Skigoofy

This isn't going to be a thorough live blog....I just wanted to note a few things about Liberty since it has been many years since we sailed on this ship.

Side note here, with most likely an unpopular opinion. I actually think the bow and Aquadome of the ship look silly to me. One day I was looking at a picture, and all I could see was that the bow area of Icon reminded me of Popeye The Sailer Man, with a giant forehead. I cannot get that image out of my head, so personally, to me, I will be renaming Icon Of the Seas to Popeye of the Seas. I submit for your viewing pleasure/disappointment the photo inspiration
 

You guys. This SHIP.  😍
 
more soon

UPDATE: I went back to guest services and got somebody different than the person I spoke to before. I asked my question about a transfer to the Ascent and he said certainly ma'am, let me go make a phone call. He disappeared and came back two minutes later and said it's all taken care of, Miss Kelly. I said thank you so much, what do I do now? he said you don't do anything, you will get some information on your door tomorrow evening telling you what time to leave the ship and where to go. 
 
so… THANK YOU to everyone for helping me out with that, I have a free transfer and it's going to be so much less stressful than booking an Uber and hoping they show up on time and hoping they're not a psychopathic murderer, plus he didn't say anything about paying for it--and as of yet there's no charge on my account, so there's that as well. Thank you guys! Really appreciate it.

Hi, all!
Been lurking but not posting. Now that the dust is settling from a very busy November and December, I'm starting to realize I'm going on TWO magnificent cruises on BIG ships very soon. I'm sailing Oasis of the Seas out of Miami next Sunday, and when that's over, I'll be disembarking, scooting over to Fort Lauderdale, and boarding the Celebrity Ascent that same day.
 
Although I've been on the Allure many times and I've been on Symphony, I've never been on Oasis. Super excited. Traveling solo and I have a balcony room overlooking central Park. That will be a first for me as well! 
 
Another first will be sailing with Celebrity! Very interested in trying out the X brand! I have a solo cabin on the Ascent with an "infinite veranda" so I'm very interested in what that looks like. It was quite the bargain and I booked this cruise almost a year ago.
 
Am I allowed to cover my Celebrity cruise here? If so, I will, if not, I will take you all along with me on Oasis and then we'll wrap it up.
 
Here's our itinerararies:
 
OASIS: Sunday, Jan. 14
1. Miami departure 
2. Nassau
3. Coco Cay
4. Sea Day
5. Labadee
6. Falmouth, Jamaica
7. Sea Day
 
ASCENT: Jan. 21
1. Ft. Lauderdale departure
2. Nassau
3. Sea Day
4. Cozumel
5. Sea Day
6. George Town, Grand Cayman
7. Sea Day
 
Really looking forward to the fun. If anyone wants any specific info on either ship, I will recon.
 
Another first: I bought "The Key" for Oasis, so I will check out embarkation day perks and that Choppes Grill lunch on boarding day. 
 
Quick share: Last May, I picked up norovirus on the Disney Dream. HOLY SMOKES. Never ever never again, please please please.
 
In September, I got Covid (third time), on Princess in Alaska. 😫
 
Should I just give up on cruising? Have I no immune system? And let me tell you, no one on those ships washed their hands more than I did. 
 
So. We will see.
 
Also: This is interesting: I discovered that Oasis is a group cruise for 800 people that play "Dice Tower." They have the Windjammer reserved for after dinners and you need a badge to join them.
 
Really hoping you guys will follow along because I am genuinely excited to be back on the oasis class ships, without a doubt my favorite class of ships out there. Symphony last spring was magnificent, I went with my son to the Mediterranean. Looking forward to the whole week!
Lots of photos to come! ❤️😎🎊 🌴🌴

I’d normally make a joke about @Lovetocruise2002 here but given that her “review” of the Odyssey WJ consisted of some lovely pics of CocoCay out the back window & nothing else, perhaps not her. I got more pics of Doritos than the WJ. 🙄🤣

Let's get this PARTY STARTED!!!
That's right, for the FIRST TIME, your favorite (only?) Royal Caribbean Blog moderators (me, @AshleyDillo, and @Lovetocruise2002) are sailing on the same ship at the same time!  This is going to be epi..... errrr... dare I say "ICONIC"?
I am so excited for this sailing.  There will be so many new things and so many old and new friends to spend time with.  Each one of us will contribute in our own way.  If there's something on the ship that YOU want us to document, ask a moderator!!!!!!!  
More to come!

