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mom2mybugs

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Everything posted by mom2mybugs

  1. Hi everyone. We are planning on staying one night in old Town San Juan before getting onto Rhapsody in June 2024! So excited to have that and Alaska 2025 booked! We want to simply walk around old Town, relax and have dinner (flying overnight the night before from Chicago). We have narrowed down to la terreza de San Juan or Sheraton old San Juan, I think. Anyone really like one of these? Or have something that isn't too run down in old Town? Thanks! Jane
  2. I was on @Ryan79 cruise as well. Frankly, it was a hectic meal trying to do sail away and then get to mdr. It wasn’t officially dress your best but many people did dress up. There were New Year’s Eve hats at the tables, and the food was good and significantly cheaper than the inflated specialty prices for that night! It was before the menu streamline, and I’m not sure how that impacts. I wish I could remember what I ate…I think there was a special desert I didn’t see the rest of the cruise. Jane
  3. We’ve been on 2 different ships and dress was all over the place, but not casual. Nice jeans and a collared shirt are fine, but there also might be people in tuxes. It’s an amazing meal! Jane
  4. My daughter is on allure tight now and getting off tomorrow! She had only amazing things to say about embarkation. She had an 11 am boarding time, and was in the cruise terminal only a second. They boarded her at 1030. She said luggage and everything was great! It was taken by the porters immediately and was already in her room at 1pm. She has had an amazing honeymoon cruise…have a great trip! Her favorite bartenders were at trellis bar! Jane
  5. We just booked for radiance 2025 one way. We are also excited to try samba grill since we were food coma-ed on Allure and didn’t try it (I believe it’s only on allure and radiance). I’m excited to finally get on this class of ship! Jane
  6. My lovely daughter Morgan got married this past weekend and heads to Galveston in November for her honeymoon on Harmony. We got great info for her trip from here, she got an 11am boarding time and is beyond excited. Now that our two year wedding/honeymoon planning is pretty done, we need a new adventure. My husband and I decided we want to do Alaska before the glaciers melt, and my daughter thinks they want to go too (as long as her new hubby liked cruising as much as we do). We were thinking 2025 and Morgan decided she can do next cruise on the ship, book us all, and get some extra onboard credit. Here's what I need from everyone: Can you send me to a post on general next cruise info? Or give me a synopsis. It's never been a thing... We are hoping the Alaska itineraries will show up while or before she's on. Can you do refundable deposit on next cruise? Or are we better off doing nonrefundable and purchasing insurance (my husband's health is unpredictable). Next, I'm absolutely overwhelmed on Alaska. I research it, and then we wait, and then I forget everything I learned. We are thinking 7 day finishing in Vancouver (we might fly to Jasper and meet another couple for a week). There are both roundtrip cruises in and out of Vancouver, as well as finishing there. Either better than the other? Other than inner passage, what are unmissable ports/better ones? I know it's all subjective but we might not get back again so I want to maximize. Finally, quantum or radiance class? I know, again, subjective but I'm curious on opinions. We will likely do inside cabin or outside view... Balconies will be out of our price range with all the excursions. We are just beginning this discussion, but would love some guidance or an easy link to message board or blog posts that cover it! Glad to be back! Our new years cruise on Harmony last January was iffy weather wise, but loads of fun for sure! 2025 will probably be our next chance to cruise! Jane
  7. These beds are amazing in the solarium. So comfy, though this worshipper will need to move soon. We weren't on the main deck for sea day so I don't know how good they were about clearing towels. They did absolutely nothing on Deck 16. Here comes Mariner!!!!
