JohnK6404

DAY 6: * SEA DAY * - (FRI, 11/3)… continued… Our busy, busy day continues! I met Christine in the Windjammer for breakfast. It was still early, so there were no crowds and plenty of tables. They still had not opened up the whole restaurant when we arrived. Next up this morning was our “All Access Ship Tour”! We’ve always wanted to do this tour, but we never got around to booking it. With the “Premier Pass “ Cruise Planner mini-fiasco, we both had OBC which we used to offset some of the cost of the tour. Also, what better ship to tour than the largest and most technologically advanced ship in the fleet (currently in service). Photographs were encouraged, but video is not permitted. We all met in the MDR and the guide provided us with an “All Access” pass and lanyard, as well as, an earpiece that was used throughout the tour for narration by each of the speakers. Surprised we got to keep the pass and lanyard... too bad we couldn't sneak onto another tour! LOL! We started in the MDR and took a tour of one of the MDR galleys… Next, we jumped onto “I-95” (of course named after the interstate) which traverses the entire length of the ship. Think of Disney’s underground network that their cast members use to get around the park, etc. We stopped next in the Engine Control Room… we first had to go through a security check... Next, onto the recycling/waste disposal area (forgot technical name, LOL!). They explained that waste food is actually dumped into the ocean (fish food). Some items are recycled, while other items are incinerated onboard or crushed and removed from the ship upon return to port. I believe this is where they take the rude and nasty guests to... Back onto “I-95” and a tour of a couple of the food storage areas. They explained there are 21 provision refrigerators and freezers on the ship. They also explained that they generally store enough food for 7-9 days (closer to 9 during hurricane season). The rooms are somewhat empty because we toured the morning of Day 6. Next, on to the Laundry Facilities area… all washing is done on another level and sent down to this level… Huge and amazing machine that dries, presses, and folds the bed sheets! Area where they repair garments, etc… Demo on how they steam and press pants. They explained crew uniforms are all laundered and pressed here as well… Demo of they steam shirts, etc… Next… up to the bridge! Of course, another security check before entering the bridge! When we arrived, Capt. Rob, was not on the bridge. The tour is of course handled by another officer. We spent most of the time on one of the bridge wings (port side)… As the bridge tour wrapped up, Capt. Rob returned to the bridge (on right side)… A few of us had stayed back a little to speak with the officer that gave the tour. The rest of the group had moved on and as we headed off the bridge, Capt. Rob came by for a moment. One of the other folks in our group took a selfie with the Captain, but we just said a quick “Hello!” and headed out to catch up with the rest of the group. Maybe I could have stayed for a quick pic, but we didn’t want to take advantage and push it! The tour finished in the Aqua Theater. The speaker (one of the guys that provide underwater support during the show wearing scuba gear) provided and overview of the theater, equipment, safety protocols, and answered the group’s questions. A few of the performers were hanging out and practicing some basic dives off of the trampoline…

Hi @Xaa! I didn't see any guests in the Solarium, so that's a possibility. Hopefully, they planned on having breakfast in the Solarium Bistro and then entering the Solarium...

So frustrating! All of a sudden, I can't click on the Quote button because the stupid advertising banner covers it! Sometimes it pops up above the banner and then disappears before I can click on it! Same issue on both my iPad and PC... any recommendations?

DAY 6: * SEA DAY * - (FRI, 11/3)… continued… Next, I headed back inside briefly and down to Central Park. A few of shots of Wonderland an the view of the Boardwalk from inside… The outside of the Music Hall… of course closed in the AM! Now, entering Central Park… Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and the Trellis Bar… Outside Park Cafe… here’s the “medallion” once again… Outside Giovsanni’s… … and I’ll close this post with some more crazy men’s room bathroom murals!

