Lovetocruise2002

I love Dole Whips too! Going to find myself one in a few days. I should add that he does have one thing packed…his outfit for Friday

That is what a lot of people are telling me. I will keep an open mind. When I am not busy melting away from the heat lol I definitely won't be sailing it anytime soon, especially since it's in LA right now.

Day before we leave... - Mani/Pedi done - Everything packed except for the last minute stuff that cannot be done until we leave - Asked Hubby again how his packing is going. His words were, "terrible". Yikes! - I was surprised that I got a notification on my phone to do mobile check in for our hotel for Thursday. Usually that doesn't happen until 24 hours out. We requested early check in. Hopefully they can accommodate for that. - Hannah emailed our schedule to us earlier today. I have zero complaints. She scheduled us for everything that we wanted, at the the times that I requested. This includes Izumi Hibachi for dinner. Zero issues. Hubby and I both agree that this is likely due to the fact that there are only 2 of us, as opposed to 10 of us last cruise. Like I mentioned in the other blog, I suspect that a lot of the compromising we had to do on HM had to do with the fact that there was 10 of us, and there were other star class families with even larger numbers.

I can go the rest of my life without Mickey Mouse and be content lol Got it! We don't know how to do Disney any other way other than summer Disney. Price of having to work around school schedules. Glad you are back safe from Navigator! That is still one ship that I need to sail still. We've booked it several times since it got amped and either traded it for something else or lost it over the pandemic.

We are not. We never do Chef’s table. Takes too long. And we are not huge fans of Wonderland either. I asked Hannah to have Mad Hatters shrimp delivered for sail away and we will likely swing by one night for The World dessert. Those are pretty much the only two things we like on the menu there.

I am so curious about this dish! I love watermelon, but charred watermelon does not sound good. However, I am all for trying it out in the name of research!

Thanks everyone! I just emailed Hannah. 3 sea days, one lunch at each restaurant (Izumi, Hooked, and Mason Jar).

Oh, in that case, definitely head to the lounge! Whenever we stay on Deck 17, that is my morning routine. I wake earlier than the rest of the family. It's so easy to slip out, walk around the corner and use the machines. #teamDeck17

We're the reverse. Hubby and kids almost always make it into the WJ because they get up too late to eat breakfast with me in CK. Also, Hubby always tries to wander through at night to see if he can catch Mongolian night.

This really makes me laugh! Glad to know that we aren't the only ones out there that do that when trying something new! Our first time at Playmakers was not pretty lol

It is almost a guarantee that Hubby will be there! lol

That was our thinking as well. Well "my thinking" anyway. Hubby could not think past the Yaki Udon noodles that he loves from the Izumi menu lol. Funny you mention Sabor, we have only ever done it for lunch. We have never been tempted to do it for dinner because like @OCSC Mike said, we like the apps there but not much stands out to us for dinner type food. We love Mexican restaurants, but for dinner we like Fajitas & Chimichangas and Sabor doesn't have either of those.

Or you can order that from room service each day. Either use the TV or place the card outside.

Smart lady! Probably easier to eat too compared to the piece from the Chicken n Waffles!

You're a better wife than me! That is one area I will not venture into. That, and washing his hockey gear

@OCSC Mike what is the name of this dish?

Thanks @OCSC Mike! I should add that we have never been to Hooked or The Mason Jar. So it will be a first for us at both places.

Need some advice from those who are following along. Please chime in if you have an opinion. Is Mason Jar and Hooked worth it for lunch? Or is it pretty much the same as dinner? We are already doing dinner there for sure (at each place) but there are 3 sea days and we are still debating how to use the 3 sea day lunches. We are huge Izumi fans so one of those days we will go to Izumi, but trying to decide if we should use the other two for Mason Jar lunch and Hooked lunch? Also, any Florida/Orlando locals who are following this ever been to El Patron (12167 S Apopka Vineland Rd) for dinner? Is it good? It has decent TripAdvisor and Google reviews and those of you who know us know that we are always on the hunt for fried ice cream and they have it! Besides, how can I resist a name like "El Patron"?

Leaving in 2 days! Current status: - I am about 80% packed and ready to go. There's always those last minute items that cannot be packed until the day of. - Hubby 0% packed. Last night I asked him if he has a plan for packing because I have to go to bed early from now until we leave (D14 started volunteering at camp today and I am her driver until Wednesday morning). I told Hubby he cannot be packing with the lights on and everything while I am trying to sleep. You can guess his answer right? He is 0% packed and has zero plan at the moment. - The next 2 days are making sure the house is in order before we leave. Heading to the pool store to stock up on chlorine and pool supplies so that D16 can keep the pool clean while we are gone. - Important things happening tomorrow like mani/pedi - Hubby works until 2pm on Wednesday and the plan is to head over to Detroit shortly after that. - Hannah said that she will send over a schedule by Thursday for us to look over and make changes if necessary. I have noticed that this step really varies by each genie. Some genies send it out so early and adjust it as we get closer to sail date. We had one genie who literally sent it out the morning of sailing. And the rest somewhere in between.

Oh my. I would not have liked that either. That must have been a one off because that has never since 2017 (when I fell down that deep hole called “suites” lol) happened to us once.

