Ampurp85

Ship: Anthem of the Seas
Sail date: July 7th 2023
Original stateroom: OV GTY (3546 as per barcode trick)
Upgraded to: Ocean View with Large Balcony (7260)
Bid amount: $50 pp (minimum bid)
Anectdotal notes: I did not submit a bid until the barcode trick revealed that my assigned stateroom was as far forward as you could go on deck 3 and still actually be on the ship. At that time, the minimum bid for a standard balcony cabin was $65 pp, so $15 pp more than the large balcony stateroom. A mock booking suggested there was more inventory in the large balcony category so I bypassed the standard balcony entirely and bid only the large balcony. The e-mail acceptance came in a few days later, on June 1st, so more than a month before the sail date.

Won twice.
First time was WN July 2023. Bid was $980pp. That bid was somewhere between min and middle. Went from CL to A2. The A2 was showing as available on a mock booking up until my bid went to pending. 
Second time was IC inaugural. Bid was also $980pp lol. That bid was also somewhere between min and middle. Went from Surfside Family Suite (SF) to Panoramic Suite (VP). The VP was also showing as available on mock bookings until all the suites got pulled at one point.
Anecdotal notes:
- Both wins were with 2 people only on the reservation. The times I have bid with 4 on the reservation, I never won. And once I bid max with 4 on the reservation and did not win, even though it was showing as available on mock bookings. Someone else won it.
- Both bids were won at about 10 days prior to sailing.
- Because I track prices, I know that both times I "won" in the sense that I paid less by using RU compared to booking the winning suite upfront. And that would be the price of the winning suite at the time of original booking, which in my case, is usually upon release of itineraries.
- Edit: Our C&A status is D+ and that was our status ever since the RU program started.

I was literally coming here to ask this 😱

I LOVE the cup holder suitcase thing. I got one several years ago because I was always juggling my water bottle and a soda bottle, and this solved the problem. When I'm traveling with the kiddos, it's a place for them to put their drinks so they don't forget/lose them. Very easy to use, very helpful, and definitely recommended!

I love that logic! Entertainment is entertainment!

See that's also the rub, I would be spending in the casino on Celebrity as well, since I count the casino as my excursions 🤣.
I currently have a celebrity cruise on the books but between my prime tier cruise and monthlies, I cannot justify it. I too originally thought, in comparison to Icon, Celebrity wasn't that bad with pricing. If the loyalty programs were to merge, it would be easier to justify keeping the sailing. 

Slight long-winded story.
I canceled the celebration cake. I am not really a cake person. I was getting the cake for my brother's birthday mainly. He and my mother can eat cake and sweet things like crazy. I am not actually huge on sweets. I eat more sweet things when I cruise than in real life. But my brother can eat a whole cake almost every day. During the pandemic, he or I was making him a cake every other day 😱🤯🤣🤪.
Since I don't normally cruise during his and my birthday "season " I had forgotten about his birthday shenanigans.
For over a decade I have been getting him his favorite cake from a local bakery, it's a double tiered tres Leche. It usually takes him 2 days to finish. Then my mother gets him a traditional sheet birthday cake. His best friend gets him a fruit tart. Now for a couple of years as a mechanical engineer he has been working from home. But prior to that he always got a birthday cake from his compay. Last year his company went back into the office, though it was now a communal one. He also started doing freelance with two other firms. On Monday's he commutes to meet with all three.
Which is a long way of saying between Saturday and today he got 5 full sheetcakes. This is on top of the fruit tart and tres Leche cake. My BFF is into the instasnaps and whatnot, so he got him the viral McDonald's sheetcake 😂🤣😂😂😂. I came home to a refrigerator filled with so much cake. I'm talking cake. Which will last him well into next week. So much cake that my mother took the equivalent of half a sheetcake home, and that will last her until next week. My brother hits the gym 3-4 times a week to afford that type of lifestyle 🤣
My brother does love him some cake but he needs variety and it would take him at least a month to want basic chocolate or vanilla cake. So he was like I doubt I will want to eat half a cake on a cruise. This is also compounded by the fact that because my mother has worked for a local supermarket chain, 42yrs, she gets all the holiday sweets and candy for next to nothing. We are currently sitting on a treasure trove of Easter candy. A ton of which I will give to the crew. Don't worry none of it is expired, it's just wrapped in pastel colors. 🤣😂🤣😂
 

