recogneyes

4 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

I am beyond excited to have the balcony!  Yes, I know about the Pullman because I’m the one who will have to climb into it!  Ugh!   Wonder if the loungers would be comfy!?  Jane

My husband can attest that they are lol.  Your cabin attendant can bring you an extra comforter so get what you need to make it an option.  You will not even believe how much space you have out there.  It's amazing.

17 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Ok…I’ve never actually had 3 cruises booked at the same time, so I’m in planning paradise (and back to the boards after a year and a half cruise break!).  We have booked an amazing cruise for my youngest’s college graduation…cabin 7738 on voyager of the seas going to Italy and Croatia in June 2025.  The deck is a corner sunset aft and it is huge!  The room, however, is pretty tiny for 3 people  and I snore!  I’m thinking it might be fun to try and put up a hammock on the deck.  Does anyone have a good one they like and are they hard to put up?  Jane

I can't comment on the hammock but if you have 7688 or 7388 you will never want to leave that balcony.  We try to book these on the ships that have them whenever possible.  You will have two full loungers.  I'm sure you already know, but the third bed is a pullman which isn't ideal, but like your idea of a hammock, the option to get some extra blankets and a pillow and enjoy the loungers at night is there.  Enjoy!

On 3/25/2024 at 3:32 PM, CyclingVa said:

So I have never done Atlantis.  Been to Nassau many times but just felt like the price for the day pass was so expensive we didnt do it.  My question is, can we just get a taxi at the port and tour the hotel and see the sights, maybe get some lunch and visit casino etc and not go to the Aqua parks etc.....?   Also do you feel this is a safe option to do on our own with the recent talks of crime?

 

 

 

You can absolutely take a taxi (or water taxi) over to Atlantis and spend a few hours touring the property.  If you get dropped off at Royal Tower you can walk through the casino and also explore the huge aquarium that is downstairs from the lobby.  You can cut through to the Crown Tower as well and explore the shops.  You can also enjoy a nice walk around the marina and all the shops and restaurants there.  You will not be able to access the waterpark or beach area of the property and perhaps not the Cove or Reef Towers but plenty of other thing to see.   I would have no hesitation doing this safety wise.

14 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@GatorCruiser and @OCSC Mike you guys are killing me here with these food & drink pics! Take me back to cruising!  First Mason Jar brunch photos and now two of my drinks on board! @recogneyes and I just had these exact drinks last week! 

We sure did ..... and they were delicious.  This is not helping with the cruise withdrawal we are going through now is it?

57 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I fixed it for her lol

Omg it glitched then  posted so many times. Thanks for fixing Sabrina … I don’t want to be banned from the pub 

15 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@OCSC Mike here is photo evidence that I do like tequila. But it has to be Patron.

Again, apologies for the quality of the photos. We took them from videos. 
 

@recogneyes’s Hubby was warned by Andrew that he might show up on social media. He asked what we would call him. I told him we would call him @recogneyes’s Hubby

I think it’s great that in a matter of an hour you and Justin went from not really being pub people to doing Irish car bombs and tequila shots in the pub!  No need to break yourselves in gently…just go for it!  See you there tonight

19 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I think we definitely got the “genie special” this afternoon! I have to say, I am not easily surprised but I did not see this one coming! 

When getting drinks with @recogneyes, she asked me if we had been to the pub. I said no and that we are not huge fans of the pub in general. She said we have to at least pop by for a  visit to see the pub signer because he is really good.

Later then evening, we ran into @recogneyes again at playmakers, and Stephen, the pub signer was there. She introduced us and we said will try to find time to see him. If you are wondering where I am going with this, keep reading…

Today is a sea day, and Shane overheard us saying last night that we might do El Loco today. He suggested that we do a delivery because it might be busy and our kids never get anywhere early. When we came back to our room to eat, this is what we found. 
 

Well how cool is that!  We had a good chat with Stephen last night…at the pub…and he told us he had a great time with your family yesterday.  Now you can say you have experienced the Royal Loft concert series. 

On 3/13/2024 at 12:00 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said:

After ice cream, I went to the Schooner Bar to meet up with @recogneyes. I really love getting together with her! Great conversation about all sorts of things. I got her to try the lavender martini and just so great to see her again. I am sad because we talked about our cruising upcoming cruise schedules and it doesn’t look like we will see each other for a while. 

