MaryS

I agree with you last school was crazy. I am the Department Chair for Special Education. I had to sign off on 300 IEPs. I took off the last couple of days. Have an amazing time on your cruise.

Here are some photos. I think I have posted most of the other ones excluding individual people photos. Respecting the privacy for those. 
 
I had 6 hands pays totaling $14,162.67, walked off the ship with 25039 points but not up for the sailing! I do have a list of grand suites to choose from!

Well, after early arrival in Chicago which caused the gate to not be ready then normal boarding on my next flight but sitting on the tarmac for an hour, I am home and now at work the next day. Let's not do this again, o wait, I board another ship on Friday! It was a great time, and I will post more pictures soon! 

It’s cruise day! Headed to the port shortly! 

Off to bed stat! Tomorrow is cruise day and we have been awake way too long! 

La Bamba! ❤️

Regarding the hotel having cheap looking furniture and not being the best overall, don’t get me wrong, we don’t love it here (compared to Hilton next door) but it’s not horrible either.
Let me try to explain further. I have wanted to try out this block of hotels forever (W, Hilton Beach House, and the Conrad). I was not wiling to try Conrad or the W with the kids, so this was the perfect opportunity to do it. Is it one and done here? Definitely. Neither Hubby or I care to return. But it’s perfect using points (and we did not have to use much points either, another good deal) because had I booked direct, this room was going at almost $500/night for tonight, that would have made me upset. 

Last night we had a great filet in CK.  I’m always amazed at what the waiters recommend (which wasn’t the filet) as imo the Filet is the best thing all week.  One surprising thing was I was charged for each glass of wine in CK (reminder in a JS and using diamond drinks). Other ships have charged me for one and then will fill up my glass.  We’ll see if that happens again tonight.  
Headed to the pub after dinner.  We really like the vibe of sitting outside this pub and seeing everyone.  It’s a larger pub with quite a bit of seating. Singer was just ok.  Unlike the cruises out of the US, I don’t think he knows any country songs and he wasn’t asking for requests.
Passed through the Straits of Messina this morning between 8 and 9.  
I couldn’t figure out our iFly reservations.  They didn’t show up on my cruise compass and by the time I found my receipt we had 20 minutes to wake up the DS18 to get there.  He enjoyed it.  The entire process took an hour.  DD14 will go later today.  I waited too long and couldn’t get reservations together.  
@tonyfsu21  I think that’s our excursion.  I need to do a bit of work today and so sitting by the pool working.  
 

Hi Everyone!
Going to recap yesterday, turn around day/day 1 of the Fjords cruise...
Went through the B2B process in the morning. It was very smooth, just walked from one side of the star lounge to the other. Then got a quick breakfast at cafe promenade:

Watched the test the fire doors and the second they were back open, new guests started streaming on (at 9:45, the earliest I have ever seen):


I tried to buy my transfer in the app and saw this funny error message, I guess I am jumping the gun there...

Then consecutive cruisers lunch:

Short rib (mainly ordered for the mashed potatoes):

Cookie dessert:

Served with ice cream:

Then later I got my first soft serve of this whole cruise since I never went last sailing:

And I also finally tried the popcorn:

Hitting up the specialty restaurants this sailing, last night was Chops:


Crab cake:

Salmon:

Asparagas and Tater Tots sides:


Warm Chocolate Cake:

I had the epiphany that this might be the same one they have in Izumi with different things on the plate... I have had both many times so not sure why I didn't notice that until now.
And Laurence in the pub was off last night so we went to the ice show:

And we did casino a bit but it was less fun with half the group gone.
Today is our first of 2 sea days at the front of this cruise. The second one was supposed to be a port day but it got cancelled due to the same reasons that we were late to Rotterdam last cruise. They gave us OBC which I was pleasantly surprised about. I am well aware that the cruise contract doesn't require them to take us anywhere.
Thanks!
- Ashley

That is exactly why Hubby said it reminds him of student living. It doesn’t just look cheap, it’s feels that way too. Not that comfortable. Icon was better than this. 

