PRebecca

Embarkation Day was awesome! Spoiler alert: I already don’t know how we are going to sail any other way 😍
We arrived to the port at 10:45am and there was already a long line of guests waiting for the port to open at 11. We pulled up to the star class flag (Zone 6) and another Genie waved us to drop off our bags to the Star Class porter. The other Genie immediately said, “don’t worry, Shane is right behind me.” And sure enough, we met Shane right outside the port doors! 

Right at 11am, we were escorted into the port with the other Star Class families. There was one other Star family with children that needed to be tested at the port, so we went in one line and the other families headed to the other.
Port testing was easy! They checked our negative tests, vaxxed cards, and IDs, then sent TJ off to get a little swirl in each nostril (no worries, it wasn’t the brain tickler 😉).
After that, we did the normal check in process- made sure our photos were good (I forgot to upload one for hubby, ooops!). We showed our vaxxed cards again, as well as ID, and once hubby took a pic, they escorted us to a section to wait for our results, via e-mail. The results arrived in about 50 minutes and we were ready to go!
We have been communicating with Royal Genie Shane via WhatsApp for about two weeks prior to embarkation day, so we were able to text him that our results were in, and he met us to escort us on the ship! (They asked for our vax cards a third time, as well as our negative tests from 2/3 days ago, and TJ’s negative test from the port). 

And just like that, after 800+ days since our last cruise, we were back on a ship!!!

Ok, I’m heading to 150 Central Park for formal nigh dinner tonight! When I get back, let me tell you about this MAGNIFICENT Star Loft Suite! 😍
 

I think you meant to say "drink some wine"

I dreamed last night that Royal Caribbean started selling FCCs- like a gift card, but it was restrictive like a normal FCC (can't be used for taxes, gratuities, etc, and must be by Dec 2022). All of my clients thought this was the world's best idea and I kept trying to talk everyone out of it!  

And then, of course, none of the FCCs worked. I can't escape it all even in my sleep 🙂
 

CocoCay!
We had a Thrill Waterpark cabana so kids could get their fill of the slides. 
Weather wasn’t bad, but wasn’t amazing either.  Mostly cloudy, with three times they had to shut down the slides for weather. Strangely, never rained. 
South Beach reopened. I’ll have a photo update on the blog tomorrow. 

On the Oct. 8, 2021 sailing we have 3,300 guests on board so the WJ is open for dinner!

The 7 cheese pizza is amazing on Odyssey!!

