Lovetocruise2002

4 minutes ago, raahc said:

we're usually running to line up for a show right after dinner (to get good seats, even with a reservation)

Yes, it's always tricky to work around the timing since the WJ closes at 9pm on most ships.  In desperate situations, when rushing to a show, Hubby has even left while waiting for dessert during the main dinner to go grab something in the WJ. 

@twangster, I can't remember, is this your first time on Majesty?

15 minutes ago, raahc said:

My hubby says all days 

I don't know how he expects me to eat in the MDR, then visit the Windjammer 

I don't have the same appetite as our last cruise, when we were a lot younger 

@CGTLH started the phrase "WJ recon".  Hubby's strategy is...WJ recon before dinner, eat main dinner accordingly, go back to WJ afterwards. 

I was on the same sailing as @cobra614 and same, the lowest it fell to was $47pp/day.  My advice is buy it as soon as you can and watch prices.  If it drops, you can re-price up to 2 days before sailing.  If you don't buy it now, you run the risk of the price going up even higher.  In the past, Black Friday usually nets the biggest savings.

9 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

I just need everyone to know.. I live 7 minutes from La Bamba in plantation.. I eat there at least once a week and have been going there for the past 25 years! I am so happy all the people on this blog have found it and love it too!! 

Boo!  Are you trying to rub it in and make us all super jealous?  Cause if you are, it's working! 

1 hour ago, Rob&Ana said:

We fly in from Canada 

@Rob&Ana you’re Canadian?! Awesome! We need more Canadians around here

Between you and @PRC, I am so jealous! I want to cruise, get off for a week, and cruise again over and over. Have fun

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Did Sabrina put you up to starting this blog a full 11 days before your cruise? 

34 minutes ago, Matt said:

I promised I wasn't going to say anything!

Let us make note again here that this blog was started 11 days pre-cruise. Brilliance live blog was 6 weeks. We will come back to this for future reference.

1 minute ago, MikeK said:

 This is when a good travel agent pays off!

I'm pretty sure that OP doesn't need one lol.

@joshvc Thanks for sharing your trip.  We'll be sailing Harmony out of PC next year (never sailed Royal out of PC before) and the info about Go Port Canaveral is a good tip for me to keep in mind.  You guys will like Indy after her refurb.  My kids had a great time on her last year.

15 minutes ago, DanielB said:

Having always sailed out of Port Canaveral we are not looking forward to Miami in January for the Oasis.  

You should.  Other than Venice, Miami is my second favourite port to sail out of.  It is not only scenic and provide a perfect back drop for sail away but with the new Terminal A, check in and boarding is such a breeze!

I hear ya.  I have had similar dealings with them from time to time.  The worst is when you are only hold forever and then they transfer you and hang up on you.  That is maddening!  

47 minutes ago, Stephanie said:

I'm OK with a little higher fare so long as my experience is still the same

Like others have mentioned, the airfare is going to be brutal.  For us last year, it was more than double what we normally pay.  It was almost the cost of the cruise itself.  The cruise fare is also much higher than usual.  On top of that, your typical things that go on sale (drink package, dining package, internet) in the cruise planner, don't really go on sale or drop much in price.

That being said, if you can make it happen, go, it's a great time!  We had so much fun on our New Years sailing last year on Indy.  Like @Matt said, there are special events and dining menus that are offered and, in the case of New Year's, they gave special party favours etc.

@melmar02 have a fantastic time with your family.  Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Liberty.  8 years dry dock is a really long time!  Glad that you are getting this opportunity now.  I remember that we had to put cruising on the back burner for a while when the kids were young and life got in the way.  No time like the present to make up for it.  Enjoy!

Yes. The other one, Aqua Nation, is usually in the afternoon. It is not bookable. No reservations needed.

59 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

I am a strong and fervent proponent of the many and varied benefits of wind power.  

^^^look now many words it took him to say that

@raahc we celebrated our anniversary on Symphony last month. It was noted by our TA on our reservation and our waiter asked Hubby at dinner that night if he wanted them to celebrate for us. Hubby said sure and we got a cheesecake and a cute song in CK. So they did recognize it but nothing over the top. No free upgrades or anything

14 minutes ago, CarlaB said:

I don't see anything to upgrade to online though . all suites are sold-out according to their site. Would I have any luck calling them maybe or would it be a waste of time? I thought they could give you additional OBC in this case. 

