Traveler

Thanks , yes we are going on the Spectrum of the seas at October , it's should be a very different experience but I believe a nice one.

I'm really enjoying this blog! Plus, I see you're on Spectrum a couple of months before me so I expect many of my questions will be answered, if you're planning to blog that one too! ? 

We just came back from the show , it is different , the stage is always down during the show which mean zero dancing sequence and more acrobatics and high jump acts. The show was around 35 minutes , I think it still a very nice show.

 

Day 1 Barcelona ,
As always on a cruise day I got up  around 6 am just to realize that I am going to loose this time the endless battle of “should we go to the port early as possible or not”. My spouse was so tired , the fact she just came back from a business trip to  the US did not helped. Know  to recognize a lost battle I also went back to sleep (hey if you can not beat then join them and if you can not join them then run but I do not have this option anymore ? ) @Matt any good advice how to handle it ? . Around 9:30 PM we went down to eat breakfast , took our time there  and checked out around 10:45.
15 minutes after and 23 Euros we arrived the port , no traffic at all even inside the port. There were some lines to drop the luggage as many people missed to add the tags , but it was not more than 5 minutes. Only two lines for security were established , Diamond and above and all the rest , but no queues at all. Check in was separated to regular , gold , Platinum and above + the key . Check in took 5 minutes , 4 of them as I wanted to switch my CC  I used for online check in with another. All in all it took us around 10 minutes to complete all the process and get onto the ship , Love Barcelona port , everything simple. They offer some “champagne” on deck 5, we took our internet password and went to seat at park café for a light snack,

the next station was the WJ as no boarding day can complete without visit to the WJ, interesting , it was quite empty for 12:30 PM ,  maybe since many people are coming from Europe they were flying the same day (very bad advice) the WJ food was the same old lunch food.


We went to visit the diamond club , first time for us as we just got our diamond status, we tried the coffee and took some pictures which I shared yesterday , but that time the rooms were ready so we could drop our carryon. Our luggage arrive 5 minutes after, guess the tip helped (or at least I want to think like that so I can tell some people “told you so” ? ). It took me some time searching for the walking in closet to drop the suitcase just to realize I am not in a JS this time ☹ we are in a boardwalk balcony room  ,very near the back of the ship with wonderful view of the aqua theater , the plus is the Soda package that comes with the room (yes also free meal at JR but have not decided yet if it is a plus or not)

After we finish unpacking we went to do the usual tour at the different neighborhoods , although the ship  is few month before its refurb it really good maintained and not showing her age (well I am sure if I will look very hard I will find something to complain about but hey , its not that site ?)
It already 5 PM so we said we will go and check the diamond club happy hour , the club was not full at all , the second floor was empty and there were many available tables including the ones adjusting to the big window. We took some drinks and tip whenever we got them which made the drink stronger after the second time , or at least that’s what we felt. The club continued to be empty , that’s the advantage in a  non US cruises (yap , the biggest one , not the ports right ?) here is the list of the drinks , not sure it changed or not but I will put it here anyway.



The next station was the casino were I went to get my sticker for the free drinks , for some reason its not printed on the card automatically , well it was expensive sticker . Between the diamond drinks, the casino “free” drinks and the port intensive itinerary we thought we done good not to take the drinking package.
As we booked the cruise only few weeks ago the only available seating was 8:30 PM which mean we can not use the diamond drinks there (by the way in the letter we got it says you can use them in the MDR during happy hour) so we went to one of the bars at 8:25 took glasses of wine and went to eat. The food was Ok , some better some less , we took the onion tart (too eggy for me), the BBQ ribs (very good) and the Salmon, oh we took also the Waldorf salad which was mehhh (there was one tiny piece of apple in it) , I guess first day MDR stuff. I am missing the CK , maybe if I will go up and tell them I am a follower of @Lovetocruise2002blogs they will give us to enter for one night ?

As the dinner was late we missed cats , although I am a cat person (ask my neighbors  they will tell you ) I was not that sad for missing it. We went up to rest for a while and continued to the balloon drop party which was as always nice ,
Tomorrow early day at Mallorca .
 
 
 
 

Congratulations on achieving Diamond!  

We just came back from the show , it is different , the stage is always down during the show which mean zero dancing sequence and more acrobatics and high jump acts. The show was around 35 minutes , I think it still a very nice show.

