Floski

Our first cruise was on Independence in 2013...Like many of the rest of you, we are cruise-a-holics now and cruise as often as time off allows.
 
In between we do as best we can to get our fix from the RCL Blog, podcast and periscopes.

I pulled my back on embarkation day when I was on Freedom of the Seas so I know exactly what you mean!

Excellent post, Todd.
 
 
We ate at Sabor last Thursday, and it was phenomenal.  I was so packed that I turned down dessert, and that just don't happen.

But in no way a better crew..... Thank you for your service.

In the R Bar right now. First place we hit was the Solarium bar and then into the hot tub!

I went on my first one last year and was completely blown away.  Y'all are gonna have the biggest time!
 
I loved it so much that we're taking our second this weekend!  It's 50 degrees here in Charleston this morning, but I'm 
wearing my Caribbean shirt that I got in Ste. Maarten last year!!  
 
 
It'll seem like years before June '17 gets here...

I went on my first one last year and was completely blown away.  Y'all are gonna have the biggest time!
 
I loved it so much that we're taking our second this weekend!  It's 50 degrees here in Charleston this morning, but I'm 
wearing my Caribbean shirt that I got in Ste. Maarten last year!!  
 
 
It'll seem like years before June '17 gets here...

As to the Starbucks change, I don't think it's going to be real beneficial to us vets, but who knows.  You know they aren't trying to make it easier for us.
 
Same for C&A - I hope it will improve but I imagine it's probably more of an attempt to lure noobs (good thing I'm such a seasoned croozer!).

Day 5 - Costa Maya

Today we visited the Maya Lost Mayan Kingdom Water Park. It’s a new park that just opened in November of 2015, and because it’s so new there are few people visiting there currently. It’s just a few blocks away from the port, a tall Mayan looking building that looms over the surrounding jungle.

We booked this via the RC website. The description they give goes not do it justice – this water park has at least 9 slides, some of them terrifyingly tall. And you don’t have to climb stairs, there is an elevator to to make it easy to get to the slides.









My wife did the Zip Lines, and even with absolutely no waiting between sections it took her 45 minutes to do the entire run.

The lazy river takes between 20 and 30 minutes to do the entire circuit, which includes going underneath the Mayan pyramid building itself.

There are lockers for your items available at $5 for the day. The lockers are inside the pyramid, which also has changing rooms and showers, and a smoothie bar.

Members of the ship’s staff rave about this place, its where they go there on their time off for the fun they have. The entry fee is $89 for adults, $79 kids and worth every penny! Food available onsite at $8 for a hot dog, $10 for a burger, etc. No alcohol due to the nature of some of the rides.

IF you have children, or IF you like zip lines, or IF you like water slides, then visit this place. You will not be disappointed.



During the evening I met another Pinnacle member named Rob aka â€Scooter†– he ranks up there with Super Mario in terms of cruise points. He introduced me to Captain Marek. Marek rocks – literally, he sings rock tunes, and did a couple in the Centrum that evening. Also met a nice couple from Oklahoma that I wound up bumping into everywhere for the remainder of the sailing.

Previously I met a nice couple from Exeter in the UK. I ran into them again tonight. Their daughter had won several hats in a competition, and they gave one to me for my son. He wore it constantly for the remainder of the cruise (and everyday since as a matter of fact).

My throat started to get a little itchy...

My wife and I were joking that the Next Cruise desk should be for people (like us!) that want to take the VERY NEXT CRUISE... 

Just an observation, but when we cruised last April, one of the crew intimated that if we wanted to stay on another week, it would be waaaaay cheaper.
Of course, I assume one would have to rely that there are available rooms/suites for the next leg.
 
Oh man, I was soooo tempted.  I so easily could have spent another week of bliss.

All RC ships have Internet. Freedom is about to get Voom internet, which is the super high speed option.  It should be added by May.

Morning guys and gals!
 
Cin and I traveled BOTS Jan 7-11, 2016.  Wonderful "first" time cruise.
 
We traveled with 10 other guests, all with "my time dining".  When we all arrived at the MDR, we were asked if we would like to sit together.  Reply was yes, if possible.  Within 4 minutes, we were escorted to the far back corner of the upper level MDR (they knew we were trouble, lol).  When we got to the table, it was only set for 10 guests.   2 of our party offered to sit close by, but there was no way the head waiter was going to allow that.   She said, NO!  and in less than a minute there was another table added and room for 12.
 
