ellcee

None of this is the worst so we’re all good.

I’ll look at the tea offerings at Cafe Promenade when I get my next coffee. I remember seeing Tazo brand but that’s it.

Notable mentions for Day 2: one of us had to go to doc for anti biotics. Expensive but he already felt better by night time. A few of us went to Sorrentos - we are all from NY/NYC - no complaints. It did the job. No, not the best but not the worst!

Pretty much did what I said I would for the day. Spent a while by the pool, went in, drank and read. walked the track for a bit after lunch at Izumi. Loved it and worth the extra $$. Had a hair appt for 5pm- they had a great deal onboard for $69. Wash, blowout, some treatments called Red Carpet. I was very excited to not do my hair for formal night. Unfortunately they overbooked and I had to cancel after 20 mins of waiting. When I made the appt I made it clear I had to leave by 545 for dinner- still needed to throw on the slightest bit of makeup and change in my dress. The lady took a color appt before me so there was no time. That means I had to run back to my room and wash, dry hair and still get ready. Not happy. Made it to formal night dinner on time but needed a few to relax. (I have a lot of hair) after dinner we went to Vintages for a few glasses of wine (I still had OBC so I tried some very nice and expensive ones that my package would my fully cover. Later we went to the smoking deck for cigars and chill. (None for me). The breeze was lovely. Left around 10:30 for casino. Overall beautiful day, still a little pissed about hair but that ruined nothing except the time I had to get ready.

Last night was a table for 15 for dinner. We had a rude rep trying to see if we could even bother and he basically said no...the table was ready for us and we were confused but happy. Our attendants were nice and friendly and bent over backwards for us for service. Dinner was pretty good tonight. No menu pic, too busy chatting. A few glasses of pinot Grigio Shrimp cocktail, Horseradish salmon and decaf coffee and cheese plate. Most of us were exhausted so we walked around and then went back to the rooms. Netflix and sleep. With all i drank i was never drunk, everything was spaced out. Lol. A few bottles of water and one coffee, drink package was smart. Today is Bahamas. Got my latte from Cafe Promenade and about to go to gym with a few of the group. Plans are to go to the Straw Market then lay by pool to nap and read.

It takes seconds for them to do it. One of our group didn’t have a pic, it did not hold us up

Tried to change MTD but couldn’t. Too many of us. Totally okay with it, ir is what it is. Guy was not the nicest though. My friend and I walked away, Walked to spa and made appt for hair tomorrow, cheaper than Cruise Compass. $69 instead of $79. Red carpet treatment for long hair. Worth it.

Cruise compass out of order since one wouldn’t post initially. We made it on the ship easily. Shuttle from hotel was 10:30, we were on ship by 11:30. It could’ve been quicker but we had to wait for people. Braved Windjammer for lunch. Got to my room. On third drink. Drink package already worth it.

I’m on it, too. I’m not really concerned and especially not concerned after reading this thread. It looks like we’ll be fine.

Cruise dayyyyyyyyy!!!!! Didn’t sleep well, up at 5:30. Plenty of time for sleep this week. Went on the elliptical for a bit at 6, showered and met up with friends for free hotel breakfast. Good moods all around. Walked over to shopping center for 3rd time and bought a few forgotten things. While this hotel is just okay (Hampton Inn) I picked it for its locality. I was able to go to supermarket, liquor store and dinner easily. There’s a nail salon here too which I wish I knew instead of frantically getting them done between work days. Almost ship time. We’re using the hotel shuttle. If I was alone I may Uber/Lyft/taxi but there are five of us so I’m going along with the crowd. Side note: there are only 20 something of us instead of 35-40. I was misinformed.

Elbowed the whole flight. I said something before takeoff but she claimed not to speak English. She also sang the whole flight...and the lady next to her didn’t speak much English either so kept asking me things. It was bad enough that the people across from me let me off the plane before and told me to “run like the wind”. God bless them. Made it to hotel. Decent. The hotel Comped my taxi ride since I called and no one answered and they offer free shuttle from airport to hotel. in all honesty I didn’t ask which makes it even Better. Walked to market for wine and seltzer for room. Walked on treadmill for a bit. Met up with part of our party and shared said wine. All good now. Shuttle to port tomorrow morning at 10:30.

At JFK enjoying a wayyyyy overpriced breakfast and the tiniest coffee I’ve ever seen. Yolo. I’ve never allowed myself to write/type/say yolo before but I’m on vacation.

Out of office: ON. About to drop puppy off. She gets a vacation as well. I drop her off at a friend's house - my friend has another dog and an entire family to keep her company. She loves going there. Taking a Lyft to JFK tomorrow morning. Last time I took a Lyft the driver dropped us off midway there to a hospital because he was having a diabetic issue. He literally dropped us in front of the hospital and drove himself down the road to the ER. I'm guessing he was okay. Very weird though.

