SpeedNoodles

I'm packed!  Our flight doesn't leave until tomorrow evening, so I'll spend tomorrow going to the feed mill and picking up grain for the old lady (i.e. my 33-year-old Paso Fino mare) and taking my house/dog sitter out to lunch before she drives us to MSP.  We'll be arriving very late into FLL, and then we have to Lyft it down to the Intercontinental.  I thought about staying close to FLL, but it would just mean we'd have to get up early to check out, and that would just suck.  BTW, "early' for us is before noon.  We spent far too long being dog shifters (dog shift = overnight) and it's hard for one of us to adjust. I won't say which one of us.
I'm looking forward to the ship, of course, but I'm VERY much looking forward to seeing everyone, some of whom I've met before, some of whom I've just been interacting with for years, and then the people who aren't even on the radar yet!

The lowest price for me to RoyalUp to a Sky Junior Suite was $1775 per person.  It was a big nope for me.

The lowest price for me to RoyalUp to a Sky Junior Suite was $1775 per person.  It was a big nope for me.

The lowest price for me to RoyalUp to a Sky Junior Suite was $1775 per person.  It was a big nope for me.

The lowest price for me to RoyalUp to a Sky Junior Suite was $1775 per person.  It was a big nope for me.

In case anyone is wondering, these were my opening bids when the offer first came through on 12/12/2023. This is coming from an original booking in the Surfside Family Suite. I know from the FB roll call group that opening bids were nuts for others. I think even @SpeedNoodles can comment on that.

My highest option was the Icon Loft. I only placed bids on the Sky Junior, VP, and Grand Suite. I had to stick to somewhat of a bidding budget because like I said before, this sailing is sandwiched between two really big ones for us. My sole objective was to get the heck out Tot Town and back into the suite’s neighbourhood. I knew from tracking the suites after final payment that there was not much hope for a Sky Junior or GS because those never came back into inventory. Infinite Grands, Sunset Suites, and Corner Sunsets came back into inventory but I was not interested in those because they are not on Deck 16/17. And while Owners and one Loft came back into inventory, the opening bid for Owners and Loft were more than I wanted/could spend. That left me with hope in the single VP that I was tracking before they pulled it. PTL I got it and we are back in the suite snob comfort zone 😂
 

I'm looking at a 2025 11-night, roundtrip sailing from Boston to Quebec City.  It would be my first Celebrity cruise.  Is AquaClass worth the perks? It would be about $2600 more than a regular veranda room.  Or is it one of those things where unless it's in The Retreat, it's not worth the extra cost?

MANY of us use M.E.I. Travel.  They are a sponsor of this website, but they are an amazing team.  You can fill out the yellow form on the main page of www.royalcaribbeanblog.com and someone will get back to you!

Yes to both on every ship that I've been on (including Symphony, Harmony, and Allure).

Yes, you can.

Here we are!

MANY of us use M.E.I. Travel.  They are a sponsor of this website, but they are an amazing team.  You can fill out the yellow form on the main page of www.royalcaribbeanblog.com and someone will get back to you!

MANY of us use M.E.I. Travel.  They are a sponsor of this website, but they are an amazing team.  You can fill out the yellow form on the main page of www.royalcaribbeanblog.com and someone will get back to you!

MANY of us use M.E.I. Travel.  They are a sponsor of this website, but they are an amazing team.  You can fill out the yellow form on the main page of www.royalcaribbeanblog.com and someone will get back to you!

I waited too long and can't get our shirts, but we're going to do our best to remember to show up.

It was in the event in one of the inaugural Facebook groups. I saw it by chance last week when I finally marked my attendance as "maybe."
I'm sure the alcohol will still taste the same 😉.

The best insurance policies are ones you never have to use.

I waited too long and can't get our shirts, but we're going to do our best to remember to show up.

It’s been a while, but here a is friendly reminder:
 

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

i am so betrayed by my own self right now. 💔💔💔💔
and here i call myself a pasta and truffle lover. 
WHO EVEN CLAIMS THIS WOMAN!!!!

I have to say that Harmony from Galveston has been our favorite sailing - ever.  While it is a drive from the port, we just took a Lyft with no issues.  We stayed at Harbor House (right on the water) for 2 nights - Galveston is a very nice city to visit.  Take a dolphin tour, you won't be disappointed (about 800 live in the harbor).  The crew on Harmony are fantastic.  There's plenty to do, and lots of places to relax.  A lot of the passengers will be from Texas, and we found them to be relaxed and extremely friendly.  We actually took a post-cruise excursion that took us from the terminal, gave us a short tour of Galveston, and to the Houston Space Center for a few hours before dropping us at the airport (we had a later flight).

The app isn't always accurate this far out.  I wouldn't sweat it.

This seems to be a good change as far as consistency is concerned.  The adults-only area on PDCC is The Hideaway and so now the adults-only area on Icon will also be the Hideaway.

@SpeedNoodles i'm gonna be honest - we booked an aqua class cabin for our 2025 on ascent because i wanted access to blu and blu alone. the rest of it is perks that we will no doubt enjoy, but i wanted a designated restaurant where we could do breakfast/lunch/dinner and the capacity was limited.
if you are more into specialty OR this doesn't appeal as much, i would bump down to concierge or even their balconies/sunset verandas are really quite nice.
i'd love the retreat but that is like star class dollars to me 🤣