JohnK6404

Nothing like starting the blog last minute! We fly out tomorrow and set sail this Sunday (10/29)! I kept wavering on the title of this blog… trying to keep up with everyone’s clever titles (especially @Lovetocruise2002's )! Should it be, “Return to Wonder”, “All the Wonder”, etc. This year, my wife and I are experiencing some cruising firsts. This is the first time we were able to schedule two cruises in a calendar year. Also, the first time we sail the same ship twice. Finally, 2023 is a “Year of Wonder” because this will be our second time on Wonder! Our sad version of a B2B I guess … instead of getting off and immediately reboarding, we had to wait almost 10 months to reboard Wonder! A true B2B is definitely on the bucket list! Once again, our only other cruise this year was on Wonder last January. We originally booked Harmony (CP balcony), but got to jump to Wonder due to the redeployments! Also, when they first posted Wonder’s new PC schedule right after the redeployment announcement, fares were very low at first (Harmony rates), so we booked this sailing (OV balcony) immediately! On this cruise, we’re sailing with 2/3 of our January traveling group. So, it will be my wife and I, and my wife’s uncle and GF! We’re all so excited! This will be our second Halloween cruise! * Time for some trip details… Cruise Details: Wonder of the Seas, 7-night, Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day itinerary Out of Port Canaveral, FL 10/29/23-11/5/23 Itinerary: Day 1 (10/29): Port Canaveral, FL Day 2 (10/30): PDCC, Bahamas Day 3 (10/31): (* At Sea * HALLOWEEN! ) Day 4 (11/01): Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas Day 5 (11/02): Philipsburg, St. Maarten Day 6 (11/03): (* At Sea *) Day 7 (11/04): (* At Sea *) Day 8 (11/05): Port Canaveral, FL Cabin Details & General Plans/Stuff: Oceanview balcony (Deck 9, Port side)… we love being just above Central Park! Selected Traditional Dining (5:00PM according to Cruise Docs) Purchased the Unlimited Dining Package… first time for us! Purchased the Deluxe Beverage Package… expensive once again, but had to do it! Purchased the Key… we’ll see if this is the last time! Purchased the All Access Ship Tour… always wanted to do this! Purchased the Pickleball at Sea (Intro Clinic)… I blame my wife on this one! Purchased the Full Day Pass to Coco Beach Club (CocoCay). Purchased “Mountain Top & Villa Botanica” excursion in St. Thomas. Purchased “Philipsburg by Trolley Train” excursion in St. Maarten. Booked all major entertainment via Cruise Planner (365 Seasons on Ice, The Effectors II: Crash & Burn, Tap Factory, Voices, inTENse, Adult Comedy LIVE). We have other plans beyond the excursions while at port in St. Thomas and St. Maarten… we’ll see how that plays out! Miscellaneous Stuff: Flight on Southwest Airlines out of Islip/MacArthur Airport (ISP) on Long Island (NY) early on SAT (10/28/23) morning to Orlando (MCO). Reservations were made for the Radisson Resort at the Port this time. We’ll be able to see the ship from the hotel once again! We all booked the “Fly, Stay, and Cruise” package which includes shuttle service from MCO to the hotel upon arrival on SAT, service from hotel to the port on embarkation day, and service from port directly back to MCO when we disembark. We booked the 10:30-11:00 boarding period so we could board and take care of the specialty dining reservations, relax, explore, and start our vacation right away! I guess that’s it for now... my wife had to work today , so we’ll need to finish packing later! On to yardwork to prep for the trip! *** Please let me know if you have any questions or would like me to post pictures of something you are interested in... I'll do my best to keep up throughout the sailing!

Have an amazing time! We'll be following for sure... loved Oasis!

I'm hoping there are other less expensive sailings! At least that price for Allure is for a sailing that departs on July 4th weekend here in the US. The other cabin classes are not that much more... we'll see when the complete schedule is officially released in NOV. For this price, they better put Allure through the full amplification process when she's dry docked that Spring! No excuses now with the huge profits they're reporting now!

