Sweety

Good morning twangster. Where are the gingerbread houses? 

16 hours ago, twangster said:

Some random thoughts...

My canceled excursion on Coco Cay was automatically applied as a credit on my account.  I didn't have to call or visit anyone.  The credit appeared on the same day we missed our call on Coco Cay.

Anthem is a high tech ship.  The lights in the cabin hallways dim when no one is present but as you enter each 'zone' they return to full brightness.  This is a smart way to reduce energy consumption and it demonstrates the length that Royal Caribbean goes in their drive towards reducing emissions. 

Like Harmony, Anthem has the hand washing stations upon entering the Windjammer, Solarium Bistro, ice cream station, etc.  For those that haven't sailed the newest ships you are diverted into the hand washing area with a row of sinks as opposed to simply getting some hand sanitizer like on the older ships. 

We are off the Outer Banks of NC this morning and it's cool on the balcony this morning.  Hoping it warms up as day breaks else it may be a long pants day on the pool deck.

An envelope appeared in my cabin for 'Consecutive Cruisers'.  If I want to visit the area I can disembark anytime after 6:30am.  A new SeaPass card will be presented as I leave the ship and this allows me to skip the check in process when I return to the terminal.  Or if I won't be visiting the area I can meet in Boleros at 9:15am when we will be escorted to customs.  Since I am changing cabins I leave my bags in the stateroom and clothes hanging in the wardrobe can remain there.  All will be transferred to my new cabin for me.

Voom Surf and Stream has been pretty solid on this cruise so far.  4Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, ~200ms latency.  That seems to be the new Voom S & S standard being reported across many ships using O3b, except Harmony where I personally got much better speeds.

You really have a different mindset when cruising B2B.  We arrive in Bayonne tomorrow yet I'm feeling none of that 'OMG it's the last of my cruise I must do everything I haven't already done, the cruise is over' feeling.

I'm looking forward to another 12 night cruise on Anthem.  That's a good thing because I have a 9 night on Anthem in January.

Love B2B.

On 11/30/2017 at 11:35 PM, mom2mybugs said:

We are going spring break (teacher married to a teacher with a high schooler! ) so march 25 out of fort Lauderdale.   Jane

Teacher from Chicago. We will be on the Navigator March 25. We were able to get a junior suite for 1700 for two.

4 hours ago, FLGooner said:

Our Sept 2018 to Cuba is still showing as Empress

My last cruise on Empress 8/20/2018 was changed this past weekend. Price protected and the same category. The same cruise is 400 more.

My Empress cruises have been changed to Majesty this weekend.

Woohoo!!! More awesome pictures.

We were on Anthem last year for the holidays. We were off before 7am. We made a 10:15am flight with no problem. Express was very easy.

On 11/20/2017 at 11:22 AM, living4cruising said:

Our June 2018 sailing out of Tampa was changed from Empress to Majesty. It's our first cruise, and I had done a lot of research on Empress before booking and regarding cabin selection. Anxious to see our assignment for Majesty - hoping it's a good change! Itinerary changed as well (from Key West/Cozumel to Costa Maya/Cozumel).

My three Empress have changed for next year.

11 hours ago, mworkman said:

If you must book the Navigator...Do it for Nov 23, 2018...So i can have my private photographer on board.   No pressure, but i do expect pic's as good as twangster if not better 

i can cary the accessory bag around for you! 

Booked for June 2019 and Marnier for August 2019. Still have to book 4 more cruises. The decisions one must make.

Thanks to @twangster, I will be booking 2 cruises each tomorrow on Navigator and Marnier. My wide angle lens just came in. Can't wait to take pictures.

50 minutes ago, twangster said:

Formal Dinner #2

I had the Prime Rib AND the Lobster Tail.

This is one of the best prime rib MDR formal night dinners I've had.  My mouth is watering thinking about it 2 hours later... and yes that is how I ordered my prime rib.  Perfect.  Service from Adrin and his assistant Kresmir very good but a close second to Grandeur overall.  Time to step it up boys!

After off to Vintages to watch @Matt's periscope.  While others bragged about sitting by fire-pits at home watching, I sat by the fire in Vintages.  Ok, it was an LED candle, but close enough.

 

So the count is up to 2 lens, a filter and two cruises.  And there are two more days to go!  I feel like this is a telethon...  "Call Now!"

@JLMoran - I went through a phase like that too, still take many photos with my iPhone.  My "other camera" is an iPhone 7 plus.  The best camera is the one you have with you.  

November 21, I will be booking two short cruises on Navigator and Marnier. So your count is 6 cruises, 1 filter and 2 lens.

2 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

When was your cruise(s) scheduled? I have ~100 people in 40 cabins on the 6/30/18 sailing .. just wondering if I can get clarity on whether you are confirmed cancelled before or after that date ....

My sailings are in July and August 2018. The cruise will be modified. It will be out November 21, 2018.

49 minutes ago, jticarruthers said:

Reached out to the group planner at RCI asking if there was any truth to the rumor of the ship being changed and could she confirm the itinerary would be the same and got "um yes there is something we need to discuss with you, I will have your sales rep call you"

Just received word that my Empress cruises in 2018 will be changed to Majesty. I will be be price protected. Great. I have a back to back planned.

