CruisinUngs

I cut the magnet on the Cricut.  I used the magnetic AC vent covers from Home Depot.

Ahhhhh I love my cricut. Did it cut out the magnet as well in that shape or did you glue magnets to the back?
And your food pics are amazing!

Holy price difference. This is the best example I have seen for “book it early” given on one of these boards. 

@KAA what was the final decision? ?

The day I saw it 1249 I said to my Hubby I just saved us 800 books, and his response was HOW?  My guess is that they probably had 1 cabana left and somebody was going to be willing to purchase it and rebook it later.  No way in Hades would I be willing to pay that cost, nor at 849.   649 would have been on the fence decision.  Not to go off more topic, but my regret is not booking my spa day at the same time.  

When I went Anthem was a la carte for food and you ordered at a register rather than get waited on, so a little different from the other Johnny Rockets.

I guess I missed the memo.

Day 9 - Embarkation Day #2
We were able to get into our hotel room yesterday pretty early, and get started on laundry.  After V took a nap, we went to the hotel restaurant for dinner.  I would skip this if I were to stay there again.  Then we spent a little time in the pool, then back to pack and go to bed.  This morning, we got up and went back to Southern Charm Cafe for breakfast.  This quickly became a family favorite.  It is very tasty food, and the servers are all great. 
We got a "late" start to the port, arriving at the rental car return around 10:15.  We were at the port around 10:30, and there was no line for security.  Much different from Oasis, and more similar to Majesty last year.  The port staff were a little rude, maybe they had a case of the Mondays.  They were already boarding when we checked in, so we went straight onto the ship.  We were playing ping-pong by 10:45.  
Part of the pool deck was being refinished, so they had it partially closed.  We went to Windjammer for lunch, and it was pretty tasty.  The rest of the day has been relatively uneventful.  We love the grand suite.  Lots of room.  Overall, Enchantment definitely seems tired, and not as well taken care of as Majesty even was.  
We did head to NextCruise after Muster drill.  We now have a 2BR ATS booked on Oasis in Feb 2020.  We're also looking to upgrade Anthem to a Grand Loft suite, as we found out we're having to cancel the Mariner GC due to scheduling with our new business opening.  
While we were at NextCruise, V passed out on Abby.  She had been getting cranky.  She napped in the Centrum for about 1.5 hours.  Then we headed back up to the room, and are currently taking advantage of the free room service, and room service from the MDR.  


 
A reminder that this is not, in fact, Oasis of the Seas, but a great view of the Ocean from the bar.
 

I'm out of dry dock! (already!!) Wife wanted to go back to Bermuda so much that we just booked a return visit -- October 19, 2019 on Anthem. Just a regular balcony room this time, but we got the one just two doors down from the JS we stayed in! It's kismet!!

Liberty of the Seas- 10/28/2018
Oasis of the Seas-11/11/2018
Liberty of the Seas-12/9/2018 and 12/16/2018
Oasis of the Seas-12/30/2018

Personalized magnet for my door

Cruise Compass - Boarding Day Edition

 

Departing from Jacksonville... ready for paperless boarding 

Ooo this makes me happy. It’s the little things right? 
@Susie: thanks for taking the time to reply during your cruise- especially since I asked. ?
Everyone else, thanks as well! Good to know you don’t have to purchase if you’re at the bar.

On Harmony, with the Refreshment and the Deluxe Drink Package, we were always asked to have a seat at the bar while they prepared our shakes and then we could either drink them there at the bar or take them with us, they were free either way.

I am on Anthem and CONFIRMATION !!!! Johnny Rocket Drinks includes with Deluxe and Refreshment Drink packages. Happy dance ?
 

@RCVoyager Of course I googled- how could I not lol. The picture is hysterical. It’s such a large group that you really can’t see much but you can definitely tell. 
I think I would do this- but NOT be in the front lol.

Well, this has been beyond a relaxing sea day.
 