14 days to go......
The luggage tag and my setsail pass updated at 17 days to display the cabin numbers on my first GTY. Since I used the barcode trick at check-in, I already knew the cabins. 
I have a Chase sapphire reserve card. Usually I spend on cruises: paying them off, gambling, etc. then I use the points earned to book my hotels and flights. Some airlines are now only allowing you to earn status if you book directly through them, cough, cough AA. Which sucks because if you book through Chase travel they give you 50% extra. I booked the flights for this cruise through the portal. For my mom, I booked her a nonstop flight home from MIA that left at 6:30. Last week I got an email that, that flight was cancelled, and they rebooked her on a connecting 7:30 flight from FLL that got in after midnight. I was pretty upset because my mother is not the well-traveled woman, she tells her friends she is. Her "brand newness" comes out hard when she has connecting flights and/or have to travel after midnight. Usually with SWA and well most airlines, if they change your flight, you have the option to select another without any fees or cost online. I had to call the travel department of Chase instead. She lucked up, sort of, there was a direct flight from Mia at 8:30pm. She doesn't care about waiting at the airport because she has audiobooks and tablet games to farm. As a nice gesture the rep gave her SWA "business select, " which will give her a nice seat selection and alcoholic drinks. 
I am sorry if the pictures are too big🤣.
So here are a couple of the offerings I made to Bezos:
Amazon.com | riemot Luggage Travel Cup Holder Free Hand Drink Carrier - Hold Two Coffee Mugs - Fits Roll on Suitcase Handles - Gifts for Flight Attendants Travelers Accessories Grey | Travel Accessories
 

I always have preflight drinks and struggle with finding somewhere to put them, some airports don't have the cup holders. This was recommended to me by a coworker who must have their kombucha and coffee. Plus, it keeps me from having to constantly remove my backpack to access my water bottle. 
Amazon.com: Portable fan Battery Operated Fan USB Desk fan Camping Fan for Tents,Battery Operated portable Fan Personal Fan battery powered fan camping portable fan Outdoor fan Rechargeable Fan with Hanging : Home & Kitchen
 

Every couple of years I update my travel fan. We did a glamping trip last year and a mutual vintage had this fan. It has an adjustable night light and blows out amazing air. Since I am staying in interiors, that light comes in handy. It is also small enough to fit in a backpack or purse without being cumbersome. 
Amazon.com: Greatever G2 Full Face Snorkel Mask with Latest Dry Top System,Foldable 180 Degree Panoramic View Snorkeling Mask with Camera Mount,Safe Breathing,Anti-Leak&Anti-Fog : Sports & Outdoors
 

That is the snorkel mask my brother brought. We hit PDCC 3x on this cruise, so it will have paid for itself. 
Amazon.com: Poesie Laundry Detergent Sheets Fresh Scent 160 Sheets Clear Plastic-Free Hypoallergenic Liquid Less Sheets for Home Dorm Travel Camping & Hand Washing Clean No Waste : Health & Household
 

 
 
Since these cruises are shorties, there won't be any D+ laundry perks, so I am bringing a couple of the laundry detergent sheets. They take up no space and I can wash a few things out and hang them in the shower if need be. 
I don't think I have mentioned this before, but not only do I cut my brother's hair, I do mine as well. So, I will be packing sometime later this week, as next week will be too busy for me. There are fur babies to be dropped off, Mother's Days to be celebrated and of course work. Although these cruises can't come fast enough 🤣. 
 

