Marc Van Niekerk

Similarly looking forward to @Matt's review.  WE are booked for October in an Oasis Lagoon Cabana.  Will be our first ever cabana and we managed to snag it for the bargain price of 299 which is close to what we have spent on beach bed or bungalow at Labadee.

HEY! We don't judge here. ?

That's a lot of baby seal dinners!

Ummm, I hope you mean dinners for baby seals and not dinners made from baby seals! ?

Pretty much agree considering that now that same cabana is going for $799 which is still a bargain compared to other prices I have seen reported.

Spoiler alert: At that price, you're going to love it.

Day 2 - Nassau
Been there, done that and it's raining so I'm staying on the ship today.  Besides I'll be back twice in as many weeks.

Navigator joined us shortly after our arrival.

Galley Tour at 11:30am.  Despite it being in the middle of a port day there were a dozen or so participants. 
Here they are getting cheese plates and appetizers ready for dinner.  Formal night tonight.

Bacon.  Yum.

Beef Tenderloin and Duck getting readied for dinner.

Making whipped butter for dinner.

The bakery.  Always the best smelling spot in the galley.


Pastry chefs hard at work.

Chocolate covered strawberries anyone?

First noted on Empress so I inquired some more here on Majesty.  Powdered or "bulk" scrambled eggs are a thing of the past.  They were having trouble with the product turning black upon cooking so the fleet has standardized on fresh eggs being used for scrambled eggs, in fact for all egg purposes, only fresh eggs are used.

We had an Oasis Lagoon Cabana June 26th.   (We were in #23).  It DID have a lockable safe.  I wish I would have taken more detailed photos of it, but I just wasn’t thinking at the time.  Our attendant came frequently, as a matter of fact every time someone was actually in the cabana they got a visit. Lol!  Anyway, there is a long couch, two chairs, a coffee table with open storage on one and and the lockable safe on the other end, the round cooler with ice and bottles of water, towels, the ceiling fan, outlets, and lounge chairs in front.  The menu they bring to order from is the Snack Shack menu, so it includes the hamburger, crispy chicken sandwich, I think fries, onion rings, cheese sticks, I believe a couple of salads, and the famous funnel cakes.  Also, our attendant brought drinks whenever asked.  There were also servers constantly walking around the pool and serving.   We did just make the short walk to the buffet for lunch.  It was extensive and yummy.  There were many gulls around the buffet eating areas, but there was also Royal staff whose job it seemed to be to keep the, at bay.  We noticed them, but were not bothered by them.  
We booked our Cabana early for $379.   It was a great deal, and as supply and demand increase, it seems clear the prices will go way up.  I loved the experience, but also don’t think it’s necessary.  There are so many chairs and umbrellas as well as numerous complimentary lockers and servers roaming around the Lagoon pool, that we’d be perfectly content not spending a dime!

One way is to place a mask on your face and breath in through your nose slightly so the mask is drawn onto your face.  Then hold your breath.  If the mask is leaking it will fill with air and fall off your face.  If it stays in place on it's own you have a good seal.

I've been getting a number of questions about how I shot the Milky Way photos.
I shot this using a full frame Sony A7III with a Sony 12-24mm lens.   A crop sensor body that most people shoot wouldn't be able to get this wide.  The A7III also has really good low light performance, night and day from my last full frame body, a Nikon D750.
Also keep in mind I have a pretty good investment in gear.  Body and lens for this shot are ~ $3,700.  Not trying to brag but let's keep expectations real.  A <$1k kit can shoot the Milky Way and produce some nice results but maybe not achieve the same results.
Camera settings shown at the top, Lightroom adjustments below that.

Using Adobe Lightroom I added a lot of clarity and adjusted other light levels and white balance.  This is why I shoot in RAW.  There is a lot of data captured in a RAW file that can be manipulated using software such as Lightroom.  Shooting in JPEG would lose all this extra data and you would never be able to achieve these results.  This is how JPEG produces a lower file size, it throws away all the extra sensor data it doesn't need for a JPEG picture.  A RAW file is much bigger because it contains all the raw sensor data that was captured.
Original picture as it was captured on the left, final picture on the right after adjustments in Lightroom.

The one on the left is closer to what you see with the human eye.  Between the two brightest stars you can sort of see a cloud like area with the human eye that is the center or heart of the Milky Way.
Keep in mind I've been shooting the Milky Way for several years now so I've got some previous experience on land with a firm tripod.  On land you have more control and can take longer exposures, up to around 25 seconds for this focal length.  That allows you to lower ISO or make other adjustments for better results.  I wanted to keep the exposure shorter because of the ship's movement.
I use an app called PlanIt Pro.  It has an AR feature where you can hold up your phone, adjust the time or date and it will show you where the Milky Way will be at that moment in the future.
After we left Belize heading North to Cozumel I used this app to see when and where the Milky Way would be on Night 11.

