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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/06/2019 in all areas

  1. Skid

    Drink measures

    Amazing what a small tip will do. A roving pool bartender on Adventure was delivering us a pinata colada in the cut out pineapple. I gave him $1 for each one. He thanked us by taking out a bottle of rum and probably poured 1/4 of the bottle into our 2 drinks. Strongest pina colada we ever had.
    5 points
  2. Tonight we wrapped it up with the late night show with Jim David. Funny guy. He had a hilarious idea for what to name the next Royal Caribbean ship...? Heading to bed now as we have an early start to the day tomorrow. We are in Bermuda and we have the Island tour booked. Probably won’t be updating much tomorrow until I get back.
    4 points
  3. Probably needed some tequila to wash it down with.
    4 points
  4. Hubby suggested that I should strike a deal with @Matt...tequila shots for him to try CK ?
    4 points
  5. Tonight I am thinking of @spiralqueen as the Rib Eye is on the menu at CK. But first a Lemon Drop martini in the Diamond Lounge.
    4 points
  6. 4 points
  7. Keep us informed. I can't possibly cruise with people who don't do tequila shots.
    4 points
  8. I also have access to my online account from my Dr ..if you have this you can screen shot it. Jane
    3 points
  9. Skid

    THEYRE HONORING THE 18%

    Those people may still complain even after jumping on the drink plan. No matter what, cruising is still the best vacation value!
    3 points
  10. UPDATE! Due to the recent cancellation of the APR 2021 Harmony cruises, we selected: Symphony on 4/24/21 (Cozumel, Roatan, Costa Maya & Perfect Day)! Can't wait!
    3 points
  11. We love the convenience to be able to carry your luggage of the ship and get in your car and go. That alone is worth the money. No more waiting for your number to be called and herded like cattle to long lines. Or shuttle buses. We average under 1 hour to get off the ship and on the interstate. That is priceless in our eyes.
    3 points
  12. Really looking forward to the next Godfather.
    3 points
  13. So happy for those of us who snagged up that deal ???????
    3 points
  14. Woohoo...do you get to keep the same cabin? I always had a linked credit card, but I may have rethink that now.???
    3 points
  15. I was this close to @Lovetocruise2002 having her first tequila shot. Alas, there’s always tomorrow.
    3 points
  16. This was posted somewhere on Cruise Critic. Not sure where it came from but it's awesome!! It's drink packages explained and for those that "already know this stuff" it's noted that any changes to the RCCL Drink policies are noted in red in the article. This document ALSO contains Harmony's Bar Menu and Drink Listing WITH prices!! LAST BUT NOT LEAST...the last 4 pages documents the names of special drinks and how they are made so you can make them at home for yourself OR you will know what to order on your next cruise. I love this pdf and wanted to share with you all. Enjoy!!! Cruise News Harmony 2019 Drinking.pdf
    2 points
  17. This August will be 21 years. My wife was my donor. Our miracle.
    2 points
  18. Day 3 - Bermuda Today marked our first time in Bermuda. Seeing that we have never visited the island before, we opted out of a beach excursion and decided to book a mini bus tour of the entire island. This tour is available through the cruise line or Viator. We opted to go with the cruise line directly. The cost was $89pp (Lowest at Black Friday) and it was well worth it. At 5 hours in length, the tour brings you literally around the entire island. Stops included Hamilton, St. George’s, and Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse. We lucked out in that our tour guide was very talkative, informative, and as he put it, “does not sugar coat anything”. I knew it would be a great tour as soon as he made that