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Today was Falmouth where we had picked a river tubing trip from Viator. They sent me a message yesterday to meet at 10:30am Jamaica time and I screwed up the time zone. We got there an hour early because Jamaica is on Eastern time but no daylight savings HOWEVER, my husband, who is beloved by grandmother-aged women everywhere, sweet talked the lady into letting us go with the earlier tour. There wasn't much of a description and it ended up being a bit too strenuous for my parents (although they did make it!). There was a walk to a small falls, over a wobbly plank bridge, and down a path quite a ways. Then everyone got in the water and essentially got dunked under the falls. We didn't get a great explanation, other than just "to get used to the water." It was fun for me and the kids but difficult for my parents. We went down a bunch of wet rocks which was especially hard for my dad who has had two hip replacements. The guides were absolutely fabulous. Helping and joking in a way that did not make him feel bad. There were people of all ages and sizes on the tour and all of the guides were phenomenal with everyone. They kept calling my dad Papi which he got a kick out of. So after the waterfall dunking, we backtracked a little bit and got in our tubes. Oh, we had to carry our own tubes all the way down the long path with us too, including over the wobble bridge. Each group had one guide with them and we each held our neighbor's tube with one hand to make a circle. We floated all the way down this river, some parts very calm and some parts with small rapids. My mom started to feel unwell here and thinks it was because of the helmet pushing her neck in a weird way and it made her nauseous. There was one place to stop and get out and jump into the river from a platform. My son did a flip. Towards the end, we switched to a raft and paddled into the ocean/bay where we pulled up at a beach. Once we got in the raft, my mom was able to take off the helmet and started to feel better after that We walked all the way down the beach to a place with a bar and tables and a lifeguard. The beach & ocean here were absolutely beautiful. My son has been very interested in alcohol and asking if he can try stuff. We know officially we can't on the boat, but we kind of feel at home that if we let him have a sip of stuff here and there generally with family, European style, he might be less likely to do it in an unsafe way. So he was curious about the offerings at the bar, and I said - I wonder what the drinking age is in Jamaica. Then my husband said to the bartender, my son wants to know what the drinking age in Jamaica is and the bartender asks my son, how old are you. My son - "14". Bartender- "then 14!" So we got one Red Stripe beer for my husband and I to split and let him have a few small drinks of it. Later at dinner, he asked me, "why do people even drink beer? It's not like it tastes good." We had no wifi or cell coverage so only took 1 phone along and didn't use it to take pictures. My husband had a go pro but we don't have a computer to download to videos until we get home.

White night & formal night table pictures. I have a funny smile in the white night pic because the lady at the next table took it and didn't really tell us when, so I got smile fatigue. And my son's eyes are closed for the same reason.

I forgot to say the first night - no one was under our bed when we shoved our suitcases under there!

We got back to the ship around 3:30pm (all aboard was 5:30) so we decided to go down the Perfect Storm since we were already in bathing suits. Then rushed to get ready for dinner - it was white night - and then had reservations for Hairspray. I enjoyed it somewhat, especially the upbeat songs. Since we had rushed dinner, we stopped in the Windjammer after the performance and nibbled on a few things. I was really surprised at how many people dressed for white night. I don't think I've seen this level before. My best estimate is that at least 80% of the people out and about were wearing white.

I love this story. When I was a young lady (too young to drink alcohol, for sure), my father told me that anytime I felt like I wanted to drink alcohol, please to come to him, first and that he would let me have whatever I wanted. Guess what...I never did. To this day, I believe that this is the reason that I have no interest in alcohol at all. I never had that "...sneak around to drink..." fixation. Obviously, once I was old enough to drink on my own, I did not bother my father with it (LOL) but I just never had the urge to sneak around and drink behind my parents' backs and I still really do not enjoy drinking alcohol. Sure, I will drink a glass of champagne from time-to-time and maybe even a cocktail, but I SO hate the way I feel the next day when I drink too much that I just don't do it.

I hope your mom is feeling better. River tubbing was something I did once decades ago and never again, it wasn't lazy enough and I got wind knocked out of me. I know a lot of people love it. Everything should be in moderation with proper education is my belief. So, I hate that I have to put this out there.........but I don't judge you for allowing your son to try alcohol. I am also probably one of the few people who don't like Red Stripe beer

This is my new “go to” spot for a quick breakfast! I normally go to park cafe but decided this morning to try something different. The steak & eggs sandwich and classic breakfast sandwich (sausage,egg,cheese,ham) are equally delicious! The service was very quick at 6:45am. There are 2 lines that eventually form, one to the left for speciality coffee (most likely drink packers speciality coffee option) and one to the right for food. The food line was short!

