emfagan

Congrats @twangster!  Looking good!
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@WAAAYTOOO I believe you are correct as I rarely have seen any available. Exactly what was happening this time. I never gave up hope... hitting the site couple times a day and was delighted to actually see one! 
 

This morning we got the email from the concierge explaining all of our perks, her name is Eliana. We emailed her back to make our dining reservations and she was very prompt in her response. 

For some GREAT information and pictures look here for @JLMoran's blog from his visit to Old San Juan. He did not go through an excursion (but he can now probably lead one!).

Alright, Drinkcalc V.2 is ready for testing.  The underlying math is identical but the interface is better due to it being through a different service.
DrinkCalc V.2

I've been a lurker to the site/forums for quite a while now.  However, recently I have been trying to push myself outside my comfort zone and become an active participant.   My husband and I go on a cruise once a year in May.  This is the only time my husband can travel because of work schedules.  After our last cruise, we earned RC Emerald Status.  Our next cruise in May 21, 2020 on Adventure of the Seas.

Holy moly!
I've often said numbers and stats are nice, but not the focus of what I'm trying to do. I'd rather have a community of 10 people who are supportive, helpful and fun than 10k people who do not talk.
I think it's safe to say that we've retained a good balance of fun and knowledgeable folks here, while attaining a tremendous goal.
The credit lays not with me, but with all of you.  Seriously. These boards do not grow to 10,000 people just because of me. I can't answer every thread, start my live blog ridiculously early (*cough @Lovetocruise2002 *cough), share breaking news or comment for the umpeeth time if @twangster is indeed real.
So many of you have been posting here for years, and others have recently joined and already feel like part of the family. It's been a tremendous journey so far and I am so thankful you are all here to share in it.
A special thank you to the moderators, who help enforce the rules; to some special long-term members who help flag down spammers and alert me when @monorailmedic is being overly annoying; @WAAAYTOOO for answering all those casino threads that I know nothing about; the entire MEI Travel team for helping support our great community.
There's no question the needle is moving in the right direction, and I thank you all once again for being part of this. One of the few regrets I have in the history of this site is not starting the message boards sooner, and today is a great example of why that is.
Thanks all, and let's celebrate with a Kraken and diet coke while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Hey everyone!  This site is such a wealth of knowledge, thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and expertise.
My name is Jerry, and my wife Andrea & I are taking our two boys (age 5 & 8 ) on their first cruise on Oasis of the Seas out of Bayonne on 8/16/20.  The wife and I used to go on a RCCL cruise every year when we were young (I proposed to her on stage on Enchantment back in '99!), but we've not been on one for 14 long years now.  We couldn't be more excited to be cruising again!  Until then, I'll be digging through these boards, watching some live feeds and probably asking LOTS of questions.  Looking forward to getting to know you!  ? 

I've been a lurker to the site/forums for quite a while now.  However, recently I have been trying to push myself outside my comfort zone and become an active participant.   My husband and I go on a cruise once a year in May.  This is the only time my husband can travel because of work schedules.  After our last cruise, we earned RC Emerald Status.  Our next cruise in May 21, 2020 on Adventure of the Seas.

I've been a lurker to the site/forums for quite a while now.  However, recently I have been trying to push myself outside my comfort zone and become an active participant.   My husband and I go on a cruise once a year in May.  This is the only time my husband can travel because of work schedules.  After our last cruise, we earned RC Emerald Status.  Our next cruise in May 21, 2020 on Adventure of the Seas.

Michael Poole's review of the Chef Table on Adventure has almost convinced me to book it for next May.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/10/22/live-blogging-adventure-of-the-seas-–-day-1-–-embarkation-day

Michael Poole's review of the Chef Table on Adventure has almost convinced me to book it for next May.
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/10/22/live-blogging-adventure-of-the-seas-–-day-1-–-embarkation-day

I joined as an Insider today...been using the site, podcasts, boards for years.  It has been a wealth of information...glad to give back!

I've been a lurker to the site/forums for quite a while now.  However, recently I have been trying to push myself outside my comfort zone and become an active participant.   My husband and I go on a cruise once a year in May.  This is the only time my husband can travel because of work schedules.  After our last cruise, we earned RC Emerald Status.  Our next cruise in May 21, 2020 on Adventure of the Seas.