Vince in the pub is fantastic 

Miscellaneous musings #3
The gym 🏋️‍♀️
In these Covid times, the gym was the only indoor space on board (at least that I encountered) where masks were not required but there were "masks on" reminders as you exited. Every second cardio machine was switched off and had a sign on it saying that it was not in use due to physical distancing. Even so, the open ones were never fully occupied when I was in there, although I make a point of going to the gym in the late afternoon when I cruise because I know that's a quiet time, so it's possible it was busier in the mornings. The free weights and pulley machines were fully available. Not much physical distancing there but again with so few people around it wasn't hard to keep your distance. People would scrupulously sanitise whatever machine they'd been using when they were done, even the mats used for floor work.
Note that on this cruise the gym was operating fewer hours than normal, from 7 am to 7 pm rather than the usual 6 am to 10 pm. I got caught out the first evening and ended up doing my session on the running track instead, making use of the space at the aft where they normally have the deck chairs (and which were not there on this cruise).
Shows 🎭
There was only one production show on this cruise: the Broadway musical, Grease, which we did not get to see because it was only performed 3 times and we were unable to secure a booking for the only time that suited us.
The other shows - the ice show, the aqua show and the headliners - were all good. I liked that there were later show times available (between 10 pm and 10.45 pm); when the shows are at 7 pm and 9 pm, I invariably miss them because the earlier time clashes with my work out and the later one clashes with our dinner.
At the start of the week, most passengers were pretty compliant about wearing masks in the show venues but, by the end, many seemed to be tiring of the requirement. On the second-last night, in the main theatre, probably around 50% of the audience "chinned" or entirely removed their masks as soon as the lights went down.
The show times for this sailing can be downloaded from the PDF I posted near the beginning of the thread but I expect they will change very soon since the ship is due to return to the US at the end of the month.
Loungers 🏖️
Although the ship had few passengers, it was rarely easy to get a lounger right by the pools at the times we went (never early). I put this down to the large numbers of European passengers refusing to pay the outrageous excursion prices and simply staying on board. However, if you didn't mind going up to the deck above the pool, you could usually find loungers without too much trouble at any time of day.
The Solarium 🌞
A great spot and always very quiet. Southern Europeans tend to want to be in the middle of the confusion where they can all socialise together, so there did not seem to be much demand for the solarium. Plus, of course, Harmony is the ship with no pool in the solarium, which may have been significant. The wicker chairs with soft cushions and padded footrests in there were soooo comfy.
Final thoughts
We really enjoyed our cruise. It was very relaxing and just what the doctor ordered after the stress and anxiety of the last two years. However, it was definitely NOT the same experience that we would have had pre-pandemic. The ship was very quiet, too quiet in fact, and missing the usual buzz. Conversely, the service was magnificent, with the staff falling over themselves to make sure we enjoyed ourselves and, very importantly, felt safe. Departure was different too, since you go and have breakfast and then wait in your room until your tag is called. I would actually love to see this procedure maintained going forward as I felt it reduced the stress of departure considerably. 
Having booked a a cruise to the Greek Isles cruise on Odyssey of the Seas for next May just a few weeks before we sailed on Harmony, we booked another at the Next Cruise office, to the Canary Islands on Anthem of the Seas for next September, taking advantage of the low deposit, OBC and double points. We are thrilled to be back cruising again and are keeping our fingers crossed that the impact of Covid will lessen in the coming months and we will have a more "normal" experience on those two cruises. I have never before had two future cruises booked at the same time and I can't wait to get started on the planning for those! 😁
That's all for this one; if there's anything I've left out, do feel free to ask. If I know the answer I'll be delighted to help. Happy cruising! 😊

Good morning! Let me wrap up Day 6…
We went to see Cats last night. I went in with an open mind. 😀
I have never seen Cats, but my wife had seen it many times on Broadway when she was a child with her parents. She enjoyed it on Broadway, but she was disappointed with this production. Part of the confusion stems from the fact that this is an abbreviated version. I know they shortened it during the amplification as it was way too long and people were apparently walking out, etc. I guess it remains due to the contract, but they need to replace it… maybe something new or bring back Chicago and run it on Oasis?
The musical seemed disjointed and was confusing for me (I should have researched the story line first). My wife was disappointed as she kept waiting for songs she remembered as a child, but most of them were either shortened or not performed at all. The only song I recognized and enjoyed was “Memory”, which effectively closes out the show. I’m glad I went to see it for myself, but it is one of those shows I will avoid the next time we sail Oasis.
With that said, the performers and musicians were amazing, but the show was not for me.
Here are some pics… 







 
We wandered around the ship and headed back to our cabin. This guy was there to greet us!

 
We have the Key for our February Odyssey cruise and we received this e-mail from Royal yesterday concerning changes to the Key program. We’ll probably keep it especially since Royal plans to return to normal capacity levels by year-end. Just an FYI for those interested…

 
Wow! I’m finally caught up! LOL! 😂
 

Back from dinner in the MDR… more on that later! Need to wrap up yesterday…
Since we got back from the excursion at around 2:45PM and we were starving, we grabbed some hot dogs from the Boardwalk Dog House. Tasty, especially when you’re hungry! We did not want to ruin our appetite since we had booked reservations for 150 Central Park this evening for 6:00PM.
Here are some pics of the outside and inside of the restaurant….