 

We just came back from the show , it is different , the stage is always down during the show which mean zero dancing sequence and more acrobatics and high jump acts. The show was around 35 minutes , I think it still a very nice show.

 

We just came back from the show , it is different , the stage is always down during the show which mean zero dancing sequence and more acrobatics and high jump acts. The show was around 35 minutes , I think it still a very nice show.

 

OK, so we made it to port of Miami before noon. Porter right there to get luggage though a lot of people around. He directed us to wheelchairs across the street but when asked he called for one to come get us. That was great  the pusher knew exactly where to take us, checked in our documents, took us through security then turned us over to a royal caribbean pusher. Left before I could tip. Obviously need to tip immediately if I want to make sure they get them.  The royal caribbean pusher, whose name I didn't catch asked where we wanted to stay and wait for room to open at 1. We picked Windjammer so he took us up, a little bit of elevator waiting. He knew all the backways to get us there quickly and wasn't afraid to shave people out of the way. He got us to a table, said we could put wheelchair in hall when we got to stateroom and went on. I was able to tip him. Windjammer is OK to get around in with wheelchair as long as you pay attention. The tile floor is significantly easier than the carpet, though. Quit a few places on ship where you need to go backwards to clear thresholds. Met my friends, waited around and then went to stateroom a few minutes early on chance it was ready. I think we freaked steward out a little but he was just bringing in chocolate covered strawberries for us. Nice accessible room which ill take and post pictures of.  Voom instructions in room, easy to setup. 
Special needs at sea had already delivered rented wheelchair and 2 oxygen concentrators, not sure why 2.there is also a small fridge for medication and a sharps container though I did not request those, and a gallon of distilled water which I did request. The TV is playing the safety drill spy adventure. Have cruise compass and shore excursion book to post when I get home. 
So all in all it went pretty well. Dave is significantly more tired and weak today so that complicated things a bit. In real life we never plan back to back activities
I'll post some  pictures later. 

Aerosmith tribute band was not bad ... little loud for the space.  Lighting was all blue thus the pictures little funny
 

Day 1 Barcelona ,
As always on a cruise day I got up  around 6 am just to realize that I am going to loose this time the endless battle of “should we go to the port early as possible or not”. My spouse was so tired , the fact she just came back from a business trip to  the US did not helped. Know  to recognize a lost battle I also went back to sleep (hey if you can not beat then join them and if you can not join them then run but I do not have this option anymore ? ) @Matt any good advice how to handle it ? . Around 9:30 PM we went down to eat breakfast , took our time there  and checked out around 10:45.
15 minutes after and 23 Euros we arrived the port , no traffic at all even inside the port. There were some lines to drop the luggage as many people missed to add the tags , but it was not more than 5 minutes. Only two lines for security were established , Diamond and above and all the rest , but no queues at all. Check in was separated to regular , gold , Platinum and above + the key . Check in took 5 minutes , 4 of them as I wanted to switch my CC  I used for online check in with another. All in all it took us around 10 minutes to complete all the process and get onto the ship , Love Barcelona port , everything simple. They offer some “champagne” on deck 5, we took our internet password and went to seat at park café for a light snack,

the next station was the WJ as no boarding day can complete without visit to the WJ, interesting , it was quite empty for 12:30 PM ,  maybe since many people are coming from Europe they were flying the same day (very bad advice) the WJ food was the same old lunch food.


We went to visit the diamond club , first time for us as we just got our diamond status, we tried the coffee and took some pictures which I shared yesterday , but that time the rooms were ready so we could drop our carryon. Our luggage arrive 5 minutes after, guess the tip helped (or at least I want to think like that so I can tell some people “told you so” ? ). It took me some time searching for the walking in closet to drop the suitcase just to realize I am not in a JS this time ☹ we are in a boardwalk balcony room  ,very near the back of the ship with wonderful view of the aqua theater , the plus is the Soda package that comes with the room (yes also free meal at JR but have not decided yet if it is a plus or not)

After we finish unpacking we went to do the usual tour at the different neighborhoods , although the ship  is few month before its refurb it really good maintained and not showing her age (well I am sure if I will look very hard I will find something to complain about but hey , its not that site ?)
It already 5 PM so we said we will go and check the diamond club happy hour , the club was not full at all , the second floor was empty and there were many available tables including the ones adjusting to the big window. We took some drinks and tip whenever we got them which made the drink stronger after the second time , or at least that’s what we felt. The club continued to be empty , that’s the advantage in a  non US cruises (yap , the biggest one , not the ports right ?) here is the list of the drinks , not sure it changed or not but I will put it here anyway.



