TarheelCruiser

Agreed, it’s weird. The kids kept asking to play the video games

First for me. Went to the “new” non-smoking casino (previously Vintages) to cash out OBC. Played a couple of time and actually won a few hundred. Cashed out immediately and now having a celebration cocktail with @GatorCruiser@ Boleros.

Update from another couple. While our group that did the Polaris vehicles first was late back to the port, the group that did the waterfall hike 1st made it back in plenty of time. So your mileage may vary depending how your tour is spilt. I wouldn’t plan on much time after, especially if you have the same docking and all aboard as we did (7-2:30pm)

A little late… Cas Cay Small Group Adventure: Kayak, Hike, Snorkel St Thomas Royal Signature Excursion. This was our first Royal signature excursion and it was definitely a smaller group ~20 people. We boarded an open air shuttle and headed over toward the Haven side port. It was a 30 minute ride to the site for the ecotour. We had a safety briefing and got our life vests. There was a community locker and 4 port-a-potties available. They had the option of two or one person kayaks. @gatorcruiser and I each took a kid. We kayaked through the mangroves and learned about them. We saw quite a few jellyfish and were able to hold them. We then headed to an island where the hike began. There were hermit crabs everywhere, the kids loved picking them up. We hiked to a coral beach area where there were sea urchins and starfish for the kids to pick up. We then headed back to the beach where we snorkeled. Not much to see, but we probably swam for ~1 mile total. Thank goodness for life jackets! We then kayaked back. The guide said we kayaked for 3 miles total and we definitely felt it. We rode the open air shuttle back to the port and made it back with very little time to spare. Overall, it was a fun but very active excursion. @gatorcruiser would have rather been at a beach bar!

Review Damajagua Waterfall Hike and Buggy Adventure Puerto Plata Dominican Republic Met at the Star Lounge at 7 am, and were on the shuttle to the excursion by 745 am. This was one of the most efficient boarding processes for excursions we’ve had, especially with it being such a large tour group. I think we had 3 tour buses. Since it was early, we did not have time to grab breakfast. Big mistake, HUGE! It was a 45 minute ride to the location, we had to stop for a bit to let cows run down the road which the kids thought it was hilarious. At the location, we were split into groups of about 50 and our group did the buggy first. We purchased lockers to store our stuff ($8 US) and headed over for the briefing and to get our helmets (full helmets with visors) They were Polaris vehicles, two or four seaters. There are not as many four seaters so if you would like one, try to get in the front of the group. 4 seaters had a canopy roof the 2 seaters did not, so sunscreen would be absolutely needed. We had a four seater. The ride was about an hour and went through farmland and then crossed the river/creek a few times we also went through a small village where the tour operators had police blocking a couple of sections of the road for safety. There was a small stop for us to purchase things and switch drivers. However, no one brought in cash with them, but apparently you could pay back at the location. We did not buy anything. Headed back for waterfall hike, got fitted for lifejackets and helmets. Close toed shoes are required so some people had to rent water shoes ($8 US). Our family has the Columbia drain maker shoes, which are good for water and hiking, and were perfect for this excursion. On the way to the waterfall entrance, we walk through a little section that had some shopping a nice canteen area with cocktails and snacks for purchase so we had planned on just purchasing some snacks and adult (and kid friendly) beverages after the hike. Our group of 50 went on the hike, it was a vertical but not technical as most of the vertical areas had steps built, very rocky. Because the park was so full that day there were a few stops along the hike in order to space the groups out and allow rest which made the hike very long. We made it to the water after about an hour or so, and had to queue into the falls portion. There were four rock slides and one area where you could choose between a 15 foot jump or another slide to get down the waterfall areas. All of the slides dumped into plunge areas that were over everyone’s head hence the lifejackets and why they tell everyone to leave everything in a locker. The slides hike and jump were super fun however all the stopping and starting, made it a very extended tour. The listed time was 6 hours, however if there are no crowds it probably would have been closer to 4.5 hrs. We got back to the lockers at 1:45 PM and had to immediately jump on the bus as all aboard time for the ship was 2:30 PM and we still had to get back to the port. We did not have any time to explore the area at the excursion or grab snacks or drinks. Our shuttle made it back to the port area at 230 pm but dropped us on the other side where we had to walk through the entire port area to get to the pier. It was fine at least we got to see the port while running through it. Looked really nice, hope we come back here on another trip. Made it back to the ship by 2:45 which is the first time we’ve ever been late for an all aboard. Thank goodness it was a Royal excursion and they had a couple of people waiting for us. Overall, fun excursion. Eat breakfast and/or pack snacks. Take bug spray, the waterfall hike is in a rainforest. The tour provides plenty of bottled water. If you want to explore the port, I would not recommend this excursion bc you will not have time unless the ship is leaving later.

