ptod

7 hours ago, 12thman said:

 

9 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

Observation:  Creaking sounds from the ceiling in stateroom

7 hours ago, 12thman said:

Oh yes! There's a lot of that and at times it'll wake you from a dead sleep. Bring ear plugs people. 

I was wondering why I hadn't heard the creaking, but then realized that I sleep with ear plugs. 

2 hours ago, Eddy said:

Just came off a 2 week B2B on Anthem out of Bayonne .

Do you recall how traditional and MyTime dining were split between the dining room?

12 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

On all my cruises post-COVID, they've collected the pencils, but they made sure to mention that we should put them in the "FOR SANITATION" container.

We were always allowed to keep them.  It finally dawned dawned on me to just put a pencil in my pocket in the morning and stop collecting them.

You know cruising is getting back to "the before times" when the staff collects the pencils after trivia. 

15 minutes ago, 12thman said:

Oh! Yes, I saw maintenance fixing the water to the fire hose. Wonder (pun intended) if the repairs are covered under warranty?

Maybe not under warranty but if Royal presents their loyalty card at time of service maybe they can earn enough points for new wind shield wipers or a free oil change.

We booked everything via the Royal app.  On the first day, there are crew members that will help you navigate the app and book shows.  There was a dedicated team on deck 4 in The Attic.

I don't know if you can book from your stateroom.

No trouble with the windjammer on this ship.  We have sailed a few times since the restart and we never had to make reservations for the buffet.  You did have to swipe your seapass card in and out so they could crowd control/contact trace as necessary.  With the updated protocols, all that is gone on the Wonder.

14 minutes ago, 12thman said:

Not in mine...the conditioner dispenser wasn't working. Room attendant fixed it.

I am booked in the cheap seats on this trip - I have to pick up my own bottle of conditioner.  Glad issue issue you had got fixed. It is all part of being on a shake down cruise.

I should have noted I was referring to the soap/faucets in the public restrooms.

If you look around, there are crew with tool bags fixing various things.  One of the doors out to the bridge wings was being worked on before we even set sail.

Bonus for being on a new ship.....so far all the faucets and soap dispensers in the bathrooms work.

I took my chances with the big yellow form a few years ago.  Never had any issues working with them (never used a TA before) - even when initial TA left MEI and we were given a new TA - it was pretty seamless.  Be upfront with how you want to communicate, etc and you should be fine.

There was not much trouble booking shows on the Wonder this week.  The shows are back to early and late vs vaxed/everyone.

I think we had to reserve the aqua show, late night comedy and the ice show.  Other shows in theater or music hall you just add to you calendar and show up and take any seat.

There is a show schedule floating around for the first sailing but some of the times on the printed that sheet were different from what was loaded in the app.

Stay loose and you will be ok.

I will second the sticky door situation....a solid push until you hear the clock is the answer.

In our cabin, the built-in nightlight/glow bar thing in the bathroom doesn't work.  If you are sailing soon, pick up a cheap battery operated votive candle so you don't have to turn the bathroom light on in the middle of the night.

For snorkeling try.......

In Barbados - Sailcalabaza.com or Silvermoonbarbados.com

In Bonaire -Seacow-bonaire.com

I posted this over on the roll call thread.....

I had a dream last night that there were so many you-tubers/vloggers/bloggers on this sailing that if you compared their video clips you will see the same 47 regular passengers in all the videos.  I hope I remember to brush my hair every day. 

Now I wish I had brought my Whalers t-shirt in case a certain channel catches me in a crowd shot. 

45 minutes ago, Stargazer said:

 we have 4 people on our cruise,June 18th,.If I order the 6th pack,can I use only one package for our group?

Yes doesn't matter what or how many names you list on order.  Once they arrive anyone can use them.

6 hours ago, Leighq said:

My husband uses one and I am trying to figure out how do bring the water required for his machine on the plane and ship.  Anyone have an idea?  Thank you all for the help.