So great getting caught up in person…love our conversations. We cover a lot of topics in a short period of time. Lavender martini in the schooner bar can be our tradition when we meet up again…hopefully not too far in the future. 

14 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

We left our cabin a bit today

Definitely! Just ask @recogneyes’s Hubby. They’ve run into each other at the FlowRider already.

I can confirm…Dave has seen Justin at flowrider so if you want to see him…head there. 

On 3/6/2024 at 10:13 AM, Atlantix2000 said:

There's a nice museum on the island with bathrooms, running water, air conditioning, etc.  I wouldn't say there's nothing on the island.  Take a look at Google Maps, etc.

The museum was closed for renovations when we visited last August.  Perhaps it is open again.  Either way, there are washrooms where tours begin on the island.

7 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Same! We'll definitely text each other and meet up!

Wishing you and your family safe, and uneventful travels! 

See you on the ship!

Wishing your family the same - you have had your share of eventful travels.  So happy that you have another La Bamba dinner to look forward to.  Enjoy!!

23 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Pre-Cruise thoughts

•  It’s another relaxing sailing with two beach days (Labadee, PDCC). The girls are excited for a redo of our NYE sailing because they got rained out and it was not that warm the last time. Hubby and the girls have tickets for Thrill Waterpark this time.  As for me, I am not leaving the cabin.
• Another thing that I am really looking forward to this sailing is not only seeing @recogneyes again, but also finally being able to sail with @A&L_Ont (who many of you know from that other place). Andrew and I have gotten to know each other well over the last few years. Our families were supposed to sail together for #majorstarclasstakeover in March 2022 but Andrew and his family couldn’t make it. Then, we ended up running into each other at DTW when we were stuck there in July 2023. We were trying to get to Wonder, and Andrew and Lisa were on their way to Freedom. Anyway, we all booked this sailing very early on and it’s been a long time coming! Can’t wait! Hubby is equally as excited as this means more company for him on the Flowrider.
• Once again, in the spirit of a live blog, please do not hesitate to ask any questions.  I will do my best to find out whatever I can for you.
• When responding to a post with a series of pictures, please do not include the pictures in your reply.  It just makes for easier scrolling.
• Lastly, I will try to post videos and stories on Instagram.  You can follow me @lovetocruise2002

Looking forward to seeing you again Sabrina - we will likely find Justin at flowrider first and I will look up and wave to you while you enjoy your fabulous balcony.  How wonderful that you can share this with your girls - what a lovely way to create another March Break memory.

20 hours ago, AmyE said:

Hi!

Doing a cruise this summer and I'm really interested in doing the Delos Tour while I'm in Mykonos. However, I know that there's nothing on the island. So how if I need to use the bathroom while we're there, what happens? Anyone have experience on this?

We did this tour while on Explorer last summer.  There are washrooms on the island close to where you embark/disembark.  I believe there are also washrooms on the ferry that takes you over to Delos.  It was a wonderful excursion.  Enjoy

8 hours ago, ScottD said:

Yeah, MOST group rates are for Double occupancy rooms. At this point anything we book now, he'd be past the KSF age, so at this point that's out. BUT next year, we may do that and book two rooms, one under each adult\one kid and let him bring a friend. If we can manage adjoining rooms AND 2 group rate rooms, it might be worth a shot! 

 

This is what we've been doing for a few years now and it works well for us.  Harr travel offers some great group rates (for 2) and their service is wonderful .   We have referred them to friends and they've been finding the same.  It works especially well that they get the benefit of only having to purchase one beverage package as only one adult is in the room (spouse wouldn't get enough use out of UBP or refreshment package).  

15 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I am not saying never in regard to creating a new tier, I just didn't agree that the promotion backfired.

I am also hoping the casino changes, but not for the worst. I don't want them to make it harder to get comps, but I would like a level between Prime and Signature, master's seems impossible to me. 

That would be a really good change as there is such a gap between levels.  I would also like to see the option for Diamond/D+/Pinnacle passengers to be able to forgo a drink package should they be booked in a cabin with a guest 21+ who wants to buy it.  This is even more of an issue when you become Prime (or higher) in the casino.  There is the option to contact Royal and just purchase the refreshment package if you don't drink alcohol, but if you do, then this isn't an option.  When you are getting 4/5/6 drink vouchers per day plus when in the casino, purchasing a drink package is likely not necessary for most.