My parents left their Freestyle cups on the MDR table at lunch and guest services replaced them for free! I thought that was a really nice gesture. We tried to track them down but with no luck. We came across a small vessel this morning that didn't respond to hails. So we slowed, stopped, turned around came back to it, and sent an emergency craft over. Turns out it was just a loose boat that had floated to here with no one aboard. I've smelled a bad sewer smell twice, briefly. The weather is lovely. Hot, yes, but in the shade, with a bit of breeze, just amazing to sit out on my balcony and type this and watch + listen to the water. This is the furthest south I've ever been and I'm glad it is March rather than April.

It'll be a ship cat.... you'll find him walking on the counters at Sorrentos and knocking glasses off the bars.

I merged these 2 threads.

I just caught up on @WAYNO's blog and we've also had good dinners this year. IMO, the MDR meals have improved from a year ago! I even enjoyed my tofu "tacos" tonight. No one in my family has had a bad meal yet.

Oh! And we bought Blue Mountain coffee and some really good chocolate bars in the port area.

I got these adorable ducks but never printed tags so I'm about to handwrite something and use little clear hairbands to attach them. My husband had to do some work today so he parked himself in the upper deck of Dazzles where he was in air conditioning but could still see out of a window (he likes to have a full table when he's working.) He mentioned at lunch that he was having trouble finding a spot and my daughter took it as a personal challenge to find him somewhere.

We've been missing the Boardwalk Donuts so I got room service breakfast yesterday before our excursion and ordered a chocolate donut @OCSC Mike! This was the best donut I've ever had on a cruise ship. It was fresh, soft and still a little warm but with that harder chocolate on top. Delish!! Although I wouldn't have used the room service if I had gotten Jamaican time correct. Oh, @Ampurp85 , I think you like these too?

I'm supposed to be on the Vision on 4/4. I can let you know what they have to say once I get told anything.

The Crown Lounge, early enough to see their breakfast. And my coffee, Americano with an extra shot of espresso. Frothy and quite lovely.

I've already reached out to Royal Caribbean for impact on cruises

Thank you! The other thing is - my husband and I rarely drink so it has only been a handful of times that he's even been in a situation to ask about it. Like maybe 4? Once was in Germany where it is legal, once in Wisconsin where my sister lives and is also legal with parents there, once today (legal?), and then maybe one or two other times? And he's just about to turn 15 and he's the size of an adult. So I know others might feel differently but we are ok with it under those circumstances. Especially because we model extreme moderation.

The Key Bridge in Baltimore was struck by a cargo ship and collapsed into the water. The whole bridge just fell... some autos and work vehicles were on the bridge. Looks like Vision of the Seas is out for a few days, so I guess we will see if there is any impact or delay in them getting back. Really crazy video of the bridge collapsing....

They still haven't told us! But they've been spending their money! They booked the luggage service since their flight is not until 7pm, and the Everglades tour, and my mom bought a really nice, long sleeved spirit wear Symphony of the Seas shirt.

Day 4!

Ahhhh, just as I was complimenting the MDR, they serve.me THIS as the "apple blossom" for lunch today:

DO NOT LOOK AT THE DAY TILES IN THE ELEVATORS !!! Didn't you know that ignoring them makes the week longer?

Don't talk about my homeland beer. It's better with spicy food.

This is tragic. The first video I saw clearly showed the ship losing electrical power twice. But it looked to me like she was already not in the channel. I suspect the cascade of events goes back before the power outages seen on the bridge webcam. It's a nightmare scenario for everyone involved. There will likely be pressure to clear the debris and open the channel as quickly as possible. I hope they don't do that until they've recovered every person possible. Their families deserve that.

I just saw this post. This site is so extremely difficult to use on my cell phone when I'm traveling, I don't always see everything. Anyway, I must again echo my dining experience onboard Wonder. Two meals on the MDR have been world class, the service has been great, and our dinners have been completed with plenty of time to get out and attend a show. Our two servers have been truly delightful.

Clearly, the first concern is the tragedy for those who were on the bridge and their families. As others have noted, thankfully this was in the middle of the night and not during busy traffic times. The impact on cruise ships/passengers is nothing compared to the disruption that will be caused to commerce. Baltimore is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast of the U.S. and the loss of the Key Bridge to truck traffic along the I-95 corridor will be very impactful.

Not quite 80% but I definitely saw more people than usual participating in the theme nights like white or Caribbean as well as getting dressed up for formal night on Wonder last week. My guess was the influx of new cruisers are excited about the themes and/or think most of the ship will participate and feel obligated to do so.

