June May

No real specifics but this is all I can find on the outcome of today’s meeting…

Hi folks!
While we still aren't cruising yet in Australia, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Showing supreme (possibly misguided) faith in our respective State and Federal governments, I have a cruise booked for November this year. And then I got the email extending the double points offer for Australian cruises.
I'm a solo traveller, so my 10 night cruise will net me an astonishing 40 points, putting me within a whisker of going Diamond - something I never thought would happen.
But seriously, how could I pass up another cruise with double double points?  So I booked a 3 night sampler on Quantum of the Seas directly before my already booked cruise.
This ticks two bucket list cruise items for me - getting to Diamond after both cruises, and first ever B2B cruises!
I'm curious about what happens on turnaround day when you have a B2B booked.  I'm not in the same stateroom, but am in balcony staterooms for both cruises.
I'll be perfectly happy to disembark and spend the day hanging around the brand new cruise terminal here in Brisbane, Australia (please the gods that they have a decent coffee shop at least or it will be a long day!) but would just like to know what to expect.

Hi Joe, I ordered these - 4 Pack 30oz Tumbler Carrier Holder,DanziX Neoprene Sleeve Replacement with Carrying Handle Totally 8 Pcs-Black,Rosy,Purple,Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GFDXCML/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_SNHPWM5FFX5N3JHZ9KQG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 - for our Universal Studios reusable cups and they hold well and keep the drink somewhat insulated, it also fits our RC cups no problem. It’s a less expensive alternative for sure. 😊

Since cruising is still suspended in Australia, we have no idea what, if any, testing protocols will be in place. 
Wasn't expecting to be recognised as Diamond for these cruises, but it's going to come into play for any cruises I book after that - I'll take that gladly!

Thanks @Matt - that is exactly the information I was looking for!

Check out this blog post all about Back to Back cruises https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/12/17/back-back-cruises-tips-and-advice
 

Hi folks!
While we still aren't cruising yet in Australia, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Showing supreme (possibly misguided) faith in our respective State and Federal governments, I have a cruise booked for November this year. And then I got the email extending the double points offer for Australian cruises.
I'm a solo traveller, so my 10 night cruise will net me an astonishing 40 points, putting me within a whisker of going Diamond - something I never thought would happen.
But seriously, how could I pass up another cruise with double double points?  So I booked a 3 night sampler on Quantum of the Seas directly before my already booked cruise.
This ticks two bucket list cruise items for me - getting to Diamond after both cruises, and first ever B2B cruises!
I'm curious about what happens on turnaround day when you have a B2B booked.  I'm not in the same stateroom, but am in balcony staterooms for both cruises.
I'll be perfectly happy to disembark and spend the day hanging around the brand new cruise terminal here in Brisbane, Australia (please the gods that they have a decent coffee shop at least or it will be a long day!) but would just like to know what to expect.

Hi folks!
While we still aren't cruising yet in Australia, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.
Showing supreme (possibly misguided) faith in our respective State and Federal governments, I have a cruise booked for November this year. And then I got the email extending the double points offer for Australian cruises.
I'm a solo traveller, so my 10 night cruise will net me an astonishing 40 points, putting me within a whisker of going Diamond - something I never thought would happen.
But seriously, how could I pass up another cruise with double double points?  So I booked a 3 night sampler on Quantum of the Seas directly before my already booked cruise.
This ticks two bucket list cruise items for me - getting to Diamond after both cruises, and first ever B2B cruises!
I'm curious about what happens on turnaround day when you have a B2B booked.  I'm not in the same stateroom, but am in balcony staterooms for both cruises.
I'll be perfectly happy to disembark and spend the day hanging around the brand new cruise terminal here in Brisbane, Australia (please the gods that they have a decent coffee shop at least or it will be a long day!) but would just like to know what to expect.

When I was solo on my Mariner cruise 2 years ago the waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter paid extra extra attention to me every night.  Not gonna lie, I was totally ok with it.  

