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My wife and I just got back from a Thanksgiving cruise on Anthem. It was our first time at CocoCay. If you've never been there you are in for a treat! Since we were more interested in a peaceful day I booked the 'day pass' in the Beach Club and it was so good that I booked it for this cruise when we got on board. It was a great day at the beach and a great lunch.

This picture was taken in the afternoon at low tide.

On 11/20/2022 at 1:41 PM, KevinK said:

It took me less than 10 to get on the ship once I parked.  They Key was very helpful.  At my lunch at Chick.   Now in room...   Just finished unpack my stuff... 

We didn't have The Key... but I noticed the special check in spot for it. Very tempted to get it for next cruise!

This was my first time on a Quantum class ship - I thought it was an awesome cruise. And like always, it seems I didn't do half the things I wanted to do.... Well, there's always the next cruise!

8 hours ago, KevinK said:

11 more hours to go.. 

Well, our report time is in just 3.5 hours, and I'm just now figuring out if I should drop my wife off with the bags, then park, or park and then walk in with the bags.

Thankfully, that's the only problem we have this morning!

55 minutes ago, Drewww said:

My wife and I are bringing my mom on this cruise.  Going to be great!   One week to go!

We're looking forward to this cruise - this will my first Thanksgiving cruise. I hope the three of you have an AWESOME cruise!

18 hours ago, sleepy425 said:

I'm in CT, too.  The port is so close we don't have to leave crazy early to make it for an early check in.  Plus I'm up early and excited to be out the door!

Even though it's only a 2.5-3 hour drive, we're heading down the night before and staying near EWR. I really do not want to start our vacation getting stressed out because there's an accident on a bridge, or something. Plus I have some hotel points to use up, so we'll get a start on our vacation a day early.

1 hour ago, sleepy425 said:

All set with a 10:30 check in time! 45 days!

Thanks for the reminder! I went for an 1130 check in time, now I'm already thinking I should have opted for an earlier one!

3 hours ago, AlohaLivin said:

We most  often stay at the Hilton Hampton Inn at Blue Lagoon since they are so friendly and there is a free airport shuttle (plus it is only 10pp for the shuttle to the port). Their Brickell property is also very nice (although pricier and further from the port). But for our post Thanksgiving B2B this year we have lost our minds and have booked an oceanview room at the InterContinental Miami (since we will fly in this time 2 days prior and wanted something a bit nicer for the longer stay). 

We stayed at the PanPacific in Vancouver the night before our Alaska cruise. There is definitely something to be said for a pre-cruise splurge for a hotel. Your vacation starts when you leave your house, why not enjoy the time before you board?

Is this roll call for the April 22 - April 29, 2023 sailing? If so, count us in!

Just two more days! I hope everyone has tested negative and is ready to go!

On 4/18/2022 at 7:18 PM, Anarose said:

Me and my fiancé are going on this cruise too! It leaves the day after our wedding and will be our first cruise ever! 

Congratulations!

11 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Awww, thanks.  I'd love to take credit, but I've learned all of these things over the years from Matt and the whole gang

But resharing with other people is what keeps the culture of this blog/message board going!

18 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I get stressed if every single thing isn't checked off on the app.  Not clinical OCD, but it really, really, bothers me.

I'd say that's a healthy way to make sure you haven't missed a step! 

Could it really be this easy? Since it's in the NYC Distortion Zone I sort of assumed it would be a far greater hassle!

Having extra Future Cruise Credits on hand, my wife and I just "YOLO" booked the Thanksgiving cruise aboard Anthem. 

So, let's talk Turkey!

That's awesome! Though it's sad news that your train trip got cancelled, I'm glad to meet a veteran of a Radiance Alaska cruise!!

There's a small-ish group on FB for the cruise, just search for Radiance of the Seas, June 17th.

I hope switching cruises hasn't messed up your airline reservations too much!

My wife and I are sailing on Radiance on the northbound route on the 17th....  please don't mess the ship up too much....   

I hope you have an awesome time on your pre-tour and the cruise! Are you planning on doing anything in Vancouver after the cruise?

This is the cruise my wife and I booked for ... 2020, then 2021, and now (knock on wood) 2022. Who's with us??

I do have on board credit.... 

It's almost worth while booking a cruise without on board credit to see if it acts better....   

5 hours ago, Vlad said:

I'm having issues on oasis of the seas. 

Can't purchase anything 

Keeps asking in preferences to select language for any purchase, including dining. 

There isn't even language selection box. 

It's always English, by default. 

I have been getting this as well. I have tried different browsers, disabled extensions, etc. The stupid thing is it gets the language in step 1.

Why does Royal Caribbean test changes to their website... in production??

11 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think I would be okay if both a vaccine and mask were required to cruise. As long as most of the regular cruise options are available, I would be okay. If there are no shows, limited entertainment, and the relaxing elements are changed then it makes it less worth it.  Especially if you are paying for sky class or higher. They can serve my buffet and limit capacity but not my fun.

You summed it up better than I could. If the things that make cruising such an attractive vacation option are removed or reduced, is it worth it? 

I'd say there's no wrong answer here. For some (like me) the compromises will likely outweigh the fun and joy of cruising for a "normal"-ish cruise with ports of call. But if it's an "out and back" to Coco Key or Labadee, I'd be far more likely go because I don't think I'd have the feeling of "missing out". 

12 hours ago, Dad2Cue said:

 

Allure October 17 and 24 B2B here.  Big Ten football and everything will be normal is my prediction. 

I still don't think the October 1-15 Panama Canal cruise on Radiance will happen.  I probably should just cancel it now.

Allure is my back-up plan because I doubt things will be THAT normal on October 1st --- I decided to give it 2 more weeks. However, spending almost the whole month of October 2021 on a cruise ship sounds good at the moment. 

I really hope your cruise on Radiance happens. A Panama Canal cruise is definitely on my bucket list. I got the opportunity to see the Mira Flores locks from the land side many years ago. It's impressive what the engineers were able to accomplish so long ago.  

7 hours ago, WannaCruise said:

This is what I'm wondering too.  It's so nice sitting by the pool or standing by the rail watching the wake....with a drink in hand.  Wonder if that'll be a thing of the past (for awhile)?

God, I hope not... and I don't even drink. 

15 hours ago, emmef said:

True,  my best friend is a "long-hauler". She works in the medical field. She was sick for four months and unable to work. She is now (thankfully) turning a corner and starting to feel somewhat normal, but it has been 9 months since her positive test. Sorry about the exaggeration, it is just too easy to get frustrated by all of the gloom and doom. Yes, there are terrible cases, but it is also up to us as a people to persevere and look toward better days. 

One of my colleagues had COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. He still suffers from insomnia and 'brain fog'. 

I'm not sure if fairness is on the agenda where the pandemic is concerned.