Andy & Sheryl Unwin

2 hours ago, DDaley said:

"Water activities do not require face masks while riding, but need to be worn while waiting in line." 

As a staunch mask advocate and a water slide lover, WHERE am I going to put it once I get up there? Adding ziplocs to my packing list now so I can stuff it in one for the ride down I guess. haha 

I like the idea of a small ziplock baggie, it totally makes sense. 

More good news, tis all well received and can only have a positive effect.

Oh we love the hotel stay, it adds another day to the vacation, and takes some stress away on the day of departure.  But this time, it may not be an option for the reasons stated.

We are fortunate in this regard, Miami and Ft Lauderdale are less than 3 hours away, so driving is always the option for us.  However, we are reconsidering our ususal hotel stay the night before. Instead we may elect to leave the house very early on the day of departure, thereby minimising our potential exposure a day prior. 

As I say, we are considering and have not yet made a firm decision.

3 hours ago, JimnKathy said:

I always slip a $10 to the server on the first night when they open up a bottle of wine I brought on board. While I've never encountered a a corkage fee yet, this makes for some incredible service as the week progresses. I also like to give our cabin steward $20 on the first day as well...it's amazing what that investment will do for you during the rest of the cruise.

The $20.00 to the cabin attendant is a sound investment as far as we are concerned.  We learned of it towards the end of our first cruise on Brilliance. Thereafter its something we do as a matter of course.

4 hours ago, JT2 said:

Excellent! I've got an 8 day scheduled next June with 3 sea days and Labadee, challenge accepted.

US Army Trained.

lol, have at it, but only from an intellectual stand point. It will be interesting to see how much benefit can be gained from the drinks package on an 8 day

2 hours ago, Matt said:

I absolutely see a big difference in the speed and friendliness of service when waiters/bartenders notice tips coming their way.  You don't have to "make it rain" by any means, but I definitely have seen a difference with even customary tips.

100% in agreement, we tip on every drink..  I dont think $3.00 here and there makes a huge difference, not even on my bar bill.

3 minutes ago, JT2 said:

Former Royal Navy, I was trained by the best

Like many, Sheryl and I dislike the masks, but accept them as a necessary part of life and dont complain about them. Similarly, we are each always in possession of our cell phones when onboard. The built in cameras are great for still and video captures, we are able to make notes about members of staff for later complimenting and rewarding, and to keep in touch with each other while we are apart. (using a messenger app, not a cell connection with associated roaming fees)

All in all, we are in favour of whatever gets us back to cruising, no matter what hoops we all have to jump through, and we know there will be some, our time onboard is worth it.

On our latest cruise on Navigator in Feb, I tracked how much value we obtained from the drinks package. Simply a check mark on a notes page in my cellphone:

I estimated drink cost at $13.00 each, and please remember, there were two of us, not just me.  Also, I did not track soft drinks

• Mon 02/17/2020 - 14 x 13 = $182.00
• Tue  02/18/2020 - 16 x 13 = $208
• Wed 02/19/2020 - 20 x 13 = $260.00
• Thu 02/20/2020 - 8 x 13 = $104

Running total $754

Package cost $432

Benefit $322.00

Sheryl and I used QR menus at a restuarant recently, and I have to say it was childs play.  We dont have issues with that in any way and it is a small price to pay to be at sea

7 hours ago, Jjohnb said:

It's actually the other way around, the Empress has been in Souda (Greece) for a couple weeks, Majesty left the UK yesterday en route to Valletta (Malta).  Officially (current position) per RC, the ships are just being positioned there for a warm layup, the passage of time and developing discussions my change that status. 

You are correct, I have edited to make it more accurate. Less confusing that way

Empress is currently in Cyprus (Souda) as it happens, Majesty is now on route to Malta, it will be interesting to see where her next port is

At this time, any positive news is a welcome sign of change

During my time in Royal Navy, I spent a lot of time in the Caribbean.  So when my wife started suggesting a Caribbean Cruise, I was rather resistant.

However, over the  years I rather mellowed to the idea and when we approached a big birthday for her, I had an opportunity to book a 5 day western caribbean on Brilliance out of Tampa, so I took it.  I also arranged for a suite at the Sheraton the night before boarding, all good.