The next station was the casino were I went to get my sticker for the free drinks , for some reason its not printed on the card automatically , well it was expensive sticker . Between the diamond drinks, the casino “free” drinks and the port intensive itinerary we thought we done good not to take the drinking package.
As we booked the cruise only few weeks ago the only available seating was 8:30 PM which mean we can not use the diamond drinks there (by the way in the letter we got it says you can use them in the MDR during happy hour) so we went to one of the bars at 8:25 took glasses of wine and went to eat. The food was Ok , some better some less , we took the onion tart (too eggy for me), the BBQ ribs (very good) and the Salmon, oh we took also the Waldorf salad which was mehhh (there was one tiny piece of apple in it) , I guess first day MDR stuff. I am missing the CK , maybe if I will go up and tell them I am a follower of @Lovetocruise2002blogs they will give us to enter for one night ?

As the dinner was late we missed cats , although I am a cat person (ask my neighbors  they will tell you ) I was not that sad for missing it. We went up to rest for a while and continued to the balloon drop party which was as always nice ,
Tomorrow early day at Mallorca .
 
 
 
 

Day 1 Barcelona ,
As always on a cruise day I got up  around 6 am just to realize that I am going to loose this time the endless battle of “should we go to the port early as possible or not”. My spouse was so tired , the fact she just came back from a business trip to  the US did not helped. Know  to recognize a lost battle I also went back to sleep (hey if you can not beat then join them and if you can not join them then run but I do not have this option anymore ? ) @Matt any good advice how to handle it ? . Around 9:30 PM we went down to eat breakfast , took our time there  and checked out around 10:45.
15 minutes after and 23 Euros we arrived the port , no traffic at all even inside the port. There were some lines to drop the luggage as many people missed to add the tags , but it was not more than 5 minutes. Only two lines for security were established , Diamond and above and all the rest , but no queues at all. Check in was separated to regular , gold , Platinum and above + the key . Check in took 5 minutes , 4 of them as I wanted to switch my CC  I used for online check in with another. All in all it took us around 10 minutes to complete all the process and get onto the ship , Love Barcelona port , everything simple. They offer some “champagne” on deck 5, we took our internet password and went to seat at park café for a light snack,

the next station was the WJ as no boarding day can complete without visit to the WJ, interesting , it was quite empty for 12:30 PM ,  maybe since many people are coming from Europe they were flying the same day (very bad advice) the WJ food was the same old lunch food.


We went to visit the diamond club , first time for us as we just got our diamond status, we tried the coffee and took some pictures which I shared yesterday , but that time the rooms were ready so we could drop our carryon. Our luggage arrive 5 minutes after, guess the tip helped (or at least I want to think like that so I can tell some people “told you so” ? ). It took me some time searching for the walking in closet to drop the suitcase just to realize I am not in a JS this time ☹ we are in a boardwalk balcony room  ,very near the back of the ship with wonderful view of the aqua theater , the plus is the Soda package that comes with the room (yes also free meal at JR but have not decided yet if it is a plus or not)

After we finish unpacking we went to do the usual tour at the different neighborhoods , although the ship  is few month before its refurb it really good maintained and not showing her age (well I am sure if I will look very hard I will find something to complain about but hey , its not that site ?)
It already 5 PM so we said we will go and check the diamond club happy hour , the club was not full at all , the second floor was empty and there were many available tables including the ones adjusting to the big window. We took some drinks and tip whenever we got them which made the drink stronger after the second time , or at least that’s what we felt. The club continued to be empty , that’s the advantage in a  non US cruises (yap , the biggest one , not the ports right ?) here is the list of the drinks , not sure it changed or not but I will put it here anyway.



The next station was the casino were I went to get my sticker for the free drinks , for some reason its not printed on the card automatically , well it was expensive sticker . Between the diamond drinks, the casino “free” drinks and the port intensive itinerary we thought we done good not to take the drinking package.
As we booked the cruise only few weeks ago the only available seating was 8:30 PM which mean we can not use the diamond drinks there (by the way in the letter we got it says you can use them in the MDR during happy hour) so we went to one of the bars at 8:25 took glasses of wine and went to eat. The food was Ok , some better some less , we took the onion tart (too eggy for me), the BBQ ribs (very good) and the Salmon, oh we took also the Waldorf salad which was mehhh (there was one tiny piece of apple in it) , I guess first day MDR stuff. I am missing the CK , maybe if I will go up and tell them I am a follower of @Lovetocruise2002blogs they will give us to enter for one night ?