@KeevesFor lack of a better term right now, that stinks. I would have hoped if you had informed them your choices would be a bit more varied.

lol, I don't like her either but I LOVED her in the 90's. Group cruissssssse!

Right?! I just listened to a podcast with Claire Danes so it's been in my head. I'm right there with you. Probably not this cruise since I'm going in October and that's a truly solo cruise. Next time I feel the dining package will be worth it and I can try wherever I want.

I think there is a limit on what a ship can carry. Personally, I think there is a ton of food available almost all day and I don't know anyone who goes hungry on a cruise ship. Did you contact RC about being Kosher? I feel like they would've had more options if they knew you needed them.

@Skid Thank you!!!! I'll be passing along the info. This is a great idea and I've only heard good things.

It's finally here!!!! Seven night cruise to Bahamas, St. Thomas and St Kitts. Harmony! Besides visiting a friend in Texas a bunch of times I haven't been away or on a cruise since Adventure in February of 2016. I've waited 11 months since booking. I'm super excited about everything. The When: Saturday, July 7th-14th. The Who: myself, my best friend and her husband, his friend and wife and a family of maybe 30. All ages covered here. The Why: Besides why not, it's a friend's birthday, that's where the insane amount of people come from. The How: I'm flying down Friday (July 6th) afternoon and have a hotel room near the cruise part....doing this alone. My bff and her husband are not the nervous type and will fly down day of. I'm spending 7 days with people, thrilled to have a day to myself. Some of the others are staying in the same hotel and are probably meeting for dinner, I may (definitely) skip out. The Plans: Bahamas. No plans. It's the only place I haven't been. I'll wander off the ship if anyone else does. Not thrilled with the times - I think 8-2. Meh. St. Thomas - RC excursion - St. John Beach and Snorkel. I think there will be five of us here. St. Thomas is one of my all-time favorite islands. St. Kitts. - one of my least favorite but this is probably because last time I did the volcano hike which was a huge mistake. I see now that RC now clearly states how strenuous this hike truly is. I don't know many people who can jog/run UP a mountain, but okay. No plans here, will taxi to a beach. The Room: Studio Interior with virtual balcony. I don't share well unless it's love. I would have loved a balcony but this was not cheap. I booked in August and the price has never once gone down, only up. Misc: Drink Package, yes. I'm not a fan of RC's coffee. I drink a ton of water and seltzer. I like my cocktails and love wine. I figure with so many of us it there will be lot of drinks all around. We've got some heavy weights on this trip - I am not one of them. We have Grease booked and one comedy show. I'm more of a planner and would have rather booked everything and then play by ear but I tried hard not be annoying with my group. Dinner plans: MTD but my reservations seemed to have disappeared. Sigh. 5 of us should be linked. The rest are family and we expect them to eat dinner together. I'll go and check when I arrive. I'd have liked to try some of the specialty restaurants but the group of 5 isn't interested. We'll see if I wind up trying out with others, by myself or not at all. VOOM Surf and Stream - yep. How else can I update this blog? For real, though, I need to be connected for my own self. Don't need to check work email but like to be available if anyone needs anything. My boss and I happen to both be away at the same time. Thoughts: Since there are so many of us I have a few concerns on how we're all getting along. Some of the other group is annoyed the 5 made other dinner plans. I'm not sure how so many of us can do everything together. I'm easy going for the most part but really enjoy alone time. Gimme a book and a chair and I'm good for hours. I have no tolerance for BS and will go off on my own if needed or wanted. Thoughts Part II: We've gotten off to a rough start. One of us was rushed to the hospital this weekend and since has been cleared to go but we're all a little worried for him. Another one of us is a klutz and spilled fresh hot effing coffee on herself and gave herself what looks like first and second degree burns. Thanks to Google images it seems like that's the worst of it. Also, don't look up images for third degree burns unless you want to be sad or sick to your stomach or both. Dummy. Also, OUCH. Let me know if you want a picture of something or info. Dunno if I know how to post pics so we'll see since I'll be on my cell phone. Instagram: Isalay76 - mostly dog pics but the plan is to actually post cruise pictures. This is Luna. She senses something is up and has been staring at me all week. This is pretty much the only thing I will miss.

YAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAYYAY Thank you!!

Saw that too for the short sailings.

I second this. Booked in August '17 for July '18 and the best sale I saw was Black Friday...

NY hand stretched all the way. Not hating on Chicago at all - it's good if you like a more bread to cheese/sauce ratio.

Peacocks are one of my favorites - I have accents all over my home. I have those fushias outside my door, love them.