I saw the Stowaway Piano player! I heard singing (Sweet Caroline) and couldn't figure out why that was happening in the WJ but then I saw the bottom of the piano in the elevator. I ran around to try to see better but he didn't stop on 15, went directly to 14. My son and I did the Zipline. He finished first and went to get ice cream, so I decided to take the slide back down to get to the room.

Re: Smoking on balcony, our Wonder sailing our cabin was next to the accessible cabin. Marijuana permeated the upstairs bathroom, forget the balcony. Some days in the beginning were intolerable. Caveat, I know this is a big no no but they indeed needed that cabin, I felt maybe they used it for pain. It slowed down as the week went on, but my allergies detest smoke of any kind, ugh that sailing! A tiny part of me thinks I should give Wonder another try, a bigger part is like, no I'm good. Thanks for sharing the photos, you look so happy, so blessed. It's wonderful to be able to sail with the ones you love.

UGH, I had nice replies made and then my computer blipped. 1. I thought your description of Hiro was a fight on board, a la @Ampurp85's Allure sailing. Fight shenanigans! 2. My parents always let us try alcohol too, and that's probably why I'm such a lightweight (like @WAAAYTOOO). We joke at home that typically the only alcohol in the house is the wine for cooking. 3. Smoking on the balconies drives me BANANAS. I had it in September on Indy, but lucked out with Freedom earlier this month.

I called Royal and was told that the air mattress is not on the list of prohibited items. I am gonna pack it.

Way too many adults in one tiny cabin. Spend a few $$ and get an extra room.

I will even have to say that the MDR has gotten such a bad rep that people are going in with preconceived notions. I had a couple of decent dinners, my service as a solo wasn't always great. But the food was hot and on a couple of occasion delicious. I just know I am a picky eater, so I often do specialty dinning, but I can make the MDR work on occasions.

Yeah, Norfolk or Bayonne would be my guess. And a whole bunch of charter busses.

BTW, your pics compliment my blog from last week very well... since I barely posted anything but food and drinks, lol.

+2 for not showing Red Stripe any love. (Batman hates it also.) Yuck! Keep giving your son bad beer @jbrinkm! He'll never get the taste!

Horrible. Living on Maryland's East Coast, I use(d) that bridge when visiting my sister in Baltimore County.

Too much to see and do for me, lol. I kinda like boring (and of course Oasis class isn't actually boring). We went back on Indy in 2022 for a 3/4 B2B after almost nothing but Oasis class for several years and had a good time mostly chilling in the Solarium and going to CocoCay (now that could be considered boring although I guess relaxing fits better). The only thing I missed was the extra food venues (think I went to ELF everyday last week except for when were off the ship in St. Martin from like 9-4). I wish it were Freedom that was in PC at the time. Wonder is currently my happy place and we have some Utopia B2B's booked which I know I'll enjoy since it's so similar to Wonder. I'm sure we'll try Star at some point (you know I stick to PC); I'll just feel the need to have a plan in advance since it will be new to us. I like stepping onto Oasis class and knowing exactly where everything is, what our routine will be, etc. Others like winging it. Different strokes... Enjoy the rest of the cruise and keep the reports coming. You sail a lot more than I do and do lots of shorties but I enjoy your reports as we seem to enjoy some of the same small things (like early AM egg sandwiches, lol) and have some similar opinions.

Live feed of the bridge

A picture is worth a thousand words...

My parents went to the thing today and actually had to sign an NDA. So they haven't even told US what it was about.

These rooms are really well designed and it is clear that this is a newer ship than Allure. We're off to mini golf and the dry slide. Oh, and my husband created a WhatsApp group for the "Morning People" - my mom, my daughter and him, so I created one called "Party Animals Up All Night" for my son, my Dad and me.

Speaking of the Windjammer... I did not feel like dressing up for the MDR, so we ate dinner tonight in the Windjammer. Truly scrumptious, and the service is quite good. Don't know if it's just this ship that has higher standards. Or if Royal is improving across the board. Either way. I am very pleased.

We use the sofa bed with the lower trundle left down. It makes for a little more separation.

Last food pic (although I brought home enough ranger cookies for a few more days, lol)…

Our wonderful TA from MEI, Jennifer, gave us and my parents a bottle of wine and a cheese and fruit plate. She gave the kids some cupcakes. So we are stuffed from two meals in the last 5 hours, and we have a whole cake, cupcakes, and cheese/fruit plates in our rooms. We need an @OCSC Mike in our bathtub to help us eat it all.