Plus casino spend on previous cruise(s) to get the discount. Still less than the $3000 you quoted for Celebrity unless you're a REALLY bad/unlucky casino patron.

I know everyone keeps asking about the gym so I just wanted to fill you in. I stuck my head in and it’s beautiful, huge, tons of machines. It was pretty busy in there.
 
Then I promptly turned around and went to get some soft serve. 

yeah I am. Used that all up a long time ago lol

I think as a whole Celebrity is higher than Royal. There are a lot of factors at play. I am D+ and prime on Royal. So, for me Celebrity is too expensive for my taste. Since I rarely venture to bars and prefer to spend my time in the casino and going to shows; the 5 drinks a day and casino drinks work in my favor. So, I wouldn't be buying a drink package. Being prime and D+ also cuts my internet bill. That negates any bundle pricing. On top of which, I get monthlies and instant certs, so my cruise fare is heavily discounted. I just realized I haven't paid full price for a cruise since late 2021. Right now, I cannot fathom paying $3K for a Celebrity cruise because I am probably only spending $950 for the same thing on Royal. 

I have only won on minimums, and I am 2/2 on winning bids. 
Mariner of the seas Jan 24th, 2022: Original room was an interior, changed cruise because I did Star class cruise with Ashley. Bid on a Spacious Panoramic OV $30pp min and won. This was during the restart, since I was cruising two others before this, I was notified I believe the second day of my Harmony Star class cruise. 
Oasis of the seas Jan 15th, 2023: Original room Interior, it was a prime cruise. Bid on OV balcony minimum $70pp and won. This one was surprising as I had cancelled my bid when it was $300pp and then the minimums dropped, 15min after I placed the new bid I had won. Got a deck 8 balcony midship. 
Edit: I was Emerald when I won in 2022 and Diamond, just a couple point shy of D+ when I won in 2023

I think as a whole Celebrity is higher than Royal. There are a lot of factors at play. I am D+ and prime on Royal. So, for me Celebrity is too expensive for my taste. Since I rarely venture to bars and prefer to spend my time in the casino and going to shows; the 5 drinks a day and casino drinks work in my favor. So, I wouldn't be buying a drink package. Being prime and D+ also cuts my internet bill. That negates any bundle pricing. On top of which, I get monthlies and instant certs, so my cruise fare is heavily discounted. I just realized I haven't paid full price for a cruise since late 2021. Right now, I cannot fathom paying $3K for a Celebrity cruise because I am probably only spending $950 for the same thing on Royal. 

I think as a whole Celebrity is higher than Royal. There are a lot of factors at play. I am D+ and prime on Royal. So, for me Celebrity is too expensive for my taste. Since I rarely venture to bars and prefer to spend my time in the casino and going to shows; the 5 drinks a day and casino drinks work in my favor. So, I wouldn't be buying a drink package. Being prime and D+ also cuts my internet bill. That negates any bundle pricing. On top of which, I get monthlies and instant certs, so my cruise fare is heavily discounted. I just realized I haven't paid full price for a cruise since late 2021. Right now, I cannot fathom paying $3K for a Celebrity cruise because I am probably only spending $950 for the same thing on Royal. 

I have only won on minimums, and I am 2/2 on winning bids. 
Mariner of the seas Jan 24th, 2022: Original room was an interior, changed cruise because I did Star class cruise with Ashley. Bid on a Spacious Panoramic OV $30pp min and won. This was during the restart, since I was cruising two others before this, I was notified I believe the second day of my Harmony Star class cruise. 
Oasis of the seas Jan 15th, 2023: Original room Interior, it was a prime cruise. Bid on OV balcony minimum $70pp and won. This one was surprising as I had cancelled my bid when it was $300pp and then the minimums dropped, 15min after I placed the new bid I had won. Got a deck 8 balcony midship. 
Edit: I was Emerald when I won in 2022 and Diamond, just a couple point shy of D+ when I won in 2023

