Bish

The loft suite are completely and utterly aft.  The nearest staircase or elevator is about 150 steps away.  Be prepared, if you have this suite, to do a LOT of walking.  Conceirge Club Lounge is 300+ steps and two long corridors away.  Not complaining, lord knows I need the exercise.
the club is large, quiet and also completely aft, hence the beautiful view.
some photos of the long corridors you'll take to get here on deck 12 (or has my husband calls it "dick 12" in his best Aussie accent), some signage at the elevators, including an interactive sign.
apologies for the poor photo quality......my husbands phone takes better photos but I can't download them right now for some reason.  Will sort that out and post those later......

Lunch at CK

Well I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has never experienced "reservations" at breakfast.....
today started with a 15-minute late in room breakfast as we were dashing off the boat at 8 for a half day tour (booked by a wonderful trio staying in the royal loft suite).  In suite coffee maker, an Nespresso knockoff, just isn't cutting it, so I'm up in that Conceirge Lounge every morning, doing three espresso shots and then a cafe latte, all in the same cup. For those of u not counting, that's roughly 530 steps, and two flights of stairs, but I digress......
Wour friends genie took us right to the tender and away we went.  I was told later that it can take folks til as late as 1 pm to get OFF the ship, so I felt extra lucky today.  We went to a lagoon for swimming for an hour, and then a fresh water lake/waterfall.  Lots of cruise people there as well, so obviously, this was a book able cruise excursion. 
Didnt wait long to get on a tender and back to the boat.
had a humiliating go at the trapeze this evening before heading to Izumifor dinner.  Food was terrific, ambience  was similar to a 7-eleven.  It was nearly riotous in Atmosphere. Won't be rushing back there, tho the edamame was to die for!
I did not know this before today, but on port days, room service is limited to the regular room service menu.  Lunch was hard to find as we didn't get back onboard and cleaned up til 2ish, so I ended up grabbing a slice of pizza at Sorrentos, which was quite good.  They also serve a few varieties of salad here.
 

I'm sorry I throw them out daily.  I can keep today's onward tho!
day 3 ended at Jamie's which was absolutely fantastic.  Once again, service is a little slow, but the menu was fantastic and the food marvelous.  Had bruschetta, calamari and garlic bread.....excellent.  Mains were very good also......kids had sliders, pumpkin had lamb which he thought was pretty good and I had ummm, gosh I can't remember right now what I had.  It will come to me. Kids and I were tired, but hubby cajoled the boy into going to Legs, Love, Live and The girl and I came to bed.
So day 4 was our third consecutive day at sea......we had breakfast at Coastal Kitchen, tho my son wanted to try the main dining room for breakfast so we tried there first.  There are four main dining rooms onboard; whichever one we went to we were turned away as we hadn't made reservations.  The second one we went to the people were lined up twenty deep.  So CK it was.....
After breakfast, I went swimming with the kids.  There is a cigarette smoke smell that drifts into the indoor (ish) pool area.  There is a small lazy river and water slides for smaller kids at the outdoor pool.  My two were too big for those. After that we received a private bridge tour, as we ran into the captain a couple of nights earlier and we recognized him from a previous cruise so he was good enough to arrange a private more close up tour.  Crazy small world, I met an Officer up there who grew up in the same part of the city as me (Winnipeg) so it was like old homecoming week there for about twenty minutes....."so did you know so and so?"......
from there it was lunch at of all places, windjammer.  Nothing there appealed to me, but hubby ate....said it was ok.  Then it was on to the skydiving simulator again, then kids tried rollerskating ( be prepared......go early enuf to put all the equipment on, get the skates, and be aware that the safety equipment is pretty gross......Velcro is old, elastics are stretched and it's sweaty! )
dinner was at the chefs table......I have never done one before. I'm a foodie and I love learning about food and cooking so I really enjoyed it.  The food was sublime and the server, Andrej, was hilarious.  He was doing tricks with water glasses and champagne corks and bottles.....and there was a really nice group of people around the table.  I felt very fortunate and rather tipsy.....there were some really lovely wines throughout the meal and by the end of the whole thing, with a full belly and a bit too much wine onboard, I just wanted to go home to sleep!
I'm still trying to hook Luciano up with Eva......stay tuned......