  8. This morning from our balcony (through the door because this is the loudest worst door lock handle ever). We are in Cozumel today and plan on doing nothing! Jane
  9. This is from earlier yesterday that didn't post. We were under a stop to investigate a 20 person inflatable life raft floating in the water. Send from a viking ship and nothing found so we are back on our way. I'm at the c & a top tier to find out numbers... And enjoy my mimosa! 26 ships in 7 months back 41000 active employees and down to 2500 and now back! 6260 on board right now, Gold 1178, 378 plat, 201 emerald, 368 diamond, 158 diamond plus, 25 pinn 2305 c and a mems in all, and the top: 3rd...1660 pts 2nd 1835 pts 1st 2220 pts
  10. I remembered you guys helping me figure it out in terms of what I had. We had a guarantee so got lucky but we love it. Such a better set up for sure!!!! Jane
  11. Have fun! We are there tomorrow but might just stay on the ship. Jane
  12. Ok... Worst live... Need to change to livish! This morning is day 4 sea day and isn't too bad temp wise so I have my phone out to blog a bit DAY 1--embarkation was really incredibly easy. I set our Uber time for 1015 (we had an 11 time). The Uber showed up early at 10 and they let us into the terminal well before 11. Porter found us immediately and off we went! We forgot to take pics which the crew member did in 2 seconds while checking the other stuff. We were sitting in chairs waiting to go on by 1040 at the latest and on the ship with the first group by 1102. Note about dining! We booked individual dining because we wanted the times and still did the 3 day pkg. Don't... Just don't. We are still in a mess of trying to refund everything and do far only 1 meal of the 3 is refunded. My lunch reservation is still showing up even though the Jamie's guy said it would cancel. No money will be saved because I'm sure I will miss stuff. There were tons of spots available at 11 and while I'm sure it gets tight, they will work you in. We headed up to the pool deck then to start that drink pkg. I was the 5th person on the abyss slide and it was fun! Don't need to do it again unless I'm trying to get to the boardwalk but it was fun if the line isn't bad. We got to our room at 115 or so (they were ready at 1) and our luggage was in the hall when we got there. Our room is beautiful and spacious for a regular balcony and I'm glad that I cancelled our Royal up bid. We've been analyzing the balcony and we are just people that underutilise it. We were out there looking at stars on night one, but haven't been out since. Id rather be in the sun and Jeff just usually hangs with me until he can't take it! So unless we get a good deal, ocean view or interior is really ok. But I digress. We did the spa your which drove Jeff crazy but forgot to go back for the drawing! Oh well. I did sign up for the thermal spa. I've really enjoyed it, but I'm finding that cutting out time on the oasis ships with all the shows and dining is hard. I was going to go this morning and alas, sleep was calling my name! Maybe later today.... I will try and remember to take pictures of the spa area...it is tranquil and Serene if you don't have stupid people talking and playing loud videos on their phone (only happened once thank goodness) Dinner was at 5 at the mdr. Here's my take... Early dining is great to get to shows and that is it. Sailaway was at 430 and we had to change so we were 15 mins late and it just was a race with it being "dress to impress" for new year's Eve. Too much so and because our specialties are that early for the shows, we won't see many sailaways. It's frustrating. Mdr on day 1 though was very very good. Service was great and we enjoyed the food. We had the fine line aqua show tonight and though the story makes so sense, the dancing and tricks were amazing. Tons of seats available... Maybe because it was Nye. We hit the bionic bar on the way...very fun! I have tons to add of pics from both but it's getting hot on the pool deck so maybe will add later! We finished the night on the promenade for balloon drop. It was surprisingly not crowded and we had a great time until we headed to dazzles and I lost my phone. Decided to hit the customer service desk because I figured I left it in the bathroom. There were only a few people ahead of me but ONE person working! An hour later I got my phone back thank goodness or this would be a photoless livish boring blog! Overall thoughts from day 1: ***5pm too early to dine on sailaway and most ports. Do windjammer or casual instead ***This leads to #2. New years Eve is fun but if it's also embarkation night, it is kind of overwhelming and takes away the fun a bit. You are busy being wrapped up with dressing up (and the bling was fun) and you lose the deck sailaway vibe. I'd rather have NYE mid week. **The ship doesnt feel crowded at all. I know we are pretty full, but I've not seen a lot of kids and lines for the slides have been pretty low. Even first sea day at 10 there are tons of chairs at deck 16 level. None of course at pool level but it took till 830 for those to be gone today. Here's at 800 And at 845 So that is day 1. More to hopefully follow tonight on days 2-4! Jane
  13. Last thoughts on fort Lauderdale... I'm not sure I would stay at the Hilton fort Lauderdale marina again unless I upgraded big-time to a higher room in the main tower. This building felt old. There are limited food choices, no hot tub and overalli just think I'm done after 3 stays here. We will look for a new place next time. Water taxi was positive and very negative. They need to post signs for directional lines to stand in, and figure out why the lines were so bad. When you pay for all day you shouldn't wait close to 2 hours for a boat. I think we were at the most crowded stop (4) to board, so another reason not to stay at Hilton Marina. Jane