The suite lounge is always open for those who want a place to wait and relax. We have done this many times. As far as the hours stated above, when the actual concierges are available, I have found that it depends on the concierge team. I have seen a few good ones in the past who are there on boarding day, outside their stated hours, helping guests. I guess you could say this is another thing that varies, just like genies. Some go the extra mile, some not so much. But yes, I agree with you. If a concierge is supposed to be “guest services” for suite guests, then they should have slightly longer hours. Or at least one of them should be there.

I knew you would understand!

+1 for Intercontinental Miami! Love that place!

Another example of how wonky Royal's system is and how the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I never shared that before our Symphony cruise this past December, we were booked in a Crown Loft with the kids and I was really hoping for a Royal Up to the ATS. There was one available and I was watching it but the price was nuts. Anyway, because we had the kids with us on that one, I actually bid max on the ATS in hopes that we would win it. Well, you know how the story went for that one. We did not win it but what did happen was a few weeks before that sailing, I actually got a welcome email from the one of the Genies for the ATS (the one that was open). I told my TA and Hubby that it was so cruel, like rubbing salt into the wound lol. Anyway, I had to email the Genie back and tell him that there must have been some mix up because we had not won the Royal Up and we were still in the Crown Loft. Fast forward to now, 7 months later.... Tonight just before dinner, I checked my email and what do I find? A welcome email from the Wonder Suite Concierge team for suite 1828. I had to check my account again to make sure I did not dream the events of the last few days lol. I just sent an email back to them much like I sent the Genie on Symphony in December...sorry for the mix up but I am not in that room lol Anyway, here is the welcome suite email for Sky Class if anyone wants to see what it contains. Dear ___, Our names are Noorina & Norman and we are your Sky Suite Concierges. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard the Wonder of the Seas on Sunday, July 23rd. We hope you’re ready for a wonderful cruise vacation with us. If you’ve not already done so, please check in online and select your preferred arrival time using the Royal Caribbean App. Suite guests can enjoy Flexible Arrival which allows you the freedom to check-in up to one hour before or after your scheduled check-in time while the terminal is open. We also recommend that you plan ahead and make reservations for your dining, shows, onboard activities, shore excursions and Vitality Spa services. You may do so using your Cruise Planner or Royal App. If you require any assistance, we are happy to help you. Our desk is in the Suite Lounge, located on Deck 17 aft. Our hours during boarding day are from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and day two onwards from 8:00 am to 11:30 am, and 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm. We are also reachable via email, or by dialing our phone 26154 / 26156 from your Suite or any house phone. While onboard, you’ll have access to the following exclusive amenities and services: The Suite Lounge is exclusively for Suite guests and accessible with your Sky Class SeaPass card. The dress code in the Suite Lounge is smart casual (suggested), so please make sure you pack accordingly. Coffee and tea are available in the Lounge throughout the day. Hors d'oeuvres, petit fours and complimentary wine, spirits, beer, and soft drinks are available for our Suite guests every evening from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. · As a Sky Suite guest, you’ll have exclusive access to the suites-only restaurant, Coastal Kitchen. Please refer to the Cruise Compass for the hours of operation or reach out to us for assistance. Reservations are required for dinner. · Your suite is stocked with Malin & Goetz bath amenities, a Lavazza espresso coffee machine, bathrobes for your use onboard, and is furnished with a luxurious pillow-top mattress. · Sky guests have will receive complementary VOOM Surf and Stream services for one device per person for the entire sailing. Attached in this email are detailed instructions on how to connect your device. These instructions will also be in your suite upon arrival. · Enjoy the exclusive Suite Sun Deck on Deck 18 aft. Lounge chairs are available to suite guests on a first come, first serve basis. · Sky guests are entitled to a reserved seating section in the Main Theater. Reservations are available once you arrive onboard, which we will be happy to assist you with. · We are happy to offer our Suite guests Priority Departure. we’ll explain the details to you when you arrive onboard. Please feel free to email us with any questions that you may have. We look forward to meeting you in person! All the best,

This is not entirely true. I didn’t have “no luggage”, just not “all my luggage”. We speak of this so often I thought I would show you all how I managed to survive that whole week without my checked bag during that March 2022 fiasco. This is how I pack like I am going to lose my checked bag: 21 inch carry on comes with me on the plane. It contains all my clothes for the entire trip minus the “dress bag”. In this carry on, there are also a few back up outfits that can be used for dinner in case the “dress bag” does not make it. The “dress bag” contains only my dresses for dinners. I also carry what I consider essential with me in this carry on, my T3 blow dryer, and curling iron. In my carry on personal item (and before you ask, yes, I can get this to fit under the seat in economy), all those shoes you saw from yesterday are now tucked away in the bottom compartment of this bag (see arrow). This still leaves me a ton of space to carry whatever allotment I am allowed by TSA for liquids, my vitamins and Gravol, makeup, etc. The only things going in that checked bag is the “dress bag”, liquids and hair products that don’t make the 3oz cut, and whatever Hubby puts in it. So back to what @Neesawas saying, strategic packing means that you can still make do when the worst happens. Good luggage helps too! I love my Beis travel products!