DAY 6: * SEA DAY * - (FRI, 11/3) I woke up early (a little after 6:00am) before Christine and started to explore the ship once again while most of the passengers were sleeping. I worked my way to the Solarium… photo dump to follow! LOL! One of the two hot tubs in the main part of the Solarium… I said this last time, but I still need to remember to grab a banana, place it in the gorilla’s palm, and take a pic one day! Lower level of Solarium… To us, Wonder’s solarium is a nice hybrid of the Quantum and Oasis class solariums. Enclosed (climate-controlled) and multi-tiered (pool and seating)! Much nicer, although still relatively small, pool than on other Oasis class ships… Lower level behind the glass is the Solarium Bistro and the upper level is Hooked Seafood… Some panoramas taken in the center of the Solarium… Quick shot of the best hot tub on the ship IMHO… the double hot tub that cantilevers over the starboard side of the ship. Nicer pics to come! It was closed when I was taking my pics. This one is just inside Solarium once again on the starboard (right) side of the ship. Here are the pics I posted earlier of this hot tub from the pier! Next, I walked the entire pool deck… Looking forward… Remember, when walking the pool deck, the slides are in the forward of the ship and the video screen is aft… Quick pano looking forward… Now, looking aft… Now, I headed further aft toward the Boardwalk neighborhood… Will continue on…

Wow! What a huge group! Have an amazing time!

Have a great time! We love the convenience of sailing out of Bayonne! Just under a 90-minute drive for us here on Long Island.

Have a great time! We sailed a similar 8-night itinerary (Aruba, Curacao, Nassau subbed for Grand Cayman ) on Odyssey back in 2022 (link to our blog at bottom if you have any interest). Awesome itinerary (Aruba & Curacao) and definitely plan on booking another Southern Caribbean sailing down the road with those ports! We went up in the North Star while in port in Aruba (complimentary) and enjoyed the views of the harbor and surrounding area. Also, if your group has any interest, we highly recommend booking Chef's Table on Odyssey as it's somewhat nicer than on many of the other ships as they host the experience in a private room in the back of Chops Grille (unless they changed the location)...

I do love to go to the casino. Mostly blackjack and sometimes slots, but the friends that usually come with us and like to gamble could not make this sailing. Also, my wife does not enjoy the casino like I do and I usually do not like to gamble alone (and she would kill me if I blew her off for the night, LOL!). When we’re on Icon next May, I believe @CHRIS WONG will be onboard as the casino host. I will definitely make a point to visit the casino to say “Hello!”.

DAY 5: ST. MAARTEN - (THU, 11/2)… continued… Let’s wrap up Day 5 once and for all! After dinner, we went to see the ice show, “365: Seasons on Ice” in Studio B. As with every ice show we’ve seen to date, it was excellent! Only on RC can you see an ice show! I always marvel at how the skaters can skate on such a small surface that is rocking at times and often has colorful images/patterns projected on the ice surface! There is usually one fall during every show we’ve seen, but the audience always applauds and understands and appreciates the level of difficulty! After the show, we walked for bit and to my wife’s horror, I found room for 3 slices of pepperoni pizza at Sorrento’s! We headed back to the cabin and called it a night. - It’s now the final evening of the cruise. Bags tagged and in the hall… heading to bed, but will complete the blog when I get home! Have a good evening!

Yes, check out the BF/CM sale! That’s how we got the Beach Club for $88.99 last year for this sailing. I’ll be watching the sales like a hawk for our Icon sailing next May. The prices are insane across the board. DBP and UDP are absolutely ridiculous right now! If they don’t drop, we’ll likely skip them!

Oooh! If you have the time, please let us know how your cruise goes! My wife and I will be doing that itinerary (plus PDCC) on Icon next May. We’ve never been to Costa Maya and Roatan. Have an amazing time!

DAY 5: ST. MAARTEN - (THU, 11/2)… continued… Once we returned to the ship, we walked around and spent some time at the Vue Bar and the Trellis Bar before heading back to our cabin to get ready for round two of 150 Central Park! Another frozen mojito and lava flow! This time, I tried the Braised Short Rib for my appetizer. Not as tender as I had expected… I’m used to fork tender braised short ribs. I had to use my knife to cut the meat. I could not decide on my entree, so the waiter brought out the Lobster Thermidor and the Pan-Seared Veal Medallions. He warned that the lobster dish was not very filling. I really enjoyed both, but the Roasted Tenderloin of Beef will alway be my favorite on the menu! One of the biggest benefits of this unlimited dining package is that you can try so many different menu items during the cruise since you can repeat speciality restaurants! The UDP on Icon looks a little pricey right now, so we’ll have to see if it drops on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Otherwise, we’ll likely get the 3-night dining package. For dessert, I had the Fried Cheesecake this time which is my favorite. OK… off to breakfast! Sleeping Beauty is awake and ready for breakfast! I’ll be back!

