wannabecruiseexpert

I personally feel the opposite of most regarding the genie and shorter cruises. While I do feel bad for the genie, I think having one on a shorter sailing is even more important than a longer one. We booked one of the 3 nighters on Utopia and I don't think I would have booked a non SC room. I will need the genie's help to navigate the shows and dinners, since EVERYONE will be trying to book the same shows/dinners. I just feel like having the genie will allow us to do and experience so much more. 

I personally feel the opposite of most regarding the genie and shorter cruises. While I do feel bad for the genie, I think having one on a shorter sailing is even more important than a longer one. We booked one of the 3 nighters on Utopia and I don't think I would have booked a non SC room. I will need the genie's help to navigate the shows and dinners, since EVERYONE will be trying to book the same shows/dinners. I just feel like having the genie will allow us to do and experience so much more. 

I personally feel the opposite of most regarding the genie and shorter cruises. While I do feel bad for the genie, I think having one on a shorter sailing is even more important than a longer one. We booked one of the 3 nighters on Utopia and I don't think I would have booked a non SC room. I will need the genie's help to navigate the shows and dinners, since EVERYONE will be trying to book the same shows/dinners. I just feel like having the genie will allow us to do and experience so much more. 

I had this issue with my app but not on the website. I would go through the process of linking the reservation and getting the message that it's already linked, press the back button and then the missing cruises would reappear. This is happening a lot lately, but it seems to be okay now as all the cruises appear on the app today without having to re-link.

Maybe try reaching out to Royal through their Facebook page... they are usually very responsive...
 

Thank you for the name change on the blog!  I have not really figured out this live blogging thing too well yet.
Well, today (November 4) turned out fantastic.  We could not ask for a better vacation day from start to finish!  To start, the weather cooperated -- no wind and an ok air temperature (perhaps in the high 60s).  Catalina sits less than 30 miles from our house (across a very deep channel), but we've only visited a handful of times in the past 30 years.  The island proved an amazing cruise port; honestly, we enjoyed our time on this island about as much as any we have visited.
Our kids turned up in our cabin at around 8:00 for breakfast.  With a toddler, room service in a large cabin beats the chaos of Windjammer.  Food arrived as ordered and hot -- no complaints. 
Son, DIL, and GD booked a submarine tour with RC, so they did not need to manage tendering on their own.  Another son, DIL, DH and I had a dive booked at 10:00 am, with a start time of 9:45 am about a 15-minute walk from the tender drop area.  The amazing concierge met us and escorted us to the tender, so we did not need to collect tender tickets.  The tender, however, waited until fully stuffed with people to leave, about a 25-minute wait.   This made us a bit late for our tour, but the other couple diving with us were on our same tender so we all arrived together.  The water temperature for diving was a chilly 66 at the surface (colder in some areas during the dive).  We suited up in our 7 mm wetsuits, hoodies, and boots and went right in.  There is a protected dive reserve for shore diving, which made everything quite simple.  We had great visability and managed to find two octopus, a few eels and lobster, and tons of fish.  All and all, a great way to start the day!
After diving, we managed to change in very clean porta-potties (an oxymoron, I know) and after warming up a bit, we headed to lunch at Descanso Beach Club.  Our afternoon tour (an "Aerial Adventure") met up the canyon from the Beach Club, so we decided to head in that direction rather than back to town for lunch.  If warm, I highly recommend the Club.  We sat right at the water at a comfortable table and enjoyed a nice lunch (nothing fancy) of bar food (pictures to follow, I hope).  For kids, the Beach Club has a good beach with no surf and many loungers.  After lunch, we walked up the canyon a bit to the Aerial Adventure.  This was a series of high ropes courses: 2 easy, 2 intermediate, and 1 advanced.  After gearing up, we started on Beginner 2, which went fine.  We then conquered Intermediate 2, before heading over to the advanced course.  This one about did me in.  Lucky for me, no pictures.  These courses were super challenging (for me anyway), but great fun for all of us.
The ropes courses worked up a need for gelato, so we stopped by to indulge on our way back to the line for the tender.  We spent about 30 minutes or so waiting for the tender.  The purported last tender was at 5:00 pm.  We got on ours at about 4:55 with a long line still behind us.  Obviously, the last tender was later.  I think as long as you were in line to tender by 5:00, there was no problem.  We had the same experience in Crete this summer.  We took a RC bus to Chaina, and got in line to return about 60 minutes before all aboard.  We ended up waiting longer than this for the return shuttle, but it was not an issue.  RC had people at the shuttle telling everyone not to worry -- the ship would not leave without us.
Dinner tonight was at Chops.  What an improvement over the Izumi experience last night!  Service was perfect, food pacing was perfect, food tasted great.  Just a great dinner experience.  After dinner, we walked around the ship and listened to some music.  We were pretty tired from the day's activity, so headed to our room relatively early.   All and all, an amazing day!  Tomorrow is Ensenada!
I'm going to try and add some pictures of the day as well.