Rover looks so happy and well taken care of 🥰

That is above @AshleyDillo, @SpeedNoodles, and my pay grade 😂

Hmpph, as funny as it was, i bet the R-rated version was better. 🥰
I think we need an "after dark" section of the board that's age protected 🤔 😂😂😂

On my Lyft ride in I noticed some folks at the trolley stop in front of Bayside Marketplace with big suitcases obviously headed to the port so I assumed it was common.  The bus driver jumped up to help me with the luggage when he noticed, tho my stubbon, independent self is all yo, I got it. 
If it was a real transit bus it would probably be easier with the luggage but they have wooden trolley seats so the metal parts that bolt the seats down don't allow you to just pull your suitcase into the space between seats. It's only a couple steps up into the trolley. There's multiple trolley lines so you want to make sure you catch the Coral Way one.
For the cost savings it was worth the effort, especially if you have some time to kill.

Looks like they already edited it and I unhid it. It's back visible in its spot on the last page of this thread.
Click for comment!
 

Parental Advisory: Explicit language 
Greetings from Mrs. Calvin,
I’ve been informed that y’all are anxiously awaiting a guest post by yours truly and I apologize that I kept you waiting. As you know, I’m almost 50 and in the words of the late and great Toby Keith, “I ain’t as good as I once was”. I’ve managed to muster up a few brain cells after 5 days of drinking and I think I can coherently put a sentence together. Figured I’d do this before I have my first margarita of the day…morning. 
I’d like to add a little entertainment for the ladies reading this, I hope you appreciate. 
I can’t for the life of me get good “makeup lighting” in these cabins, is it me? I mean, I’ve been doing this female thing for almost 50 years now and I KNOW my eyebrows need to be tweezed (and at my age, probably my mustache) but I’m just not seeing it in these mirrors. Maybe eyebrows don’t grow on ships, I dunno, we’ll see when I get home. We went to The Empire Supper Club last night so I wanted to add a little eyeshadow to these saggy eyes, truth be told I probably looked like a damn clown because of the very forgiving lighting in the cabin. &$#% you mirror, I know the truth.
I’m finally at the age that I just don’t care, but admittedly I do when it comes to swimwear in public. While I can finally not care and walk around awkwardly in a swimsuit, I gotta make sure these bottoms are where they’re supposed to be as I exit the pool. There are a lot of buttcheeks….err…umm…Europeans on this cruise and I have to admit that I admire their confidence and their “I don’t care” attitude. More power to you. 
Speaking of not caring, go see Grace at the piano bar. She’s a blast and I had a girl crush on her. Not one care given about anything she said, even with a kid front and center. Mr. CK got to hold her harmonica during Piano Man and she told him that he had strong hands and they needed a safe word. I love it. 😂
I got called up on the stage at the headliner show the first night. While I would’ve loved being the center of attention in my younger days, I was quite embarrassed. He was cute though…and sweaty. Very sweaty. Those damn lights are hotter than heck. He also doesn’t know the difference between parallel and perpendicular, but because of the reason previously mentioned, I’ll give him a pass. 
I’ve just been scolded by Mr. Live Blogger himself that this is “TLDR” so I must end it here. Besides, my margarita just arrived. Hope you all have a great time! Cheers! 🍹

That would be hilarious for us, but not so much for you. How would you explain a joint blog to Batman, who doesn't even know that you blog? lmao

Just a point, I love Peter Gabriel, so "Red Rain" and "In your eyes" are my jams..........I also love every ice show except the one on Oasis. That Hans Christian themed one is so boring. 
But @WAAAYTOOO has a wealth of knowledge. I also agree that as I cruise more, the suites aren't really a draw. I am okay with interiors because I am usually solo in them. Plus, I can use the money at the casino or specialty dining. 

That is some sweet swag.