Phenibut adderal Cigarette outlet port jervis

I'm at the "know enough to be dangerous" stage of van electrical knowledge and want to ask a question before I try something.
My van has an Inergy Powerstation 1500 battery stack, similar to this one. One of the DC ports on the power station connects to a LP detector and the other connects to a rocker switch fuse panel similar to this one, which has four 15 amp fuses.
The rocker panel only has one DC plug port (not sure the proper name for this), that looks like the DC port a car would have for plugging in phone charger.
I want to split that port into 3 DC plug ports so that I can have my Laveo Dry flush toilet and my 12V fan (similar to this one) plugged in at the same time and have an extra port for miscellaneous items I might hookup like my 12V electric kettle.
I found this splitter on Amazon which has a 15amp fuse.
Questions -
1) My theory is that since each of the devices mentioned above (toilet, fan, electric kettle) have worked fine individually for years (swapping the device plugged into the one port on the rocker switch panel) that if I plug all three devices into the splitter, then each device should work fine individually because both the rocker panel and the splitter have a 15amp fuse.
Does that logic hold up? I'm on a trip right now and I'd like to buy this thing without trying to figure out the collective load of multiple devices operating at the same time. It's easy for me to just use one at a time for now (or forever, really), but not having to swap plugs is would be really nice.
2) My other theory is that if I accidentally used more than one device at a time through the splitter, and that was too much load for the port on the rocker switch panel to handle (15 amp fuse), then the 15amp fuse on the splitter would blow first, protecting the fuse on the rocker panel.
Does that logic hold up?
This is a piece of mind thing because, being on a trip, blowing the fuse on the rocker panel would be a big PITA whereas blowing the fuse on the splitter could be solved by setting the splitter aside and just going back to using the single port until I'm back from my trip.
Thanks much for any insights anyone can share!

The global duty free retail market size was valued at USD 42.65 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 46.67 billion in 2024 to USD 78.78 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.76% during the forecast period.. The rising demand for alcohol in several economies especially in Asia owing to increasing spending capacity of middle class people, changing consumer habits, and growing international tourist arrivals has elevated the demand for premium duty free liquor worldwide. Strategic developments and innovations in the sector will further propel duty free alcohol sales, thus aiding market expansion. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report titled, “Duty Free Retail Market, 2024-2032.”
Get a Free Sample PDF: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/duty-free-retail-market-106652
Top Companies Covered in the Duty Free Retail Market:

• China Duty Free Group (China)
• Lotte Duty Free (South Korea)
• The Shilla Duty Free (South Korea)
• Dufry AG (Switzerland)
• DFS Group (China)
• Gebr. Heinemann SE & Co. KG (Germany)
• Shinsegae Duty Free Inc. (South Korea)
• The King Power International Group (Thailand)
• Lagardère Group (France)
• Dubai Duty Free (UAE)

Segments:
Perfumes Segment to Lead Owing to Availability of Variety of Internationally Reputed Brands
As per type, the market is split into perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol, cigarettes, and others. Among these, the perfumes segment captured the largest market share in 2022. Affluent global travelers usually visit retail chains that offer perfumes of internationally reputed brands, including Hugo Boss, Prada, Gucci, Al Haramain Dazzle Intense, Giorgio Armani, Belle, Signature Silver, Signature Rose, and Khulasat Al Oud. They offer several types of perfumes, including Eau De Perfume (EDP), Perfume or De Perfume, Eau De Toilette (EDT), and Eau De Cologne (EDC) in one place, which is contributing to segment growth.
Airports Segment to Capture Significant Share Due to Rising Number of Duty Free Retail Stores
According to sales channel, the market is divided into airports, onboard aircraft, seaports, train stations, and others. Among these, the airports segment dominated the global market in 2022. The growing number of international and domestic airports in several economies is attributed to segment expansion. The increasing number of duty free retail stores across airports worldwide will further drive segment growth in the coming years.
Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.
Report Coverage:
The report includes:

• Drivers, restraints, opportunities and threats influencing market dynamics in the coming years.
• List of key market players along with strategic developments undertaken in the past five years.
• Market share, growth rate, and valuation projections for each region and segment.
• Impact of COVID-19 on the global economy.

