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Day 9 Azores, Ponta Delgada: We booked the “Sete Cidades Hike” through Royal Caribbean for todays adventure. Now bear with me as this story may get long winded. We had breakfast and headed to the Pacifica theatre to be assigned to our bus/guide for the day. We showed our tickets to the attendant and we were given a red “9” sticker and were told it was a “6” (if you looked at the sticker like a normal human you would assume it was a 9 because there was “shore excursions” watermarked into it). I verified we were to use it as a 6… Our number was called, and we headed to board our bus. There was someone at the entrance of the bus to take our tickets that said “Sete Cidades Hike” and told us to find a seat. Our bus started the tour and made it maybe 5 minutes from port before our guide announced overhead that there were two passengers on the bus that were supposed to be on a different tour. I’ll give you three guesses who… The bus went back to the port dropped us off and we found the right bus. Now remember we were explicitly told that our 9 was a 6 right? Guess which number bus we were supposed to be on? 10 that’s right, bus 10. So we were given a 9 and told it was a six, handed our tickets to the to be checked and given back and still managed to end up on the wrong bus… WOW. We boarded bus 10 to actual applause that we made it (and made them 15 minutes late). Thankfully it all worked out and our guide was kind enough to inform the group that it was not our fault for the mishap. The RCCL shore excursion staff must have been hit with a confundus charm that morning. The hike was very good. The pictures don’t do it justice. We got back to the port around 1pm and we were both starving. We decided to quick board the ship to eat lunch and then get off again for a couple hours…or so we thought. The line to board the ship was longer than expected so we boarded and ended our day in Azores without any shopping ?

I couldn't agree more .... it's one less thing to worry about ..... Besides, I tend to turn a profit by the end of Day 1 ....lol

This comment is one of the biggest reason why I buy the package, I have time to pay it off before the cruise and then during the cruise I don't worry about cost of drinks or food.

If anyone wants the rest of the cruise compasses, please direct message me as I will do my best to keep this from being cluttered with them. Belated Updates start here: Days 6-8 (sea Days): I wasn’t 100% the following days. Day 6 was the chefs table and I felt so bad from my neck that I left half way through. (I made my wife stay to get the experience). I spent most of the following day in bed. The rest of these days were spent relaxing around the pool, in the solarium, or playing chess in the colony club. After six days at sea or so I found myself having trouble finding things on the cruise compass that I wanted to participate in (not feeling 100% may have had something to do with it too. My wife didn’t seem to get as bored.

