twangster

Dinner was at Giovanni's.  Menu photos:

I chose the Filet because I am a steak and potatoes kind of guy.

It was okay, but not as good as the Giovanni's Filet on Allure.  It was cooked perfectly just lacking in flavor a little.  Service was superb.  

Next up, some outdoor photos.  I'm hoping to take better pics once at sea and in beautiful Caribbean waters, but we had a nice sunset while in Port Everglades so here are a few photos.

Our departure was delayed when a Sheriff's boat apparently collided with the Oosterdam while she was at the pier in front of us.  This occurred during our Muster drill.  Two officers were injured so it became a big deal with lots of emergency responders.  With a strong wind blowing from the North East we couldn't sail until the Oosterdam departed and with a collision the USCG had to inspect her before releasing the ship.   

As a result we enjoyed the sunset tied up in Port Everglades and departed in the dark after dinner.

First round of photos, let's start with the cabin.

I booked an inside guarantee and ended up in 1307 on deck 10.  So far no noise from the pool deck, cabin is fine for me cruising solo.

The bathroom features a shower door.  No shower curtain klingon.  Phew.

Guess I should add something about embarkation.  

This is my 1st time using terminal 29 at Port Everglades.  Easy ride from the hotel using a ride share.  I arrived around 10:40am.   $9.95 including tip.  Short 5 minute line for metal detector, no line in platinum/emerald queue and then upstairs to wait for boarding.  

They announced that USCG is doing a more thorough inspection today since Freedom recently came back to the US earlier this month.   At 11:28am boarding commenced, suite & Pinnacle, followed by diamonds and 10 minutes later emerald.  

First beverage in hand at 11:48am.  

Windjammer was empty so I grabbed a bite to eat and made my specialty dining reservations.  

Cabins were originally supposed to be ready at 1 pm but they pushed that to 1:30 pm.  

I explored the ship, took some pictures, planning when to come back and take better pictures when at sea or when lighting is better.  

Muster is at 4:30pm.  Time for another beverage.  

I'm on board now, will be adding some photos soon, but am waiting to be at sea to get some good shots.  

My $30 BOGO specialty dinner has me in Giovanni's tonight and Chops tomorrow.  Mouth is watering just thinking about it ?

I'm liking this ship and fear it's going to cost me a sailing on Liberty to get some slide action.  

3 hours ago, Sweety said:

What lens did you add? I have Canon IS 70-300 and IS 150-500 for my Alaskan cruises.

I've added a 16-35mm and 12mm fisheye.  I have a full frame body so those are native, not crop.  The 16-35 takes filters and while I've often used and love my 14mm, it's quite bulbous and filters are a challenge.  So I've given up 2mm to have filters.  Oh the humanity.  

I've learned a cruise ship works well when using Ultra Wide Angle lens. 

For Alaska I used my 28-300mm but am looking at some longer glass for the Alaska group cruise next year.  Hmmm, a cruise or another lens? Tough choice.  Cruise might win that battle.  

I am sitting in my hotel waiting for magic hour - that time when you head to the pier.  It's slowly inching closer, minute by minute.  Tick, tock, tick, tock.  

IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!

I spent the week in the Rocky Mountains working at a site just over 10,000 feet in altitude.  It snowed twice and temperatures went below freezing every night.  Last night the Florida humidity was even higher from the rain and it hit me like a wall as I stepped off the plane onto the jet bridge.  Less than 24 hours ago I was scrapping ice off the windshield of my car.  I'm so ready for this cruise...

I flew in last night and stayed in the Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale.  It was raining as I headed out late for a bite to eat and my sneakers were soaked by the time I got back to the hotel.  Thankfully the hotel had a shoe drier (a.k.a. hair dryer).  It's a beautiful sunny morning today and I've got that wonderful feeling in the pit of my stomach - IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!

I ran into some RCI IT workers at the bar last night but I bit my tongue and didn't bring up the website.  Good thing, these guys work in other areas like point-of-sale.  I did learn that IT doesn't sit in the Miami office where the executives are, rather they are in Miramar, FL.  These guys seemed to enjoy working for RCI and had only good things to say about the company.  

