OCSC Mike

6 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We will be on this one, too !!  ...and we will be on a S2S on Utopia after this one with 1 day in between.  

Your life is one giant S2S2S2S... the days in between just vary.

#jealous

17 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

I instead called Royal used the automated call back feature which works surprisingly well

I'm finding more companies using this system and it really does seem to work. I think I used it calling the USPS of all things last week and it saved me a 45 minute wait.

9 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

I'm serious today (May 6th) right now is the best day to buy the drink package because they are having a 24 hour sale on DBP's up to 45% off. 

Definitely worth checking out (as I posted earlier) but these sales of course vary by ship and sailing. The DBP is the same price for my next 2 cruises as it always is during a sale. I think the other packages are closer to Black Friday pricing though (I don't actually buy any of these, I just like keeping an eye on stuff).

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Surprisingly, we are at PDCC alone.  I was certainly expecting another ship to be here as this is a "traditional" 7 night cruise, leaving port on Sunday.  To my surprise, nope.  Just us here.  I guess the new mix of shorter cruises has provided a schedule of PDCC stops that no longer revolve around Sat/Sun departures.

Wonder is oddly often alone on PDCC. I will be or have been alone there on 4 separate Wonder cruises spanning 14 months. When looking at the port schedule to pass the time (and because I'm a nerd), for the upcoming months it's alone every other week or so. Those other Mondays it's there with a Celebrity ship. By dumb luck, we managed to book the solo weeks (we enjoy spending the day there so it matters more to us obviously).

7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

The elevators continue to be the biggest headache on this sailing.

That is about the only negative I can think of to say about the ship, especially if you're on deck 17. It's less of an issue if you only have access to the commoner decks and don't mind taking the stairs. The elevators were unusually not that bad for us in March though and I have no idea why.

Sorry about all the snafus with the lack of computers, sea pass not working, etc. Hopefully your good luck will continue in the casino to offset this random bad luck with other stuff.

And needless to say, I'm glad you found a computer to keep the blog going.

There's a one day sale on drink packages today (all of them, including water).

Doesn't mean it's going to be a great price for any one particular sailing but worth checking out if you're in the market or have previously booked one.

3 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

Assuming grats are not included on the Chops + 1, it's cheaper to get the 3- night package on my other one too.

Good point. Those are my Wonder prices.

Just now, smokeybandit said:

I didn't even notice that. The 3 night package is cheaper for me, too.

It's not for mine but it's close. Everything is more expensive on Wonder I guess.

@FionaMG wins!

On 5/2/2024 at 5:20 PM, melmar02 said:

Having fun and full days, will update when I can while at Paradise Beach tomorrow.

Hope you had a great rest of your cruise and the blog just fell victim to "too busy having fun" syndrome.

If you have time, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Paradise Beach at some point.

@Bill OH

Any plans to share your thoughts once onboard (whether it's a full blog or just randomly)? I know how much research you've put into Wonder so I'm interested to hear what you think! Selfishly, it will also get me even more excited about boarding after you.

Sharing afterwards is cool too, I'll just be a little busy when you get home.

That’s more expensive than individually booking Chops and any other specialty dinner at the usual pre-cruise price.

52 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

I have one that I bought right after COVID which holds my passport on one side and my COVID record card on the other!

Exactly what we have.

25 minutes ago, Cruising_Figure_Skater said:

drinks with moonshine always remind me of being in Disney World and trying the moonshine cocktails at Homecomin'

We live close to the Magic Kingdom and LOVE Homecomin! If you ever make it onto a ship with Mason Jar I think you'd really enjoy it. Very similar vibe and food (although we've only had brunch at MJ and dinner at Homecomin).

The AC part sounds awful... otherwise I think I'd like them since I'm also one of those "we don't use our balcony even if we have one" people (which is why we book interiors and use the savings elsewhere).

8 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

had a gristly end piece and that ruins the entire piece of meat for me.

Sorry you got a bad one even though I know you are/were full. That’s exactly why my wife only eats filet or hamburgers, nothing in between. There can’t be any fat for her.

8 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I am impressed (in a good way) with the SL/CK on Wonder.

I have very little to compare it to (just Harmony) but we felt the same way.

Sounds like a great start (minus a fatty filet).

8 minutes ago, Cruising_Figure_Skater said:

Out of curiosity, what's the drink? It looks like my kind of thing!

5 minutes ago, JohnK6404 said:

@OCSC Mike , correct me if I'm wrong, but that's a Mississippi Moonlight from Mason Jar on Wonder! Delicious!

@JohnK6404 got it. Such a good drink. Unfortunately only available on Wonder (and soon Utopia).

15 minutes ago, Cruising_Figure_Skater said:

if anyone can explain how to insert pictures within text

Type your message, then when you add the pic file, click “insert” under where the pic loads at the bottom.

Then click under the pic (like I just did) and add more text. Rinse and repeat.

Hope that made sense. Let me know if it didn’t.

8 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

MJ lunch was great.  I had the chicken sandwich; Dan had the shrimp po-boy.

You know we love MJ brunch... but I haven't gotten to a sandwich yet b/c I love too many of the breakfasty items, lol. I will be trying the po' boy next month even if it kills me. I've had the chicken, just in other forms... so good. My wife got it without the bread last time with some sides.

Glad you're keeping the blog going!

1 hour ago, mom2mybugs said:

I just need to check how late windjammer is open.

Usually until 9pm in the Caribbean but sailing out of San Juan may be different.

8 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

We get it if it makes sense which depends on the ship. Liberty with only a few restaurants, no. On Oasis it made a lot of sense. Interesting they have the gratuities baked in there though, I like that better..

Grats included makes a big difference for sure.

My example was a good deal on paper if you wanted to eat at the more expensive restaurants. I looked at it just for the heck of it.  It just doesn't fit our personal preferences.

Part of me wishes we actually spent more on CP items, lol. I see what I know is a good deal... but on stuff we don't want.

I don't ever buy either but I think they started adding the "gratuities included" to the dining packages fairly recently.

I know I saw people discussing that there was a pretty good deal on some sailings during the last CP sale. The 3N package for my upcoming Wonder cruise was $130-something (grats included).

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

wouldn't be surprised is RC does eventually since so many people already ignore the assigned times.  

Royal only added the arrival slots post-covid, when you had to show your vax card & negative test, making check-in at the port take a little longer. They just never got rid of them. You used to show up whenever you wanted & the start of boarding went by status (suites, C&A level, etc.)

14 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Used our spare passport photos. Right shape, size, etc. If we couldn't find, we were going to CVS to have new passport photos made.

Used them for what? As the photo you uploaded?

24 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

Can you do that if you don't have mtd?  That would be perfect and we will be in the MDR for lunch anyway.  Jane

You can certainly ask. Nothing to lose. Worst case... they say they can't help but they will usually do what they can in my experience.

We had early seating on Allure in October... but when we boarded our sea passes said MTD. We went to the MDR in the afternoon on Day 1 and were told the computer screwed up a bunch of people. Long story short, there was no room left in early traditional but an MDR manager told us to show up around 5:00 every night and they would seat us within a few minutes, it just wouldn't be at the same table each night (which didn't bother us). So that's what we did and we were given our preferred 2-top each night with no more than a 5-10 minute wait.

8 minutes ago, JustMeJoe said:

Chops Gruyere Tots - ???

  No, these tots...