Cactus527

Fabulous! Thank you for taking the time to do this and all the wonderful photos.

I was shocked to see Thrill Waterpark + cabana for $680ish for my September Jewel sailing. Kind of a waste for just me...so I picked up CBC for $92!

OMG WHY DON'T I LIVE NEAR POOCH omg I'd gain so much weight from eating all her cooking. A worthwhile way to go...

CRUISE DAY rain stay away!!!!!!

Funny story - Spouse's cousin is the head of events at the Phoenician. And I love not changing time EVER.

No, it's not just you, mine looks the same.

I REFUSE says the Arizonan.

I will agree with you on Cane's - it's okay. I actually have found that the sauce they have doesn't agree with me, so it's kind of pointless to go (for me). Definitely prefer Chick-fil-A or Popeyes!

Packing cubes!

I'm actually able to detach from reality long enough to pop on here and be here for this! Very excited for your family to go on this cruise. Definitely looking forward to photos and the blog!

Just in case any of you need a reason to check your Cruise Planner, there are some great prices I'm seeing for PDCC-related items. I just picked up a Beach Club pass for under $150, which is the first time I've seen it that low in a very long time (September 2025 sailing). Just a thought if you're looking to save. Have a great weekend!

After I read your comment, I had to look it up and I was right - the main pool is directly across and above where we were located (above 9175-9201). It was just LOUD. I could do the water aerobics in my room. (full disclaimer - my hearing is highly sensitive, as is my sense of smell, both of which drive Spouse crazy)

I love that this turned into a blog! It's fun to read from the perspective of someone that's done way more RC cruises than I probably will ever do. Have fun at home for a week!

The live music on the pool deck. This has always been something of an issue with the CP balconies b/c that music (even when it's not unbearably loud) does filter down to the CP area during the day When we had a CP interior (window into CP), we could *feel* the noise coming from the pool deck. This was on Allure. It was the biggest drawback to that type of room. Well, that and the kids next door, but that's another story.

Here is the Port of Los Angeles parking area. It's MASSIVE, and I've never seen it completely full. Once you park, you literally walk across the street and go into the boarding area. Very close, very easy. Not sure on current price per day, but it's super convenient. My experiences from LA have always been very on time. If there's a delay, it's maybe 10-15 minutes. It is an awkward boarding experience (sometimes outside in a tent -like structure), but overall smooth once you go inside the building. If you're looking for hotels nearby, I recommend any in downtown Long Beach. It's a 10-minute drive over to the port. I've done both the Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Centric, both were great. Enjoy!

Definitely adjustable up and down with the thing that actually attaches to the vertical water pipe. The shower head can actually be adjusted forwards and backwards too, so that way it's flowing directly where you want it to flow. You can remove the shower head as well and hold it in your hand. Hope the photos help!

Gosh, it's been a week, but I'm caught up on your blog (too late, I realize)! Glad your trip went well, sorry about the flight shenanigans at the end, and booooo going back to reality. Your pictures were wonderful! So glad you got to experience a cruise and enjoy it too.

Caught up...too late! Dang, but I'm glad you had a great experience. I especially love the Galveston terminal for it's efficiency, though not really having shade outside to wait in the humidity sucks. Oh my goodness, those cute chocolate-covered strawberries with BOW TIES!!!!! I've gotta remember that for the next time I try to do chocolate strawberries at home. Star class will NEVER happen for me, but I may try to upgrade from a cave suite to a window suite at some point. Hope your trip home was easy and uneventful.

I'm currently in that yo-yo stage of the semester where they *FINALLY* issued my contracts, I accepted them, and now I have to wait for the next payroll date. That's Friday (2/14). Classes started 1/16 and I've been teaching since then. I get backpay, of course, but...you couldn't figure out a way to ensure I'm consistently being paid??? So I appreciate reading that you're taking care of your employees even on vacation.

@OCSC Mike and Spouse have a kinship - both will not wear anything but cargo shorts, apparently. Spouse goes a step further and will pretty much not wear anything but sandals year round. @asquared17, I turn Diamond on Royal in September, and after that I'm wide open to any of the RC products. Celebrity is really intriguing! Loved your blog, safe travels home, and I hope it's not raining men when you get back to NJ.

Wow, the hotel is beautiful!

Yay! Love the onesie, excited for your cruise!

Happy birthday and excited for your blog!

I LOVE that spicy miso ramen!!! I also recommend the other ramen, though I can't recall what it is at the moment.

actual footage of me consuming a cookie