Vwjo

At 9:45am with no debarking passengers is a dream at Terminal A.  Someone read our SetSail pass wrong and we got sent up to the Suites area to wait ?‍♀️.  Checked in on a tablet and told 10 minutes until boarding.  Plus free baby sodas!  

We got back to the room and ate and I surfed all the various cruise nerd sites and Facebook groups were buzzing about Oasis getting close to the port so I checked the tracker on cruisemapper and saw it was right at the entrance to the channel.  We had seen what we thought were other ships when we first got to the room but weren't able to tell what ships they were.  They weren't there when we got back from Publix.  I think one was MSC Seaside as they one wasn't scheduled to leave until 7pm and the other was likely NCL because it looked like a floating brick.
My had mom flexed her loyalty status and got us a water view so we went out to the balcony and got to watch Oasis come in.  At first I wasn't sure if it was even a ship since it barely was moving, but then it got bigger and bigger and closer and closer.  I excitedly geeked out a bit and rubbed it in my brother's face somewhat (since he turned down this adventure on a quest for fancy paperweight/doorstops) and took some wonderful shots demonstrating how dirty my cellphone camera lens is and how little I know how to hold a phone steady or use my camera at all.  So enjoy! 
 

The hotel is attached to a little indoor mall with some shops and eateries.  There were bakeries and coffee shops, a bar with bar-type food, fancy Italian, upscale Chinese, etc.  Didn't really have to leave the building.  There's a free trolley that runs around downtown Miami on Friday and Saturday evenings until 11pm, so that's a nice option for folks who want to get out and see and do things.  I was born in Miami..I no longer live in Miami.  Even though I was a little over a year old when my parents moved me away, I still have a feeling of been there done that when I come to Miami.  
Wasn't feeling any of the eateries (more so wasn't feeling the prices $$) so we opted to walk over to Publix.  It is walkable, even on the way back with bags of groceries.  Great to pick up things like toiletries or sunscreen, wine, etc.  They also have a deli and hot bar to get something quick and ready to eat.  Publix subs are a BIG Florida thing and well worth their reputation.  
I prefer to drink my bread (beer) so I decided to get something hot to eat and since there wasn't anyone paying attention to me at the hot food case (where they had mojo pork, wings, smoked chicken!!) I meandered over to seafood where I had them steam some big 'ol shrimp with Old Bay seasoning for me..$4 for something that Joe's Crab Shack probably would have expected me to pay $25.  I laughed when the seafood lady told me that the shrimp hadn't been cleaned yet when I asked her to steam them..I mean that just means more flavor!

It's fly to Miami day! ?
We are enjoying the hotel's included breakfast before walking over to the airport. It is a very good breakfast for a hotel of this category. There are hot items too and an espresso machine in addition to the filter coffee. 
 


 

I just came from the Silent Party and I must say I enjoyed it. If you’re into dancing, you should try it if it’s held on your cruises.

My husband likes to do it on every ship, as each one is slightly different.  I think he's done 5 at this point. 

After six Sushi Making Classes on six Royal ships, I should be able to teach the class. ? 

SEA DAY: Sushi Making Class

I do it whenever I feel like it, there truly is no rush.

I do it right away but I don't print my Set Sail until a week before, in case there are any changes or I still don't have a room assigned.

There is one potential disadvantage for early check in, if you are expecting a credit card/passport to expire and be replaced prior to the cruise.  Example: my Royal CC was renewed but the CVA code was different so the online information I had submitted was incorrect.  When I tried to update the information online, the cruise documents had already been issued and I wasn't allowed to change anything.   On embarkation, I asked the agent about my credit card and was told I was OK.  However, I was surprised on disembarkation day when I was informed I needed to pay my bill in person.  Guest Services took care of me at 6 AM, but it was a bit of an inconvenience. 
If the CC you are going to use and your passport numbers/dates won't change, then checking in early is fine.  Otherwise, wait until you have all of the new information you'll need to input.

At check in tell them you want to use a different card.  Takes 15 seconds.  They'll swipe it which overrides anything in the system even the same card number.  

Not me!  But then again, I never iron anything lol...

THE KEY Welcome Lunch

Mariner.  Finally under 90!  88 to be exact but who's counting??

I found this group about a year ago when we booked our cruise.  Tomorrow morning we leave for San Juan and then we'll be on Freedom of the Seas for the 11/17 sailing.  Everyone has been so helpful with all of my questions & concerns and I really appreciate it. I'm not looking forward to the flight (I do not enjoy flying at all) but I'm so excited to go on this cruise!
THANK YOU!!! ?

I do it whenever I get around to it (i.e. when I'm thinking about it and have my passport handy).
No real advantage that I can see to getting it done.  If you don't check in you can still just do it at the pier at embarkation and it only takes a few minutes longer.

I checked in for our upcoming sailings (25 November) about 2-3 weeks ago mostly because I got busy and forgot.  No real advantage.  Only big things to do ahead of time are cruise planner purchases as those close off three days prior and show scheduling on Oasis class if that's a big thing to you.

Mariner.  Finally under 90!  88 to be exact but who's counting??

Well Good Moring From The Port Of Miami.

Well Now It Is Sadly The End To This Great Cruise. It Took Me Just 10 Minutes To Get To The Car From The Ship.

With That It Is Time To Head Back Home To Orlando. Here Is On Last Shot Of The Navigator.
 
Well That Is It For This Blog. I Hope You Enjoyed It. If You Have Any Qestion Please Let Know. 

We had a JS on deck 10 on Navigator in August. We loved the view. I will say that when we were at our railing, we could see all the balconies below us, so if that is something you wouldn’t like, I would recommend getting a cabin on the highest deck. We didn’t notice any of the noise issues that were mentioned by others  

If you are referring to the aft balconies that are along the very back of the ship, you would be looking for sailings on almost all of their ships. Some of the more affordable ones would be on freedom, voyager class ships. Oasis and Quantum class ships have aft balconies, but many are star class suites which bring a premium price.
For availability, these are popular stateroom choices for obvious reasons, so the best way to book one of these, is to book EARLY! The next round of Caribbean sailings I believe will be released the week of the 18th. 
 
This is what I will be doing that week too.  Refresh!

This view is worth it

PRE-CRUISE: Overnight before sailing
@Matt often says in his live videos that you won’t get any sleep the night before a cruise.  I’m experiencing the fulfillment of that “prophecy” this very moment, posting this at 3:00AM while tossing and turning on my bed in a Miami hotel.  Morning seems so far away.

Ha - yes, and good catch.    He was a club DJ here in town and I was working in a bar where he had a residency when we met.   He still gets some gigs here and there, but I’ll always be “the DJ’s Mrs. ” ??

Don't rain on my parade ?   lol