If you are in need of distilled water at a hotel for a night before the cruise there are a few options.  If your husband does not feel comfortable using tap water or bottled drinking water for one night, you can consider:

• FIlling an empty water bottle (ie 16oz water bottle) with distilled water, vacuum seal it and pack in a checked bag.  My husband just did this for a flight last month as an experiment - it did arrive safely.  He recently bought a vacuum sealer and he just couldn't help himself. 
• Distilled water can be frozen and frozen water can go through TSA screening.  Again use an empty water bottle or two and freeze (don't overfill bottle) - pack in a zip lock bag and put in carry on.  Just be sure to pour out any water from the frozen bottle before getting into TSA line.  Should thaw in plenty of time before bed.

My husband is ok with using non distilled water when absolutely necessary so these were just experiments he tried.

We never felt the need to fill out the special needs form for distilled water on the ship - just mention to the cabin steward and a gallon jug appears before you know it. 

On 2/21/2022 at 6:38 AM, PG Cruiser said:

FEBRUARY 20 - 6:58PM EST - Wonder is HOME! (in Port Everglades)

 

Thank you for starting this thread - it was fun to keep a close eye on her trip "home". 

2 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

It softened a bit after soaking for an hour but it kept its shape the whole time.

If it ever takes me an hour to finish a drink, I will voluntarily return my official membership card to Team Deluxe Drink Package. 

1 hour ago, CruisingfromClayton said:

I am trying to manage 4 reservations simultaneously and am finding it to be a bit overwhelming.

After I managed a cruise with 4 separate reservations, I said never again.  I herd cats at home - I don't want to herd adults to a cruise port ever again.

MEI has lots of great agents.  Fill out the form you can find on this message board and let them know where you are in the process and what help you are looking for.  Let them know what kind of communication you would like - they will do their best to match you up with an agent.  There is no obligation to use the agent that contacts you back - but talking to a real person costs nothing.

The only way to know if you will like/benefit by working with a TA is to try. Give a TA - any TA - a chance to make your life easier - and be waiting in your corner when something goes sideways.  And eventually something always goes sideways. 

3 hours ago, Jlight said:

Each room would be designated for my wife and I.

Check on the price of 2 connecting cabins as well - access to 2 bathrooms without going out into the hall in your pajamas.  

2 hours ago, DDD said:

I sail in late May and will need 3 separate VOOM Surf and Streams. I was watching the price for weeks at 15.99/device and was expecting to see a sale. Instead, it is now up to $19.99/device! Uuggh. For those who sail often (only my 2nd), what are the chances the price will come down before late May?

In case you weren't aware, you can split a 3 device package between 3 people (each using only 1 device at a time) - price is usually lower than 3 individual packages.  Only works if you are ok sharing the same user name/password.

Keep checking back on prices - they change at various times.

For a lighter mystery series, try the Patricia Fisher cruise ship mysteries by Steve Higgs.

I like to sit in the loungers or Adirondack chairs between the mini golf and the ice cream dispenser (deck 15 portside aft). 

Not as of last week - crowds will have to be allowed to congregate freely before it returns

Just off Symphony and we were on the lookout for the Stowaway Piano player. He would set up in the hallway between the elevator banks.

Unfortunately, the only time we saw him playing we were in an elevator and had an appointment with food or a hot tub and couldn't stop.  We have priorities. 

We did see him a few other times while we were in On Air losing at trivia.  He would roll his piano in to a back room when he was taking a break.

1 hour ago, jbrinkm said:

So, very logically, I am choosing not to put a bid in. But it is really hard!! Anyone else in the same boat?

I feel your pain.  I have been tempted to bid on some ridiculously low minimum bids, but I have always passed.

There was a reason I picked the room(s) I did - even if it was so long ago that I can't remember. 

When I am finding it really hard to resist, I ask my TA for the current prices to just upgrade via her.  I compare her new quotes to my current invoice and decide I got a deal I was already happy with and move on.

If I think a particular cruise needs something a little extra, I find a nice excursion or a specialty restaurant and use the "bid" money I was tempted to risk.

I do get excited for those who bid and have my fingers crossed for them.  I have also been know to randomly blurt out "good for them" when people post that their bids were accepted.

Have a great cruise!

On 2/2/2022 at 10:15 AM, CrimsonCruiser said:

still wondering what people are feeling about the potential menu.....

I can't wait to try the food.  Ribs and brisket, yes please.  I live in the wrong part of the US.

After a few serving of moonshine, I might even try the crawfish.