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CrusingWithMatt

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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in xSAILEDx Explorer of the Seas - Dec 1, 2023 - Dec 8, 2023 (7 Day Western Caribbean )   
    Checking in for roll call 😉
    My wife and I will we celebrating our 8 year Anniversary on this sailing. 
  2. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from AwwChuckIt in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 9 Azores, Ponta Delgada:
    We booked the “Sete Cidades Hike” through Royal Caribbean for todays adventure. Now bear with me as this story may get long winded.
    We had breakfast and headed to the Pacifica theatre to be assigned to our bus/guide for the day. We showed our tickets to the attendant and we were given a red “9” sticker and were told it was a “6” (if you looked at the sticker like a normal human you would assume it was a 9 because there was “shore excursions” watermarked into it). I verified we were to use it as a 6… Our number was called, and we headed to board our bus. There was someone at the entrance of the bus to take our tickets that said “Sete Cidades Hike” and told us to find a seat. Our bus started the tour and made it maybe 5 minutes from port before our guide announced overhead that there were two passengers on the bus that were supposed to be on a different tour. I’ll give you three guesses who…  The bus went back to the port dropped us off and we found the right bus. Now remember we were explicitly told that our 9 was a 6 right? Guess which number bus we were supposed to be on? 10 that’s right, bus 10. So we were given a 9 and told it was a six, handed our tickets to the to be checked and given back and still managed to end up on the wrong bus… WOW. We boarded bus 10 to actual applause that we made it (and made them 15 minutes late). Thankfully it all worked out and our guide was kind enough to inform the group that it was not our fault for the mishap. The RCCL shore excursion staff must have been hit with a confundus charm that morning.
    The hike was very good. The pictures don’t do it justice. We got back to the port around 1pm and we were both starving. We decided to quick board the ship to eat lunch and then get off again for a couple hours…or so we thought. The line to board the ship was longer than expected so we boarded and ended our day in Azores without any shopping ?



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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from coneyraven in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 Cobh/Cork, Ireland:
    We booked the Exclusive Kinsale, Cork City and Blarney excursion through shore excursions group for this port. We arrived in Cobh and boarded a bus right near the port. Our bus tour was good, and we stopped at a small castle in Kinsale, toured around Cork City with a lunch break there, and finished at the Blarney castle for exploring and shopping. The poison garden full of labeled poisonous plants was cool but we only had two hours (which was not enough) for the Blarney castle area and shopping. It was a long but fun day.
  5. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from J_Keeble in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from J_Keeble in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 5 update (sea day)
    Day 5 I got up with the sunrise and while the wife got more beauty rest I grabbed a  grande mocha and a yogurt parfait and sat out on deck 5 port side near the centrum. It was cool and wavy this morning but I found it relaxing and got caught up on my live blogging. After an hour or so Corin and I played some chess in the colony club and decided today would be a good day for mini golf. We played a non competitive round (which was difficult for me) of golf then I drug her down to deck 5. We knew you could go out on the helipad in the front but didn’t realize you could get all the way to the back on deck 5 too. The view is spectacular.
    We ended up in the king and country pub for a pre lunch bloody Margret for me and a gin fizz for Corin while we played (our own rules)  darts. Both were very good. After lunch the village fair was going on. We were provided 10 brilliance bucks to use in games to try to win more bucks. At the end of the event all your bucks (with your name and room number) went into a drawing for some onboard goodies. Two winners got champagne and another won a thermal spa day and ship tour.
    Our Chops reservation was at 1730 and boy did it fill us up. Peppercorn bacon, raw tuna tartare, 12oz NY Strips and asparagus…..oooof. we were both so stuffed we (tried to) skip desert…but they had made a special gluten free one for Corin so we split what appeared to be a strawberry/vanilla mousse of some sort.
    Our last stop for the night was the Cinema for “central intelligence” we were wise enough to get there 30 minutes early this time and got center seats. We made it through about a half hour of the movie before Corin started to get a bit sea sick so we dipped out early for bed. The ship was rocking the most it has yet. Our bathroom door open would swing all the way open then completely close itself. It was a bit harder to fall asleep with this but I imagine it will get worse as we get closer to Europe.
     




  7. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from J_Keeble in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    We spent yesterday at the Tampa Zoo. It was a great day for the wife (the every animal everywhere lover). Then spent the late afternoon relaxing outside our air bnb watching the lightning/thunder Strom; drink in hand. Today we will be touring the SS American Victory down in the Tampa Port. One more day!