W Fort Lauderdale - W Suite, 1 Bedroom, Oceanfront, Corner Suite












 
There is a second side facing balcony that faces the Hilton. Not a wrap around. 


Hubby says this place reminds him of student living in university. There is also a strong cleaning product smell throughout the hallways and room. It reminds me of Atwell Suites in Miami Brickell. That was a one and done for me too. We got this stay at very reasonable points. If I had paid direct, I would have regretted it.

Well… then there’s this….under the bed 😬 not sure if this is worse or old underwear in a cupboard on Liberty lol

Terminal arrival info came in from Lissandra around 10:30 am, 24 hours prior. It looks identical to the normal SC embarkation at Terminal A, except the signage of course. No reference to SC, the banner says Royal Genie package. 
Please see below for Arrival information:
Miami Cruise Terminal Address: Port Miami Terminal A. Cruise Boulevard, Miami FL 33132.
Facing the main entrance of "Terminal A", there will be Royal Genie Package purple banner and “Pier Genies” who will be in charge of receiving your luggage and guide you through the security and check in process.
Please only drop your luggage at this designated Royal Genie Package area so we can make sure it gets expedited to your Suite, DO NOT leave your luggage with the regular porters; there will be a Royal Genie Package purple banner sign and designated pier staff ready to assist outside the main entrance by Zone 6. To receive expedited delivery and identify your belongings, we will have Royal Genie Package tags available at the terminal.

Once you have finished with the luggage drop off, you will access the terminal and will be required to go through a security checkpoint then the check in process. In Suite Lounge, the agents will assist you to complete check-in. I will be aware of your arrival, and I will pick you up from the terminal, please don’t board the ship yourself.

I highly recommend that you download the Royal App, and if possible while at the terminal, complete the first part of the safety drill to expedite this process. 
Looking forward to welcoming you onboard !!!
Lissandra, your Royal Genie.

See if you can figure it out lol

The pub on odyssey has a small appetizer menu which I don’t recall seeing elsewhere in the fleet. The pulled pork nachos and fried pickles are pretty great with a draft beer. Happy hour in the pub! Not sure if you are doing the same tour we did in Santorini a couple weeks ago but it started at a volcanic sand beach club w/ Greek lunch. Good thing you have a tour because making the attempt to get off the ship w/o one is a major hassle. Enjoy 

Quick and simple pizza lunch. Saving our appetite for La Bamba. Now walking it off. 
 

Everything is going smoothly for us today! We got to the W on Fort Lauderdale Beach around 11am and they had a room ready for us. I was quite pleasantly surprised. We are settled and out to find lunch before I get hangry. Will post room pics later. @Jax I can tell you right now though, I miss the Hilton next door….

Flight was super uneventful! Yay! Got our luggage without issues. This is our biggest hold up:
 

Definitely not me! @tonyfsu21 thank you for sharing. I thought our view upon approach looked a little cloudy. I thought it was fog lol

Who knew ?  I guess that's what happens when you don't have cable and only rely on streaming TV....you miss the local news stuff ! 
I thought it was just cloudy yesterday ! We did have rain, on and off, so I just thought that was why it was so gloomy !  I don't care...it helped with keeping the temps down.   Whatever it takes, I guess...

Have a safe flight. Enjoy La Bamba! PS: It’s a bit dusty down here.

They were just prepping for the cruise. No harm in that!

Thank you. We, along with our bags, are on the plane now. Waiting for take off now. And yes, no plans at all after we land. Just La Bamba and sleep 🙂

@asquared17 can relax. We made it to DTW and now sitting at the gate. Boarding in about 50 mins 🤞
Not sure when Hubby got everything together because I tried to go to bed at 9pm last night. Tried, being the key word there. Normal pre-flight anxiety (not because I fear flying but I fear flight cancellations) kept me up, and then one freeloader came home from the movies along with many friends and decided to hop in the pool until about 1am. They are good kids but they still create some noise. And my bedroom faces the pool so sleep was basically a lost cause last night. Going to try to catch some sleep on the plane. Hubby is already out like a light next to me right now 🤦🏻‍♀️

theres about to be a rogue husband if he doesn’t pack that suitcase!!!!!!!!!!