comment as I am the same way. Our tour did not feel particularly rushed. He even had time to let us get off at St. John’s beach for a bit (that was unplanned). We learned a lot about Bermuda today, the history of the island and their way of life in current day. I would most definitely recommend this to anyone visiting for the first time. It truly gives you a comprehensive, overall feel for the island. If we are fortunate to return, we now know which places we would want to focus in on. Attaching some pics from our day. ?: Hubby St. George Square St. John Beach Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse View from the lighthouse Our lunch stop today was in St. George’s. There are several little shops and bakeries in that area. We ended up at a local sandwich shop called Temptations. Great little place and friendly service.
    2 points
  19. Trains & bus will require Euros, get them at an ATM at the airport when you arrive.
    2 points
  20. Congratulations on a successful procedure. It’s such a miracle.
    2 points
  21. We use this. I don’t like the pill cases because we’ve dropped them and had them pop open and end up with pills everywhere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027RWNN6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    2 points
  22. Great question. I am a transplant recipient and take 12 different meds. I have a 2 week pill holder that I take preloaded with my meds. I always carry a printed list from my medical records of all my meds just in case I am questioned. I do carry my 2 main rejection meds in the original packs just in case. Those are my main meds that I can't do without. A couple other thoughts, I pack an emergency 2 day kit in a separate area just in case I am separated from my other meds. It gives me a window to get an express delivery just in case. Also I am going on a B2B cruise to SP and NZ, 24 nights total. I plan on having my doctor write a letter on official letterhead with a list of my needed meds and reason for them. hope this helps.
    2 points
  23. We've been on 8 cruises. Always used pill travel cases, carried in our backpacks when boarding. Never had a problem. Never been asked about them.
    2 points
  24. There is ALWAYS room for dessert!!
    2 points
  25. We got that email saying they would honor it too. I really didn't expect them to and wouldn't have been upset if they didn't but we will take it.....its for our cruise next April. We were looking at taking a short vacation this fall and ended up booking a 5 night cruise in October yesterday with the 4th of July sale. There generosity and owning their mistake was a factor in that decision, I appreciate that!
    2 points
  26. Thanks guys, We'll shoot for 10:15 or 10:30 right on the money. I'd like to be on the ship very early this time around just to see how it goes. We will be sailing Anthem from NJ if that makes any difference. In May 2020 we will be on Oasis from NJ.
    2 points
  27. I have had to wait out side a couple times... Most memorably in San Juan. It gets a little chaotic with people coming out but not horrible. By 10 the doors are open and you never have to wait in a security line... No one is there! Them you have time to check in, shop for another lanyard (I have quite the collection lol) and enjoy knowing you will be on the ship in under an hour and your vacation has begun! Jane
    2 points
  28. Just an update... we finally made our decision, went with Option #1, and switched to: Symphony on 4/24/21 (Cozumel, Roatan, Costa Maya & Perfect Day)! Same itinerary, but in a different order... Can't wait!
    2 points
  29. Yes, you can have as many as your heart desires (2nd formal evening on 7-night cruise in Caribbean)... they kept asking us on Allure back in May if we'd like more... we stopped at 4 tails, but my friend was on Harmony in April and he said someone at the next table was on their 12th! ?
    2 points
  30. Brenna

