Majesty of the seas Havana-no-no-no Graduation Cruise June 15-June 19

[mom2mybugs]

Another trip... My first one as Platinum.  No I will never make diamond and I don't really get anything for Platinum other than requesting the cool robe which I will do on the next cruise lol.....

The Basics:  First time on Majesty of the seas.  The Crew:  Myself, my 22 year old daughter Morgan and my 16 year old Madison.  Dad stays home to work and pay for the girls trip!  The Itinerary:  Fly into fort Lauderdale 2 days early, relax, eat and drink, get in ship and go to key West (first time), sea day (relax and drink), nassau and then fort Lauderdale for 3 days (relax, eat and drink.. sense a pattern lol?)

We booked this cruise as a total yolo.  I was home in April feeling very guilty about not going to my daughter's last mom's weekend at University of Illinois.  I started thinking, ok, we'd have spent a bit, let's travel instead after she graduates for a little 3 day weekend.  Which turned into, hey let's travel 4 or 5 days.  Which turned into hey, we can take a cruise!!!  The 16 year old was all over the itinerary (let's go to Europe etc) but the 22 year old was exhausted finishing her final design project in material science engineering and said she would go anywhere if she could get the drink pkg and sleep!   I was looking at 5-7 day cruises and an amazingly long cheap celebrity cruise (which now I wished I'd booked but I will get there!!!) and then happened on Cuba!  We could go to Cuba!!!!!!   My husband was such a good sport (history teacher who would be teaching summer school and not going) and said go!  So we booked it in April.  I've never YOLO booked a cruise like that.  Within 2 days we had airfare and a hotel and airbnbs and were ready to go as long as Morgan passed all her classes lol.

   2 days later the announcement came about the change in Cuban policy.  Worried but cautiously optimistic we continued to get excited.  The May escalation day came and went.  Our biggest worry was if they would ever assign us our guarantee cabin!  

   And then June came.  First of all, I sprain my ankle.  Badly.  It's not broken but can I walk in Havana?  Doesn't matter...we have an all day fun classic car tour!  But it didn't matter.  We were devastated when it was announced that travel would be banned to Cuba.  We were cautiously hopefully that we would be grandfathered in but that was not to be.   So now what?  We had booked majesty only because of Cuba.  I obviously like smaller and older ships ok...our first cruise was on vision in 2015 and we will be sailing it again after trips on other classes... But I'd have done a 7 day on a bigger ship.  So I looked at our options.  None.  We would pay double to cruise another ship at the same time.  We do have cancel at any cost insurance but my last dealings with Allianz and insurance were heartbreaking at best and we lost 10000.  I just couldn't face that again even if we could find other dates in the future that could work (which we couldn't... The college grad has to get a real job sometime lol).  

   So we were optimistic again... Maybe we would finally get to see cococay (since we couldn't tender on our trip in 2016).  Nope....Nassau.  The lemons keep flying.  But we are making lemonade!  Girls were just happy to be going on a trip, I'm happy that I will finally finish school next week, maybe it won't rain in Florida, this trip is gonna rock!!!! Any cruise is an amazing cruise!  So we booked a specialty make your own sushi class, get an excursion in Nassau and think about packing!!

  So we leave in 6 days!  I will update as we go.  Unlike @TheHobbys if I lay out my suitcases, my Schnauzer will eat everything in the suitcase so I will have to pack and close.  That will be today and tomorrow's project since I work all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!  We will get hair cuts and pedicures and look forward to our first kraken lava flow on the ship!!!   I'm looking forward to an amazing 8 days with my girls, wondering if we can all go 4 days without voom...we are gonna try!... and for the first time getting on a cruise less than 6 months after the last one!  Jane

   

[Fairlynew]

I am sure you and your girls will have an awesome trip.  I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

[Lovetocruise2002]

Have an amazing time Jane!  Congrats on your daughter's graduation too!

[twangster]

Enjoy your cruise!

[Sweety]

Congratulations to Morgan. Tell your husband, I will be working summer school. Have an awesome and amazing cruise with your princesses.

[JLMoran]

Congrats to the college grad! A major in materials science engineering?!? SLACKER!! 

Enjoy the trip, all three of you! I hope your ankle heals enough to be able to enjoy the beach time!

[Traveler]

Enjoy the cruise happy you will still be able to make it with all the current changes

[The Cruise Junkie]

Enjoy Your Cruise On Majesty 

[hayley_bopp]

I'm sure you'll have a great cruise. Being on a smaller ship will probably help with your daughter's aim of relaxing. Looking forward to following along

[JohnK6404]

I'm so sorry to hear about your ankle and the turn of events with Cuba . My wife and I were on Majesty back in 2010. I'm sure you and your daughters will have an amazing time!

