Deedeelynn

PSA - BREAKING NEWS!
Terrible ship.  Do NOT book this ship.  Everyone needs to book some other ship.  Leave this ship to me. 
I will take one for team RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com and sail on this ship so that you don't have to.
If you would kindly heed my words, rates for Navigator will plummet on poor bookings and I can enjoy my new favorite ship all to myself.
Thank you and you are welcome.
 

I’m so glad you’re blogging! Your blogs are so informative and they always make me want to book a cruise! Darn, my poor bank account!! ????? 

I’m so glad you’re blogging! Your blogs are so informative and they always make me want to book a cruise! Darn, my poor bank account!! ????? 

I did a quick run through the Diamond Lounge.  Reminded me of a reception at a funeral home in a small town.  Will drop in again early or late when it’s empty to take picture so as not to offend the dead.   

Super Mario strikes again! 

First sighting from my Lyft ride.

I arrived at the terminal at 9:45am.  Doors were closed.  Around 10am they let us in.  

Once upstairs I was third in line for security which was closed as we went upstairs in terminal G.  After 10 - 15 minutes they opened security.  
Some confusion with my check in agent who wanted to keep my SetSail pass.  Navigator follows the new process where SeaPass cards are found outside your cabin, you use your printed SeaSail pass to board.  I explained I needed it to board.  He was suggesting I just go and walk on the ship without anything.  I suggested he ask a supervisor.  A few minutes later he stamped my SetSail pass and handed it back to me.  Must be his first day.
A short wait before boarding and then they opened it up.  I was literally the first guest on board.

I was torn.  I desperately wanted to check out the pool deck but then again the Promenade has some new features. 
Promenade won.

More specifically the drink package kiosk won.  Between Playmakers, The Bamboo Room and The Lime and Coconut I wasn't going without.  DX was $66 on board plus 18%.  With my 30% D+ discount that beat the best price I saw online pre-cruise.
Some quick pics that I haven't spent a lot time working to make pretty.


Freestyle Machines!

 
Quick stop at The Bamboo Room.  It's 5 o'clock somewhere...

"On the Run" is perfect in a carry pouch that I can take with me.
Funny story about the new Diamond Lounge

There were several servers standing around waiting and the lounge had a ribbon across it.  I asked when the lounge will open.  They said they were waiting for the first Diamond member to appear.  So I said "I'm a Diamond member".  They started to proceed to the door when the lounge concierge stopped them.  Apparently they have some special Diamond member they are holding the club for so they can be first.  I wasn't it.  Diamond Plus but still rejected from the Diamond Lounge.  Oh well, time to move on.

Wow.  All I can say is... Wow!
Having just been on Navigator this is a different ship now.  
I wish I had brought a camera to show you folks how awesome it looks.  My StarTac analog phone doesn't have a camera... 

You decided to blog. I am happy ? This is what is going to make the next 9 days go by faster for me ?

I originally booked this cruise as the second leg of a back to back.  The first segment was cancelled by Royal so instead of 14 nights on the ship, I now have just 9 nights.  First world problems.  
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Embark in Miami
Day 2 - Sea Day
Day 3 - Labadee
Day 4 - Sea Day
Day 5 - Aruba
Day 6 - Curaçao
Day 7 - Bonaire
Day 8 - Sea Day
Day 9 - Sea Day
Day 10 - Debark in Miami
I last sailed Navigator just a few months ago on the same ‘ABC’ itinerary.  That was an awesome cruise even though it was a few weeks before she went in for her makeover.  
Navigator isn’t the first ship to be ‘refreshed’ but how they did this refreshment does have some notable differences.  
When the refreshment couldn’t be completed in time Royal canceled the first leg of my planned B2B.  They eventually completed the work and on short notice invited employees and some media on a 2 night ‘shakedown’ cruise using the time that was left over from the cancelled cruise.  Check out this blog post from @Matt who participated in that shakedown cruise which illustrates how this refreshment is new and different:
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/02/28/navigator-of-the-seas-completes-115-amplification-upgrades-across-the-ship
To set the stage, I’ve sailed Adventure and Mariner after their recent makeovers.  I’ve also sailed Explorer, another in the Voyager class.  While I love most ships I sail including the newer Oasis and Quantum class, Voyager class ships are my favorite at the moment and all of the above mentioned ships fall into this class.
With my recent Navigator ABC cruise in mind I am looking forward to experiencing the same ship on the same itinerary but in a fully refreshed condition.  
My hotel is near Miami's airport but I flew into the Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale airport since it was cheaper.  For the first time I took the Tri-Rail train from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami International Airport.  When I landed in Ft Lauderdale the prices to reach my hotel in Miami for Lyft was $45 and Uber $48. The Tri-Rail cost me $3.75 but it was a longer transfer compared to Lyft/Uber.  I may do a separate post on the Tri-Rail experience.   In summary it was great for just $3.75 but it did take over twice as long compared to a ride-share. 
From my hotel in the Miami airport area as I write this I am not too far from the Port of Miami and will be ready to go early in the morning hoping the ship is available early given no debarking passengers to hold us up.  