Drivers and Restraints:
Rising Number of Airports in Several Countries to Aid Market Expansion
The construction of new airports in several economies and rising investments to expand existing ones will generate many opportunities for market growth. For example, in February 2021, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), an Indian governmental body that operates 125 airports, issued a construction permit worth USD 135.07 million (INR 987 crore) for the first phase of an international airport named ‘Dholera’ in Gujarat. According to Global Aviation Summit 2019, the Civil Aviation Ministry of India aims to have 190-200 operational airports by 2040 under the ‘Indian Aviation Vision 2040’. Mumbai and Delhi will each have three international airports, while the top 31 Indian cities will have two operating airports.
On the other hand, fluctuations in currency exchange rates will hinder market augmentation in the forthcoming years.
Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/duty-free-retail-market-106652
Regional Insights:
Asia Pacific to Capture Significant Share Stoked by Innovative Product Launches
Asia Pacific held majority of the duty free retail market share in 2022 backed by strategic developments in Asian economies, which will facilitate the launch of innovative products in the region. For example, in its master plan dated June 1st, 2020, China’s central government announced various policies aimed at establishing the Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) on the country’s southern coast. The government also announced its plan to make Hainan FTP an internationally renowned free trade port by 2050. This strategic move will elevate the expansion of domestic retail chains that offer a wide variety of retail products in the coming years.
Meanwhile, the Europe market is slated to grow substantially over the forecast period due to rising expenditure on luxury goods by tourists. After the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, airports in European countries have taken measures to attract tourists/passengers to retail stores that are duty free. This, in turn, will boost sales and aid regional market expansion.
The North America market is driven by travel spending in the U.S. and the growing number of tourists. Canada is one of the key contributors to the North America market. According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), duty free stores operate in approximately 53 locations across Canada, including land border locations and international airports.
Competitive Landscape:
Launch of New Duty Free Stores by New Entrants and Existing Players to Drive Market Proliferation
Industry leaders are launching new duty free retail stores or investing funds in expanding existing ones to strengthen their position in the global market. For instance, in June 2022, Mumbai Travel Retail Pvt Ltd. ((MTRPL), an Indian private travel retailer, unveiled its new outlet at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India. The new store is a part of the company's Duty Free (TDF) stores covering approximately 2,450 sq ft. These travel retail stores offer a broad spectrum of products, from branded perfumes, travel accessories to imported confectionery. This strategic move opens up new business opportunities for prospective travel retail operators across Indian states, including Kerala and Karnataka.
Key Industry Development:
January 2023: Foreo, a Sweden-based connected beauty brand, launched a new store in Manila, Philippines, in collaboration with Duty Free Philippines. The new store (Luxe Duty Free) contributed to Duty Free Philippines' expansion strategies within the country.
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I have come across a couple of items that, at first glance, seem useful, but require electricity. The first is a portable cooler-like fridge that can be charged 2 ways: via a standard outlet and via cigarette lighter port in the car. This device only keeps the contents 15*C cooler than the ambient air. Assuming a root seller, even one created in a pinch, could keep it at the necessary temp for insulin how much electricity would it pull? And how do I determine the proper solar panel requirements to keep it running. The user manual didn't list voltage.
The second device is a rechargeable pump that is placed in a container of water. The other end is attached to a hose with shower head. This product's user manual says it is 3.7 V, max electricity flow 2.5 Amps, and has a 2.5 charging period that allows it to run for 60 minutes. How do I determine the energy requirements and how to make sure I have the sufficient solar power panels? Note: Math is not my strong suit. Dumb it down to a 5th grade level, please.

Hi Everyone,
I’m looking to install a Blackvue DR970X-2CH and a Blackvue B-124X to my 2021 Lexus IS350 through hardwiring into the interior fuse panel. On Blackvue’s manual they say to tap into a fuse with at least 10A and throw in a 20A fuse into the secondary slot on the fuse tap which seems to contradict what I have read online. I feel pretty good about how to connect everything, but am concerned/uncertain about the potential power draw.
The 15A fuse I’m looking to tap into is just for the power outlets (1x12V Cig Lighter, 2xUSB-A to my knowledge). The cig lighter is currently connected to my radar detector which will be tapped into the rear view mirror in the next few days so this will not be an issue. The two USB-A ports are used to charge a phone on occasion and power my wireless carplay dongle daily. I’m assuming each USB port will draw 2.1A.
The B-124X charges at 9A but can peak at 13.5A. I’ve read on other forums about people tapping into 10A or 15A fuses without any issues but those have generally been empty fuses for options not included in their specific car. Given all of this, my questions are:

1. Is my understanding correct in that at its peak, the total current draw will be 17.7A (13.5A from the battery, 2.1A from each USB-A)? If so, this would be problematic for the fuse I’m looking to tap into, right?
2. Alternatively, can I set the B-124X to the cigarette mode which limits the power to 5-6.5A while still having it hardwired to the fuse panel? (my cig lighter is in the center console and not long enough to reach the glovebox where the battery will be stored unfortunately).

I apologize for the dumb questions. This is all new to me and I’ve seen quite a few contradicting posts online so I’m just trying to make sure I understand what I am doing before acting on anything.
Please let me know if I can clarify on anything further or if you need more information. Thank you all!

I have a bluetti power station with 12 V cigarette port outlet. I would like to power multiple items from this, specifically 12v fridge and a fan, possibly an electrical blanket as well.
Confirming that I can draw up to max 10 amps? So if my iceco fridge draws 6 amps max I would have at least 4 amps available for additional devices. So a fan on a low setting at night should draw less than 4 amps.
What would happen if I exceed the 10 amp max draw, assuming my knowledge and understanding is correct?

I'm not sure if anyone else has shared this, but I have a 2019 Elite. I picked up an Avanti, 36 Liter, portable refrigerator a while back and it fits PERFECTLY in the space between the second row seats.
I removed the middle of the bench and grabbed this before driving to Philadelphia (from Alabama) with my wife and 3 kids. The unit is separated into two sections that you can set the temperature independently.
With the wheels towards the back, you can still slide each chair forward to access the third row, where our oldest two sat. My wife sat in the second row on the side that the fridge opens and was the snack captain during the entire trip.
She was nursing our youngest at the time, so we were able to keep frozen milk on one side. and chilled on the other. Couple that with the portable kettle (mug) that we plugged in at the front, and we had sub 2 minute cold -> perfect baby temp bottled milk. 🤯 Not to mention, she could hold the bottle for him from her seat while I kept driving.
It works off of a regular household plug as well as a 12v, cigarette lighter, has a mobile app to check and set the temp, and even threw in a USB port to charge your devices if you have it out. Hell, we took this to the park for my son's 2nd birthday, and there were outlets near the benches (awesome park btw). I plugged in the fridge and had Capri Suns and Popsicles on tap for the kiddos. I'm not affiliated with the thing in any way, but I love my Odyssey, and this refrigerator took family trips to a new level.
Check it out. Pick one up if you'd like. I bought mine from a local appliance store for a bit cheaper than Amazon, so ymmv if you have a place. ✌🏾
https://a.co/d/27tspF0

I have this 1500w inverter and I'm wondering what cable I need to use from 12v battery. The cable needs to be around 1.5m long. I want to use it to charge my laptop and phone and maybe a battery for my drill. The cable I have is 16awg and has a 20amp fuse and is 1.5m, I'm wondering if this will do or if not what cable I need?