Let’s see... next is yesterday, MON, 5/20/19... first full day and at sea! My wife and I got up and went over to the Windjammer for breakfast at around 8:30 AM. Unfortunately, we forgot from prior cruises how much of a circus it can become as the morning moves along and especially on a sea day! We had breakfast, making sure to get that fresh squeezed orange juice to maximize that DBP! LOL! ? The food was fine... we have always liked the Windjammer as far as buffets go... tremendous selection as usual. When we left, there was a line down the hall to enter the restaurant and the crew members were escorting people to tables as they cleared. After walking around the Royal Promenade, we went to Cafe Prominade and I got a cappuccino and my wife ordered an Irish Coffee... yeah, working that beverage package! Our friends joined us and we headed to the Boardwalk and the aft of the ship. So far we have not felt or heard any impact of the current propulsion issue. In fact, this ship is so smooth compared to our experiences on the Majesty, Explorer and Liberty, and we very rarely feel any motion at all (knock on wood). I posted a video of the wake on the current running “Allure Propulsion Issues” thread, but for here I’ll just post a pic. The compromised azipod appears to be on the starboard (right) side of the ship and appears on the left side as you look at the wake... If we did not look at the wake (and RC didn’t notify us of course) we would have ever known there was an issue. After some more exploring, we went up to the Solarium and staked our claim on some comfortable cushioned chairs and took a dip in the pool. Understandably, it was packed at that time on a sea day, but once we found a spot we settled in and relaxed for a bit. Note: unless you have iron feet, make sure you wear shoes/sandals when walking on the decking in the solarium... burns your feet rather quickly! When it got a little too hot outside, we grabbed some couches under the overhang in the solarium near the bar and relaxed some more. We decided to try Central Park Cafe for lunch (thanks to many of your recommendations) and everyone was pleasantly surprised. Very basic menu/selection of paninis, quesadillas, the famous Kummelweck roast beef sandwich, salads, soup, and a few sweets. We all tried the Kummelweck and it did not disappoint... very tender and tasty. I had it with what I believe was a peppercorn gravy. Between the group, We also tried the Cuban panini and various salads. The panini was a little sparing on the meat, but it was also tasty. It just hit the spot and satisfied our hunger. Will look to go back probably another day! We later headed over to Studio B for the 2:30 PM showing of the Ice Games! Ice Show. We showed our SeaPass card with the Key and were escorted to the reserved seating and were sat in the 3rd row, center. Very nice seats! The show was very good and we all enjoyed it. It’s funny how we always say we could skip the ice show if necessary, but when we go we enjoy it! We then headed back to Central Park and sat near the Trellis Bar for a bit. Love Central Park! Next we went back to the cabin to relax and get ready for our first formal night. Here are some pics of the menu and my group. Kadek, Oleksandr and Jose were awesome once again! I went for the lobster bisque and shrimp cocktail for appetizers, roasted beef tenderloin (which was tender and delicious) for my main course, and I had the Grand Marnier soufflé for dessert. Everyone enjoyed their meals! After walking around a little, and posing for formal pics, we went back to the cabin to change and get ready for the AquaTheater show... OceanAria! We pushed it this time and just arrived on time about 10 minutes prior to the start of the show. We showed our SeaPass card and were escorted to the reserved section for the Key. About 2 minutes later, they removed the rope and allowed general admission to fill the section. We enjoyed the show (so far all of the shows have been excellent). It was a beautiful night... nice light, cool breeze in the AquaTheater. Back to the cabin for some wine and conversation on our balconies while we listened to the piano/keyboard player down below in Central Park. Once again, our friends have the adjacent cabin and we had the attendant remove the partial divider. Here’s what the dividers look like on Allure CP balcony cabins... Here are a couple of shots taken from our balcony shortly after the performer finished last evening... we are on Deck 11 and Central Park is on Deck 8... Everyone retired to bed with an early morning ahead today in Labadee... OK, time for me to go! It’s time to head down to the MDR for dinner... I’ll see if I can catch up tonight! ?

I completely agree with you, Razerbkfan. Quite truthfully, I never make out financially with a drink plan (Dan normally does, but not me) but I continue to purchase it for both of us b/c #1, agree with John - we are able to pay off this expense before cruising and #2, just want to be able to get whatever I want whenever I want it without having to stop and think about the cost. As I have said many times before, I blame Star Class for this attitude. Just another reason to NEVER sail Star Class unless you want to be ruined for the rest of your [cruise] life.

Not really Ultimate Dining Package related, still it is something I haven't seen before. Know I have already mentioned the late night hot items from Cafe Promenade. Nice thing is some of the items do change daily. Items from Day 3 Items for Day 4 Closer view of the Meatball Panini from last night/this morning (Day 4).

I agree with AshleyDillo. The beverage package allows you to try drinks you wouldn't normally order or knew existed without the fear of "am I wasting money on a drink I may not like?" I have to start my morning everyday with an iced coffee, so between that and all the bottled water I drank along with 4ish cocktails per day I calculated that I at least broke even if not saved some money. I love the peace of mind it provides in that I don't spend my entire vacation calculating how much I'm charging to my bill. Between it and the unlimited dining package, it's the closest you can get to an all inclusive experience. I'm pretty good at budgeting my money and I spend a significant amount of time stressing over it. I don't want to do that on vacation, so these packages allow me to not worry about it and relax.