May 21, 2020 Adventure of the Seas

I joined as an Insider today...been using the site, podcasts, boards for years.  It has been a wealth of information...glad to give back!

After dark I thought I'd walk off some of my dinner.  There were a number of low clouds passing above us and it didn't look like a great night for the Milky Way again.  Our direction towards Belize puts the Milky Way at the front of the ship but after Belize we'll start heading back North so this would be the last chance to take advantage of the dark bow to capture it.
A passing storm in the distance caught my eye from deck 6 aft behind Boleros.

It didn't look good for star gazing but I thought I'd try anyways so back to deck 6 forward.  I settled in to let my eyes adjust and it seemed like it was opening up at times.  In between passing clouds I managed to get some more Milky Way shots.  Using lessons learned from the previous night I think they came out pretty good. 

With our fabulous dinner over around 10pm I was too full to retire so I changed into shorts and went for a walk outside on deck 6.  Venturing forward we were sailing into some sea mist from the warm waters yet cooling air and there were some clouds in the sky but I also glimpsed what I thought was something I've photographed before in the night sky.  So I went back to grab my camera and mini tripod.
I've often sailed into the sunset but tonight we were sailing into the milky way.

Capturing the milky way requires long exposures but on a moving ship in the ocean it took some playing around to find some settings that worked.  With the 10 to 15 second exposures I was using I managed to catch some lighting in a distant storm on the horizon.
The bow is dark at night so the bridge crew can keep watch.  The long exposures captured enough light to make the bow look like it's illuminated but it isn't, that's just low levels of ambient light 

The sea mist, clouds and moving ship didn't make for the best astrophotography conditions but I'm pleased with the results.  More lightning:

On land the stars would be more precise and clear, that's the problem with shooting from a moving platform, but I'll take the results.

I'm disappointed in seeing this service ending.  Was hoping on taking Southwest to Newark next May for our Adventure cruise.

We booked this thru RCL excursion.  It was a River Float and Zipline combo.  The organization of the day was not great.  It took awhile to get organized at the port.  There was quite a bit of waiting time between activities.  However, we loved the activities.  Be prepared to be drenched by your guides along the river float.  The ziplines are great!  The lunch was included and was delicious.  We did not have time to do the wate rslide.

Looks like they're honoring the drink package! I'm so happy I shared it and a lot of people got one heck of a deal! Cheers everyone!

I took a few minutes to see when the upcoming dry docks are scheduled and this is what I found.
With the below take into account some days will be taken up getting the ship to and from dry dock ports and to and from the USA - Europe region .
 
Oasis of the Seas 2019 - It appears her final voyage before dry dock is a Western med that leaves 15th September 2019, dry dock seems to be 22nd September with her first voyage back over the pond being November 24th
Voyager of the Seas 2019 It appears her final voyage before dry dock is Hong Kong to Singapore that leaves 3rd September 2019, dry dock seems to be 10th September till 21st October 2019
 
Allure of the seas 2020 - It appears her final voyage before dry dock is a transatlantic that leaves 1st March 2020, dry dock seems to be 13th march till 10th may.
Explorer of the Seas 2020 -  It appears her final voyage before dry dock is a Southern Caribbean that leaves 21st February 2020, dry dock seems to be 1st March till 7th may for her European season.
Freedom of the Seas 2020  It appears her final voyage before dry dock is a Southern Caribbean that leaves 5th January 2020, dry dock seems to be 12th January till 8th March.
 
Adventure of the Seas 2021 - The schedule are not out yet beyond April 2021 with no sign of dry dock in those first 4 months
Liberty of the Seas 2021 - The schedule are not out yet beyond April 2021 with no sign of dry dock in those first 4 months

Frozen drinks....We really enjoy Pina Colada, Miami Vice (Pina Colada/Strawberry Daiquiri combined), Mango Colada, Love Connection (all 3-Pina Colada, Mango and Strawberry) and Labadoozies

We took the water taxi from Fisherman's Wharf (5 min walk from port) to Chinatown.  Then we walked from there thru downtown.  This was a nice way to cut down on walking and see the port from the water.

Looking forward to following you until we board her on May 24th! I’ve followed her since Honolulu — I had friends on that sailing.