Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Committing this to memory, @FlowBro Ty The Cruise Junkie 1 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Cruise day is here! Deedeelynn, Traveler, coneyraven and 5 others 8 Quote
coneyraven Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 I'm so going to be following this since we're 65 Days from our first Brilliance Cruise ...... Easter on a Cruise ship... That should be fun. I wonder if there will be an adult Easter Egg Hunt...... perhaps hide miniatures all around the ship. The Cruise Junkie and Deedeelynn 2 Quote
cruiselife Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Happy cruise day! What a way for you and your wife to celebrate Valentines Day! Any special plans? Quote
ShakeDownCruise Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 It's game time. Let's get cruising! The Cruise Junkie 1 Quote
KLA Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 9:41 AM.... so, bets on whether or not @Matt is already at the port? cruiselife, coneyraven, The Cruise Junkie and 1 other 2 2 Quote
josepena12 Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Cruising vicariously through Matt on his Brilliance OTS Cruise. Matt 1 Quote
Kyle_cardinalsfan51 Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 30 minutes ago, KLA said: 9:41 AM.... so, bets on whether or not @Matt is already at the port? Well he started the blog a month early....dollar says he brought a tent down last night and camped out. First in line! Baked Alaska, JLMoran, Matt and 3 others 1 5 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 We have arrived! Got to the port at about 10:15 and there was no traffic or fuss. Brilliance is at Terminal 3 today and it is a GLORIOUS day weather wise. Perfect sailaway weather! cruiselife, JennyB, ellcee and 8 others 11 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Valentine’s Day decorations in the Centrum. At least they tried, right? SpeedNoodles, ellcee, mom2mybugs and 10 others 12 1 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Once we got onboard we booked our specialty dining. We have the ultimate dining package, and got reservations for everything we wanted at the time we wanted. There were a few specialty dining waiters waiting right as we boarded, so they took our reservations nice and easy. Our first stop was the Solarium Bar to enjoy some embarkation day drinks! Always book your drink packages before the cruise. We paid $49 versus the $70 Lovetocruise2002, ellcee, The Cruise Junkie and 7 others 10 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 1 hour ago, KLA said: 9:41 AM.... so, bets on whether or not @Matt is already at the port? I wanted to leave about an hour before my wife was willing to even consider it. When we arrived and boarding had begun I gave her my “told you so” face cruiselife, coneyraven, Skigoofy and 5 others 8 Quote
marti314 Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Severe fog looks to be rolling in...... Just disregard the perfectly blue skies at the end of the animation loop.... J_Keeble, coneyraven, Matt and 7 others 10 Quote
CGTLH Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, Matt said: Always book your drink packages before the cruise. We paid $49 versus the $70 Should have quizzed them. Is the Diamond Plus discount still offered? If so, how the does the Diamond Plus discount play into the pricing? Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, CGTLH said: Should have quizzed them. Is the Diamond Plus discount still offered? If so, how the does the Diamond Plus discount play into the pricing? The bartender isnt totally positive but thinks you would. In that case it might be a decent deal. He said the bogo deal is essentialy $25 off $70 for each person. Plus D+ discount would potentially be good deal. Already prebooked so cant test it out. Quote
twangster Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 1 minute ago, Matt said: I wanted to leave about an hour before my wife was willing to even consider it. When we arrived and boarding had begun I gave her my “told you so” face In my experience a man enjoying a "told you so" moment is short lived. Recommend generous drink package utilization in hopes it purges her memory. JLMoran, Skigoofy, ellcee and 8 others 2 8 1 Quote
twangster Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, CGTLH said: If so, how the does the Diamond Plus discount play into the pricing? Something tells me that fine print at the bottom includes "not combinable with other discounts or promotions". Baked Alaska 1 Quote
CGTLH Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, twangster said: Something tells me that fine print at the bottom includes "not combinable with other discounts or promotions". Nope, the standard package policy terms. Can't share, everyone of drinking age must buy, get x% off bottles of wine... Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, twangster said: Something tells me that fine print at the bottom includes "not combinable with other discounts or promotions". I really wish I could test out to see price. The bartender here thought about it and thinks he could do it. Quote
twangster Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, Matt said: I really wish I could test out to see price. The bartender here thought about it and thinks he could do it. C&A tells me you can cancel a cruise planner DX once on board and buy it again on board. That was their advice when sailing with my Gold son so he wouldn't have to pay full on board price but I could get my D+ discount on board. Matt 1 Quote