I was set on ordering the Viair 85P but it turns out it may not be compatible with my 2021 X5 xDrive40i? Car manual says the total load of all sockets must not exceed 140 watts at 12 volts. Viair says that it "can only be used if the outlet is rated to 15 AMPS/180 Volts or more." Based on this, they're not compatible but I've seen other BMW owners talk about using the Viair through the cigarette port. I know I can get the battery clamp one but I'd prefer using the cigarette port. Any insights?

I’m currently on a road trip and need work to be done on my laptop as my family drives. My power inverter that I brought with me hasn’t been working (when plugged into the cigarette port and turned on, an alarm blares and no power runs through) so I bought a new cable (USB to USB-C with a cigarette charger plug) so I can plug in my MacBook into the cigarette outlet.
While it charged my MacBook at first, it charged it very slowly. And then when I went to use my MacBook, I unplugged it and after a few minutes it died incredibly quickly. Other times, after it charged a bit, I’d unplug it and whilst using the MacBook it would restart without notice 2 or 3 times before it turned on properly to be able to use.
Most recently, I used my laptop while it was plugged in and it was going better than before so I was hopeful but it just shut off all of a sudden and now it is not turning back on. When it usually dies from low battery, it has enough juice to show the empty battery symbol and this time nothing is showing at all, not even the apple logo to indicate that it is restarting.
This cable charges phones just fine and this cigarette port is used to charge other phones no problem. What’s going on? Is it my MacBook? Did this fry the battery?

I just got a Lexus tx 350... Getting straight to the point.
My kids use a tablet style screen that comes with a plug for a cigarette lighter outlet.
I can't seem to find it on this car. Is it deprecated and removed from the vehicle? If not, where is it?
Otherwise. I have bought a cheap DC to USB C adapter to plug into the charging port but that isn't working either. The standby light is powered on the tablet but it does not power on. I'm assuming not enough voltage from the USB C ports.
Any ideas you guys might have to help me on this?

So i recently got a 2018 mazda 3 and realized the front usb port isn’t designed to charge your phone, nor is there a cigarette lighter outlet in the front (it’s in the center storage compartment). Also my trim doesn’t even have the usb ports in the compartment.
Point being, my question is - 1) how do you guys charge your phone and 2) hide dash cam wiring if it’s wired to the center compartment?