  14. Can't sleep so I will catch everyone up...if I can remember what I've done! Yesterday was very low key. We got to the Hilton fort Lauderdale marina and check in took forever. We were unfortunately not thrilled with the room. It's fine, but in the old wing, first floor (so Patio is below the walkway and thus feels like a concrete box), and the door has a huge gap at the bottom. There is no soundproofing at all and we are people not bothered by noise. The weather wasn't terrific, butt we spent some time by the pool and then ate dinner at the pool bar. It is truly highly overpriced, but other than the fish tacos (which were horrible) it was good. The wine... Well, I'm looking forward to vintages lol! Today was sunny and much happier! We didn't get to the pool until around 11 and there were no chairs at all. Maybe 10 mins later, 2 showed up in the shade so we took them. I decided to sit in the sun on the edge of the pool and read, and when someone left, I grabbed their chair. Eventually my husband abandoned the shade and joined me. We ended up ordering chips and guac and hummus and they were all very good. We finally dragged ourselves to shower and head to the water taxi. It took us one hour, forty mins to get on. It was a mess :(. Literally a boat would come every half hour and load like 2-4 people. Once on though, it's such a nice ride. We decided to head to stop 10 to see the mansions all decorated for Xmas. We got to bokampers at around 7 and we seated by 710. Great we thought... And then 30 mins later we still hadn't seen a server even though we had gone and spoken to someone several times. It was a mess. Jeff finally went to the hostess who seated us...we actually think she was the manager doing a million things. She literally took our order, got our drinks, apologized a million times and then ended up comping us our drinks and giving us half price on the food. It was unexpected and kind for sure! I recommend the atmosphere and the food was great... Hopefully staffing and big groups dont kill you. We did get to see the bridge go up a couple times too! We literally managed to walk right on the water taxi... Big change from before! It was a quiet boat till the very drunk people got on, but that's ok. That will be me soon on the drink pkg!!! So now I'm too wound up to sleep and can't wait for 10 1/2 hrs when I walk onto Harmony!! My aim is to church in once a day but keep in mind the title of this blog lol! @Lovetocruise2002 will be blogging symphony and will be much more interesting lol!!!! I have the Muppet Christmas carol singing going through my head, but instead of "there's only one more night til Christmas" I have "there's only one more night night til Harmony"!!!!! Jane
  15. Thank you so much for your blog. I can't wait to get on Harmony tomorrow. Our trip will be very different (just a balcony so no perks) so it was fun to see the "other side". And thank you so much for the thermal spa tips. Safe travels home! Jane
  16. Thank you for all your thermal spa info... I'm planning on touring and buying tomorrow! Jane
  17. Thanks! I've done the porter before...I just totally started second guessing the amount of time getting into the port and traffic. Thanks for talking me down lol! Have a great time on Odyssey...we almost did that 8 day southern carib cruise instead of this one! I've never done a quantum class ship. Jane
  18. I haven’t cruised since 2019 but we found our cards were highly sensitive to sunscreen…it would absolutely take off the black ink and I had to replace my card a couple times. Jane
  19. Ok…I get on harmony in Fort Lauderdale tomorrow. I have an 11 am check in and I’m at the Hilton marina hotel (only 10 mins away in non-traffic hours). I have Uber coming at 1015…is 45 mins good to get through the port and check baggage? I know if I get on at 1130 life won’t end but I don’t want to miss any time! Jane
  20. We are in a non accessible room right near the elevator (11560) on harmony tomorrow and can let you know. I’m not at all worried…people noise down the narrow halls and tripping over room service trays is way worse than noise by the elevators. Jane
  21. I love the magnetic hooks. My fave is the chair clips for your towels…it gets windy on the sky deck. I think Boca clips are the best. I also bring luggage tag holders, bath and body works room spray for the bathroom (no fan), usb plugs and a million paperback books (extra weight on the flight down that I read and leave on the ship for someone else!). Jane
  22. Good to know. I've booked hibachi, wonderland and 150 and also the 3 night dining. I think I will leave hibachi alone, go to any kiosk, and try to have them put our ind times in for the other 2 and change our Jamie's lunch to evening. Then I will cancel our individual reservations. If this doesn't work I will cancel the 3 night pkg since it isn't worth it to me to change the times. We are on at 11 so hopefully this shouldn't be a problem. Jane
  23. @tonyfsu21 directing this here because I can't figure out directly messaging on my phone vs computer lol! We are at the Hilton fort Lauderdale marina and heading to the port for Harmony tomorrow (terminal 18) To get to an 11 am check in, is a 1030 uber pick up early enough? It gives us 30 mins to get there, get through the port and get through checking luggage with the Porter's. It says it's like a 10 min drive but that's today with no traffic right now I'm assuming. Does that give us time or should be do 1015. Can we check baggage that early and just wait for us to get into the terminal at 11? PS... Still haven't even left the pool but do have the water taxi booked and will find dinner at some point! Jane
  24. Oohh... Maybe Harmony will shift! I will go look. Night 6 is a port day but definitely was lobster night. Jane
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