[WannaCruise]

What a wonderful trip with mother and daughters, and celebrating your older one's graduation.  Love your attitude...lemonade from lemons!  Despite the changes that are out of your control, and your sprained ankle (hope its doing better!), have a wonderful cruise!  You'll have some precious time together and memories.

[AGSLC5]

22 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Another trip... My first one as Platinum.  No I will never make diamond and I don't really get anything for Platinum other than requesting the cool robe which I will do on the next cruise lol.....

The Basics:  First time on Majesty of the seas.  The Crew:  Myself, my 22 year old daughter Morgan and my 16 year old Madison.  Dad stays home to work and pay for the girls trip!  The Itinerary:  Fly into fort Lauderdale 2 days early, relax, eat and drink, get in ship and go to key West (first time), sea day (relax and drink), nassau and then fort Lauderdale for 3 days (relax, eat and drink.. sense a pattern lol?)

We booked this cruise as a total yolo.  I was home in April feeling very guilty about not going to my daughter's last mom's weekend at University of Illinois.  I started thinking, ok, we'd have spent a bit, let's travel instead after she graduates for a little 3 day weekend.  Which turned into, hey let's travel 4 or 5 days.  Which turned into hey, we can take a cruise!!!  The 16 year old was all over the itinerary (let's go to Europe etc) but the 22 year old was exhausted finishing her final design project in material science engineering and said she would go anywhere if she could get the drink pkg and sleep!   I was looking at 5-7 day cruises and an amazingly long cheap celebrity cruise (which now I wished I'd booked but I will get there!!!) and then happened on Cuba!  We could go to Cuba!!!!!!   My husband was such a good sport (history teacher who would be teaching summer school and not going) and said go!  So we booked it in April.  I've never YOLO booked a cruise like that.  Within 2 days we had airfare and a hotel and airbnbs and were ready to go as long as Morgan passed all her classes lol.

   2 days later the announcement came about the change in Cuban policy.  Worried but cautiously optimistic we continued to get excited.  The May escalation day came and went.  Our biggest worry was if they would ever assign us our guarantee cabin!  

   And then June came.  First of all, I sprain my ankle.  Badly.  It's not broken but can I walk in Havana?  Doesn't matter...we have an all day fun classic car tour!  But it didn't matter.  We were devastated when it was announced that travel would be banned to Cuba.  We were cautiously hopefully that we would be grandfathered in but that was not to be.   So now what?  We had booked majesty only because of Cuba.  I obviously like smaller and older ships ok...our first cruise was on vision in 2015 and we will be sailing it again after trips on other classes... But I'd have done a 7 day on a bigger ship.  So I looked at our options.  None.  We would pay double to cruise another ship at the same time.  We do have cancel at any cost insurance but my last dealings with Allianz and insurance were heartbreaking at best and we lost 10000.  I just couldn't face that again even if we could find other dates in the future that could work (which we couldn't... The college grad has to get a real job sometime lol).  

   So we were optimistic again... Maybe we would finally get to see cococay (since we couldn't tender on our trip in 2016).  Nope....Nassau.  The lemons keep flying.  But we are making lemonade!  Girls were just happy to be going on a trip, I'm happy that I will finally finish school next week, maybe it won't rain in Florida, this trip is gonna rock!!!! Any cruise is an amazing cruise!  So we booked a specialty make your own sushi class, get an excursion in Nassau and think about packing!!

  So we leave in 6 days!  I will update as we go.  Unlike @TheHobbys if I lay out my suitcases, my Schnauzer will eat everything in the suitcase so I will have to pack and close.  That will be today and tomorrow's project since I work all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!  We will get hair cuts and pedicures and look forward to our first kraken lava flow on the ship!!!   I'm looking forward to an amazing 8 days with my girls, wondering if we can all go 4 days without voom...we are gonna try!... and for the first time getting on a cruise less than 6 months after the last one!  Jane

   

Your New plans sound great.. The only hiccup I see is when you ask for No Rain in Florida.. That is impossible for Florida in June lol but what you have to hope for is just a 3:00 PM 30 min or so shower thats something you can deal with.. Its the all day rainstorms like we had yesterday that you want to hope don't occur.. But if they do just hit up La Bamba and the Aladdin movie perfect activities for a rainy Florida afternoon. 

