Cruiser4Life

On 11/27/2023 at 11:30 AM, tonyfsu21 said:

Symphony 12/30 sailing. Hoping for a major Royal Up score this time!

I am on this same cruise.. Long long ago, the suite concierge used to send out a seating map of the tables that were being set up along the Promenade and you could book the exact table you wanted the week prior. More recently, they have been reserving you in just a generic area and you wait and see where they place your namecard when you arrive that night. On some of the smaller ships, when we boarded, there were already tables set up with little signs that said "Buy me for NY eve". This being a larger ship, not sure what they will do but can circle back (if I remember  ) when we receive the concierge email. Can't wait!

It seemed a little over half of the daily Indian options were not vegetarian…. But the ones that are are incredibly delicious so do try them when available! I was pleasantly surprised of the flavors Royal has accomplished with their Indian dishes.

On 4/8/2023 at 2:26 PM, FionaMG said:

I was just randomly browsing and spotted two more new menus on Brilliance's current sailing (she's doing a 14-night Panama canal), if anyone wants to have a look.

One is called "A taste of Royal history" and the other is "A taste of the world".

thanks for this! A taste of the USA has buffalo chicken dip and lobster Mac and cheese and I was thinking I would love this menu on a Caribbean itinerary.. Then DD started looking and saw the a taste of Asia and said we need to get on a cruise with this menu… glad to see the variations and hope they start switching things up on some of the itineraries.

Following! We just got back from this itinerary on harmony and it was a great time. I thought PDCC on the last day would throw us for a loop but we actually enjoyed it, great way to end the week… as an aside, we had literally never found a duck before on all our cruises and they were plentiful on this ship. Have the best time!

We were once the dreaded pier runners.. in key west… our family has the largest plot in the key west cemetery so we took a walk there after our excursion to freshen up the flowers there… accidentally exited the wrong gate when we were done and got completely turned around heading back. In case anyone was wondering, the whole “the ship won’t leave you if you are on a Royal excursion” does not pertain if a) your excursion ends hours before all aboard and b) everyone else that took said excursion has long been back onboard. Oopsies

Thank you for taking us along. I have so much gratefulness for everyone who blogs. DD13 very happy to arrive on Harmony CLS today and while having lunch at Jamie’s, she found her first duck ever so…..Here’s a little peek. I really hope to sail with people from this blog soon!

On 3/13/2023 at 5:28 PM, Ampurp85 said:

I was on Harmony in September, and it was at capacity, I can't imagine being oversold. I am glad you and your family are enjoying the villa. I will say that cruising has brought my family together as well and it is nice to have that close time. 

Getting on Harmony this Saturday and just got a RoyalUp offer to every stateroom above ours (CLS)… including the Villa…. Hmmm.. Loving @Lovetocruise2002 photos of it… maybe it  means this cruise isn’t oversold… tempting….

I put bottles of wine in checked bags all the time. The only time I was summoned to the naughty room was when I decided to bring these aluminum cans of Pinot Grigio instead of bottles. Obviously the metal shape set  something off and they examined them for a long time before sending me (and the cans) back to the safety of our room. Oopsies 

A million times agree with everyone. The aft balcony views are amazing, esp with Alaska itineraries… and the Serenade is amazing. 

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

So true !

Yessss… agreed. I’ve learned never to go Day 1 leaving FLL or Miami as the passage along the south coast of Florida is rocky and it almost always gets cancelled…sometimes the ice show too. I always feel bad for first time cruisers that were afraid of seasickness as they think the whole  cruise will be as rough as departing on night 1. We try to tell as many people as we can that it will most definitely get better and the worst is probably over!  

Welcome to Florida! Hope you are already onboard! I notice the second aqua show is not on there. It was on the app for the 6 night before yours. Hope it gets added for you. I think it’s called hideaway heist or something like that. Anxiously awaiting food pics from CK. have fun!!

Have so much fun! Happy to follow along as we get on HM the day you disembark! After Odyssey in for New Years, I am happy to get back to my Oasis class ships.....and Deck 17.      I'm sure I will think of something I want to ask you but until then, safe travels and happy cruising!

6 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think of the meatball Gigante often.......ooooooh and the polenta and calamari......the garlic knots. My Jan Wonder sailing can't come fast enough.

DD loved the knots… I loved the spicy pepperoni pizza with hot honey with a reserve Pinot noir.  Literally best meal on odyssey for me.

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

There are two types of Giovanni's: I actually like Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, on new ships like Wonder and Odyssey but loath Giovanni's table, on older ships like Liberty, Grandeur and the first couple of Oasis ships.

Agreed! The Italian Kitchen is the best specialty restaurant aboard any Royal Ship IMO. And being able to order the full menu at the bar at the adjacent Giovanni's wine bar is the best......I loved sitting in the bar with a glass of wine, ordering an appetizer and relaxing...away from the family...ALONE......LOL

On 1/9/2023 at 3:23 AM, FionaMG said:

 

BUT, instead of coming with morel mushroom sauce it comes with "creamy peppercorn" sauce. That was always one of DH's favourites but he can't eat anything that's in any way spicy.

I'm pretty disappointed in the new menus too. There are several nights when one or both of us are going to be struggling to find something we'd like and we don't really consider ourselves to be picky eaters. I think they really should have kept a couple of the plain always-available classics.

And I'm devastated that my all-time favourite royal chocolate cake is only available on one night.

Oh no… my daughter gets an entire gravy boat of that mushroom sauce nightly and puts it on whatever she orders. And eats the Royal chocolate cake every night… I’m not telling her about this until the night before we leave in March!

Hi! We are booked on this one too, just myself and 13 yr old. Mommy-daughter spring break cruise! Haven’t been on Harmony in several years, have missed her dearly!

Love it! Onboard odyssey and we’re told not to unpack as upgrades could be coming. . There may be people not making it onboard so let’s all count our blessings that we can board a ship. That being said, I’m trying to be super positive but Odyssey does not seem like the ship for us. Lol

Glad you loved it. Columbus is literally my favorite RC production!

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Off to bed! Tomorrow we take off to warmer parts, thank goodness! Cannot wait to get back into my flip flops. Lol

Florida is ready for you! Welcome back! We just went through three days of winter and were counting the days till ft laud/Miami warmed up. Christmas Eve/Christmas day being 40-50 degrees was about all we could take

Odyssey dropped day 2 NYE ugly sweater night but replaced it with casual…. Hmmm…. Lol. Night 3 and 8 currently formal. D13 is now figuring out which three of her packed nine dresses can change to formal because “no way can I be casual on nye.”

Interesting. My 2 bids were minimal. From a grand suite 1 bdrm to a grand suite 2 bdrm or the owners suite. I got two emails as well. I have my fingers crossed for you!

It’s probably  too far out for you @Chonseylee… we are sailing in two days and this just showed up for us under entertainment this morning!

I feel you Jane! Odyssey planner finally updated but  has night 2 (NYE) as ugly sweater night and night 3 as formal instead. Surely this can’t be right.

Odyssey next week.. being an 80s kid, I was hoping for Aerosmith but this works too