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Liberty of the Seas August 20-27
In an attempt to contribute to the website that helped me so much in preparing for our first cruise in over a decade, I would to offer a review of our cruise this week.  Hubby is on a fishing excursion this morning in Cozumel and I stayed on board to relax, document some memories and keep an eye on the news regarding Hurricane Harvey.
I will divide my comments into these sections: 
We are very happy with .........
Happy we were prepared regarding ........
The pleasant surprises we encountered......
There were a few disappointments............

Scheduled to leave YYZ at 930am. Scheduled to arrive at FLL at 1215pm.
 
At about noon we are cleared for approach. Then we go into a holding pattern for an hour due to t-storms in Fort Lauderdale. After an hour of left turns we are almost out of fuel. We have to land at MCO for jet fuel and to wait out the storm.
 
We landed safely but by the time our bags were off the carousel it was 4pm.  If we were flying in the day of departure we would have missed the ship!

In Houston this week, hopefully my flight home doesn't get cancelled, then I can binge watch all three this weekend...

I use the card to make a payment which is in my budget and then pay it off , so I'm not charged any interest but yet I get my points.

Title says it all. I'm on the Harmony in pretty much 2 sleeps.
My first time in a Star Class suite.
I'll do my best to take pictures of the daily literature they drop off.
If you have any questions, let me know..I'll do my best to check in daily.After that, I'll compile a lengthy review.

It's going to be about $38 via Uber X or Lyft or about $84 via one of their fancier/larger cars.  For a regular cab you're looking at about $75.  With little traffic it's about a 30 minute drive, but if you're coming in on a weekday it's likelt to be nearly twice that.  I've got information on South FL transportation options here: http://www.cruisehabit.com/uber-lyft-cabs-shuttles-how-get-and-your-cruise-easily-cheaply 

I'm personally fine with there being smoking sections.  I'm fine with the way things are today.  I often walk on "that side" of the pool deck and say to myself, "ugh, why didn't I walk on the other side?"  But I live with it and I think those that want to smoke should feel free to do it there.

Ships should close down the buffets and limit the food they serve you based on some of the arguments about smoking on here. Or maybe tax the buffet or charge high rates for anything over your daily 2000 calorie intake.
Obesity is just as bad or worse than smoking on your body and the effect on our health care system.
 
So really, lets stop being so PC and compromise and get along.. It doesn't HAVE to be one way or no way......people used to be able to co exist......nowdays not so much.
 
As for young people not smoking as much?!....not my observations when I travel both in Canada and the US and the Caribbean.

You will get answers all over the board on this one and it seems it might even vary by cruise.  My personal experience so far is "yes".  I redeemed 5000 points in July.  At first it didn't show up in my planner.  Then when the bill for July was posted in my BoA site, sure enough a few days later the OBC ($50) appeared in my planner.  This month I redeemed an additional 20000 points.  My bill cut off on Sunday and I am now hoping to see another $200 in my planner within the next few days.  My cruise is LoS in January.

Thank you! I love a balcony (had it last time) but I figured the cost of not wanting to share a room was worth it... but a balcony this time I could do without. I got the last interior studio when I booked 11 months in advance.
 
 

oh, I don't think this is a regular meal. I just really want to know what's to the left of the rice.

For some that is easier said then done.

Amen to That!

Yeah, so I'm actually NOT going to the eclipse. Got sick with what felt like the flu on Tuesday, cleared out by end of day Wednesday but since then I've been hacking and coughing all day and through good chunks of the night. Just canceled all my hotel bookings this morning and I'm out over $100 for those museum tickets (non-refundable).
I don't care that the weather forecast for basically all of South Carolina is going back and forth between "heavy clouds" and "scattered thunderstorms" for the afternoon when totality would hit. I'm pissed. I go to all this effort to cross off a bucket list item and I can't do it because I get a fracking bronchial infection?!?
I know there's another one coming our way in 2024, a "mere" 7 years away. Let's just say I'm feeling pessimistic right now that I'll have any better luck seeing that one. And now I'm wondering what the hell is going to come along and f*** up these two cruises I've got booked. 

For me virtually everything imaginable is on sale excpet for the deluxe drink & the soda package (Jan 7 on LOS).  Swapped out all our excursions and saved $230!
 

I can actually see a deal on the Ultimate dining package...60%off....only $210 for the cruise which I think is a great deal(about $159 USD)!
 
I don't see one for the drink package..if that one was 60% off I would be ALL over it...lol

Some good savings on excursions.  For my January cruise $20 off of "Salsa, Salsa, Margaritas" (Cozumel), $10 off parasailing in Caymans, a whopping $22 off of caves in Cozumel, and $27 off of tubing and blue hole in Jamaica.  All together I can save $232 by rebooking all of my families excursions.

I'm convinced some people just like being angry and being a victim. 
I'm excited for our stop at San Juan now. We've never had a day where we just walked around and found new fun local food and drinks. Old San Juan sounds like a great place for that! 
And, since we lost our snorkel day in St. Thomas, we switched to a snorkel tour in St. Maarten! Captain Alan's Boat Charter - 4 hour tour. :) 
Can't wait for Allure! 

It might also be worth going to the spa open house on the first day to see if there are any specials being offered for those who sign up on embarkation day. 

Agreed... We loved our time San Juan and would be very happy to spend another day there. St John is fantastic but so is San Juan so it's like choosing between 2 very yummy flavours of ice cream 

I love San Juan!  I think he's lucky his itinerary changed, AND I TOLD HIM SO!  
San Juan, PR >>>> St. Kitts 

Jeeez. Of course it sucks when you have your mind on something but people are a little too much. The trip isn't canceled. San Juan is gorgeous - been there a few times and winged it....had great days there. The island is beautiful, there actually are quite a few things to do and there are a ton of places to eat.

Yes.  They usually have a "bundle" kind of offer where you can choose 3 services/procedures from a list of several and they package them together for a bundled price.  As you suggest...facial, back massage and foot massage (this is usually what I get !!).
As @RestingBirds mentioned, the best deals (IMO) are on port days since most people get off the ship and I suspect business is slow at those times.  That's usually when they run their bundled deals.  They also tend to vary by times of the day.  The earlier appointment times are the hardest for them to fill (I guess) and are often cheaper than those for the afternoon or early evening.
I'm not a huge spa person but I recommend that you wait until you're onboard unless you see a pre-cruise special online (I never have except when they run the very scarce cruise planner specials) as they tend to offer better discounts onboard - at least, that's what it seems like to me !
If you ever go to Costa Maya, be sure and get the beachside massage in Mahaual.  They are very very affordable (like $20 for an hour...you have to haggle though !!).  We always get them when we go.  In fact, we sometimes cruise just to go to Costa Maya just so that we can get a $20 beach massage.  How sick is that ??

Definition #2.
   

To me it looks like the dinner served at my high school prom in the mid 1980s.