twangster

They go into a cooler to keep them at nominal temperatures.  On the tour they explain there are two controlling factors, time and temperature.  Everything is monitored for both.  The reality is they can't make 3,000 of everything on the menu a few minutes before dinner starts.  Once prepared they don't just sit out waiting for dinner, they go back into refrigerators at the appropriate temperature to keep them safe and fresh.  

Thanks Twangster, I really appreciate this.  I think we may try this on the way south (Tuesday mid-afternoon) but not on the way north (Sunday).  
Not till February though. Much like a bad day of fishing,  it is more pleasurable to be on a slow train in Florida in February than your own car in New England.
 

I thought I'd post this since I often see a question about transfers in South Florida specifically between Port of Miami and Ft Lauderdale.  
The Port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world.  Yet sometimes the Miami International Airport is not the best or least expensive airport to access South Florida.  Some airlines like Southwest don't fly there but they do fly to Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport approximately 30 miles up the coast.  Often airfare and hotels are less expensive in Ft. Lauderdale which is great but then the challenge becomes how do you get down the coast to the Port of Miami when sailing from there?
My Miami area hotel offered a hotel-airport shuttle but only to the Miami airport.  My options were a cab ($80), ride-share like Uber or Lyft ($40) or... another option that cost just $3.75.  
Enter a local transportation option called "Tri Rail" http://www.tri-rail.com/
Tri Rail operates a train service from as far North as the West Palm Beach area South to Miami.  In my case I planned on taking it from the Ft. Lauderdale airport down to Miami where my hotel for the night was located before I boarded a cruise departing from the Port of Miami.   For the train stations involved the fare was really just $3.75.
Landing in Ft. Lauderdale I picked up my checked luggage and headed out to the transportation area.   Signs led me to the waiting area for the shuttle bus that would take me to the closest train station.  The shuttle buses are similar to the type of car rental shuttle buses many airports use.  What I wasn't expecting was the flash mob crowd that let no one off the bus before trying to board the bus.  
Once on the bus we stopped at a few more airport terminal before leaving the airport for the train station. At each terminal the flash mob returned and let no one off the bus before trying to board themselves.

The Tri-Rail shuttle to the train station.
After a 20 minute ride we arrived at the train station.  With no one manning the ticket both we all discovered one ticket kiosk was down leaving just one kiosk open.

With many new users it took about 15 minutes for my turn.  The shuttle bus is timed to the trains and around the time I was 3rd in line the train pulled up.  Five minutes later after the lady in front of me had her credit card declined three times before she attempted cash I finally had my ticket.


A Northbound train as I was waiting in line for my ticket.
The train was waiting and I made a dash for it given the alternative of waiting another 30-40 minutes for the next train.  Phew.
Safely inside my Southbound train I opted for seating close to my luggage.  Additional seating was available upstairs.


The ride itself was pretty painless and we flew past the interstate with bumper-to-bumper traffic.  
The ride ends after several stops near the rental car facility at Miami International Airport.  From here you take the rental car train to the main terminal.

Once aboard the rental car train we began our ride to the main airport area.  If anyone has rented a car at the Miami airport and rode that train you'll know it it quite the walk from the rental car train to any given terminal where in my case the hotel shuttle for my hotel would pick me up.    
In the end this option took twice as long as Uber/Lyft would have but cost me just $3.75.  
I had lots of time with an evening of just nothing but me alone in my hotel room so I took the Tri-Rail just to see what it's like.  There is no question a cab or ride-share would be much more convenient but also cost much more money.
In the end this was a very affordable way to get from Ft Lauderdale down to Miami.  It's isn't fast but it is low cost.  
I'd have no problem using it again if I had plenty of time to spare.
Tri-Rail does not operate 24 x 7 and weekend service is different compared to weekday service.  Review their website to learn more about schedules and other stations that are available along the Tri-Rail service corridor.  
Tri-Rail service ends on the Southern end at Miami International Airport.  From there you can grab a hotel shuttle, cab or ride-share to your final destination.  

Also this thread has some CocoCay pictures:
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14700-empress-8-night-eastern-caribbean-?-oops-i-booked-it-again-?/&do=findComment&comment=147152
Including the drink dispenser showing the choices.

