LetsTryThisPlace

So on board now. Got in around 3:15 after running around doing last minute shopping (we do not shop much at home as its expensive). Only really took us 15/20 minutes to go through security and check in. It was pretty much empty as everyone was already on board. Did a scope and now waiting for muster drill to begin. Will check in later.

 
i will be checking probably later today or tomorrow :) they gave us a discount token and Sandra isn't wanting alcohol yet so will see how the day goes. Will post more 

So as a crazy day unwinds and I am getting ready for bed thought I would do a little pre-cruise update. Flew Southwest for the first time and must say I'm really impressed. I was a little sceptical of the whole boarding procedure but turned out alright. The plane was probably around 75-80% full and a lot of spaces between people. The landing was very hard however, and then you heard the captain come on the speakers with "opps" made everyone laugh. We finally ended up going to buffalo wild wings (one of my favs when we get away) thought I would start with some food pictures even if not from the cruise. I had wings with a mix of sweet BBQ sauce and spicy garlic sauce. I washed it down with an IPA the had advertised (not my most favorite IPA). My next post will be on the ship tomorrow (well technically later today).  

So on board now. Got in around 3:15 after running around doing last minute shopping (we do not shop much at home as its expensive). Only really took us 15/20 minutes to go through security and check in. It was pretty much empty as everyone was already on board. Did a scope and now waiting for muster drill to begin. Will check in later.

 
i will be checking probably later today or tomorrow :) they gave us a discount token and Sandra isn't wanting alcohol yet so will see how the day goes. Will post more 

So on board now. Got in around 3:15 after running around doing last minute shopping (we do not shop much at home as its expensive). Only really took us 15/20 minutes to go through security and check in. It was pretty much empty as everyone was already on board. Did a scope and now waiting for muster drill to begin. Will check in later.

 
i will be checking probably later today or tomorrow :) they gave us a discount token and Sandra isn't wanting alcohol yet so will see how the day goes. Will post more 

So on board now. Got in around 3:15 after running around doing last minute shopping (we do not shop much at home as its expensive). Only really took us 15/20 minutes to go through security and check in. It was pretty much empty as everyone was already on board. Did a scope and now waiting for muster drill to begin. Will check in later.

 
i will be checking probably later today or tomorrow :) they gave us a discount token and Sandra isn't wanting alcohol yet so will see how the day goes. Will post more 

So as a crazy day unwinds and I am getting ready for bed thought I would do a little pre-cruise update. Flew Southwest for the first time and must say I'm really impressed. I was a little sceptical of the whole boarding procedure but turned out alright. The plane was probably around 75-80% full and a lot of spaces between people. The landing was very hard however, and then you heard the captain come on the speakers with "opps" made everyone laugh. We finally ended up going to buffalo wild wings (one of my favs when we get away) thought I would start with some food pictures even if not from the cruise. I had wings with a mix of sweet BBQ sauce and spicy garlic sauce. I washed it down with an IPA the had advertised (not my most favorite IPA). My next post will be on the ship tomorrow (well technically later today).  

So as a crazy day unwinds and I am getting ready for bed thought I would do a little pre-cruise update. Flew Southwest for the first time and must say I'm really impressed. I was a little sceptical of the whole boarding procedure but turned out alright. The plane was probably around 75-80% full and a lot of spaces between people. The landing was very hard however, and then you heard the captain come on the speakers with "opps" made everyone laugh. We finally ended up going to buffalo wild wings (one of my favs when we get away) thought I would start with some food pictures even if not from the cruise. I had wings with a mix of sweet BBQ sauce and spicy garlic sauce. I washed it down with an IPA the had advertised (not my most favorite IPA). My next post will be on the ship tomorrow (well technically later today).  

So as a crazy day unwinds and I am getting ready for bed thought I would do a little pre-cruise update. Flew Southwest for the first time and must say I'm really impressed. I was a little sceptical of the whole boarding procedure but turned out alright. The plane was probably around 75-80% full and a lot of spaces between people. The landing was very hard however, and then you heard the captain come on the speakers with "opps" made everyone laugh. We finally ended up going to buffalo wild wings (one of my favs when we get away) thought I would start with some food pictures even if not from the cruise. I had wings with a mix of sweet BBQ sauce and spicy garlic sauce. I washed it down with an IPA the had advertised (not my most favorite IPA). My next post will be on the ship tomorrow (well technically later today).  

If you have sensitive skin like me do not use their soap.

I'm probably the only one to have any status and its only Gold so not sure if they would honour that. We don't tend to go to the same chains in regards to hotels and normally take our local airline carry (except now that Southwest is here  ). 

Joe knows more about Royal Caribbean than any other cruisevirgin I've ever known!   
 
props
 
 

With 2 days left...yeah, probably lol

Woohoo! Another $1000 off between 2 bookings!!  TA said the 3rd didn't go down but I might upgrade that one down the line anyway.

$19.95 for a 8x10

cruisecritic.com is also a good one too. But nothing compares to @Matt's resources 

cruisecritic.com is also a good one too. But nothing compares to @Matt's resources 

We are booked on Bellissima in May next year. We got upgraded to a balcony (according to deck plans) for about $1200 total.  I actually didn't pick it my wife did, and it was due to price and itinerary. It will be a brand new ship when we go. We are going in knowing it's going to be different but that's why we are going to the Mediterranean. She will be the Meraviglia's sister ship. 

IIRC from posts I saw here, about $20 for an 8x10.

We have wound up never buying the photo package. As a frequent cruiser, we get a "2nd picture half off" deal or something like that, which we almost always use. If I had a group of 4 or more in our travelling party, I'd consider this package. But for the wife and I, we use or phones for most of our photographic needs. (Note: I am imagining myself 20 years ago, hearing the phrase "we use or phones for most of our photographic needs" -- freak out) (2nd Note: On our just concluded cruise, they were training Chinese photographers on the ship. They always insisted on taking individual pictures of just me or just the wife. Does anyone ever buy those?) (Final note: here's an example of my poor photographic skills for your consideration and support or abuse)

My approach to Maho Beach

cruisecritic.com is also a good one too. But nothing compares to @Matt's resources 

We went with Fantastica. It was only a few dollars more but doing the math would have saved a lot. There was no Aurea available when we were booking and could not afford the YC. We are doing it as a group cruise with the family and one of our other rooms was $200 more for an extra adult. My parents were also pricing another room and it was going to be more until they added it to our reservation. So they seem to definitely reward bringing a group. So @SFLcruiser if you do go with the family make sure to call it in (I dealt with Travelocity who have been great to me) and you may get an even better price for each additional room you reserve.

I can recommend my agent Heather, from site sponsor MEI Travel. She's good about returning calls emails quickly. Private message me here and I can give you her contact info.
You don't want to just cancel the cruise, that will incur the penalty. You need to call and speak directly, or ideally let Heather or whichever agent you choose take care of that headache for you. In the conversation with RCI, the goal is get a cancel with immediate rebook so the penalty doesn't apply. I don't how that really works under the hood or if there's a special set of words you have to use to make it work that way.Yet another reason to let the TA make those calls and deal with those hassles.  

Here is some good drone footage showing several of the beaches in St Maarten. The video is only a few months old so it should give you a pretty good idea of how they have recovered so far. 

Day 2 Dinner, 1st Formal Night
Menus are in the Diamond Lounge so I went up for a sneak peak.

I've got two hours to decide.  Thinking about a shrimp cocktail, Duck or Pork and I'm not sure about dessert.  Feeling the pounds coming on faster than I am walking them off.  Might just do some no sugar ice cream or skip dessert.