Skid

44 minutes ago, vanelli56 said:

Finally, anyone that has used this perk.... any personal thoughts or tips and did you think it was worth it? (and why). 

We used it on Symphony in May and loved it. Here are my thoughts on it that I posted on page 8 my live blog:

Which brings me to the KEY. We did get it at the $19.99pp/pd price and was worth every penny to us. Priority embarkation was really nice, and they did walk us through saving time on line. But the whole process in the new Miami Terminal A is so easy anyway that not having it wouldn't be a deal breaker. Boarding at 11, dropping off the carry on luggage and having it delivered to the room before the 1PM ready time is a winning idea. Loved not having to keep it with us for 2 hours or having to drag them into Chops for the included and delicious embarkation day lunch. VOOM, priority seating at shows---all good. They nailed the priority debarkation. After finishing the breakfast they sent up an escort to take us all way from the dining room, off the ship and through the terminal right to our waiting luggage. Now (drum roll, please) the best perk is not even listed in the Key description, so take note if you buy it....you never have to scan your seapass card when taking as many pool towels as you like. Seapass card has a Key sticker on it. Just show the attendant, take your towels and walk away. Especially when returning to the ship from a port, not having to wait in line for them to scan your card for returning the towels is a blessing. Free milkshakes at Johnny Rockets..woohoo. No purchase necessary. Sit there and enjoy it or take it out. Funny part is, they didn't scan our card. Probably could have gone back for more, but we didn't. So, thumbs up for the Key. However, if next year's is more expensive and multiply by 12 days, we'll have a really tough decision to make.

Also, the debarkation breakfast was fabulous:

Know that everyone in the cabin must buy it (except for children under a certain age, which I do not remember.

Also,Keep in mind that they do limit (or at least they did then) the number of "Keys" they sell. So if you see a price you are comfortable with order it. If the price drops, call them to cancel and rebook at the lower cost. But do call and have then handle the switch--don't do it on line because when you cancel, you may not get it back.

Hope this helps and happy sailing.

6 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Same here. I'm clearly "out there" when it comes to sushi preferences

Actually, I do like the eel sushi choices, however the meal I spoke of was cooked in a paella/stew type pot in one of the best sauces I have tasted. Yummy! Now I'm hungry!

On 8/8/2019 at 1:12 PM, kittysoul said:

I particularly do NOT like anything eel related

On 8/8/2019 at 1:27 PM, ellcee said:

Same. Not even the sauce.

On 8/8/2019 at 1:32 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

That makes 3 of us !

Other side of the coin here. Many years ago we allowed our host of a dinner at a NYC restaurant to order for us. He wouldn't tell us what it was until after we tasted it. Turns out it was eel. I LOVED it then and still do.

@hayley_bopp...love the first posting on your blog site. Seem like Mr. FFF is also Mr. BFF, as it should be. I know hardly anything about P&O, which I'm sure will change as I follow along. Happy birthday to Mr. FFF and MIL and, IIRC, recent or upcoming anniversary?

Happy (and safe) sailing!

46 minutes ago, hayley_bopp said:

blog which you can find at https://fat-fighting-foodie.com/

Will be looking there. Safe travels!!

31 minutes ago, melmar02 said:

My kids both sleep with a sound machine. I was planning on bringing them in a carry on because of the cords. I don't think they will be confiscated because their is no surge protection, but I thought I would see if anyone has any experience bringing something like this onboard. 

My guess (just a guess) is that sound machines, although not medically necessary, would be treated like CPAP machines and be OK.

However, as an alternate solution, I use a fan noise phone app. I've also seen apps more aligned to white noise sounds. Even if the ship allows the machine, it may be easier to eliminate carrying it by using a phone app. Just my opinion.

9 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Summarize:  maybe yes, maybe no <shrug shoulders>

4 hours ago, MDIAZ72 said:

I would like, as always, to express my opinion about the things and people that I liked and also, of course, about things
that I consider necessary to be improved or modified.

We'll see if I receive the Royal Caribbean mail again with the survey. I think it is very positive that they want to have our opinion and, therefore, we should always answer.

If you do not get another survey emailed to you, certainly make your opinions heard anyway by emailing  mbayley@rccl.com  Michael Bayley is the RCI President & CEO and someone representing his office will most likely respond. If nothing else, at least those employees that you wish to praise will be recognized.

@JohnK6404, had you booked it at the $399?That's a great deal. We had the bungalow on sale at $219. For October we wanted it again but now South Beach is closed for the construction of the OW cabanas. No bungalows or beachbeds available at Chill Island or Oasis Lagoon and the cabanas there ate $699 and $799. Too pricey for us as we have no one fo share the cost with this time. 

