deButler

7 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

Snowman contest?

It should have been official on the schedule but it became a popular activity throughout the morning. 

Awoke to Winter Wonderland 2.0. This time it’s being celebrated onboard. SOO cool to see such a contrast of SUN Loungers covered with SNOW. 

According to the Crown Lounge Concierge the threshold for RADIANCE class implementing the Diamond time restriction is set solely by having 39 or more Pinnacles onboard. Diamond and Diamond + are not really factored into their determination. She was not aware as to what threshold has been set on the other classes. 

21 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

A real sweetheart.  She is her own cartoon version of herself, and I say that as a compliment.

She was amazing. Got to meet and speak with her this morning. Told her you said hello

21 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

It just means if you sail on dates or itineraries popular (and cruises longer than 8 nights typically are that)  with top tiers.

 

BTW, Edna is an awesome concierge.  

Exactly. Figured the count IS high given the number of Pinns we’ve seen embarking. Just interested to see how they are setting the thresholds. Our Wonder trip (10/15) had 483 Diamond,   467 Diamond +,  & 97 Pinnacle. Here we have a smaller lounge so I figured they will consider a much smaller number the maximum threshold. They did have the divider open during embarkation. 
 

Can’t wait to meet her. We’ll tell her you said hello

On 10/16/2023 at 9:28 AM, Matt said:

Regarding the issue with Diamonds on Wonder, that cruise is a casino signature level cruise, so it's just a one-off as best we can tell due to the unique nature of that sailing.

Doesn’t appear that this was a One Off event related change. I would just consider this a permanent change as we all expected.
 now onboard Jewel with no special events happening but the same letter we received on Wonder 2 weeks ago.  No denying they are just implementing Michael Bayley’s solution to over crowding in the “Diamond Lounge” with Rebranding to Crown Lounge and this new time restricted access on each cruise. 

Our “Fall Foliage” cruise on Jewel has turned into a “Winter Wonderland” trip. Not enough snow to remain on decks but plenty to greet us around Quebec this morning. A beautiful change from last week on Wonder. 

3 hours ago, JasonOasis said:

I'm on Wonder right now and according to a loyalty event I went to largest number of guest onboard in the Crown and Anchor society are diamond members. Right now with the huge influx of diamond members and the number of diamond members onboard they have restricted access to the Crown lounge during certain times of the day.   

Are you on the Oct 22nd sailing now?

We were onboard last week where we were congratulated as new Diamonds finally and then locked out from the “Crown Lounge” as well during the Happy Hour times. It was told to us by the the concierge that this was a “One time exclusion due to the Signature event going on in the Casino”.
 

If Diamonds are locked out AGAIN this very next cruise then obviously this is a planned exercise that will continue and not a single cruise, event related, occurrence. 

On 10/3/2023 at 2:42 PM, Mike n Ky said:

The best thing in the WJ on Wonder is the kids desert section...they had chocolate covered chocolate chip cookies that were awesome. You either have to be limber to get down low or wait for a kid to help you.

Found these heavenly morsels on first foray into WJ after returning from St Thomas early. Unfortunately they were already out when we returned the next day after coming in from St. Maarten.  Chocolate covered cake balls were an EASY substitute though. 

On 10/6/2023 at 12:10 PM, SocialStudiesDude said:

Weather predictions for ports. I hope Coco Cay ends up with a better day than this. Everything else looks pretty decent, for this time of year.

 

October 15 – Embark / At Sea

78 degrees / Partly Cloudy / 24% chance of rain

 

October 16 – Coco Cay

87 degrees / Scattered Thunderstorms / 53% chance of rain

 

October 18 – St Thomas

88 degrees / Partly Cloudy / 24% chance of rain

 

October 19 – St Marten

88 degees / Partly Cloudy / 21% chance of rain

Unfortunately it was spot on

On 10/6/2023 at 6:33 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Wait! What? That's what I still call them. What are they actually called now? lol

They’re now signed as “Coconut Cookies” and seems that most of the crew only knows them by that. 
 

LOL - “old” was only implied as experienced cruisers

I noticed “For You” yesterday when we boarded Navigator but like @Pattycruise showed it is only giving generic items about our cruise. I don’t really see where it is tailored specifically to us. Lord knows I will never be in the Spa on a cruise

18 hours ago, Xaa said:

Is the stateroom button to set up the Virtual Key with your phone?

We had it last month on Quantum but would only provide a Remote for the TV. 

Sitting in our hotel overlooking the LA harbor waiting to get on tomorrow for our first leg of our B2B. See everyone on the 9th. Hopefully you all can make the sail away M&G at 3:30 on deck 13 at Lime & Coconut!! 

11 hours ago, chodnett said:

I want to say it was the first sea day, which for us was Tuesday. It took place at 2 pm. 

We have it at the same time on our sailing next week. Really odd that they schedule them that early on the first Sea day. 
 