DAY 5: ST. MAARTEN - (THU, 11/2)… continued… Another long day, but no complaints when you’re on a cruise! Today (FRI - sea day) was unusually rocky! We’re not very sensitive to motion, but many folks were commenting on the rocking throughout the day and especially this evening. Back to Day 5… So, on Thursday, we all went on the “Philipsburg by Trolley Train” excursion through Royal. Definitely, a one and done experience for us! Saying goodbye to Wonder for the morning and entering the port area! The trolley takes us first to the Rusty Parrot and the pirate museum (“Sint Maarten Pirate Experience”). You first enter a small gift shop where you can sample locally made rum. Neat little attraction… the show is pretty high tech. You work your way through a number of rooms (directed by story narrative) as they tell the story of the fates of a pirate and the woman he loved. Each room is staged with props and they use projections and a recorded soundtrack to tell the story. Some random shots taken during the show in some of the rooms… After the show is over, you can climb up to an observation area at the top of the structure to take in some views of the port. Then you walk to another building in the same port area that sells Dutch Gouda cheese. Finally, you are taken through Philipsburg as the tour guides provides some historical information. You are then given the choice to stay in Philipsburg (need to make your way back on your own) or return with the Trolley vehicle. Clock is broken… We elected to stay and worked our way to ‘That Yoda Guy”… Nick and his wife were there (Gloria, I believe her name is). He is so very down to earth and friendly! Kept asking if we had any questions! A must see for any Star Wars or science fiction/special effects/creature fans! They encourage taking photos of the exhibits (no flash), but no video. In hindsight, I should have purchased something or made a donation so we could have taken a photo with him. Definitely, next time! I had to settle on a quick shot of Nick (front of pic) and his wife (wearing glasses behind the counter) speaking with some other folks that just arrived at the museum. When we left, it was lunch time. I had heard there were a number of decent restaurants along the beach, but we just walked into one of the first we came across. We had lunch at “The Blue Bitch”… we all had fish tacos which were excellent. We walked around for a bit and then headed to the water taxi to take us back to the port ($5 one way or $7 unlimited for day). A marine iguana hanging by the docks near the water taxis… Heading back through the port area to return to the ship… I think next time we’ll just buy the full-day water taxi pass ($7) and take it directly to Philipsburg if we plan on spending time in town. I’ll stop here… it’s past midnight! Have a good night!

We loved Portside BBQ! I wish they would have this restaurant on more ships!

DAY 5: ST. MAARTEN - (THU, 11/2) I woke up to find the pilot boat approaching the ship to take us into the harbor. What a beautiful view to wake up to in the morning! We had breakfast in the solarium bistro and then met in the Royal Theater and were escorted off the ship. We met our excursion group (“Philipsburg by Trolley Train”) on the pier. I’ll pick up in a bit!

DAY 4: ST. THOMAS - (WED, 11/1)… continued… This evening we went to the Mason Jar for dinner. We sat at the bar for a bit and my wife had another Mint Julep and I had another PB&J Old Fashioned. Delicious! As usual, they start you off with buttermilk biscuits and jalapeño cornbread served with Cajun and whipped honey butter. I liked both! We ordered Lobster & Crawfish Gumbo, Smoky Deviled Eggs, Caesar Salad, and Crab Beignets… Christine was creeped out by the crawfish! I wasn’t a fan of the crab beignets… rather bland to me. I don’t think I’ll ever order these again. I wanted to try another signature drink so I ordered the Mississippi Moonlight which refreshing and went down a little too easily! Most of us tried the “Meat n’ Two Fixin’s”. I had the beef brisket with sweet potato mash and mac n’ cheese… also very good! For dessert we ordered the cherry pie, deep fried Oreos, and chocolate pecan pie… all delicious and decadent! The house band (“The Country Crew Trio”) was playing during dinner. They were excellent! After dinner, half our our party retired to their cabin after the long day. Christine and I wandered around the ship for a bit. Before we crashed back at the cabin, we stopped by Next Cruise and purchased a Book Later reservation for our friends. We are going to look closely at a Mediterranean cruise for 2025 and the schedule is supposed to open up next week. We had another port day coming up and had to be off the ship by 8:00am so we called it a night.

