WannaCruise

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

What?! You are on this sailing? How did I not know that? We need to meet up for a drink. Me, you, and @WannaCruise. Canadian blog members meetup lol

That would be great!

It was great following along.  Seems like a great cruise with amazing itinerary.  Sorry you weren't thrilled with Liberty itself, but at least this was a port intensive cruise (and a cruise is still a cruise).  Safe travels home.  

On 8/29/2023 at 3:26 PM, DDaley said:

As soon as I booked through Air2Sea I was able to go on the Alaska site and choose my seats even though I didn’t pay until final payment, months later! I actually saved money on my flights booking through A2S. I recently paid the $120 each for our flight from San Diego to Seattle (price locked from A2S, booked the day the date was available) and it’s currently listed at $593 each!! 

I think it must depend on the airline.  We are trying Air2Sea for the first time in December.  The airline is WestJet but we are not able to book our seats until we pay off the flight. It's a chance we are taking, but like the fact that we don't have to pay the flight off when booking.

We're on this cruise.  Me, DH, DS18 and DD14. 

First time on Odyssey and first time cruising at December holiday time.  Can't wait!

I'm always amazed at seeing these suite type rooms.  I think the rooms that we stay in are the size of the closet you showed  Enjoy!

25 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Not worth it for us. DTW is 45 mins door to terminal. YYZ is 4 hours. Flying out of Detroit also makes it a domestic flight. Way cheaper. Flying out of YYZ would be international. I am not a fan of Delta right now, but AC is even worse. And YYZ is a disaster zone. Those are all the reasons. 

I might very well have to fly AC out of YYZ next July when we go to Europe. It's looking more and more like that is the cheaper option.

Ah ok, I thought you were closer to Pearson.

I know though...AC is both very pricey and as you say, a Pearson is a disaster, and totally understand wanting to fly US to US.  

Safe travels.

48 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Nothing solid yet, but wherever she goes, our vacations with her will take a dive. We will lose March Break for sure because universities have "reading week" which is mid-October and mid-February. But I work during those times. That leaves us with summer (but she might be out for that too if she has a job that she cannot get out of or takes summer courses), or NYE sailings (she might be getting to a point where she wants to spend NYE with people other than her parents lol). So we know our vacation time as a family of 4 is running out. Just trying to maximize it the best we can.  Wow, that makes me so sad to even type that....

21 minutes ago, Jax said:

Don’t even get me started I am in the same boat but in my mind it’s worse because Reyd is an only child.  I haven’t booked anything beyond summer 2024 but am hoping we can work around his apprenticeship. He will attend trade school 2 months per year for 4 years and apprentice the remaining 10 months so I am hoping this will be manageable for trips.  But who knows

I hear you both.  Mine goes off in a week to university.  No more summer and March break cruises with all of us.  We booked this Dec holiday time so our son can come with us.  This Dec and next Dec (should) work and then who knows.

This is one of the reasons I treasure these cruise vacations together and they are really special.  Seems like you both feel the same.

Sabrina...on a different note. I know you typically fly out of Detroit to Florida but curious why you don't just depart out of Toronto for NYC?  It's only an hour or so flight and no commute (if I'm remembering correctly you are in the area).

11 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

- D17 nothing, although she has compiled a packing list for her clothes. Yes, she makes a packing list for clothes every time. Not sure how many other people out there do this? 

 

Absolutely!  I'm a spreadsheet girl from price tracking to excursion to hotels to potential schedule, etc.  And then definitely a page for packing.  It's handy though as I often start with the list from last time and then add or remove accordingly.  You DD sounds very organized.

Great to see you back so soon after you previous cruise, and this one with the four of you.  It's not Oasis class, but Liberty is a nice ship and what an amazing itinerary.  Funny enough, when DH and I returned from Navigator last month, we booked the 4 night on Liberty for next summer, which stops in Halifax.  Never been there.  It's funny  as we are travelling to New York to do a Canada cruise.  

Have an amazing cruise.  Looking forward to following along.

PS - Don't blame you for staying right in NYC.  NYC is awesome.

I don't know Detroit but it's a nice sunny day over here where you are returning.  Fingers crossed.

Great live blog as always.  Thanks for taking us along.  You really make Wonder seems wonderful (couldn't resist ) so glad  and you both had an amazing anniversary cruise.  Safe, and uneventful flight home.

Following.  We just got off Navigator a couple weeks ago and had a great time.  Interested in hearing others experiences.