CGTLH Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, Matt said: I really wish I could test out to see price. The bartender here thought about it and thinks he could do it. Demand to speak with the Beverage Manager or FBM right this instance! /sarcasm Matt 1 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, twangster said: C&A tells me you can cancel a cruise planner DX once on board and buy it again on board. That was their advice when sailing with my Gold son so he wouldn't have to pay full on board price but I could get my D+ discount on board. Interesting. Doubt I will pursue it just because of all the hurdles required at this point. But if you can stack the discount then it would be a money saver. Regardless, this is the first time I’ve ever seen this bogo offer onboard. Not sure I’d ever recommend rolling the dice on waiting. Not to mention ability to pre purchase and break up cruise cost, which I value. JennyB 1 Quote
CGTLH Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, twangster said: C&A tells me you can cancel a cruise planner DX once on board and buy it again on board. That was their advice when sailing with my Gold son so he wouldn't have to pay full on board price but I could get my D+ discount on board. Fun thing about all this variable pricing. In @Matt case the discount with D+ would have been $49. Same and what he paid online. If Royal would be upfront and state a standard fleet wide price it would be helpful. Then this new bogo day one offer really changes the math and adds a new set of variables. Matt 1 Quote
twangster Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, CGTLH said: Then this new bogo day one offer really changes the math and adds a new set of variables. And possibly only offered if DX sales are below a threshold on a particular sailing so unpredictable. Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Scientific proof the weather is absolutely perfect today in Tampa ellcee, JLMoran, The Cruise Junkie and 10 others 13 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 I had heard with Ultimate Dining Package some people had been able to eat at a specialty restaurant for lunch. I figured it was worth the try to see if they would seat us. Sure enough, they looked us up and happily seated us for lunch. Keep in mind that if you are cruising soon, you can and should ask politely but be prepared for the answer to be no. The rules clearly state lunch with UDP is for sea days only This is the first Royal Caribbean cruise ever I have ever been on that I have not eaten embarkation day lunch in the Windjammer. JennyB, JLMoran, Mike P and 11 others 4 10 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 10 minutes ago, twangster said: And possibly only offered if DX sales are below a threshold on a particular sailing so unpredictable. I think you’re right. Based on this, I’d be shocked if drink card didn’t show up Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Thermal spa price is cheaper than I recall Baked Alaska 1 Quote
SpeedNoodles Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 21 minutes ago, Matt said: Thermal spa price is cheaper than I recall Nice!! I love the Thermal Spa! Quote
The Cruise Junkie Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Hey @Matt Can You Please Check And See Who Is The Resident DJ On This Sailing. Thanks Quote
JLMoran Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 37 minutes ago, Matt said: Thermal spa price is cheaper than I recall That is a heck of a lot cheaper than what I paid for the two of us on Anthem! Not quite half, but pretty darn close! Did you grab it for that price? betatke1480 1 Quote
ThyriC Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Looking forward to watching your sail away on the webcams and if you choose to share! Quote
SpeedNoodles Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, JLMoran said: That is a heck of a lot cheaper than what I paid for the two of us on Anthem! Not quite half, but pretty darn close! Did you grab it for that price? Yeah, it’s $155 for my June Ovation sailing. Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 8 minutes ago, JLMoran said: That is a heck of a lot cheaper than what I paid for the two of us on Anthem! Not quite half, but pretty darn close! Did you grab it for that price? I offered for my wife but while she likes the concept, she’s always concerned with it being too busy. That and she booked a 90 minute treatment. Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 9 minutes ago, ThyriC said: Looking forward to watching your sail away on the webcams and if you choose to share! Yes! Will be live on Facebook probably around 4 or 4:30 eastern. Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Rooms were ready promptly at 1pm. We had heard one announcement that it would be ready at 1:30, but I think that was to keep the masses at bay. Everywhere else the 1pm time was advertised. We are in a standard balcony ocean room. We have stayed in this category before, so nothing Earth shatteringly different for us. Note the Valentines Day touch, along with chocolates! We also noticed the air conditioning control is a new model. Lovetocruise2002, JLMoran, ellcee and 6 others 8 1 Quote
KLA Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 11 minutes ago, Matt said: We also noticed the air conditioning control is a new model. You know you're a cruise nerd when... The Cruise Junkie, cruiselife, Skigoofy and 11 others 1 13 Quote
Matt Posted February 14, 2019 Author Report Posted February 14, 2019 Here’s what’s left of the Valentines Day cake in Windjammer I checked, but Rita’s is still very much gone. FlowBro Ty, The Cruise Junkie, Guy Gadwa and 1 other 4 Quote
cbnsoul Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Can't belive they haven't found SOME use for the vacated Rita's space mom2mybugs 1 Quote
rjac Posted February 14, 2019 Report Posted February 14, 2019 Just now, Matt said: Here’s what’s left of the Valentines Day cake in Windjammer Ok, I knew Matt is a "Windjammer Connoisseur", but I didn't realize he had THAT big of an appetite for cake! FlowBro Ty, The Cruise Junkie, mom2mybugs and 4 others 7 Quote
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