wannabecruiseexpert

I've only had 1 SC sailing and we had Smitha so also used whatsapp, but if I had to actually place a phone call to the genie, I would definitely not use their services as much. I HATE talking to people on the phone and there's no doubt in my mind that my trip wouldn't have been as amazing as it was if I had to call every time.  

I've only had 1 SC sailing and we had Smitha so also used whatsapp, but if I had to actually place a phone call to the genie, I would definitely not use their services as much. I HATE talking to people on the phone and there's no doubt in my mind that my trip wouldn't have been as amazing as it was if I had to call every time.  

I've enjoyed following along! When's the next one? 😉

I've enjoyed following along! When's the next one? 😉

Where on Earth is my Genie???? 
@FLL Delta terminal 

+1. Just got back and I enjoyed Nachi a lot. Very quiet and my understanding daily limits so doesn't get crowded. My friends and I grabbed a taxi right outside the shops. Easy.

We are going to Nachi Cocum in Cozumel to avoid the vomit comit (after our other excursion was cancelled).
 

Super speedy results from the PCR test earlier. Took our test just before 8:30 am. Results emailed by 9:30 am. Both negative! I am still slightly anxious for our last hurdle crossing back into Canada but hopefully all will go smoothly. 

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Six strange folks slated to live together for 7 days on a cruise ship..next up on The Real World of the Seas 😂

It really is a great venue. Great food and vibes.  You will love it. 

I have yet to try playmakers! Everything always looks so delicious from there. Can’t wait to try it all in April!

I’ve wondered how the genies food deliveries were for 2. That looks like the same amount of food we had for 7 people and it was still too much! 

Very excited to follow along! Your blogs played a MAJOR part in me booking our first star class sailing. 
So happy to see you are soooo close to being back on deck 17!

I've always wanted to play table games but have no clue how to play any of them. People always look like they're having so much fun at the tables. I've heard reviews before of the lessons and they didn't seem great but reading your experience makes me want to do it. 

💥💥 It’s official .. 2nd negative Covid test!! 
 
OMG what a relief….we will see everyone onboard!! Yay! 

We eat a lot of hibachi type places at home. I personally think that the rice at Izumi is outstanding, way better than what we have locally. The meats weren't anything special, but the rice......AMAZING! 

Day 1 - boarding.
So the jet lag keeps up during strange hours, that time it was a bless since I could watch all the ships entertaining the harbor. I was also busy in trying to handle the big security issue that started in the weekend (Log4J vulnerability if anyone really interested) that's after I had to handle another issue while flying. I wonder how it's always happens when I try to take  vacation.  Our check-in time was 11:30 and with the flexible 1 hour you get when you are in sky class it mean 10:30) quick repacking , cofee from the hotel Starbucks and we started our long 5 minutes journey to the port. This time we were staying at the Intercontinental Miami which I booked as found many recommendations for it  in this blog. I must join the recommendations , it's a very nice hotel , located near many restaurants and supermarket and a good choice if you do not have a car. I ordered the regular room but we were upgraded to an harbor view room
We got to the port fast although the u turn the Uber had to take , the cost was 9$ plus tip. I suggested to to swim to the ship but it was overruled , something about the luggage will get wet or another excuse. Immediately after boarding we have been directed to our muster station which we planned to do anyway. Apparently many people didn't do it and around 5 PM there were still 300 people that the crew chased to complete the very complicate process... I do hope Royal will not consider to go back to the old way but if it will happen I will ask RCL for the address of all the people that failed the process and send them a sack of onions so they can cry as we will cry going back to the old horrible muster drill. We grabbed some food at the WJ as CK was still closed and I completed all the show booking. Fly is back !

