OCSC Mike

ME: Since you eliminated the cookies, I enjoy the raisin bread (toasted) for breakfast. Never even considered it until I saw it mentioned by a ton of people online. Crepe station in WJ with your choice of filling and whipped cream is one dessert that comes to mind. Desserts are actually my least favorite thing onboard... and this is coming from a guy who gains 10+ lbs. per 7 night cruise, lol, so I'm not complaining. I wind up trying a bunch of stuff and something is usually good though. And of course there are always the cookies.

WIFE: Mississippi Mudpie in the MDR if by far her favorite. We don't eat in the MDR much and last cruise on Indy in July, she went down there during late seating and asked if they could get her a couple slices to go. 5 mins later she walked out with a covered plate. Very accommodating as usual. She also loves the chocolate croissants served for breakfast (sometimes square but basically the same thing) when they have them.

P.S. True #1 answer for both of us is the funnel cake on Cococay.

I'd prefer deck 9 for reasons similar to Patty's. I like to be in in the middle, between Central Park and the higher decks as I try to take to the stairs whenever possible.

12 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Good to know about still having drinks on debarkation day! since we fly home that day it might be good to have water for the airport. Where is best to go for these since so much is closed on debarkation morning?

The WJ bar should be open. I've also gotten bottled water at Cafe Promenade on disembarkation morning.

Nassau.

1 hour ago, Pooch said:

I take TERRIBLE selfies!!  It really takes no time at the terminal for them to take your picture.  Bonus being i never have to see it!

You can also just grab a photo off your phone by going through the website (in your phone's browser). I've been using the same picture from a 2018 cruise for the past few months, lol.

On TAD of a B2B in July, the crew member checking us in for the 2nd half in the designated lounge actually recognized the background b/c he used to work on Radiance. I was impressed. It was in front of a random wall by the DL my wife and I just thought looked cool b/c it had lights and kinda looked like space with stars.

2 hours ago, Hutcherl said:

We are cruising with a group of 5 families(6 staterooms) on July 29, 2023.  We all booked inside GTY about 4 weeks ago and we are all linked.  We already have room assignments.  Surprised me but maybe it has to do with being linked and their attempt to keep linked rooms near each other. This wasn't requested but thinking they try to keep linked rooms as close as possible?  Not sure 

That's the farthest out I've ever seen reported. Glad it worked out for you as it was very possible you could have been scattered all over the ship.

4 hours ago, FionaMG said:

Just need to add some brown sauce now to really confuse things.

3 hours ago, Ray said:

Mmmmm brown sauce   

The only thing related to the houses of Parliament that gets my vote

And so much tastier than tomato sauce or Ketchup

LOL, have had this conversation with my UK friends as well. No brown sauce here.

I have been using vinegar on my fries/chips a lot more than ketchup lately at least.

28 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Usually it means they have assigned it.  If your SeaPass with the bar code is available, if you scan it with a barcode reader or add it to Apple Wallet it may give you room number.

This. Although the official assignment might not be for a while. Your documents will update on their own when the assignment is official.

Of course, I checked in for my GTY on Indy 3 days ago and some glitch in the amazing RC IT system won't allow me to see my sea pass to use the bar code trick.

(It's not just me of course, others on my sailing are having the same issue. I only care b/c I want to see my assignment.)

18 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

or a number or other variations

Is there anything in the UK that doesn't have a number of variations?

I called it "something I'm not bothering to try" even though it was only $3-4 or something and went to Playmakers for a burger and fries like a good American.

18 minutes ago, Ray said:

great when you go on vacation though, all those people trying to force sell things soon get fed up and go away when your just standing there saying...fits at? Fit? Fit you onaboot? 

I sent my one friend a picture of the Fish N Ships menu from Indy in July. I was proud that I knew what the hell a "chip butty" was.

"Bing Bong!" means Marc Walker is your cruise director.

16 minutes ago, Ray said:

Its ok its complicated lol

Almost as complicated as learning the different versions of "English" spoken over there. Been "taking lessons" from overseas friends for years and still have to ask what the hell they mean every so often.

16 minutes ago, Toby said:

Sorry if I got the name wrong. Is it called England then?  Is U.K. to all encompassing?  A internet search showed a team name "England" in 2018 World Cup bracket.

 

Don't sweat it.  He's just giving you crap because England and Wales made it while Scotland didn't.

But yes, as you surmised, the UK includes multiple countries who compete separately in international football (soccer).

50 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

One thing I’ve learned after my 45 years in South Florida is to NEVER trust the weather forecast. Even if it “rains” it’s not the same kind of rain systems you see in the mid west or other parts of the country where its just sheet rains all day long. Most of the time the sun is out 15 minutes later. Yes, the freedom will have a sail away party and do not base your decisions off of the forecast.  

This. Same thing here in Orlando.