As the dinner was late we missed cats , although I am a cat person (ask my neighbors  they will tell you ) I was not that sad for missing it. We went up to rest for a while and continued to the balloon drop party which was as always nice ,
Tomorrow early day at Mallorca .
 
 
 
 

The Aqua theater looks fine , no real signs for the incident

And here we start another cruise

It look as we have a religious group on the ship this cruise, there is some blockchain convention ? , the group will be here until we get to Rome

So , how can I describe this day, easy going I guess, 
We started the day very early around 2:30 AM catching a taxi to the airport for our 4:30 am flight, I hate the early morning fights as they kill the night before and most of the day but again that was half price of taken the direct flight the day before. lucky for us the flight was not that full and we had enough space to catch some sleep (although it is flight sleep which is never enough). We arrive around 8:30 AM to Brussels which left us 9:30 hour until the flight to Barcelona . after a quick check we found out it will be too expensive to catch the earlier flight. The weather was quite cold and very windy so we decided no to catch a train  to downtown and spend the rest of the time at the lounge. So we went to sleep in one of the  private rooms they offered after eaten a quick breakfast .  the lounge is very impressive I might say  , many places to reset, many wireless charging points and decent food.
 
And yes this car is from chocolate
 
We also found the massage chairs , my spouse kept re starting the massage session (the lounge was empty so no queues to use the chairs) I think she mostly  loved  the fact it never tried to sell her any products at  the end of the massage session nor try to convince her she must sign for another treatment ? 
.
The down side is  that now I need to find out how much the chair cost and if it will fit our apartment. Time went by and we went to catch the next flight (not before we bought some chocolates , hey after all we are in Brussels)  . Two hour later we landed and went to the hotel (the Hilton this time ) , taxi cost around 30 Euros ,  the hotel is nice and the rooms are just big enough.

To make sure  I will have something to report on and to do something else in Barcelona beside sleeping we decide to go to a restaurant , quick check in the app (The fork)  ,we found a near by resto bar which looked nice.
The restaurant was very good , perfect ambient and just good food (which was also cheap with the app 40%) Two first course  (carpaccio and a warm cheese salad) and two main course (Tuna stake and risotto) + two glass of the house wine was around 33 $.

Now its time to catch some sleep for the big embarkation day tomorrow   

We did it , just landed in Barcelona, although too late for quick supermarket run but at least no worries about missing the ship due to flight issues ? we'll just one more day.

Plan B did not work either , they offer us to take the earlier flight but wanted 500 Euro which is more and less what we paid for the return ticket for both of us , we kindly refuse and went to the lounge yo eat breakfast and decide what to do. We can stay here for 8 hours, catch some sleep (they have private rooms with beds , very comfortable) or to leave our stuff in the lockers and catch a train to the city for some Belgian fries ? only issue is the cold  weather . We will see how it will go (I am voting for team go sleeping ?
 

Raphsody is a nice ship although it's not a big one , the service on this ship is o e of the best we ever experience. We actually plan another cruise with Rhapsody at August.
The Casino is OK yo have enough tables and machines (some are new) and it usually was not too crowded.
Enjoy the cruise

If flights are planned good they are bearable , most of the flights to Europe will be afternoon/night flights , they will arrive early morning so make sure you have an early check in option in the hotel , that for sure can help.
Regarding the 6 ports , some are short like Palama some are long like Florence and Rome. Do not try to do everything ? Capri is very nice , I would not miss it. . 

We're doing a Med cruise next May and I can't wait!  Our youngest is currently traveling through Italy on a study abroad and the pictures he is sending back are amazing. We are doing a round trip from Barcelona.  Hoping our flights are not too bad, as there are four of us going.  We have the same ports as you.  Will be weird to have six ports in a row but we'll use that last sea day to sleep and recuperate after all that walking. 
I'm looking forward to your daily reports to put into my notes!  Our son was in Florence & Rome for about four days each, so hoping he will assist in what to do/where to go for each.  They spent an afternoon touring Naples in transit to Sorrento, and he wasn't impressed but loved the day they spent in Capri, so pretty sure that's where we'll head in that port.  But I know nothing about the first two stops.  
May 2020 is wayyyyy too far away!  Looking forward to following along! 