It gets better....
 
Our Waiter, and assistant, were 2nd to none.  I know these guys work for tips, but, they were sincerely "interested" in our group, and wanted to please.  They also showed a sense of pride in and about what they were doing.  Not deadbeat "here we go again" type of service.
 
Two of our guests were young boys, 10  and 15.  The boys had their food even before the adults order was taken.  Amazing!  The boys were able to ask for something NOT on the menu, and were not disappointed.  They soon after went to the teen area of the ship, leaving the remaining time/dinner for adults.  We love the kids, even though they are well behaved boys, surely they enjoyed NOT having to sit with 10 adults for over an hour.  It's the little things the staff do, and did, that make a venue "special".
 
Order taken.
 
Grilled asparagus was awesome was offered as a side veggie.  A couple of our people mentioned how pleased they were to the head waiter during her walk-around.  Others in our group chimed in (it was awesome veggie).  She smiled and said, "you all like it"?,  "I'll make sure you all have Asparagus, for the group, tomorrow with dinner".  Go Figure...talk about a happy crowd.  Yes, the next evening, Asparagus "magically" appeared on 2 separate large plates as a veggie to be shared by the table. And, yes, every night thereafter.  Yes, it was just as good as the first night.
 
Now, to the nitty-gritty....The Food!
 
Between the group, we had pretty much everything available on the menu. Starting with fresh baked assortment of dinner rolls....Pork, Duck, Fish beef and more.  Homemade mashed potato's.  What more could one ask for? lol.  Everything was excellent, no complaints, and many empty plates.  Our Waiter actually "built" a dinner for Cindy, when she was having trouble deciding, taking the best from different dinners.  Cheese topped escargot was a surprise.  I didn't ask to see if it was available without, but, sent back an empty plate.  Deserts were enjoyed by all.   The quality of the food made me think "why would anybody want to go to one of the other pay venues"...it was really that good.  Cin and I will most likely have to try "chops" on the next cruise just to compare, but we don't see how it could be $70 better, really!  
 
Our waiter and assistant, both, had all of our names memorized AND what we drink, by the 2nd night.  Unbelievable when you think of the number of people they work with during a 4 night cruise.  The entire wait staff was smiling!  Not only when around the tables...they honestly looked "happy" with their jobs.....I notice little things like that. There was a "stout" Black Man, bald, suit and tie, walking around that seemed un-interested in answers after asking how we were doing....every night within about 10 seconds of arriving to our table, he pulled his cell phone from his jacket as if answering a call, never received our responses, and walked away as if something more important was going on.  It got to be a joke around the table.  The last night he showed up, I picked up my cell phone and loudly said "yes, he's here".....looked at him, and said, "Grab your cell phone...you're fixing to get a call...."  The whole table cracked up, and so did he.....then he walked away, like the other nights...We didn't need him anyways. lol  The staff was doing a great job. We were NOT a rowdy group, 5 of us are over 60 and the entire group was well behaved.  The group did not feel "rushed" in order to turn the table.
 
Cin and I visited Windjammer for Breakfast and Lunch.  Next cruise we'll try MDR for those when we can.  Windjammer, after the 2nd or third meal, becomes blah, with the same "type" menu/buffet repeated.  Maybe not the same exact food Items, but buffet food.  We found that "filling", but nothing remarkable. 
 
To be noted: we found, by mistake, in the back of the ship where the bingo is played, a bar/lounge.  In the late afternoon/evening there was a hot finger food bar there.  I peeked... large fried coconut shrimp, cheese sticks and other warm items.  I was surprised at the size of the shrimp.  They sure "didn't scrimp on the shrimp".  I found later they are the dinner size shrimp served in the MDR.  It wasn't advertised, so keep an eye open for it, or ask...it was late afternoon.  I didn't want to spoil dinner so I held off. lol
 
Over all, we give the MDR an A++ for our experience.  Over and above our expectations.
 
Cin wants to go FOTS next.....the MDR will have a high standard to meet, much less beat.
 
 
 
 

I'm off on my first ever cruise this summer - 2 weeks on Navigator. I'm getting the Ultimate drinks package and planning on trying as many cocktails as possible so I'll let you know when I get back!

http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/08/03/top-10-freedom-of-the-seas-hidden-secrets

Todd will be so proud!   
 
