Geezer Of The Seas

As our high angle/rope instructors used to tell us in training: It's not the fall but the sudden stop at the bottom that's a problem............

Toto, we're not in the Caribbean anymore................ Absolutely stunning. 'Nuff said. Enjoy!

Our Southern Caribbean cruise on Jewel last Thanksgiving had a wedding/honeymoon on board. On the second 'formal' night the wedding party emerged from the MDR, walked into the Centrum area and was greeted by spontaneous applause and shouts of "Congratulations" from the top to the bottom of the Centrum, from passengers they didn't even know. Mrs. Geezer and I joined in, (we're 47 years into our 'life sentence'). I'm betting the newlyweds won't forget that moment.............

Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors was already taken? I recently read the copyright protection for Steamboat Willy era Mickey Mouse ends on Jan. 1st. There's a possibility................

Looking at the deck plan (Royal Caribbean website), your cabin # 17010 is a Grand Suite (one of two on Deck 17) in the Suite neighborhood that accommodates up to 4 passengers. The deck plan legend doesn't indicate if it's a standard balcony or otherwise.

Because Orlando media is all in with the impending doom storyline, the Fox affiliate ran a video chat with a family that was on Allure's most recent sailing while they were returning to Port Canaveral. Coco Cay didn't happen, the pool decks were closed, everyone was to stay off balconies. Of course the guy cracked the balcony door a bit for screaming wind noise effect. Then there was some video clips of the ocean...... Apparently Voom worked admirably.....

Haven't heard of Turkey Hill, but when we wanna blow $10 on a half gallon of ice cream it's Blue Bell for us. In no particular order Rocky Road, Cherry Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip & the Homemade Vanilla.

The 'Collection' is sold through a bedding store in Miami. Can't vouch for the mattresses, but I spent a whooole lot of money on a pair of King pillows from the 'Collection '. Utter junk, like laying your head on 2 manhole covers. That said, the bedding (including pillows) on the 3 ships we have experienced was fabulous.

That's him. Thanks.

I don't watch many video ship reviews, but when I do I enjoy the reviews done by that Matt Hochberg guy, Danny from Harr Travel (the I'm 6'6" in the shower routine notwithstanding), and that old British guy whose name escapes me. All are informative and nicely done. Would be nice if that Matt guy could do more accommodation video tours/reviews.

Like someone's vacation 8mm home movies done while on meth. Sorry, but it has no flow................ Call me weird, but I get so much more out of reading people's experiences on this blog.

Our experience sailing the Southern Caribbean in late November on Jewel last year: 6-9' ft. seas, steady 15-20 knot winds. Ship movement was noticeable, but not intolerable (for us). The wind was a huge issue. Second day of the trip we were walking to Izumi across the pool deck and the wind was so stiff I thought Mrs. Geezer was going over the side. Wonder in April of this year, Eastern Caribbean: Seas were on the order of 2-4', occasionally higher with 10-15 knot winds. Wonder rocked a bit but not a bother at all. Mariner in November of this year: A bit rugged along the Fl. East Coast and through the Fl. Straits on the way to Cozumel, but calmed noticeably once past the Western tip of Cuba. FWIW: outside of hurricane season, October thru February is when frontal passages and the occasional mid ocean storm may impact sea conditions. Pack your seasickness meds, and consider the cabin you're looking at on Deck 7. Bigger ships aren't like excursion vessels, but depending on seas can be. The bridge crew will do all they can to avoid real heavy weather and sea conditions. Word of caution about the Scopolamine patch. If you consider it FULLY disclose to your doctor ANY prescription meds you take and double check with your pharmacist regarding medication interactions, particularly with sleep aids and meds in the class of Valium or Xanax.

Reinstallation as mentioned, seems to be the most common fix, sorry it hasn't worked for you. The Google App Store ratings are kind of generous IMO..... I believe the latest iteration of it has turned it more into sales bloatware than a useful pre-cruise or onboard tool. I've noticed it goes absolutely dead now within 7 days of your last cruise if you have nothing booked as well. Our points for last trip weren't credited but are correctly displayed on the website.