This tells me the MWC (Milky Way Center) will be visible between 8:43pm and 3:07am.  At 12:16am the MWC will be as shown for the location we are at this moment in time.  On land that works well, on a moving ship you don't always know where your position will be in six hours or the heading of the ship hours later so there is some guess work and extrapolation involved, but at least you know what direction to find it. 
With a full moon the results would have suffered a lot.  I don't try to shoot the night sky on land most of the moon phase, it works best without moon light.  New moon was perfectly timed for me, that's just luck.   For Costa Maya it was July 31st. 
The MWC in the Northern Hemisphere is visible at night in summer months only, you can't shoot the Milky Way in the winter up here but you can down under.
There is also a lot of luck involved.  Based on the cloud cover after leaving Belize pictured above the Milky Way would not be visible.  I got pretty lucky two nights in a row with the ship heading South towards the Milky Way, on the right phase of the moon, without major cloud cover.  Costa Maya and Belize are close so the ship was only moving at ~8 knots.  
I don't always bring my A7 with me, that's why I have the RX100VI - for travel.  I threw the A7 in my backpack at the last minute.
I was in the right place at the right time with cloud cover that was in my favor on a slow moving ship with the right gear.  It's pretty rare to get all that working in your favor on a cruise, on a ship with a public area that is dark.  I may never get another opportunity like this. 

As soon as I saw it I recognized it as a mistake.  Possibly a summer intern mistook Refreshment package for Deluxe and set this all in motion.  
I don't really know what consumer laws apply in Florida but I fully expect this clear mistake to be corrected (cancelled and refunded) and have no intention of squealing about it when they do.   
Sure, of course I wish they wouldn't cancel them but I'll have no problem if they do.

I think everyone knew this was a pricing mistake from the moment it was spotted, especially if you have been following drink package prices.
I bought it at the $18/day rate for a couple sailings knowing full well it was a mistake and very likely refunded. Like they say in the lotto business, cant win if you don't play!

If not I have one. 

Here it is.  I think the % discount may have changed.
Scan0002.pdf

You can find them at Crown and Anchor Society website.  Here is the link.  http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cas/benefits/diamond-members/
ONBOARD REWARDS
From priority check-ins to exclusive invitations and events: These are just some of the onboard perks you'll receive as part of your Crown & Anchor® Society membership.
Matching Celebrity Cruises® Captain's Club & Azamara Club Cruises® Le Club Voyage member benefits 18 Onboard Offers are preloaded to your SeaPass card. Refer to your onboard Welcome Letter for details. Private departure lounge with Continental Breakfast Exclusive Top Tier Event Signature Lapel Pin Welcome Amenity upon arrival Milestone Recognition 4 Chef’s Choice GIft/Amenity Priority wait list for Shore Excursions/VitalitySM Day Spa Services/Main Dining Room Diamond Lounge (on select ships) 7 Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event with complimentary drink vouchers 6

PS.  The "drink vouchers" during happy hour allow you to get a drink for a traveling companion who isn't diamond-eligible (3 drinks per diamond member, usually 4:30 to 8 PM).
If you go to the Diamond Lounge for drinks, you need to think about how you will approach tipping.  Will you use the same waiter for the entire cruise and settle up with an envelope at the end, or will you share cash tips along the way since you may not see the waiter again?  This isn't discussed publicly, but since the drinks are "free", the waiter/waitress doesn't have a way of earning the 18% gratuity (unless you buy a premium drink not on the free list).  So I watch what others do and try to follow suit.  The Diamond Lounge is a great benefit, but its location and atmosphere vary from ship to ship.  If you get to know the Concierge, you will learn more about benefits or services.

Here are some screen shots for the curious 
 
 

Alright, Drinkcalc V.2 is ready for testing.  The underlying math is identical but the interface is better due to it being through a different service.
DrinkCalc V.2

Literally, we have done the same thing.

Literally, we have done the same thing.

Pajamas...true story lol.

