dr martini

The Galapagos Islands have always fascinated me.  I'm not entirely sure why I'm drawn there but it has always been a bucket list destination I wasn't sure I'd ever get to.
Perhaps it was the remote location and overall difficulty getting that added to the attraction.  Maybe it's too many National Geographic type episodes on TV or the idea of so much wildlife to see and photograph.  Maybe it's knowing Darwin himself formed so much of his knowledge right there on the Galapagos Islands.   To walk in the footprints of Charles Darwin.  Can there be a better excuse than that?
Many decades ago I once took a marine ecology course during my high school years.  It was in the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas.  Although life and my career went in another direction the exposure and knowledge acquired has stayed with me over the years.   Perhaps that opportunity so many years ago lit a small flame that has piqued my interest in a small island chain several hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador.  
This is a reboot cruise for me.  Originally booked in the fall of 2020 unfortunately the world had other plans.  As a solo cruiser SilverSea was attractive at the time since they offered a solo fare on their ship specifically built for the Galapagos Islands.  In the aftermath of the pandemic and immediate restart those Galapagos those solo fares disappeared, until I recently found one. 
YOLO!  Booked.

It's just about guaranteed that someone has Covid on every ship every week. There's really no need to ask about specific sailings.

great advice and I agree, have definitely found tipping to guarantee that certain bartenders will remember me, my drink preferences and get me great service.  along with $1 bills I will also use up my smaller 50 cent and $1 and $5 blackjack table chips this way, there is a wink and a nod, the crew must have some way of being able to exchange them.

I cannot see the value in it no matter how many times I look at. Every once in a while I get curious about it but each time I can't find enough value in it to purchase. 

Not worth it. The benefits sound better than they really are in practice
 

Just take some $1 or exchange them.
This was my 7th RC cruise and for most I've had the DDP. I know grats are already added but I decided after reading facebook and blogs like RCBlog to tip a few bucks when getting drinks.
This was helped by winning $20 with my free slot rolls 🙂 
I have to say while you don't need to tip it really made a difference. 
I get beer mostly so it didn't impact the alcohol level but the friendliness of the staff (they were always friendly before but the level of friendliness increased) and the speed at getting served was improved.
Perhaps not noticeable if you haven't tipped before but I definitely noticed it when the pool bars got busy.
I will definitely be tipping bar staff in the future. 🙂 
 
 
 

Valor doesn't have azipods.  There is a big difference being able to turn two azipods ~90° to the wind and with the bow thrusters move the ship sideways compared to a rudder ship that has to have some forward/backward motion with their close in maneuvering.  
Radiance and Voyager class are like sports cars.  Very nimble with loads of power.  

reminds me of hearing various captains talk about the voyager class, I think the most recent one may have been on Matt's last shipboard pod, talk about how the voyager were really over- engineered.  Royal knew they would have a target on their back committing to build multiples of the biggest ships in the world at the time and so really committed to overbuilding the specs on the voyager class to handle and be safe and comfortable as possible in all weather, all regions etc.  

Thank you for sharing your trip! 

reminds me of hearing various captains talk about the voyager class, I think the most recent one may have been on Matt's last shipboard pod, talk about how the voyager were really over- engineered.  Royal knew they would have a target on their back committing to build multiples of the biggest ships in the world at the time and so really committed to overbuilding the specs on the voyager class to handle and be safe and comfortable as possible in all weather, all regions etc.  

We just got off Freedom yesterday, so I thought I would share a brief summary of our trip while it is fresh. This trip report won't be like some of the wonderful ones I see here with lots of pictures (because I am trying to catch up on some work), but I felt it was important to share because I get so much from this group. My husband and I were traveling with another couple who had never cruised before. We arrived in Miami late Sunday evening and took an uber from MIA to the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. Check-in was fast and hotel was very nice and clean. There is a $30 Destination Fee added to the cost of your room. This fee includes the following:
Premium High-Speed Internet $30 F&B Credit Welcome Gift - 2 BPA Free Water Bottles Two Bike Rentals (up to 2 hours per room, per stay) Daily yoga/fitness classes for 2 guests per room Two tickets to Millions Billionaire Sight Seeing tour Two Welcome Drinks in “Gold Coast Kitchen + Cocktails” We had a bay view room (#9304), which had a great view of the bay and the ships. We are early risers, so on Monday morning, we woke up, had some coffee in the room and then headed downstairs to the M Club for the complimentary breakfast. The breakfast was nice. It included eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, cereals, pastries, meats, cheeses, etc. M Club includes 24-hour access for some alcoholic drinks, free breakfast, etc. If you do not have Bonvoy status, it can be purchased, but I am not sure of the price. Check-out as fast and easy. We ordered an Uber for 10:15am for the short ride to the port.
Including a couple of pictures below. 