On 10/3/2023 at 3:05 PM, Hoppy2BHere said:

-Found the ultimate spot in the solarium in front of an AC output! will share the location for a shiny nickel…

-Diamond lounge coffee machine and Coconut ranger cookies!!! The Life!

 

Mrs deButler said she would gladly give you a quarter for your secret location

Only us old cruisers still call them by their original name of Ranger cookies. I used to ask the staff for them in promenade cafe and they would look at me like I had 3 eyeballs. By FAR my favorite thing ever served on RCL ships. 

49 minutes ago, Mike n Ky said:

The best thing in the WJ on Wonder is the kids desert section...they had chocolate covered chocolate chip cookies that were awesome. You either have to be limber to get down low or wait for a kid to help you.

^^^ THIS is what I come to these posts for!!! RCBlog users are the BEST.  Thanks @Mike n Ky
 

I am TOTTALLY finding those cookies next week!!!

**** RCBlog Roll Call Meet & Greet - Day 3 - October 17th, Schooner Bar 1:30PM

Setting up an informal gathering for anyone that would like to catch up onboard. Looks like Schooner bar is available on Day 3, our first Sea Day, at 1:30. We’ll grab a couple of tables and catch up. 
 

Tagging all previous posters here in case anyone is not following and getting notifications automatically. 
@Jill1228  @Nyx  @Poleman88  @MarcD  @JustUs275  @Morganno  @lakeland  @SocialStudiesDude

deButlers - Dennis & Gina Butler

Welcome to the group. No kids for us on most trips these days though we are trying to get one planned with the entire family and their families now. We chatted about doing our own small M&G. We’re old school CC board folks as well but haven’t been back over there since the restart for us this year. When I discovered Matt’s blog videos and then this forum area. I just never felt the need to maintain a presence in 2 locations. There are some really great folks on this site with TONS more knowledge about RCCL specifically than myself so I’m constantly learning something new. 
 

We just need to pick a day/time and set a stake in the ground to meet up. This our 3rd Oasis class ship but first time on Wonder. I know Schooner is where we have previously done a few meet ups but it’s hit and miss with trivia and other events going on.
 

Schooner bar looks open however at 1:30 PM on Day 3 (First Sea Day). We can find 2 tables and join up there. 

Headed to San Pedro Wednesday and decided on the DoubleTree Hotel there at the Marina. Close easy access to the Pier on embarkation day. 
 

Crowne Plaza is also a popular spot for pre-cruise lodging to see the ship come in. 

deButlers Couldn’t wait for Oct to arrive. Happy Sailings to all !!
 

Navigator - Oct 6  * Finally Diamond

Navigator - Oct 9

Wonder - Oct 15

Jewel - Oct 30

Just got back from Quantum last week. We stayed just west of downtown at Homewood Suites. Very convenient and mostly filled with other cruise passengers. We Ubered from the Hotel to pier 91 for $17 plus tip. Was cheaper than the shuttle option at the hotel. Our return was similar @Bruin Steve going to Pike Market first for lunch and sightseeing around downtown then light rail out to the airport also thanks to Port Valet luggage service. BY FAR the easiest & cheapest transfer we’ve ever had leaving the ship and getting to an airport.  NO issues at all for us downtown Seattle. Felt fine traveling around there. 

We just used it, as most folks do, when leaving Quantum last week in Seattle and it was amazing. The most incredible part is that the port of Seattle provides it as a free service.  SO easy to just walk away from the ship and wander around downtown before our flight home and not have to haul your luggage around with you. 

What an amazing trip and such fun to travel along with you @DDaley  !! Sure the weather could have been a little better but it sure did make us appreciate our day in Juneau that much more, AND you’re in Alaska. We had planned and packed for rainy weather all week. We especially enjoyed the cooler temps after enduring the last 2 months of TX heat. 

Thanks so much for all of the amazing pics and fun commentary along the way. I will certainly make note of that Zipline tour. We did a similar experience with many multiple descending zips in Costa Rica back in 2003 and was so much fun. 
 

Quantum was a new class of ship for us and I am still processing how I feel about them. I was extremely excited to finally get on but I don’t think that I was overly thrilled with the layout and design. I much prefer the larger promenade space on almost all other ships as this one seemed very crowded all of the time. Even our world record TA on Symphony this year NEVER really felt crowded at any point.  The other REALLY disappointing aspect was the Casino. They really need get it updated and SOON. My wife and other family members however enjoyed the payouts on some of the older slot machines this time.

What a fun time. Thanks again for letting us come along on your Alaskan Adventure!!

We had planned side by side balcony cabins on Quantum 15 months out and had NO desire what so ever to bid or move for our trip last week. (though we have attempted 3 times previously but to no avail)   I also kept getting emails almost daily the week before leaving as well.
 

High pleasure sales never works well on me.