FionaMG

Your Goldens seal the deal!  🤣  🦮  🦮
Mine would probably love to meet your "pups"!  
Cruise Day !!!  🚢  🌞  🌴

When we first started cruising we cruised four in a basic ocean view, so not even a balcony. The kids were 12 and 4 on the first one, and 17 and 9 by the time we did the last one with those arrangements. It was tight and it wasn't ideal but that was what budget allowed so we made it work. Basically, we spent the vast majority of our time out of the room. Admittedly, the ships we sailed on at the time had a huge advantage over Quantum class ships in that the 3rd and 4th guests slept in pullman bunks, way better than the sofa.
If budget allows you to splurge for a JS or a second cabin, great; but my thinking is that on a cruise to Alaska that money would probably be better spent on doing great stuff off the ship rather than on an extra cabin you're going to spend very little time in.

Pre-breakfast of champions… or one pre-vintage at least…

When we first started cruising we cruised four in a basic ocean view, so not even a balcony. The kids were 12 and 4 on the first one, and 17 and 9 by the time we did the last one with those arrangements. It was tight and it wasn't ideal but that was what budget allowed so we made it work. Basically, we spent the vast majority of our time out of the room. Admittedly, the ships we sailed on at the time had a huge advantage over Quantum class ships in that the 3rd and 4th guests slept in pullman bunks, way better than the sofa.
If budget allows you to splurge for a JS or a second cabin, great; but my thinking is that on a cruise to Alaska that money would probably be better spent on doing great stuff off the ship rather than on an extra cabin you're going to spend very little time in.

When we first started cruising we cruised four in a basic ocean view, so not even a balcony. The kids were 12 and 4 on the first one, and 17 and 9 by the time we did the last one with those arrangements. It was tight and it wasn't ideal but that was what budget allowed so we made it work. Basically, we spent the vast majority of our time out of the room. Admittedly, the ships we sailed on at the time had a huge advantage over Quantum class ships in that the 3rd and 4th guests slept in pullman bunks, way better than the sofa.
If budget allows you to splurge for a JS or a second cabin, great; but my thinking is that on a cruise to Alaska that money would probably be better spent on doing great stuff off the ship rather than on an extra cabin you're going to spend very little time in.

It will be. It's always good to try out a different ship.
I'm hoping to do a cruise down your way to celebrate my retirement in a few years from now. 🤞

That's a real shame. There's so many ports Royal could visit (Moreton Island, Fraser Island (Carnival I know for a fact visits Moreton Island and I know P&O visits Fraser Island and Norfolk), LHI, PNG, Kimberley region just to name a few) but I guess they have to worry about the logistics and whether or not they can get into the ports. 
At least it'll be nice to visit the same ports on a different ship - somewhat of a difference experience I suppose.

Zipped right to Newark Airport. Horrible accident & backup going the other way, we could see all of the feeders also completely at a stand still. Terminal A has been redone really well since we were here last. Raining badly in Fort Lauderdale. Flight had turbulence - we ended up flying over the ocean to go around some of it. FLL airport traffic was a disaster, but we somehow got really lucky and caught the shuttle right away. Homewood Suites Airport/Cruise location. We didn't need fancy- we got here late and leave after breakfast. Hotel is ok. Some wear and tear, short staffed, etc. We are a little tight on space but made it work. 
@Lovetocruise2002 I figured out the collage feature!!
(Please ignore our junk everywhere, kids were tired so we got stuff pulled out before I snapped pics.)

 
 
 

MDR Royal Night
Vidalia onion tart - Presentation looked different than I’ve seen but it was pretty good.

Lobster - It was fine but soooo small I have no idea who would pay $16.99 for another. I ate mine & my wife’s.

Chocolate molten cake - just as good as Allure, my wife’s fav dessert by far & probably mine too. Very rich.

 

Don't hold your breath. The one that Royal do really consistently is repeat the same old itineraries year after year. 😕

The kids section had a pile of chocolate chip cookies covered in what looked like milk/dark chocolate & that one lonely white one. I flipped over all the upside-down cookies searching for more white ones, lol, no luck.
Anyway, I liked it. But who knows if anyone will ever find one again? 🤷‍♂️
I popped back in during dinner hours & same deal, all chocolate, so I replenished my stash of ranger cookies & got some baklava from Mediterranean night for later.

I want one too! 😋

I want one too! 😋

IKR?! When I'm on my cruise, I feel like there is always someone wishing my week away while they are counting down for theirs!

I want one too! 😋

Truly blessed and privileged to be invited on a bridge tour. Thanks to concierges Kenny and Norman!!
 

We’re pre-vintages with vintage tendencies. We can’t party like you. We do stay up later than @asquared17 but not sure that says a whole lot.

🫤 What is this 6:30am you speak of? Are you in hell or on a cruise ship?

The email goes out as soon as it's accepted although some people have reported receiving notice of the charge on their credit card even before the email arrives. When acceptance happens is another story. It could be anything from the day you submit the bid to the day you board the ship.
The new cabin number doesn't come in the email but you can log into your booking online or on the app and it will be right there grinning at you. 😁

I'd want a whole cruise for that amount of money! 😬

First Park Cafe McMuffin. I usually get them more often in the early am since Park Cafe opens at 6:30am on some ships but each cruise is different & I haven’t been up as early as usual to have a big pre-breakfast with my CL cappuccinos this week.
 

The email goes out as soon as it's accepted although some people have reported receiving notice of the charge on their credit card even before the email arrives. When acceptance happens is another story. It could be anything from the day you submit the bid to the day you board the ship.
The new cabin number doesn't come in the email but you can log into your booking online or on the app and it will be right there grinning at you. 😁

Just saying a quick hello here, first time in about four years. I just booked the 12-night Odyssey sailing in Jan 2025, which is an itinerary I've been wanting to do kind of since I first started sailing with Royal in 2018 and learned about it. Seemed like a nice way to celebrate turning 55. 🙂
To everyone I haven't spoken with in all these years, hope you've been well!

Huge plane from France landing at Maho Beach…
 

Creatures from Captain Bob’s excursion…