    Introduce yourself!

    Haha! I never come across people with my name! You have good taste in naming your kids ? Thanks everyone for the warm welcome ?
    2 points
  31. Yup, it's only the tail.....BUT, in the MDR you can order as many as you like, so those 4 bites are just the beginning. Keep 'em coming!
    2 points
  32. 2 points
  33. We purchased the Key on our 5/19/19 cruise on Allure along with our friends. The Key was worth every penny to us especially at $19.99! The overall experience was so amazing that we unanimously feel we have to purchase the Key from now on as long as it's offered at a reasonable price! We are only Platinum level in C&A and it's unlikely we'll be able to book a suite anytime soon so the Key was the only way to get some of that amazing VIP treatment! We all wanted the VOOM package anyway, so for effectively less than $10/person per day more, it was a no-brainer for all of us! Priority check-in and boarding (Ft. Lauderdale/Port Everglades) was a mess for us and seems to be hit or miss with the Key program (our only sore point). Just make sure your SetSail pass has the Key logo on it to avoid aggravation! We had to speak to a number of terminal employees before they finally let us cut the line and board (they had just let the suite and Key guests board when we got to the boarding area) since our SetSail pass did not have the Key logo and they had no way to validate (no scanners, etc.). The ability to drop off all of our carry-ons as soon as you board the ship for delivery to our cabin was really nice... no more dragging carry-ons around while your explore the ship and have lunch until your cabin is ready. The complimentary lunch on embarkation day (Chops Grille for us) was excellent... no fighting the crowds in the Windjammer. Regarding priority port of call debarkation, we only received an earlier assigned time for Jamaica (memo left in cabin the evening before with time and place to meet). We went to Guest Services earlier in the cruise and it was explained to us that on the other port days when there is no earlier Key departure time, we just need to get down to the gangway early and if there is a line, let them know and they would escort us to the front. We spoke to a crew member at the gangway that first port day and she confirmed that we just need to let them know. We only cared to get off the ship early in Labadee as the Nellie's Beach cabanas were assigned first come, first served and we had our pick! We wound up being the second group in line anyway so it really did not matter that we had the Key. We never had the time to take advantage of the private hours for the zipline, etc., but that may be a really nice perk if they include any of the slides on the other ships. The best perk for us was the "VIP" seating for all of the shows! Instead of racing down to the show after dinner 30-40 minutes prior to the start in order to get a decent seat, we only had to show up 10-15 minutes prior and we would be escorted to a designated center reserved section next to the suite guests which was roped off. Excellent seats! Finally, the special debarkation breakfast in the MDR was very nice. Even better was the escort off of the ship when we were ready (you do not get an assigned time with the Key - you disembark when you want to). You meet at a designated location (Champagne Bar for us) and they escort you through the terminal past everyone else to your luggage in a designated area next to the Star class banners and lane (the general line to get through customs was mobbed - snaked around the terminal!). A porter met us there and loaded our bags on a cart and led us through the Star class lane to a dedicated customs desk (no one ahead of us) and were out to the street in less than 10 minutes (ship to taxi)! Generally, I would say that if you want the VOOM package ($10+ per device) and you are able to purchase the Key at say $19.99-$24.99, then it's an easier decision. If you don't want the VOOM package, then for many it's not worth it. If you don't care about prime seating and the convenience of only having to arrive 15 minutes before the show, then it's not worth it. Also, if you are booking a suite, then you will already be receiving many of the perks (reserved seating, priority boarding, etc.). It's an individual decision as you can see from the varying experiences and opinions, but we all would get it again at the right price!
    2 points
  34. Here are a few pics from our snorkel adventures off Chill Island. Visibility was not the best the day we were there but neither was the weather. We had a great time anyway. Loved the lobster & saw more colorful fish than pictured here. I included the cheerful yellow tang. (There is one to the left in the lobster photo, too.) There were a lot of snorkelers by the shallow shipwreck when we were over there, so the sand was really disturbed, impacting visibility.
    2 points
  35. No...but oh man trying to take off the chocolate and drink poundage that counted on land before going back on vacation.... Argh...... The struggle is real lol! Jane
    2 points
  36. @hsweat22 and @Hoski Look at the fifth post down on @Lovetocruise2002's live blog here from her March 2018 sailing. She gives a VERY DETAILED and excellent review on the guided tours. I'd think it may be a bit much for younger children, but it appears to be a great tour.
    2 points
  37. Turned 50 right before we sailed Anthem on June 6th of this year. Did not get a chance to roller skate but did rock climbing (yes I rang the top bell), was up nearly to the top on the iFly experience, and outdid my 13 year old on the Flow Rider. Age is but a number, life is meant to be lived.
    2 points
  38. Age is only a number. I would rather be on 8 wheels than 2 blades. I have a titanium: knee, hip, and shoulder. If I fall I`m going to be fine. The floor on the hand is going to have a dent or too. LOL HAHA I will be 69 in July and don`t feel or act like it. We will be on Anthem in September and YES I will be roller skating. If i am able to get on board after the metal detector lights up like a Xmas tree.
    2 points
  39. We have an amazing grilled peaches recipe, with mascarpone cheese. So good. You grill the peaches, then marinate them in brandy or white wine, depending on your flavor preference. Soften the cheese, then stir in some vanilla. Top the peaches with the cheese. Yum!
    2 points
  40. JLMoran

    Drink measures

    I know that I've seen the bartenders use a jigger when making any of the mixed drinks I've ordered, but I couldn't really tell you if it was regularly a double or not. I'm pretty sure that they stick whatever "recipes" they have been trained in; although I'll note that after giving my bartender a dollar or two wrapped around my Sea Pass card (having already bought the DBP), there was a little (well, maybe a moderate amount of) "overflow" of the jigger while the pour was going on.
    2 points
  41. Haha they will page you and track you down and make you pay..then escort you off the ship in front of all the passengers waiting to get on the next cruise.
    2 points
  42. I would consider it..but only if I bought travel medical insurance..I can barely walk without tripping over my own feet let alone skate ??
    2 points
  43. Tonight’s CK dinner features one of my personal favourites...the Valrhona Chocolate Bar All other items are the same as Night 2 on my previous Anthem blog (see link in signature below or on Pg. 1 of this blog). Hubby also got the Mascarpone Cheesecake. It was slightly strange tasting.
    2 points
  44. Skid

    Tips and tricks- ideas?

