Ken23

On 2/24/2022 at 10:48 AM, AshleyDillo said:

@Matt couldn't even manage to get on a horse after that bar crawl.

I was just buying my first round of cruise planner items for this cruise, and was debating with myself if I should purchase the Deluxe Beverage package.  I am now Diamond with the 4 per day drink"tickets", as well as Prime in Casino Royale.

I know, silly for me to ask here.

Someone remind me how much shots of Patron are ala carte.

I am in. 

Excited to cruise with some familiar faces again. 

Also....now that you have the staterooms, and are paid in full (I assume).  Ask your TA to ask them if now you cancel the "extra people", who Royal now cancel the whole reservation now it is paid in full.

49 minutes ago, Hoski said:

The other option is to get "shots" the night before and take to your room and order tomato juice the next morning and make your own. Or spend the few bucks and have it delivered with room service.

If getting a shot the night before, another option could be get a proper Bloody Mary the night before in a full service bar (not sure on Brilliance which would make the best one) and put it in the fridge in the room (if Brilliance rooms have the mini fridges).

On 2/7/2020 at 4:24 AM, TotalF said:

We snagged it for ~43 bucks so the cost for our entire family of four is actually less then what the cost for one person is right now

I wonder, how many lobsters can I stuff down my speedo before it looks weird?

Hopefully there is not a tank with live lobsters.

Could be more entertaining than pier runners catching the ship.

16 hours ago, bossdog421 said:

Getting use out of that slide. Dont care how windy or cold the water is!

Glade to see the Slide Safety Rules #1 "recommended" was NOT followed.  I know I would have also.

Daddy has to make sure the slide is safe for his daughter after all.

3 minutes ago, AnnetteJackson said:

Ken,

Many times when things are in limbo we advise that you wait until the cruise lines make a policy.  If you try to move before that you could miss out on the offerings they give to others booked on the same cruise.  It can be frustrating to wait for them to decide, but it is the best plan.

Thanks...I will TRY to be patient.

On 1/24/2020 at 11:42 AM, Andrew S. said:

Cruise from Shanghai and coronavirus

Booked for March 5th cruise from Shanghai to Japan for 8 nights. Got many doubts about going to Shanghai and on Spectrum of the Seas. Worried about bad news from China. There would be more than several thousand passengers from different regions of China on board. Any advice or opinion about the situation ? If cancelled within next five days still possible to get 25 percent back. Or risk and go? 

I am also on the March 5th sailing.

I would think in the next few days Royal will likely make some changes...my guess is they change the home port away from Shanghai for a few weeks or more.

@AnnetteJackson is it too early to have @michelle asking Royal to change my March 5th sailing to something else?

4 hours ago, twangster said:

Anybody from the July 4th Anthem group cruise see the 20 or so shot glasses on this table now?  Some things I can't unsee.

18 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I looked long and hard at this one.  I think I'll put it on my list of something to book on another trip to St. Maarten (I promised Mr Speednoodles an ATV tour this year).

I have done it twice and highly recommend it for "active type" people.  They assign positions on the boat with the guests as the real crew, working the sails, winches, ect.  Some positions are easier (in charge of the drinks cooler handing out the drinks) than others.  As Twangster said, it's lots of fun, and something unique you won't find elsewhere.

As others have said, Royal does not want to cancel any port (or Coco Cay) stop, but the safety of the passengers, crew and ship is a priority with Royal.

To get a good idea of anything brewing weather wise for a upcoming cruise, I like to watch/follow the Facebook page of Royal's Meteorologist.  His public page is "Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet".   He usually posts a few days ahead of any upcoming storms or issues they are watching.

Safe travels, and have a great cruise.

Kristi, thanks for this great live blog and all the pictures.

It is getting me more and more excited for my upcoming March Spectrum "Best of Japan" cruise.

I have a Jr. Suite booked, but put in a Royal Up bid for a Grand Suite and another full suite.

Two questions about your Grand Suite...

Did that include Zoom wifi?  Does the full (Grand) suite include the reserved seating to all the major shows?  (No reservation needed?)

Thanks

It's getting real now.   Some from the group are already arriving into San Juan.

See ya all on Saturday.

Thanks for you Live Blog @KristiZ.  I am on Spectrum in JS in March, and am curious with all the differences.  

I will be on the O inaugural cruise.  Still debating with myself if I should do a B2B.

On 12/3/2019 at 7:35 PM, KristiZ said:

Hi! I will know for sure after December 22, when I am on Spectrum also in J4.

...

I plan to blog my trip so I'll be sure to let everyone know.

Looking forward to your posts...and ty in advance.  

4 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

Looks like we have the same number of points

Actually, I have 43 right now.  But with my 7 night going solo on the 7 night Blog Freedom group cruise, and then doing a 8 nighter in March in a Jr. Suite, both of them I should be getting double points, which will bring me to 73.  And 7 points short of Diamond.

1 hour ago, PG Cruiser said:

Ha ha ha... this is my "make it to Diamond" cruise... I want to be Diamond when we do the Odyssey Inaugural.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Last week I was plotting out my points, and upcoming cruises.  I think I need another 7 day (or a 4 day going solo) cruise from April through November next year, which should not be too hard to accomplish.

2 hours ago, Va4fam said:

Headed to CocoCay later this month and looking forward to the new changes.

Which secret sandwich does @Matt always refer to on the podcast (and where do you get it)?

It is the crispy chicken sandwich from the Snack Shack, which I believe there might be more than one location on CCPD.  Note, at the SS, there is more than one chicken sandwich on the menu, so make sure to order the correct one.

@Solus Lupus as far as the other food on the island, it is good, but I wouldn't try and sneak food back on the ship.  Depending on which ship you are on, there are likely as good, if not better food on the ship when you get back.  You won't go hungry on any RC sailing.

3 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

That is why Royal should invest on hardware that will make these in-cabin announcements customizable for guests.  A volume control knob (that works) or a dedicated channel on the stateroom TV that overrides audio with the announcement (sort of like the emergency broadcast on local TVs).

Or send each announcement to all staterooms on the in room telephone voice mail systems.  This likely could easily be implemented on all ships quickly (IF anyone from RC is reading this.)  To add to this, could also add it to the phone app for people to listen to them in a quiet place.

Also to note if flying into Newark...not sure if this stat is still correct, but back in 2016 United Airlines controlled 70% of the flights into EWR.   To some people, that might make a difference.

On 11/27/2019 at 1:06 PM, AshleyDillo said:

They still dance at Johnny Rockets.

As a former general manager of a JR on land, glad to hear they still do the dancing (and saw earlier the ketchup smiley face).  I have the UDP on the Freedon GC, so I am sure to check out JR a day or two for lunch.

I am just now binge reading this live blog, thanks and great job Ashley.

Thanks @KathyC for the great write up, and answering questions.

I have my first Celebrity cruise on Equinox in two days, and am excited about it. 

The lower key factor will be good for a change, especially with some of the people on the trip.

@Lovetocruise2002, I am curious, do your girls (or the older one) read your live blogs when they are not on the cruise?

(BTW, great live blog.)

15 minutes ago, brian_md said:

can i pm you to get some details on this?

It might just be to charge to your Seapass card and paid by a credit card with real good benefits (as long as you are Prime or above and are not charged the 5% fee by RC).  Might even bring home extra cash.  I get triple points for travel and restaurants on one of my cards, so I have no problem using that for all my RC stuff, including getting cash from Casino Royale.