The cruise is operating a modified itinerary.  Despite Eastern ports opening back up this month in the wake of the hurricanes, the itinerary was changed from Eastern to Western Caribbean.    

Day 1 - Ft. Lauderdale

Day 2 - Sea Day

Day 3 - Grand Cayman

Day 4 - Cozumel 

Day 5 - Sea Day

Day 6 - Ocho Rios

Day 7 - Labadee

Day 8 - Sea Day

Day 9 - Ft. Lauderdale

This will be my first time using terminal 29.

My inside guarantee fare has landed me midship on deck 10.  First time on Freedom class and I'm looking forward to exploring a class of ship that I've heard great things about.  After this cruise I have a longggg 6 nights before my next cruise.   

I've recently added a couple of lens to my camera kit and I'm looking forward to trying them out on this cruise.

Without further adieu, it's time!   

NCL Bliss is poised to enter service in 2018 and is heading to Alaska in 2018.  I suspect this was motivation for RCI to bring a bigger and newer ship to Alaska.  Bliss holds 4,000 at double occupancy and is 167,800 GT.  Ovation is basically the same size - slightly bigger with approx. 200 more passengers on board assuming double occupancy.

So I guess we can see how Bliss does with tendering this coming season as a forecast for Ovation in 2019.

Competition is a good thing!

I booked the Alaska Group Cruise on a non-refundable basis.  Two in our cabin.  A week later learned planned guest couldn't go.  I ran through the options with MEI.  Pay the cancel fee for guest 2 and go solo, or  swap guest name to another name free.

Keep in mind your total cost due at final payment includes port fess and taxes for each guest.  If a guest doesn't show up you will (or should) eventually get the port fees and taxes back for the guest that doesn't show up, but you will have to pay those at final payment due date and wait until after the cruise for those to refund back.

If you cancel a person after booking you would lose the non-refundable deposit for that guest but avoid the port fees and taxes at final payment. 

In my case it made more sense to just not have the other guest show up, then I'll get their port fees and taxes back shortly after the cruise.

Your situation is slightly different given the fare for the 3rd person as a variable, but the math exercise is similar.  Put it all in a spreadsheet and arrive at a total for each scenario.

4 hours ago, jce2 said:

My only problem with a Alaskan cruise will be figuring out where to "cut corners".  Probably will forego a balcony room and just plan on lots of time on deck or windowed areas of the ship.  Would rather spend my money on the excursions

Excellent strategy.  I did a Celebrity Alaska cruise in June.  I had a great suite with larger balcony but I hardly used it.  I was out of the cabin and all over the ship, much like Caribbean.   At the time I thought to myself, okay that was nice, but if I do Alaska again, I'm going inside or ocean view.  I did splurge on excursions this past cruise and so glad I did.  To see Alaska you need excursions.  Otherwise you will end up like so many that write poor reviews for Alaska ports offering "same old jewelry stores" .  To experience Alaska you need to get out of the port area and excursions are the way to do that.  However that was an expensive vacation.  

I'm on the group cruise to Alaska in June 2018.  I booked an inside virtual balcony.  I plan to spend a good bit on excursions and while planning this year's cruise I had to choose between some excursions.  On next year's group cruise I can try my alternate excursions I missed this year.  

I did a helicopter to a glacier this year and the must do train in Skagway.  Next year seaplanes, dog sleds or maybe a hike to a glacier.  The money I saved on the cabin will pay for the excursions.    

Just now, Sabrinaklai said:

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

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

At one point I thought I heard them say there would be no 4 sisters sail past, it would be too much to coordinate all 4 in that manner.  However that might just be a smoke screen to give them time to figure it out.  You might be on to something.

I'm considering the Symphony TA that arrives into Miami on 11/13/18 but it arrives at 4am into Miami - an odd time in my opinion.  Thought they would make a grand entrance into port, but not at 4am!

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.

Sadly I do not!

3 hours ago, firegal2539 said:

Here is the newest Royal post.

Think it is the 2019-2020 schedule.