DAY 4: ST. THOMAS - (WED, 11/1)… continued… OK, let’s see what I can cover tonight before I crash from exhaustion! We disembarked the ship and met our excursion group on the pier. We decided pre-cruise to book the same excursions. Today, we went on the “Mountain Top & Villa Botanica” excursion booked through Royal. I love that double hot tub cantilevered over the starboard side of the ship just inside the Solarium! We entered the port area and boarded an open-air vehicle and headed to the first stop, Plantation Crown & Hawk & Villa Botanica. Looks like a Costa and Disney ship at this pier… some really nice views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea (in this picture) sides of the island. Atlantic Ocean side of the island… very hazy! We walked the gardens after we received a little orientation. Pretty gardens, but do not expect the same level of most of the nicer gardens and arboretums in the states. Wow, the roads in these mountains are so steep! Next we were taken to Mountain Top… Absolutely beautiful views of Magens Bay and the surrounding islands! This was the highlight of the tour! Mountain top has a HUGE gift shop and sells what they call a “world famous” banana daiquiri… not impressed! Very little banana flavor and too much Cruzan rum! After some time at Mountain Top, we were taken back to the ship. The tour guide/driver was very entertaining and knowledgeable! Here’s a shot of the ship taken on the way down. It was really hazy up on the mountain. Walking back to board the ship at the port… Sorry for dragging this out, but it’s been another long day and my wife is yelling at me to go to bed. LOL! Have a good night!

Yes, she still is for sure! She’s still the baby of the fleet until next JAN! We too sailed Odyssey (FEB 2022) and enjoyed the newness! Oasis (2021) was beautiful in the common areas, but a little worn still in the cabins (old decor and furniture), etc. Allure (2019) was our first Oasis class, so we weren’t spoiled at that point! LOL! I hope she gets a major revitalization (maybe an amplification? ) when she’s dry docked in Spring 2025 before she starts her season in the Med.

DAY 4: ST. THOMAS - (WED, 11/1)… continued… Now the Boardwalk… A little panorama fun! The Aqua Theater… I went up to Deck 16 and then back down to Deck 5 and walked behind the Aqua Theater on the walking track… I love the wake of the ship and the tremendous power of the three azipods and the sound of the water! One of the life boats was open… running drills or an Inspection maybe? I then took few shots of the Main Dining Room from Deck 5 including a couple of panoramic shots… Finally, I ran to the Cafe Promenade to grab a couple of Starbucks coffees and returned to the cabin to wake Christine up! We grabbed breakfast in the Solarium Bistro and eventually made our way to the pool deck (Deck 15) and spent some time in the pool and hot tubs. The original plan was to grab lunch at Playmaker’s, but i forgot they are closed on port days for lunch along with the other specialty dining options. We decided to just go to El Loco Fresh. The food was very good as usual. After lunch we packed up and headed down to the gangway to meet up for our excursion today… I’ll try to wrap up today soon… getting tired and need to get some sleep as our excursion for tomorrow heads out at 8:00am! Have a great night everyone!

DAY 4: ST. THOMAS - (WED, 11/1) Happy November! Good month… Thanksgiving, my birthday… LOL! Well, I dragged myself out of bed around 6:30am and walked the Royal Promenade, Boardwalk, and a few other areas to take photos… I did the same thing back in January, but I love taking pics and exploring the ship all over again when it’s really quiet and most are still sleeping! OK, photo dump of the Royal Promenade on both Deck 5 & 6… Spotlight Karaoke… Boleros… The Cask & Clipper… The Bionic Bar… The Schooner Bar & Loyalty Desk…

DAY 3: *SEA DAY* - (TUE, 10/31)… continued… Tonight was actually our first major production show of this cruise since we blew off Tap Factory on embarkation day and inTENse was cancelled last evening for the cast’s safety (ship was rocking too much). Hopefully, inTENse will go off without a hitch on the last evening! We went to see “Voices” in the Royal Theater. We loved this show when we first saw it back in January. If you love vocalists and dancers, you will enjoy this show. We had the Key, so we sat up on Deck 5 in the center of the theater. To be honest, I’m not a fan of the “new” Key seating. If you are too low, the railing cuts off your view of the bottom 1/3 of the stage. Too high, and you are too far away and the top of the backdrop is cut off. Back in 2019, the Key seating was dead center on the main level right behind the suite guest’s reserved section. Those were amazing seats! Here are s few pics from the show… After the show, my wife’s uncle and GF headed back to their cabin. Christine and I decided to hit the pool and hot tub on Deck 15. The solarium was closed for a private Halloween function. We decided to skip the Halloween parade which started at 10:30pm in the promenade. Way too tired! Tomorrow, we’ll be in St. Thomas! Gangway opens at 1:00pm and all aboard is 7:30pm. Time to call it an evening… may get up early to walk around the ship… we’ll see! Have a good night everyone!