It probably didn’t help that we were all hangry from a 7 am-2:30 pm (late arrival back to ship) excursion with no time to purchase food. It drives me nuts that we sat down, the waiter took our drink orders and I said we wanted to order food. Brought drinks, ran away, didn’t look in our direction for at least 20-25 minutes. We got up to head to loco fresh and then he comes over to ask why we were leaving. I guess the moral of the story is don’t go to Playmakers when you are starving. El loco fresh hit the spot!

Thanks! I went with the small key chains this time to try and save room in the suitcases.

Got our ducks in a row for the kids to hide. @GatorCruiser actually helped attach the tags

That is funny! He kept telling me I wasn’t posting enough.

17030 SKY Junior suite review final review. We were pleasantly surprised by the space in the room because the online pictures make it look smaller than it truly is, especially the bathroom. The bathroom was fantastic. The tub shower combo had a full glass door rather than the half glass wall that we’ve had in other suites on different ships. The water actually stayed in the shower. There was one shelf of storage in the shower. Ideally, I would have liked two. I bring my own shampoo and conditioner, as well as other toiletries for the shower, where the boys use the provided items. There are three open shelves under the sink and two usable drawers under the sink as well. There is open shelving on either side of the mirror. Tons of bathroom storage. The vanity desk area was fine. It was nice to have the flip up storage for the hairdryer, brushes, chargers etc. Of note, I use a Dyson air wrap for my hair and it did not work with the standard US plugs in the room ( I did not bring our European converter to try). I had that issue on Harmony, but it worked fine on Wonder. From now on, I think I’m just gonna bring a round brush and save the space. Closet space was fine for our family with two young boys. I used the long hang area for myself, @GatorCruiser use the double hang closet area. He and I split the shelving and drawers. The boys used the drawers on the mini fridge area and some shelf space. There was one long hang area in our closet space that looked like it was missing the hanging bar, but we didn’t need it. One note about the drawers, if you pack them too high things will fall behind and the drawers do not easily pull out for retrieval. I had to use a hanger and my youngest son’s arm to retrieve a couple of shirts. There was a small space to walk between the bed and when the couch bed was pulled out. That was probably the only downside to the room was just being mindful of that space. Online it looks like they would touch when the couch is utilized as a bed, but there is probably 4 to 6 inches of room to walk. I use the magnetic hooks to hang the boys PJs, bathing suits, and clothes for the day just so they are in front of their face. And we never travel without the pop-up clothes hamper. The balcony was larger than we thought it was going to be. We had a table with two chairs and then a chair with a side table. Our view was not obstructed, but our neighbors to the left had an obstructed balcony. Let me know if you have any questions about this room. We had all the sky suite amenities, including Internet, which I know is different for some of the sky Junior suites on the oasis Class ships. I also really enjoyed the nightly spa amenities that were left as treats. We received sleeping masks, spa headbands, aloe, coconut lip balm, shower tablets, gel eye masks, luggage tags and lanyard holders. Between the treats and our fantastic room attendants, we were spoiled.

Sea day so we are trying to make it around to all the bars. Schooners lavender daiquiri for me and Sea & T for the Gator. Schooner on Icon is amazing, horseshoe bar and plenty of ocean views.

And I got a happy little espresso martini!

Roatan excursion review. We did the King Kong zip line with the monkey and sloth experience. The kiddos loved every minute of the animal encounters and the zip line. The zip line guides were very professional and made sure my littlest little (8 yo, 58lbs) made it across all the lines. It was hot and humid, but they kept the lines moving for the most part. Bus ride was as short to and from port and had great AC. We headed back to the port and had a couple of cocktails and tacos while the kids dumped each other out of the hammocks at the port pool. Overall great time.

Sky Junior Suite: review so far. Definitely smaller than Grande Suite on Wonder, but really efficient. Location is 17030 so very Forward, but balcony is not obstructed. We will see how loud it is once the AquaDome shows start. Bathroom is bigger than it appears on the website. So far storage options appear adequate for a family with smallish kids (8 and 10). I will post more storage specifics when we are completely unpacked and the couch bed is out. Pleasantly surprised by the bathroom