Here is the menu…



We started with the house bread… I cannot recall the name of the bread, but it freshly baked and delicious!

 
My wife and I had the same appetizers… Seared Honey Glazed Scallops and the Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Bisque. Both amazing! The soup is assembled at the table… the bisque is poured onto the other ingredients…




We had the Beef Tenderloin (not for two or carved at table due to Covid). We agree that it was the second best steak we have ever had on any Royal Caribbean sailing! Second only to the Filet I had at the Coco Beach Club. Yes, we still really like Chops Grille too! 😀



For dessert, we had the Fried Cheesecake… also delicious!





We thoroughly enjoyed the food, experience, and service and would definitely book it again!
OK, going into Cats with an open mind… hopefully, I’ll be able to wrap up yesterday tonight and start today, Day 6!
 

Eventually the second test result came in. About 90 minutes in total waiting. Not what I wanted, but far from end of the world. 
Embarkation was same as usual. 
 
We had lunch in Windjammer and then it was up to register the kids for Adventure Ocean. 
 
Voyagers (9-11 years old) were limited to one session sign up, whereas Explorers (6-8) were able to register two sessions. 
 
They will open up more sessions to book tomorrow at 2pm (yes, I set my alarm to know the moment I can sign up for more). 

Sounds like a great opportunity to get some money back if it doesn't suit one's needs.
Happy cruising!!

Sounds like a great opportunity to get some money back if it doesn't suit one's needs.
Happy cruising!!

Oh shoot...I forgot to come to this thread and follow up.  I apologize.
Our bid of $250 pp for a Junior Suite was accepted five days before our cruise.  It was an awesome cabin for two people used to Insides.  We had also bid $350 for a Grand Suite but that wasn't accepted.
The cruise was great.  No complaints from either of us.  The crew was outstanding. Every crew member we interacted with seemed to be genuinely thrilled to be working again.
We spent more time outside than usual...the small amount of guests combined with having to wear a mask when inside made us spend a lot of time by the Solarium pool.  On past cruises, we would spend time at the Cafe Promenade playing card and people watching.  There weren't a lot of people to watch this time. 
We didn't do anything in Nassau before or after the cruise.  Tight work schedules required us to fly in the day of and leave the day we returned.  We stayed onboard in Freeport, and only ventured off in Cozumel to buy a few souvenirs for people.  I wear a mask all day while working, but in the heat of Cozumel, it sucked in a way I wasn't quite prepared for.
I felt better protected from Covid on the ship than I do at my place of work (supermarket).  In our experience, everyone wore masks when required, kept distance, and was respectful.
I think the best way to explain how much we enjoyed cruising with the protocols is to mention that we will be boarding Freedom in 41 days.  🙂

Sounds like a great opportunity to get some money back if it doesn't suit one's needs.
Happy cruising!!

Sounds like a great opportunity to get some money back if it doesn't suit one's needs.
Happy cruising!!

When I was solo on my Mariner cruise 2 years ago the waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter paid extra extra attention to me every night.  Not gonna lie, I was totally ok with it.  

Hey there everyone -  I am traveling on Jewel of the Seas on Dec 4, 2021 and doing a Back to Back on Dec 12, 2021.  I am just curious if there are other single folks taking this cruise as well.  Thought it might be nice to have someone to hang out with. Or even a couple that is looking to make new friends.  I am in my mid-30's from Buffalo, NY although spent half my life in NYC.  Not sure if anyone will respond but I thought I would give this a shot.   Thanks and Happy Cruising everyone!!!

Day 7 - At Sea
We should have been in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua today. I’m disappointed this stop was canceled! Nicaragua is a newer addition to the cruise ship routes, so not many have had the opportunity to stop here. The country is also very poor (eclipsed only by Haiti in the region) and could very much use the tourism dollars. Fortunately for you all, we live in Nicaragua right now so you’re going to get my Virtual Shore Excursion photos!

