Joe01

I'm Joe from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and this is my comeback to cruising! I might be familiar to some of you since I was on here quite a lot around 2018/19. At that point, cruising was basically a hobby, even when not on a ship, I was very immersed in the industry. Around the end of 2019, I decided to cut back on my social media and forum use and then COVID hit so I've barely even been here for the past 2.5 years.
So what has happened to me? Well, I've moved out on my own for the first time and have gone through three years of college. My life has moved on a lot since I was last on a ship, it's kinda crazy to think about it. But it's great to finally come back again.
This cruise is a 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona 🇪🇸 on the brand new Wonder of the Seas. We'll be calling at Palma 🇪🇸, Marseilles 🇫🇷, La Spezia 🇮🇹, Civitavecchia 🇮🇹, Naples 🇮🇹 and a day at sea back to Barcelona.
We'll be flying out from Edinburgh Airport around 6am 😬 on Friday morning. Fingers crossed it all goes well, it is a bit early for me plus there have been rumours of airlines striking (we're going on Ryanair).
Going to give this live blogging thing a go. Can't guarantee pictures until I return home but I'm hoping to use it as a way to practice my writing above all else. Might also talk about the post-cruise segments in France and England, basically taking the train all the way back from Barcelona to Scotland.
One thing I can guarantee is no politics, no news, no current affairs. I'm passionate about all of those things as I study politics but I'm taking this as an official news-free week. I need it after everything that has gone on since my last proper vacation.
Let's get cruising! 🙂

I'm Joe from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and this is my comeback to cruising! I might be familiar to some of you since I was on here quite a lot around 2018/19. At that point, cruising was basically a hobby, even when not on a ship, I was very immersed in the industry. Around the end of 2019, I decided to cut back on my social media and forum use and then COVID hit so I've barely even been here for the past 2.5 years.
So what has happened to me? Well, I've moved out on my own for the first time and have gone through three years of college. My life has moved on a lot since I was last on a ship, it's kinda crazy to think about it. But it's great to finally come back again.
This cruise is a 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona 🇪🇸 on the brand new Wonder of the Seas. We'll be calling at Palma 🇪🇸, Marseilles 🇫🇷, La Spezia 🇮🇹, Civitavecchia 🇮🇹, Naples 🇮🇹 and a day at sea back to Barcelona.
We'll be flying out from Edinburgh Airport around 6am 😬 on Friday morning. Fingers crossed it all goes well, it is a bit early for me plus there have been rumours of airlines striking (we're going on Ryanair).
Going to give this live blogging thing a go. Can't guarantee pictures until I return home but I'm hoping to use it as a way to practice my writing above all else. Might also talk about the post-cruise segments in France and England, basically taking the train all the way back from Barcelona to Scotland.
One thing I can guarantee is no politics, no news, no current affairs. I'm passionate about all of those things as I study politics but I'm taking this as an official news-free week. I need it after everything that has gone on since my last proper vacation.
Let's get cruising! 🙂

Welcome back, Joe !  Great to hear from you again.

I'm Joe from Glasgow, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and this is my comeback to cruising! I might be familiar to some of you since I was on here quite a lot around 2018/19. At that point, cruising was basically a hobby, even when not on a ship, I was very immersed in the industry. Around the end of 2019, I decided to cut back on my social media and forum use and then COVID hit so I've barely even been here for the past 2.5 years.
So what has happened to me? Well, I've moved out on my own for the first time and have gone through three years of college. My life has moved on a lot since I was last on a ship, it's kinda crazy to think about it. But it's great to finally come back again.
This cruise is a 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona 🇪🇸 on the brand new Wonder of the Seas. We'll be calling at Palma 🇪🇸, Marseilles 🇫🇷, La Spezia 🇮🇹, Civitavecchia 🇮🇹, Naples 🇮🇹 and a day at sea back to Barcelona.
We'll be flying out from Edinburgh Airport around 6am 😬 on Friday morning. Fingers crossed it all goes well, it is a bit early for me plus there have been rumours of airlines striking (we're going on Ryanair).
Going to give this live blogging thing a go. Can't guarantee pictures until I return home but I'm hoping to use it as a way to practice my writing above all else. Might also talk about the post-cruise segments in France and England, basically taking the train all the way back from Barcelona to Scotland.
One thing I can guarantee is no politics, no news, no current affairs. I'm passionate about all of those things as I study politics but I'm taking this as an official news-free week. I need it after everything that has gone on since my last proper vacation.
Let's get cruising! 🙂

Very kind! And to you too.
All of the news on Wonder has drawn me back into cruising, been a long time in dry dock.

