twangster

@rjac has offered his services as a magic genie.  Might not be the same as a Royal Genie though and you have to put up with him sleeping on your cabin floor.

Yep.  Picked Delta, got the confirmation number, entered into my Delta account and got my free upgrade to Comfort +.  

Looks like Adventure in May is using the new check in process where you upload your photo and SeaPass cards are outside your stateroom.  Bet she will be added to the new app soon too.

Discussing medical issues with guests introduces HIPPA laws and compliance.  The real issue here is social media.  Someone figures out they can claim medical or something else and get around the policy then social media explodes with "how to circumvent the drink policy".  No company can ask for proof of medical or dig into medical details without running into HIPPA, so they are left with little choice.  The same people that created this issue by sharing the drink package are the same ones doing everything they can to circumvent the policy and cheat.  That leaves Royal with few options.  Requiring the Replenish package is a compromise.
RCI simply fell in line with NCL and Carnival who has had this policy for years.    It's hard to single out RCI and claim they are being outrageous with this policy when the other cruise lines always have had the same policy.  
My diamond status is irrelevant to the issue but honestly since achieving diamond I haven't felt inclined to buy the drink package.  A beer and frozen something each day comes to around $20.  Free drinks during diamond happy hour plus a couple drinks during the day is like having a drink package that cost $20 per day. 
On 12 night cruises I never did the drink package before making diamond - drink fatigue kicks in around day 7 for me.  Many days I only drink in the evenings so diamond happy hour is a game changer.  On a recent 9 night cruise even the diamond happy hour started into drink fatigue territory towards the end.

For use in the US there is FreedomPop.  You buy the device and it comes with a basic plan for free each month with options to buy more or faster data in months you need it.  It's a portable hotspot, although I think they have a SIM only option.  No Caribbean coverage though.
I used to have Project Fi which is how I ended up with a Nexus5X.  No Caribbean coverage.
TMobile works well for me.  Verizon sucks out west and TMobile has better coverage.  I get free wifi when flying and 256kbps data in the Caribbean.  256k isn't enough to scope but it does fine for using maps, searching for places and staying in touch.   It's included so free is good.
Walmart's StraightTalk service is another option to consider.  They now have a $35 per month plan that gives 2G of LTE data, slows down after that.  You just buy for the months you need it.  StraightTalk uses different carriers.  The SIM based options use AT&T or TMobile.  Like most pre-paid services no Caribbean coverage. 

How DARE you! 
I'm actually going to try Sorrentos again when I'm on the Allure next month.  For science.  I cannot fathom how anyone could find what I had on the Majesty remotely decent, no matter how much the drink package has been utilized.  I'm really curious if it's any better on other ships.

Work completed on schedule and all is well.  Allure has been sailing her scheduled itineraries since.   

And here I was looking forward to reliving that thread.

Liberty 2-25-18

At midnight after exercising a drink package it's pretty good!
Pizza, or any food is very subjective.  Some people like a thick crust, some people like a thin crust.  No pizza on any ship is going to satisfy pizza connoisseurs everywhere.
It's better than Costco pizza, but that too is an opinion.  Someone else may love Costco pizza.

Liberty 2-25-18

Navigator has often done the 9 night ABC run from FL but it looks like she is stuck doing 3/4 night cruises in 2019.  

You have to be Diamond C&A.  Sorry @rjac.

Liberty 2/25.
Water slides called my name, I answered.

Liberty 2/25.
Water slides called my name, I answered.

At midnight after exercising a drink package it's pretty good!
Pizza, or any food is very subjective.  Some people like a thick crust, some people like a thin crust.  No pizza on any ship is going to satisfy pizza connoisseurs everywhere.
It's better than Costco pizza, but that too is an opinion.  Someone else may love Costco pizza.

Awesome price.  Yeah for that price I'd be hard pressed to let it go.  

According to the Captain of the Indy:  "A ship has a Captain, a boat has an unhappy husband".  

I stayed on the ship today and that decision would pay dividends for me.  In my last live blog I talked about a venue that is unique to Quantum class ships - Two70°. 
Here is the Two70° venue on Anthem of the Seas during its first ever visit to the Port of Miami with Miami as a backdrop:

With Royal Caribbean's Headquarters right here they took an opportunity to introduce this Quantum class ship to many HQ employees and local travel agents who may not have had an opportunity to set foot on board one before since the other two in this class, Quantum and Ovation, are not based in North America.   Walking around the ship I saw numerous employees taking it all in.  Just before noon our cruise director announced that none other than Nick Weir would be doing a presentation in Two70° and guests were welcome to attend.  
For those that don't know Nick Weir, he is the Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean.  If you've seen a show on a Royal ship lately, you've likely experienced the work of Nick Weir and his team.  I follow him on twitter @NickWeirShowbiz where he occasionally leaks tidbits about the new entertainment coming to Symphony of the Seas.  For those that saw Project Atlantis, the RCTV production about the last time Allure went to the Freeport dry dock - that was Nick Weir hosting it.
Walking into Two70° today the room was rotating through some background scenes.  The room was filling up, my daily KümmelWeck from Café270 would have to wait. 



Have you noticed how the color of the house lights change based on the content that is being displayed?  Also note this was at noon during full daylight outside.  Consider my first photo above and how this room has transformed since, in the middle of the day.  Cool stuff here.
Nick took the stage and began his presentation.