San Juan del Sur (SJDS) is a small town very popular with the surf crowd. Serenade (or pretty much any cruise ship) would have tendered in, but the wide bay is very smooth and the process would have been painless.

Walking distance from drop off are a number of great restaurants situated right on the beach, including this fun one:

Towering over SJDS on a hill north of town is Nicaragua’s answer to the Cristo Redentor:

Lots of small resorts up the lovely coast from SJDS, where you can rent a hammock or a shade for the day, and take a ride on the beach.



A number of the shore excursions (or private tours) from SJDS will take you to Granada, a picturesque colonial town about 45 minutes inland. Spanish churches and colorful houses, with lots of artisans and restaurants.





Adjacent to Granada is Mombacho Volcano. There is zip lining, hiking, and a working coffee plantation on the slopes of the mountain.


A bit further inland is the town of Masaya, which has lovely lake and a volcano of its own.


 (Those are not clouds. Masaya is a very active volcano and you can sometimes see the lava in the caldera at night!)
Nicaragua is a beautiful country and the people are welcoming and warm. If you get a chance to visit, take it!

 

Sounds like a great opportunity to get some money back if it doesn't suit one's needs.
Happy cruising!!

Love the reviews and pics, thanks!

Skagway - Part 1
I'm an avid hiker and trail runner, so I wanted to find a good solo adventure for the morning before our main excursion in the afternoon. I did some research and found a bunch of different trails listed, but settled on hiking up AB Mountain as it was close to the port, looked like a decent workout, and I could easily get a shuttle there and back for not much money.
Let's just say I might have underestimated that trail, at least given the time of year and weather conditions. I thought I'd be all the way to the summit and back down in around 4 hours, instead it took me closer to 5. My GPS showed that I was about 4 miles in (a mile from the summit) when I turned around. The fog up top was really thick, I could barely see the trail markers, and I knew I had to get back to the ship for my later afternoon plans. It was a great hike, super intense, just a shame that it was so foggy - apparently on a clear day you can get some outstanding views.
Special shout-out to my shuttle driver, Ann, from Dyea Chilkoot Trail Transport. She loaned me a can of bear spray (thank goodness I didn't need it) and waited on me at the trailhead even though I wound up getting back almost an hour later than I expected. She simply asked if I could give her a little extra since she sat and waited, which I didn't mind, especially as the round trip shuttle was only $20 to begin with.
If you want a challenging hike while in Skagway, definitely try this one out, but I would advise being in really good shape and being OK alone on a trail - I didn't see another person the whole time I was out there. And yes, I did have to use the ropes in the photos. They were mildly useless on the way down - I slipped and slid so much it wasn't even funny, and completely destroyed the cheap cotton gloves I took for the hike on all the rocks.

Tonight we chose to dine at Izumi. We had eaten in an Izumi once before, back in 2012 or 2013. Then we were living in Asia after that and Izumi because less interesting. 😉 Now that we’re back in the Western Hemisphere we were looking forward to eating here again.


On Serenade, Izumi is in a lovely location on Deck 12 aft. The space is very pretty.



The fun tableware, plus my She’s A Geisha beverage (tastes like koolaid 😉 ).


Chicken Karaage:

Pork Gyoza:

Tonkatsu Ramen:

Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura:

Chef’s Choice Sushi plate:

FYI, the $35 option is a huge amount of food. We ate ala carte and got out at less than $24* per person. And we walked out on our own power — no wheelbarrow needed to get us back to our cabins! 😄 
 
*Edit to adjust the math. I forgot we got a random 30% discount from the waiter!

