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A soup-to-nuts planning masterclass disguised as two friends bickering about whether Seattle is worth a night — covering everything from why cruises now cost 40% more than 2019 to passport rules, cab-driver shakedowns, ADA rooms, and how to finance it all without losing your mind. Practical, heartfelt, and gloriously off the rails.
What they covered
Topics on deck
Fixed dining vs. Your Time
2023 prices ~40% above 2019
Flights & hotels for far-flung ports
Passport card vs. book rules
Airport transfers & cab gouging
Parking in Galveston
ADA rooms & allergy notations
Financing via Uplift
Don’t miss
Moments worth the wait
- The late-to-dinner complaint — a John Heald reader turned away 40 minutes late; Trevor’s blunt take.
“if you have seated timing… that’s a reservation. They have the right to turn you away at that point.”
- Your Time, same wait staff — Trevor’s pitch for flexible dining.
“There was only one night that we did not have our weight staff. They tried hard to keep us there.”
- The price reality check — why 2023 hurts the wallet.
“cruise prices right now are 40% more expensive than they were in 2019, which pre pandemic… they got to make up revenue that they lost while they were closed for two and a half years.”
- Alaska/Seattle logistics — Trevor’s one must-see.
“we’re going to go in the day before… The only thing I want to see is I want to go to the market where they throw the fish.”
- Passport-card rules — when the card is enough for crossings.
“If you’re doing like the Panama Canal thing… you can get away with the passport card… as long as you’re ending in a US port.”
- Cab shakedown — a Miami driver who tried to strand Megan.
“I’m going to leave and I have your luggage in my car and I don’t care.”
- Finance it smart — the Uplift tip (not an ad).
“it pays your booking off right away. And I don’t pay any interest… I can set it up for six months, zero interest.”
Golden nuggets
Running bits & lore born here
- Newest Navy sailor — congrats to guest-alumnus Trenton Lee Hayes, with the running worry: “He doesn’t realize there’s no guys burgers on those ships.”
- #WheresThomas escalates — into the “I called your mom, she said you’re not dead” bit and the recurring Mexican-mafia joke.
- “We have to talk daily, it’s a law” — the mandatory-check-in gag returns.
- #CCPStrange — the “getting strange” callback carried over from the Roatan episode.
- Pirate party plug — the Spooktober live event (Oct 28) gets one more push.
- The sign-off, remixed — “if you’re going to get to get with it on your balcony, you are being recorded.”