StayFrosty

3 hours ago, FloridaCruiseGirl1210 said:

I would love to be able to use just a charging hub but my camera requires the two prong outlets.

Just get a cheap European adapter and use that for one of them.  Here is a really cheap one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C5TG278/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_Q7acDbJYNAS6R

15 hours ago, Bbjunkie said:

We’d love it if you’d take a few minutes of your sea day to come watch our kids.

I will definitely try to make it. 

I have brought a performing group on a cruise before and it’s hard to get other cruisers to attend these performances. Talk it up with everyone you meet and make sure RCL puts it in the Cruise Compass (with the correct times, we’ve had problems with this in the past), and even better, try to get them to make some announcements. Try to get the ear of the cruise director, they could likely help with that promotion.  

One week to go!!!!!

Here is a little update. Booked a massage for my wife while I am off at the flight simulator, but mainly I am trying to finish all of the stuff around the house that needs done before we leave. 

We have an uncovered exterior stair well in the rear of our house.  We have a toddler, so we’re are constantly worried she will fall down those stairs.  My in-laws are staying with her and my two collies while we are on the cruise. 

I didn’t want them to have to worry about it so I got it fenced in. Sounds good right? Wrong, my younger collie is afraid of the gate and will no longer go down the stairs...

Oh well, cruise in a week!

It seems that many people find their way to this message board via google and not by way of the main website/blog and the excellent information that is found there.  Here are some links to some of the many articles aimed at first time cruisers on this site. They all recommend using a travel agent along with a bunch of other tips and insights. 

Best of luck.  

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/01/03/first-time-cruisers-what-know-booking-royal-caribbean-cruise

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/06/15/why-first-time-cruisers-should-use-royal-caribbean-travel-agent

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/10/30/8-cruise-tips-first-time-royal-caribbean-cruisers

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/07/17/first-time-cruisers-ten-mistakes-avoid

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/02/28/first-time-cruisers-what-you-need-know-about-taking-royal-caribbean-cruise

Where did the ship dock in Marseilles?

I have stayed in a number of hotels in that immediate vicinity. The area is nice. Good views, pathways along the river, and nearby shopping for stuff you forgot.  Two blocks north is the PATH train to manhattan. It will take you directly to Harold Square (Macy’s) in Midtown. (You can also take a train or a series of trains, depending on the time of day, to the WTC downtown). 

We like to see a show in Time Square then walk 10-15 minutes to the PATH station at Harold’s Square then back to the hotel. 

BREAKING NEWS! We interrupt your obsessive reading about cruises to bring you this important report. We are no longer in “Guarantee” limbo.  We have been assigned a spacious ocean view balcony on desk 8 starboard rear. More news as it becomes available.

We now take you back to your regular cruise programming.

For those keep track at home!

5 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Are you a music teacher?

No, not technically anyway.  I teach high school government and economics.  But I have been on marching band staffs for 12 years in addition to my own band and vocal experiences.  I was on that trip as part of the marching band staff.  

I meant the main blog that these message boards are attached to. I forget that some might have googled their way straight to the message boards and missed the blog altogether. www.royalcaribbeanblog.com

If you want a good place to start try here. 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/getting-started

On 6/5/2019 at 11:17 PM, TheHobbys said:

took us a minute to figure out which one to get on to go back to Exchange Place

Your were worrying for nothing.  All trains that leave WTC stop at Exchange Place.

@twangster When are you going to CocoCay?  I am looking forward to you pictures.

Read through @Matt‘s stuff on the blog. Honestly, just about any question you have  will be answered there. Heck it will probably also answer the questions you didn’t know you had too!

23 minutes ago, Skid said:

I messaged to ask about our October Navigator cruise and was told she sails from Terminal G. We used Terminal A for Symphony and it was fast and great. Don't know if Terminal G sailings live up to that.

Navigator has consistently sailed out of Terminal A since Mariner moved up to Port Canaveral. There are no other Royal Caribbean ships in Miami on Friday’s and Monday’s, so there is no reason for Navigator to use a different terminal.

2 hours ago, Skid said:

We were there in a bungalow last week. It was beautiful and not crowded at all. I did not see any regular loungers. I am guessing the ones @StayFrosty saw were just pulled out from under the clamshell. But there is nothing to stop anyone from using that beach. You'd just have to sit on your towel.

I think it depends on what you classify as South Beach.  I think the definition is a little vague. I was using it in its broadest sense to include that whole side of the island.  

As of right now, that whole side of the island is still open.  It contains regular loungers, bungalows, beach beds, and the clamshell things. This is based on pictures and videos that have been posted.  I’ll be there at the end of the month to confirm. Eventually some of this are will be taken out of service to begin construction of the Beach Club stuff.

This is the map in the app right now.  It shows two sets of over water cabanas.

I realized at some point on the flight to Florida that I had forgotten my tie for formal night. While walking through American terminal in Miami I saw a clothing store, so I stopped in and asked about ties.  The sales people didn’t seem very interested but showed me some ties.  There was a whole table and my wife was looking through intently but something felt wrong to me.  I brushed my hand over the ties, casually flipping over a price tag.  I continued to look for about 30 sec then said “thanks but I didn’t see anything I like.”  

We left the store and my wife asked what was wrong with the ties.  She had seen a couple that would have matched. I told her that they were over $100!*

I bought one on the ship on formal night for $10. It’s not a bad tie either.  

* I don’t remember the exact price but it was ridiculously expensive.

How'd the casino treat you during your trip?  Do anything other than blackjack?

[/soapbox] Don’t get me started on RealID. In Pennsylvania we put off implementing it, hoping it would go away.  Only when we realized the Feds weren’t bluffing did we start to implement it. And even now it is not the default, it is a separate process.  How many people are going to get screwed by this before that changes.  [/soapbox]

I always travel with my passport. Just safer.

Try he oldest bar in NYC McSorley’s Ale House on E 7th street.  For shows, you can’t beat “Waitress”. It is cheep, easy to get last minute tickets, amazing music and musicianship.  I have seen it twice and would see it again in a heartbeat. I also recommend the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria, Queens.  Authentic German beer and food in a century-old beer garden. 

Have fun.

23 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

How dare you?!  That is a mandatory post for live blogs! 

There are more rules?

Based on that graphic, is the Escape Room replacing the Card Room?  No big loss there.

Nothing changed in price for me...