DDaley

Driver in Rome looks awesome! Italy is on my cruise list (after the Rhine this summer and Japan next summer!) but I am writing it down for future use. 
I’m also so happy to hear RC will arrange for up close seating at shows for you! Cats only gets bad reviews because Andrew Lloyd Webber was on a straight acid trip when he compiled that heap of trash! The actors are always great and the dancing/set/costumes are amazing too, but that show is absolutely ridiculous. The only song anyone knows is Memory and to me it’s the most boring part of the whole thing (but then again, I hate ballads). 😆

Well I think you should book a cruise on Wonder soon.  The market has changed even NCL is now shifting from older smaller ships on 3-4 night Bahamas cruising and is now using Joy and Breakaway.  Although neither of those ships are brand new they are some of NCL's most popular ships with a lot activities onboard, to keep guest occupied from start to finish.  It wouldn't surprised me if Carnival who just order their 4th Excel Class ship brings one of those ships to the 3-4 night Bahamas cruise market. 
Allure is a great ship it's still an Oasis Class ship I don't know why people now see Allure as this black sheep within the Oasis Class that is to be avoided. 

@Lovetocruise2002, I think my surrogate has arrived. 😂😉 
Don't be embarrassed about being lengthy, @Cruising_Figure_Skater! Embrace it! Look at the blog links in my signature and be inspired! We need more novelists in these live blogs! Dozens of photos with no descriptions? To paraphrase Edna Mode, they're just pictures, darling! snap-a-snap-a-snap-a-snap! We need words to truly convey the emotions of the moment.
I will be following along and enjoying every bit of it. Especially since I completely missed out on my Barcelona stop (and three others) when Covid sidelined me for almost the entire second half of my Med cruise in 2022.

Driver in Rome looks awesome! Italy is on my cruise list (after the Rhine this summer and Japan next summer!) but I am writing it down for future use. 
I’m also so happy to hear RC will arrange for up close seating at shows for you! Cats only gets bad reviews because Andrew Lloyd Webber was on a straight acid trip when he compiled that heap of trash! The actors are always great and the dancing/set/costumes are amazing too, but that show is absolutely ridiculous. The only song anyone knows is Memory and to me it’s the most boring part of the whole thing (but then again, I hate ballads). 😆

Japan?! Oh I am jealous - that is on my ever growing list of places I'd love to visit. 
Going to see how Jamie feels about Cats - if he really wants to see it, we will. I could happily skip it as I'm not a huge theatre person on land - I'm more a concerts and comedy show kind of girl. 

Driver in Rome looks awesome! Italy is on my cruise list (after the Rhine this summer and Japan next summer!) but I am writing it down for future use. 
I’m also so happy to hear RC will arrange for up close seating at shows for you! Cats only gets bad reviews because Andrew Lloyd Webber was on a straight acid trip when he compiled that heap of trash! The actors are always great and the dancing/set/costumes are amazing too, but that show is absolutely ridiculous. The only song anyone knows is Memory and to me it’s the most boring part of the whole thing (but then again, I hate ballads). 😆

Driver in Rome looks awesome! Italy is on my cruise list (after the Rhine this summer and Japan next summer!) but I am writing it down for future use. 
I’m also so happy to hear RC will arrange for up close seating at shows for you! Cats only gets bad reviews because Andrew Lloyd Webber was on a straight acid trip when he compiled that heap of trash! The actors are always great and the dancing/set/costumes are amazing too, but that show is absolutely ridiculous. The only song anyone knows is Memory and to me it’s the most boring part of the whole thing (but then again, I hate ballads). 😆

Anything is possible at this point.
It is almost certain Royal will deploy all new ship builds where they they will maximize revenue.  I think Royal tends not to put very much weight on factors such as which market is being served by a new ship for emotional considerations and guest sentiment.  When they consider all things it will come down to how much money they project a ship will earn.  If deployment choice A means more certainty of assured revenue over deployment choice B then it will be deployment choice A.
Things like "a new ship hasn't been deployed in XYZ market in years" mean very little to Royal while guests in market XYZ let emotions influence where they think the ship should go.  Royal cares about money first as they should.  The board and investors who approved the ship want their investment maximized.  
If it is Barcelona then it is Barcelona because they feel it was the best choice to assure maximum revenue.  