DAY 3: *SEA DAY* - (TUE, 10/31)… continued… We had our 90 minute beginner’s clinic on Pickleball and had a great time! My wife is hooked and wants to try to sign up for open play later in the cruise and start playing once we return home. Just a couple of pics of the converted basketball court set up for Pickleball and the baseball cap they give you… After the Pickleball class, we headed back to the cabin for much needed showers and a change of clothes! My wife and I stopped by The Mason Jar a little early and sat at the bar for a couple of drinks and waited for the rest of our party to arrive. I love the rocking chairs and tables overlooking the windows, as well as, the porch swing! My wife tried a MInt Julep and I had the PB&J Old Fashioned. Both were excellent especially the Old Fashioned! We plan on stopping by later in the cruise just for a some drinks. Brunch menu… Dinner menu… Signature drink menu (just part of the menu)… … MInt Julep… PB&J Old Fashioned! Delicious and sweet… The rest of our party arrived and we headed into the restaurant for brunch. The jalapeño cornbread was delicious, warm, and moist, and was served with Cajun and whipped honey butter on the side. I ordered the “No Joke, Smoke and Coke” which is smoked Buffalo Trace Bourbon on the rocks, with a bottle of Coke to top it off. Very cool presentation. The jar of smoked bourbon is presented with the lid closed. When you open the jar, the smoke starts to pour out and you add your Coke to top it off. Even though the smoke of course dissipates, that smoked flavor remains to the last sip! Not bad, but I probably won’t order that again! Tastes like your drinking smoke from a BBQ! Our table ordered Smoky Deviled Eggs, Salmon-Avocado Toast, Meemaw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles, Stuffed French Toast, Classic Po’Boy (Shrimp), Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and Sweet-Tooth Cinnamon Roll. Po’Boy was prepared on gluten-free bread… Everything was decadent and delicious! We had such a good experience, we decided to cancel one of our three Izumi reservations and swapped it for a dinner at the Mason Jar for tomorrow evening. We all really want to try some of the dinner menu items! I was surprised they still had reservations as I had heard on the forum that they book up fast! After lunch the group split up and my wife and I went to the solarium for the rest of the afternoon. Love the canter-levered double hot tub on the starboard side near the entrance to the solarium! We went back to the cabin for a bit and then headed to 150 Central Park for the next meal! Only Day 3 and nearing full capacity! LOL! From what I understand, the bread was even better on one time, but I love this bread! I ordered the Seared Honey Glazed Scallops… very tasty… … and I ordered the Roasted Spiced Pumpkin Bisque. I love the presentation… first, they present the bowl with just the dry ingredients… … and then they add the soup to the bowl… Mild tasting, not the highlight for sure, but I liked it. One of the folks in our party was not very hungry and ordered the Artisanal Cheese Selection for her entree. My wife and I ordered the Roasted Tenderloin of Beef (they can serve it for one). Probably my go-to at 150 Central Park. Who am I kidding! Lobster and Filet Mignon are my go-tos at most restaurants when I cruise! Our group ordered Fried Cheesecake, Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart, and the Hazelnut Passion Fruit Bar… We all enjoyed the meal and eventually made our way to the Royal Theater for tonight’s show.

Yes! We have lunch reservations in less than 45 minutes. This will be our first visit to Mason Jar. Details to follow of course!

DAY 3: *SEA DAY* - (TUE, 10/31) Good morning! You never, ever, get tired of waking up to this view in your cabin! We had a quick breakfast in the Central Park Cafe… need to keep it light with Pickleball looming! I always take that pic of the medallion in Central Park! Grabbed some Starbucks coffee and a cold brew in the Cafe Promenade (have to max that DBP!)… I thought it was strange that they did not decorate for Halloween. I remember back in 2015, Liberty was completely decked out for Halloween! They must have started last night after hours… OK, time to head to the Sports Court for pickleball!