21 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes, your TA can be removed but my experience is that it is very difficult to do and if your TA doesn’t want to give up the booking it’s next to impossible to do.  For this reason, I would not use the app to purchase the NC open booking if there is a TA attached to your current sailing.

Thank you - that makes perfect sense.  Taking the time to purchase the NC certificate while on the ship is likely better than the headache of moving it afterwards.

On 1/28/2024 at 7:24 PM, asquared17 said:

i will say, the in app booking worked like a charm last time. 

just make sure if you use a travel agent (which i don’t think you did haha) for your current booking, they put the open booking under that same agent. 

at least that’s what happened to us!

This is super helpful, thank you.  When existing cruise is booked with an agent and NC cert is then sent to them (if you use the app), is there a way for it to then be transferred back to RCCL so that you can book and use with casino?  We've never had our agent book a casino cruise - we contact Casino Royale directly.  

On 2/1/2024 at 4:43 PM, JPit said:

I got an answer. They admit it says 4 people but only if you have 4 in your stateroom. Of course I said that it doesn't say that. And they apologized. I also didn't get the free water or the floaters. They are checking with the boat. Which I doubt will yield anything. At best a credit might happen for the future which I don't see using anytime soon. 

Oh I would be so annoyed at this too!  We've rented the beach beds at various parts of Coco Cay and have always received 4 wristbands (while only being 2 in our cabin & having family join us from another cabin). I understand why they limit to 4 as anyone who has booked these does not want to have 10 people in the bed/loungers beside them.  We do have a beach bed booked for Labadee next month and now you've got me considering cancelling it.  Thank you for sharing and I absolutely would be pushing for a refund or at the very least a FCC for what you paid for the bed.

The last few times we sailed on Anthem, reservations were not required for We Will Rock You.  The only show that required reservations was Spectra's Cabaret.  That was loaded onto the cruise planner for booking prior to the cruise.  

On 1/29/2024 at 6:03 PM, JoeFan said:

Good point about the other specialty booking. My last cruise on Oasis I was the first in line at Izumi and made my Izumi reservation and I had booked two more. I didn't even realize, the long line that gathered behind me. I should have booked my Izumi and moved on.

I'm sure you're not the only one - why go to a bunch of different places to book when you don't have to.  Plus, if you've waited in that long line then people are likely less inclined to risking having to wait in another one.  We just try to book it and move on where there is less people and help move that line along.

You can go to one specialty restaurant and make all of your reservations at that one place - other than teppanyaki.   If you are wanting to dine at teppanyaki then I believe you still have to go directly there and I suggest going straight there and booking that first.  We usually do that and then head to one of the other specialty restaurants to book the rest of our meals (I'm not sure if you can book the others at teppanyaki but with the line up always being long I would feel bad taking up that much time there).  We usually grab a drink in between - then we don't mind waiting in line for a little bit!

20 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

See ya later “Tot Town”!

This is great news Sabrina - congratulations.  You will have to let me know if Justin participates in the best of the best again at Flowrider and if they once again announce him as the guy who spent more time there than with his wife lol.  I'm guessing that won't be the case this time - but I'm not as hopeful in March.  Have a wonderful cruise.

3 hours ago, Michael Birchfield said:

Hello I would like your opinion is unlimited dining worth it on my upcoming 9 days explorer of the seas Cruise it seems there's not alot of speciality restaurants on board.

Just my opinion but I would not purchase the UDP for a sailing on Explorer.  You are limited to Chops, Giovanni's and Izumi (plus Johnny Rockets but I don't consider that when making a dining plan decision).  If the 3 day dining plan is an option on your sailing then that would be wort considering depending on price.  Sometimes you are best to just to make your reservations on the dates/times ahead of time for the small savings the 3 night plan offers.  I would save the splurging of the UDP for when you are on an Oasis class ship when the restaurant offerings are that much better.  Enjoy your cruise.

13 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

Oh, @recogneyes, I found it: https://collegepartycruise.com/. This will definitely skew the average age a little younger! 

That's the one!  We were on a 4 nighter years back and had no idea we were on the college party cruise.  For the most part it was ok;  definitely skews the average age a little younger as you say.  It's not a full charter which is why it's open for other bookings.

That's one of the weeks for the College Party Cruise - they have a group booking for a large amount of rooms on one of the 4 night cruises and this year it is on Freedom.