Zeashore

LOL, still would rather be on a cruise than miss a Pat's game.   it is going to be a GREAT year for the GOAT!!  ?

LOL, still would rather be on a cruise than miss a Pat's game.   it is going to be a GREAT year for the GOAT!!  ?

2 yrs at this exact same time we were on Anthem that was suppose to go to Bermuda.   48 hrs prior they emailed us and said you are going to NE.  They gave us back 50% pp for the cruise plus 250 OBC if we still sailed. We did.
The funniest thing was there was aa group that had professional t-shirts.  they had it say sailing to Bermuda, and than a line through the word Bermuda replaced with Nova Scotia.  
The funny part for every one on the cruise, was the temps in Bermuda was high 70s, but every stop on our cruise was 90 degrees.  
The last night the storm was making it's way up to NE.  Although the captain did his best trying to skirt the storm,  it was very rocky.  Everybody was walking like they were drunk and the ship had placed the blue bags out at the bottom of every staircase.  We had dinner in the MDR (our table was by the windows).  The waves were so high that they came up 50% of the window and you could easily see the white caps in the dark of the night.  
None of us slept well that night, not because of the ocean being rough, but because at least every 30 mins you were hearing the horn blast.  I had known that going under bridges they would sound the horn, and knew we were skirting the storm.  I remember saying to my group that a.m. how many dang bridges did we go under last night.  Our wait staff said, oh no that wasn't because of bridges it was due to the weather.
OBTW we still say to this day it was probably our best cruise ever.  It sailed 100% occupancy.  Everyone was happy and nice, and so polite on the cruise.  I am talking passengers.  IE people at the pool bar weren't saying I was here 1st.  Going up or down stairs, they would move over to one side single file so people could pass them, would move down a seat in the shows so there were no empty spaces.  Pretty sure that the 50% refund and 250 OBC had a lot to do with people feeling like they won the lottery.  
 For us, we had a balcony.  I recall my husband saying that in the end the cruise cost us @750 in total for 6 nights when you add back in our OBC, how can you do any all inclusive vacay for 125 per night for 2?   My husband up to that point kept saying he wanted to do a land all inclusive.  I looked at him, and said, had we booked an all inclusive Bermuda, they may have refunded us the cost, but we would have not had a vacation.  Here we had a vacation at rock bottom barrel price with perfect weather.

Great replies, the excitement builds and builds. Then its cruise day and you just can't wait to get on the ship. Then you go through the boarding process and once you are board you are on vacation on a big beautiful cruise ship and its relax time. Its have fun time, its do whatever you want or do nothing at all if you want. I love that Royal does push you to do anything. Yeah they let you know what is going on but there isn't any bugging you do everything. 

The best thing about pre cruise is the building of excitement. You book and you are super excited, you are going back on a cruise, but usually you are still months away or a year away. It's the building ever day to the cruise that's incredible. Usually 30 days out it's bonkers time with excitement. We are 32 days from Anthem and it's really building here. We are all talking about it everyday. God cruises really are the best vacation and Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line. 

I think the appeal of looking at the open ocean at night is seeing the stars and the moon reflected on the ocean's surface because its so dark.  You'd be surprised how bright the moon is when there's no light pollution.
And then there's the existential aspect of the vastness of the open ocean and how minuscule we all are comparatively to the great universe.  If you're into that kind of contemplation, its very nice.  

All comedy shows, Love and Marriage, Quest... all FUN!
and my DH ends most evenings with a walk on the topmost deck to waltz me around humming our first dance song from our wedding under the stars.... it is magic. 

All comedy shows, Love and Marriage, Quest... all FUN!
and my DH ends most evenings with a walk on the topmost deck to waltz me around humming our first dance song from our wedding under the stars.... it is magic. 

Don't miss the flying fish!  Every morning I order coffee for the room and I stand out on the balcony to enjoy the sea.  If you watch closely you can see the flying fish.  Depending on how high up you are will determine the size your looking for.   If your above seven they will be about the size of a dragon fly.  Once you see one you will be hooked.!