The one where they find a Genie!
7 Night Western Caribbean Holiday
December 30 2022-January 6 2023
 
About the travelers:
 
Well, first off I had all intentions of waiting  until check-in to start this blog.  But I got our SC questionnaire today! So I am beyond excited!
 
There will be 5 of us. Myself-Tina, my twins sons Boe & Jonas, and their 2 besties Connor & Ian.
Ian will be celebrating his 16th birthday on embarkation day!  That’s wasn’t planned. Just a bonus.
The boys and I have been on Allure once before. Such an amazing ship.  We are ready for the walking. I maybe #deck17 by the end of this one. I know it will be a totally different experience this time around. The boys are older and bringing friends. This group of boys travel well together. We’ve been on multiple major league baseball game & theme park trips. They also play various school sports together. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed, between the zip-line, mini golf, rock climbing & flow riders etc they’ll stay busy. They’ve been informed Sea days I will be found pool side or on balcony w a good book. They are welcomed to join me but I’m not moving. Every night we will do dinner and shows as a group and the rest of the night is there’s.
 
Cabin:
2BRAT 9330. I stalked the website for over a month and low and behold this cabin opened up. Over the moon we got this cabin. From what I’ve read on this amazing site, it will be perfect for us. With that being said, could anyone, please tell me why I’m still stalking the website for other cabins to become available and is this normal? #deck17 again.
I’ve watched so many YouTube videos- I’m gonna start a new drinking game. Rules of the game: I have take a shot every time Danny from Harr Travel says “I’m 6’6”  or  “I’m a big guy”. That way I’ll be primed & get the most out of my drink package! Don’t cancel me for that one! I’m sure he’s a great guy. I really do enjoy all his cabin and ship videos. There very informative and helped me immensely.
 
 
I am so excited about our first Star Class cruise. I mean, who isn’t excited about going home with all clean laundry after a vacation? Our original first Star Class cruise was scheduled for March 2023.
But—Star Class & NYE—I just couldn’t say NO! So even better-we will now have 3 Star Class cruises in the next 7 months. Is there such a thing as Star Class trifecta? Star class and never going back.
Next two are:
OASIS March 19-26. We are booked in 2 BRAT 10330. Coco Cay here we come!
Allure July 2-9th. We are in the Royal Loft for that one. (Lift & Shift from 2020.) Don’t get me started about this one just yet! 12 of us going. All in SC!  That’s a story for another blog-
 
I am an event/wedding planner by trade so I’m not sure how having someone else plan it all will go!  That’s just my personality. I like to cross my T’s & dot my I’s months in advance. This time- I’m just gonna breath and let go and have faith in the genie! That’s my plan. Now-if I can just stick to it! My sons already said there’s no way that’s happening. I think they even have a side bet going as to when I’ll actually cave and start planning.
Full disclosure- I already told them excursions & spa do not count. I had those in the cart 6 days after booking! Any good cruiser knows those book fast. Wink. Wink. I haven’t told them I’ve been looking at old Star Class itinerary’s posted on here. We’ll keep that between us.
 
But with the holiday season upon us, the Genie maybe my saving grace. Between cooking for 32 for Thanksgiving (yes my blessed family is that big) the 3 weddings, 4 private corporate holiday parties, I have on the books, I may not have time to plan this cruise. How many wishes do we get with our Genie and do they work on land? Oh, let’s not forget family Christmas.
 
 
I am proud of my restraint. It took all I had not to start this blog the day I booked the room. I figured, by waiting until the official check-in date, I wouldn’t break any records for the World’s most prematurely posted live blog! But I think receiving my email today blew that plan out of the water. Most importantly, so my sons can’t call me an overachiever.
I have booked our pre cruise hotel & parking at the terminal. I’ll put those under the excursion & spa category! Mostly likely to sell out!
We are leaving out of the brand new all green energy use terminal out of Galveston. Excited to see it and see how it will function. I think we are the 6th Allure sailing out of the new terminal. I’ll be sure to take notes & pics of that. I heard parking booked up early. So, I’ve book the North Premium lot. No clue where it will be. But it was the closest covered parking to the RC terminal.
 