 
 
;)

Congratulations on getting to Aluminum! Wait till you see what you get when you reach Titanium! ;)

Carry-on.  Per the rules, you are supposed to carry it on so they can verify it is wine and you have the right amount.  Plus, checking wine could cause one of two (if not both) scenarios to occur:
1. Wine bottle to break
2. Luggage flagged by security for possible prohibited alcohol, resulting in your luggage delivery being delayed and a trip to the "naughty room"

It is generally recommended that you carry the wine onboard with you and not put it into your checked bags. You'll get through security with the wine fairly easily (they may examine the bottles, but that's about it).
 
If you have it in your checked bag, you may find that your bag is not delivered to your stateroom and that you must instead go downstairs to the security office area and claim your bag, where they will probably have you open the bag to ensure that there's no contraband (non-permitted alcohol being the most obvious thing they'd be concerned about after X-raying your bag).

Look at your ticket, it should say Gold.  Show it at the check in and they will direct you to the correct line.   I really liked being Gold, the line was always short, now they lump Platinum, Emerald and sometimes Diamond together.  But still its quicker than the cattle line..

I went over to Celebrity and priced the 80s cruise (which sounds like a BLAST, espcially if Colin Hay is on it) - I guess I'll just stand at the dock and wave bye to that ship.
 
When the cheapest room is around $2500, I have to pass.  I don't have all that disposable income like most of y'all!
 
:(

There won't be less activities on a music cruise.  the live music will start at about 10:00 AM and go until 3:00 AM.  That's one of the real beauties of it.  I don't want to bore anyone with a personal story, but below I will report some of the highlights on the first BNL cruise in 2007.
 
First, the boarding process was really long, and we didn't know why.  It turns out we finally came to a door.  When it was our turn the door opened, our party of 4 walked in.  There was the all 5 members of BNL.  They posed for a complementary 8 X 10 photo with each group as the boarded.  A copy for everyone was delivered to the stateroom a couple of days later.  The band performed a sail away concert on the Lido Deck that afternoon.  They asked the fans that if we saw the band together on board to approach and chat or pose for a photo.  They asked for privacy if they were with their family.  They performed 2 full length shows during the 5 night cruise.  They had tons of appearances with the fans over the 5 days.
 
There was at least 20 other acts of similar genres on board.  Some we had heard of.  Most we had not.  On about the second night, the four of us were playing Blackjack together in the casino.  A band started playing in the casino.  At first, we wished they would stop because of the noise and distraction.  But, as the minutes went on, we all four started to like it.  After about 20 minutes, we abandoned the Blackjack table to join the gathering crowd around this unknown band.  They were amazing musicians.  They were very entertaining.  They were funny.  They music was great and not the normal "cookie cutter" music of today.  They loved performing for the gathering group.  The band is Gaelic Storm.  They are for me, the single best best band there is anywhere.  I have seen them at least 20 times in concert since that night in January of 2007.  They still play small venues.  They still meet and greet their fans after the show.  They know many of us by name.  In meet and greets they ask about my family.
 
On the last day at sea, at about 10:00 am, we were invited to go to our stateroom, remove all of our clothing, put on a robe, and come out on deck.  Not knowing what was about to happen, and unable to resist temptation, the four of us complied.  We arrived on deck at about 10:20 am.  We were lined up for a large photo.  On the count of 3, we ALL dropped our robes for about 5 seconds.  It is estimated there are 1000 barenaked people in that photo, and you can find it on the internet.  It was original, amazing, fun, and not dirty like many would think.  There are beautiful women in it.  There are children in it.  There are men in it.  BNL is in it.  It was a highlight of an amazing cruise, and as you can imagine, not like any other cruise I've been on.

I think my Freedom cruise next moth should skip Coco Cay and hit up Havana!!
 
 
 
That sucks about the cancelling.  I've been looking so forward to this that it would pretty much kill me if they were to cancel.

I think my Freedom cruise next moth should skip Coco Cay and hit up Havana!!
 
 
 
That sucks about the cancelling.  I've been looking so forward to this that it would pretty much kill me if they were to cancel.

Last year, we cruised Freedom to the eastern Caribbean, and it was our first cruise.  
 
I had all of the questions you have, and was worried sick that I didn't have all my t's crossed.  Everything turned out just fine.  I was over-thinking everything.
Of course, my wife went crazy with buying all kinds of souvenirs and I got some liquor, so our end-of-cruise bill was kinda high.  But I was pretty much expecting it.
 
You are going to have so much fun!  We enjoyed it so much that we are doing the same exact cruise in 23 days!