Vacation Crazy

We usually use our OBC for additional bar tips, some pictures and a game of bingo. The only time we ever play bingo is when we are cruising.  It has become a fun tradition for us.   And it helps we won a few years ago.  

Smart  decision!  Enjoy the savings elsewhere. 

Enjoying your blog so far.  Thanks for sharing.  We sailed Empress a few years ago when we were offered a free cruise from the casino.  We loved every minute aboard.  She is a great little ship with a big heart!   

We are fan sleepers and always travel with one.  We have a small fan but it is not battery powered.  It works great at blocking out any outside noise too.  

IFly just opened for booking for our Aug 23rd sailing on Ovation.  Stalking the cruise planner has paid off!  I was able to get the day and time I wanted.   6 more weeks to go!!

The bed is near the balcony.  Balcony staterooms are installed in pairs. Looking from the corridor, the right stateroom has the bed by the balcony. Left has the bed by the bathroom. Find a connecting pair to start.

Harmony has computer stations in the Card Room.   We used the computer to check in to our return flight home.  I believe it was around $10.00 for an hour of internet.   We always happily  go off the grid when we cruise!

On our last cruise we used the app with the chat feature.   It did not work out well for us with no push notifications.   I found myself using the phones throughout the ship to call into our room.  My lazy teenage son would get a wake up call from "housekeeping" to get up and meet us somewhere.   He would never check the app but always answered the in room phone!

We are on Ovation in August.  I'm realizing we will not need as much cold weather gear as originally planned.  I already have our trip on my weather app.   It is supposed to be 78 degrees in Juneau today!  When I booked this trip some 500+ days out I pictured us bundled up in snow gear.   I'm leaving the snow gear at home and packing lots of light layers.  

An additional suggestion would be to find some videos of Symphony of the Seas on You Tube.  That way she will get a feel for what cruising is really like.  Hopefully she will see all that cruising has to offer and put some of her fears to rest.  

We are on Deck 7 in a obstructed ocean view balcony for our upcoming Ovation cruise.  We found pictures of our room online before booking.  Our balcony has a small section of the davit in the corner view.  Plus we are on the hump so it is a bigger balcony.  It was over $1,000 cheaper than the regular balconies.   I'll happily look at the davit and keep the $1,000 in our bank account any day!   There are lots of pictures and videos online to help you make a decision.  Good luck!

Enjoy every minute of your Alaskan adventure!  I'll be following along.  

This has happened to my Freedom of the Seas cruise for May, 2020.  While price checking the price per person has more than tripled several times over the last month.  The large rate increase seems to last a day or 2 then readjusts.  Who knows!!??  I'm just hoping to catch the "glitch" when it lowers the price dramatically!  I'm guessing that won't happen but a girl can try!

8 minutes ago, Jzx1103 said:

The reason it book up so fast is because they reserve majority of spaces for people to book once onboard. I guess they feel its unfair for those who aren't internet saavy or people who are super busy and don't have time to check everyday to not have a chance to book.

I know I won't have a problem booking IFLY or North Star once on board.  I just like the idea of having it all booked and not dealing with it as soon as I board.  It's just the type A planner in me!!   

10 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Keep checking your cruise planner as there's no set time, and once they are released they fill fast. For my June 21st sailing, IFly opened up about 12 weeks prior to sailing (and was booked within about 4 hours).  NorthStar opened up last week for us, and the best times were taken within about an hour.  HOWEVER, @twangster posted his Ovation sailing in the live blog section (take a look at it if you haven't had a chance, it's FABULOUS), and he went on North Star many times just by going at open, non-reserved blocks of times when there was a very small line.  It doesn't look like it will be a problem to get on it more than once if you wish.

Welcome to the forum, and happy sailing!!

 

I've been checking now multiple times a day for our Aug 23rd sailing and still nothing.   So you are saying I have a 4 hour window to catch IFly!!!  Ugh....come on!!   Someone at RC just enjoys messing with us!

Yay!  Ovation is finally over here and inching towards her summer home.   Thanks for giving us a sneak peek into our Alaskan cruise.  Enjoy!

I ordered this personalized door magnet for $9.00 on Etsy.  It comes with us on every cruise.  Although our last cruise it did not do its job.  We were awoken one night around 3am to a guy mistaking our room for his.  I thought our last name on the door would have been the first clue he had the wrong room.  I'm pretty sure the drink package was involved in that episode!  Anyways, I love our little magnet.  It hangs on the side of our frig until it can cruise again!

Your itinerary looks incredible.   I bet everyone who is booked on Ovation this summer will be following along!   We still have a 109 LONG days to go for our first Alaskan trip.   Have a great time!

We are staying at the Intercontinental when we go out of San Juan. It looks like a nice resort from what I've researched.   We are IHG members so we will use our points for a free night.  

I do not believe Harmony has a shuffle board.  On Oasis we enjoyed playing shuffle board behind the aqua theater.    That area is off limits on Harmony.   We have been on Harmony a few times and never saw one.

Good luck defending your title!  

In my husband's mind that is how I'll be packing for our upcoming Alaskan cruise!  The sad thing is it might not be far from the truth. 

I'm an over planner, over thinker or whatever you want to call it.  It is not stress to me.  I think of it as a great distraction from day to day life.  As I'm sitting at work I often have something cruise related on my second screen.  It makes the countdown to my next cruise bearable!!  Have a great cruise.  

Brilliance was our first cruise and where the addiction began!  Have a great time.  I'll be following. 

I usually feel like I have sea legs on land for a couple of days post cruise.  The shower is always the worst for me.  It will pass soon. Hang in there!

1 hour ago, VinceC said:

THANK YOU ALL for all for your responses.  If I get on line at 6am how long should it take to debark and get through Customs?

When we disembarked Harmony last year we were in line at 6:00 AM.  There was no wait for customs and we walked right through.  We were at our gate at FLL by 7:00 AM.  We had a 9:00 AM flight.  We fly Southwest so we could change flights if needed.  It was an early morning but was nice to be home at a decent time.