Matt Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Let's try this again! This weekend I'm taking the family on Mariner of the Seas for a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas and I'll be live blogging it! In fact, I'm starting this live blog just two days before we set sail, unlike @Lovetocruise2002 ancient Greek epic live blogs that begin in the months leading up to the dawn of time. Actual footage of @Lovetocruise2002 retelling her cruise highlights When last I left you all in my live blog, I was booked on Mariner of the Seas to enjoy a 3-night cruise, but then Hurricane Dorian forced my hand and I had to cancel. This is a 3-night sailing on the fabulous Mariner of the Seas and it will take us to Freeport Bahamas.... Just kidding. We're going to Perfect Day at CocoCay only. We were scheduled to go to Freeport, but the damage caused by Hurricane Dorian resulted in the port being skipped and instead, we will have a sea day. I am bringing the family with me on this sailing, and we are staying in a category 1K Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom. This room is at the front of the ship and offers 328 square feet of space, complete with bunk beds, which my daughters think is the coolest darn room ever. The other interesting aspect to this cruise is the fact we will be attending a wedding onboard. Friend of the blog, Michael "Babyface" Poole will be tying the knot on Perfect Day at CocoCay! This will be my second wedding that I've attended at CocoCay, but first since the island's makeover. In addition to a lot of sweating during the ceremony, we are looking forward to seeing what an island wedding is all about. That's it for now. I'll be working Friday morning and then promptly pick my kids up from school the moment a half day counts, and then drive over to Port Canaveral to board Mariner of the Seas. If all goes to plan, should be there right around 1pm on Friday. Can't wait to get onboard....for real this time! Skigoofy, melmar02, AGSLC5 and 13 others 12 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregD Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Can’t wait to follow along!! Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed, saying a prayer and sending good juju your way! Hope that about covers it! Happy Cruising and congrats to Michael and his new bride! Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MotleyCruiser Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Congrats Mr. @mpoole3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Congratulations to Michael !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 45 minutes ago, FManke said: Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed, saying a prayer and sending good juju your way! Hope that about covers it! Happy Cruising and congrats to Michael and his new bride! No need for divine intervention, I think we're good with this sailing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 An added benefit to this sailing is embarkation day will be our 11th wedding anniversary! This means we are firmly in the "middle couple" spot of the Love and Marriage game show! We have not made any plans yet to celebrate, but know we will enjoy a meal at a specialty restaurant. My wife refuses to spend our anniversary in the MDR Our plan is to take advantage of the Diamond Plus BOGO specialty restaurant offer and likely end up at Jamie's. melmar02, Mike P, Baked Alaska and 6 others 7 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 18 minutes ago, Matt said: No need for divine intervention, I think we're good with this sailing. It can never hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StayFrosty Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Team @Lovetocruise2002! Earlier the better! Matt, Lovetocruise2002 and mworkman 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 Congratulations to @mpoole3! Or is it @mpoole3_361, the avatar looks more like his Periscope pic. And congrats on 11 years, @Matt! Have a fun anniversary sailing! But if 11 years puts you solidly in the middle chair of Love and Marriage, where does that put us "old hands" who've been hitched for over 20? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 18, 2019 Report Share Posted September 18, 2019 7 hours ago, Matt said: I am bringing the family with me on this sailing, and we are staying in a category 1K Ultra Spacious Ocean View Stateroom. This room is at the front of the ship and offers 328 square feet of space, complete with bunk beds, which my daughters think is the coolest darn room ever. That's the room that we had on Indy. Did you get Deck 8 cause all the configurations are different on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 16 hours ago, StayFrosty said: Team @Lovetocruise2002! Earlier the better! I would never start my live blogs weeks before the cruise like she consistently does. ellcee and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 15 hours ago, JLMoran said: But if 11 years puts you solidly in the middle chair of Love and Marriage, where does that put us "old hands" who've been hitched for over 20? In all seriousness, what do you think is the minimum for that last chair? 25? 30? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 13 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: That's the room that we had on Indy. Did you get Deck 8 cause all the configurations are different on this one. Yes! At one point, I had my room and @ShakeDownCruise had the other room next door, but then he cancelled faster than Justin could get to the Mongolian Grill. Lovetocruise2002 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 6 minutes ago, Matt said: In all seriousness, what do you think is the minimum for that last chair? 25? 30? I haven't seen enough of them to guess, but I get the feeling that at one level it's as much about having literally grown old together as it is being married for a really long time. I could see them taking a couple married "only" 20 years, as long as they were both in their late 60s to mid 70s. Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanBrian Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 11 minutes ago, Matt said: In all seriousness, what do you think is the minimum for that last chair? 25? 30? I'm at 37, but I'm sure I'm nowhere near being in that chair. Too old for the middle, too young for the oldest (clowns to the left, jokers to the right.....) Baked Alaska, Matt and JLMoran 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 35 minutes ago, Matt said: In all seriousness, what do you think is the minimum for that last chair? 25? 