I’d like to say a big Thank-you to all the folks who have shared their experiences on this site. It’s been invaluable information for many of us. It also helps alleviate some anxiety for those who stress about wanting to give their friends, family & loved ones memorable vacations, that are talked about for decades.
 
(The title of the blog is a reference to the show Friends by the way. The name of all the episodes always started The one..) Now I will have to order those dang magnets for the cabin door! Dang you Etsy!

The Decanter Hotel 

I second this one, great location

L Canario Lagoon, highly recommend, we have stayed three times before and after cruise, these folks are so nice, they charge us less every time to show appreciation for returning, if your early, they will lock up your bags, give you towels for a short beech walk, this is on a lagoon and you can see the ships from a distance, the reviews are awesome. Nothing fancy, its next to a comfort inn and probably 40 to 50 cheaper, we walked to resturants, beech, shopping, safe area. Has small breakfast as well.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites at 8000 Tartak St last time.  Very nice rooms and friendly staff.  Casino on the premises but we never stepped into it though. 
 
 

We really enjoyed the Sheraton in Old San Juan.  It's centrally located and easy to walk everywhere, plus close enough for restroom breaks as you are passing by on to your next location.
 
Note that the hotel is NOT across from where you will board the ship!  We thought we would walk across the street to board, but you actually board across the way when embarking in San Juan.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjuol-sheraton-old-san-juan-hotel/overview/

Bayonne views

I can tell you all tomorrow there will be A LOT to share.

Check out our list: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/09/26/best-shore-excursion-every-caribbean-cruise-port

Day 3 - Rhodes 
Got some few our sleeping (not enough for sure) and went to eat breakfast at the diamond club , the useal selection was there and it was nice to start the day in a quiet location. How quite well let's just say that beside the diamond concierge we were the only one there until now , oh maybe beside the loyalty ambassador that comes to visit from time to time. No wonder as only 12 diamonds and above are on the ship (and no any pinnacles). 
The cruise port is very close to the old city, only 5 minutes walk and you are in the main tourist attractions in the old city.



As it was my first visit ever to this island (my spouse was there already) we took a RCL tour . Oh what a big mistake. The tour went to a hill with a nice view of the island and an old church to visit followed by old city walking tour. The tour was Ok and the guide was very good and gave allot of information about the island or at least that's what we guessed she did as it was very hard to listen. The tour was full with small kids who kept shouting and screaming in the bus. The tour was in English which small kids not yet practice too much so I guess they got board. Well lesson learned for next time , take a tour that includes alcohol 🙂, it will reduce the chance  of too many small childrens. If you just want to tour the old city you can do it early by yourself. 



This guy also tried to inspect if we have some extra corn. 


The old city is very interesting with Meadville like building and forts , you can spend early few hours there although the city was very crowded (Jewell of the seas was also in port). To me some of the street looked like as they were par of the Lord of the ring -The two tower.


 



 

We are so bad , not one day untill now we used all the 5 drinking vouchers, shame , shame . Well we need to practice before the December group cruise ☺️

Filet night has seen changes over time and there is no "fleet standard" when it comes to CK menus.  When CK is available to me I always stop by on day one and confirm what night is filet night.  I hear other guests asking the same question in line so I know I'm not the only one to find the filet on different nights over the years.

Just let Romina know that you want to eat there on filet night and she will make it happen regardless of what night it is.

We leave in a week on Allure and my app shows filet on Day 3 instead of Day 1, so I had Romina put us down for Day 3. I assumed this was fleet wide but now I'm worried the app is wrong and the filet is really still on Day 1.

After breakfast we met Leroy up in the seaplex for some bumper cars. Shortly after @Lovetocruise2002and her family arrived and we had some epic battles in the bumper cars. We all left with huge smiles on our faces and headed to Ifly. The weather is getting cooler. The shorts were shed for long pants and sweatshirts. 

Someone it ready!


All suited up!

 

 

 

I mean....I was going to ask but figured I needed a few more SC bookings to qualify for the secret 😉

Mine too. I'm not going until December and I'm sure I'll see pricing before they reach out. Just trying to plan ahead. Curious if it's more like how they were priced before the shutdown or more like beach club cabana prices now. 

So when I talked to the concierge she said they were definitely wrong and we should have been able to sit there. Said the sign shouldn’t even be worded as concierge suites and then asked some questions about the person who told us we couldn’t (what she looked like) and said she’d make it right. She said she thinks it’s someone new who pretty much didn’t know what she was doing.
 
We had the ice show tonight (amazing by the way) and the same lady was there and came to us as we were walking up and took us to a front row. No embarrassment tonight so all is good.