Leaderboard

Cabin 8000, Ocean View Suite (OV) We picked this particular sail date based on the fact it was the only one that this cabin was still available. There’s only one on the ship — the Royal Suite occupies the same spot on the other side of deck 8 forward. It sits under the Windjammer (because Vision class has the WJ forward rather than back). We heard some noise from above, but never after about 10pm so it was not a problem at all. It’s a two bedroom, TWO BATH cabin. I emphasize this because nowhere did it say there were two baths, and it was a very lovely surprise. The odd bit is that neither bedroom is a master, meaning both baths are off hallway into the living room. Also, the main bedroom has only a curtain. The second room (two twins and two pullmans) has a door. The reason we wanted to try this room is the fact it has full suite benefits at a much reduced price, mostly because there is no balcony. Just a window with a seating area in it. We got this room for about $250 more, total, than a JS was selling for at the time of our booking, and six months later the JS was actually more expensive than what we paid. Turns out we are not missing the balcony at all, because the room is such a great size. 10/10 would book this room again! Odd entry at the end of the hall: Foyer with door to smaller bathroom: Smaller bathroom, shower only: Hall, showing door to larger bath: Larger bath, with tub: Weird nook with extra closet space: Living room, showing window seating: Looking back from the window, showing curtain of main bedroom and door to second bedroom: Main bedroom: Odd triangular closet in main bedroom: Second bedroom:

I reeeeallly wasn’t going to blog this cruise. Port days every day make it hard to keep up, plus a lot of folks don’t seem interested in the smaller ships. Also, the week before the cruise I was in Rome for work, so my “getting to port” routing went Rome, Boston, DC, literally 12 hours on the ground just to scoop up new clothes (and MisterZ), Newark, Barbados. Sheesh! The things we do for vacation! But I kept thinking stuff like: 1) this is a really unique cabin, so I should give it a review 2) this is one of the first few weeks of the new MDR menus, so I should give them a review 3) lots of less-visited ports on this itinerary, so I should give them a review So it turns out I’m blogging. At least a little. Ha! Itinerary: depart Barbados Scarborough, Tobago Port of Spain, Trinidad St. George’s, Grenada Kingstown, St. Vincent Roseau, Dominica Castries, St. Lucia return to Barbados This won’t be super live, especially because we’re already on Day 3, but I’ll see what I can do!

Day 2 Shore Excursion - Scarborough, Tobago We chose “Windward Coast & Little Tobago” as our excursion this day. It was 5 hours, departed at 10:30am, and was listed as moderate activity level. It was a standard driving tour for the first bit (about an hour and 15 minutes) in a 25 passenger bus. Lots of nice coastal views, passing through lots of small villages. Next was a glass bottom boat ride over to a wildlife sanctuary and nesting site for seabirds. We got the boat at a resort located at the closest point to Little Tobago from regular Tobago. The short ride (15 minutes) was fairly smooth and we could see clearly down to the reefs below. There was a hike on the sanctuary island, with clearly marked trails and a naturalist to answer questions (about 45 minutes). Then back in the glass bottom boat and returning to our bus. On the drive back we stopped at Fort King George for a quick photo. This was not listed on the tour, but was added because we were a bit ahead of schedule (no traffic). Honestly the fort was underwhelming. I will say, DO NOT choose this trip if you are prone to motion sickness! The road is very, very twisty! This was a rather rigorous “moderate activity” tour. The hike on the little island was steep and pretty hot, and getting in and out of the boat was a little tense. Also, there was no food or snack (even though it was over lunchtime) so plan accordingly. All in all, I was happy with the tour, though. A few photos: House supposedly built by Ian Fleming: Scruffy Banana Finch: Red-Footed Boobie, white tail morph: Red-Billed Tropic Bird, tail feathers missing due to harassment by Frigate Birds: Caribbean Mockingbird:

Why cruise gods? Why? Is it because I started this blog a week early? I am seriously starting to freak out over here. This cannot be happening for a second year in a row!

Our FREE diamond pictures! Keep in mind, I’m over the hump of 65

Ooh I'm definitely interested in this blog. That really is a room type I've never seen before and ports we rarely get to hear about. Definitely spill all the tea!

Assuming you've already booked it through the Cruise Planner, you can make a reservation time for the Beach Club restaurant on embarkation day at Chops. Happy Sailing!

Are you sure you don't "feel like you're coming down with something"?

It is unlimited. Yes. Both. They're also available at the Mason Jar bar which you can visit without dining at the restaurant.