[mom2mybugs]

3 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

Your New plans sound great.. The only hiccup I see is when you ask for No Rain in Florida.. That is impossible for Florida in June lol but what you have to hope for is just a 3:00 PM 30 min or so shower thats something you can deal with.. Its the all day rainstorms like we had yesterday that you want to hope don't occur.. But if they do just hit up La Bamba and the Aladdin movie perfect activities for a rainy Florida afternoon. 

I know...Disney in the rain isn’t bad but beach is a little trickier lol!  Jane

[AGSLC5]

17 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

I know...Disney in the rain isn’t bad but beach is a little trickier lol!  Jane

Your so right about that.. Actually Disney in the rain in the summer is sometimes nice.. Its so Hot there in the summer sometimes alittle rain in Disney really feels good lol

[KathyC]

You're going to have an amazing time, no matter where you go, cause you are with your girls!! 

[Fairlynew]

Have you gotten your cabin assignment yet?

 

[AGSLC5]

@mom2mybugs I just got an email about a free cruise on your sailing from the Casino... What that tells me is ALOT of people must of canceled.. I think you should try to get an upgrade.. I bet if you bid you would get one.. Might be cool since your getting some money back.. Just thought I would let you know. 

[Rose City Cruiser]

Enjoy your cruise!  Congrats to your daughter on her graduation!  ERTW! 

[mom2mybugs]

9 hours ago, Fairlynew said:

Have you gotten your cabin assignment yet?

 

I did...we are on the 8th floor midship.  I’m pretty happy with that.   What I can’t figure out if it’s got an obstructed view...one place said that and I’m thinking maybe lifeboats?  

 

7 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

@mom2mybugs I just got an email about a free cruise on your sailing from the Casino... What that tells me is ALOT of people must of canceled.. I think you should try to get an upgrade.. I bet if you bid you would get one.. Might be cool since your getting some money back.. Just thought I would let you know. 

I think a bunch probably nacelles.  If they would lower the bid I would it! But 400pp (800 total) seems crazy for a 4 day cruise.  That is the entire refund that now I can use for drinks and dinners on the end stays.  Also...I’d totally do it if I doubled points, but alas.....   no!   Jane

[mom2mybugs]

On 6/10/2019 at 3:34 PM, Rose City Cruiser said:

Enjoy your cruise!  Congrats to your daughter on her graduation!  ERTW! 

Ok...I had to look up what that meant!!!! Thank you!  She can rule the world indeed she finds a job lol....   Jane

[mom2mybugs]

Update day -1 of trip!!!!

For the first time in my cruise history I have not packed a single item yet!  Ugh.  Usually i stay up super late the night before charging things, clearing pics off my phone etc, but life has totally gotten away from me this week with work and my silly ankle.  I'm working today until 4 and then I am on vacation for 10 days!!!!!

My ankle is still not great.  Maybe the silver invisible lining if no Cuba is that this cruise will have less walking.  9 days post sprain the ankle is still swollen.  Oh well...pool deck and adult beverage here I come.  We will just Uber everywhere in fort Lauderdale.

My girls are packed and ready to go.  I haven't told them I've ordered matching tshirts, water bottles and totes for the treppagirlsvacay!  I also have bought a ton of pamper items (face masks, lotions, chocolate) that I will pack in the tote bags.  Good thing kids only graduate every 4 years because I'm spending a ton of money... Though not as much as I spent on college lol!

So that is where we are at!  We leave tomorrow and I will start taking pics soon I promise!  Jane

[AGSLC5]

3 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Update day -1 of trip!!!!

For the first time in my cruise history I have not packed a single item yet!  Ugh.  Usually i stay up super late the night before charging things, clearing pics off my phone etc, but life has totally gotten away from me this week with work and my silly ankle.  I'm working today until 4 and then I am on vacation for 10 days!!!!!

My ankle is still not great.  Maybe the silver invisible lining if no Cuba is that this cruise will have less walking.  9 days post sprain the ankle is still swollen.  Oh well...pool deck and adult beverage here I come.  We will just Uber everywhere in fort Lauderdale.

My girls are packed and ready to go.  I haven't told them I've ordered matching tshirts, water bottles and totes for the treppagirlsvacay!  I also have bought a ton of pamper items (face masks, lotions, chocolate) that I will pack in the tote bags.  Good thing kids only graduate every 4 years because I'm spending a ton of money... Though not as much as I spent on college lol!