TLDR: This was our first cruise with Royal and I must say we were impressed! I was apprehensive after reading many negative comments here and elsewhere about quality of food, service and cleanliness. We experienced none of that. Perhaps it was because I went into it expecting to be underwhelmed but we have no real complaints aside from a few instances of guests shoving into elevators before allowing others out and people being gross in the windjammer. I believe the ship holds 4700 passengers and we were pretty close to full capacity but the layout of the ship made it feel as if there were only a few hundred. The crew was outstanding and truly made our trip. We had a fantastic time.
Here’s my (probably too) detailed review of our experience for those interested..
DINING:
MDR- we had dinner here 3 or 4x. Service was efficient. Never felt trapped or like it was taking too long. Our server took great care of us and accommodated our requests/our late arrival due to my youngest’s nap schedule being all over the place. I was concerned about food temp because I’m someone who really does not enjoy cold food that’s supposed to be warm (my husband doesn’t care either way) but all dishes were the perfect temp. We ordered multiple starters some nights and took extra desserts to go other nights. The lobster was a good size (though I’d have preferred browned butter to what they served it with). The one time we ordered steak it was flavorful, tender and cooked to perfection. The chicken was delicious and not dry at all. Very happy with our meals/experience here.
Windjammer- loved it! Great selection, most foods and textures were great. The tiramisu and coconut cookies will haunt my dreams as some of the most delicious treats I’ve ever had. The fruit was excellent and plentiful, only wished for berries by the second to last day. I do wish they had more veggies available but overall happy. A few instances of soggy items but it’s a buffet, what do you expect? We quickly found our favorite spot to dine and a wonderful crew member named Dinesh who saved our table, made sure we had everything we could ever want as well as entertained and delighted the kids. My 4yo was enamored with him and keeps asking to go visit, despite no longer being on the ship lol. John at washy washy was fabulous. A new costume every day, always smiling, dancing and bringing the best vibes and energy. Only real complaints were the grown ass adults walking around eating and licking their fingers 🤢. Specialty coffee was great- only once was my order not right but they were slammed so I took the loss and shared my husband’s drink. No big deal, we had the beverage package so it’s not like I had to pay for that individual drink.
Solarium Bistro- a little slice of serenity with great and consistent food. The mushrooms, lamb, salmon, ceviche, baklava and charcuterie were our favorite dishes here. We often popped in near closing after dropping off at Adventure Ocean for a quick bite to go and although we never made reservations, they were super accommodating and never made us feel like a bother. Even going so far as to track down our preferred drinks (mojitos 😍) and bring them to us in the Solarium. We brought a charcuterie plate back to the room some nights to enjoy with wine on the balcony- highly recommend. A great dining option when you aren’t up for the bustle of WJ and don’t want to sit through the formality of MDR.
Izumi- absolutely delicious. We did not purchase a specialty dining package but my 13 yo desperately wanted to dine here. On our last evening she and I stopped by to order a few items a la carte but ended up enjoying a multiple course meal with one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. XXXXX served us and treated us like royalty, making my daughter’s whole night. Initially we ordered the baked snow crab and salmon dynamite roll to share, green tea ice cream and mochi ice cream but XXXXX had other plans. He brought out miso soup, seaweed salad, chicken Kara-age, firecracker spring rolls and edamame - all delicious. The dynamite roll was decadent yet light- tons of flavor and layered perfectly so that you taste each element individually before they all come together in a symphony of sapidity. I don’t know if I’ll ever find a roll I love as much as that one. Next came the matcha ice cream- arguably the best flavor to ever exist and the mochi (she chose mango, strawberry and chocolate) also lovely. He charged us only for the dynamite roll and received a huge tip and shoutout in the survey for creating such a memorable and special experience that we will treasure. Trying to please a teenager, well IYKYK, but my daughter had the time of her life and I didn’t have to empty my wallet for it. As a budget-minded person who diligently saved for this vacation, I appreciated his generosity all the more.
Two70- drinks and sandwiches were great! Loved the ability to grab a quick bite before/during a show.
Sorrentos- pretty good. Obviously this isn’t your local mom and pop pizza joint quality but I’d say it was a step above grocery store frozen pizza and that was good enough for me. It was hot, tasty and nearly always available.
Room service- we only utilized this for the continental breakfast a few mornings so we could feed the double stomach demon (4yo- seriously perplexed at how much food he can consume) immediately upon waking and get some much needed coffee before venturing out. Everything was great. I actually kind of miss that dark, slightly bitter coffee.. though I’m glad to have my less acidic cold brew now that I’m home.
Honorable mention to those little packets of butter- for whatever reason they really stood out to us. So good on fresh bread 😍
BARS/DRINKS:
Music Hall and Schooners made the best mojitos and I enjoyed the ambiance. Pool bars were just that. These were the only ones we tended to frequent. Service was prompt at all bars and we never had any issues. We didn’t drink a ton since we had the kids along. Lots of specialty coffees, waterbottles, Red Bulls, virgin drinks and a few cocktails or beers at night. When we did order alcoholic drinks, it was very clearly alcoholic. Not watered down in the slightest.
CASINO:
My husband enjoys gambling. To me, it’s anxiety inducing and I get absolutely nothing from it. He had budgeted about $100 to blow and did well for himself. During his first trip he went solo, put in $20 and walked away with $200. Another night we were wandering the ship and I joined him for a quick stop. We sat down, played $30 and left with $80. Not huge gains but it’s something. I was happy to take the money and run. He got his winners high. Aside from the faint cigarette smoke smell it was a good experience.
SHOWS/ACTIVITIES:
We didn’t do too many scheduled activities and shows but those we did attend were entertaining and enjoyable. The comedian, illusionist and game shows were worth the watch. My 13yo enjoyed the movie nights, silent disco and attended many more shows than we did. She was not into Spectra’s Cabaret and left early but really liked all the game shows. The 80’s party was a huge hit with my 4yo who loves to dance. He was the first one on the floor and had the time of his life. We only stayed for an hour or so since the latter portion is meant for adults and it was quite late. Fellow guests were so kind to include him and gifted him glow sticks, light up accessories and “cool guy” sunglasses. He was amazed to see himself on the big screen and charmed all the ladies with his wiggly eyebrows and finger guns. The family festival was a fun “field day” type event in the seaplex on the last sea day. The captains corner forum was interesting and informative. We had hoped to see Quest but by that last evening we were all exhausted and my 4yo reached his breaking point. Cue a fantastic meltdown and bedtime. We didn’t make any reservations and never had a problem getting a seat. Nice selection of activities that kept us entertained.
iFLY/NORTHSTAR:
My 4yo got as far as the wind tunnel with iFly and got scared. Luckily there was a kind woman inside that comforted him until we could get him out. No complaints with the process, it was straightforward and the instructor was great.
My daughter reserved Northstar and we rushed back from FL port only to be told that her name was not on the list, despite me double checking she had reserved it correctly. She was embarrassed so we just left. I then went to guest services the next morning to explain and ask if she could rebook while we were at Coco Cay and they had no problem setting that up. Typically you can only reserve a free activity once per guest, per sailing. She also got scared and decided she didn’t want to go once we arrived back for the second reservation. 🙃 I tried. Both activities look cool and hopefully we will get a chance to experience them on our next sailing.
ADVENTURE OCEAN/FUEL:
4yo was apprehensive and did not enjoy his first session so he refused to go back until about mid trip. I suspect it was because there were a lot of kids during that session and he was shy and overwhelmed. Once he went back, he made some friends, absolutely loved it and wanted to return every chance he got. We ran into crew and other kids from AO throughout the ship and he was excited to see them. It was cute to see the kids waving and shouting as they spotted each other outside of the club. Open play area was worth a good 15-30 mins of entertainment at his age, really meant for 3 and under imo. We’d stop there after pickup for a bit and he enjoyed the slide and making up games with the baby/toddler toys. I do wish they had a camera feed we could tap into to check in- there were a few times we went to pick him up a bit early concerned he might have had enough (and didn’t want him to hate it again because it was such a nice break for us lol) but he was happy as a clam when we arrived. A camera feed would have helped though I understand the logistics of that may not work privacy-wise.
13yo didn’t want to go to teen club and was mostly a lone wolf until she met a friend the second to last day. She is quite reserved so this didn’t surprise me. Most kids/teens we encountered were respectful and seemingly well behaved. There were a few instances of jerk behavior but nothing major that soured our trip.
SPA:
I chose to book a massage after a particularly stressful port day, my son and husband were napping and they offered me a discount. I am not a “spa person” and rarely if ever take time or spend money to do these kinds of self care activities so it was a treat for me. Massage was great, left feeling so relaxed that I briefly wondered if they’d drugged the massage oil. They even threw in a few complimentary services (some fancy face thing and massage extras like hot stones, exfoliation and aromatherapy) which was nice. Light pressure at the end to purchase the overpriced potions but she immediately stopped when I said I wouldn’t realistically use them at home. It was a little more than I expected to pay since I didn’t realize there would be an extra “service charge” on top of price and gratuity but it was worth the splurge.
POOLS:
We really only utilized the indoor pool. No problem with getting pool chairs and it wasn’t overly crowded- though we tended to go at off peak times so maybe that was part of it. Solarium pools looked very nice and relaxing when we walked through to check them out. We didn’t get a chance to enjoy them but I can see why it’s such a popular spot. Outdoor pools also seemed nice, only one day we noticed it super crowded, the rest of the time we would have had no problem finding a chair and swimming.
STATEROOM/ATTENDANT:
We booked two connecting balcony cabins for the 4 of us mid/aft area. Rooms were clean, spacious enough.. though after having two rooms/bathrooms I wouldn’t ever want to cram us all into one, at least not until 4yo is older and sucks less lol. Especially since we spent a fair amount of time in the room as a home base. Our neighbors to either side were quiet. Heard occasional stomping from above but nothing bothersome. If I had to come up with a negative, it would be that our bed was quite hard. The kids’ room bed was comfortable but in the room we chose it was clearly different mattresses. Our attendant did add a topper which helped a little but I will definitely pay better attention next time we choose which room we stay in because it wasn’t great. Our bed at home is probably too soft so it was an adjustment. Still got decent sleep. Storage was plentiful and impressive. We had more than enough outlets between the two rooms for all of our gadgets. Shower and bathroom are a good size. The included body wash was not great so I stuck with my own toiletries. Balconies were nice and we opened up the divider so we could pass between them and had a better view. *Room adjacent tip- grab a few extra pool towels to bring back for the shower if you’re accustomed to larger towels/bath sheets.
Our attendant, Rhodora, was an absolute gem. She took such wonderful care of us and always had a great attitude. We looked forward to chatting with her every day. She was so sweet and accommodating, made us feel welcome from the very first day and we will truly miss her. She made towel animals which were so cute and would arrange my son’s stuffed animal doing silly things around the room. We brought her a ridiculous amount of chocolate from FL port since she mentioned that was her favorite when I’d asked and left her $100 and a heartfelt note. The kids left her notes and ducks and more chocolate. She worked her ass off, we’d run into her in the hallway and she’d be sweating and smiling ear to ear. A literal ray of sunshine. She truly made our trip extra special so I hope she knows how much we appreciate her. Tip your attendants guys!
PORTS:
Cape Canaveral: Initially planned to stay on the ship but my daughter and I were pining for the beach. Just she and I got off and since my Uber app was glitching, we grabbed a shuttle to Cocoa Beach. $20/pp round trip. Instead of having to wait for the shuttle to fill up, they put us in one of their taxis so we could get going right away which was appreciated. I instacarted chocolate and wine to the pier sign. Somewhat crowded but no problem finding a spot. My daughter found shells, made a friend and swam for hours. I soaked up the glorious sun. Had a great time. Stopped at one of the shops to grab a sand toy for the next port and a couple souvenirs for my daughter and husband. Easy shuttle ride back. Driver was cool and shared some tips for Coco Cay since he’d just been there with his girlfriend a few weeks prior.
Coco Cay: What a day. We all got off around 10 and were greeted by the dancers. Found the shuttle station and headed to south beach. Had a little trouble finding chairs at first but then found some tucked away near the cabanas/private club area. Short walk to the bar and near a hammock in the shade my husband had a glorious nap in. At first, my son became itchy and his skin stung. I’ve heard of sea lice and jellyfish being an issue at other beaches but not sure if those are prevalent in this area. We weren’t sure what the cause was but he had been rolling around in the sand so we removed his rashgard and suit, rinsed it/him and tried again. We told him not to roll around anymore and thankfully this seemed to resolve the issue. Kids loved the water and beach. My daughter never left the water. Complimentary life jackets available for use. Floating mats available to rent for $20. We found tiny hermit crabs to the delight of my husband and son who caught them in a bucket to observe. Snorkeled a bit with our own equipment. Saw a jellyfish and what appeared to be a peacock without tail feathers. Food at the snack shack nearby was pretty good.. we didn’t eat much due to the heat and being busy but what we did eat was your classic snack bar fare. I appreciated the lighter menu items. Drinks were cold and good. Coco loco (?) or whatever it was called was tasty.
Once we’d had enough we headed back to check out the pirate ship water play area. My husband and son hung there then migrated to the Splashaway Bay while my daughter and I checked out the marketplace near Chill Island. We saw some cool chickens strutting around. Prices were so/so but we did purchase a necklace and wooden shark figurine as the kids’ souvenirs ($20 and $15, respectively which I thought was reasonable for “vacation pricing”). I was eyeing the cool wooden swords for my pirate-loving son but between the $50 price and his rambunctious nature I though better of it. Headed back to the ship around 4, exhausted and hungry. Overall a nice stop, though there is far too much to see in one day. We clocked a good 20,000 steps and really only saw 3 areas. Would have loved to have another day to explore but happy with the time we did spend there.
Nassau: Oh boy. We booked the Blackbeard’s Revenge pirate ship excursion through RC. Met at the indicated zone in port just off the ship, filled out waivers and handed in tickets. We then walked about halfway to the marketplace where we diverted to a covered pavilion and waited 5 or so minutes to board. It was fun, lively and entertaining. All the actors really committed to the bit and included the kids in several activities onboard. At one point they slowed the boat and let the kids throw bread off the side to feed the fish. It was much hotter than I expected it to be but there were plenty of shady spots to find refuge. The gift shop/restrooms area was air conditioned and felt amazing after enduring the sun for a while. Though we were a little disappointed the gift shop wasn’t operating and didn’t have anything to purchase. The bar offered drinks and snacks for purchase- we were given two tickets each, good for either rum or virgin punch. The rum punch was strong and cold. The snacks were prepackaged cookies, chips, etc and ranged from $2-$4 from what we could see. At the end of our voyage the pirates dragged out a treasure chest and gave each child Mardi Gras bead necklace “treasures”. Overall fun and memorable experience.
After the pirate excursion, we initially decided to try to venture over to Ardastra Gardens however my husband got super sketched out once we left the sterile port area and got further into town so we quickly returned. Most locals were friendly but there were definitely some shady characters hanging around and fair bit of pushiness from vendors and taxi drivers. I didn’t feel unsafe per se but certainly wary. Probably better off not venturing out with kids out of precaution. My husband wanted nothing to do with it. We purchased some souvenirs in a fairly commercial looking shop just outside of the port then wandered around the port market a bit. Nobody here was pushy and a much different vibe than outside of the gates. I had hoped to look around more but by this time my son was over it and beginning to melt down, my daughter was hangry and overheating and we were coming down off the adrenaline of leaving the port so we bought some kind of limeade drink (delicious) and headed back to ship for a much needed lunch and rest.
EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKING:
Super smooth and painless. We cruised with BC and ID (yeah yeah yeah I know) and it was beyond simple. I had read comments saying it would be a pain and hassle, longer lines, end of the world, but we had no issues. Security flagged our backpack for my husband’s Zyn packets- I suppose they look like little drug bundles in the X-ray. Once we showed them and explained, it was fine. Our boarding time was 10:30-11. We breezed through and only had about an hour delay in boarding because they were fogging/sanitizing due to Noro outbreak on previous sailing. They told us it was because of a cargo ship but we all knew. Kismet seated us next to someone I’d spoken with in the FB sailing group so we chatted and they helped entertain my increasingly impatient 4yo. Glad I brought snacks in my carryon to tide him over during this unexpected wait. We’d had a good breakfast at the hotel that morning but if you have small children, you probably understand.
Leaving was very similar. Departed the ship, made our way to luggage pickup, stopped to show documents and we were on our way. Only hang up was the wait for an Uber. I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as the security process and timing coming back into the US so I didn’t prearrange the ride. It took 20ish mins to be assigned a driver but it wasn’t terrible. Now I know for next time it’s a quick and shockingly simple process.
We were fortunate to have beautiful weather and calm seas for most of our trip, though the last two days were overcast, rainy on and off and quite rocky. It didn’t bother me on the ship but coming home it’s taken me a solid 2 days to find my land legs.

