WAYNO

We did the swim up bar in Costa Maya.  If there was a Royal sponsored tour including this, I didn't know about it.  We sat in the beach/lounge area, watched the folks in the pool, and got a severe brain freeze with this 19-dollar Daiquiri.  And to use the beach loungers, one only  had to buy a drink.

Being from out here, first off, I am not highly enamored with anything Seattle.  But, we have two cruises from Seattle coming up and thought just maybe we'd change up our travel modes, just a little.  Seattle is close enough, flying there takes more time with the travel day than than driving a car.  So, we thought just maybe... Drive our own car and park in the Pier 91 parking lot.  27-bucks a day isn't cheap, but neither is renting a car, which is what we usually do, then hire a cab to get us from the rental car drop-off to the ship. 

So, has anyone actually used this parking lot?

On 3/9/2024 at 7:29 AM, WAAAYTOOO said:

For those on this cruise, the entertainment reservations opened up today.

Yep, get 'em reserved.  We just got off a cruise yesterday, and without reservations, we were unable to see any shows.  It wasn't for lack of trying.  The app was just uncooperative.  Gone are the days of just showing up. And I get too, every cruise, every show, and every management team handles reservations and seating differently.

Fortunately, we were able to see the Aqua show and ice show, only because the C&A rep got involved. 

33 minutes ago, jbrinkm said:

We had a bottle left over and asked our cabin attendant if he wanted it. He got the biggest smile on his face and happily accepted.

We have also left wine and soda pop for the cabin attendants, and yes they have been appreciative.  Problem is, we had zero interaction with our cabin person on this cruise, in spite of him doing a great job.  We didn't  even know his name until he left his card at the end.

This trip was a flash in the pan. It was wonderful.  We get off the boat  in an hour and must wait til tonight for a flight.  Connections to PDX are not always convenient and we must take what we can get.

I was thinking, we don't take advantage of most of the perks available with out C&A and casino status.  Laundry is one of these perks.  I tried it for the first time on this cruise and it worked!  I may be onto something new.  

Thanks for coming along with us on this cruise.  My wife cruises to Alaska with a friend in July, and then we will do the same cruise together in September.  We both received very decent cruise certificates on this cruise, so now we've got to start planning all over again.

And then for lunch...

The Windjammer is doing a great job of covering my favorite food groups. 

On 3/28/2024 at 5:34 PM, Cactus527 said:

Re: The Dog House. I will literally eat their potato salad until I explode. I LOVE IT OMG.

I did purposely try the potato salad on day 7.  And as you've found, it is indeed delicious.  I had a brat and a hot dog also.  Both were good.

Now with the previous discussions of a Chicago dog, although I could not see the trimmings available, I saw one person walk away with one.  Correction... it was relish and sauerkraut.

And tonight I think I will skip the MDR.

51 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

Last full day amigo. Make the most of it!

Oh I am.

The little woman is sleeping.  I am eating breakfast, ever so scrumptious.

I've gotta mention again, last night's lobster.  Often, folks on this forum are so critical of what they say is the worst lobster ever, aboard Royal Caribbean.  Even leaving the restaurant I overheard an old grump complaining of the lobster.

But the lobsters my Wife and I were served were truly wonderful.  Proof again, instead of professing how bad the food is, just recognize everybody has different tastes and expectations .

And I will go home pleased, with memories of what is now my favorite ship.

Day 6.  MDR for dinner.  Steak and lobster.  Both very good, and very worth getting dressed up.  And our servers were delightful.

Then back in the cabin, my Wife snapped this spectacular sunset.

The casino and C&A keeps us lavished with treats, including wine.  We try to be good, and abstain, often giving our wine to other passengers.  We have yet to find anybody who wants it, so I guess we will bring it home.  There are worse dilemmas. 

Our hallway is full of fun loving people, as seen by so many cabin doors.  Also, this ship has had more duck hiders than any ship we have been on.  This has been a fun cruise, and we have met so many fun people.

We are now steaming away from Costa Maya .  That's another way to say the end of our cruise is approaching.  These cruises go so fast.  

Costa Maya is easy.  Even without an excursion, you can swim, eat and drink  and be merry without leaving the port. My Wife even got her first tattoo ever, even though it will last only 2 weeks.

I do have a question for others. 

The bathroom ventilation throughout the fleet has never been spectacular,  but it's pretty non existent in our bathroom on Wonder.  Have others experienced the same thing?

Day 6, Costa Maya.  Haven't yet seen the dock, but eventually we will make it there.

Dinner at the MDR tonight...  I had the coconut breaded shrimp, and onion soup,  as perfect as always, and although I didn't  order it, I received the tiger shrimp for an entree along with the steak that I did order.  All 5-star perfect.  Then I cancelled my dessert.  Even I can over do it.

4 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

Re: The Dog House. I will literally eat their potato salad until I explode. I LOVE IT OMG.

And I have never seen it.  I will purposely look next time.

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Ah, OK, great! That's what I was hoping for. We're definitely going to the West End, just not having a full meal there. Anything stand out? Was the chocolate factory worth it or more of a tourist trap to get you to buy some at the end?

Nothing stood out, other than West End had a lot if shopping opportunities. 

1 minute ago, OCSC Mike said:

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry about the restaurant debacle but glad you enjoyed the tour. Sounds like you basically just drove around the island and saw stuff rather than actual stops?

That's definitely part of our plan but we do have a few stops built in. Between frugality and my picky wife, we're not doing a full lunch. I told our tour company (Rony's Tours) to just take me to a quick service type place, food truck, taco stand (whatever they have in Roatan) to try some local fare and move on. We're making an obligatory sloth stop for my wife but also going to Rony's home town and visiting a school there to donate some supplies since my wife is a teacher. We like seeing some of how the locals live when we go somewhere for the first time then after that we do more touristy stuff.

Actually, we stopped at multiple places.  An artisan mall, the chocolate and coconut oil factory, the Rumcake place, and the West End, which is loaded with shops, bars and restaurants. 

6 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Was never crowded in the mornings last week. I was routinely the only one there around 6:45-7am. I made my cappuccinos to go while the crew member put out breakfast. If I went a bit later I maybe saw a few people.

We have a private tour in June (a re-do of 2019 when high winds prevented Harmony from docking there). Please share any highlights. We have a general list of places we want to go but I can always add to it. Enjoy!

My best advice is to make sure you have an air conditioned vehicle!

It was not necessarily hot, maybe 80 degrees, but the wind and humidity made it feel like a hundred degrees.

We ate at the West End, a place called  Booty something

  It was mediocre, but what it lacked in quality and serving size, it made up for in high price.  Then. We were substantially over charged.  I gave up trying to convince them, as I didn't want to spend the night in the Roatan jail.

Otherwise, our bi-lingual tour was pretty great.   It was difficult to get photos, so I have very few.

Thursday morning.   Our plan is an air conditioned bus tour of Roatan.  I stepped out on the balcony and promptly wilted.

Then on the elevator upon greeting another passenger, he commented how much cooler it is today.

We had breakfast delivered to our room this morning.  I ate just a little.  Wasn't  in the mood for more.

But I am now sipping my wonderful Americano in the Crown Lounge.  This place is mostly empty.