50 minutes ago, jticarruthers said:

Well at least I got a sailing in on Majesty this year before she may or may not disappear.

Scheduled for Empress next year but now that sounds like it might be Majesty instead or perhaps Symphony with the way they are playing spin the ship right now, who knows :)

I have three on Empress next year.

47 minutes ago, twangster said:

My fisheye is a 12mm and it takes some experimenting how and when to use it.  For example in the center the fisheye distortion is minimal while in the corners its more extreme.  Keeping the camera level pointing straight out while shooting at the ocean yields a level ocean while tilting up or down creates a bending ocean.  Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.  I found a Photoshop filter called "Hemi Fisheye" that can 'de-fish' a photo which I've used in some shots.  I'm tempted to go for a full circular fisheye but for now I'm learning with my 12mm.

My 14mm is non-fisheye.  I wasn't going to bring it but glad I did.  I've gone back to it a couple times.  

I'm really digging these UWA lens.  You can get so much in the shot.

Humidity was pretty high in Cozumel and once again I've got condensation drops on my sensor.  I didn't bring my sensor cleaning kit so I'm having to manually cleanup my shots.  Kicking myself for being in a hurry.  Next time I'll bring my sensor cleaning kit with me.  This has happened on other cruises and I should have known better.  My fault.

 

The 16-35mm I purchased allows filters and one of those I carry is a CPL.  I used that in Cozumel to eliminate the reflection off the water and get the colors to pop.  16mm with 77mm filters is the widest lens I've seen that accepts conventional filters which is exactly why I acquired it.  I plan to use it in Northstar on Anthem - so many pictures I've seen have the reflection of the glass in them and I'm hoping to avoid that with my CPL (or at least minimize it).

Thank you. You have inspire me to take pictures. Brilliance, Empress, Navigator, Anthem and Grandeur watch out.

So excited. I just brought a wide fisheye lens. Come on January cruise.

I love Freedom. We had an awesome time. We are still talking about the baked chicken in the WJ. I am Jamaican and so was the cook. We exchanged recipe. 

I booked April 2019 on the Harmony last year. I was able to get a balcony for 2 for 1900. I am going to wait until Vision, Brilliance and Grandeur deployment becomes available. I will be booking Navigator  next week for a couple of 4 day cruises. 

1 hour ago, twangster said:

I am sitting in my hotel waiting for magic hour - that time when you head to the pier.  It's slowly inching closer, minute by minute.  Tick, tock, tick, tock.  

I spent the week in the Rocky Mountains working at a site just over 10,000 feet in altitude.  It snowed twice and temperatures went below freezing every night.  Last night the Florida humidity was even higher from the rain and it hit me like a wall as I stepped off the plane onto the jet bridge.  Less than 24 hours ago I was scrapping ice off the windshield of my car.  I'm so ready for this cruise...

I flew in last night and stayed in the Las Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale.  It was raining as I headed out late for a bite to eat and my sneakers were soaked by the time I got back to the hotel.  Thankfully the hotel had a shoe drier (a.k.a. hair dryer).  It's a beautiful sunny morning today and I've got that wonderful feeling in the pit of my stomach - IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!!!!

I ran into some RCI IT workers at the bar last night but I bit my tongue and didn't bring up the website.  Good thing, these guys work in other areas like point-of-sale.  I did learn that IT doesn't sit in the Miami office where the executives are, rather they are in Miramar, FL.  These guys seemed to enjoy working for RCI and had only good things to say about the company.  

The cruise is operating a modified itinerary.  Despite Eastern ports opening back up this month in the wake of the hurricanes, the itinerary was changed from Eastern to Western Caribbean.    Ft. Lauderdale, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Ocho Rios and Labadee with a few sea days here and there to make it an 8 night cruise Saturday to Sunday ending back here in Port Everglades.  This will be my first time using terminal 29.

My inside guarantee fare has landed me midship on deck 10.  First time on Freedom class and I'm looking forward to exploring a class of ship that I've heard great things about.  After this cruise I have a longggg 6 nights before my next cruise.   

I've recently added a couple of lens to my camera kit and I'm looking forward to trying them out on this cruise.

Without further adieu, it's time!   

What lens did you add? I have Canon IS 70-300 and IS 150-500 for my Alaskan cruises.

I will be "like you" soon.

I am a teacher. We can only go on school breaks. We willing work holidays, spring break and the summer. We are retiring in five years. Look out Royal and Celebrity, here we come.

I feel your pain. Our cruises are early next year. My husband ask me every day, "We need to plan a three day cruise." I just smile and say hold on.

I have done this option several times on Anthem, Grandeur and Allure. I have been pleased with Royal choices. I will do it again. I have several cruises planned within the next two years. I only booked balcony and suite guarantees.

We are so excited. We paid off our cruise yesterday. We are ready to set it off. Birthday celebrations! Food happiness. Rest and relaxation here we come. We are full of joy.

Thank you for taking us on your journey. Your cruise took me down memory lane. I cruised with my Mom all the time. We have a family cruise in June 2018. My Mom and I will have our time alone. I cherish our Mom-daughter times. Can't wait for your next cruise.