I am both excited and terrified to begin my first live Blog here of my first ever Star Class sailing and also….our wedding! I can only hope it is HALF as good as the amazing bloggers I read religiously here! 48 DAYS! Here we go!    The Story- My husband and I (I will explain!) booked this cruise for our wedding 2 YEARS ago during a Black Friday sale at an amazing price! We both LOVE cruising…so much so that we have a YouTube channel called BoosCruize so it seemed natural that we would choose to tie the knot in a small ceremony on the high seas! So after much research we decided on the Star Loft Suite 1720 on Oasis Of The Seas! This suite had a HUGE rectangular balcony that could fit guests and also give us the ocean view we wanted….and a Genie to help us pull it all off! What could go wrong?!? Enter…COVID 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ As you can imagine we basically needed a new pair of britches every other day for the last two years as things changed. It’s a good thing I buzz cut my head or I’d probably be bald and NOT by choice LOL     A year later we weren’t even sure if this cruise would happen but we also KNEW we wanted to be married. So when a company came to us and asked to throw us a huge West Coast “David Tutera” style wedding in Hollywood that will be published for magazines we obviously said YES! We now have two bi-coastal weddings Lol It was amazingly gorgeous but nothing was our choice. It was all chosen for us….right down to our tuxes. We feel BEYOND blessed but it also wasn’t what we had in our head two years ago. So now here we are….our guest list of 50 has gone down to 12 due to covid complications. Are we upset? HECK NO! We completely understand and are going to have the time of our LIVES on a gorgeous ship surrounded by people who love us! We can’t wait!    Who: We are an LA couple. Jarell is an international Flight attendant (yaasss benefits!) and I am an actor who just moved from NYC in time for a pandemic to close Hollywood 😂😂   Where: We are sailing on the Oasis Of The Seas out of Miami in the Star Loft Suite 1720 with stops at Coco Cay, St.Thomas, and St. Maarten    When: We sail November 7th-14th, 2021   I think that covers most of the back story and introductions! So happy to meet you all and take you along with us on this very special journey that is over 2 years in the making! Can’t wait to see who our Genie will be!    For good measure I have included a photo of the happy grooms from our West Coast Wedding!     

Well well.
 

So, I'd say I'm sorry for not posting more, but I'm really not.  This is an absolutely enjoyable cruise and part of that is that I'm giving myself time to unplug and stay away from connected devices, something I haven't been able to do in a couple years.  I'm still taking some photos, but more than likely the bulk of the rest of the posts will be done after I get back.  Just having too good of a time with everything else.  Did do the Sushi and Sake thing today, I remember a few people asking about it a few months ago.  All I'll say is... WORTH IT.  Like seriously, worth it.  Although they did start laughing at me after I asked for the third bowel of wasabi.  Sorry, not sorry.
 

And if anyone wants to keep track, according to my account the current gin and tonic is number 12 for today.  They will regret selling me this drink package one way or another.

Just back from post-op visit #2. Everything is continuing to heal wonderfully, and I’m down down to minimal bandaging (mainly to protect the graft site on the back of my calf. Still a bit swollen in spots, but I’m seeing the finish line. ?
Best part was this exchange:
Doc: “Go ahead. Say it.”
Me: “Say what?”
Doc: “Why the hell didn’t you just do this the first time around?!?”
 
And what other bit of great news. I can finally shower again! Everyone downwind of me is quite relieved, despite my best efforts over the last couple weeks. ?

