until a no show would make a table available for me. I insisted on seeing the dining room manager, not the headwaiter. She told me that all the tables were booked. Too bad, so sad.
Uh, uh. Homey don’t play those games. I looked her in the eyes and said, “I have a documented medical condition and you are required by law to accommodate it.” She said that she would work on it and see if something would be possible for tonight. So last night, I had to wait for a no show and then was seated — at the same table that I had Sunday.
Tonight, when I came in, the head waiter came up to me right away and said that they had a table for me and that it was a “nice” table. He was all smiles and apologetic about the mishap. He took me to my table for the remainder of the week. Mid dining room against the glass overlooking the three floors of the dining room. Nice view.
After dinner, I came to my stateroom to chill. I’m still doing a fair amount of coughing and thought I would rest up instead of going to the Ice Show. Nothing like bronchitis in a freezing environment and then leaving to heat and humidity again. 😮 So this afternoon, I cancelled my reservation to tonight’s show. I was actually able to get a reservation for Friday evening’s show so I won’t miss it.
So I came back to my room and sat on my balcony and listened to light jazz. I’m not going to say that I don’t miss my water-view balcony. I miss it a lot. But I have to say that each evening’s performances have been remarkable. They’ve been different genre’s, not overly loud, and peaceful in the night and twinkling lights.
So, it’s off to the balcony and the second set of their performance for tonight. More tomorrow.
g’night