Or you could just go with the YOLO mentality and keep your booking and add in the GC! Been there, done that. @Matt will vouch that I kept saying I could not in any way go on the Anthem GC since I had already booked SY before the AN one was announced. The cruises are two weeks apart. Well, guess what I am doing this July...?

Wonder when I'm going to get the letter banning me from Playmakers... Lunch today was the Poke Nachos, Buffalo Chicken Crunch Roll, and new to the tasting field the Chicken Tenders. Figured having the Buffalo Chicken Crunch Roll again I'd take the opportunity to do a closer photo inspection. Next up for the photo shoot, the Chicken Tenders. Getting a bit more up close and personal... Took a bite and was surprised how they packed more of a seasoning kick than expected. So I sampled another one to get a better idea. Just as I thought, must have been seasoned and then have the cornflake breading applied. To round things off, gave the sundae a shot. Being a bit full at this point it was requested to have a few scoops less of ice cream. That white cup in the middle goes all the way to the bottom.

If you use that drink package enough you can convince yourself it's the same thing!

Especially when you factor in Specialty Coffee and Bottled Water (of which we drink a ton of) --- hitting the profit margin really isn't that difficult.

It really depends on how much you would typically drink if you were buying the drinks individually. Would you have that fancy coffee or fresh squeezed OJ over what is offered for free (regular coffee and OJ from concentrate) if you had to pay for it individually? I know I personally take advantage of trying lots of drinks when I get the package, but I know if I didn't have it I would be a lot more careful with what I ordered at a cost. It does make it easier to know that if you don't like a drink it wasn't a waste. Plus you can pick up bottles of water at any bar which are handy to take off the ship for excursions and for hydrating. When you purchase the drink package it should disclose if you are paying the gratuity or not. In the US, it's 18% added to the total cost of the package. Some choose to tip on top of that as you can sometimes get better or faster service from a bartender. The ship crew work really hard, so I don't mind giving an extra tip where it is deserved. As for extra advice, if you're going to do the drink package it is cheaper to buy it through the cruise planner than it will be when you get on the ship.

Activities Manager Katy did the show, not CD Mike. She's good. Show was definitely fun and entertainment staff has a ton of energy.

I knew you would come in with that comment ?

I think Skypad was an activity solution for ships other then Oasis Class due to space restrictions. Skypad offered the most value with less real estate. Just my opinion.

It is our opinion that 270 (on Anthem) is, by far, the best RCL venue we have seen (not as many cruises or different ships as some of you). That is followed by the Imperial Lounge on Adventure. The counterpart here on Symphony is called On Air. We are not fans of this venue. Comparatively, it is too small and awkwardly designed. So far, this is actually our only disappointment, so all is good, no, all is great. ______________________________________________ Another favorite spot of ours, Schooner Bar, is better designed on Adventure, but here on Symphony it is next to the casino so no smell of smoke.

Same! March 2020 for us!

I think the entirety of the Oasis Class is perfection in its current form. Adding $168m in upgrades to an already amazing ship can only be a huge win for everyone!

Yeah - there's this thing call vacation time and money ? (oh, and my other half ... sshhh)

yeah a bit much, i might rather get the drink package and play mini golf.?

Same, On-Air is my least favorite venue as well. Looks like it could double as a kids lounge.

Based on that graphic, is the Escape Room replacing the Card Room? No big loss there.

We recently completed a 6 day cruise and did not buy the drink package. Generally we have purchased it in the past. Both my wife and I are not heavy drinkers during the day but usually have a couple of glasses of wine at dinner and cocktails during the shows. I was upset when RCL changed to requiring everyone in your room get the drink package, unless you get the exception, as my wife may only have one or 2 drinks. My thought was we had some OBC and we would use that to offset our drink cost during the cruise. With that as background I would say going forward we agreed we will purchase the drink package. We both agreed not having the drink package added to our stress, which is the last thing you want to do on a great vacation like this. As mentioned in the other post individual drink cost can add up quickly with the gratuity added in. Also we found we were making choices of do you really want that drink before the show or not? Or do I want to go to the spa since I've already spent some money for a couple of drinks today. We enjoy the little things like picking up a couple of bottles of water as you leave the ship for your excursion or letting the bartender make you one of their favorite drinks. I would recommend just adding the drink package into your estimated cost upfront as you choose your choice of cruises.