I thought I'd post this since I often see a question about transfers in South Florida specifically between Port of Miami and Ft Lauderdale.  
The Port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world.  Yet sometimes the Miami International Airport is not the best or least expensive airport to access South Florida.  Some airlines like Southwest don't fly there but they do fly to Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport approximately 30 miles up the coast.  Often airfare and hotels are less expensive in Ft. Lauderdale which is great but then the challenge becomes how do you get down the coast to the Port of Miami when sailing from there?
My Miami area hotel offered a hotel-airport shuttle but only to the Miami airport.  My options were a cab ($80), ride-share like Uber or Lyft ($40) or... another option that cost just $3.75.  
Enter a local transportation option called "Tri Rail" http://www.tri-rail.com/
Tri Rail operates a train service from as far North as the West Palm Beach area South to Miami.  In my case I planned on taking it from the Ft. Lauderdale airport down to Miami where my hotel for the night was located before I boarded a cruise departing from the Port of Miami.   For the train stations involved the fare was really just $3.75.
Landing in Ft. Lauderdale I picked up my checked luggage and headed out to the transportation area.   Signs led me to the waiting area for the shuttle bus that would take me to the closest train station.  The shuttle buses are similar to the type of car rental shuttle buses many airports use.  What I wasn't expecting was the flash mob crowd that let no one off the bus before trying to board the bus.  
Once on the bus we stopped at a few more airport terminal before leaving the airport for the train station. At each terminal the flash mob returned and let no one off the bus before trying to board themselves.

The Tri-Rail shuttle to the train station.
After a 20 minute ride we arrived at the train station.  With no one manning the ticket both we all discovered one ticket kiosk was down leaving just one kiosk open.

With many new users it took about 15 minutes for my turn.  The shuttle bus is timed to the trains and around the time I was 3rd in line the train pulled up.  Five minutes later after the lady in front of me had her credit card declined three times before she attempted cash I finally had my ticket.


A Northbound train as I was waiting in line for my ticket.
The train was waiting and I made a dash for it given the alternative of waiting another 30-40 minutes for the next train.  Phew.
Safely inside my Southbound train I opted for seating close to my luggage.  Additional seating was available upstairs.


The ride itself was pretty painless and we flew past the interstate with bumper-to-bumper traffic.  
The ride ends after several stops near the rental car facility at Miami International Airport.  From here you take the rental car train to the main terminal.

Once aboard the rental car train we began our ride to the main airport area.  If anyone has rented a car at the Miami airport and rode that train you'll know it it quite the walk from the rental car train to any given terminal where in my case the hotel shuttle for my hotel would pick me up.    
In the end this option took twice as long as Uber/Lyft would have but cost me just $3.75.  
I had lots of time with an evening of just nothing but me alone in my hotel room so I took the Tri-Rail just to see what it's like.  There is no question a cab or ride-share would be much more convenient but also cost much more money.
In the end this was a very affordable way to get from Ft Lauderdale down to Miami.  It's isn't fast but it is low cost.  
I'd have no problem using it again if I had plenty of time to spare.
Tri-Rail does not operate 24 x 7 and weekend service is different compared to weekday service.  Review their website to learn more about schedules and other stations that are available along the Tri-Rail service corridor.  
Tri-Rail service ends on the Southern end at Miami International Airport.  From there you can grab a hotel shuttle, cab or ride-share to your final destination.  

There is a lot of engineering behind the height and weights limits, for a reason.  Despite her objections, stick with the rules for her sake. If something ever happened you would never get over it.  

Labadee?  What's that?  Is that a new private destination?  

Day 4 - Sea Day
On our way to Key West tomorrow.  First an Ocean View sunrise.

Bridge tour this morning.





Bridge wing.




Not a bad break room.




Best view on the ship.

On my way to my cabin after taking the stargazing pictures I came in off of deck 7 and saw...
So which way is the exit?  Maybe it's just me in my happy hour induced state that found this humorous.

Speaking of drinking, they're multiplying.  Jorge the GSM who followed me over from Empress sent me a bottle of wine.  Combined with the two from Crown and Anchor I've got a lot of drinking to do starting tomorrow, day 4 of a 5 night cruise.  

Day 4 - Sea Day
On our way to Key West tomorrow.  First an Ocean View sunrise.

Bridge tour this morning.





Bridge wing.




Not a bad break room.




Best view on the ship.

On my way to my cabin after taking the stargazing pictures I came in off of deck 7 and saw...
So which way is the exit?  Maybe it's just me in my happy hour induced state that found this humorous.

Speaking of drinking, they're multiplying.  Jorge the GSM who followed me over from Empress sent me a bottle of wine.  Combined with the two from Crown and Anchor I've got a lot of drinking to do starting tomorrow, day 4 of a 5 night cruise.  

There is a lot going on around the ship but I'll be back soon enough so I'm not doing the ship's entertainment staff justice.  I'll post the Cruise Compasses once I get home to scan them in properly.
Outside for a walk on the Promenade deck there were a lot of stars visible.  That made me pull out my night sky photography app and see where the Milky Way might be tonight. Sure enough...
Majesty has these shelves along the forward section of the Promenade deck that worked great for my little tripod.