 

Nothing new here, really. But I just have to comment on how amazing modern surgery and pain relief have become. For context:
Somewhere in the early 80s, when I was in middle school, I had to get bunion repair done. I woke from surgery screaming in pain and had to get a shot of whatever that time’s pain med of choice was right in my keister. Which knocked me right back out. In 2011 and 2014, I had bone fusion surgeries. I got a nerve block that let me wake up with zero pain, but desperately needed the morphine drip for 24 hours and was on strong pain meds round the clock for about three weeks, and not fully off them for a good few months. This surgery, I was given a set of local anesthetic injections that I was told would last about 3 days. I’m on day 5 post-op and I STILL DON’T NEED ANY PAIN MEDS, apart from one when I go to bed so I can sleep comfortably. And I’m sleeping for 7 to 9 hours at a pop. I still get occasional stings from the donor site, or a suture that had a little too much pressure on it. But they go away within seconds and I’m not even bothered by it all that much.
I fully realize that skin-level work like I just had is almost certainly a heck of a lot less painful than having an entire set of bones broken and nailed together. But to not need anything at all except to sleep, and that one dose lasting for a normal night and then some, is mind-blowing to me. I’ve always feared surgery because it has always meant a nightmare of pain afterward. The advances that have happened in the 40+ years of surgeries that I can remember are just... miraculous.

If you get the chance to go, do not hesitate.. The first thing you should do when you get there is the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit.. All i can say is OMG what an experience 

Yeah I don’t get why the Australian government is dragging their feet. With the talks about the travel bubble between Singapore and Australia, I would imagine having travellers within Australia is much simpler vs welcoming tourists from another country 

Thanks so much for the live blog - it has been really interesting to see how RC are sailing out of Singapore, because I am fervently hoping that they can persuade the Australian government that the same model can be used for our cruise season later this year.  We're in the same position as Singapore with virtually no community transmission.
Plus, I'm booked on Quantum in 378 days - nowhere near Star Class, but as a solo traveller in an oceanview balcony, I'll have all the space I need. ?

Thanks so much for the live blog - it has been really interesting to see how RC are sailing out of Singapore, because I am fervently hoping that they can persuade the Australian government that the same model can be used for our cruise season later this year.  We're in the same position as Singapore with virtually no community transmission.
Plus, I'm booked on Quantum in 378 days - nowhere near Star Class, but as a solo traveller in an oceanview balcony, I'll have all the space I need. ?

Thanks so much for the live blog - it has been really interesting to see how RC are sailing out of Singapore, because I am fervently hoping that they can persuade the Australian government that the same model can be used for our cruise season later this year.  We're in the same position as Singapore with virtually no community transmission.
Plus, I'm booked on Quantum in 378 days - nowhere near Star Class, but as a solo traveller in an oceanview balcony, I'll have all the space I need. ?

Thanks so much for the live blog - it has been really interesting to see how RC are sailing out of Singapore, because I am fervently hoping that they can persuade the Australian government that the same model can be used for our cruise season later this year.  We're in the same position as Singapore with virtually no community transmission.
Plus, I'm booked on Quantum in 378 days - nowhere near Star Class, but as a solo traveller in an oceanview balcony, I'll have all the space I need. ?

I'm not sure it would be cheap, but I recommend, if you have a full day in Cape Canaveral, that you spend it at the Space Center.  There is so much to see.  I would definitely NOT try and see any theme parks.  They are too far away and the time is too limiting to really do much.

Definitely glad to see you are still well.  I assume that Royal's IT department is responsible for at least some of the maintenance on the transporter units, and, well...

My cruise isn't til March 2022, but I checked the cruise planner for sales and wow!
Deluxe drinks had been $107AUD, and had dropped to $66AUD.
Grabbed that, then realised they had Deluxe + Voom for $77AUD. Quick cancel and re-book, and I've saved myself almost $300 on what I was prepared to pay for both together.
I call that a win!
Plus, there's another Black Friday sale before I cruise - who knows? It may dip even lower?

My cruise isn't til March 2022, but I checked the cruise planner for sales and wow!
Deluxe drinks had been $107AUD, and had dropped to $66AUD.
Grabbed that, then realised they had Deluxe + Voom for $77AUD. Quick cancel and re-book, and I've saved myself almost $300 on what I was prepared to pay for both together.
I call that a win!
Plus, there's another Black Friday sale before I cruise - who knows? It may dip even lower?