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

Omg, all we do are stairs and corridors!  The elevators are full full full and slow slow slow! Walking off all these meals......
we did the skydive simulator in the afternoon which Luciano had booked us in for.  It was fun......be prepared with running shoes......they provide the rest of the equipment.  Met a lovely trio of fellow star cruisers who are in the royal loft suite.  They invited us up for a cocktail and we got a tour of that beautiful suite......it's huge! We have invited them to our grand loft suite this afternoon after we all do another skydive.
did bumper cars in the late afternoon.......special line up spot for star class guests and we essentially jumped the queue about five times. My ten year old son did rock climbing after that.
dinner was at Wonderland. It was awful.  Slow service, really imaginative food, which was expected, but the kids didn't like much of it and frankly, neither did I.  Service took so long we politely left before the main courses ever arrived.  Will not be revisiting that place. Kids went to bed and we went to  the show.
Went to a comedy show at 8:15 and the guy was hilarious.  Can't remember his name, sorry!  Then to vintages for a drink,  to the casino for a look-see, then to bed.  
Luciano is only and always just a phone call away.  We were escorted to our seats for the show, to the skydiving simulator.  Laundry is free as is pressing. Tons of water and coke and juices in the room, as well as beer.  Fresh berries arrived in the afternoon.....perfect! If u want spirits, they bring them by the glass.  Very impressed with the service and perks!
Here are a few random shots...menu is from CK breakfast....Baja eggs were awesome!  Some shots of Sydney from the North Star (also a jump the queue situation!), goat cheese salad...seafood tower at sail away on the balcony.....
 

Omg, all we do are stairs and corridors!  The elevators are full full full and slow slow slow! Walking off all these meals......
we did the skydive simulator in the afternoon which Luciano had booked us in for.  It was fun......be prepared with running shoes......they provide the rest of the equipment.  Met a lovely trio of fellow star cruisers who are in the royal loft suite.  They invited us up for a cocktail and we got a tour of that beautiful suite......it's huge! We have invited them to our grand loft suite this afternoon after we all do another skydive.
did bumper cars in the late afternoon.......special line up spot for star class guests and we essentially jumped the queue about five times. My ten year old son did rock climbing after that.
dinner was at Wonderland. It was awful.  Slow service, really imaginative food, which was expected, but the kids didn't like much of it and frankly, neither did I.  Service took so long we politely left before the main courses ever arrived.  Will not be revisiting that place. Kids went to bed and we went to  the show.
Went to a comedy show at 8:15 and the guy was hilarious.  Can't remember his name, sorry!  Then to vintages for a drink,  to the casino for a look-see, then to bed.  
Luciano is only and always just a phone call away.  We were escorted to our seats for the show, to the skydiving simulator.  Laundry is free as is pressing. Tons of water and coke and juices in the room, as well as beer.  Fresh berries arrived in the afternoon.....perfect! If u want spirits, they bring them by the glass.  Very impressed with the service and perks!
Here are a few random shots...menu is from CK breakfast....Baja eggs were awesome!  Some shots of Sydney from the North Star (also a jump the queue situation!), goat cheese salad...seafood tower at sail away on the balcony.....
 

