Mike's Musings
A tight rebooked connection through SFO turns into deja vu - a 35 minute ATC hold, then a dead sprint across the terminal on the exact same gate-to-gate route I ran three days earlier flying home from Philadelphia, also chasing miles.
A work trip to Vegas turns into a mileage chase through LAX, with a chain of small delays - a holding pattern near Wyoming, the longest taxi at LAX's north runway, and a ramp crew parking two feet too far forward - conspiring to make me miss the connection, and open a window for another segment through SFO instead.
A quiet last full day gets its own send-off: my 4th trip to the ice show, cashing in every last casino ticket, a genuinely funny farewell comedian, and a karaoke-turned-game-show night that ends with a rick roll and a near-fight in the Star Lounge.
Dolphins race alongside the ship, I land the perfect seat for a stranger's sunset proposal at the bow, and the night runs late with an 18+ round of Crazy Quest on a covered ice rink.
A drilling neighbor cuts my morning short, so I spend the day trying to live like a local in Puerto Vallarta, then catch a ringside view of the pier runners and an incoming tropical storm as we pull out of port.
A weather delay pushes our second Mazatlan stop back an hour, it's finally shaving day, and a smooth sailaway makes for some of the best photos of the trip yet.
A ship's horn blaring five short blasts sends me to the balcony with binoculars, a neighbor mistakes a fishing boat for a "black fish," and a self-appointed world juggling president picks exactly the wrong volunteer from the crowd.
A thousand-dollar casino swing, an accidental lockout, my lack of door "abilities", and the non meaty meatloaf in the buffet.
Jacob heads home while I go through my second transfer of the trip, this time solo - a new room five decks up, a four-top table built for one, and a horn battle with the Quantum on the way out of port.
A second look at the ice show, a farewell tribute from the crew, and front-row seats to a lunar eclipse from the back of the ship - Jacob's last full day before he disembarks tomorrow.
A lazy sea day start, our best meal of the cruise at Playmakers, a new towel animal named Monet, and a last-night casino session that turned an $80 profit right when it mattered.
A guided walk along Mazatlán's painted blue line (with a military "escort"), a Beatles tribute crossing Abbey Road in 90-degree heat, and an afternoon spent finally testing the ship's water slides.
Rough overnight seas to Cabo and at anchor, a $40 boat ride out to Cabo's famous Arch, a small rescue mission for a piece of floating driftwood, and a mini Zamboni stealing the show after the ice skaters.
A real sea day at last: a Top Tier reception with the officers, a splurge on Jamie's Italian, some mysterious bathroom flooding, and a mainstage show completely upstaged by the woman working the tech booth.
Back in Ensenada for round two, this time from the Navigator: a Zoom call from mid-ocean, a foggy view from the Windjammer, a comedy rematch, and a midnight casino session that gave back more than it gave.
Disembarking the Quantum and boarding the Navigator on the same day, through the side-by-side transfer process, a lunch fit for loyalty guests, and our first night on ship number two.
A port day we never left the ship for: towel animal number three, a phenomenal Earth Harp show, and one more round of bumper cars after dark.
Our first port day: a tender line longer than the ride itself, a chowder bread bowl, and the discovery of churro ice cream.
A lazy sea day of brunch, balcony time, bumper cars, and a rough second trip to the casino, plus the iFly folks quietly collected on that extra minute after all.
Long Beach, iFly, a smooth boarding at berth 92, and a solid first night in the casino aboard the Quantum of the Seas.
A day spent chasing five last-minute flight segments for United Premier Gold status - DEN to LAX and back, through SFO, twice.
On finding my way back to lighting design years after walking away from a theatre degree.
A year-long chronicle of not shaving, and everything - and everyone - that had an opinion about it.
One email whenever something new goes up. No spam.