On a side note, our loft attendants have been making the most amazing towel animals that I have ever seen on any cruise. 

A quick word about the complimentary parka.  
This worked quite well for me.  It is a two part design with an inner bubble style jacket that zips into the red waterproof outer shell.  I didn't keep mine zippered into the shell, I simply put on the shell over the jacket.
Sizing for me was perfect. I am typically a large ski jacket and this large fit well.  I generally wore a long sleeve t-shirt and the Silversea parka on all excursions and I was never cold.


The shell did a great job.  Despite being splashed often on zodiac rides I was never wet inside.  

Captain's noon address just now.
Seas at 3m are expected to remain until 1am at which point they will improve.  In the Captain's words it's a relatively good day in the Drake.
I'm kind of disappointed.  I guess I'll have to come back to experience the real Drake Passage.
Live from the Drake Passage aboard the Silver Wind.

Down for breakfast in The Restaurant I had the venue to myself so an opportunity for some photos.


Which window seat shall I pick?

Our final daily recap and briefing was held this evening.  Among a number of topics Sara reminded us again about the IAATO Antarctic Ambassador Expedition Challenge. 

The guests that completed the challenge on board were called on stage and presented with certificates.
You can also complete the challenge on the IAATO website.
Just before dinner I captured our position and track through the Neumayer Channel.


At 21:45 it was the crew talent show.  

Amazing talent among the crew.  Impressive.


Just before bed it was one last position report now that we have made the turn North.

Ready or not, Drake Passage here we come.

 

Here are some pictures from my 360 camera during the Neumayer Channel transit.

The wind was howling and it was getting difficult to take photos but dressed for the conditions it wasn't cold.

This pair stuck close to each other. 

Earlier today Andrew presented an enrichment talk about Humpback whales.  He mentioned that often when you see a pair of whales with one larger than the other staying close to each other it may be a mother with a calf.  











I'm not certain that is the case with these two but it makes for a nice story so I'm going with it.

Whale sightings were frequent.


 




A Chilean naval ship.


I've submitted these photos to the Happy Whale project.
https://happywhale.com/
Perhaps it will help to track the migration path of these magnificent creatures.


Each fluke is unique but other characteristics of the hump and other areas are also unique to each individual whale. 

Snow Patrol was performing on deck 9. (a lame reference to a Scottish rock band)

Our escort was a final opportunity to say goodbye to the penguins of Antarctica.


 

 

 

Pondering those masted schooners and the early Antarctic explorers while enjoying modern luxuries under heaters while drinking a Chilean beer at The Grill.

The snow was letting up but I could see it covering the satellite antenna dome for the TV system contrasted to the tiny yet powerful modern Starlink antenna beside it.

Despite the snow and light rain the Starlink internet system continued to perform well.

Alas it was time for the Christmas tree to come down.


The ship may need this line at Puerto Williams 🤣.

As we sailed out of Wilhelmina Bay and entered the main channel a two masted schooner appeared through the haze.
As the Amazone moved closer it occured to me how relatively small this vessel seemed when pictured among the icebergs.  

At 39m the Amazone is 5m shorter than the three masted Endeavour yet it was easy to imagine the likes of Shackleton, Scott, Byrd and dozens of other early Antarctic explorers plying these same waters in similar sized vessels oh so long ago.

We came back from supper to find Santa had visited.🎅🎅  No idea if this is a ship wide gift but we usually get something on each holiday cruise.  It includes 2 beach towels, 2 hats, beach bag and zippered pouch  

Sailaway/Graduation Celebration 
The sun came out and it turned into one of our best sailaways.  We celebrated Reyd and Michael’s upcoming graduation.  ❤️  The in room appies were perfect and the best part, I didnt have to do any planning. Great way to start our cruise.  

Suite Decorations 🎉🎓
Berty decorated the suite with a variety of pictures of us. It took us a moment to ask him “how did you find these”. Well, he was resourceful and pulled them from Facebook. 🥰
 

ATS #9730 
We were in #8730 last year so the set up of the room is essentially the same. A slightly smaller eating area, different closet configuration in the master bedroom and access to the deck via 1 door instead of 2. The large deck is definitely a highlight of the room. 

The Via and 270

This area now opens to the MDR on Deck 4. Giovanni’s Kitchen to the right where Jamie’s is on previous QN class ships. 

Giovanni’s Wine Bar replaces Vintages on older QN class ships. 

270