Vacation Crazy

T-1 Day
Almost a year ago, my family booked this cruise. Now we’re less than a day away from boarding the beautiful Navigator of the Seas to embark on our 9 night journey to the Southern Caribbean.
I guess it’s best to start this live trip report by telling everyone a little bit about myself. I’m 17 from Atlanta, Georgia. I know I’m probably quite a bit younger than most of the users on Royal Caribbean Blog, but what can I say - it’s never to early to become obsessed with cruising.
Going on this cruise with me are my mom, dad, elderly grandmother, and her elderly friend. We booked two separate balcony rooms, so my grandmother and her friend will stay in one room and I’ll stay in the other room with my mom and dad. My dad and I both booked the classic soda package and the voom surf voyage package so we can communicate with each other while on the ship. After diligently checking the cruise planner every 3 or so days, I was able to get the voom package for $19.18 a day, which was the cheapest I’ve seen it for the past 6 months.
We chose this cruise strictly for the itinerary. The ABC islands have been on our list for quite some time, and when they offered them at the next cruise desk on our last cruise, we just couldn’t pass it up.
The intertary is as follows:
Day 1: At sea
Day 2: Labadee, Haiti
Day 3: At sea
Day:4 At sea
Day 5: Oranjestad, Aruba
Day 6: Willemstad, Curaçao
Day 7: Kralendijk, Bonaire
Day 8: At Sea
Day 9: At Sea
In Labadee we’re planning to just have a beach day, in Aruba we’re doing a Trikes tour, we’re going to just play it by ear in Curaçao, and in Bonaire we rented a few golf carts.
We got into Miami yesterday night with my dad driving my grandmother and her friend down and my mom and I flying since she had to stay later to work and I had to stay later for finals.
Today in Miami we did a little sight seeing at Little Havana, South Beach, and Bayside. After lunch we ran a few last minute errands to pick up the things we realized we forgot to pack, and all got pedicures (including my dad). He was not a fan of the flip flops lol. At least they had blue. 

Now all that’s left is our last dinner of 2018 on land and then it’s cruise time tomorrow!! 

Look what my Grands gave us for Christmas.  We can't wait to use it!!

We did Bernard's tours when we were there in August. They offer different tour packages. We did the beach tour.  It was a great way see the island and learn some history along the way.  There was still quite a bit of hurricane damage and our tour guide talked a lot about the recovery process.  It was a great day!  Take a look at their website.    

Just booked two short cruises. I told hubby that I needed a cruise May 2020 to finished out the school year. I needed a cruise in June 2020 for completing the school year. He gave me a look. He wants his card back. Time to start cooking again.

I logged into my cruise planner and this was there - clearly a website glitch, but it made me giggle.  (Man, they're really pushing Coco Cay! Ha)

I live in Victoria.  A few suggestions are: 1. Bug Zoo 2. Miniature World 3. Beacon Hill Park (petting zoo) 4. Harbour ferry or Water taxi tours of the inner harbour 5. Fishermans wharf - real close to Cruise Port. 6. Walk to the end of Ogden pier (where the ship docks) 7. Go whale watching.  8. Royal BC Musem (quite interactive)and IMAX. All these are very close together.

Freedom of the Seas-May 24, 2020.  We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary!   

Freedom of the Seas-May 24, 2020.  We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary!   

So glad you booked Jane!!!   Have a wonderful trip ?. Jane

All I read was go with the lava flow!  I'll have no problem doing that.  We will be on our anniversary cruise and first cruise without the kids.  Thanks for the feedback.  

We were there in August.  Old San Juan has recovered nicely from the hurricane.   I have a southern Caribbean cruise on hold for May, 2020.  It will be our 25th Anniversary cruise. We decided last night this is our trip!!  I will stop reading reviews.  Like I said some people find anything to complain about.  Enjoy your upcoming cruise.  
Thanks from one Jane to another!!
 