While we were well past sunset the long exposure catches enough light coming over the horizon to make it look like a sunset.  The lights of a city were on the horizon to starboard.
The big dipper was very prominent tonight.  It stood out more with the naked eye compared to this 10 second exposure.

In this one I caught a passing airplane with it's strobe light flashing every second.

For this one I setup on the floor of the deck trying to get into the shade of those Windjammer lights.  In the darkness of the forward deck I got some strange looks as random guests walking past were wondering what I was doing crouched down low in the dark.  Oh well, all in the name of taking a picture.

All in all not bad.  Majesty like Empress is also a good ship for stargazing with it's dark forward Promenade deck.

Here is the aft section of the Viking Crown Lounge that's open to the public while the forward half is used for Diamond happy hour.  A rain storm was just moving off so the ship and any guests who didn't see it coming while on CocoCay had the salt washed off them.

Navigator arrived first and left first to the two ships following along on their whistles.  Shortly after it was our turn to depart.  

Having been sitting for a while enjoying bottomless drinks at the Diamond event I was motivated to get up and move.  I saw a hint of a sunset so decided to check it out.






Again not much of a sunset but there is always tomorrow.

Back to the ship to change and get my good camera.




I tested Voom on CocoCay and once again the speeds were very good for satellite internet.

Always good to avoid scaring the mermaids away.

Back to the Snack Shack for a Shack Crispy Chicken Sandwich, a Greek salad and fries.  The mango fruit drink is surprisingly additive.

Yum.

The floating bar remains popular.


The pool was hopping again.  Having been several times to the new CocoCay I couldn't imagine it now without the pool.

One last trip back to the ship.
Someone's not going to have a Perfect Day when they get charged for leaving a pool towel behind...

I thought I'd start the day with a morning snorkel.  
I asked about the submerged plane at the Snorkel Shack.  It's "Permanently cordoned off, for now." 
The water was a little rough and the currents had stirred up more stuff to reduce visibility so it wasn't the best conditions today. 




More jellies on this visit.

Big sister, little sister, younger sister, older sister.  Family ships at the pier in CocoCay.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, these lights are new since my last visit.


LED lighting on the pier paves the way for late night stays on CocoCay.

They must be testing them.  Down the pier there are cones where a few more will go so they are a work in progress.

Day 3 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
Not much of a sunrise here early on the morning of day 3.

We join Navigator again today after leaving her last night in Nassau.


I spot a new addition to CocoCay.  Can you see them?

Definitely something new since my visit last week.

This view never gets old.

Café Latte-tudes menus


 

The nightly Diamond event is hosted in the front half of the Viking Crown Lounge where Vernon our Loyalty Ambassador is there to take great care of us from 4:30pm to 8pm.  Other bars also accept the three Diamond happy hour drinks loaded on SeaPass cards.  In the VCL cards are not swiped and the servers are quick to find you when you arrive.  They even remembered my drink from the night before.  Great service.

This became a great place for our sail away from Nassau on this formal night.  Can't visit Nassau without a lighthouse picture.

Flag of Nations today in the Centrum.



With confetti falling it was time for the U.S.A. to be represented.  

Captain Per addressed the crowd.

Is that $CAD or "real" money?  

Labadee?  What's that?  Is that a new private destination?  

We end up doing a Pub Crawl, Poker Run ...... All participants put in $5. At every bar, not only do you have a drink, you draw a card ...... at the last bar, you find out who has the best poker hand - that person wins the cash ..... I was fortunate enough to win two years ago w/ 3 Kings ... Nice .

You're amazing.. If I'm browsing through and see you've posted something it's a must view item..  Always positive.. Always beautiful pictures.. We're very fortunate you're a part of this group.  Thanks for your amazing talents and reviews. 
My first Royal cruise was on the Monarch,Majesty's sister ship,  for my honeymoon.. still love the old Viking Crown Lounge of the old style..  when everyone else would head for the Windjammer my wife and I headed there.  We sailed on the Majesty a year after honeymoon..  maybe the wife and I will again.

Keep an eye out for @CruisingKat(Kathy) she is also on board Allure this cruise (she co-runs the RC Periscopers Group).

On my way to my cabin after taking the stargazing pictures I came in off of deck 7 and saw...
So which way is the exit?  Maybe it's just me in my happy hour induced state that found this humorous.

Speaking of drinking, they're multiplying.  Jorge the GSM who followed me over from Empress sent me a bottle of wine.  Combined with the two from Crown and Anchor I've got a lot of drinking to do starting tomorrow, day 4 of a 5 night cruise.