Breakfast delivered 
Top Tier event  (wasn't paying attention to stats)
Hooked for Lunch
Exclusive Welcome Aboard Reception for cruisers book with MEI
Starbucks Run
Pub Crawl
Group "Come as you are" formal night photo
Dinner in Wonderland 
Hairspray 
Pub time
Pizza time
LIVEish post
Before bed procrastination
-No time to fit in a basic WJ recon
 

You're not neglecting anything, you're enjoying your trip!

I know, I know been neglecting things.
Some Windjammer info (sorry no picts)
Stations in the back were Mongolian, pasta, crepes, and Indian. Didn't catch the dessert selections, do recall a huge pile of fruits. In the main section, seemed like the standard fare.

We just got off from this itinerary last Sunday.  
I hope you and yours have a wonderful time and that you get as wonderful weather as we did!!
 
If you're into such things, I believe there are three martini-making classes, the first being this afternoon, with Patrick in the Champagne bar.
 
Have fun and smooth sailing!!!
 
My favorite spot on the ship:

 
Second favorite, in the evening after dinner - they have a piano/violin duo playing classical music and it's heavenly.

I promise I didn't forget.  I just got to a point yesterday that I figured I would finish this in the hotel on turnaround day.
Day 6 - Cozumel
This was our first time to Cozumel, and I would say this was our favorite port stop.  I've been to Mexico a few times, and love it.  When I was in college, Spanish was one of my majors, and I've always been enthralled with Mexican culture.  We started our day by heading to Nachi Cocom.  $20 taxi ride for the three of us, and it was worth every penny.  


There were 5 ships in port today: Oasis, Liberty, Carnival Tragic, Carnival Vista, and a MSC one docked downtown.  Mr. Sanchos had to be a zoo, but Nachi was so calm and relaxing.  The waves were pretty strong, so we just ventured into the Gulf shortly.  The pool was freezing, but that didn't stop V.  She was all about the pool, and making friends with anybody that cam near her.  
Around 11:30 we had lunch.  I had been preaching to Abby how bad Mexican food in the USA makes me so angry. It's all relatively simple food, but you have to cook it with love.  The food at Nachi is what I would consider "above-average" food IN Mexico, but would be fantastic Mexican food in the USA.  It was amazing.  Neither one of us are huge guac fans, but we would have eaten the guac at Nachi all day.  
Also, if you've never had it, get the cheesecake.  It was phenomenal.  Virginia loved the ice cream:

After a little while longer at Nachi, we took a cab downtown for a few shopping stops.  We stopped at COZ coffee based on recommendations from others on the board.  Their pastries looked amazing, and we had a cinnamon roll.  They also have a sandwich menu, and other patrons had sandwiches that looked amazing.  Abby got a peanut butter coffee, and loved it.  I'm not a coffee drinker at all, but we got 2 lbs of beans to go home with.  
When we were on the way to COZ, just around the corner on Calle 2A Norte, was a little place that caught our eye:
 
As I mentioned before, Abby and I met in culinary school in Chicago, where we studied baking and pastry.  Seeing the "Patisserie" sign immediately caught our attention.  I wasn't able to get pictures of the two tarts we had because they were eaten too fast, but this was their case:

The tarts were some of the best I've had period.  We had a strawberry tart and a 3 chocolate tart.  The crust was perfect, and the fillings were smooth and delectable.  We bought a croissant and a pain au chocolat, but they got taken by security before we got back to the pier, since they weren't sealed...  We tried to ask if we could just eat them, but they told us we'd have to go back through the security line...  Lesson learned, but we will be back.  It was called Sucre Sale.  I recommend everyone go there, it was amazing.  
After that, we headed just a half block down the street to Chocolateria Isla Bella, per @CGTLH recommendation from a previous blog.  No pictures here either due to distraction, but we got quite a few chocolates that are heading home with us.  Very friendly in this shop, and it was absolutely delicious as well.  
After a short taxi ride back to the pier, we did a little browsing and then back onto the ship.  Dinner tonight was in 150 CP.  
After the requisite salt introduction (for the record, the red Haitian was my favorite.  The egg was strange),
I had a little surprise for Abby.  On Day 2, we had been in the jewelry store, and she found a pair of earrings that she loved.  In Falmouth, we looked at jewelry, but nothing stuck out like these on the ship. They were a snowflake cut, which I'd never heard of, and Abby loves snowflakes.  Plus, they were my birth stone.  A couple of days later, Abby went back to stare at them again, but knew she would never get them.  Little did she know, the next day, I went and got them while she was busy.  The jewelry store was great, and had them delivered to 150CP as a surprise, along with a bottle of champagne.  