So that is where we are at!  We leave tomorrow and I will start taking pics soon I promise!  Jane

You are going to have a wonderful time! your girls will remember this trip always.. When I graduated I took a special trip just my dad and I to Chicago (my favorite city) That was one of the best trips of my life and I will never forget it and I am sure your girls will have a similar experience. If you end up trying out La Bamba (I am headed there tonight) please do write what you thought of it.. Ok again looking forward to your review and have a wonderful time. - Stephanie 

[hayley_bopp]

5 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

I haven't told them I've ordered matching tshirts, water bottles and totes for the treppagirlsvacay!  I also have bought a ton of pamper items (face masks, lotions, chocolate) that I will pack in the tote bags.

What a great idea! I bet they'll love it!

[hayley_bopp]

Ps Have a great time. Looking forward to your blog. 

[mom2mybugs]

20 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

You are going to have a wonderful time! your girls will remember this trip always.. When I graduated I took a special trip just my dad and I to Chicago (my favorite city) That was one of the best trips of my life and I will never forget it and I am sure your girls will have a similar experience. If you end up trying out La Bamba (I am headed there tonight) please do write what you thought of it.. Ok again looking forward to your review and have a wonderful time. - Stephanie 

We are definitely going to la Bamba and I will take pics!  We are a Northwest suburb of Chicago and get there so v rarely but it is av great City!!!  Jane

[mom2mybugs]

19 hours ago, hayley_bopp said:

What a great idea! I bet they'll love it!

They did... Pics to follow when I'm sitting at the terminal! Jane

[AGSLC5]

12 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

We are definitely going to la Bamba and I will take pics!  We are a Northwest suburb of Chicago and get there so v rarely but it is av great City!!!  Jane

One of the reasons I like La Bamba is its Half Mexican, Half Spanish.. They have some really great dishes.. I am 32 years old and have been going there since I was 7. The prices have obviously gone up but I don't think the menu has ever changed. Mostly because it doesn't need to. On the weekends its always busy and food is good. Have a great time. Cant wait to keep reading your review. 

[mom2mybugs]

Ok....my stupid tab crashed on my phone.  Yikes!  I was very witty the first time, now I'm crabby lol!  

We were very excited to leave this morning.  I like having later flights to be able to sleep in, but I hate getting to our destination after 5.  This flight was much cheaper though so we left late.  We had to say goodbye to Annie and Tiger Lily which is very hard to do!  (Oh yeah, and my husband who is teaching summer school!)

I gave the girls their presents... Matching shirts, tumblers and tote bags which they liked!!

The flight was super turbulent, and we left late.  I've never had to abort a takeoff before... We started down the runway and then slowed down because there was some tail cross wind that was too high.  Still... We were excited to get out of Chicago... It was cold this morning! 

We taxied to the Hilton Marina hotel.  We have stayed here before and it is just fun to look at the port and the intercoastal waterway.

We had a laid back evening.  After snacks by the pool, we walked a few blocks to Walgreens to get snacks and shampoo, and then decided going out to dinner was way too much work.  We just had chicken tenders and quesadillas at the pool bar and called it a night.

This may be the most boring blog on the planet.  The last month has been exhausting for all of us with finals (the girls) and work (me).  We are so happy to just spend time together and relax.  I asked the girls if they wanted to do the water taxi tomorrow and go see stuff, they pretty much said, nah, let's lay by the pool land do nothing.  So we will do nothing (I will take a few pics of the pool area) and then we will Uber to Las olas for dinner.  We are saving la Bamba for when we have a microwave for leftovers so we were thinking hitting a pub or burger place but there are a million of them.  I guess we will just have the Uber drop us in the middle and then we will see what looks good.  @tonyfsu21 and @AGSLC5 are there any restaurants that stand out (not super fancy, we don't want reservations, just a bar or something where my 16 year old can go in) and if we get there by 6 on a Friday night, will it be insanely packed?  

I will end with a picture of our friends who come on every trip with us!  Jake the dolphin, Jeffy the panda, and Suki the say goodnight!!!

[hayley_bopp]

38 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

Yikes!  I was very witty the first time, now I'm crabby lol!  

I took to writing blog posts on my Keep notes app then cutting and pasting onto the blog after this happened to me a couple of times. 

Looks like you've had a good start to your trip. Enjoy your day of relaxing. 

[tonyfsu21]

8 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Ok....my stupid tab crashed on my phone.  Yikes!  I was very witty the first time, now I'm crabby lol!  

