twangster

Originally Odyssey was coming to America for several months then doing a transatlantic on April 17 before starting her summer season in Europe. Instead of bringing her to America for a week or two then turning around for the transatlantic they scrapped everything up to what was always her first Greek cruise. That first Greek cruise is now the inaugural. I kind of figured that would be a likely option. She might finish before that date like Symphony did but who knows. Her first cruise is now April 30th so pretty much May.

The Crown and Anchor Society department oversees the NextCruise team so that might be a good corporate department to contact. They are open during North American business hours and early evenings. 1 ‭(800) 526-9723 [email protected]

I dropped by the Royal Transporter with bags packed but it seems my timing was off. Radiance was at Hubbard Glacier while I was drinking Painkillers, I mean medicating against the virus on Jost Van Dyke. I could beam over to Radiance where she was or pick another ship. I love the Caribbean but was really looking forward to cooler weather. The crew suggested New England. That's actually a pretty decent idea. Cruising with the Royal Transporter team opens up a whole new aspect of cruising. "Surprise me" I said. "Something on a New England cruise... but keep it on a Royal Caribbean ship" (I need my points to keep climbing the Crown and Anchor ladder). I'm not sure where I'm heading but I'll find out when I get there.

With that it was time to depart OSJ. All good things must come to an end including my time on Empress of the Seas. It seems like Radiance should have reached Hubbard Glacier by now so I think it's time to beam back to where I started. Tomorrow is another cruise day and I look forward to the cooler Alaskan weather.

Walking back to the ship...

Visiting Old San Juan at night is always a treat.

With our last minute and late arrival it didn't take long for the shadows to grow long.

After Happy Hour at the Schooner Bar I saw the Captain in the Centrum and asked if we might pop into San Juan while we are here. Since we are in the vicinity, he said sure! When it's a made up cruise, you can do things like this.

With that it was time to head back to the ship.

Cruise relaxation mode engaged. I heard in a press briefing a Painkiller might prevent Coronavirus. I looked at my watch and it was 5 o'clock. Unsure of the recommended dose, I had several.

Jost is a small island with a smaller population but this beach is world renowned.

Whenever I get the chance I head over to Jost Van Dyke. So that's where we head today.

Day Five It's not often Royal Caribbean visits Tortola so while I'm on Empress let's do just that. The warp drive brought us here in no time.

I will add if I see a cruise I like when on land I book it, even if I have a cruise coming up and I might be able to shop at NextCruise then. There is no guarantee that fares won't go up by the time you cruise or cabin choices will be fewer a month later. More often than not NextCruise doesn't work out for my type of cruise shopping. If it does that's great, but I don't assume they will always have the best pricing model so when I see a cruise I like at a price I like I book it and don't look back (but I do watch for price drops).

I usually do the opposite. Late at night or when Next is closed I'll make a refundable booking on the website. Next day I visit NextCruise and compare. If they are better or the OBC is in my favor I book again then later drop my self-booked refundable booking. If NextCruise is unattractive, I keep my own booking and transfer it to my TA. Cruise shopping after Diamond happy hour at night is hazardous to my bank account.

I "shop" NextCruise like they are just another travel agency. Before I go I do my research, I know what I want right down to the cabin #. When on board you can visit royalcaribbean.com for free - it doesn't require a Voom plan. Use your phone or an onboard computer to research. Ask lots of questions. Sometimes CAS balcony discounts don't combine. Sometimes OBC for refundable fares is very low and much higher for NRD fares. On one cruise NextCruise got me lots of OBC and the same rate I was getting elsewhere. Same sailing a day later and they were $600 higher than my TA for a studio guarantee. Same sailing looking at a different cruise they found a refundable rate the same as the NRD rate but with lower OBC. I had booked a couple Star Class booking with them so they knew me and knew I was serious so they weren't trying to screw me around, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. There is no "NextCruise always" answer. Sometimes NextCruise is great and sometimes I walk away disappointed. My relationship with NextCruise is like a sexy girlfriend who cheats on me yet I keep going back to her hoping for a better outcome knowing I might be let down.

I find NextCruise hit or miss. It all depends. I often look for bargains or cruises outside of the mainstream so that has played a factor in my NextCruise results. If you are looking at a 7 night Caribbean or Med cruise two years away that is where NextCruise can provide some results. Once you start to deviate from the popular or mainstream cruises, you desire fully refundable, you are solo or you found a cheap bargain rate then NextCruise may not have favorable results but it might, you never know.

If you booked your existing cruise with a TA and visit NextCruise while onboard, any NextCruise booking will AUTOMATICALLY be assigned to the same TA. If you didn't book your existing cruise with a TA and booked it direct with Royal, then any booking made at NextCruise will remain unassigned to any TA. You can instruct NextCruise NOT to automatically allocate a booking to your existing TA but unless you explicitly do so, any new booking will be assigned to your TA.

Later as we approached Miami under the cover of darkness it was almost time to debark. I looked down to see the Captain on the bridge wing. Our eyes met and I gave him the nod. He understood. Warp drive engaged, we are heading back out to sea. When it's a made up cruise you can do things like this. I think I'll stay on Empress one more day, there's an island calling my name.

The forward deck area is a great place to sail into the sunset but after dark it's also a great place to stargaze. On this occasion that included Milky Way gazing. I caught some lightning on the horizon from a distant storm in this next photo. Forget sailing into the sunset. Tonight we sail away into the Milky Way.

Time for the second half of my CAS BOGO dinner. Goat Cheese Salad The Grilled 9 oz. Filet Mignon. Shortcake for dessert

After leaving CocoCay we sail away into the sunset... literally directly into the sunset. Oh how I miss moments like this.

Time for my Perfect Day to begin to wind down. That process starts with our departure. I miss CocoCay, but i will be back.

The new food options are pretty great. Time for a second...