Hope you are having a wonderful cruise.  (Sounds like you are so far)

10 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Not a buffet but they do family style. That is what we have been doing, ordering a bunch and share between the two of us. They said family style sharing is common there.

Thanks. Family style is nice as you can then try a bit of all that interests you. 

Loving your review. Looks like you and your hubby are having such a wonderful time.  Can't wait for Wonder in March.

I'm with you and love watching the water from the aft.  So peaceful.  

And Dh too...he's into watches and I can't even count how many he has....so can relate to yours stopping by promenade and taking a look (and more!).

Question about Mason Jar...is it a buffet?  Or all you can eat family style where they bring it to the table as all you can eat?  We usually skip specialty but that one does look kind of neat and you obviously really enjoyed it.

18 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Some pics from the Top Tier event:

Ricky Matthews is our CD. We have sailed with him before. Funny guy, lots of energy.

We had Ricky on Oasis back in March.  He's really funny, and friendly if you see him around the ship.

 

 

 

 

OMG...too funny!  I just read DH your paragraph about the shelving about “premium top shelf space and not the be relegated to the bottom leftovers”.  I'm in hysterics (and can relate) 

Your room looks awesome!

Hope  you were both able to get some rest and also enjoy Disney Springs.

Btw, what happened to your luggage?  Were you able to pick it up from MCO?

On our last cruise during March break, we followed your advice and did the 1 luggage checked in with evening wear and bigger toiletries, and then we each had carry on with the bulk of our stuff.  Worked very well...And looks like it is good for this time around for you too.

OMG....what a day you two have had.  Am so sorry.  You must be exhausted.  Safe driving (if you end up going that route)

So sorry Sabrina. It used to just be winter flights were stressful, by these days it's anytime. Good your cruise isn't for a few days but of course it impa your current plans and you just want to get to Orlando.  Hoping all good with your rescheduled flight. It's good they twbooked you. 

34 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I can go the rest of my life without Mickey Mouse and be content lol

Got it! We don't know how to do Disney any other way other than summer Disney. Price of having to work around school schedules.

Glad you are back safe from Navigator! That is still one ship that I need to sail still. We've booked it several times since it got amped and either traded it for something else or lost it over the pandemic.

Haha...I get it.  Disney isn't for everyone.  I bet your husband though will love Star Wars land.  It's pretty impressive (and that's coming from a non-Star Wars fan).  Rise of the Resistance is really cool.

Thanks.  Navigator isn't Oasis class, but it's a pretty nice Voyager ship class.  Hopefully you'll make it one of these days.  Mind you, it's out of LA right now.  (It got us to Diamond, which is why we went all the way for this cruise).

Happy cruising!

P.S. - Highly recommend a hand held fan for Disney in the summer (and ponchos)

Guess I'm late to the party, but just returned and saw your post.  Happy Anniversary!  Your vacation is best of both worlds....Disney + Cruise!!!  (Although seems like you could have done without Mickey Mouse).

Enjoy Wonder.  We'll be trying her for next March break.  Have an amazing vacation!  Looking forward to following along.

July 14 on Navigator

On 5/30/2023 at 5:40 PM, teddy said:

Our personal experiences with Royal Up is that since ships have been sailing at full capacity, we haven’t had a bid accepted regardless of how much over the minimum we’ve bid. 
 

That being said, Royal Up is more a fun game of chance for us than a legit hope of upgrading.  We book the cabin type we want to begin with. 

That's what I don't get.  We got a Royal Up email for our July cruise and when I look at the categories on which they are allowing us to bid, they are all sold out.  Makes no sense.  We did put a bid in for the fun of it, but it's low and no rooms available as of now, so figure we have 0.0036% chance of us winning the Royal up.

12 minutes ago, Peter D said:

Just got off Odyssey for 10 night Greek Isle cruise.  We had a JS (9612) and it was a great room with two bathrooms.  Never seen that before and it was very pleasant surprise.

I am a fan of it and the quantum class in general.   Odyssey in particular has excellent shows (Effectors, Showgirls-past present future, and the Book (in 270).   Seaplex is a cool places with bumper cars, laser tag and many sporting options.  It also has playmakers.

Frequently quantum ships will have very good cover bands (DSB, No Quarter etc ) in Music Hall.

Food quality is generally good.

I agree that the ice shows and aqua shows of Oasis ships are sorely missed.   Esplanade vs Promenade is fine with me either way.

Odyssey has laser tag?  Didn't realize that.

We will be on Odyssey for the first time in December.  I quite enjoyed Anthem so figure this will be similar (esp now with SkyPad and virtual reality game gone).