LetsTryThisPlace

i've been watching flights from JFK to San Juan for nov, prices go up and down more often than a prostitutes underwear 

I've seen a lot of really great deals for September and October.  I'm guessing that last fall's horrific weather is partially (primarily ??) the cause.  That time of the year there's a risk.  No doubt about it...but there can also be some great deals.  It all comes down to the level of risk you are willing to endure.

Ya Travelocity was a better deal than Royal direct as Royal wasn't giving obc but they were so right there was better. Add the cash back from ebates, it ends up being a no-brainer. I use them for everything anyways and their customer service is the best. I have had to deal with RCL by phone and they are terrible where are Travelocity will even call on your behalf and is a much better experience in my opinion. So I rather use one of the major online agents then go direct. I have never received a better price direct (with the exceptions of companies that don't appear in these searches like southwest or a members-only discount). Places like these find incentives for you to book through them and in many cases have extras like OBC or better deposit rates or other benefits like working with ebates to get you money back. 

Day 9 - Sea Day
Yesterday the Captain explained that we would sail into calmer seas today and we have.  Near flat out there today just off Virginia Beach.

No motion issues experienced so far.  Even after leaving Nassau yesterday in small seas there was little motion felt.
Cool today, not many on the open pool deck.  Most everyone is in the indoor pool area or 16+ solarium.

Here were the weather conditions as we pulled out of Nassau:

This was supposed to be our CocoCay day. 
Watching the pilot getting off the ship displayed how bad it was.  The ship turned to provide shelter to the pilot boat as the pilot got off.  Even with that the pilot boat was bobbing up and down quite violently.  As soon as the pilot was off we turned back on course.  
They have to consider everyone in such tendering conditions.  From 3 years old to 93 years old.  Trying to board a bobbing tender plunging up and down might be doable for healthy, physically fit 20-30 year olds but not so much for kids or elderly.    Someone would likely get injured or fall in the water.  It's just not worth the risk so they err on the side of caution, at least until June when the pier will be complete.
The Captain made the right call, safety first so no regrets.

Well now we know why you have no problem eating your fill every day: All those miles walked getting every shot, from every angle, of every station and bar and stage and nook and cranny. And that’s just on the ship!
The sheer effort you put into this amazes and leaves me awestruck every time. And you’re on vacation! Clearly this is no chore or job for you, it’s simple enjoyment and fun.
Mille grazie!!

I haven't showered for the whole cruise...

Sweet dreams, because here comes Windjammer dinner photos.
Formal night tonight, decided to eat in the Windjammer for a change.
Full disclosure - I've missed some food.  There are too many food stations to capture it all so I've tried to capture the popular ones.


































I think that stick is supposed to represent North Star however objects in photos may appear larger than they are.

I agree.  I would not mind at all if I could not pick up my own food at the buffets.  I find in recent years, I have preferred the MDR instead for this exact reason.  However, the rest of my family still prefers the buffets so there's no avoiding it.

This is as laughable as paying for the cup cake decorating class...or the MDR cookbook.
Looks like our sailings on the Allure have the 'free' option and the insider 'watch your wallet' version of Mama Mia!. Unfortunately...I am being forced to go...only because my wife is a massive ABBA fan. Will need to bring my sunglasses so she can't see my eyes closed whilst napping. 

Yes, I did.  This is waaaytooo expensive for JR.  I will continue to eat their free breakfast on the O class but will not be enjoying the other meals at that price.  Even premium hamburger joints on land do not charge $20+ for a burger meal.  Push, push, push.  That's all they know

Some lines do this already.  I have heard from others that Holland America does...

you are correct in that we spend a lot of hard earned money to go on vacation, but i wonder what those who complain would do if they came down with a slight cough or runny nose?
would they
A.... cancel trip as their slight sniffle may infect all others?
B...if already on ship quarantine themselves therefor missing out on all the entertainment and various ports?
or C...  pop a few pills and get on with it simply because they have paid for a vacation and a slight cough, sniffle or runny nose isn't going to stop them even though the infection could worsen and infect others?
my monies on the C, 

personally i think you would sail in anything lol i await your live blog from inside a submarine  

Jane,
We did sting ray city years ago, but not in Grand Cayman. There were a lot of people there but that didn't matter to the rays. The rays stayed very close to the locals, who work for the excursion, that have the food buckets! If you're adventurous ask them if you can feed a sting ray, quite exciting. The big rays (females) are pretty reckless swimming around and they will run into you, push you out of the way, etc. (gently though) to get to the food guys. Enjoy!

Thanks! Might have to take you up on your offer.  Considering a week in Grand Cayman in August.  It’s the most beautiful island in the Carribean that I have visited so far.  

If anyone is visiting Grand Cayman and wants to know, where to eat, what to do, the better beaches. I am here for you as I #livewhereyouvisit lol. I can recommend some places for the best bang for your buck. So if you're not sure what to do yet or just plan to try something local I should be able to recommend a few things :).

The hallway and those two inside cabins will buffer most sound from the gym.  I'd sail in one of these cabins.  Besides they will be brand new.  Nothing like a new cabin.

Indeed schools in some states are closing or cancelling classes due to the flu.
Like others have stated I still see people leaving restrooms without washing. SMH.

Well it seems going through any of the major online travel agency sites is the less conventional way to book a cruise. With the increase in gratuities that Royal has implemented, the cashback (if Orbitz delivers on the 14%!) will go a long way in offsetting that for my family of four on a 7 night cruise.  In addition, the on board credit from Royal should be enough to cover drinks...

NextCruise Presentation this morning pushing Symphony and Celebrity Edge. 
Unfortunately none of my future cruises are eligible for the OBC schedule they publish.  However I did win a trivia question.  GTV stands for Gas Turbine Vessel.
This netted me a NextCruise bag full of goodies including three neck straps two of which have Symphony bottle openers on them.  I had to do a double take assuming they were made in China.  

Looks like I caught them changing slides as I took my panorama:

When I was a kid we had a game called 'KerPlunk".  The object was to remove sticks without the whole bundle of marbles crashing down.  
This is how they have presented the bacon mound in the Windjammer.  Try to pull out just one piece and you'll likely have the whole mound crash onto your plate. 
Good or bad varies betweens one's own perspective and that of your doctor's.

Ah yes.....the endless mountain of interconnected bacon product.  You cannot choose just one, or 10 or 150.  If you dare to pick up one strand you are obligated to eat the entire mound.

The ultimate in black box technology ... Royal's website ... nobody dares change anything because nobody know how it works too start with :)

Wow, your family and mine are on almost exactly the same schedule, just a year apart! Our cruise on Freedom this March is for all the same milestones, except for my birthday (just turned 48 this week). And in our case we're throwing our 20th wedding anniversary into the mix. 
Congratulations on the graduations, and for starting your sixth decade!