Ignore the forecast unless there's a hurricane coming. There's a roughly 50-80% chance of rain pretty much every afternoon for months in Florida. It will likely rain somewhere for some amount of time at some level of intensity... but there's no way to forecast what will happen exactly when or where. My wife works 5 miles from our house and often texts me that it's pouring there while it's sunny here.

49 minutes ago, Wihue said:

Thanks, do they put it on the huge screen on pool deck or only in the sports bars?

thanks 

I've seen both in the past. There has also been a dedicated World Cup channel in our cabin before that showed live matches and then replays 24/7.

One year, probably 2014, they set up a TV somewhere (bar/lounge, my memory is awful) that wouldn't normally have one for a little watch party during a US group stage match.

Just sharing past experience... my full answer for this year's WC would be that I would fully expect matches to be shown somewhere but I wouldn't begin to guess where b/c these things definitely change over time.

30 minutes ago, Carlos A. said:

The 2018 World Cup was broadcasted on Harmony of The Seas and several other ships back then so I hope this time will be the same.

I sail almost exclusively in the Summer and have seen several WC's onboard over the years. I'd be shocked if this changed.

1 hour ago, Evantra said:

Got it! Just haven't personally seen these figures in a few years of sailings, diff economics now and such.

I got a weekday 4 night coming up and my plan was to extend by possibly booking a weekender but def a no go.

Matt is generally correct, of course, but as mentioned in this thread, waiting is worth it for certain cruises (i.e. the 4-night Indy's from SEP-NOV 2022).

If you're flexible and able to go on last minute cruises, just keep an eye on prices and especially the GGG sale.

10 minutes ago, Neesa said:

I challenge myself to debark with normal ankles each sailing. If something is high in sodium (almost everything, but I'm talking to you onion soup) I just drink water.

Have you tried taking water pills? A while back my legs swelled up so badly by the end of the cruise I had no idea what was going on til I googled it. Now I take OTC water pills (Diurex) during every cruise and they take care of 90% of the swelling.

Food & drink is one of the main reasons I enjoy cruising so I refuse to limit myself. I actually diet before cruises to make up for the weight I know I will gain, lol.

13 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

The 11-11 is only on Oasis class ships.  The other suite lounges in the fleet only have the 5-8 Happy Hour, even Quantum class which is the only other class that offers the Suite Class program (Sea/Sky/Star) and perks.  It's probably too confusing to list anywhere since it's very specific to those ships currently.

I knew it was Oasis class specific; that seems like a logical enough reason. I still feel like it should be mentioned somewhere.

My wife loves chocolate croissants. At some point during our 7 nights on Indy in July, I think she mentioned it to the server who puts out the DL breakfast pastries b/c we hadn't seen any all trip in any of the locations we would normally find them.

I went up to get coffee from the machine on one of the last mornings and there was a covered plate sitting on the concierge's desk. The server finally came across some chocolate croissants, remembered, and set aside about 5 of them for my wife.

Small gesture but definitely above & beyond to me given that we had barely spoken to him. It's not like he was our stateroom attendant and we had gotten to know him over the course of a week.

Weekend prices for upcoming Indy cruises are nuts compared to the M-F 4-nighters.

Interior GTY for 4-nights can be had for under $500 per couple, taxes & fees included, during the GGG sales (we're doing one next month). I'd have booked more than one if our schedules allowed.

We wanted to do a B2B like we did in July but couldn't justify adding 3 nights at those prices even though we loved going to Cococay twice in the same week.

49 minutes ago, ElmoHongZito said:

What time do you go for breakfast and dinner at the WJ?

Breakfast... sometime in the 7-8am hour.

Dinner... this varies, just not right at 6pm when it opens. The later it gets the emptier it has been for us over the years. You'll often see some of the ship's officers having dinner later on in the WJ when it is quiet.

14 minutes ago, Matt said:

Not to mention the slot machine can see exactly how much $ you are betting every bet. Table games rely on the dealer to keep inputting you're betting.

Also true. Speaking for casinos in general, one common "trick" back in the day when comps/rewards were given without super specific calculations in a computer was to bet larger than normal when you sat down and the pit boss would typically record your first bet. A $25 bettor might bet $50 or $75, for example, in the hopes of being tracked at that level, then go back to his actual $25.

12 minutes ago, Matt said:

It's confounded me just as much, but it is what it is.

Not saying their calculations are set properly, and my casino days are behind me, but it should have to do with house edge and amount wagered per hour. Playing $25 hands at BJ for hours sounds like a lot, but even with crappy rules, the house edge isn't very large compared to say slots and at a crowded table, you're only getting to play X hands per hour. With slots, you are constantly churning your money through the machine even if it's a relatively small amount per spin.

If you plan on cruising more than once in a blue moon, perhaps Oasis now and Wonder in the future when the prices may not be as inflated?