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On 1/14/2024 at 5:35 PM, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Funny…I was just showing my husband what Odyssey looks like as she was sailing out of FLL!  He is hooked on Central Park’s Park Cafe for lunch (he loves the salad you can have made!)!  He has been quite nervous because I told him there is no Central Park or Boardwalk or Promenade on Odyssey and he is wondering what is going to keep him busy when we are sailing across the Atlantic in 2025!  
So reading this was perfect timing and when I told him about Cafe 270 he perked up a bit!   

 

I think Park Cafe is great - especially with the option for outdoor seating. But you'll both find that Cafe270 is pretty awesome - I think the way its laid out is a little more efficient than Park Cafe. 

Hope to see you on the TA in 2025!

On 11/18/2023 at 6:26 PM, TimeRacer said:

We're sailing on Ovation in the spring, and two70 looks so interesting to me. I have a feeling I'm gonna fall in love and just live there for the week.

We sailed on Anthem and I have to say I instantly fell in love with the 270 space - cafe and theater. I found the cafe portion to be very well run with great staff. And honestly, I never thought I'd like a "song and dance review" type show, but the show was great - it was cool seeing a rehearsal and then the full production. 

I hope you love your cruise on Ovation and enjoy the 270 space as much as we did!

On 1/23/2024 at 5:27 PM, smokeybandit said:

Always frustrating when the price of a cruise drops after final payment. Oh well.

I avoid looking ... but now I have to.... 

I think we all get it - between cancellations and unsold inventory I understand why RCL prices the remaining cabins the way they do. But with cruising in such high demand these days I'm surprised the cruise wasn't sold out. Maybe because  Adventure isn't the newest and biggest?

We work with an TA from MEI travel, too. I will price this out with her, though the prices I saw on RCL's website seemed good.

I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with the military in the 90s. Venice is amazing - you will be impressed and you'll thoroughly enjoy yourself!

We've done one sailing on a Quantum class ship - there's a lot to love about them! 

On 12/23/2023 at 6:09 PM, JFCruise said:

Doesn't McDonald's still exist?

Well, almost anything would be better than Johnny Rockets...

On 12/18/2023 at 2:58 PM, CrimsonCruiser said:

we joke but I do think this is the direction they're going overall. Dropped Jaime's for their in-house Giovanni's; dropped b&J for their in-house Ice cream; starting to serve more Starbucks at cafe promenade so I imagine the kiosks will be going away soon....and yeah..JR probably going next..

Which really does suck when compared to whale-tail line or the house of mouse that really lean into brand deals and theming to pull people aboard....

I don't know if having their own stuff is really going to entice new cruisers to pick Royal over the other options out there... Sometimes people need that taste of the familiar to pull them to try something new

I have to say, I was underwhelmed by Jamie's Italian on Anthem, but loved the older version of Giovanni's on Radiance.

I 100% agree - other lines seem to make partnerships work, as do resorts on land. I freely admit to being tempted by Emeril Lagasse's role with Carnival to give them a try. 

19 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

only one more cruise, needing only 1 point, until I reach Pinnacle.   this changes after my January cruise!

Congratulations on making it to the top! I hope you have another cruise booked right after so you can fully enjoy being a Pinnacle member!

I was just looking at the itinerary today! I am very tempted to book this cruise. It arrives in Rome/Civitavecchia on my birthday, so that may be all of the excuse I need. But I'll tell my wife it's a Mother's Day present...   

What interested you in a transatlantic cruise? Do you plan on doing any site seeing in Rome before heading home - or maybe an extended Italian tour?

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Yep, the most painful day in cruise planning...final payment day.

Made even higher by throwing gratuities on at the last minute to get the old rate. But that one will feel better with a low bill on board.

I prefer to pay as much "up front" as possible, to avoid that "sticker" shock at the end of the cruise. But I think I'm actually setting a trap for myself.... "Everything's paid for, why shouldn't I buy that ship model?" 

It's going to be a very long time before I sail on an Icon class ship....    I'll just have to make do with the rest of the fleet. 

Made the final payment, and we're a mere 98 days away..... 

17 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Looks like this will be our replacement cruise for the canceled Panama Canal cruise. 

I was a little shocked and disappointed that that cruise got cancelled. The canal is a 'bucket list' cruise for many of us.

I hope to see you on the "consolation prize" cruise!

2 hours ago, Bettelovestocruise said:

We are also onboard this cruise. This will be the last of a B3B. We are Bette and Bill from Port St. Lucie, FL

Good lord, that's absolutely awesome! Do I understand this correctly - you'll be on Adventure from the 1st of March through the 23rd? That's impressive! Have you done 3 weeks on the same ship before?

Hello, everybody! 

We just booked this cruise and I'm really looking forward to trying a Voyager class ship. I have not been to Labadee since 2015 and I'm curious about any changes that have been made since then. Also, it occurs to me that it will be St Patrick's Day when we arrive...

On 3/24/2023 at 9:15 AM, Originally From Dorchester said:

Anyone locate a copy of a Cruise Compass for this same itinerary?  I know HOTS just completed its 1st sailing on this itinerary (out of Miami) dying to get our hands on a copy of the Cruise Compass from that sailing.  Thanks 

There's a Facebook group for this cruise. One of the members has been posting Cruise Compass updates from this month:
(20+) Harmony of the Seas April 22, 2023 | Facebook

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.

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!

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!

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".