OCSC Mike

7 minutes ago, nwamrine said:

Securing a check-in time is really that easy?

Yes. Just don't freak out when check-in doesn't open in the app right at midnight. There's often a 5-10 minute delay in my experience (my last one opened at 12:07am for example). Also, be aware that you have to select a check-in time for each member of your party so just go down the list.

7 minutes ago, nwamrine said:

I had read in a few places that you should check-in through the website and not the app. Can you think of reasons why?

Not good ones.

22 minutes ago, teddy said:

I'll add my two cents

Agree with almost everything you wrote and have posted the exact same sentiments about D perks and looking forward to D+ on more than one occasion over the past couple years. 33 days til we can finally enjoy them.

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Good problem to have, if you’re gonna have a problem !

Agreed... obviously a 1st world problem and it would be far less of a problem if we were fortunate enough to cruise as often as others.

Thanks for the ongoing food reviews btw.

6 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

don't get me started on these feral creatures!!!!!!

THEY CAME FOR MY FOOD!!!!!

I posted this somewhere before but the wildlife on CocoCay is pretty crazy between the angry chickens, the dive bombing seagulls, the sharks in the snorkeling areas, and the big iguana that lives on the island in the middle of the Oasis pool, lol. At least the iguana is pretty chill and doesn't come after people.

6 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I have had few awesome meals at GK but this was really good.  I got the Chicken Parmesan even though I knew it would fill me up and I would be hungry for Chops (which was an entirely accurate prediction).  Since I judge all meals relative to my non-ethic love for Chicken Parmesan, I can say, this was the BEST chicken parm yet !  It was super thin and extra crispy.  It’s the new “bestest” standard.

This is problematic, lol. I call my wife picky for a reason but she loves chicken parm and only dislikes it if it's soggy. She often asks for it to be made extra crispy with the sauce on the side. But she also loves filet mignon. Her go to at GT has always been filet with a side of risotto. She's not going to skip the filet when we try GK and I figured she would get something like fettucine alfredo as a pasta side but now I'm thinking maybe she has to get chicken parm as her "side" based on your review. Normally I'd help her out but I usually get a filet as well and I love carbonara (although Dan's seafood is tempting too)... that doesn't leave much room, especially since I want to try a pizza too, even if that means taking it to go.

34 days til we board and have GK for dinner on night one and I'm already figuring out what to order. I may have a problem.

6 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait said:

No port is guaranteed.

This. Can't blame Royal for either cancelling Labadee or not being able to dock in PR... which then caused them to have to switch out the DR as well. They can't control civil unrest, dock damage, or geography.

10 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait said:

The real fun is always onboard.

While I largely agree with you, some people are more interested in the ports than the ship so I can understand being disappointed, just not to the extent of the OP. We missed the port we were most looking forward to once (high winds) and had a great time overall, yes, but we were disappointed even with the full understanding that it was no one's fault. We also had a port swapped not too long ago and were happier with the replacement (and fortunately had a couple days notice so we could book a 3rd party excursion in the new port). Many people were unhappy with the switch. Lots of personal preference involved in cruising.

1 minute ago, loki007 said:

you really only need them for the aqua show.

Adult comedy is most important, IMO, due to the small venue. Never had trouble walking into anything else standby.

7 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

In AZ, I've had to learn to replace my battery every other year. Is that a lot? It seems a lot to me...

Yes, that's even worse than here. I feel like we might get 3-5 years. Not sure how much low mileage or being garage kept helps (if at all). I work from home and my wife's commute is pretty short.

41 minutes ago, Cruisin and Boozin said:

Playmakers tonight for dinner

More Playmakers!

Just now, FionaMG said:

It must be something to do with my settings. I can't get any GIFs up at all.

I usually just find them elsewhere and paste them here.

1 minute ago, FionaMG said:

I wanted to find a "Think positive" GIF

1 minute ago, FionaMG said:

Mine's not till September...

I'm gonna need more positive thoughts from you and @WAAAYTOOO, OK? It will all be fine.

37 minutes ago, DanielB said:

In the past when the program changed what was the effective date?