Russia is a broken, backwater attempt at Western Civilization worn down by the hubris necessary to maintain a tacky Trump-esque luxury at the expense of the masses, and has always been so. Russia’s need for national prestige leads itself further back in history in order to differentiate themselves from the West. This is despite the clear benefits and strong influences of Europe every step of the way with their development of theory of the rights of humans, industry, railroads, along with some bad influences like communism.
Like slavery in America, the luxury attained by Russian oligarchs comes at a cost most visible to the lower classes from the regions, many of whom are now strewn or being sent into Ukrainian fields, and less visibly as a corrosive impact on the morality of the ruling class. In 1905 Vladimir Lenin himself described Russia’s social and political system as “military-bureaucratic feudalism”. It is not a far cry from the results of his own communist ideology, nor Putin’s current approach. There are startling consistencies in Russia’s state-power approach. Whether Tsarist, Communist or Putin’s Russia - the systems’ greatest failure is in a command structure that doesn’t allow adaptability to work through reality but simply a fairy-tale construct bred from a mental complex steeped in history.
Why is Russia in Ukraine anyway?
Russia, and not just Putin, see Ukraine as an integral part of their identity.
Ukraine means borderland. The land is linked to the Pontic-Caspian Steppe from which peoples generally moved West. The Neanderthals used to predominate Europe until Homo Sapiens drove them out (killed, disease, and/or interbred) about 40,000 years ago. Around 500AD the Huns came from the Steppe to advance on the crumbling Roman Empire, many of whom stayed in Europe, and following them came the Slavic peoples settling lands abandoned by Germanic tribes fleeing the Huns: tale as old as time. There are countless stories connecting many peoples to this land.The story of population movements in the Steppe is as murky as tracking a droplet of water across an ocean.
In Russia’s national history they recognize the Kievan Rus as their people or culture of origin. Rus has Swedish origins and translates as “the men who row”. The Kievan Rus were a mix of plundering vikings (what we may call colonists) and the East slavic peoples who already had a strong river-based trading network. What Rollo did in Normandy in 911 AD was not dissimilar to what Rurik did in Novgorod back in 860 AD: raids and then settle along the river system. Putin’s assertion that the Rurik’s were invited to take over strains credulity.
The Rurik dynasty under Oleg, Rurik’s brother-in-law, would shortly expand their power to Kiev in 862 AD which was already under some other viking’s power at the time who had errantly considered conversion to Christianity. By 980 the purported ‘Great’ Vladimir, married his brother’s love, who was of course from Sweden, before killing him which followed and preceded more fratricide. This is the same person who the Russian Orthodox church made a saint, hardly optimistic for the future and still telling of a faith dripping in the blood of innocents. How any church in the west is able to be under the tutelage of the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow is beyond me.
The Rurik bloodline would continue in the Russian Tsar’s and Tsarina’s to the 16th century, if you’re to believe their sexual propriety. Attaching Russia’s claim to Ukraine to a blood-line of plundering vikings in the 900s is contrary to any modern understanding of history and power.
Putin’s recent interview saw him ‘owning’ this Rurik experience of centralization and territorial expansion, now even more centered in Moscow. This is exactly how he has created modern Russia as an extractive state taking from the regions and keeping the money and power in Moscow and the hands of a few. Russia is an incredibly centralized state, even more under Putin, with one of the highest levels of inequality in the world. It’s not surprising Russia has high alcoholism and a low birth rate.
Close to this centralizing mission of the Russian Empire is the use of the Russian ‘Orthodox’ faith in claiming larger influence, so it makes sense the Patriach Kirill has a past in the KGB like Putin.
Russia’s national religion
Eastern Europe was influenced by a mixture of local nomadic cultures and Christian influence. For Russia this came earlier through the preaching of Saint Andrew in the Crimea on the Black Sea. For Poland and Nordic countries the influence was from Rome or the Catholic Church through the Northern Crusades The resulting ‘order’ mirrored development in Eastern Europe where lords/princes controlled a patchwork of people and territory in a feudal structure.
The Russians were part of the Eastern Orthodox Church and, after the split of the Roman Empire, increased its association with the Eastern Europe as opposed to the West. The Russians couldn’t accept this. They would use this failure to glorify their own suffering, taking solace in their own perceived exceptionality in having survived this trial. Russia began to see itself as the representative of the Eastern Orthodox faith for political reasons, and the church became an even more nationalist tool - just as it is being used today by Putin. Their departure from the Eastern European course was broken when the Mongols remained the at-distance power behind the Grand Princes.
The Patriarch claims religious dominion over Moscow and all the Rus people. This is one of the ways Russia would begin the last Crimean War in the 1850s hoping to prey on a falling Ottoman Empire, and how politics + religion has always worked in Russia. The church has always been an extension of the Russian imperialist dream.
It’s all just more of the same as the current Patriarch Gundyayev is worth an estimated 4-8 billion dollars, much of it made from selling cigarettes while benefiting from the church's duty-free status.
From wikipedia:
“In cultural and social affairs, the Church under Kirill has collaborated closely with the Russian state under President Vladimir Putin.[48]
Patriarch Kirill has backed the expansion of Russian power into Crimea and eastern Ukraine.[49][50] Despite calling for the "speedy restoration of peace",[51][52] Patriarch Kirill also referred to Moscow's opponents in Ukraine as "evil forces", stating "we must not allow dark and hostile external forces to laugh at us."[53] He has been described as a "committed nationalist of the imperial variety", as someone "who thinks nothing of using the familiar words of a faith to their most egregious effect".[54]”
The Extractive State
In 1240 the Mongols slaughtered )46,000 Kyivans of a population of 50,000. The elite across Russia failed to coordinate an effective response and were overwhelmed. The Mongols maintained control over Russia, but only pierced into proper Europe for a shorter time settling on Moscow as their favoured duchy where they eventually placed the Rurik’s. For 200 years these ‘Grand’ Princes would pay tribute for peace at the Mongols’ feet, but not so long in what we now call Ukraine.
Little much remained of those original ‘heroes’ of Russian history: the original Kyivan Rus. The history of the region is an influx of new peoples pushing toward the West, where most good Russians end up.
The Rus princes extracted as much as they could from the masses to pay off their overlords, gain benefit for their subservience, and all whilst maintaining a semblance of order and ‘normal’ business. The uneducated are much easier to control of course and tying them in serfdom almost to the end of the 19th century meant these forms of control were established societal norms. It was only some generations later, in 1917, that Lenin declared his new order in Russia, beginning communism’s failed attempt at “leveling the playing field” by imposing from above. Russia, it might be added, was about the last place Karl Marx expected communism to spring as the next great evolution - Russia had hardly emerged from feudalism and hadn’t even developed the industrial system to which communism was supposed to be a response!
Since the Mongols were distant rulers without dependable representatives on the ground they used collective guilt as punishment to keep their chosen princes in check and it’s not hard to see the continuation of the policy. The idea that one might kill off an entire family and friends for punishment is pretty horrific to Western culture, but in Russia it is just realpolitik to maintain power and easily translates into a lack of respect for human life, which we see exemplified in Ukraine today. Much of the rot in the Russian system is the legacy of clientelism required from rule over distant territory in a centralized fashion.