So we held Sheryls birthday partty on Saturday, and I presented her with luggage tags for her bags.  This was it, happy days, I got it right...  Err no...  Remember this was Saturday, and boarding day was on Monday morning, apparently it takes more than 36 hours to pack for a cruise.  Fortunately, not only am I the master packer, I had been insisting on shopping trips for a few weeks ahead of time or I would have been in deep doo doo.

Suffice to say, we boarded Brilliance in Tampa and had a fantastic time. I was hooked. I had forgotten how amazing it is to be a sailor at sea. I could feel the ship coming alive, was able to second guess the manouvers, even to the point of knowing when speed could change.  Heaven for me.  Of course, despite being in an outboard cabin on Deck 3 amidships (I wanted the most stable part of the ship to avoid the potential for seasickness) the accomodations were rather impressive compared to the last time I had been at sea.

We booked our next trip onboard and have never looked back. I am a convert.

4 hours ago, MrB said:

My spouse was military (USAF, Lt Col Retired). They had a couple of these outrageous itineraries. Let's just say yours was limited by navigatible  waters; theirs were not.

It was a fun time of life.  But I really do love the idea of recreating that trip.  Perhaps adding a port or two along the way.  Its a flight of fancy, imagining a dream itinerary, money no object and of course RCCL agreeing to do it

Really happy to see something positive coming out of the doom and gloom.  

17 hours ago, Matt said:

Cruise or military deployment?

That is a heck of an itinerary

Hi Matt, of course it was a military deployment HMS Juno was at that time part of the 5th Frigate Squadron, which formed part of the HMS Blake battle group.  However,  you are right it would make one heck of a cruise itinerary which is why I put it here.  Interested to see ideas others would have for their dream itinerary.

I was inspired by something I heard during Mondays YouTube.  My mind wandered back in time to my youth to 1978 when as a young sailor, I had my first major cruise (HMS Juno). I thought to myself, how much fun it would be to recreate that cruise, but this time in somewhat more opulent accomodations onboard a suitable RCCL ship.  Just for fun, I wonder how much it would cost and how long it would take to complete.  In 1978 it was 9 months and there was no cost to me.  The itinerary was as follows:

Portsmouth UK; Brest, France; Tortolla, BVI; Belize; Panama Canal Transit; San Diego CA; Long Beach CA; Victoria BC; Prince Rupert BC; Juneax, AK; San Francisco CA; Acapulco MX; Panama Canal Transit; San Juan Puerto Rico; Dominica, Lesser Antilles; Key West FL; St Thomas USVI; Portsmouth UK

Who else has a dream cruise itinerary, 

It was a none event on this side of the state (Sarasota County).  A little rain is all, but thats nothing new for a Florida summer day.  Fingers crossed it is the same for the lifetime of this particlular storm, and any others this season.

As I understand it, Majesty was used for a repatriation voyage for UK based employees.  I also know the harbor there rather well, I cruised "Grey Funnel Lines" out of there for 10 years.  Majesty is the largest cruise ship to have berthed in Portsmouth.  There are as far as I am aware, no RCCL storage facilities available in Portsmouth harbour, so whateverr is being off loaded is probably simply routine.

If, and its a big IF, she heads into the mediteranean after her visit, I think  you will have your answer.

Edit: Majesty is currently in transit from Portsmouth to Southampton, her track on AIS shows her to be moving at about 7.5kts, on a circular route about 10 miles off Shanklin in the Isle of Wight,. Which tells me she is simply cruising in econo mode. I do see she has itinerary through 2022. However, she has been in service for 28 years, so may be coming to the end of her profitable lifespan

Congratulations. Brilliance out of Tampa with same itinerary,  was our very first cruise and responsible for our loyalty to RCCL.  She is a beautiful ship with so many things to do there is never a dull moment.  Truly we hope you enjoy your time on her.

For those of us who used to make our living at sea, this is an inevitable end to almost every ship, there are few exceptions. The breakers in Aliaga is one of the premier disposal and recycling centers of its kind. The metal contained in a ship is precious and will be turned into anything from cars to washing machines etc.

My last ship in the Royal Navy (HMS Illustrious) was dismantled on the same slipway 3 years ago.  It is not dignified for the ship, as they drag her up the beach and cut her into manageable pieces while removing other metals and items from within the ship.  But they do serve a purpose, and do live on not just in new objects. The spirit of the ship itself lives on in the hearts and memories of those who have been aboard them for a special moment and felt the soul of the ship. A romantic notion, but then I was a sailor.