KathyC

Thanks!  We're snowed in so we have to skip our basketball game tonight, which means...experiment time!!  I make my own syrup, don't consume artificial colors; but will look for this bottle in the liquor store to see if they use any.  My home made syrup using culinary lavender from a local lavender farm (yes, I do have one within a 10 minute drive from me) resulted in a golden colored syrup. 

I asked another Schooner Bar bartender.  He showed me the bottle and the description from the bar menu.  Bacardi Superior.  He was less forth coming on volumes of each just saying a "regular" amount of Bacardi and a "splash of syrup, not very much".  The good news is this is vague enough to cause you to experiment some .  Cheers!

 

I'll ask another bartender.  Maybe tomorrow.   

2 oz vodka
1/4 shot lavender syrup
Sprinkle of lavender flakes

Okay, getting a bit annoyed here.  We are in the one-day preview for C&A and I'm pricing a bunch of different options for 2019.   Is it possible RCCL is holding back rooms, not making them available for us today?  One particular sailing supposedly has NO available interior cabins on an entire deck 8.  When I go down a deck to 7, there are 3 available.  But if I go down to deck 6, there are a bunch.  Are they trying to fill the lower decks first, or just not letting us get a head start on all rooms?  There is more than 1 sailing that I'm seeing this type of result on, and quite honestly I don't think there are a lot of C&A members jumping at booking up all the Canada/New England sailings that summer.  I can't possibly have chosen all charter sailings either.

Gorgeous picture of the ship!!! 

We're hoping to go on the group cruise too.  July is hard for us as our college kids are home and it's impossible to know who will be around that summer and who will be working/internship.  We feel guilty leaving them when they are only here for a couple months.  We're debating booking a room for four, then cancelling one or both if needed.  But our goal for 2019 is to get the 11 points we'll need to be Diamond, so will more than likely take two cruises to get that.  Have thought about just doing the group cruise in a junior suite too; I was trying to price out a couple options so when the group cruise is announced we can book.  

I hear you! I think the issue is that our drivers' licenses may still be somewhat easily counterfeited / faked. Since the TSA isn't making public what constitutes a "REAL ID"-compliant license, we can only guess. But I'd imagine it might involve certifying that things like the watermarking and other state-specific marks are sufficiently difficult to copy; the colorful background we have, plus the tiny state seal in the upper corner of the photograph and the holographic "great seal of the state of New Jersey" image that's plastered in a half-dozen spots on the laminate overlay, maybe aren't sufficient to satisfy this. Or maybe we need to add a chip like current credit cards use, or we need to demonstrate the photographs printed on the license are sufficiently high-resolution or printed with inks a counterfeiter can't easily get (kind of like with our currency).
I don't know if the fact that NJ / NY / CA / IL are massive international air transportation hubs adds any extra wrinkles, or if their higher population density compared to the other states has an impact; it could be that things the TSA is saying are mandatory aren't as easily managed in states with many hundreds of millions more licenses to print and track. FL and GA are also quite heavy international hubs, and their populations are also pretty dense, so maybe not; but it's the only other reason I can think of why NY and NJ are taking so darned long to get this certification.

There wasn't anything specifically marked as being for young adults; everything was all listed in one section.
The golf sim is ancient history - it was removed during or prior to the last refurb in 2016 (the flow rider and big waterslides are there now), and IIRC it was non-functional during my Jan 2010 cruise.

OMG I just noticed - that tv!! I wonder when the picture was taken? LOL I really hope those tvs are gone by now! 

We are planning Alaska on Ovation in 2020.  My oldest graduates college that year and we want to do something special. Going to be awesome!! 

We are planning Alaska on Ovation in 2020.  My oldest graduates college that year and we want to do something special. Going to be awesome!! 

If you scan and e-mail them to Matt, he will post it in the compass section of the blog.  [email protected] 

In September we ate at a cute little place on Las Olas called Sweet Nectar. Small plates kinda place, with lots of cool craft beers.  Dessert was AMAZING; it was a peanut butter ice cream sandwich made with a toasted glazed doughnut.  DIVINE.  

OMG I just noticed - that tv!! I wonder when the picture was taken? LOL I really hope those tvs are gone by now! 

Kathy, I use OneNote for everything too like @bcarney.  I started using it in the classroom and then thought to myself what a great way to keep track of all my vacations and ideas and always have it on me.  It is unbelievably convenient and user friendly.  It is the best filing system for all things cruise related ? but you do need a device so it might be a fire hazard for you ?

I am old school; I carry paper files, I hand write my notes and lists & I also read books - hate staring at monitors/screens.  I need to feel the paper and pen in my hands...
One a side note, I am proud to say i just figured out how to multi-quote!  LOL  

What no cruise folder?? Hey at least no smoking computers!! LOL

I don't know if I've even seen a discount on the coffee card.  I did get a sale on the refreshment package for my 20 yr old - it was discounted to $18 from $26.  May 2018 sailing.  I think the same price was offered for my October 2018 sailing.  I did NOT see a sale for the soda package though. 

Why would you pay $54 to go to stores that you have everywhere in the US? I don't get it. 

I don't know how to do a screen shot, but I can copy & paste.  LOL  Here is what the excursion says:
Florida Mall Shopping Transfer
Overview
This dynamic shopping destination offers 1.7 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment options. Prominent department and anchor stores include Macy's, Dillard's and JC Penney. Transfer via air conditioned comfortable coach for a shopping trip to one of Florida's largest indoor malls. Accompany your day by choosing from an expansive array of dining choices and health-conscious eateries. With more than 250 retailers including American Girl, Crayola Experience, M&M's World store, The Disney Store, A/X Armani Exchange, The Apple Store and Zara. Reusable shopping bag and Savings Passport to over 100 stores are included in your transportation. PC81
$54  per adult and child. 

Thank you for a great live blog!! 

Cruise Tip # 1307 - Take a photo on your phone of the ship contact information for each port found on the back of the Cruise Compass before leaving the ship.  It changes at each port and lists the closest US Embassy, local police, ship's local agent and the telephone number of the ship and RCI Miami. 
You just never know when you might need this, such as the story of the pier swimmers above.   For example, here is the info for Cozumel:

Don't worry...i can hook you up...what's your email address... who knows...you might win the lottery in S. Africa...I hear rumors that there lottery pays out pretty good.