7 day cruise life cycle
Day 1 

Day 8

The Aqua theater looks fine , no real signs for the incident

Time arrived , another half YOLO cruise will start soon , YOLO since we booked it only at April. This is the 5th time we are doing the same cruise (Two times on Symphony, one time on  Harmony and one time on Liberty) but there are always something new to do in each one of the Med ports
Here is our plans :
Day -1 – Barcelona/ Brussels  - our flight is planned via brussels as it was the cheapest option , the only issue is  that it comes with a very long stopover, the plan is to try and take an earlier fight from brussels , if not we will take the train to the city and eat fresh fries and maybe some famous Belgium chocolates.
Day 1 – Barcelona.
Day 2 – Palma de Mallorca, we have some excursion planned to the north part of the island.
Day 3 -  Marseilles , take the buss to the city and walkaround  until I will  need to catch a conference call , work related (the things I am doing to be able and cruise more).
Day 4 - Florence/Pisa (La Spezia) – I might have something special for this port , a trip to Milan airport to retrieve what I left there yesterday , more about it later.
Day 5 –Rome (Civitavecchia) – I booked a train trip to Rome , directly with the railway company , ¼ of the price the ship offers , to be on the safe side we are planning to catch the 4 PM train back  which should bring us 3 hours before all aboard.
Day 6-  Naples (Capri) – No plans yet , we might take the bicycle tour if the weather will be nice or  rent a car or just go off the ship and tour the city.
Day 7 – be sad the cruise is over maybe overcome it with the Chef table.
Day 8 – catch a 9:30 am flight back home (yes , we are walking over the edge this) time  , still trying to see if I can find a direct flight in a decent price , if not it will be a very early day for us.
 
As you can see we are traveling a day before the cruise and leaving on the same day coming back , I wanted to add at least one more day in Barcelona but I just could not make it happened, this time  its really hard to navigate between work and vacation.
So, why I consider to drive to Milan during the cruise ? , very simple , I was on a business trip few days ago, making sure I will be back on time for the cruise (meaning running away one day earlier than usual). I went to the airport , passed check in , security and border control enough time ahead to seat and relax in the airline lounge. I was drifted away working , trying to complete some tasks so I will have less things on my mind during the vacation when I heard the call for boarding. I packed very quickly, boarded the aircraft, went to my seat  then  reaching for my cellphone just to realize its gone, TA, TA , TA (dramatic music please) , my worst nightmare (naa , not really , my rea nightmare  is to be late boarding RCL cruise ship ?). Quickly I went to the front of the aircraft (was not upgraded this time  , poor me) to notify the flight attended about the crises , she escorted me back to the gate , passing some un happy security people , were one of the ground team went to try and find my cellphone in the lounge. After five minutes I asked if I can go by myself , apparently it was Ok , went to the lounge just to hear that they did found it , but they were supper efficient and sent it to the lost and found …. , yes this is the first time they were really efficient. Now I had two options, one go out and fetch the cellphone from the lost and found , but it means I will need to do security and boarder control again, in other words I will loose my flight, which can risk the cruise … I had chosen   the other option , leave my communication center , my camera , my VPN  authentication device , my two phone numbers (the local one and the roaming T Mobile which is very useful for cruises) , my restaurant guide , my taxi  and many other things , amazing how much of our lives is relying on one device.
I did run back to the aircraft as they were waiting just for me. So here I was seating at  my chair doing plans how to recover from the situation in the day or two I still had before the cruise. We landed at early morning and after a short taxi ride I was back home , finding that beside the cellphone I left behind also my keys … ops, lucky for me I have spare keys, what a ride .
 
To be continued , need to pack ?
For now , here is some last minute Caprese salad   I prepared today to get ready for the trip
 
 
 
 

BREAKING NEWS! We interrupt your obsessive reading about cruises to bring you this important report. We are no longer in “Guarantee” limbo.  We have been assigned a spacious ocean view balcony on desk 8 starboard rear. More news as it becomes available.
We now take you back to your regular cruise programming.

Have a great cruise! Love all of those ports!