If you booked through a TA then you have to call the TA.  But I would definitely give a call because Royal's site doesn't show all availability.

Usually once you are past final payment, you cannot re-price.  However, if your balcony dropped, then other categories might have dropped too.  You could use that difference to upgrade.  

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

Can we still be friends?

Only if you point me in the right direction if I ever make it out to Colorado one day 

37 minutes ago, raahc said:

My eyes are a bit fuzzy as I read through each page in one sitting.

That's cause he's extremely long winded 

If it's Symphony you're thinking of, they have different colours for their Royal Suite Class program.  Sky is Blue and Star is plum.  It's annoying.  It messed up my collection lol.  

2 minutes ago, SuperNinja said:

Want to try and circle back to Oasis and Allure also since they are revamping and adding a couple restaurants on those too, but have to see where they can fit.....  Have to catch the right deal. 

That is exactly where we are at now after having done all the Oasis class ships.  Circling back to Oasis in March to where it all began.  Can't wait!

3 minutes ago, SuperNinja said:

On a side note, I saw on the FB group someone mentioned they had $2,600 in OBC through Royal and then transferring to Priceline...… Have you/anyone ever done something like this?  I impressed myself when I had $400, but when I read $2,600...……. 

I have learned over the years that "Deals" can vary greatly by agency.  If I am thinking of the correct post, didn't some of that come through the Casino or their Royal Visa or something like that?  I don't think that is all through an agent.  And no, I have never booked a cruise with Priceline or any of the big box online agencies.  Costco is the only one that I have been "tempted by" but never ended up doing it. 

22 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

We sailed star on Anthem trice this year....we must be weird...we like CK lunch   It's light, its very different than what we normally eat so it makes for a very straight forward "BOOM, we are on vacation and eating differently" transition.  Otherwise....it would be onion rings and burgers from Rockets every day of the cruise for the kids and nothing for me since I don't normally eat lunch.

If I was Star on Anthem, and I wanted to avoid the crowd of Key guests on embarkation day, I would also probably choose CK for lunch.  Oasis class has other options that Anthem doesn't and I would not as likely choose CK.

Ok...be honest...do you know a genie or something?

Great surprises!

7 minutes ago, SuperNinja said:

That would be my only hesitation, being on 17 and CK being so convenient, that I get tired of the menu.  I am thinking more of a Playmakers as an option for the first day.  I have seen a couple blogs that for the Key Guests now everything is in the MDR but with the Chops Menu.  Is this more because they are allowing more people to participate or they are just changing the venue to keep the specialty restaurant where people with the UDP or Star Class can go and still have seating?

Also, the idea of having food in the room crossed my mind as well.  I saw a couple pics of someone who had a whole seafood spread (I'm a major seafood lover btw) in their room for embarkation day.  How hard would that be to accomplish being that on SY Hooked is not open for lunch that day only dinner?   ( @Lovetocruise2002  Im sure Im really over thinking this...….sorry!)

Personally I would do Playmakers for embarkation day. That is already my plan for my next Star class cruise (assuming Hubby says ok cause he doesn’t know yet ).

Anyway, food in the room while a restaurant isn’t open is an interesting subject. I have learned first hand and through discussions that your mileage is really going to vary here by ship and by the specific genie.  

Basically, the “correct” answer is that if the restaurant isn’t open, they cannot deliver it.

That being said, if you give your genie advance notice they “could” make a special request to food and beverage to have it done. From what I know though, this is not an easy request if the restaurant is closed. There are certain food and safety guidelines that they have to adhere to. So can it be done, yes. Do they like to do it? I don’t think so.

After I found this out first hand, I told myself that I did not want to put a genie out like that again since embarkation day is stressful enough for them. Some might disagree with me. That is sort of where I fall on that issue. 

If you are ordering from an open restaurant or off the room service menu then it shouldn’t be a problem. 

And you are not overthinking. You are excited. Star class is awesome! Take advantage of it.

Just now, twangster said:

It's in my GPS, 3 miles away.  

Go and have a margarita and fried ice cream for me. I am making cabbage rolls tonight