They can build them bigger, but appears they're building themselves out of port infrastructure to accommodate them. Since we've only departed from Port Canaveral, I'll use them as an example. It's small, and by the port executive's own admission, running out of space for cruise line activity. Unless Carnival were to share terminal space with Royal, Terminals 1 & 3 are the only large enough to dock Oasis Class vessels, though I once (on video) saw Oasis of the Seas nose in to the pier at CT 10 to apparently offload a medical emergency (after her prior night's departure). Lot of ship hanging out in the turn basin. They will be building a new terminal at the present location of Bluewaters Marina (will be shared facility). Electrification of cruise ship piers for shoreline power. The port executive acknowledged the power infrastructure as it exists isn't up to the task, estimating cabling and construction of a substation would run at least $200 million. Then there's road access into the port. He would like to see SR 528 6 laned from the I-95 interchange to the port and the barge canal drawbridge (SR 401) replaced with a highrise span. Throw in the constant requirement to dredge the harbor and the channel which extends a little over a mile offshore southeast of the port......... There's a cost to bigger and it wouldn't just be the fare charged. My love of smaller vessels isn't showing too bad, is it?

Like some have posted and Mrs. Geezer told me this afternoon, Royal is pricing and waiting to find the "ceiling" for what folks are willing to pay. A grizzled veteran of 4 cruises (), we significantly curtailed the CP spending, still managing to enjoy ourselves. We'll cruise until we can't; just hope that's later than sooner. I still don't understand this compulsion of Royal's to build ships to accommodate the population of a small town. Is this the bean counters' proscription for profitability at a now 2 billion a copy? Do funnels that retract tell Royal that their vessels may be edging toward too damn big? Of course, when the state of Florida was pondering 2-3 billion to tear down/rebuild the Skyway Bridge about nine years ago, they came up with a Plan B: Fill in part of the Gulf on the SW tip of Pinellas County for a new cruise port that would eliminate the entire transit of Tampa Bay. An excellent thought but that comes at a significant price as well, not to mention Tampa wouldn't be horribly thrilled.

Local media coverage mind you, but in my neck of the woods this mystery virus is being seen in a lot of veterinary practices and starting to impact pet boarding facilities with regard to client reluctance to board their dogs. The sitter option might be something to consider, especially given the increasingly insane cost of veterinary medicine. Once our cat hits the dusty trail to the Rainbow Bridge, we're retired from critters; sad, but our reality.

We frequently do pasta that way at home; love it as much as my made from scratch sauce with meatballs. And nothing brings a pizza to life more than fresh garlic.

Lose money in the casino? Boy, I could do that as I know less than nothing about gaming. Even our $50 forays into the slots (penny of course) I haven't got a clue except something good's happening when the machine goes nuts.............then it all disappears a play or two later.

Casino comps on Star? Cot in the engine room.......or the bilge?

Fares of late have answered the question why Royal started offering the 'layaway ' plan like Carnival. They knew which way the revenue management wind was blowing. To each their own, but if Mrs Geezer and I can't book and pay on plastic in 2 swipes (deposit and balance), we'll pass. And CC reward points= $$ deposit quarterly for us.

Chicken of the Seas: What you can afford to eat after making reservations for Star of the Seas.

Personal experience at Port Canaveral last 2 cruises : We were both asked the health questions in the terminal despite answering them in the app 24 hours before we arrived. As the OP may know, the terminal staff is not Royal Caribbean employees (third party contractor). No rhyme or reason sometimes......but if you're asked the process is still pretty quick.

I hate when I blow coffee out my nostrils in the morning...... My Gawd that's funny.

Our 50th wedding anniversary is in 2026 (God willing & the river don't rise). Maybe we sit out 2025 and shoot the moon in '26. Neither of us are fans of commercial aviation, so maybe a R/T Panama Canal itinerary from Miami if one is available.....

We've got the HAL cruise next November to look forward to. Wanted to experience something different. Saw Nieuw Amsterdam docked in Aruba alongside us (Jewel) last Thanksgiving and figured why not? Suite under 5K for 7 days, and the a la carte booze cost is cheaper. And we like the smaller ships. With Brightline service available, we can see life outside of Port Canaveral. After that......?