Meet the soup chef who is getting schooled in the proper way to make butternut squash soup 😂😂

Well, I promised I'd be back with more info about our plans, and here I am! I'm sorry for how long this is, all my travel posts usually are, so please bear with me!
I'm meeting a group of friends that includes Jamie, on Thursday. We'll likely meet earlier, and discuss the last few formalities before we sail. I have the 9th off of work, so I'm hoping he can get that day off too. If he can, we'll head to the airport that afternoon/early evening and be rested for the flight. 
So, 10th May, we fly from Manchester to Barcelona, leaving at 8am UK time, arriving around 11.30am local time. We'll check in to the hotel, but other than that we have no plans or reservations we need to schedule around. The next day, we have tickets for La Sagrada Familia at 1.30, and that includes a guided tour and climbing one of the towers. Other than that, our day is free and we'll wing it a little, taking in whatever sights we feel like, enjoying nice food, and local drinks. 
So, after 2 days in Barcelona, the 12th is cruise day! As I said, we have an 11am check in time, so hopefully should be some of the first to board. We have a short list of admin to do: muster, and a trip to guest services as the special needs team have advised we can arrange reserved seating for shows to accommodate for my visual impairment. They can also provide a ship orientation. We'll also check out our assigned table (we have late seating for dinner) and see if that needs adjusting. I've shared tables before as a solo and enjoyed it, we'll see how Jamie feels about it. Other than dinner and unpacking, the only thing on the calendar is Frozen in Time at 10:15. As a skater, I'm so hyped for this! I know one of our former British champions has worked on RCL before as a skater after he retired from competing, so the caliber of skater is obviously high in these shows.
Day 2, we're in Palma with no real plan. We have Chef's Table booked for 5.30, so we'll be back on the ship early to get ready for that. Afterwards, we have reservations for Aqua80. I have heard SO many good things about this show, I'm looking forward to seeing what it's all about. 
Day 3 is our first sea day. Nothing booked here, so a day of enjoying Oasis and all she has to offer awaits - and will probably involve drinking at some point, knowing the two of us! My 2 goals for the cruise, are to be brave enough to try the zipline and the Ultimate Abyss. I am an anxious person, and tend to be wary of new experiences, so we'll see if I manage it. I'm grateful for this sea day as after this we've got 3 big port days ahead. 
Day 4 we hit La Spezia, our first Italian port. We've been debating for months what to do, all the excursions are long, expensive and don't give a great deal of time in the places they visit, particularly those that go to Florence. As Jamie can drive, and really wants to go to Pisa, we're thinking of renting a car locally and doing that. I've also suggested a stop in Lucca. One of my team leaders at work is Italian and actually suggested coming back into La Spezia, returning the car, and showing the town some love: have a nice lunch somewhere, and support the local area as so many people will just pass through on their way to somewhere else. We'll see. Once we're back on board, we've got One Sky at 10:30, but otherwise no plans. 
Day 5 is Rome! I love Rome, it was probably favourite port on my NCL cruise and I'm so excited to go back. We have an excursion booked with Driver in Rome, so it'll be an early start to meet our driver and the rest of the group. I picked this tour as it has a maximum of 8 people, which is far better for me - I find it hard to keep up with a big group using my cane as it naturally slows my walking pace a little. We'll be in a small vehicle so will be driving very close to most of the major sites, and then walking a little to explore further. Reviews of the tour are good, and say that depending on the desires of the group, lunch and gelato stops can be worked in to the schedule, which is nice. No plans for the evening once we're back on board, so we'll see what the evening brings us. 
Day 6 is Naples, and another tour with Driver in Rome. This one will take us to Pompeii, where we'll have a couple of hours to explore independently, then onto Sorrento and Positano. I'm looking forward to this, my last trip to Pompeii was on the NCL cruise, and it was August and like 38 degrees! It was also where I really started feeling like a white cane may be a good idea, as the terrain wasn't the easiest for me to navigate. Hoping this trip will be easier on all fronts. Again reviews are positive so hopefully a good day. Once back on board, we again have no shows booked, so another evening spontaneous fun in store!
Day 7, is a well deserved sea day after those 3 port days! We have dinner at 150 Central Park at 8pm, and currently have reservations for the Cats matinee. I'm SO torn on that - I've heard nothing but bad reviews. I looked it up on YouTube and was bored within the first number, but I reserved it "just in case". I'll talk to Jamie about that one... We'll also have the sad job of packing to disembark the next day 😞 
Day 8 - I don't want to talk about day 8 as we'll be back in Barcelona and will have to leave the ship to fly home and back to reality 😞 
 