Cruise Summary
Wow!  What an awesome Alaska experience.
There is a part of me that wants to say this was my best cruise to Alaska.  However looking back I thought the same thing on every Alaska cruise I've taken.  
There are a couple of ways to interpret that sentiment but the truth is that Alaska is such an amazing destination that each cruise can top the last one.  Every visit to Alaska is different. 
I chose to focus on Alaska on this cruise and in writing this trip report.  The ship itself is very similar to Anthem from a core ship experience.   Anyone who has sailed Anthem will feel right at home on Ovation.  Apologize for no menus and less about the on-board experience of Ovation, but I took this cruise for Alaska so that became the focus of this thread.
There were some special aspects of this cruise and it starts with the itinerary.  This itinerary may never be repeated.  That would be a shame because it included a lot I love about Alaska.
I was curious how an early season cruise would compare but now I'm sold on the idea that any time for an Alaska cruise season is the perfect time for an Alaska cruise.  
I was also curious how Ovation of the Seas would compare to Radiance and Voyager class or Celebrity's Millennium class for an Alaska cruise, the ships I've sailed before to Alaska.  Each has features I like.  Looking back over this experience there is a lot to like about Quantum class in Alaska.  
Great indoor pool space for families Great indoor Solarium for adults, one of the best in the fleet North Star (more on this below)   Two70° SeaPlex Flowrider New ship feel, new technology, new decor Great Windjammer experience (I have always liked the WJ on Quantum class) Great entertainment Better suite amenities including Coastal Kitchen Affordable balcony options for a reasonable fare difference I was curious how viewing angles would work out for glacier visits.  I prefer to move around during glacier visits and seeing everything from multiple perspectives.  I was very pleased with how this worked out on Ovation, better than I thought it would.  I didn't think I'd like the glass dividers in places on the top decks but they were a blessing at times to block the wind with large spaces between them I could still take pictures.
Not everything was perfect.  These are areas that I felt had some room for improvement:
The crew pressure wash the outer decks from 5am to 7am.  During this time they are closed.  This is a required maintenance exercise but they could have adjusted times to recognize the long days of Alaska.  Sunrise is around 5am.  Runners want to run.  Arrival into ports is often occurring at this time.   I don't recall this being an issue on any ship I've sailed before including three cruises on sister ship Anthem.   Smokers were complaining there was no where to smoke.  I don't smoke but I know if you close all the outdoor smoking areas at the same time to wash them down guests are going to break the rules and some did.   The Cruise Director lost an opportunity to hype certain events like sailing under the bridge in Vancouver or the fact that every port of call was an inaugural port of call.  The CD and staff seemed unaware that this was a special cruise itinerary or the ship's first ever visit to Alaska. Voom internet was a disappointment but if you have read this thread I've covered this already. North Star Experience.   North Star brings a new aspect to Alaska cruising allowing guests to see things from a very different angle.  This really sets Ovation apart from other ships that have sailed in Alaska.   Despite a single complimentary reservation for North Star I found great availability to enjoy it on standby basis.  Groups larger than 2 may find less enjoyment in the standby line unless they are willing to split up.  While the $49 charge during glacier visits was higher than I expected I understand why a charge is required.   Having done that extra cost version of the North Star Alaskan Experience I might even do it again. 
I've devised some ideas how to reduce glare from the curved windows in my North Star photos that I look forward to trying in North Star in other regions before I return to Alaska and enjoy North Star there again.  For me North Star really has value in Alaska where in other regions it's simply a cool activity to do.  You get a bird's eye view just like an Eagle soaring in the sky above the ship.
When I cruise Alaska my focus is Alaska and not ship entertainment or activities.  I have more cruises booked on Ovation in other regions some with many sea days.  This allowed me to skip entertainment or activities on this sailing knowing I can try them another time. 
I did not visit the MDR once.  For my needs and a desire for a quick meal experience the Windjammer fulfilled my needs perfectly.  Despite some cool meals I ate most of them on the aft outdoor seating area for the Windjammer.  Daily complimentary room service breakfast was appreciated with a balcony to enjoy a coffee while watching marine life below or an incredible sunrise unfold in front of me.
For Diamond Happy Hour the use of the entire Music Hall worked well but I still missed access to the Concierge Lounge, a stated benefit for Diamond Plus members.  I understand the reasoning offered for blocking access to the Concierge Lounge but it remains a disappointment.  
If you've enjoyed my pictures in this thread what you may not understand is that mere photos don't do it justice.  To experience Alaska you have to go to Alaska.   I know Royal offers great entertainment and activities but I feel like Alaska is a destination where you shouldn't try to do everything on the ship just because it's offered and available for you.  A number of times I found myself nearly alone enjoying incredible scenery, peace and tranquility.  Apologies to Nick Weir and his incredible team that produce awesome Royal entertainment but I came for Alaska.  
At times I put the camera down and just enjoyed the moment live and in person.  What you don't see in this thread are those moments.  Those are some of my best memories and for you to experience them you'll need to book a cruise to Alaska for yourself.
Thanks for following along and I thank you for viewing.  

Prices pulled from my recent sailing on Allure (liveblog in signature)
Virgin frozen drinks (like pina coladas): $7
Specialty coffees (including lattes): $4-5 
Fresh squeezed OJ: $5
Smoothies (if you are on a ship that makes them): $8.25
Water: ???? prob $2. Unknown because the bartenders never bothered to key it into the POS once they saw you have a beverage package. 

Specialty coffee is in line with starbucks prices on land (but the actual Starbucks kiosks on the ship are not included in the package), $4-6. I believe the virgin coctails run about $8 from other posts I've seen here somewhere. Water & Soda I'm less certain of, I think at least $2 for a bottle of water is a safe assumption for doing the math, soda is a little different since with the package you'll get a reusable cup for the fountain, but you do get access to cans or dispensed soda at bars too. I expect they'd charge for a cup of soda like a restaurant would, $3-4, but can't be certain. You also get access to the fresh squeezed juice at breakfast in the MDR, which I believe was listed at $4.50 on Enchantment last year.
For us, the math works out, because we'll down 2-3 of the coffee per day on vacation, juice at breakfast, and plenty of soda and mocktails along the way.

It's been a while since I purchased a can of soda but I believe it is in the stratosphere, somewhere close to $5 now.  It's totally outrageous.