  8. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from J_Keeble in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Hello Royal Caribbean Blog members!
    My wife Corin and and I will be embarking on our first cruise which happens to be a TA. Go big or go home I guess. I will be doing a daily blog with a few photos and updates starting on the 4th. Stay tuned!
    *Crossposted on cruisecritic.com under CruisingWithMatt

  9. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from hayley_bopp in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from Skigoofy in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






  11. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from JLMoran in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






  12. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from Lovetocruise2002 in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from Auto in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






  14. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from DDaley in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 pictures






  15. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 13 Cobh/Cork, Ireland:
    We booked the Exclusive Kinsale, Cork City and Blarney excursion through shore excursions group for this port. We arrived in Cobh and boarded a bus right near the port. Our bus tour was good, and we stopped at a small castle in Kinsale, toured around Cork City with a lunch break there, and finished at the Blarney castle for exploring and shopping. The poison garden full of labeled poisonous plants was cool but we only had two hours (which was not enough) for the Blarney castle area and shopping. It was a long but fun day.
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    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from Skigoofy in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 9 Azores, Ponta Delgada:
    We booked the “Sete Cidades Hike” through Royal Caribbean for todays adventure. Now bear with me as this story may get long winded.
    We had breakfast and headed to the Pacifica theatre to be assigned to our bus/guide for the day. We showed our tickets to the attendant and we were given a red “9” sticker and were told it was a “6” (if you looked at the sticker like a normal human you would assume it was a 9 because there was “shore excursions” watermarked into it). I verified we were to use it as a 6… Our number was called, and we headed to board our bus. There was someone at the entrance of the bus to take our tickets that said “Sete Cidades Hike” and told us to find a seat. Our bus started the tour and made it maybe 5 minutes from port before our guide announced overhead that there were two passengers on the bus that were supposed to be on a different tour. I’ll give you three guesses who…  The bus went back to the port dropped us off and we found the right bus. Now remember we were explicitly told that our 9 was a 6 right? Guess which number bus we were supposed to be on? 10 that’s right, bus 10. So we were given a 9 and told it was a six, handed our tickets to the to be checked and given back and still managed to end up on the wrong bus… WOW. We boarded bus 10 to actual applause that we made it (and made them 15 minutes late). Thankfully it all worked out and our guide was kind enough to inform the group that it was not our fault for the mishap. The RCCL shore excursion staff must have been hit with a confundus charm that morning.
    The hike was very good. The pictures don’t do it justice. We got back to the port around 1pm and we were both starving. We decided to quick board the ship to eat lunch and then get off again for a couple hours…or so we thought. The line to board the ship was longer than expected so we boarded and ended our day in Azores without any shopping ?



  24. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from JLMoran in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    Day 9 Azores, Ponta Delgada:
    We booked the “Sete Cidades Hike” through Royal Caribbean for todays adventure. Now bear with me as this story may get long winded.
    We had breakfast and headed to the Pacifica theatre to be assigned to our bus/guide for the day. We showed our tickets to the attendant and we were given a red “9” sticker and were told it was a “6” (if you looked at the sticker like a normal human you would assume it was a 9 because there was “shore excursions” watermarked into it). I verified we were to use it as a 6… Our number was called, and we headed to board our bus. There was someone at the entrance of the bus to take our tickets that said “Sete Cidades Hike” and told us to find a seat. Our bus started the tour and made it maybe 5 minutes from port before our guide announced overhead that there were two passengers on the bus that were supposed to be on a different tour. I’ll give you three guesses who…  The bus went back to the port dropped us off and we found the right bus. Now remember we were explicitly told that our 9 was a 6 right? Guess which number bus we were supposed to be on? 10 that’s right, bus 10. So we were given a 9 and told it was a six, handed our tickets to the to be checked and given back and still managed to end up on the wrong bus… WOW. We boarded bus 10 to actual applause that we made it (and made them 15 minutes late). Thankfully it all worked out and our guide was kind enough to inform the group that it was not our fault for the mishap. The RCCL shore excursion staff must have been hit with a confundus charm that morning.
    The hike was very good. The pictures don’t do it justice. We got back to the port around 1pm and we were both starving. We decided to quick board the ship to eat lunch and then get off again for a couple hours…or so we thought. The line to board the ship was longer than expected so we boarded and ended our day in Azores without any shopping ?



  25. Like
    CrusingWithMatt got a reaction from JLMoran in LIVE - Brilliance of the Seas TA May 4-19, 2019   
    If anyone wants the rest of the cruise compasses, please direct message me as I will do my best to keep 
    this from being cluttered with them.
    Belated Updates start here:
    Days 6-8 (sea Days):
    I wasn’t 100% the following days. Day 6 was the chefs table and I felt so bad from my neck that I left 
    half way through. (I made my wife stay to get the experience). I spent most of the following day in bed. 
    The rest of these days were spent relaxing around the pool, in the solarium, or playing chess in the 
    colony club. After six days at sea or so I found myself having trouble finding things on the cruise compass 
    that I wanted to participate in (not feeling 100% may have had something to do with it too. My wife 
    didn’t seem to get as bored.



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