Fairlynew

I just got back from Harmony.  We generally ate two meals a day in the CK-either breakfast and dinner or lunch and dinner.  We loved it!  We had one lunch in the MDR.  I like the MDR generally, but on a ship of that size, we found it a little overwhelming.  It was crowded and busy.  By the contrast, the CK was a peaceful "Oasis".  By the second day, the manager and the servers knew our names.  Service was prompt-must faster than the MDR and the food was wonderful.  The views were spectacular.  I highly recommend dinner there, in particular.  The other meals, we grabbed at the Vitality Cafe, the Park Cafe, Sorrentos or Mini-bites, depending on mood, etc.  

Umm...everything!  And yes!
CK is better than the MDR in terms of everything from service, food quality and presentation, and the views. 
The food in CK is made to order (and not mass produced like the MDR).  The quality of the food is comparable, if not better sometimes to a specialty restaurant.  In fact, many of the meals in CK are also in the specialty restaurants and Chef's Table. 
The menu in CK is also an upgraded menu from the MDR. 
And last but not least, you cannot the beat the ambiance of CK, especially on Oasis class ships.  Up on on Deck 17, with floor to ceiling windows, it's airy and bright and a more relaxed environment that the MDR.  I never go to the MDR if I have access to CK. 
If you are interested in seeing the CK menu from SY, it's in my blog along with some food pics.

Ok...my name is Jane and my cruise can’t come soon enough!  Yes...they are all my posts!  Jane

Not sure if people make lists like that on this site, but in general you will that people are very warm and welcoming, with little to no negativity.  They have answered dozens of questions for me.

Royal's HQ is in Miami, right?  Floridians are good judges of BBQ?  LOL Oh boy...I have a feeling I'm not going to be missing much.  

Texas barbecue is okay but to me the pulled pork in NC is truly barbecue.  Bet I’m starting a barbecue war?

I wonder what would have happened to the people left behind on CoCo Cay if there had not been another ship in port?

I sailed Disney once and never cared to cruise again.  Fast forward over a dozen years and we cruised RC last fall and I have already booked 2 more cruises with RC. And we were just in a guarantee balcony cabin.  Hope you have an equally great experience 

I sailed Disney once and never cared to cruise again.  Fast forward over a dozen years and we cruised RC last fall and I have already booked 2 more cruises with RC. And we were just in a guarantee balcony cabin.  Hope you have an equally great experience 

Here we go.....

I hope you don't expect a lot of sympathy from those of who cruise less frequently  ?

Thanks to all for the best wishes!!  I am not taking a computer, so I won't be doing a blog-that plus I'm not much of a photographer and I am a boring person.  My plans, not necessarily in this order, are to spend the next week reading, eating, sleeping and taking advantage of the beverage package.  I have not yet packed anything, but I have loaded a LOT of books on my kindle.  I have my priorities!!!

Texas barbecue is okay but to me the pulled pork in NC is truly barbecue.  Bet I’m starting a barbecue war?

Thanks to all for the best wishes!!  I am not taking a computer, so I won't be doing a blog-that plus I'm not much of a photographer and I am a boring person.  My plans, not necessarily in this order, are to spend the next week reading, eating, sleeping and taking advantage of the beverage package.  I have not yet packed anything, but I have loaded a LOT of books on my kindle.  I have my priorities!!!

Thanks to all for the best wishes!!  I am not taking a computer, so I won't be doing a blog-that plus I'm not much of a photographer and I am a boring person.  My plans, not necessarily in this order, are to spend the next week reading, eating, sleeping and taking advantage of the beverage package.  I have not yet packed anything, but I have loaded a LOT of books on my kindle.  I have my priorities!!!

Thanks to all for the best wishes!!  I am not taking a computer, so I won't be doing a blog-that plus I'm not much of a photographer and I am a boring person.  My plans, not necessarily in this order, are to spend the next week reading, eating, sleeping and taking advantage of the beverage package.  I have not yet packed anything, but I have loaded a LOT of books on my kindle.  I have my priorities!!!

DUH-silly me.  That makes sense!

Interesting story from the previous 8 night Eastern Caribbean Empress cruise.  
A guest on my Empress B2B last week had been on for a month and she told me this story.  Empress has a 2pm departure from CocoCay in order to make San Juan a day after a sea day.  On the last run of this route, several guests missed the ship in CocoCay.  Apparently they didn't note the 2pm departure.
In one case a couple were enjoying CocoCay.  Oblivious to the ship's whistle the woman went to get something to eat while the man went to a bar for a drink.  When he presented his Empress SeaPass card they informed he was about to miss the ship and whisked him away in a golf cart.  Unsure where the woman had gone he got back on board, she missed the ship and it left (late now) towards San Juan.  
Once she figured out she missed the ship, they put her on Mariner and she was taken to Port Canaveral.  She then had to make her own arrangements to get to San Juan which she did at her expense.  The problem is San Juan had some civil unrest and Empress skipped San Juan as a result.  So she missed the ship again.  This time, since Royal cancelled the call on San Juan they paid for her hotel and airfare to Tortola.  Tortola doesn't have an airport so she flew to a neighboring island and had to take a water taxi over to Tortola where she finally re-joined the cruise. 
From what was explained to me they stated the excursion they booked said it ended at 3pm so they thought they were good until 3pm.  
A total of five guests missed the ship at CocoCay.  Unsure what happened to the rest other than being put on Mariner for the ride over to Port Canaveral.  
Lesson learned.  Even at CocoCay, don't miss the ship!
Side note - when Empress skipped San Juan they had already taken on the San Juan pilot when Miami decided they should skip San Juan.  Because the pilot had already boarded they were on the hook for the ~$10k pilot fee.
Hoping we don't skip San Juan but an overnight in Tortola does sound very tempting.
 

UPDATE.   Just got email.  Reservations all made.  Last worry (albeit a minor one) resolved.  Closed my last open file at work today.  Now in full vacation mode!
 
 
 
 
 

UPDATE.   Just got email.  Reservations all made.  Last worry (albeit a minor one) resolved.  Closed my last open file at work today.  Now in full vacation mode!
 
 
 
 
 

UPDATE.   Just got email.  Reservations all made.  Last worry (albeit a minor one) resolved.  Closed my last open file at work today.  Now in full vacation mode!
 
 
 
 
 

Awesome!  We have a fabulous TA-Sharla with MEI.  I have not wanted to bother her with this, but I think I will email her.  Thanks for the advice

Thanks so much.. Yes... Last year was tough and we are so thankful to be having this time.  She even put herself on the centrum stage lol! She is the one in the middle blue shirt!  Dancing during 70s party in the centrum!  

I hope you have a wonderful trip.  I look forward to reading about it.

I hope you don't expect a lot of sympathy from those of who cruise less frequently  ?