UkuleleCruiser

Liberty of the Seas 12/26/16 -- Anyone know who the cruise director will be?

OK, maybe I just WANT there to be three berths!

Awesome! Thanks!

We just noticed there are benefits to our Crown and Anchor Gold level that we can take advantage of on our upcoming cruise. Namely: 1) Special breakfast before Debarcation 2) Priority Embarcation 3) Special offers on the ship Will we be provided information on this with our packet of stuff when we get on the ship? Do we have to inquire about them separately? What sort of special shipboard offers might I be looking at? Thanks for your feedback as the excitement builds -- 34 more days!

No! Don't break anything! :-)

Wait a minute: My mouth went too fast! I don't have an adventure. Yet! :-)

I see you have been on Adventure -- I could trade you an Adventure for a Navigator, if that is something you want.

No worries. All my money belongs to Liberty of the Seas right now, anyway!

Everyone has had common sense answers, so this will be a little repeat I guess. You can carry on whatever you can carry, basically. I always carry on anything that is either too important that I can't risk it going missing, like medication, or too fragile for me to risk being manhandled in to the rooms, like my ukulele. Also, anything you might need that first day. Gonna hang by the pool? Maybe a swimsuit or sunscreen.

I need a Rhapsody! Let's chat. If I have something you'd like in trade, let me know. Otherwise cash usually works.

This is my current collection. It includes: Princess Cruises Grand Princess Holland America ms Eurodam Celebrity Millennium Celebrity Solstice Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas I have not sailed on any of these ships, so if you have and want the memento, make me an offer. I prefer to trade for ships I have been on: Navigator of the Seas Carnival Conquest Rhapsody of the Seas Let me know!

Matt, This is from the Chop's description. They actually list a menu, but it looks like the "something extra" is still... well, extra! I absolutely have no problem paying more for dry aged steak or lobster, but in looking at the $75 price tag per person it looks like it's JUST the Chop's experience, plus a glass of champagne. I tried calling customer service. They didn't know, and I didn't have time to wait on hold. If an answer doesn't appear here, I'll call back and see what I can find out. It looks to me like it's just an upcharge because it's a "holiday date" and there isn't much different about the experience. I already have chops and chefs table booked. Not sure I need to spend this much money to duplicate those experiences on New Years Eve. Interested in your take -- Maybe there's a whole bunch extra that I'm missing!

So, this Culinary celebration appeared as an option for our 12/26/16 sailing on Liberty. Has anyone had experience with these? They are charging quite a bit more, and it's not clear exactly how it's different from a regular Chops or Giovani's visit. Yes, you get champagne ( a glass), but do the "something extra" items come included? Why exactly is this worth more? I'm interested, and am a big fan of Chef's Table, but not sure how this is different...

Did a detailed spreadsheet comparing buying drinks individually versus the package, and gave RCCL the benefit in the spreadsheet of not including the 18% gratuity per day. So, if the wife and I bring on 2 bottles of wine, and we drink about 3 drinks per day (6 total, 3 per person), we came out about $100 ahead buying our own drinks. I used a $10 price per drink as an estimate -- House wine is about 8 bucks a glass, as i recall. It all has to do with how much you drink to determine if it's a good value for you.

That's usually my experience, too!

OK, aside from Chefs Table and a few LaFite Wine Tastings, there are a few culinary activities onboard that the wife and I are either doing or strongly leaning towards. Please rate and debate the following: Martini Mixology -- R Bar Pasta Class -- Giovani's Champagne Brunch and Galley Tour and......GO!

I like the Yeti cup, and I have seen the knock-offs at Walmart. But I am trying to do this cruise without spending a lot of money before hand. (I have A LOT of travel mugs at home!)

I was sending checks to RCCL, and once the actual cruise was paid for, they returned the checks to me uncashed. In fact, because it was set up as an auto-pay with my bank, we had two or three checks returned before we got it stopped at the bank.

Thanks. Good to know.

I always bring a travel mug with me on cruises, and have never regretted it. This year, I am considering my choices: 1) inexpensive travel mug from Starbucks. These actually only cost $1.00, and I use a hotsleeve I have for another ceramic cup. (Not bringing the ceramic) This hods 16 ounces. Disadvantage: It doesn't keep the coffee hot that long. Advantage: It is an actual cup which I could use for ice water or other beverages on board. here's an article about it: https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/10/14/trash-talking-starbucks 2) I have a Stanley travel mug that resembles a Stanley thermos. It also holds about 16 ounces. Advantage: Keeps coffee hot a good long time. Disadvantage: you can only really use it as a travel mug type drink container, so putting cold drinks with ice makes it difficult to access the ice. http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/68928?searchid=7SPFGPLA&feedid=googlenonbrand&product_id=68928-GRN&adpos=1o3&creative=60642850578&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CLnajLOhn9ACFYaGaQodeyYG-w What travel mugs do you guys bring? And what do you think?

The slides scare me.

Good point. Forgot about the bottle discount.

Yes: You pay the difference, plus an 18% tip.

I've been thinking about this idea: Instead of buying a drink package, we buy individual wine bottles. Wine starts out at about $33 each. And RCCL allows you to bring on two bottles. So if we go through a bottle a night with dinner, we'd buy an additional 5 bottles for $165. What do you think? Alcohol package for two for $165.

I've been thinking about purchasing individual bottles of wine to have with dinner. Didn't get as far as looking at the slippers.