They also told us we'll get 5 nights worth of Crown and Anchor points.  Since I'm in a Junior Suite the normal bonus multipliers apply.
They offered a special on board to stay on for the next sailing which was reduced from 4 nights to 2 nights.  The price for a suite guarantee was $249 total plus gratuity.  For a couple that would be $249 total for both people.  
I booked it on day 2 I think.  On day 3 I looked in the app and saw the new booking.  I was given a Grand Suite.  Ironically the suite I was given is currently occupied by a friend who is also on this sailing.  He departs tomorrow and I get to take over his suite 

The NFL announced that the Super Bowl will be played on February 2, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.  It is not yet known who the Patriots' opponent will be.

Make sure you are wearing a Patriots tee.  They will be playing.... ?
 

Make sure you are wearing a Patriots tee.  They will be playing.... ?
 

If they mention getting sick from the food... ask them where they last went out to eat at. (then look at them with a very judgmental look)
If the mention getting stranded... tell them, you would much rather get stranded on a luxury cruise ship than stuck on the Tarmac of an airport. 
If they mention people missing... tell them happens everyday on the city streets. Rarely on cruises. 
If they mention crime and sickness... same as walking into a Walmart. 
Stuck in a storm.... Cruise ships will avoid storms... they have something called navigation. lol
 
Finally... ask them how many cruises they have been on. Then stare at them in judgement again. :-)

We second Kermits for the Key Lime Pie.  Ask anyone and they will direct you. Easily within walking distance of the ship.
We also went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum.   …. DH and I were standing there reading one of the narratives.... the lighting is slightly dim so it took a while. A kid came up and pinched DH.  He thought he was an exhibit.  That kid JUMPED!   funny.   Still makes us laugh.  ?
 

Thanks Twangster, I really appreciate this.  I think we may try this on the way south (Tuesday mid-afternoon) but not on the way north (Sunday).  
Not till February though. Much like a bad day of fishing,  it is more pleasurable to be on a slow train in Florida in February than your own car in New England.
 

Southern New Englanders not happy with the air fare to MIA/FLL (more than double since last year) like us have our eye on Bayonne/ Cape Liberty as a home port.  

We also use the list, finely tuned after a few cruises and the packing cubes. But we also use the vacuum bags for some items. Not the kind that need a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air. We purchased 5 large bags for under $8 at a large box store that rhymes with Tal-mart.  We use them for DH's t-shirts and items that do not use a cube. We also use them for dirty laundry. We simply sit on them to get all the air out. Don't judge!   Great space saver.

We were there in 2018 and hadn't planned any excursions, but when we saw how close we had docked to Old Fort, we got off the ship.  Walked uphill to the Old Fort and paid the $5.00 entry fee per person for a self-guided tour.  It was very interesting.  That $5.00 gets you entrance to the New Fort too.  AND a free trolley between the two.  The New Fort had great views. HUGE waves crashing on the rocks. Then the trolley brings you back to the ship.   All for $5.00.  We poked, didn't hurry at all and if I remember correctly, it only took two to three hours.   A very enjoyable and educational time.

Just did this last week. When you get on Terminal Blvd, STAY IN THE RIGHT LANE. It will take you (and lots of other vehicles) right in front of the terminal. I had our bags tagged in the rear of our vehicle, puled up to the curb, popped the trunk gave the bags (and a tip) to the baggage folks. Drove around the corner and into the parking garage ($20/day but well worth it). Park your car, take your keys and receipt with you. Very short walk to the terminal and there are two elevators. When you disembark get your luggage, pay at the kiosks outside the parking garage, find your car  and away you go. As you exit, give your paid receipt to one of the attendants. Very easy. 

Our air fare for our February 2020 cruise was more than double what is was from our February 2019 cruise.  This really cuts into the vaca funds.... we can get there, but not have as much fun while there.      ?
 

Pretty soon you'll buy the drink package and they'll throw in the cruise.

Not being rude at all. My response was from the Wizard of Oz, no reference to any cruise line.This post started out as a joke, if you truly followed along, you would have picked that up. I also know the difference between every cruise line that there is as I have cruised approximately 40 years. We all are here to enjoy this great blog, share our different experiences and opinions and have a little fun along the way.  Sit back, relax, and have a Mimosa on me!  ???????