We loved cruising adventure out of San Juan.  It was my husband's first cruise and exploring Sam Juan the couple days before the cruise was amazing.  Loved El Morro and old San Juan.  We did cruise before the hurricane damage but I would definitely go back and looking forward to having San Juan as a port stop in March on allure.  Jane

San Juan is one of our favorite ports to leave from. You are already in the warmth. The old town is great...
the only complaint I've ever had is one the taxi driver left us at the Celebrity ship when we were going on Royal Caribbean or maybe it was vice versa...
plus if you sail out of San Juan, you're helping that island recover from the hurricane.
we will be there in less than a month!

@Wilson  Is currently cruising Freedom OTS and can give you the latest info.

Wife was blue at the beginning of this school year facing the prospects of so many wonderfully behaved, never any problems other peoples children to deal with.  Saw a reasonably priced cruise on Adventure of the Seas sailing in now 8 days (Dec. 16th) so booked the cheapest interior room, which she was fine with (we've always had balconies in past cruises).  Got my email offer earlier this week to bid on an upgrade, so I did, RCCL accepted, and now we have a balcony cabin on the same deck not too far from the original cabin.  Haven't told her, and she's a little directionally challenged, so hope it will be a total surprise when she opens up the door!

So last year at Christmas I dug out some old trains and added some new ones for the grandkids. I have always enjoyed the trains but never had the time for an extravagant layout. Still don't....
When thinking about getting the trains out this year it reminded me of our Alaska cruise with the fantastic Alaska Railroad ride from Anchorage to Seward, a ride I'll not soon forget. I started to look around to see if anyone made any similar to what we rode. Well I almost the exact locomotive! Ours was a GP40-2, No. 3013. Atlas makes a GP40-2 No. 3008. Had to have it and since it only comes in DCC (sound, etc.) I had to upgrade my controller, too! It really is cool how close the model is to the real deal.:
Here is my wife with No. 3013 in Seward:

Here's the model:

 
And here's a video of today's purchase:
Alaskatrain video
 
 

I'm looking at this program as a positive addition.  We stay in ocean view balcony staterooms.  It may give us the opportunity to stay in a junior suite someday for a reduced rate.   I priced a junior suite for our next cruise and it was $5,200 more than our ocean view balcony.  This thrifty girl could not justify that price(and I'm a compulsive price watcher)!!   I'm hoping this program may make upgrading more obtainable because the upgrade fairy has never come knocking at our door!
 

No Pressure.  Lol.  

Thank you.  I feel like a new person.  This is from our family pictures, separated by one year.  Should have about another 50 lbs to go...
Also, you know it's time for vacation when you get a text from school saying "Your daughter has been tormenting one of the boys at school today, and decided to pull her pants down and shake her butt and him."  SMH.....

With that our tribe begins to appear unified and equal.

Each is wearing a common tribal outfit.





I've seen all of the aqua theater shows and this is my favorite.  It's high energy with lots of action, plenty of diving and incredible aerial work.  It's more artistic in places and uses technology to highlight the incredible performance of the cast which itself is outstanding.
The aerial components are incredible and add a lot to the show.  Be aware though, when they get wet by dipping into the water they do drip onto the audience below, all over the theater.  

Ovation to Alaska 2020 booked!

Already put my request into my TA! Woot!!! Hello Alaska 2020!

Ovation is definitely sailing Alaska again in 2020

I'm guessing the same as 2019 - Radiance and Ovation. Asia will get Spectrum next year which means Ovation is free to do Hawaii and Alaska then return back to Australia and repeat for 2020.

Is there any confirmation (or rumors) of which ships are sailing Hawaii/Alaska 2020?  I'm anxiously awaiting the deployment schedule next week! 

Have a great cruise. Alaska is awesome. I've been twice and could back numerous more times.
All have been listed, but I feel compelled to inform you that there are other ships in Royal's fleet. ? I also want to come up with a jingle based on the fact that you're sailing L-O-L-L_O
Have a great cruise!
As of 8:13 Pacific tonight, all have been added to the list here: 
I did it in three parts to make it more manageable.
Thanks, everyone, for your patience. I didn't think I'd be gone from the boards as long as I was.