So that's our week in a nutshell. A couple of things Jamie and I need to discuss on Thursday, but we're pretty much there with the planning and we've left a nice chunk of time unplanned. Our plans NEVER fully go to plan anyway, something always distracts us and sends us down a path we weren't expecting. It's what makes our trips so much fun. 
So on the cruise front, it's a little quiet in terms of prep. On the skating competition front, things are ramping up. Over the course of the week I'll be packing, and we have our Easter show on Saturday evening too. I'm staying with a friend on Sunday and 3 of us are getting the train on Monday to the town where the competition is - if you're from the UK, you'll know Blackpool. For those not, it's a seaside town in the north of England. Plans for the week include skating (obviously) and a trip to the Blackpool Tower, and Blackpool Pleasure Beach (a theme park with a real eclectic mix of rides - one of their rollercoasters is 100 years old!). 
I'll update more next week, I guess 🙂 

Starting this one EARLY but there is a reason, and the title hints at that. Before my cruise I have a week long figure skating competition coming up and thought it'd be fun to share here - something a little different.
I'm 42 days out from my first Royal Caribbean cruise, and my 3rd ever cruise. Previously I've cruised solo on NCL (very similar itinerary to this one) in 2018, and with P&O Cruises in 2017 around France and Spain. This time though, I'm bringing a friend! He's never cruised before so it's all brand new to him. 
About Us
We're both 34, I've known Jamie since we were 10 and this will be our third holiday together, one of which was a big trip to Orlando for Disney and Universal in 2022. We were tempted by a Bahamas cruise then, but it proved too costly to change hotel reservations, and with the testing requirements still in place we didn't want to risk it. 
We enjoy eating, drinking and exploring new places. 
One other thing to note is I am visually impaired - I have no peripheral vision past my shoulders and very poor depth perception, spatial awareness and pretty non-existent night vision. So this blog will touch on that side of my experiences a lot. 
Our itinerary
May 10th - Fly from MAN to BCN on Jet2, check into the NH Collection Gran Calderon hotel and explore Barcelona
May 11th - A full day in Barcelona. We have tickets for La Sagrada Familia but no other solid plans
May 12th - CRUISE DAY! We've got an 11am boarding time so will be able to check out of the hotel and head straight to the port.
May 13th - Palma: No solid plan here, we've both visited previously so we'll see what we feel like doing on the day.
May 14th - At Sea 
May 15th - La Spezia: Current plan is to rent a car and drive to Pisa, possibly visiting Lucca as well. 
May 16th - Rome: We've booked a tour with Driver In Rome to see the sights. Really looking forward to this, it'll be my 3rd time in Rome but I love the city so was happy to go back.
May 17th - Naples: Another tour booked here with Driver in Rome to Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano 
May 18th - At Sea 
May 19th - I'll have a full on case of Post-Cruise Blues as we disembark back in Barcelona and fly home. 
 