The only other thing you might consider is the cruise itself, how long and how many port days will you have? The relationship is that if you are in port and not on the ship then it will be tough to break even that day. If one of your days is Coco Cay or Labadee then the drink package works for those stops. I personally would still get it for the convenience, but that is a personal preference of mine.

I've had this occur to me, and bottom line is not to worry at all. I recently went on Navigator without a set sail pass because it would not print. Absolutely not a problem at all.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street is highly recommended. Park at Port Everglades for the convenience factor.

In short, it is very possible to break even on the Deluxe Beverage Package. It just depends on you to drink enough every day of the cruise.

We figured if we have a mimosa or Bloody Mary in the morning, a couple of drinks poolside during the day and a couple of glasses of wine at dinner we break even. Then you have the bottled water, special coffee, soda etc.

When you purchase the drink package .. it should say something like $52.00 per day plus gratuity.. so the final price should reflect it. The drinks on the cruise ship usually cost around $8-13 per drink.. depends what you get.. we usually always purchase the package .. we like to have a few drinks during the day.. and at night.., and in the long run it saves us money.

After some more analysis of the current On-Air I can visualize a 180 spin. What had been throwing me off was the DJ booth where an exit route to the embarkation deck for the lifeboats. Looking and visualizing a hallway behind or to the side of the DJ booth would work. In fact the rendering almost gives that view.

Some how managed to make it over to 150 Central Park for a 6:30 dinner seating. Just a warning I was a bit on the lazy side on the photo front and forgot to take some. Started off the infamous Parker House style rolls. Topped with granulated garlic and I think a truffle butter. Yup, forgot to take a picture until they were half way pulled a part. For an appetizer it was the Beet Salad, Braised Short Rib, and Pan Honey-Glazed Scallops. Sorry, no pictures were taken. For entrees it was the Lobster Thermidor and Pan Seared Halibut. Dessert time Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart Fried Cheesecake

We're not going to take it any more! Your drink package that is....

Pacman invasion!

I have yet to sail on Anthem or Harmony, but i have to believe the novelty of the bionic bar wears off after day 2 of the cruise. To see the Champagne bar, one of the few venues that actually has bar talent instead of drink slingers, replaced is not a good move for the customers in my opinion.

Tonight is the 80's show on the promenade. We staked out our seats in the Schooner Bar overlooking the stage and the Rising Tide Bar.

Using standby I've never had to wait any more than until the next ride begins. Timing is everything but I've gone for several rides, just about every day it's been offered.

MDR night 4 menu

UGH

Grand Marnier soufflé My absolute favorite dessert on the whole ship. Sorry, Sweety. Even better than red velvet cake !

Pop up #3!!...sooooo much personality...he could be a CD..

I am on that first post-AMP sailing, so I'm excited to see what changes are going to be made! I won't have sailed her pre-AMP, but I will have been on the other three Oasis class ships to have some frame of comparison. Playmakers and BBQ being added..super glad I got the UDP for this cruise too!! ?

Hi, I'm from Spain. I'll try to answer all your questions: Tips are not mandatory but welcome. 1.- Guides: about 5€ per party (can be more or even less). Bus driver: It's not usual to do it, but you can if you think he/she deserves it. Maybe 1€ or 2€ máx per person. 2.- Same as bus driver. In this case, if he/she had been specially nice with you, or you have any matter that makes his/her job harder, so it's common to give some €. 3.- There is not a % settled, but if the service was good, you should tip at restaurants and bars. 10% would be a good number Excuse my english.