    Here is a posting of mine after being on Symphony in May. I think you are going to love that ship! Here are some things for you to think about..hope this helps. For a GREAT view, go to deck 14 port side, all the way forward past the cabins. Go through the door on your left and you'll be on a bridge wing overlooking the helipad. It's a great uncrowded spot with chairs and loungers. Can get pretty windy, but great anyway. Speaking of uncrowded, this was our first time on an Oasis class ship and we were absolutely amazed that it never once felt crowded. What a pleasure. Take your time to walk around the ship and explore. Every deck, every staircase, every nook and cranny has amazing and sometimes interactive art work. Check out the musical stairs on deck 15 leading up to the Windjammer. Also check out the picture on deck 5 in the entrance lobby to the MDR...it actually puts you into the picture when you stand in front of it. The entertainment on this ship is the best. Make sure to make all your reservations as soon as they come out. Every show on this ship is great. Most importantly, make your reservation for the Aqua Theater show for as early in the cruise as possible. Reason for that is because that show can easily be cancelled and rescheduled due to ocean caused movement. If your reservation is scheduled towards the end of the cruise, you may well miss it altogether. (In our case the day 2 show was cancelled, but we got to see the rescheduled show on day 6.) Suggestion: make your reservations on cruise planner as soon as they become available. Standby lines for the shows were all very long. Same thing if you want bungalows, beach beds or clamshell loungers on CocoCay. They don't have a lot of them and they sell out quickly. aaaah, Cococay...what a magnificent job they did (are are still doing) there. Phenomenal. For events on the Promenade (such as the 80's show, which despite what I said before, obviously does get crowded))...instead if standing there, we arrived early at the Schooner Bar on Deck 6 (Promenade is on Deck 5) and got a small table and chairs that overlooked the stage. It was perfect. If your itinerary includes St. Kitts, I highly recommend the Thenford Gray Grand tour. Others on this blog have also recommended it and everyone we have sent has had a great time. He is the best tour guide we ever had. Even if you are not lucky enough to get him personally, it will most likely be one of his family members and you won't be disappointed. It's a 6 hour tour, includes beach time and costs only $55 per person. He WILL get you back to thip on time. We have done it and this past rip my sister in law and her friend went and loved it. If your itinerary includes St. Thomas, we chose the Royal's Trunk Bay (in St. John) outing just to have the piece of mind of the ship waiting for us. We paid $66 for it and felt it was worth it. It included a narrated 40 minute or so boat transport from St. Thomas to St. John, a narrated 20 minute or so ride from dock in St John to Trunk Bay Beach, guided snorkeling with free rental gear. The driver to the beach (on very winding roads) was the safest, nicest driver we've ever had. If you get the chance, ask for Smittie. The beach was actually not crowded at all (because most on the tour did the snorkeling further down). It came in 3rd on my beach list, tied with Megan's Bay in St. Thomas. 1 is Barbados and 2 is Bermuda (we have not been to Europe). Cabin: We stayed in 10264 (ocean view balcony). We loved the location, no noise at all, close to elevators and midway between dining on 5, pool on 15, Windjammer on 16, Boardwalk on 6 and Central Park on 8. If you happen to be doing any specialty dining, 150 Central Park was the best ship restaurant we have been on. Loved it--food and service were top notch. We did buy the KEY at $19.99 per person and thought it was worth every penny. The debarkation day breakfast and escort off the ship to awaiting luggage was fantastic. Alo, an unpublished perk we had was that we never had to get our card scanned for pool towels. What made that so great, besides avoidng any erroneousd charges for unreturned towels, is that we have had to wait on line to get our card scanned when returning them. Just drop them in the bin and walk away. Feel free to ask about anything else and happy sailing!  Also, here some use useful information posted on June 6 from @ChessE4 My recent discovery on Oasis-class ships is Central Park. Not only will you find specialty dining and complimentary dining (Park Cafe), but in the late afternoon and evening, there are small concerts, such as a classical guitarist or a vocalist and musician. We found many music venues simply to loud for us, so we made it a point to check the Cruise Compass everyday and show up about 10 minutes before a scheduled performance. We got ring-side seats, and it felt like we had our own private concert. On the whole, in good weather Central Park is simply delightful. Being in crowds on the Promenade can be thrilling, too, but when you want something more peaceful, don't overlook Central Park. Also remember that Windjammer isn't the only place to eat breakfast or lunch. If it becomes too crowed for you, try the other venues spread throughout the ship. As a teenager, my son joined the teen group on several cruises, but he enjoyed them more at 16-18 then at 12-14. What I have learned is that you don't have to try everything -- go at your own speed, but don't be afraid to try something new. At 66, I tried the zipline and lived to talk about it. Spread your show reservations over the entire cruise so you don't feel rushed.
    2 points
  45. Support for the argument of arriving early...
    2 points
  46. Backtracking a bit a today was a busy day! I need a cruise from all this land vacation nonsense! ? I think I left off this morning with the Naked Cowboy. He was the first thing we saw after the tour started. But just in case you missed the earlier post, here are some that D12 caught on her camera ? The Viator tour was hectic but very comprehensive. Money well spent as we saw tons of sights. However, if you ever plan to do this tour, be ready to move and walk. Here are pics from around the city. ?: Mostly all Hubby and one D10. Times Square (last night) The Lulubot always can find a home base. Hornblower Cruises Junior Photographer in training: Her work. ?: D10 9/11 Memorial Rushing to get back for the pizza meet up:
    2 points
  47. Skid

    Cococay activity

    Wow. Now that ships are no longer tendering, it would make sense to just use the slides on the ship while everyone else is on the lines at Cococay.
    2 points
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