Our Cabin
We're currently booked into a GTY Oceanview Balcony. The barcode trick says we're in 10174. As I'm a complete newbie to Royal I have no idea whether this is a good cabin, but with cabins above and below on the deck plan, I'm happy. However...
I've sent my friend the info about RoyalUp for an Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony and a Junior Suite... much as I'd love a Grand Suite for the perks, the budget doesn't stretch that far for this UK cruiser. I'll see what he says and we may put the minimum bid on one or both of those rooms, purely for the space. We're both overpackers and I love dressing up on cruises as my first was with a very traditional line where dressing for dinner was the norm. I enjoy that aspect so will be bringing lots of dresses and shoes. Jamie also dresses smartly even for a casual dinner and has alluded to bringing a tuxedo or 2 for formal nights...
I'll write in more detail about our plans on and off the ship tomorrow, as well as where I'm at with packing, and skating competition stuff. Here's a photo of us in Orlando 🙂
Vicki

Agreed @WAYNO. It’s like people expect every meal on a mass market cruise line to be a 3 star Michelin meal and if it isn’t they’re  pissed. I have never really been aghast at anything I’ve had on a Royal cruise. Some items are better than others no doubt , but it’s all fine. 

I haven't made it down to the port yet...anyone shocked? 😂
The port area has changed since I was last here.  There appears to be a pool area now!

And confirmed a "wet" bar by this stolen FB photo.

Must be part of the expansion project...I don't see the lazy river yet.
https://roatantourismbureau.com/port-of-roatan

Alaska is why I dislike the singles/solo table at traditional dining. Alaska sounds like a Karen who needs to be the center of attention. 

Looks like Uber would be your best bet then. Not sure why you’re against them 

When we came back from Flight, someone had moved our magnet people into dirty positions. Not sharing a pic 😂

I’ve been to NOLA every few years since 2012 and always stay in the quarter at the Hotel Monteleone (family tradition passed down from my parents). It’s a gorgeous, historical hotel and is home to the famous carousel bar! The quarter during daylight hours is just as grimy as it’s always been but I tend to do my sightseeing by day so we only do the rounds after dinner for entertainment purposes. Frenchmen St is the best for live music! 
If you’re gonna traipse out to a plantation, make sure it’s Whitney, as it’s the only former plantation site in Louisiana that is presented from the perspective of the enslaved people, not the slave owners. May I also suggest the 1850 House Museum off of Jackson Square. I think it’s only $5 admission but the house remains set up as it would’ve been in 1850! Super cool.

I was also pleasantly surprised at how fun the laser tag was! I wish we had signed up to do it earlier so we could try to squeeze it in again. My son claims his team got beat so bad because he didn't realize he had to hold the gun with both hands to shoot...but it's really because I was on the opposite team and literally lit him up at every chance. 

Yeah... I couldn't tell if that chicken was a rescue, if it was supposed to look like that, or if it was getting bullied in the yard 🥺
My daughter is not a girly girl at all. Although she does really enjoy traditional "feminine" hobbies - she bakes, crafts, plays music, does sewing projects, etc. She hardly ever wears makeup, rarely wears a dress, and is an introverted homebody and a really good student. My husband says she's an old soul. She goes to bed early and gets up early. I talk a lot about my son because he and I tend to gravitate to each other naturally and my husband and daughter gravitate to each other naturally more often (although obviously we all love each other equally!).

This guy appears to be having an identity crisis. 😂

Wonderland for dinner

The Donkey Sanctuary 

This is what the chef surprised us with. I did try it and I still don't know what it is.

I have early dinner in the MDR at 5:15. I'm at a table for 8. Tonight 3 other solo travelers showed up. One of them hasn't gotten her luggage yet. She is concerned because she was able to get handcuffs on in her carry-on, so she doesn't know what could have been flagged in her suitcase. 🤔
Speaking of suitcases..this is a reasonable amount of luggage for 11 nights on a cruise.

@Rick Miller I don't understand how you gathered I have zero sympathy or empathy from my post but okay.
Not a bears or sports fan in general. 
Just wanted to point out no fraud was committed. I have been checking in hoping for your (positive)resolution but post like that infuriate me.