Jolly Ogre

On 2/18/2024 at 12:43 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

Sorry, I'm sure this is covered somewhere....

We are going to be on Explorer for 23 days and I'd rather not pay $25/day if I can help it.

I know there are some offsite parking places that are sketchy.  Does anyone have any recommendations for offsite parking at PoM and provides transport to/from the terminal ?

We have used Safe Cruise parking several times without any issues.

https://www.safecruiseparking.com/port-of-miami/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrd2x_tG_hAMVm6NaBR2tVQdXEAAYASAAEgIMt_D_BwE

They had $5 min bet on Symphony last Dec.

1 hour ago, JeffJaje said:

It's not that it's not so good because of poor acting or singing, it's not so good because it's just not a good play. 

I went to the mens room at intermission, and every guy in there was asking, "Do you know what's going on?", "Do you know what this is about?"

Cats is one and done play for me. But I'd gladly see Mama Mia again and again. 

 

Truth!!..So not have ever seen or heard anything about Cats, we saw it on our 1st Oasis cruise and were horrified at the story. The actors, costumes, singing and dancing was excellent. 

What I got from the story was the cats are to vote to decide which cat dies and then the electric cat kills and skins the old man cat and then they ultimately decide to have the old lady cat that looks like a Carol Burnett character die. 

Booked a spring cruise. Nothing in the CP yet.

10 hours ago, Va4fam said:

They are still there, and the peacock too.  My daughter was there yesterday and spotted both.   Probably not as many these days.

To many folks going to the snack shack for the chicken sandwich scared them away.

We get a bungalow and have a quite beach day.

We have been on Symphony two times and this last one was the best cruise ever. Everything was great but for one part of a meal. I did not let that"ruin" my cruise.

I even reassured the waiter that it was not his fault and it was ok, I was not upset about it. Things happen and not everything will be perfect. No worries.

We did Wonderland on our last cruise... I had bee putting it off for a few times as it did look weird. However it was very tasty and I loved the liquid lobster. I could have had a whole bowl of it.

Bah...it is $47.99 for my Dec 2024 sailing on Oasis. I got it Black Friday for $34.99.

Heh!!

That is why you book early... my 2024 Oasis is $2562.00 with insurance and gty included... My 2025 Indy cruise is $2649.12 with insurance and gty included. Both are balcony cabins that I chose the location.

You can see that pricing is going up as the Oasis for an 8 day for 2024 that I booked Dec of 2022 is less than the 7 day Indy that I just booked for 2025.

On 1/27/2024 at 9:40 AM, StuckInOhio said:

Thank you all for the good responses! Now that the flights (Delta) are booked, planning packing is the next thing on my list. I'm going to sound like a noob, but I think I'll do a test pack to see how much luggage space we'll need. You've all brought up good points about packing for Alaska and managing the bags on the plane and at the port. Guess a need a packing list, or better yet, a spreadsheet.  Thanks again.

Don't forget about room for your souvenirs.

5 hours ago, FionaMG said:

That was a great price! I'm on Symphony in 2 weeks' times and the 3 night package has never once budged from $131.99.

Yeah I about choked when I saw it, but nabbed it quick. Have not seen it like that since. 

Caveat I book 2 yrs out so it was a 2021-2022 price for a 2023 sailing. My next one is at the $131.99 showing at 20% off. I booked it as it is still a $80 savings on 3 dinners for 2. I will still be watching for a better sale.

24 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I guess it will depends which ship, and which restaurants. On Liberty like I said with limited choices it's very close. I could see Oasis being a decent savings depending on the restaurant choices. 

I compared this to going to Chops, Izumi and Park 150, as those are the restaurants we would go to. This is on Oasis for Dec 2024. This is also more than I would like to pay and more than I paid for Symphony last month.

I had purchased at a 40% sale and got the 3-night for $85.99 per person for my Dec 2023 sailing. You just have to watch and see if they go cheaper, cancel and rebook. If you book early then time is on your side.

On our upcoming cruise in Dec 2024 by getting the 3 night pkg we save $80 total. However that is at a 20% "sale".

On 1/19/2024 at 10:22 AM, OCSC Mike said:

Are you sure you need the refreshment package now that you're Diamond? (Congrats!)

You can get specialty coffee from the Crown Lounge machine. If that works for you, that leaves you with an awful lot of sodas/juice/water to make it worth it.

No judgment, maybe the coffee machine doesn't have enough variety or you do drink a lot of the other items, just throwing it out there. You can always get the soda package for $10/day or so.

Is there someone in the Crown Lounge to make the specialty coffee for me?

If not then I will still have to go to the Cafe Promenade to get it done.

I am not a barista.

We were on Symphony last month and the 1st and only bad thing I have ever had to say was about 1 portion of a meal served in Hooked. I had the Captain's platter and the only thing bad was the halibut was over cooked and dry. Everything else was perfection. I let them know but I was to full to accept another portion. 

6 minutes ago, Atlantix2000 said:

The point is they aren't as convenient as they sound.  If you have to take the band off to pay for a drink, they aren't really a better option, just a different option.

And you have to PAY for them while the Sea Pass card is included in your cruise fare.

19 minutes ago, Keanoknick said:

Yes,  you shouldn't need to take it out of the sleeve, paying and cabin access are all RFID,  think tap to pay on your cell phone.

Yes that is how it worked last month on Symphony. Easy peasy.

For my 2025 cruise nothing is showing up in the App or CP.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I get this surprise relatively often.  ....like finding out that Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) is British !

Not only that but he is married to Jethro Tull's lead vocalists Ian Anderson's daughter!

16 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I wonder how many people actually check in prior to boarding day. Something tells me a solid percentage of people do not.

Well then they can board at 2-3 pm while I am in the hot tub having my 2nd drink....LOL

On 1/14/2024 at 12:52 PM, OCSC Mike said:

Screenshot it, add it to your Apple Wallet if applicable, print paper copies...

The app can definitely be glitchy but not being able to bring up your set sail pass on embarkation day shouldn't be a disaster.

What is an Apple Wallet?

My wallet is leather. If i shoot my phone then it will no longer function as there will be a hole in it.

I will still tip a dollar or two.

It would be better to find a local one and visit it with your dogs before hand so they will have less anxiety of staying there while you are on vacation.

They are smaller now too. A more straight cup as opposed to the inverted bell shape at the top.