I don't see what would encourage anyone to do a B2B on a 3/4 nighter if you can do a 7 nighter and not have the turnaround day faff. In addition, who would want to do a B2B which only goes to two ports, one being Nassau? 😬

Hmm...there's barely any time to fully enjoy the ship before you're off on a 3/4 nighter let alone on an Oasis Class. Will all of the amenities even be used to their maximum? Or all of the entertainment? They'll no doubt have to change the product up considerably for this market, there would only be one sea day between both sailings each week for starters. 
I know why they've did it of course, they've found a cash cow on the short runs ever since the new CocoCay opened. Regardless, I think everything Allure as a ship has to offer will be wasted on 3/4 nighters.

I don't see what would encourage anyone to do a B2B on a 3/4 nighter if you can do a 7 nighter and not have the turnaround day faff. In addition, who would want to do a B2B which only goes to two ports, one being Nassau? 😬

Very kind! And to you too.
All of the news on Wonder has drawn me back into cruising, been a long time in dry dock.

I don't see what would encourage anyone to do a B2B on a 3/4 nighter if you can do a 7 nighter and not have the turnaround day faff. In addition, who would want to do a B2B which only goes to two ports, one being Nassau? 😬

I agree with this 100%.
Good to hear from you again, @Joe01

Hmm...there's barely any time to fully enjoy the ship before you're off on a 3/4 nighter let alone on an Oasis Class. Will all of the amenities even be used to their maximum? Or all of the entertainment? They'll no doubt have to change the product up considerably for this market, there would only be one sea day between both sailings each week for starters. 
I know why they've did it of course, they've found a cash cow on the short runs ever since the new CocoCay opened. Regardless, I think everything Allure as a ship has to offer will be wasted on 3/4 nighters.

Hmm...there's barely any time to fully enjoy the ship before you're off on a 3/4 nighter let alone on an Oasis Class. Will all of the amenities even be used to their maximum? Or all of the entertainment? They'll no doubt have to change the product up considerably for this market, there would only be one sea day between both sailings each week for starters. 
I know why they've did it of course, they've found a cash cow on the short runs ever since the new CocoCay opened. Regardless, I think everything Allure as a ship has to offer will be wasted on 3/4 nighters.

Hmm...there's barely any time to fully enjoy the ship before you're off on a 3/4 nighter let alone on an Oasis Class. Will all of the amenities even be used to their maximum? Or all of the entertainment? They'll no doubt have to change the product up considerably for this market, there would only be one sea day between both sailings each week for starters. 
I know why they've did it of course, they've found a cash cow on the short runs ever since the new CocoCay opened. Regardless, I think everything Allure as a ship has to offer will be wasted on 3/4 nighters.

Stoked! Was never ever visiting China for a cruise so was thinking Wonder wasn't going to be in the cards for quite some time. Now I'm tempted to go on her for a week next summer in the Med, would make a great cruising comeback! 🙂

Stoked! Was never ever visiting China for a cruise so was thinking Wonder wasn't going to be in the cards for quite some time. Now I'm tempted to go on her for a week next summer in the Med, would make a great cruising comeback! 🙂

I get it, but with some western countries recommending against vaccines for minors, I'm not sure I like it.
 
18+ would make more sense.

The hazmat suits are utter theater.

Covid is never going away. You can continue to live in fear or grab life by the horns and go for it. I’m approaching 5 years cancer free from stage 4b endometrial cancer. I had a 15% chance of making it. I’m here and ready to cross off my bucket list cruises. I’m a firm believer that when it’s your time, it’s your time. I’ve stared down death. It wasn’t my time. Too bad more people don’t see life that way. No regrets baby! Hurry up October! Here I come Symphony! 

I’m in the same position as you. I am only 20 and so haven’t received my first dose yet and won’t for about 2 weeks probs. Also in the UK they are still saying 3 months between jabs. I’m just hoping I can get my second jab a lot sooner than the 3 months they are saying.

Also Brian Leavitt announced today on Instagram he will be the cruise director on Symphony of the Seas… officially!

I believe Jill to be right. They are having a tantrum they can't control the whole world. Today the Congress added a bill to the Senate one trying to bring this to an end. It doesn't bod well to have multiple states suing then bills from both house and senate looking to clip their wings.  Bahama numbers very low. Their peak came in October with five times as many active cases as they have now (2500 vs 450). Most days have no deaths. About 40 new cases a day nation wide...  CDC are behaving like spoiled children who's toys are being taken away... 

Greenock???? ?

Never been to GC but I did the Coz, Roatan, CM on Harmony 2 years ago, far better than Falmouth which is the worst port in the Caribbean. I don't know why Royal would choose to send cruises there than the ports around Mexico.

I guess it depends on your perspective. I would much rather go to Coz, Roatan and Costa Maya than GC and Falmouth.