We'll be following! Have a great time! B2B is a bucket-list item for sure!

One more week almost to the minute until we begin the boarding process (10:30-11:00 boarding window)! Soooo close!

I agree... and add travel insurance with medical coverage. Once you see the sad stories of people trapped in other countries without a passport and thousands of dollars worth of medical expenses (not likely covered under your domestic insurance plan), you will change your mind. I'm sure many have seen the couple that got into the scooter accident just recently in Cozumel (hit by a car)... It's been reported that they have serious injuries (compound fractures, etc.), they cannot leave the hospital without paying $10K-$20K in accruing medical bills, AND they are having issues exiting the country since they do not have their passports. Link: Hit-and-run cruise excursion crash traps 2 Tampa women in Mexico: ‘I need my babies home’ (fox13news.com) So, technically, you can sail without a passport in some regions, but you will need one to fly out in an emergency (eg. injury or missed the ship at a port)!

We're at 45 days!!! Don't forget to go into the check-in screens so you can select your boarding window! Just grabbed the earliest for our party (10:30 am-11:00 am)!

Us too! We got the same cabin type (OV balcony/midship/deck 12) and exact price for our 5/11/24 sailing back in OCT... If these prices hold, I guess it will be one and done with Icon for a bit! We still have many, many other ships we have not sailed on including Harmony and Symphony!

Just in case you didn’t know… entertainment opened up yesterday (59 days to sail date)… We’re on the road with our dogs and have spotty internet and just found out (remote area in Pennsylvania right now). All booked! 13 days to check-in! Woo hoo!

Enjoy! We'll be following!

Have an amazing time! My wife and I are hoping to book a European/Mediterranean sailing for the first time in 2025!

Have a great time! We sailed Liberty out of Cape Liberty back in 2015 (our only Freedom class experience to date). Different itinerary (10-night, Bermuda & Caribbean), but we had a great time! Now you have me thinking about a catchy title for my next live blog... hmmmm...

Thanks for the review! We're doing this on Wonder in October and can't wait as this will be our first behind the scenes style tour!

Here's a really good video review by Matt from 2021 on Nachi Cocum. My wife and I have it on our short list for next May's cruise if we choose to just relax in Cozumel. Here's their website: Nachi Cocom Beach Club Cozumel | All Inclusive Day Pass (cozumelnachicocom.com)

Have a great time! Can't wait to follow along!

Here's today's blog article by Allie on this topic: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/08/11/royal-caribbean-diamond-lounge-overcrowding

... and Symphony and Odyssey will be out of NJ next year!

... plus I would assume there would have to be some significantly heightened level of security with nuclear material onboard... I'd be very surprised if it ever happens.

Hi @EaVae! I'm not sure if this is the same issue, but I would try this just in case! See the second post from @FionaMG in this thread from this past FEB... hopefully this will resolve the issue! "The fix is to log in, go to your profile, delete your C&A number, re-input it and save."

Have an amazing time!

12 weeks to go tomorrow! A new short 5-minute video by the WSJ with Capt. Hempstead on how they dock Wonder in Port Canaveral, etc...

Yumm... tasty! 150 Central Park and Chef's Table! You're getting me hungry... almost lunchtime!

... and to add to @OCSC Mike's comment, IF the ship serves Starbucks products in a cafe onboard (eg. Cafe Promenade on Wonder OTS), it is included in both the Refreshment and Deluxe Beverage packages! I also noticed folks using their Cafe Select coffee drink cards there as well. As an example, Wonder has a Starbucks "kiosk" AND sells Starbucks products in the Cafe Promenade... Kiosk... more options and will accept your Starbucks gift cards, but none of the drink packages... Cafe Promenade menu... accepts beverage packages and cafe select coffee drink cards, but not Starbucks gift cards... we took full advantage of our drink package!

You're so welcome!

Safe travels and thanks for sharing with all of us... we love your blogs!