Day 3 Shore Excursion - Port of Spain, Trinidad For today we chose the Caroni Bird Sanctuary tour. Three hours and 30 minutes, departing at 9:00am, moderate activity. This tour started again in a little 25 passenger bus. Our driver was personable and kept up a nice tour guide chatter the whole way. We drove about 20 minutes to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, where we got in a wide, flat-bottomed swamp boat. The engine was small and quiet, which meant we could hear the naturalist well. We spent the next two and a half hours puttering around the swamp, learning about the ecology and watching for birds, particularly Scarlet Ibis. The guide was knowledgeable and easy to understand. The only slightly challenging thing on this tour was getting in and out of the boat from the rather rustic dock. The staff was very good with helping the one mobility challenged lady in our group. 20 minutes back to the ship after, as planned, but the whole trip was definitely on island time. We were about 30 minutes late getting back. This was a great excursion! Some photos: The swamp boats: Red Mangrove roots (stretching down to the water from the branches): Black Mangrove roots (growing up from the ground): The flamingos are recent immigrants. They started showing up in 2014, decided it was nice, moved in and brought some friends. There are now about 300 permanent residents and seem to be starting a breeding colony: So graceful in flight Flamingo and Blue Heron: Blue Heron: If the crab yesterday freaked you out, I present a boa sleeping in a branch right on the waterline. No telephoto needed! We did see Scarlet Ibis, but they were tough to photograph. Turns out they rest on one leg like flamingos: Osprey:

Maritime law dictates that each ship has enough life vests for all passengers. Solution is cheap, have a rope from pier to new facility. Passengers get life vest issued at excursion check in on ship and use rope for assistance to cross the 200’ channel. This solution is lower cost than my superior idea of catapult from ship into foam pit (hopefully, or at least 99% accurate) on island. Quantum class ships could employ their NorthStar to span some of the distance and then have bungee jump or repelling. So many options besides walking 1/3 of a mile the wrong direction to a ferry.

The price will be whatever the market will bear. With the price of 'add-ons' at Coco Cay I'm not holding my breath that this will be within my budget. There seem to be a lot of people out there with a lot more money than me. Either that or people are blowing the budget on 1 vacation. Myself, I prefer to go more much more frequently and not break the bank on 'extras'.

I checked a few sailings on the app schedule and Jazz is scheduled in Central Park, Music Hall and Royal Promenade throughout the week. So it appears they will maintain jazz onboard and have them play in various venues throughout the ship during each sailing! Would love to see some photos next week when they reopen. Thanks!

The 2BR Aquatheater Suite on Harmony had the same half doors on the showers as the Jr. Suites do. It was... ineffective. More of a suggestion for the water to stay near the tub/shower than anything. Wound up using more towels to keep the floor dry. In contrast, the Jr. Suite bathrooms on Odyssey were amazing. Full tub, separate full rain shower with glazed window to let the daylight in, and a completely separate water closet for the toilet.

...but whyyyyyy! The risk of splashing water outside the tub when I'm practicing my waterbending feels too high!

Here you go!!

I have definitely ordered a full four course meal at 2am from room service

What a cool room! I love Barbados and Saint Lucia, would really like to make it back someday. I haven't been to any of your other ports so will be interested to read about them. Thanks for bringing us along. Have an amazing time!

More salt to combat the salty food? While I am a Liquid IV user myself the biggest downside is the 500mg of sodium in each packet. Combatting the dehydrating effects of alcohol on the other hand... Liquid IV is great for that.

Are you a minor that your mother had to do this for you? If you are under 16, you don’t need a second ID. Are you in school as a school ID could also work.

It blows my mind how so many people assumed Starlink would be better than the old platform. Starlink is not better. It is cheaper. Dramatically cheaper for Royal. The primary reason Royal went to Starlink was to save money. The secondary reason they adopted Starlink was so they could charge the same. That has dramatically increased net revenue from Voom sales. It's all about money. For residential Starlink service the only people who purchase Starlink for home are those that have no other choice. It's pretty much a last resort service. When you live in the middle of nowhere and there is nothing else available, Starlink is pretty good, even on days when it sucks, because the alternative is reading a book. The same book. Again.

For those of us fortunate enough to sail out of the US on Sunday, don't forget that it is time change weekend! Move your clock ahead 1 hour on Saturday so you don't miss the cruise.

Sergeant Says to his men in the field, "I have good news and bad news." First the good news: "Today after months in the field we get to change our Underwear!" The Bad news: "Fred, You change with robert." "Karl, You change with Dan....."

