Susie 213 Report post Posted January 11, 2019 2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: He has decided that he wants SOUTH Florida for retirement. Come on, Oct 2020 Now you will cruise 3 times per month then. 😜 2 WAAAYTOOO and Jaymac Radio reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAAAYTOOO 6,986 Report post Posted January 11, 2019 2 hours ago, Matt said: Nice! Have done that sailing before and its great. How many nights is your sailing? 5 nights. Going to Key West and Coz. Monday - Friday. I have a feeling that the Monday-Fri itins aren't as popular as those that are over a weekend. Probably why this one was on "sale" on the casino list ! It worked out perfectly though, for us, since we were already on Oasis on Sunday, Dec. 1. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eaglesfaninfl 53 Report post Posted January 11, 2019 9 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said: 5 nights. Going to Key West and Coz. Monday - Friday. I have a feeling that the Monday-Fri itins aren't as popular as those that are over a weekend. Probably why this one was on "sale" on the casino list ! It worked out perfectly though, for us, since we were already on Oasis on Sunday, Dec. 1. We are also on this cruise next November. Having cruised over Thanksgiving the last three years on Brilliance, I know you will enjoy the ship. Unfortunately, the Christmas decorations generally don't go up until the Friday after turkey day, so we probably miss out on that. Also the the Tampa-Miami trip is not too bad until you pass FLL, and that last part down 95 is pretty awful...but, you are headed for another cruise, so you have that workin' for ya!! 1 1 June_B and WAAAYTOOO reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WannaCruise 691 Report post Posted January 12, 2019 Cruises with the family are great, but it's also nice to get away as a couple sometimes. DH and I did that in December on Indy (also 4 night with Cozumel). First time enjoying solarium and Quest together. 😀 Looking forward to following along. 2 Lovetocruise2002 and Matt reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lovetocruise2002 8,286 Report post Posted January 12, 2019 33 minutes ago, WannaCruise said: Cruises with the family are great, but it's also nice to get away as a couple sometimes. Totally agree. Hubby and I make it a point to take one cruise each year without the kids or anyone else. 3 FlowBro Ty, WannaCruise and mom2mybugs reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted January 15, 2019 As an update, here's what I've pre-booked for this sailing. I usually wait to pre-book most purchases until the particular sailing I'm going on is my next sailing. Call me crazy, but most pre-cruise purchases don't usually sell out and for budgetary reasons, I prefer to give myself more time to split up my purchases. Here's what I've got so far: Voom internet package Do I need to explain this purchase? Deluxe Beverage Package I'm the world's biggest flip-flopper on deciding if a drink package makes sense for me. I seem to buy it every other sailing. Ultimately I purchased it because no kids with us on this sailing and pre-purchasing means being able to budget my drinks far more effectively. Cozumel We've looked at a few different options for what to do here but have not settled on anything. Since Brilliance will be one of two ships in port (along with the Carnival Valor), I'm not too worried about anything booking up. My wife reminds me that since we have the drink package, we would be better off visiting a spot like Paradise Beach rather than investing in an all-inclusive. 10 MotleyCruiser, SpeedNoodles, cruiselife and 7 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 11, 2019 3 more days! 11 1 cruiselife, Guy Gadwa, coneyraven and 9 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 12, 2019 3 JLMoran, cruiselife and Lovetocruise2002 reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arebee 537 Report post Posted February 12, 2019 34 minutes ago, Matt said: Just saw on Bay News 9 that Tampa isn't allowing anyone from the Orlando area in for the next 3 weeks........................😎 1 6 mworkman, coneyraven, rjac and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twangster 19,408 Report post Posted February 12, 2019 28 minutes ago, arebee said: Just saw on Bay News 9 that Tampa isn't allowing anyone from the Orlando area in for the next 3 weeks........................😎 Did they finish that wall barrier early? 5 mom2mybugs, Deedeelynn, Jaymac Radio and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vacation Crazy 68 Report post Posted February 12, 2019 Brilliance was our first cruise and where the addiction began! Have a great time. I'll be following. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 13, 2019 One more day!!!! My parents arrive today to watch the kids and we briefly considered staying in Tampa tonight just to start our vacation a bit early, but ultimately decided against it. Staying here would allow some extra time to get ready....and time to actually spend with my folks. One mistake I've already made is neither my wife nor I remembered to print out our SetSail Pass. This has occurred in the past, and it just means some extra time during check-in. So let this be a reminder for everyone to print out your SetSail pass before it's too late. Plan is to hit the road around 9am tomorrow morning. Should take us a little over an hour to get there. I already informed my wife I'd prefer to be in Tampa by 9am, but I got "the look". 9 1 Guy Gadwa, Jaymac Radio, ellcee and 7 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marti314 474 Report post Posted February 13, 2019 "Plan is to hit the road around 9am tomorrow morning. Should take us a little over an hour to get there. I already informed my wife I'd prefer to be in Tampa by 9am, but I got "the look"." Perhaps you can convince your wife its gator season and traffic could be snarled because of Gator Crossings on the across the state trip 1 5 FlowBro Ty, Jaymac Radio, Deedeelynn and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 13, 2019 13 minutes ago, marti314 said: Perhaps you can convince your wife its gator season and traffic could be snarled because of Gator Crossings on the across the state These are real concerns and it would be irresponsible of me to put our vacation in jeopardy due to gators 6 1 Baked Alaska, cruiselife, twangster and 4 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FlowBro Ty 340 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 On 1/7/2019 at 9:59 AM, Matt said: please remind me On 1/4/2019 at 10:17 AM, Jaymac Radio said: Would You Please Take Some Photos Of The Mini Golf And The Arcade. 1 1 Jaymac Radio and Matt reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 Committing this to memory, @FlowBro Ty 1 Jaymac Radio reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 Cruise day is here! 8 JLMoran, Deedeelynn, cruiselife and 5 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coneyraven 1,482 Report post 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. 2 Deedeelynn and Jaymac Radio reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cruiselife 266 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 Happy cruise day! What a way for you and your wife to celebrate Valentines Day! Any special plans? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ShakeDownCruise 49 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 It's game time. Let's get cruising! 1 Jaymac Radio reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KLA 1,808 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 9:41 AM.... so, bets on whether or not @Matt is already at the port? 2 2 Jaymac Radio, cruiselife, coneyraven and 1 other reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
josepena12 5 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 Cruising vicariously through Matt on his Brilliance OTS Cruise. 1 Matt reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyle_cardinalsfan51 45 Report post 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! 1 5 mom2mybugs, coneyraven, JLMoran and 3 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post 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! 11 SpeedNoodles, cruiselife, June_B and 8 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt 8,240 Report post Posted February 14, 2019 Valentine’s Day decorations in the Centrum. At least they tried, right? 12 1 June_B, JLMoran, Guy Gadwa and 10 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
