Are You a Bad Person Too???

I did a slightly unethical thing, but I’d be willing to bet that many of you would have done the same. I was planning a grand adventure to celebrate our 40th anniversary (Yay, us!). The trip was to be 2 months, April-June, 2022, beginning with a cruise to Europe, some time in Amsterdam and Scotland, then a cruise to Iceland. The cruise lines do something to acknowledge any special celebrations during your voyage. The anniversary fell during the first cruise, on the Enchanted Princess, and I already knew their celebration would consist of a piece of pretty much inedible cake, with “Happy Anniversary” written on it. But I was interested to see what Silversea, described as an “ultra-luxury cruise line” might have for us. So I entered a celebration date in May, then noted “fake anniversary” on my planning calendar, so I’d remember our big day. So it was just a little lie. Does that make me a bad person?

April 17, 1982

April 17, 2022

 

Well, I guess there’s something to be said for traveling in style. The cake on Silversea was similar to the one on Princess, but its presentation was much snazzier. It came with balloons, real linens, and a card from the captain. We already had an unlimited supply of champagne in our fridge, courtesy of our very attentive butler. In fact, we had to tell him to stop refilling the supply, because every time we’d finish a bottle, another would appear in our fridge. And we were too weak to leave it. It kept calling to us from inside… “Drink me, DRINK ME, DRINK ME NOW!”

Later in the cruise, the butler insisted that he be allowed to bring us caviar. I guess that’s something many people really like and consider a treat. Well, for me, it’s just YUK! But Bill enjoyed it. We could have had it every day if we wanted. I’ll stick to the champagne, thank you. Over the years we’ve been on 40+ cruises, and never have we been treated so well.

Bill brought a tie, but not a jacket. Luggage space was limited, and we had to be able to handle our own luggage, hopping on and off trains, and navigating through airports. He hates dressing up anyway. Little did we know that a jacket is required for entry into the dining room every night. And on formal night, a tie as well. Our trusty butler found a jacket for Bill to use during the cruise. He’d put it on, walk into the restaurant, and immediately take it off and hang it on his chair. A short sleeve collared shirt is the best he can do and still be comfortable. There are many people who passionately believe that everyone should be elegantly dressed for dinner, and seeing others not up to their standard simply ruins their experience. Yeah, save it, Karen!

In another “I’m a horrible person” confession, I admit that we were unkind behind the backs of several passengers, giving them nicknames that fit their persona. We had Big Red, Hot Lips, and Stinky. Hot Lips was seriously inebriated, and hot to trot with any male she could find. Plastic surgery and bright lipstick completed the package. Big Red was an extra large, arrogant travel know-it-all, with bright red dyed hair, who always wore a flowing caftan. She bragged about how she travels on the cheap. Obviously that was on the Princess cruise, not Silversea. And oh, Stinky… her perfume would knock a buzzard off a manure cart, and it never failed, wherever we went, there she was. 

The trip was a great success, and so many things I’d worried about luckily didn’t happen. The main worry was about COVID. We had 6 tests during the trip, and they were all negative, but at the time, you couldn’t board a ship without a negative COVID test within 24 hours of embarkation. That posed a bit of a dilemma as we were to fly to Ft Lauderdale 3 days before our cruise, mostly to make sure our luggage made it with us to the ship. And if you miss your flight or have a positive COVID test, the ship goes without you. So why even fly to FL if you’re going to test positive? Well, it's a chance you just have to take. We bought the insurance for this trip, for sure. We brought along the free tests the govt. sent out so we could pre-test before the paid test. There was also a rule that you couldn’t fly back to the USA without a negative COVID test within 24 hours. The first cruise had an outbreak of COVID, apparently with some 300 people eventually getting it. All were vaccinated, so nobody was very sick, and in fact some had no symptoms, just tested positive. But if that were to happen, you’d be sent to “COVID jail,” the cabins on deck 9, and not allowed to leave your cabin. What a lousy way to spend your cruise vacation! There were a number of passengers stuck in hotels in Europe after the cruise, waiting for a negative test, or a “letter of recovery,” which sounds like BS to me. People could just buy one. Princess was not forthcoming at all about what was going on. It was just rumors until someone in a FaceBook group started posting from deck 9. Compare that to life on the Silver Moon, where the captain gave a daily update. There were zero cases at first, then 2, then 8 plus 3 crew by the end of the cruise. We appreciated the transparency of Silversea. We did end up a little bit worried when the man sitting right next to us at the hotel restaurant before our trip home commented that he had been on our cruise but tested positive so couldn’t fly home. It sounded like he had a bit of a cold, but wasn’t coughing.

One of the worries I thought I had handled but turned out to be a problem was with the DMV. I knew the registration on 2 of our vehicles would come due while we were gone, so I went online to pay early. Not allowed. You can’t renew until you get the renewal notice, which only comes 30 days before expiration. Luckily the notice came in the form of a postcard, which I could see with the mail preview function provided by the USPS, “Informed Delivery.” So I renewed online from Pompano Beach, the night before we boarded the ship for Europe. I received notification that it went through, and later saw that the tags arrived. About a month later I saw another set of envelopes from the DMV, sent certified mail, one to each of us. Our friend signed for them, but didn’t open them. Turns out one of the transactions bounced, and now we were in serious trouble for what in effect was writing a bad check. By the time we got home and opened the letters, it was too late to just pay, and the DMV was demanding cash only (since we’re now known scofflaws), no check or credit card. And we had just 5 days left before we’d be subject to a $1,000 fine and cancellation of our registration. Although not happy, I was prepared to pay in cash, including the $25 returned check fee. On June 13 I went to the bank, got $400 in cash and headed for the DMV. It was the first business day we were back. When I got there, I waited through a long line, and discovered that they won’t take cash, or do any transactions for that matter, without an appointment. And the next available appointment wasn’t until mid-July, well past the deadline. I had a notice and cash in my hand, and all I wanted was to hand it over. Nope!

Well, me being me, I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I called the number on the threatening letter, and actually spoke to a human being! I explained the problem and asked what they suggested I do about it. After all, they’re the ones demanding the money. Offhand, I asked where their office is physically located. It was in the same building, but alas, they couldn’t take the money. The supervisor said she’d see what she could do, and to wait in the lobby. Eventually someone came out and said I could have an appointment. I was given a number, but told it may be awhile before my number would be called. I sat there for 2 more hours! But eventually it was my turn. The clerk had never seen such a thing and didn’t know how to process it. She got up to confer with others several times, but eventually took the money. The inefficiency was mind boggling. First, when a transaction is done online, it seems reasonable that any issues with that transaction be communicated online rather than through snail mail. Neither the DMV nor the bank notified me that there was a problem. It turned out there was an extra zero in the account # on one of the transactions. The bank claims they had no way to know whose account that was since they didn’t have an account by that number. Uh, how bout the name? Then there was the fact that another similar transaction went through within 10 minutes. Oh yeah, sorry. The clerks at the DMV don’t make policy, so there was no way to address the issue there. I suspect I’ll be writing a letter to someone, but haven’t figured out yet who might give a f***.

I was planning to make this blog entry largely about our trip, but I see I’ve gone astray, so I’ll just let it be and write about the places we visited in a separate post. Teaser… we met the Duke of Argyll, but didn’t realize it until we were leaving the castle. Doh! We saw the Loch Ness Monster. And we LOVED the villages we visited in Iceland.

PS There is indeed a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! (oil tanker)