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

Luciano got us in for another skydive today, roller skating is reserved for 4:30, we met two other families in star class and are having them for cocktails at 3:30.  I was sorta surprised when I asked Luciano if we could have a bottle of champagne for this and he said yes, but he would have to charge me for it.n bummed that this is an inconsistency across the genie fleet.  On days at sea, there is a bar cart service from 3:30-5:30 so we can also order from that. 
Yesterday we were invited for a cocktail in the royal loft suite.....holy cow that suite is just massive.  I feel like we live in a little hovel here on "dick 10" (this accent on the word "deck" I am told, is not Aussie but rather a kiwi accent.....but I use that word allllll the time now when we are out and about doing those stairs and hallways, and I laugh out loud every single time.....). Anyways back to that royal loft....it's really special.  But this grand loft we r in is super awesome as well, so no complaining!
if you are doing the skydiving simulator, try to get booked in with Eva........she was soooo much fun with each rider, doing little tricks with them like flips or taking them up high.  Then at the end, she went in herself and wowd the pants off all of us!  She did this impromptu acrobatic show that had my son saying to me afterwards "mom......now I know why they say boys drool and girls rule!!"  If I could have tipped her I would have.  And FYI, we had one little girl in our group who was about 5 and she rocked it for her first ride!
dinner tonight at Jamie's. Chefs table tomorrow night.
tomorrow is another day at sea.
a video from the balcony as I type......
 
 

capturedvideo.MOV

Had lunch at Chops Grille yesterday, which was really good.  Ordered the crab cake and goat cheese salad.  Hubby had steak, mashed potato and asparagus.  Too full for dessert.
 




 

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

Well our room service arrived and with it a bottle of champagne......I guess six glasses is a bottle, so he said it's basically a wash.
ordered some veggies and dip and fresh berries.....I thought it would be a break from the heavier fare we seem to be inhaling at every turn on this ship!
 

Luciano got us in for another skydive today, roller skating is reserved for 4:30, we met two other families in star class and are having them for cocktails at 3:30.  I was sorta surprised when I asked Luciano if we could have a bottle of champagne for this and he said yes, but he would have to charge me for it.n bummed that this is an inconsistency across the genie fleet.  On days at sea, there is a bar cart service from 3:30-5:30 so we can also order from that. 
Yesterday we were invited for a cocktail in the royal loft suite.....holy cow that suite is just massive.  I feel like we live in a little hovel here on "dick 10" (this accent on the word "deck" I am told, is not Aussie but rather a kiwi accent.....but I use that word allllll the time now when we are out and about doing those stairs and hallways, and I laugh out loud every single time.....). Anyways back to that royal loft....it's really special.  But this grand loft we r in is super awesome as well, so no complaining!
if you are doing the skydiving simulator, try to get booked in with Eva........she was soooo much fun with each rider, doing little tricks with them like flips or taking them up high.  Then at the end, she went in herself and wowd the pants off all of us!  She did this impromptu acrobatic show that had my son saying to me afterwards "mom......now I know why they say boys drool and girls rule!!"  If I could have tipped her I would have.  And FYI, we had one little girl in our group who was about 5 and she rocked it for her first ride!
dinner tonight at Jamie's. Chefs table tomorrow night.
tomorrow is another day at sea.
a video from the balcony as I type......
 
 

capturedvideo.MOV

Omg, all we do are stairs and corridors!  The elevators are full full full and slow slow slow! Walking off all these meals......
we did the skydive simulator in the afternoon which Luciano had booked us in for.  It was fun......be prepared with running shoes......they provide the rest of the equipment.  Met a lovely trio of fellow star cruisers who are in the royal loft suite.  They invited us up for a cocktail and we got a tour of that beautiful suite......it's huge! We have invited them to our grand loft suite this afternoon after we all do another skydive.
did bumper cars in the late afternoon.......special line up spot for star class guests and we essentially jumped the queue about five times. My ten year old son did rock climbing after that.
dinner was at Wonderland. It was awful.  Slow service, really imaginative food, which was expected, but the kids didn't like much of it and frankly, neither did I.  Service took so long we politely left before the main courses ever arrived.  Will not be revisiting that place. Kids went to bed and we went to  the show.
Went to a comedy show at 8:15 and the guy was hilarious.  Can't remember his name, sorry!  Then to vintages for a drink,  to the casino for a look-see, then to bed.  
Luciano is only and always just a phone call away.  We were escorted to our seats for the show, to the skydiving simulator.  Laundry is free as is pressing. Tons of water and coke and juices in the room, as well as beer.  Fresh berries arrived in the afternoon.....perfect! If u want spirits, they bring them by the glass.  Very impressed with the service and perks!
Here are a few random shots...menu is from CK breakfast....Baja eggs were awesome!  Some shots of Sydney from the North Star (also a jump the queue situation!), goat cheese salad...seafood tower at sail away on the balcony.....
 