Today Nick would be showcasing the incredible Two70° venue to an audience that consisted mostly of Miami employees and local agents - there were only a handful of ship guests other than myself in attendance.  The room cost an estimated $27M per ship plus the cost of content.  He discussed not only the evolution of these Quantum class rooms but the need to create content for them.  With eighteen individual projectors synchronized to produce the 'Vista Display' as it's called, it amounts to a 12k screen with a 5:1 aspect ratio (if you thought 4k was impressive, ha!).  The problem is no one has content for this screen size or resolution so Royal Caribbean Entertainment had to create it from scratch.        

During Top Tier events I've seen the virtual fleet presented before.  Nick explained this was created for a Royal Caribbean Board of Directors meeting that took place on Ovation a few years ago.  Since it was such a hit, they have kept using it and made it part of the Crown and Anchor Society Top Tier event.

During the presentation more and more of the fleet, old and new are brought to life on the screen sailing virtually behind us. 

Nick stepped us through various pieces that were produced for this venue some of which simply don't photograph well since they combine both the Vista Display and six robotic screens that move and are choreographed with content on the Vista Display and each other.
One piece that stands out is called 'Dance In A Box'.

They literally made two boxes the size of two robot screens and recorded dancers in a studio constrained to dance within those dimensions.  The robot screens move and rotate, separate and come together in three dimensions all choreographed to music.  This had never been done before.  It's one thing to make a robot that can build a car on an assembly line but Nick explained frankly it's quite boring watching a robot repeat the same move over and over all day long.  They needed to make the robotic screens performers themselves and that is what they have done. 

I've seen many of these productions before on previous Anthem cruises but hearing their origins and how Nick and his team produced them brought new respect for each show.
I'm really not doing the entire presentation justice in this blog.  It's something you have to experience which is the magic of this room.  It's not just a video played on a big screen, it's the manner in which the technology of the room is used to immerse the audience into the production.  In the interest of brevity I'm skipping several pieces of great entertainment but Nick brought it to a close with a virtual fireworks show his team created for New Years Eve one year that was so popular they play it on all Quantum class cruises now.  Watch your cruise compass for it when you sail on one.

 
Our Miami visitors had a lunch to get to in the dining room so the few guests like myself that attended then saw the virtual symphony orchestra on the Vista Display.

I had an opportunity to meet Nick after the event and talk briefly with him.  Nick if you ever read this, I decided to spare you from displaying how you showcased the rotating stage using yourself as a prop in the process.  Well done sir!

It's all good!   
FWIW if you change IP addresses you can give more reactions.  Turning off wifi on a phone and using cellular for example. 

Day 5 - Miami
This will mark the first time Anthem of the Seas will have ever been to Miami and an inaugural visit of a ship is a big deal.  Somewhere on the ship, often in the bridge or elsewhere you will find plaques presented to the bridge crew whenever a ship makes a port for the very first time.  I suspect a new plaque was presented to the Captain today.
The day started out early for me and I made my way to a bridge wing way to catch the early signs or a sunrise.  


We were still beyond the 12 mile territorial limit at this point as we slowly made our way to intercept the navigational path into the Port of Miami.

They raised North Star to it's highest position which I later learned holds a Guinness Book of World Records as the highest viewing deck of any ship. 

It was empty and would remain here for the rest of our arrival into Miami.

The weather wasn't the best but it began to clear as we moved closer to the channel and picked up our pilot.
What isn't obvious in these photos is the distinct channel that leads to the mouth of the Port.  It isn't very wide and the Captain did a perfect job keeping us in the center all the way.

We passed the new Royal Caribbean Miami terminal that is under construction.  This will be eventually become the home for Symphony of the Seas. 


Several crew came out to the fore deck to take in this special occasion. 

Miami is home to Royal Caribbean's headquarters and it isn't far from the terminals.


Towards the end of this channel is a turning basin which barely looks big enough for a ship this size.

Our Captain made it look easy and with our turn complete we were pointing 180° back in the direction we came from.

Our terminal for today is located directly adjacent to the Royal Caribbean HQ building.

Our bridge crew slowly nudged us to the pier and with that the first visit of Anthem of the Seas to Miami was officially in the books.


Apparently along the way a water cannon salute was accomplished according to our Activities Director however I missed it.
A news helicopter did a fly past and we made the local CBS news:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/video/category/spoken-word-wfortv/3797274-cruise-capital-of-the-world-gets-glimpse-of-anthem-of-the-seas/

According to the Captain of the Indy:  "A ship has a Captain, a boat has an unhappy husband".  

Are you looking for another Caribbean cruise? 
How flexible are you with respect to vacation dates?  Certain times of the year are less expensive even on bigger and newer ships.  
Is Miami the best departure port or would other ports be a consideration?
There are many experienced cruisers here on this site but this is a perfect example of when a good travel agency can be a wonderful resource to assist in booking your next cruise.
This site is sponsored by just such a travel agency,  MEI Travel. 
On the main page https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/ you will see a yellow section on the right where you can submit your details to them and they will contact you.  Or visit https://mei-travel.com/home?apid=RCL .

 

According to the Captain of the Indy:  "A ship has a Captain, a boat has an unhappy husband".  

According to the Captain of the Indy:  "A ship has a Captain, a boat has an unhappy husband".