Ogilthorpe

Since I am back to reality and already wanting a break from reality..time to finish this up!  Anyone ever come back to work after a long vacation and forget their password to log into their work computer?  Asking for a friend...
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Joyce just brought us a hard copy Portside BBQ menu and she is going to place the order to be delivered in the suite.
She also confirmed tonite’s schedule.  150 Central Park at 6:00,  One Sky at 8:15 (show at 8:30) and Phoenix at 10:30 (show at 11:00).
 
Yesterday she said she was ordering Izumi to be delivered this afternoon but we asked her to please cancel that.  It’s just waaay too much food.  We still have food here from yesterday !  If we have BBQ now I’m already worried I won’t be hungry for dinner.  There’s no way we could sneak afternoon sushi in there, too ! I know Matt would disagree but there’s NOT always room for sushi !
???
#starclassfoodcomaisreal
 

I just made it!  I didn't get notice in my cabin but heard the PA announcement a few minute before it started.
Total C&A 2,699
1,115 Gold,   431 Platinum,  273 Emerald,  520 Diamond,  320 Diamond Plus, 84 Pinnacle.  This doesn't equal 2,699 so some more Royal math on board.
Mario is up 8,414.
 

Awesome blog!!  Thank you! It was like being on a virtual  cruise! ??

Sorry. I should have mentioned it. I almost exclusively play Ultimate Texas Hold’Em.  It’s basically a table version of Texas Hold’Em poker where you play only against the dealer.  I had 2 3’s in my hand and the flip had the other 2 3’s.  The table minimum on Oasis is $15 which means that the least you can possibly wager is $45 and $60 if you play the hand all the way to the end. That big money for me and I almost didn’t even sit down.  The upside (for the casino) with a $15 table minimum is they collect more money from you when you fold or lose but the upside for the player when they have a $15 minimum is that when you WIN a big hand, it’s quite a nice haul. That win paid 10:1 on the blind bet ($150) and 20:1 on the trips bet ($300).  Along with the other mandatory bets I won $495 on that hand.  A $10 minimum would have netted me $330.  So, for that single moment, I was glad they had a higher minimum !
The casino was a madhouse last night and I expect it to be like that the whole week.  This cruise was on the “complimentary” list for a very long time.  Many gamblers (including me) are on this cruise on a comp.
 

Good morning.  I am a little late o review day 1 because I had a little too much fun Saturday night!  I was chocolatly wasted on Chocolate martinis!  Boy, did I pay the price.  
 
Embarkation was so smooth.  We arrived about 10:45 and took us about 15 minutes to find a parking spot.  We found the Star Class banner pretty easily.  We were whisked away inside the lounge while we waited for our luggage to go through security.  Everyone made a bathroom break and then Lisa took us away.  I told her we have been on several Oasis Class ships so no tour was necessary.  She mentioned our room was ready so off we went.  This ROOM is amazing.  If anyone is thinking about securing the Villa, do think...just do it!!  I will post some pictures soon of the Suite.  Once inside the suite Lisa went over our schedule and some ins and outs.  We got all of our phones set up on voom.  

It was time for lunch at Jamie’s.  This one was a huge surprise.  I am a big fan of Giovanni’s so it had big shoes to fill.  It was quite tasty.  We tried the meat plank, aranaci, Calamari, the garlic bread and shrimp.  Star Class food coma is commencing.  For mains we had the salmon, smaller pasta portions, lasagna, and my dad had chicken.  ALL of it was exceptional.  Somehow we managed to have room for dessert.  So she made us a dessert plank.  We left and most of us took a nap!  

And ... a GENIE!!!
 
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Came back from the casino a winner tonite !  Quad 3’s (4 of a kind for you non-players). Yippee !  This movie seems familiar to me (started out a winner on last weeks cruise.  By the end...not so much).  

Kimpton Epic Hotel 
We booked the Kimpton Epic through Hotwire at $239/night. We picked an area we wanted to stay and a star rating, and came up with this. Not bad for 3 people. Mr. SpeedNoodles and I will be back in February, used Priceline, and wound up with the same hotel and price. Lesson learned, don't pay more thab $240/night at the Kimpton. 
After grabbing a Lyft from the airport ($15.33) we enjoyed a 15-minute ride to the hotel with a very friendly driver. When we checked in, the desk host said "Well, because you've been having winter in Minnesota since about July, we're going to upgrade you to a water view!". Well....ok by us!!!!! 
Each room has a generous balcony, and ours did not disappoint. We have a full view of the cruise port, and could spot Oasis of the Seas. 
We were really happy with the room, and spent some time cleaning up. We had to make Happy Hour (read : free wine) by 5pm.  Here's some pics from the room :

 









Pool area:
 






After wine we walked down to Biscayne Marketplace and had a bite to eat at Hard Rock Cafe (#toursist) and then mojitos at the Mojito Bar.. 

Hitting the hay for tonight, more to report tomorrow, from SpeedNoodles! 

 
 
 

They claim both the drapes and the hot tub are fixed. Yippee !!

Mario is extremely approachable.  If you see him just walk up and introduce yourself. He is a really nice guy 

Was:  October 18, 2020 Allure
Now: October 11, 2020 Allure ... added family members and moved  to Star Class ... 
Reading posts here may be a good (?) Influence! ???
all other bookings remain the same .... for now ?
 

More lowdown on refurbishments.  Joyce is so wonderful. I’m in love with her already.  She assured me that the drapes ARE new.  She said that all carpeting on the ship was replaced.  
 
Sabrina, JUST for you !  Joyce is going to take pix in 8330 for us. This is one of the suites she is Genie for, this cruise.
 In case anyone was wondering, there is a LOT of bleed over noise from the sail away deck party into our suite.  It’s WAAAY louder than anything in the ATS...even with the doors closed and locked.  It’s early so not a problem right now.  Later, it would be a definite problem. 

Yes !  That is me !
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Perhaps that is the worst part of a cruise ending. ?

Thanks all to everyone that followed along and for all the nice comments and encouragement along the way to keep me going.  Made it worthwhile to do this.
I will wrap this all up once I am back in my own safe crowd-free bubble at home, I promise ?

Watching my college football team lose badly is made better with using my BOGO Diamond offer.
 

Diet?  What diet?
I will have to say this round at Playmakers is the hottest food I've had on the ship this entire cruise.

Nope. They blew the swag budget on fireworks and CATS.

Today's DOTD

(Yes, it is available starboard side as well.)

Overheard in the Windjammer, "Mom, do I have to eat again?"
I feel ya, kiddo.

OK, I just went out to shovel the deck, but the ice pellets hurt my head. I seriously need to get out of here. 
We are all checked in for our flights, but only two of us received seat assignments, so I don't know if that means they overbooked the flight and the other will be on standby or not. I don't fly frequently, and rarely on Delta. We're crossing our fingers. 
(wow, clearly I haven't learned the art of posting smaller videos and photos - sorry, gang!)

20191130_112615.mp4

::::: edited for the sake of my reputation points here :::::

Maybe try over at CC?

My least favorite  note left in my cabin ?