Had lunch at Chops Grille yesterday, which was really good.  Ordered the crab cake and goat cheese salad.  Hubby had steak, mashed potato and asparagus.  Too full for dessert.
 




 

The loft suite are completely and utterly aft.  The nearest staircase or elevator is about 150 steps away.  Be prepared, if you have this suite, to do a LOT of walking.  Conceirge Club Lounge is 300+ steps and two long corridors away.  Not complaining, lord knows I need the exercise.
the club is large, quiet and also completely aft, hence the beautiful view.
some photos of the long corridors you'll take to get here on deck 12 (or has my husband calls it "dick 12" in his best Aussie accent), some signage at the elevators, including an interactive sign.
apologies for the poor photo quality......my husbands phone takes better photos but I can't download them right now for some reason.  Will sort that out and post those later......

Some photos of 10324:
ill post more photos later of the room, bathroom, etc.
no bath tub in this suite which really bums me out.

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

Luciano got us in for another skydive today, roller skating is reserved for 4:30, we met two other families in star class and are having them for cocktails at 3:30.  I was sorta surprised when I asked Luciano if we could have a bottle of champagne for this and he said yes, but he would have to charge me for it.n bummed that this is an inconsistency across the genie fleet.  On days at sea, there is a bar cart service from 3:30-5:30 so we can also order from that. 
Yesterday we were invited for a cocktail in the royal loft suite.....holy cow that suite is just massive.  I feel like we live in a little hovel here on "dick 10" (this accent on the word "deck" I am told, is not Aussie but rather a kiwi accent.....but I use that word allllll the time now when we are out and about doing those stairs and hallways, and I laugh out loud every single time.....). Anyways back to that royal loft....it's really special.  But this grand loft we r in is super awesome as well, so no complaining!
if you are doing the skydiving simulator, try to get booked in with Eva........she was soooo much fun with each rider, doing little tricks with them like flips or taking them up high.  Then at the end, she went in herself and wowd the pants off all of us!  She did this impromptu acrobatic show that had my son saying to me afterwards "mom......now I know why they say boys drool and girls rule!!"  If I could have tipped her I would have.  And FYI, we had one little girl in our group who was about 5 and she rocked it for her first ride!
dinner tonight at Jamie's. Chefs table tomorrow night.
tomorrow is another day at sea.
a video from the balcony as I type......
 
 

capturedvideo.MOV

Omg, all we do are stairs and corridors!  The elevators are full full full and slow slow slow! Walking off all these meals......
we did the skydive simulator in the afternoon which Luciano had booked us in for.  It was fun......be prepared with running shoes......they provide the rest of the equipment.  Met a lovely trio of fellow star cruisers who are in the royal loft suite.  They invited us up for a cocktail and we got a tour of that beautiful suite......it's huge! We have invited them to our grand loft suite this afternoon after we all do another skydive.
did bumper cars in the late afternoon.......special line up spot for star class guests and we essentially jumped the queue about five times. My ten year old son did rock climbing after that.
dinner was at Wonderland. It was awful.  Slow service, really imaginative food, which was expected, but the kids didn't like much of it and frankly, neither did I.  Service took so long we politely left before the main courses ever arrived.  Will not be revisiting that place. Kids went to bed and we went to  the show.
Went to a comedy show at 8:15 and the guy was hilarious.  Can't remember his name, sorry!  Then to vintages for a drink,  to the casino for a look-see, then to bed.  
Luciano is only and always just a phone call away.  We were escorted to our seats for the show, to the skydiving simulator.  Laundry is free as is pressing. Tons of water and coke and juices in the room, as well as beer.  Fresh berries arrived in the afternoon.....perfect! If u want spirits, they bring them by the glass.  Very impressed with the service and perks!
Here are a few random shots...menu is from CK breakfast....Baja eggs were awesome!  Some shots of Sydney from the North Star (also a jump the queue situation!), goat cheese salad...seafood tower at sail away on the balcony.....
 