 
Next we went to the CK to confirm our must day one CK reservation and to drink coffee. The cabin was ready at 1 pm , the luggage already arrived so we could unpack. This time we got one of the crown loft suites which facing the mini golf. I thought I might not like it but the view is nice and the balcony is bigger from the previous CLS we had, anyway as the old phrase says " you do not check the teeth of an horse you got using Royal up". We love the cabin , two bathrooms  much like two internet packages helps allot to any couple relationships 🙂 

We enjoyed the balcony for a while before we went to check if anything is  new on the ship , I can tell you one very important change was replacing the tune of the piano stairs! Beside that more and less the same. I went to check for the disembarkation PCR test but there were always lines to the concierge , apparently this  cruise we have only one concierge comparing to the regular two that you have in Oasis class. Finally when I go to speak to him the first thing he  asked me if I'm Canadian, I guess he hears this question a lot from the people of the north. Told him that we are not but we still need to schedule a PCR testing to get back to our country. He told me that on  day 3 we will see the QR code on the cruise compass that we will need to scan  and schedule a PCR test,  no issues at all , he also offered he can guide me to the process. Of course I needed to try and book it earlier so I went to The Cruise compass of one of the previous Symphony of The seas cruise , scan the code and try to see what happens, apparently they were already ready for such attempts  so it was not working even when I tried to play with the dates in the URL. Oh well I tried. We went to catch some nap  and get ready for the evening . First dinner was in CK , we cannot miss the first night filet mignon ,as always it was perfect especially when you remember to order medium if you want to get medium well and medium medium rare if you want medium. Not sure if we are going to eat in CK every night something is weird in the atmosphere of the CK at Symphony I cannot pinpoint what exactly it is but maybe lack of waiters comparing to the number of tables or something else in  the ambience. We'll try to do a few dinner at the main dining room. Yes I know the subject will start a riots , I guess every person see it differently. I proudly say we skiped  the dessert. Apparently we were The last ship to leave the harbor today that means we had ability to take very nice pictures of Miami Port during the dark. That was first time for us as usually the ship is leaving around 5:00 p.m. this time we left only around 7:30 p.m. quite late.




That's also mean that they could open some of the venues only after 8:00 p.m,  like the casinos and the shops. We enjoyed some live music at Park Cafe and  the promenade before closing the night trying to recover from the long day. Tomorrow a sea day .

 
 
 
 
 

Happy cruise day!! Excited to be following along!

It’s 3:30 am the day we leave for our cruise.  Don’t check for the time I posted this. I wrote it early killing time. No, we don’t have an early flight.  We are taking a leisurely 7 hour drive to Savannah today. But, I’m like a 5 year old when it comes to travel. I get so excited that I can’t sleep. Thank God for eye cream, because I’m going to have some serious bags this afternoon.
 
I’ve always been this way about travel. Ever since my first long trip with Grandma and my cousin Mary when we were both 13 years old. Grandma took us to visit family in Baltimore.  Grandma loved travel too, and she booked the 3 of us on the Amtrak train round trip.  I remember the excitement of being on the train…and wanting to seriously hurt Mary because she cried every day for her Momma. I was worried that Grandma would cut our trip short, but obviously I get my travel attitude from Grandma, because she wasn’t budging on our schedule. Mary was allowed to call her Momma every day, but there was no going home early, thank goodness.  That trip was when the travel bug bit, and I have been sold out ever since.
 
I’m sitting here in the living room, dressed and trying to figure out how to wake my husband without being obvious about it. I would bounce on the bed, but we have a memory foam mattress.  I realize now that was a poor choice.  If I am “accidentally” a bit noisy, like when I was unloading the dishwasher a bit ago, he sleeps right thru it. And he gets annoyed when I cheerfully lift one of his eyes to “see” if he is awake.  I don’t understand how he can be so blasé.  We haven’t cruised in 802 days…not that Im counting.  He knows how I am about travel, but does he accommodate this infantile behavior?  No!!!  Whatever.
 
We will be taking our Covid tests as soon as I wake him…I mean, as soon as he wakes up.  And he wants to pick up his new reading glasses on the way out, like it’s that important for him to see.   Whatever.
 

Early morning today. In Cozumel and we are headed to the mainland for pyramids. 
Luckily we called it an early night and waking up this morning was doable.
Dinner last night was great. 

Glad to see you're off to a great start! 

Starbucks included with Star class. Deliveries scheduled for each day.

room is spaciousray near cabanasmall sharkIf food is left unattended seagulls take advantage of lunch

Thrill waterpark 33$...never seen it that low