Even the waiter had to come over to see what was going on.  The rest of the dinner was excellent.  Our waiter, Srdjan, was fantastic.  We had the lobster gnocchi and the angolotti as appetizers.  Mains, I had the black cod and Abby had the chicken.  The cod was probably the best thing I had all week.  It was so tender, it almost melted in your mouth.  For dessert, Abby had the donuts, and I nibbled on the bourbon chocolate tart, which was divine as well.  

After that, it was time to go get Virginia from AO and head back to bed.  

We got off Lady O last Sunday (it was a fabulous cruise) and I took two of the 3 available martini classes that were held by Patrick in the
Champagne Bar.  The first class was on departure day and I didn't know about it but the two I did take were a lot of fun and quite the
learning experience.  I love mixed drinks but basically suck at creating them; this was my first time with actual teaching.  Patrick was
smart and engaging, and got nearly everyone to participate with making drinks.  I highly recommend it.  There is a $15 cost per class
if you don't have a drink package and $10 if you do.
 
I've been making them all weekend!  Here is one of my best so far - the Toblerone Martini:

Well, we finally made it down to Miami.  Had two standing reservations with Enterprise for a minivan this morning. Got to Enterprise and no minivans.  Had to wait a little bit for one to be brought in.  Did a little trunk Tetris with the luggage and made the 7-hour drive to Miami.  Uneventful other than traffic..but expected cuz Miami and before a big travel holiday..blah blah blah.
Our hotel is the Hampton Inn and Suites Brickell.  Great location if you are flying as it's about 2 blocks from the Metrorail from the airport.  It is downtown Miami so of course not optimal if you're driving because you have to pay to park..so we checked in, ditched the luggage and drove out to the airport to drop off the rental.
$14 Lyft or $2.25 Metrorail...hmmmm tough choice there.  Now, I don't live in a big city so public transportation is a novelty and I embrace it whenever I can.   Rode the 'Rail back and then hit up the gastropub next to the Hampton.
Now our hotel rate came with coupons for drinks at two bars.  One was this gastropub called Batch.  We hit it up and I got their house Black Barrell draft.  It tasted like KY Bourbon Stout but much, much lighter.  We order some eats..and they made mac and cheese out of gnocchi.  This was amazing comfort food and totally worth the hipster we serve grain bowls and avocado toast prices.  The wings were alao good and the Brussels sprouts were also a hit.
Annnnnd..ladies drink free sangria and well drinks from 10pm-1am.  Whaaaaaaat?  So remember that if you stay downtown Miami on Friday night..Batch in Brickell..look them up!  Currently waiting on my free sangria in plastic cups to take it back to the hotel.
Another bonus... @CGTLH paid the dinner tab...haha, sucker.

Sorry to report folks but your eyes aren't playing tricks. Starting tomorrow I'll be coming to you somewhat live from on board the Symphony of the Seas.
This has been a cruise with right around 620 days of waiting. Booked the night reports had started to leak out that Symphony booking had opened up. Little did I know at the time of booking it would be a very short wait to learn this sailing would be part of something much bigger, an official Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise.
Itinerary is somewhat port heavy, but still has time to relax.
Day 1 - Miami
Day 2 - Sea Day
Day 3 - Roatan
Day 4 - Costa Maya
Day 5 - Cozumel
Day 6 - Sea Day
Day 7 - Nassau
Day 8 - Eviction in Miami
 
For those that are new to reading my LIVEish. Check out my previous one to get an idea of what fine quality work I produce: 
 
Finally, I'll leave this image for fun...