Luciano got us in for another skydive today, roller skating is reserved for 4:30, we met two other families in star class and are having them for cocktails at 3:30.  I was sorta surprised when I asked Luciano if we could have a bottle of champagne for this and he said yes, but he would have to charge me for it.n bummed that this is an inconsistency across the genie fleet.  On days at sea, there is a bar cart service from 3:30-5:30 so we can also order from that. 
Yesterday we were invited for a cocktail in the royal loft suite.....holy cow that suite is just massive.  I feel like we live in a little hovel here on "dick 10" (this accent on the word "deck" I am told, is not Aussie but rather a kiwi accent.....but I use that word allllll the time now when we are out and about doing those stairs and hallways, and I laugh out loud every single time.....). Anyways back to that royal loft....it's really special.  But this grand loft we r in is super awesome as well, so no complaining!
if you are doing the skydiving simulator, try to get booked in with Eva........she was soooo much fun with each rider, doing little tricks with them like flips or taking them up high.  Then at the end, she went in herself and wowd the pants off all of us!  She did this impromptu acrobatic show that had my son saying to me afterwards "mom......now I know why they say boys drool and girls rule!!"  If I could have tipped her I would have.  And FYI, we had one little girl in our group who was about 5 and she rocked it for her first ride!
dinner tonight at Jamie's. Chefs table tomorrow night.
tomorrow is another day at sea.
a video from the balcony as I type......
 
 

capturedvideo.MOV

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

This is Eva of Ripcord......my kid is now saying when he grows up, he wants to do Eva's job on this ship......
sigh. The other day he was going to be an astronaut.....

Well our room service arrived and with it a bottle of champagne......I guess six glasses is a bottle, so he said it's basically a wash.
ordered some veggies and dip and fresh berries.....I thought it would be a break from the heavier fare we seem to be inhaling at every turn on this ship!
 

Luciano got us in for another skydive today, roller skating is reserved for 4:30, we met two other families in star class and are having them for cocktails at 3:30.  I was sorta surprised when I asked Luciano if we could have a bottle of champagne for this and he said yes, but he would have to charge me for it.n bummed that this is an inconsistency across the genie fleet.  On days at sea, there is a bar cart service from 3:30-5:30 so we can also order from that. 
Yesterday we were invited for a cocktail in the royal loft suite.....holy cow that suite is just massive.  I feel like we live in a little hovel here on "dick 10" (this accent on the word "deck" I am told, is not Aussie but rather a kiwi accent.....but I use that word allllll the time now when we are out and about doing those stairs and hallways, and I laugh out loud every single time.....). Anyways back to that royal loft....it's really special.  But this grand loft we r in is super awesome as well, so no complaining!
if you are doing the skydiving simulator, try to get booked in with Eva........she was soooo much fun with each rider, doing little tricks with them like flips or taking them up high.  Then at the end, she went in herself and wowd the pants off all of us!  She did this impromptu acrobatic show that had my son saying to me afterwards "mom......now I know why they say boys drool and girls rule!!"  If I could have tipped her I would have.  And FYI, we had one little girl in our group who was about 5 and she rocked it for her first ride!
dinner tonight at Jamie's. Chefs table tomorrow night.
tomorrow is another day at sea.
a video from the balcony as I type......
 
 

capturedvideo.MOV