We were very excited to leave this morning.  I like having later flights to be able to sleep in, but I hate getting to our destination after 5.  This flight was much cheaper though so we left late.  We had to say goodbye to Annie and Tiger Lily which is very hard to do!  (Oh yeah, and my husband who is teaching summer school!)

I gave the girls their presents... Matching shirts, tumblers and tote bags which they liked!!

The flight was super turbulent, and we left late.  I've never had to abort a takeoff before... We started down the runway and then slowed down because there was some tail cross wind that was too high.  Still... We were excited to get out of Chicago... It was cold this morning! 

We taxied to the Hilton Marina hotel.  We have stayed here before and it is just fun to look at the port and the intercoastal waterway.

We had a laid back evening.  After snacks by the pool, we walked a few blocks to Walgreens to get snacks and shampoo, and then decided going out to dinner was way too much work.  We just had chicken tenders and quesadillas at the pool bar and called it a night.

This may be the most boring blog on the planet.  The last month has been exhausting for all of us with finals (the girls) and work (me).  We are so happy to just spend time together and relax.  I asked the girls if they wanted to do the water taxi tomorrow and go see stuff, they pretty much said, nah, let's lay by the pool land do nothing.  So we will do nothing (I will take a few pics of the pool area) and then we will Uber to Las olas for dinner.  We are saving la Bamba for when we have a microwave for leftovers so we were thinking hitting a pub or burger place but there are a million of them.  I guess we will just have the Uber drop us in the middle and then we will see what looks good.  @tonyfsu21 and @AGSLC5 are there any restaurants that stand out (not super fancy, we don't want reservations, just a bar or something where my 16 year old can go in) and if we get there by 6 on a Friday night, will it be insanely packed?  

I will end with a picture of our friends who come on every trip with us!  Jake the dolphin, Jeffy the panda, and Suki the say goodnight!!!

I would suggest Big City Tavern or B Squared (great place). Las Olas will be pretty busy on a Friday @ 6:00 pm for happy hour but it should be ok since we are out of season and the crowds are basically cut in 1/2. PS: I can see my house in the distance in the last pic! 

[KathyC]

We enjoyed Sweet Nectar Cafe on Las Olas.  Amazing donut with ice cream dessert the girls will probably love! 

https://sweetnectarbuzz.com/ 

[AGSLC5]

@mom2mybugs I also like this gastropub called Tap 42.. Its in Ft. Lauderdale and like Tony said I think wherever you pick since we are in summer and not in season you should be ok crowd wise.. Have a great time. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

Sounds like you wild ladies are off to a great start.  ENJOY...and hoping you are able to get around without too much pain.

[tonyfsu21]

21 minutes ago, AGSLC5 said:

@mom2mybugs I also like this gastropub called Tap 42.. Its in Ft. Lauderdale and like Tony said I think wherever you pick since we are in summer and not in season you should be ok crowd wise.. Have a great time. 

Tap 42 is a pretty great spot but I believe they will be on Las Olas specifically. 

[mom2mybugs]

30 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Sounds like you wild ladies are off to a great start.  ENJOY...and hoping you are able to get around without too much pain.

Oh that's is...lol...wild!!  My oldest is doing a jigsaw puzzle on my tablet and youngest and I are watching the bridge go up over the waterway.  I was the last one up reading at 1230!!!!  We are having a great time knowing there are no deadlines and no have to dos... Well getting on majesty is a have to do tomorrow!  Jane

[mom2mybugs]

15 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

Tap 42 is a pretty great spot but I believe they will be on Las Olas specifically. 

We can go wherever.. we are just ubering for dinner but we also have the 3 evenings after the cruise!  So many ways to eat and drink way too much!  Thanks Tony, @AGSLC5 and @KathyC!  We will look at menus as we Dodge the in and out rainclouds by the pool! Jane

[tonyfsu21]

23 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

We can go wherever.. we are just ubering for dinner but we also have the 3 evenings after the cruise!  So many ways to eat and drink way too much!  Thanks Tony, @AGSLC5 and @KathyC!  We will look at menus as we Dodge the in and out rainclouds by the pool! Jane

Ok if that’s the case, American Icon Brewery, Louis Bossis, el Camino, B squared, foxy brown, quarterdeck on 17th street. 

[KathyC]

@mom2mybugs Show this to the girls.  Decision made.  

 

 

[DDaley]

14 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

I love that the whole crew gets to come cruising!! 

[Sweety]

What a wonderful start to your cruise. The smiles on the faces tell the entire story. I hate leaving my babies(dogs) at home. they have this look that drives me crazy. Can't wait to read the rest of your adventure.