Russia is currently an incredibly centralist state, perhaps one of the most in the world, as an inheritance from their monarch and communist forebears. Almost 60 percent of Russia’s wealth is controlled by the richest 1% who almost all live in Moscow and where most corporations are headquartered. Putin has increased the centralization over his tenure, taking more for Moscow in money and lives from the regions to prop up his corrupt regime and follow his imperial fancy in Ukraine.
While Putin strains Russia’s identity to the west, to Ukraine, it is a wonder what the peoples of the east or any of just under 200 ethnic groups in Russia think of their identity as being derived from some vikings before 1000AD. Moscow sucks the wealth from the regions so it can pretend to be better than Europe: gold-brushed bones over a fermenting struggle.
When Russian propagandists like Alexandr Dugan paint a neo-Eurasianist approach they are upholding this stained tradition juxtaposing the drive for power and prestige with a Nazi-branded West paradoxically too accepting of gays and Jews rendering it weak and not worthy of respect. Respect tends to be what people who have none want; it stains Russian national consciousness.
The Russian elites have a complex to not appear weak and personally over-compensate their true feelings of worth, not an uncommon trait of those yearning but not having prestige: just look at Russia’s tacky fashion.
Putin’s main justification for his action is that he is scared of the West. His strained machismo is classic posturing that belays his weakness. It is true that the expansion of NATO would concern Moscow but to justify the Ukraine war in this way shows how small-minded and scared Putin is.
Back to Ukraine
In the 15th century a large group was moving West with the Steppe’s tide; a small number of scholars say their origin is again from somewhere north of China. Regardless, the Cossacks included many people fleeing serfdom in Russia as well as from Poland-Lithuania: a rival empire at the time. Overtime, like the Vikings, Greeks, Huns, Scythians and many others there came a melding of cultures that have contributed to the history of the space we now call Ukraine.
By nature of Ukraine’s location at the Western-most part of this vast Steppe it is crucial to the linkage between the East and West particularly before ocean navigation. By the 17th century it is simple to view the Cossacks as a border people between Poland-Lithuania, Moscow and the Ottoman Empire. These free-loving peoples had a lack of internal order and often benefited from raiding neighbours opportunistically. They couldn’t make enemies of too many of these and were eventually forced to bow to Tsar Alexis in 1654: the Pereiaslav Agreement.
The Pereiaslav agreement was inflicted under pressure from Moscow but nevertheless, it did ensure a measure of autonomy for the region and the Kiev church would follow their Orthodoxy to Constantinople, not Moscow. Russia, and Putin now, chose to see it as unconditional surrender however, but it would take until 1775 that the region would be dissolved officially into the Russian feudal system.
Khmelnytsky: the Ukrainian who had signed Pereiaslav, was sending for help from Sweden and Transylvania to reduce his dependence on Moscow by the end of his life in 1657. His death brought about a period known as “The Ruin”, a time of civil war and foreign intervention from Russia. In 1659 Ukraine sent a letter to Poland asking for help against the encroachments from Moscow. In 1669 the Don Cossacks rebelled against Russia… There has always been dissent against Russia’s harsh tactics.
The Holodomor Famine is an example of how Russian realpolitik thinking leads them to horrific moral responses. Stalin forced farm collectivisation in the early 1930s which along with exporting over 4 million tonnes of grain, enough to feed over 12 million people led to about 5 million Ukrainian deaths from starvation in a bread basket. Ukrainians make the case this was a genocide: a state-sponsored initiative to target Ukrainians. Russia does not consider it as such. Instead Russia would put this Stalinist policy in the perspective of China’s Great Leap Forward (1960-62) where 20 million died - a bit of a mistake from this perspective but hardly genocide, beside presumably someone thought they needed that grain somewhere else.
When Russia’s fake history contravenes facts on the ground the Russians just move the populations. In 1944 Russia deported the ethnic Tartars when they took control of the Crimea after WWII. Russia is just attempting another re-population of Crimea in 2014, this time moving out Ukrainians including forceful adoptions of their children to erase their culture, and move good Russians in looking for a place with nice beaches and a military port.
Russia rips children from their parents and culture and have forced them into adoptions into Russian families partially because people in Russia don’t seem to be too successful at procreating. Russia seems great at externalizing their problems because the whole country doesn’t actually believe in itself enough to build families. Like incels they blame everyone else and with no outlet for their testosterone flail widely without logic.
This is just the way Russia works: “You can’t make an omelet without cracking eggs.” This is what Russians think is their strength but it is exactly this that keeps them from the prestige they so clearly desire. Russia lacks prestige, feels this deeply, and responds like an injured Insel. It is circuitous: how could Russia think the result was anything but this?
This type of politics is brazen, unremorseful and directed, as usual, from the centre. It’s how power is both gained and exercised.
Vlad the Terrible
Vladimir Putin was born in St Petersburg in 1952 living through the rough fallout from one of the longest sieges in history during the Second World War: the Siege of Leningrad (1941-44, duration of 872 days). His father walked with a limp to remind him of his service in the Soviet army and roughly 1 million dead from war, disease and starvation. Has he even killed a million Ukrainians these last few years? It really shouldn’t be such a big deal he might think.
Despite his lived experience of famine when he became Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg Putin saw the opportunity of food shortages to issue special export permits taking 25% off the top and gaining a house on the shores of Lake Komsomolskoye, as well as a villa in Spain. It should be noted the food was never delivered. He is willing to starve others to get his way, he certainly wouldn’t have stopped the Holodomor Famine - that’s how he does politics.
Displaying similar care for his citizens in 1999 Putin orchestrated apartment bombings killing 322 people in Moscow, Buinaksk, and Volgodonsk to justify renewed Chechen warring and ease Putin’s path from Prime Minister to President. There have been too many assassinations (players and journalists) relating to this affair and the Russian Duma voted to seal all materials related to the incident for 75 years - nothing to see here!
These are just some of the examples of Putin’s ‘leadership’ in Russia, not to include the support for evil regimes like Syria….. And atrocities in Chechnya, Ukraine and more that fall at his feet.
Putin’s experience of suffering is all too common in Russia, particularly after the war and the preference of communist industrialism at the cost of fulfilling basic needs. His worldview is rooted in his experience and comes out most clearly in his claims of “deNazifying” Ukraine: a ridiculous premise on its face and one that might have deeper existential meaning for him personally.
Putin is at pains to overcome his peoples’ suffering and carries the deep pain of a destroyed nation at his heart, but pursues his goals despite the peoples’ suffering. He has been in power so long that he is pursuing his own historical narrative and a product of this Russian system as much as the next person, only with the greatest personal wealth of anyone at his fingertips with no law or decency to hold him back.
The Russian Elite see themselves as ‘hard’ and ‘more real’ than the ‘flakey West’. They are wrong.