so many different crew and passengers across so many ships, some sailing multiple times a week so your mileage may vary etc etc
all that said, I really thought these made a big difference on our Freedom cruise a month ago.  we were able to find a chair when we wanted to.  my tenth cruise overall (seventh with Royal) and first time seeing these signs, I really thought they made a difference and was happy to see them.  it's at least a gesture in the right direction, a shrug, haha hey something is better than nothing and this is a nice easy, passive (mostly) non-confrontational acknowledgement of the problem.  they're also bright pink and fun and very straightforward, now let's make something like this for the (now all but defunct) dinner dress code 
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE AND ARE THINKING ABOUT ASKING, THEN NO, IT'S NOT IN THE DRESS CODE.
 

I’d have no concerns cruising on a nuke.  
 

Freedom was amp'd right before the COVID shutdown so she's still basically brand new in many spots and a very big ship, was the biggest ship in the world at one point!  Was just on her earlier this year and had an awesome time and when we go cruising again she and the other amp'd Voyager/freedom class ships (Nav, Mariner, Indy, Freedom) will be my first choice.  I personally like freedom class better than oasis for a variety of reasons.  Royal marketing is always about the latest and greatest but I wish it wouldn't make all the folks who are on the slightly older ships feel like they are missing out because you absolutely are not.

Freedom was amp'd right before the COVID shutdown so she's still basically brand new in many spots and a very big ship, was the biggest ship in the world at one point!  Was just on her earlier this year and had an awesome time and when we go cruising again she and the other amp'd Voyager/freedom class ships (Nav, Mariner, Indy, Freedom) will be my first choice.  I personally like freedom class better than oasis for a variety of reasons.  Royal marketing is always about the latest and greatest but I wish it wouldn't make all the folks who are on the slightly older ships feel like they are missing out because you absolutely are not.

If its a port day then you can use free wifi somewhere onshore. 

Coco Cay August 7th progress

@teddy feel the same way and can't wait until she's off the Nassau, Perfect day route and starts some longer routes again.  Awesome, hidden gem of the fleet imo  

@teddy feel the same way and can't wait until she's off the Nassau, Perfect day route and starts some longer routes again.  Awesome, hidden gem of the fleet imo  

@teddy feel the same way and can't wait until she's off the Nassau, Perfect day route and starts some longer routes again.  Awesome, hidden gem of the fleet imo  

Freedom was amp'd right before the COVID shutdown so she's still basically brand new in many spots and a very big ship, was the biggest ship in the world at one point!  Was just on her earlier this year and had an awesome time and when we go cruising again she and the other amp'd Voyager/freedom class ships (Nav, Mariner, Indy, Freedom) will be my first choice.  I personally like freedom class better than oasis for a variety of reasons.  Royal marketing is always about the latest and greatest but I wish it wouldn't make all the folks who are on the slightly older ships feel like they are missing out because you absolutely are not.

My wife and I do too.
If you ask my wife what her favorite ship is, her answer will always be "Freedom".  She's always trying to find a way to sail on her again.

Freedom was amp'd right before the COVID shutdown so she's still basically brand new in many spots and a very big ship, was the biggest ship in the world at one point!  Was just on her earlier this year and had an awesome time and when we go cruising again she and the other amp'd Voyager/freedom class ships (Nav, Mariner, Indy, Freedom) will be my first choice.  I personally like freedom class better than oasis for a variety of reasons.  Royal marketing is always about the latest and greatest but I wish it wouldn't make all the folks who are on the slightly older ships feel like they are missing out because you absolutely are not.

Freedom is a great ship. The difference between ship classes (at least Voyager and above) is highly overrated.

The Milky Way from the Sea of Cortez after departing Mazatlan on the way to Puerto Vallarta on board Navigator of the Seas.