After speaking with RC about Perfect Day, while they would not talk of what's next, it does seem that the success of CocoCay has increased the drive to get the other islands (including Labadee) moving perhaps faster than before. That was my take on what I was hearing.

As the European cruise session starts I thought to write some tips and information based on our past experiences. Before I start just short disclaimer , most of our European cruise were going out from Barcelona and Venice , still we haven’t cruise from the UK so it will be less focused on this area. First subject will be around transportation , after all for most of the readers here we need to take at least 8 hours flight over the pond to get there. The key of finding a good flight is to be flexible and search for nearby airports plus try to be flexible with the dates. For example , we have planned a cruise out of Venice , for some reason, this year flights to Venice were quite expensive so we looked for alternatives. After quick search we found flights to Milan are much cheaper , train from Milan to Venice (the Venice train station is in a walking distance from the cruise port) is only 2 hours and the cost around 30 $ PP. So we will enjoy some time in Milan , we will take an hotel near the train station (Airport train to the Milan Central 15 $) and save around 350 on air fare. Another example , two weeks ago we wanted to visit Paris during the long weekend we had , tickets to Paris were quite expensive (I guess we were not the only one who thought about it) but then we found tickets to another city in France (near the Atlantic) , Nantes, that were way more cheaper so we took the flight to Nantes , visit it for few hours and jump on a 1:45 hours train to Paris that cost us 18 $ each … Same can be done in many places in Europe which have a very good rail system (the TGV train in France goes faster than 200 Mph) and distance are not that bad. Train tickets can be booked online very easy , most of the sites are supports English, just be sure to take extra time for your travel as in some counties which I will not write their name , train time are a suggestion , mainly if the country known for their Pasta and Pizza . Another option will be to rent a car and use this time to visit some other place, while travel by car from Milan to Venice for example , you can visit Verona for a selfie ay Romeo & Juliet terrace. The key is to travel few days before , just think when is the next time you will visit Europe and there are so many nice things to see and do before or after the cruise. Even if your cruise port is far from the cheap flights/train option there is always a possibility to check some of the low cost flights inside Europe, a flight between London and Rome can sometime be low as 10 $ … Just keep in mind , low cost flight fare dose not include checked luggage which can cost between 25- 35 $ per suitcase if order online. Car rentals – Its easy to drive in most European countries as long as you are not trying to get into the city center. If you rent a car I would try to find an hotel outside the center near good public transportation option. Please note , most of the cars you will be offered in Europe are with manual transmissions , to get a car with automatic transmission you need to ask specifically and most of the times the automatic option will cost much higher . Another thing to take into consideration are the car size , cars are usually smaller than what you expect in the US, midsize car in Europe can be something you consider as a very small car, so check what you are ordering. Another aspect to remember in Europe is the car insurance , even if you book online and ask for all the insurance you might find out in the renting station that you are under covered for things like window protection and self-deductible that can be up to 2000 $ , you will be offer this extra insurance on site , check before what you are covered in your own insurance , including credit cards . If you refuse to the local insurance take some extra time while returning the car as its going to be inspected thoroughly. City transportation - Most of the big city in Europe has a very efficient public transportation system including subways , tramways and buses. Tickets mostly should be purchase ahead of time at the stations , some will allow you to pay in the buss but will require exact changes. Most of the cities will offer some kind of discount for buying 10 tickets at once (Paris , Barcelona and some places in Italy) , some will offer a daily or weekly tickets. Most of the tickets are good both for buses and subways, at some countries all you need to do is to wave your CC (as long as it has the chip) against the machine and you are done (if the conductor ask to see your ticket you give him the CC). Take into consideration that many buses dose not have air condition which can be a problem during July/August in Italy and Spain . You can save allot of money by taken hotels which are located near a subway while not located in the middle of the city. Many cities will also have one or two HOHO options , I also find it the best way to start a visit at a new city as it gives me a view of the important places to check , how far they are from each other and best time to visit. You can buy tickets online or at one of the stations. Uber – well a very sensitive question in Europe , many places had Uber and banned it (like Barcelona) other places have it but without Uber X just the expensive Uber black (Rome , Milan) do not be surprise if you will order Uber black in Milan and get a Jaguar or even a Ferrari. There are many other Taxi applications , most common is My Taxi which allow you to use CC or cache , you will get a regular Taxi and pay the Taxi rate (but many time you find coupons to be used which will reduce the cost. Please note , in Italy while using any application you will pay from the location the driver answered your call , so if you see the estimate time of the taxi arrival is more than 5 minutes , just cancel it , unless it is very late and not many cars around. There are other options , in Rome you can hail a scooter which will arrive to pick you with an extra helmet, not really useful for a family but another experience ?. Bicycles are also a good option to tour , many cities will have a share bicycles system , using apps or fixed docking stations that can be rent for a rather cheap fee. As always I found the best way to travel is by foot , you will see much more doing that and you will have less guilt for all the food you consumed ? not like in man city of the US (Once tried to walk 0.7 miles from the office I was visiting in NJ to a nearby mall , the sidewalk suddenly gone and I was ended up stopped by the police telling me I should not to that, now I know better , car for any distance more than 50 yard ? ) , it is very easy to travel by foot in Europe , sidewalks are everywhere and most places are safe. Next , food and difference in Mediterranean cruises.