1. If Royal loyalty merges with Celebrity, this will be a one time thing so there's no previous data to go on.

2. Even if it were just Royal tweaking something to C&A perks, I wouldn't rely on the past to predict the future. Ya never know with Royal. Changes can easily be made with little advanced notice.

I'm in the exact same situation as @FionaMG and will be taking my first D+ cruise in just under 5 weeks (and my 2nd not long after) so I'm also hoping nothing is diminished on that front.

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Less than 10 minutes after my call a REALLY nice (and truly helpful) guy was there with all the answers.  He checked our battery (confirmed that it was, indeed, D.E.D) and then replaced our battery with a sparkly new one.

I've had this done myself with similar results (more than once I think). Glad it was taken care of so quickly.

Coming from up north, I was amazed to learn how quickly batteries can die down here. One of the many fun little Florida-isms you pick up. Smart of the parking facility to have a jump box on hand even if it didn't help in your case.

9 minutes ago, Debstr66 said:

The diagram isn’t true at all. The restaurant is to the right of the walking path to the beach. This is the sports equipment hut that would be across the right side.

Thanks! Sounds like something will be to our right... just have to decide if we want a daybed/people to our immediate right or that sports hut which would be farther away but larger.

Like I said earlier, I'm just over-planning to keep busy. It's not that big of a deal but I do appreciate all the recon.

16 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

close proximity to the 3 major cruise ports & D+ crown and anchor plays a major role in the decisions we make for vacations

+1 to this.

11 minutes ago, Debstr66 said:

Buenos Dios from Paradise Beach! Recon for @OCSC Mike Daybed #22 hasn’t been put in yet; however, here’s the view from where it’s going. 

Muchas gracias! That was so kind of you to remember & take a pic for me.

As long as the pics they send me look similar & the restaurant isn’t in the way like the website diagram makes it look, I think we’ll strongly consider switching. Is the restaurant farther off to the side than the diagram makes it seem?

Looking forward to anything else you want to share (food, drinks, etc). Hope you have a great day there! 

10 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I suddenly got a VERY strong whiff of skunk weed

If you were still in a suite it would have been much better weed, I’m sure. Slumming it in Sea Class is rough sometimes.

17 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I hope all you suite snobs are taking notice of the fact that I am no longer among your ranks.  

Time to get that tiny violin out again…

45 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

One of them is angry crowing about something.

The chickens on CocoCay always seem kind of angry... I think they know about the Snack Shacks.

14 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I hate the last day.  All I can think about is the dread of packing....which really only takes maybe 15 minutes but it's the idea that we are leaving....very depressing.

Should I get out my tiny violin? Some of us only get to cruise 1-4 times/year . I'd welcome your depression.

14 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

A good problem to have, I guess (summoning my inner @OCSC Mike).

You can do it!

14 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

It's been an awesome 23 days.  I could learn to live like this....

That's more like it. None of this depression talk, lol.

45 minutes ago, melmar02 said:

I have always cut the kids' hair - you can learn anything on you tube!

Meanwhile my wife left me with a tiny bald spot the one time she tried to shave my head (with clippers) a very long time ago. I thought a single length buzz cut was fool proof, especially since I do it myself, but if you accidentally knock the guide off and then go in with just the blade...

I was willing to give her another chance but that was the first and last time she was willing to try, lol.

6 minutes ago, Cruisin and Boozin said:

playmakers for dinner

Sometimes I've thought we were the only ones who had actual dinner there. Almost every mention I see is for a snack or lunch. Between frugality, how picky my wife is, and how much we like it... that's one of our few specialty go-to meals. Enjoy!

39 minutes ago, Fastfaller said:

So what is the penalty for something like this?

8 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

The people (not all) in the WJ are often a special breed.

Now I know what you really think of me. I know you said "not all" and your brother goes there, I get it.

I really am in my own little bubble while cruising though. I don't see much of this stuff. I did see one little boy going through the ELF line on his own and grabbing about 8 tortillas (with the tongs at least)... then he of course put 6 of them back.