I know I said I wasn't going to go into a lot of detail in my report but this particular day deserves special treatment! 
Day 2 of our cruise was in Palma de Mallorca and this was the only port where vaccinated guests were able to go ashore freely and do their own thing (unvaccinated could only get off the ship on a shore excursion here too).
Given that we had 4 extra hours in port as "compensation" for our cancelled call in Marseille the next day, I had put together a DIY excursion for our family party of four.
The plan was to get off the ship around 9 am, grab a taxi to the centre of Palma and get the vintage train to Soller at 10 am, where we would wander around for a bit, have some lunch and then catch the tram to Puerto de Soller for another wander before retracing our steps. It would not have been possible to do this if the ship had been departing at the originally scheduled time of 4 pm.

While we did more or less manage to pull it off, there were a few hiccups along the way. Firstly my family are reeeaaallly slow and they always underestimate the time they need to do anything, so they were not ready to get off the ship until well past 9 and then, when we finally got to the gangway, SIL discovered she had left her sea pass card behind in the room - right at the very back of the ship. Time was getting a bit tight to catch the 10 am train by now but no worries, I thought, as there is another at 10.40 am.
Except... there were NO TAXIS!!! I guess the taxi people knew the occupancy on the ship was very low and reckoned it wasn't really worth their while hanging around at the dock. There were a couple of taxi drivers trying to entice people to do tours but they couldn't be persuaded just to take us into the centre. We were getting to the desperation point and becoming resigned to the idea of doing the tour, which wasn't much more expensive than our DIY trip, but obviously omitted the fun of the vintage train and tram, when finally a taxi turned up. We got to the station with about 10 minutes to spare, which was enough time to stand in line and get our tickets. There is now a (very recently added) option to purchase tickets online in advance; that was not available at the time I was researching the trip. It costs 32 euros per person for the combined round-trip train & tram ticket. Ticket sales, timetables and more info here: http://trendesoller.com/en/#
The train was packed (social distancing, what's that?) and masks were required. BIL got a telling off from the conductor for having his below his chin. (Served him right; pat on the back for the conductor). 

The scenery along the way was pretty and the train stopped at a viewpoint along the way, where we were able to get off to take pics.


Someone had recommended a place called Café Soller to us for lunch but their outdoor seating area was packed when we arrived in Soller, so we went for a wander and by the time we came back we were able to get a table. We had the Pa Amb Oli, which are toasted slices of rustic bread with various toppings and sides of olives, pickles and capers. We chose one with sobrasada sausage, a local speciality similar to chorizo, and one with dry-cured ham and Mahon cheese. Just the two were plenty for the four of us. They were delicious.
https://www.cafesoller.com/

After that we caught the tram to Puerto de Soller, which is a holiday resort on the coast. It takes 30 minutes in the tram to get there from Soller.

Because we had arrived later than planned, we did not have very long to look around, which was a pity. It is an attractive resort, with a long seafront avenue, lots of shops, bars and restaurants, and a marina. There is a small beach at either end of the bay and we had brought along a couple of towels in case we wanted to sit there for a bit but, apart from being short on time, we didn't think the beaches were up to much, so we didn't bother.


We caught the 3.30 pm tram back to the railway station in Soller, the last one that would get us to the train station in time to catch the 4.30 pm train. That gave us enough time to enjoy some ice cream from a parlour near the station beforehand. There was another train an hour later, at 5.30 pm, which would still have got us back to the ship in time for all aboard, but it would have been cutting it a bit close and my risk tolerance is not that high! 😬
There were plenty taxis at the rank just across the road from the station when we arrived back in Palma, so we jumped in one and headed back to the ship. The taxi price ranges from around 15-20 euros depending on the traffic. We paid 20 on the way to the station in the morning and just over 15 on the way back, when there was less traffic.
All in all, despite the rather tense moments at the start, it was a great day out and I would definitely recommend it as a good way to spend the day as long as your ship has a later departure time. It's possible that once Covid is behind us there will be far more taxis and more frequent trains (currently there are only 2 out in the morning - at 10 am and 10.40 am - and 2 back in the afternoon - at 4.30 pm and 5.30 pm), making it possible to do the trip even if you have a shorter time in port.