Spacex is about 10% into the build out of Starlink. Yes, you read that right. It's only 10% complete. Unlike a traditional service provider who builds something and only starts selling service in a region when they it is finished that is so not how Elon Musk does things. They are building the airplane as it flies. And it's barely staying airborne while they do. Furthermore the Maritime service is highly dependent on the new v2 Starlink satellites of which there are zero in service. SpaceX did recently launch some v2 mini Starlink satellites which should come online over the next 9 months. That will help, but they really need the full size v2 satellites in service to make the maritime service work properly. To launch the full size v2 satellites they need the new Starship rocket flying and so far the FAA is not making that an easy process. So no Starship rockets yet which means no v2 full size satellites yet. Relax and give it a year or two. By 2025 or 2026 it should work quite well. Until then it will be great at times and utterly disappointing at times.

These are the ones I got with my cooler bag purchase last month...we were surprised that these were the 6 they left us!

I love that scruffy bird but that crab would have freaked me out.

I find the brave thing often comes from older women, who seem to have the mentality that without a significant other a person is somehow off. I am a widow who has not remarried or got into another relationship by choice, not for lack of. I enjoy my time alone as much as I enjoy time with friends and family. Solo cruising gives me the best of both worlds. I can read and relax, basically do what I want, while having the options to hang with and meet new people.

I think they will! Keep us posted and good luck!

The new biodegradable straws (replacing the paper straws) are virtually indistinguishable from plastic, to me.

Yeah our guide was very skeptical about the story

You know, I have found this to be true many times. You take a man who's traveling solo and I think people see him as someone with extra money, extra time, taking care of his mental health by giving himself a nice vacation. A woman doesn't always get seen the same way… Sometimes I feel people see me as a person attempting to enjoy my cruise despite the fact that I'm a woman traveling alone because apparently I couldn't find a friend to travel with and I have no one that loves me. Can't really describe it, but there is definitely a vibe. And sometimes, looks of pity or outright apalled faces. I have heard the 'brave' thing too, and I take it as an unwarranted compliment, I don't see taking a vacation as being particularly brave. in fact, when I first started cruising solo, people at work kept asking if me and my husband were "OK."

But please wear more than JUST a T-shirt!

I agree, and more power to the people who are able to pay the prices. I think it's great. We are bringing our middle son, his wife, and our two granddaughters on Anthem next February. CocoCay stuff loaded recently, and we kicked around the idea of getting a cabana until we saw the price. It's more than we paid for the two cabins, one of them for four people.

After seeing $3899 for a Coco Beach Club over water cabana, I suspect we'll be passing on this "excursion". If they can get that for the Beach Club, I expect this to be more than we want to pay as well.

I made my reservations by calling up Chops. Was super simple and very convenient

That's what I wanted to know. Thanks a lot! Will try to visit Chops after boarding and ask them about it. Right after visiting my muster drill location.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/08/11/first-time-cruisers-what-drinks-are-included-your-royal-caribbean-cruise Yes Yes, Windjammer buffet is open as well. Keep in mind "formal" is not really formal at all. Formal night dress code only applies to Main Dining Room for dinner and it's not really enforced. Don't let it scare you, but you always go to the Windjammer instead.

I found a diamond ring in our safe on the Mariner of the Seas during our cruise on Feb 13, 2023. We were in cabin 9502. I turned it in to Guest Services.

The Beautiful Dream was such a great show! Props to the cast!!

Final sea day tomorrow! Where did all the time go. I don't want to get off

Day 7 MDR menu. Minestrone!!!

Finger-crossed for smooth and safe travels!

I need a “fingers crossed” reaction. Let’s hope they can keep up. It’s not even like I can pay more to change my flight to earlier. I am stuck at work until 2:45pm on Friday.

Update from OA. There is no longer any reference to Jazz On 4 as a performance venue. The Jazz presentations are being advertised as being held in the Music Hall. While I have not confirmed directly with anyone “in the know”, I think it’s pretty clear that Jazz on 4 is no more. When I went by there today, the doors were closed and (presumably) locked. I will pop by next week and see if there is any construction/destruction going on.

Thank you so much. At the age of 66, you need to hear that!

Most of my previous cruise they serve me this brand of water. The most recent one was on Feb 4.

No, I guess your both in your lower 50s, all my vintages are pushing 60s or over and they look fairly young.... they just don't behave how they look.

Hope I’m wrong but I wouldn’t hold my breath for this to be a “reasonable “ price - especially at first. With prices going ever higher on PDCC add-ons, I expect this “experience” to follow that pattern.

On Oasis now. The Diamond Concierge made our specialty dining reservations (BOGO) but was not able to do MDR. You have to make MDR rezzies directly with them (since you are asking about UDP I’m guessing you don’t care about MDR….just added that bit for others who might be reading this). As @Ampurp85suggested, there are no limits to where you can eat for specialty as long as 1) they can accommodate you and 2) you do not exceed 1 visit per day for the a La carte restaurants.