It it was nickels and dimes they were asking, I would likely pay a nickel or dime.  

You may more disappointed to find out that Sabor's has been replaced with Hooked on the Navigator.  However we recently ate at Hooked on the Symphony and it was a great addition to the Specialty Restaurants.  The New England Clam Chowder as well as the Halibut was outstanding!  Maybe some good news is that they added a El Loco Fresh on the pool deck for some quick Mexican favorites.  It was also very good on the Symphony. 

We have been very successful in getting items in one specialty restaurant that is offered elsewhere.  For instance, I often order the cream of mushroom soup when I’m in the Coastal Kitchen or Jamies and they always accommodate my requests.  The French onion soup is readily available on the ship in different venues so I would not hesitate to ask for it if you want it.  Recently, we were very disappointed that queso fundido had been removed from the menu at Sabor on Navigator.  I asked if they serve it even though it was not on the menu and he said that, unfortunately, they could not. We were so disappointed. Then to our great surprise, the next evening, when we were at dinner at Chops, here comes a beautiful serving of queso fundido.  I guess they had “found” some and brought it to us.  What a wonderful surprise.  So it is possible to get items that are not on the menu -even if they have been removed from the menu.  You just have to ask !

I have not done anything like this myself, but I've been catching up on older episodes of the Podcast and Matt recommended going to the restaurant the day before your reservation and letting them know of your special request so that the chef can prepare it or arrange it for you, if it is within possibility. He was specifically getting a lunch menu item at dinner but I think it would relieve some of the embarrassment if you were able to stop by at a quiet time instead of having to "spring it on" your server at dinner. I hope you get your soup!!

No such thing as "a little cheating" when it comes to food/snacks/drinks on a cruise ship.......can I get an Amen! 

I've been doing Keto since June 1st.......looking forward to a little cheating Sunday on Oasis!

You do have cruise clothing that you only wear on a cruise, right? That's the clothing that's 1-2 sizes larger than your normal everyday non cruise clothes. ?

Does water count when it's frozen and in a drink....like on the rocks? ?

If i'm a week away from sailing, should i start my diet now? Or is it too late??

When was that?  Delta charges $150 just for permission to say Delta.  Doh!
And if you spell it wrong they charge a $150 change fee.

I would call to make sure, it wouldn't hurt.  I've sailed several times on the GTY rates and always got assigned a cabin early on.  As for the Set Sail pass issue, the only browser that seems to work now is Google Chrome using the Incognito feature.  Firefox is useless.  Keep in mind if you log in, and can't get to the Set sail pass area, once you exit out, it will lock you out for 30 minutes. 

For sure.  Three to four years of speculation and rumors.  I'll start...
I hear they are building a port for her in Denver, CO.  

MIAMI, February 18, 2019 – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique to order a sixth Oasis-class ship for delivery in the fall of 2023.
https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/25/royal-caribbean-orders-sixth-oasis-class-vessel/
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/02/18/royal-caribbean-orders-sixth-oasis-class-cruise-ship
 

However when you book an excursion through Royal, it will return prior to departure.  
There are plenty of signs and announcements when the ship leaves and when guests need to be back on board.  Trying to say they looked at the app a couple months before sailing and one or two excursion came back at 5pm is a weak excuse for missing the ship.