If you didn't book it yet, and you and your sailing buddies can swing laying out that $699, you should probably get it reserved before they sell out and hopefully get it rebooked on Black Friday (but make sure to do that on the phone so you know before you cancel that it's available to rebook). If it doesn't come back down you can just cancel if so desired.

17 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

Plus what night do they have the 50th celebration dessert?  That in itself seems pretty neat).    

I think at this point, I would cancel the BOGO. If it was an Oasis class ship with 150 Central Park, I'd probably keep it. In this case, as we also do like the MDR, I'd save the $200. You can use it for a really nice meal on land to help the post cruise depression!

@DanielB, we have stayed at this Hilton and are booked again. Really nice,  a good restaurant, staff is great and a few shops. Free shuttle from airport and $13/pp bus to port.

Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon
5101 Blue Lagoon Drive
Miami FL 33126, US
T: 13052621000

53 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Jane, you're so bronze !!  I am envious.  I have talcum-white skin that NEVER tans.  Good for you !!

@WAAAYTOOO I feel your pain. @mom2mybugs, I am also envious. My MIL, rest her soul, used to call me Casper the Ghost.

10 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

somehow I have or we have I should say 59 points. 

Screen shot and print everything you have that says 59 then count your blessings and quickly book the only 21 more you need for Diamond!

3 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

Yes muster was in both!  Ugh!

I guess it just too bad for the French speaking passengers, huh?

2 hours ago, hayley_bopp said:

I'm not in a cruise at the moment

But sort of not in dry dock either. Looks like a fun getaway for you guys. Maybe you can buy it and @Joe01 can keep an eye on it between your visits!

21 minutes ago, markm said:

after cursing with Royal Caribbean

After reading OP's sentiments, this has to be the most appropriate typo ever!

14 minutes ago, KathyC said:

(neither included in the current sale)

Consistently inconsistent. Our 12 night Adventure cruise 1 device surf and stream has been holding steady at $15.99. It always bothers me that for a longer cruise, they charge more per day. Depending what pricing they come out with (nothing showing yet), at this Voom price, it may work out well to get the Key, which may just be "the key" to their thinking. Although we did have the Key on Symphony in May and loved it.

10 minutes ago, nyold said:

$20 is crazy cheap to me, so I got it for me and DW . Agreed if it goes lower than that we can always refund and buy again. With $20 a day for sure we will break even or more...

It may depend on ship, but in May on Symphony, Johnny Rockets milk shakes were also included in the Refreshment package...no other purchase necessary and we got them to go.

1 hour ago, cruisejunkie1960 said:

We are sailing on the Grandeur on 10/3 - I've been watching the price of the Refreshment package and it's been sitting at $20 a day for a while.  Does that package ever go lower than $20?

I'm willing to wait it out a bit longer ; ))

Regular price is usually $26. The only time I have ever seen lower than $20 was on Black Friday ($17) and you are sailing before that. I say grab it now. If by some chance they do offer it at a lower price, it is very easy to cancel and rebuy. If you get it now, at least you know you cannot end up paying even more.

16 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

this is a good place to end it.  In the theme of seventeens, this is Page 17.

I knew you couldn't do it! With all of us that follow you, you'll probably break 20 pages again.

@Biggiojr @WAAAYTOOO

For any survey related emails you get from or for Royal, make sure to at least look at them-don't delete until you check it first. I got one about Cococay. They requested that I take some pictures and describe our visit there. In return they gave a $75 Amazon gift card. My information to them was due no later than the day after we returned and I had the gift card less than 7 days after that. It was well worth the few minutes spent....and Cococay was magnificent.

7 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Most announcements have been in English and Spanish. 

Did they do that for Muster also? When we sailed out of Puerto Rico on Adventure everyone had to stand outside in the oppressive heat and humidity for two full presentations-1 in English and 1 in Spanish. There was  LOT of multilingual complaining!

7 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Celine Dion impersonator and I think I've seen her before too.  

We saw one on a royal ship that looked NOTHING like Celine at all, but if you closed your eyes, she was PERFECT.

Loving your blog. Keep it coming.

29 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

So to wrap

Great blog, as always, and once again, happy anniversary. One thing that just stood out to me was that your favorite Coastal Kitchen is on what I think is your least favorite ship. Glad you had a great time.

Safe travels home. 

On 7/20/2019 at 6:57 AM, JohnK6404 said:

I wonder if Azamara includes the DBP... LOL

For just a few dollars more, you can cancel your Symphony cruise and go on this one from Seabourn.. They don't give the DBP but you do get free laundry service!

8 minutes ago, Joe01 said:

It sucks when you go in with expectations and they don't live up to them

Especially when those expectations came from ME☹