Embarkation Day Part 1-as usual I couldn’t sleep as I was ready to run to the pier as soon as the sun came up. Unfortunately I’d have to wait until 10 o’clock to check in at the pier. We grabbed some breakfast at the Hotels Concierge lounge, or more specifically the family did as I never eat as I’m rearing to get going and get onboard. While the lounge at the property is on the 36th floor with great views, breakfast is on the 2nd floor with basically no view. Once 9:45 arrived requested our Lyft XL to the port which was 18.51 and was a suburban so plenty of room for us and our bags. It worked out great as the driver was around the corner so we waited less than a minute. Total time to Terminal A was only 12 minutes, and we passed right by the Intercontinental property so many of you like. At that time of the morning the departing crowd had left and the incoming crowd was probably still sleeping or working so they’re was zero traffic. There was no wait to unload our bags, and we quickly made it past a slew of porters offering to take our carry on bags. Terminal A from the second you pull in is in a class of its own, the drop off area is full covered so provides lots of shade for those hot Miami afternoons. Once you hit the doorway you’re right in front of the beautiful Propellor-mobile that looks like something I’d have loved over my crib as a baby. Within a few steps we were escorted over to a red carpet and into the elevator towards the suites-pinnacle check-in/ waiting area. The area itself is well appointed with comfortable couches and chairs where each guest is checked in. Rather than the traditional waiting in line, a representative comes to you for check in and to verify that your picture works. About 3 minutes after arriving in the area we were all checked in and asked to wait until they got the B2B cruisers off and back on. The area has refreshments while you wait but there wasn’t much waiting. We also saw a RC luminary as Super MARIO was on this cruise with us At about 10:45 a representative came out and let us know that they were finishing up a coast guard drill but we’re going to start boarding. However, guest related services would not open till 11 which meant some waiting to drop off our carry on luggage, but no big deal. My wife walked our luggage to the theater while my daughter and I went to hook to secure our dinner reservations. We had already purchased the ultimate dining package so it was a simple two minute conversation to secure Jamie’s, Hooked, and Izumi for the three nights.

Omfg I again petition for a drooling post reaction emoji. That looks so delicious! I will need to stay away from ships with a Playmakers because I can see it doing serious damage to my wallet.

Thanks guys for all the help! we originally thought $92nzd a day might be tough to achieve but if the drinks are roughly $13 each that’s definitely doable

#blamethebot #followtheleader ?