Boston Babe

I neglected to mention last night I found an emerald pin waiting for me in my cabin after dinner.

Decision made!  We're holding out until the Bermuda sailings are announced in a couple of weeks.  Since we've got 19 days in the Caribbean in 2018, we're going to go back to Bermuda in 2019.  Depending on when the group cruises are, we'll either book right away and do a junior suite for double points or we'll do either an ocean view or balcony and then a group cruise. This gives Matt a couple weeks to work on those group cruise dates before we have to make any decisions.  :D 
Now I have no idea what I'm going to do at work tomorrow.  LOL 

Tomorrow for C&A folks!  But only for certain sailings.  I'm hoping to keep this 2019 trip as cost effective as possible, so I can bank more money for the 2020 Ovation to Alaska for the four of us.  I'm looking for something I can maybe drive to, which means Boston, NJ, or Baltimore so we can do a junior suite for the double points.  

LOL Yes!! I need them to be nice and low.
But I also need Matt to choose his 2019 group cruise dates ASAP, so I can work them into my plans.  

There is someone posting in the Cruise Life Group on FB pdfs of itineraries and dates by ship for the Oasis & Freedom class.  Hoping that means pricing will be up soon.  He reminded us that C&A can book one day prior to regular people, so maybe you have to log in before searching?  I don't have my password with me or I'd try.  I can't log onto FB here at work, and my phone won't see the printer, so I'm having a tough time putting things together.  I may have to wait until I get home to put my itinerary options together.  I have a couple specific weeks I'm looking at based on our work and football schedules, trying to include when our two boys are home from college as well, so to cruise when we'd like to is going to have a narrow window.  I'm thinking if we book early enough we can do the junior suite on a 7 night, get double points, then we'll turn Diamond on that cruise. 

Thanks!  My starting guess was $2, so the $4 range makes it even more worth it for the pkg.  Having grown up with 10 acres of orange and grapefruit trees, the non-fresh is a last resort.

I just took a peek...nothing yet...

LOL Actually, Pittsburgh, NJ, NY, Marblehead MA, back to NY, now Lewes Delaware! RED SOX NATION LIVES IN THIS HOUSE!! Husband, being from the Bronx, the ONLY non Yankee fan in the Tri-State area, couldn't wear his Red Sox jacket when he taught at School, was afraid of getting shot! (No joke!).

My husband...a die hard Leafs fan wore his Toronto Maple Leafs jersey to a Detroit Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators game in Detroit.  I was afraid he was going to get jumped or shot lol...

LOL Actually, Pittsburgh, NJ, NY, Marblehead MA, back to NY, now Lewes Delaware! RED SOX NATION LIVES IN THIS HOUSE!! Husband, being from the Bronx, the ONLY non Yankee fan in the Tri-State area, couldn't wear his Red Sox jacket when he taught at School, was afraid of getting shot! (No joke!).

OMG and you're a PEN'S FAN TOO!!  I"m from Pittsburgh originally, GO PENS, GO STEELERS!!

Fabulous!! thank you!! I remember what that was like going on vacation in the summer only! With thousands of others! LOL
I'm from New Jersey (or used to be ! LOL) but never was at the Port in NJ only NY.  You will love the Outlets!! Treat yourself!! LOL  

We're on the sailing right after yours - don't break anything ;-)

Fabulous!! thank you!! I remember what that was like going on vacation in the summer only! With thousands of others! LOL
I'm from New Jersey (or used to be ! LOL) but never was at the Port in NJ only NY.  You will love the Outlets!! Treat yourself!! LOL  

Yes it is!  But it's one without invitations, caterers, extended family you don't want to see, rain moving everyone indoors...LOL 

Okay, so yes, I am a little OCD.  In many things but of course as we all are here about cruising.  That being said, with the new deployment schedule I'm already looking at 2019 and 2020 as I am sure many of us are.  Getting a little impatient waiting for the actual schedules and itineraries to come out. 
We know we are going to do Ovation in Alaska late May 2020.  My oldest graduates from college that year (or is the plan at the moment!!) and it will be great to celebrate on an Alaska cruise instead of throwing a party.  So I'm trying to decide how to plan 2019. 
Here is the dilemma:  we will turn Emerald during our May 2018 cruise.  We have another cruise booked for October 2018, and at the end of that we will be 11 points short of Diamond.  Do we book in 2019 looking to get those 11 points, so we cruise Diamond on Ovation?  We won't be able to book it as Diamonds, but we will most likely wait until June 2018 to book Ovation so we are at least Emerald when booking.  Is there a huge difference in waiting to be the higher level?  I know booking as early as possible gets us the better rates, and with flying four of us to the west coast every penny is going to count as it can cost more to fly than the actual cruise.  Would we save even more by getting those 11 points to hit Diamond, then booking?  But by then we'd be a year out so the advance savings wouldn't be as high, me thinks.   Is the extra spending to get those 11 points (by say, sailing 7 nights in a junior suite) worth it just to bump up levels faster?  
I'm very bored at work today...office is empty and I've got nothing to do but think about cruising and 11 points!  :D This is going to be a very long day...

LOL! Sabrina, you are a woman after my own heart!! I hope to meet you someday!!

@Boston Babe we booked Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ for March. Eatsleepcruise.com has a really good review on it and it's within walking distance to The Mills at Jersey Garden (outlet mall). What could be better than retail shopping before a cruise!!! ? It is my two addictions all in one! ?
From what I have researched so far there aren't really any hotel right by the pier as it is an industrial type area. What I still need to find out is what is the best way to get to pier from that hotel for 4 people?

There is a bunch of hotels near the airport (EWR) that are often used by frequent business travelers.   As such they tend to be very good to great at a reasonable price.  EWR is convenient to Cape Liberty.  I found one in the Hilton brand at a competitive rate to what I pay in Fort Lauderdale.   Parking packages likely vary by hotel.

@twangster how are you getting from the hotel to pier?

Lyft.  If no Lyft nearby I'll just cab it.

Try buyreservations.com They book hotels that include a night's stay, parking and round trip shuttle to the pier or airport. Prices are very reasonable for what is provided ($150-$180ish). We have used them several times (although not for NJ) with no problems.

Did Anthem the end of August and stayed at the Doubletree Suites Jersey City.
All these costs were for Lyft Plus.
EWR to Doubletree: $30
Doubletree to Port: $24
Port to EWR: $29

this may be helpful http://www.cruiseliberty.com/directions_parking.html

@monctonguy, I'm telling you man, book that Bermuda trip for 5 nights instead and get those perks!