30? Next year we will be on our Greece cruise during our 30th. My wife will be 54 and I'll be 55 then. Who knows? Enough years, but not old enough? We'll see. Matt and PRebecca 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I've often said that the best way to give the economy a boost is to give folks free cruises. One of my many things I had to buy before my cruise was a new svelte carry-on suitcase. I didn't know I needed it until I saw it on a TV commercial a few weeks ago. As we've been doing more weekend sailings, I thought it might make sense to invest in a good carry-on suitcase that I could not only use for short trips on an airplane, but also for these quick sailings. I picked up The Bigger Carry-On with Pocket suitcase from Away Travel. [Note: Links contain a referral link. Costs nothing extra, but I make a few bucks if you order something. Full disclosure, I paid for the suitcase myself in full.] I opted for the one without a battery, because I was concerned going to an airport and my luggage being an issue with a battery in it, even though Away says the battery is compliant with airline policies and TSA. Curious how well this will work over the sort of suitcases I've always used, but giving it a good test run this weekend. Rose City Cruiser, Guy Gadwa and Lovetocruise2002 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 10 minutes ago, Matt said: even though Away says the battery is compliant with airline policies and TSA. My last few flights I've heard the announcement that anyone with a "smart bag" with the battery had to bring it up for a gate check so I'd be worried if I had one. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chawkjewel Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 13 minutes ago, Matt said: I've often said that the best way to give the economy a boost is to give folks free cruises. One of my many things I had to buy before my cruise was a new svelte carry-on suitcase. I didn't know I needed it until I saw it on a TV commercial a few weeks ago. As we've been doing more weekend sailings, I thought it might make sense to invest in a good carry-on suitcase that I could not only use for short trips on an airplane, but also for these quick sailings. I picked up The Bigger Carry-On with Pocket suitcase from Away Travel. [Note: Links contain a referral link. Costs nothing extra, but I make a few bucks if you order something. Full disclosure, I paid for the suitcase myself in full.] I opted for the one without a battery, because I was concerned going to an airport and my luggage being an issue with a battery in it, even though Away says the battery is compliant with airline policies and TSA. Curious how well this will work over the sort of suitcases I've always used, but giving it a good test run this weekend. And you can fit everything you will need for the weekend in a carryon? Looks pretty small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 2 minutes ago, Chawkjewel said: And you can fit everything you will need for the weekend in a carryon? Looks pretty small. That's just for his stuff. He's gonna make his poor wife handle her own stuff and the stuff for their kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 29 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said: My last few flights I've heard the announcement that anyone with a "smart bag" with the battery had to bring it up for a gate check so I'd be worried if I had one. Exactly what I had in mind when I opted not to get it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 27 minutes ago, Chawkjewel said: And you can fit everything you will need for the weekend in a carryon? Looks pretty small. For my clothes? Absolutely. Or at least, it better! 24 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said: That's just for his stuff. He's gonna make his poor wife handle her own stuff and the stuff for their kids JLMoran, heffy2, PRebecca and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Gadwa Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Following! Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 App has been updated with entertainment. The famous Billy Pando in the Schooner Bar and a pub singer I have not seen before Skigoofy, Rose City Cruiser and J_Keeble 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 It's cruise day! ...but first, working this morning. Lovetocruise2002, Guy Gadwa and ellcee 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 At least you'll finish the day right! Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Just now, FManke said: At least you'll finish the day right! JLMoran 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 You'll be on a ship while the rest of us are still dealing with our afternoon shifts. Have a great trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 48 minutes ago, JLMoran said: You'll be on a ship while the rest of us are still dealing with our afternoon shifts. JLMoran, stephenkurucz, betatke1480 and 2 others 1 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 3 hours ago, JLMoran said: You'll be on a ship while the rest of us are still dealing with our afternoon shifts. Have a great trip! He'll be sailing away as I start my 15-hour overnight shift. KMN. JLMoran 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 This is why you come to the port early so you don’t end up parking in the boondocks. That or use Lyft. Guy Gadwa, SpeedNoodles and Lovetocruise2002 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Letter at arrival in terminal explaining we aren’t going to Freeport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 We have expedited arrival and it looks like the facial recognition is working too! coneyraven, The Cruise Junkie and Guy Gadwa 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Incredibly fast check in process. The facial recognition + expedited check in made for about 7 minutes from curb to gangway. Baked Alaska, Lovetocruise2002, Guy Gadwa and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 We arrived to the port at around 1:30 or so, so the rooms were ready and as soon as we boarded we headed to the room. As much as I relish arriving super early, it is nice to go straight to your room to drop off all your junk. Our room is massive, with 300+ square feet on deck 8. Guy Gadwa, Traveler, SamiL5292 and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Something I’ve never seen before. I went but to sign up for a Voom account. I didn’t prepay because with my diamond plus discount, it’s cheaper to buy it on the ship on a 3 night cruise. I went to select which plan I wanted and saw this option. I could be wrong, but I swear I did not pre purchase voom. Based on this screen, I guess I must have pre purchased. Even if I did, I don’t recall ever seeing this as an option when you create a new account. I’ll wait for @twangster to correct me or confirm I’m living in the future. Lovetocruise2002 and Guy Gadwa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Day one activities Guy Gadwa and Lovetocruise2002 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLMoran Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Just now, Matt said: Day one activities "Retail Therapy" Wouldn't that be stuff to get me away from the retail stores instead of into them?? Baked Alaska and Guy Gadwa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 Included with the cruise compass is this option to donate via your SeaPass account to the Bahamas relief effort. Lovetocruise2002 and Guy Gadwa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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