Phillip Diamond Plus

How about staying home ported in Seattle and doing California coastal with a stop in Ensenada or Cabo for a foreign port?! It’s always been a dream that a ship would stay in Vancouver or Seattle year round doing southbound sailings outside of the Alaska sailings. 

I have a deluxe room Harbor View, so I hope to see my ship.

We have stayed at the Hyatt Regency mid town, which is an excellent location. It is a super nice hotel.
 It is probably about 7 or 8 blocks from the cruise terminal as I remember.  it is also right next to the Sky Train. Get on the Sky Train and go one stop to Gas Town where many restaurants and attractions are. 
  We are on the Ovation May 5th, 2022 cruise and have decided to stay at Pan Pacific this time which is at the Cruise port. We hopefully will see our ship outside our window before boarding in the morning. 

Lose weight on a cruise:
I somehow lost about 3 pounds on my 7 day cruise last month. And I ate and drank a lot!!!. Go figure?
 I believe that I lost some weight because I was so active each day. I am much more active during a sailing week than I usually am at home. My "fitbit" proves that.
And, a lot of the foods that I ate may have been healthy choices??? (Except the desserts! Ha Ha) 
So maybe cruising will not be so bad for your diet???
 
 
 

Smoking among adults in USA has now fallen to about 14%. But that percentage is probably much smaller for those who travel?   
   Many of the non smokers like myself, do not enjoy staying in the casino for long, even when staying on the nonsmoking side. The air there still smells like cigarette smoke.
I wish there was a separate casino room for those of us who don't smoke. 

Smoking among adults in USA has now fallen to about 14%. But that percentage is probably much smaller for those who travel?   
   Many of the non smokers like myself, do not enjoy staying in the casino for long, even when staying on the nonsmoking side. The air there still smells like cigarette smoke.
I wish there was a separate casino room for those of us who don't smoke. 

Smoking among adults in USA has now fallen to about 14%. But that percentage is probably much smaller for those who travel?   
   Many of the non smokers like myself, do not enjoy staying in the casino for long, even when staying on the nonsmoking side. The air there still smells like cigarette smoke.
I wish there was a separate casino room for those of us who don't smoke. 

Hi "Steverk"!  We are on your ship next week. We would love for you to share more information on your experiences this week on indy! 

Suggestion:  Goggle each ship's deck plans and you will see the offerings each ship has.
Some examples of new features according to these deck plans:
Both ships have Playmakers.
On the pool deck, Independence has Fish and Ships while Freedom has Loco Fresh;  
Diamond has Lime and Coconut while Indy still has the regular bars near the pool   ...   ... ...  ... ... 
  Both are great Freedom class ships!
We will sail away on Indy this Sunday from Galveston. Can't wait!!!
 This will be our first cruise since we sailed on Oasis the week before shutdown in March of 2020. 

It all depends on what and when you like to drink.
The vouchers work well for those who want more expensive mixed drinks or wine!  And the vouchers work well for those who want to drink anytime during the day.
Those that prefer to drink, for example, lite beer and lower priced wine/sparkling wine or hard seltzer  before dinner, may prefer the unlimited happy hours. 
 I am happy with either benefit and we should thank Royal Caribbean for having such great benefits for their loyal cruisers.
 

It all depends on what and when you like to drink.
The vouchers work well for those who want more expensive mixed drinks or wine!  And the vouchers work well for those who want to drink anytime during the day.
Those that prefer to drink, for example, lite beer and lower priced wine/sparkling wine or hard seltzer  before dinner, may prefer the unlimited happy hours. 
 I am happy with either benefit and we should thank Royal Caribbean for having such great benefits for their loyal cruisers.
 

Our balcony guarantee got us a connecting stateroom balcony aft location, near the stern on deck 7 Independence of the Seas 9/12 /21 cruise.   That location is fine with us.
   As far as the connecting stateroom, we have had these rooms several times before and have never noticed any noise.
   We are thrilled to have saved major bucks by selecting the guarantee category. 

Our balcony guarantee got us a connecting stateroom balcony aft location, near the stern on deck 7 Independence of the Seas 9/12 /21 cruise.   That location is fine with us.
   As far as the connecting stateroom, we have had these rooms several times before and have never noticed any noise.
   We are thrilled to have saved major bucks by selecting the guarantee category. 

Our Independence of the Seas  9/12/21 cruise:
      We are taking a  non-stop flight from Knoxville on Allegiant air to  the Hobby airport.  We're then taking Delta 1 stop when returning home from Hobby. So you may want to check out these airlines in addition to Southwest. 
     We haven't stayed in Galveston before, so we have researched places to stay in Galveston..
     So based on information on web sites, it is our plan to stay 1 night after the cruise on the 'seawall" beach front at 4 Points by Sheridan(now Marriott) . It's across the street from the famous Murdochs gift shop on a beach pier.  (They sell beer and frozen alcoholic drinks or other on the back deck where you sit in rocking chairs and watch the ocean.) 
    The hotel is also very close to the Pleasure Pier, where Fish Tales and Bubba Gump seafood restaurant are. . Other restaurants  are also close by, like "Millers" and "BLVD"... 
    Hope this helps!
    

Wish I was there with you!  I'm jealous!
Question:  What is the Diamond Lounge like? Do you have to use vouchers? Or are vouchers just for more expensive drinks not on the Damond drink list?

Wish I was there with you!  I'm jealous!
Question:  What is the Diamond Lounge like? Do you have to use vouchers? Or are vouchers just for more expensive drinks not on the Damond drink list?

Wish I was there with you!  I'm jealous!
Question:  What is the Diamond Lounge like? Do you have to use vouchers? Or are vouchers just for more expensive drinks not on the Damond drink list?

We have really enjoyed 2 cruises during Christmas on Royal Caribbean ships!  Before our first Christmas cruise, we had trepidations about whether we might miss out on the spirit of Christmas. (We are Christian).  But with the plethora of beautiful Christmas decorations, the Christmas music and carols, and even Santa and elves on board, we felt filled with the holiday spirit.  
   Note: But the Santa that surfed on Freedom of the Seas looked a little too thin. Ha

Thank you Twangster!  What great research!  I really appreciate it!  I used to be do a lot of  research work when I was a Graduate Assistant many years ago!  So I am impressed!  I am bookmarking your page for future reference. I now plan to use your 2nd day strategy when purchasing internet!

Thank you Twangster!  What great research!  I really appreciate it!  I used to be do a lot of  research work when I was a Graduate Assistant many years ago!  So I am impressed!  I am bookmarking your page for future reference. I now plan to use your 2nd day strategy when purchasing internet!

Yes, my wife and I will gladly wear a mask. Just to be back on board a Royal Caribbean cruise is all we require. Before when the pandemic started, we thought that we would not want to do this; but now we are used to it. So yes we have changed our mind on wearing a mask. Can't wait to cruise again!

Thank you for your excellent and knowledgeable writing on this topic!!! I now think that I understand the "back to back" process!

Thank you for your excellent and knowledgeable writing on this topic!!! I now think that I understand the "back to back" process!

I sure hope that Jewel will still sail on the 12 night sailing May 28th to the British Isles from Amsterdam.  I am booked on that one and also have air. 

I sure hope that Jewel will still sail on the 12 night sailing May 28th to the British Isles from Amsterdam.  I am booked on that one and also have air.