Candie

Quantum class near snow covered mountains?  Quite the view from Northstar.  Does a current Ovation or Quantum itinerary include mountain views like this?

52 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

With the recent hurricane damage there are fewer cabanas than normal but I would feel confident that you will get a cabana if you want one.  B1 or B2 are good ones at a reasonable rate.

Comparative look at damage to Labadee cabana hurricane damage

4 cabanas were damaged.  I'm going in a couple weeks. Will see what progress they've made replacing them.

2 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

 Any good benefits to being a suite guest in Labadee?

Suite guests have the exclusive use of Barefoot Beach with it's own enhanced food area and a separate bar.  Bar service works like on the ship - if you have a drink package, it works on Labadee.  Floating mats are included.  There is also a suite shuttle service by golf cart to/from Barefoot Beach.  Also keep an eye for a sail away event on the helipad for suite guests with champagne and mimosa when leaving Labadee.  

Also, there is this blog @Matt wrote:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/07/24/what-you-need-know-about-labadee-cabanas

5 minutes ago, Sabrinaklai said:

That pic and the luggage in the halls...worst sight always on a cruise. 

Unless you are doing a B2B. hehehehe

7 minutes ago, stormyclouds said:

She came back saying that there's nothing I can do because I'm not on the account.  I explained the situation and she said that either of us could make changes but now I cannot because I have been removed.  She said my only course of action is to dispute the charge on my credit card.  

That is something to pursue as well (credit card charge back). Make sure you tell them the cruise line advised you to do so.  

The threat of small claims court may influence your former SO as well.

So sorry, I know this sucks.  For what its worth I cruise solo often.  If you can get your money back, go on a different cruise by yourself!  

2 minutes ago, Sabrinaklai said:

 @twangsterhow do you do it?? 5 cruises in the next 6 months! Love it! I am so jealous! 

 

Don't hate me, I'm close to booking some more, just waiting for prices to drop into my target zone :) 

8 minutes ago, stormyclouds said:

I just tried again and they are open.  They must have just been closed when I called this morning.

Let us know how you make out.  Hoping for the best for you!

Cancelled excursion would get a refund back to the card used to purchase as well, at any point up to 3 days before sailing.

6 minutes ago, stormyclouds said:

I did use a credit card in my name.  My SO reimbursed half via personal check.  However, I still have not been paid the money for the excursions so I am definitely looking at a small claims thing.  I tried calling RC but they're not open today.  I plan on calling first thing in tomorrow morning to see what my options are with them.  

How far out is the cruise?  If it is still before the final payment due date, any refund would go back to the card it was charged to, assuming it was actually cancelled.  I don't think they allow you to refund to a different card as people could launder money in that fashion.  

As the card holder who paid for the cruise I am thinking you have better control.  I'm surprised they are closed today, lots of people book cruises on the weekend.  

Airlines in the US are usually open on weekends.  Make sure you update the password on your airline account and call them now to have it noted in your file.  I'm a frequent flier and call them around the clock.  Your airline may be different though.

3 minutes ago, Sweety said:

I am a teacher. We can only go on school breaks. We willing work holidays, spring break and the summer. 

I can appreciate.  One of my cruise companions is a platonic friend who is a high school teacher.  

Her family booked a big family reunion cruise in January despite her objections and they were shocked she couldn't just take it off like the rest of them.  

Did you pay with a credit card in your name?  As long as you have the ship name and day of sailing you can try calling Royal direct, or your travel agent and discuss it with them.  If it was charged to your card, in your name, you may have a case.  If you reimbursed your SO and they charged it to their card that's another matter.  Same with the airline.  

You may have a case in small claims court is such a thing exists where you live.  I'm not a lawyer and have never tried to take such a claim to court but maybe that is a last resort to consider. 

Sorry you are going through this.  That sucks.

Varies by itinerary but the front page of the cruise compass always informs you of island time if its different than ship time, or if the ship will be changing time during the sailing.  I've never found it to be an issue.  I do change the setting on my phone to disable automatic times zones and at each port I confirm the time with the security crew.  I often ask "what time is all aboard?" but they usually have a sign with that as you get off the ship.