The "Lets hope a hurricane doesn't cancel this cruise again" LIVE blog from Mariner of the Seas! - September 20, 2019

[Matt]

The motion in the ocean is back. 

[Matt]

The arcade games seem to have been updated. 

[Matt]

Dinner tonight was in the main dining room. I doubled down on the spaghetti bologenese. 

after dinner,  I headed down to the pub. 

[FManke]

1 hour ago, Matt said:

The arcade games seem to have been updated. 

Love me some skee-ball!

[Matt]

Quest! 

[Matt]

Hate to say it, but unless you like waking up super early or can sleep through construction, the room I’m in is a bad idea.  The amount of vibration this morning while we docked at CocoCay was quite surprising. 

We got up later than we wanted and decided to go to the wedding first, then pool (as opposed to pool before the wedding). 

Weather today was warm, but windy and mostly cloudy.  I don’t mind since it makes for more comfortable outdoor conditions.

 

The wedding took place near the straw market, facing the ocean and ship. Great venue and view as well.  

[Lovetocruise2002]

1 hour ago, Matt said:

Hate to say it, but unless you like waking up super early or can sleep through construction, the room I’m in is a bad idea.  The amount of vibration this morning while we docked at CocoCay was quite surprising. 

Exactly!  That's the same experience that we had last December.  So loud whenever docking.  We will likely not be booking that room again either.

[Matt]

14 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Exactly!  That's the same experience that we had last December.  So loud whenever docking.  We will likely not be booking that room again either.

I have a high tolerance for things like that, but every maneuver the ship did was so powerfully felt that sleeping through it was impossible.  It’s sad because the room layout is amazing.  

[Matt]

After the wedding, we took the kids to Splashway Bay for some fun time to let them enjoy the island.  

I noticed these Flossie contraptions at Harbour beach. Kind of a combo seat and floater. 

I eventually made my way to the Oasis lagoon for pool time. The pool was hopping today!

Alas, I had to head back to get ready for the wedding reception this evening and I had to bid adieu to Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

[Lovetocruise2002]

2 minutes ago, Matt said:

I have a high tolerance for things like that, but every maneuver the ship did was so powerfully felt that sleeping through it was impossible.  It’s sad because the room layout is amazing.  

My kids loved that room.  It was great for them.  It's ok though, I'm about to introduced them to a Category A2.  Similar concept. 

[Matt]

Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said:

My kids loved that room.  It was great for them.  It's ok though, I'm about to introduced them to a Category A2.  Similar concept. 

Suites make everything better. 

[The Cruise Junkie]

20 hours ago, Matt said:

We arrived at Port Everglades around 4:30, and I watched the sail in from deck 12 near the peek-a-boo bridge. 

If I May Ask . What Was Mariner Doing In Port Everglades? 

[Matt]

7 minutes ago, Jaymac Radio said:

If I May Ask . What Was Mariner Doing In Port Everglades? 

Medical evac. Had to drop the person off. 

[Ndfan89]

Matt - I am on 10/7 with a group of 27.  How is the casino on the Mariner and variety of slots?  Have several with us excited about the casino and hoping it is decent.

[AGSLC5]

9 hours ago, Ndfan89 said:

Matt - I am on 10/7 with a group of 27.  How is the casino on the Mariner and variety of slots?  Have several with us excited about the casino and hoping it is decent.

I have been on mariner 5 times and am an avid Casino player.. The Casino on Mariner is OK. Its not as good or large as an Oasis class but I'm sure you will find some slots you like.. My suggestion for the future is if you are going with a lot of gamblers try to go on an Oasis class ship.. They have the biggest casinos and the biggest number of options of table games and slots. 

[Matt]

14 hours ago, Ndfan89 said:

How is the casino on the Mariner and variety of slots?  Have several with us excited about the casino and hoping it is decent.

It's pretty darn nice. Lots of new slots and good variety.

[Matt]

I'm back home from Mariner and it was an incredible cruise!

We wrapped up our evening with a wedding reception in the Star Lounge. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was a very touching and enjoyable event for all. It's amazing how well the family helped bridge the direct family members with Michael and Hillary's cruise friends.

After the reception, I invited a random assortment of Royal Caribbean Blog Insiders on the cruise to join me at Izumi Hibachi. A few of the people had never done hibachi before!

Our after dinner entertainment was jenga in the pub. Shocking, I know.

All in all, a really fun cruise.  It went by incredibly quick and having been back home for an hour, I already miss everyone and the Windjammer. Alas, there's always another cruise to look forward to.

My next live blog will be from the newly amplified Oasis of the Seas in late November.

Thanks for following, and remember.... @Lovetocruise2002 started the "I'm starting my live blog super early" trend first!

[FManke]

5 minutes ago, Matt said:

Thanks for following, and remember.... @Lovetocruise2002 started the "I'm starting my live blog super early" trend first!

@Matt, you and @Lovetocruise2002 have motivated me to start my blog early.

"It's all Greek to me!" Live Blog Rhapsody of the Seas Oct 3, 2020.

376 days out!!!

[WesF]

9 minutes ago, Matt said:

It went by incredibly quick and having been back home for an hour, I already miss everyone and the Windjammer.

Wow, Matt, it's 10:00, and you've been home an hour (so 9:00)?  What time were you off the ship?  I know you live close to the port, but I didn't realize you were that close or that disembarkation would have you back at your car by 8:00 or so.

Thanks for the live blog!

[MotleyCruiser]

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 5:25 PM, Matt said:

Took all my will power not to get something in order not to ruin my dinner appetite for later

You still got a small plate though....didn't you??  EDIT: you have more will power that me. It would have been a two dinner night for me!

[MotleyCruiser]

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 10:24 PM, Matt said:

Quest! 

Y'all attended Mass?

[FManke]

4 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

Y'all attended Mass?

I would if they used savory bites for the host.

[AshleyDillo]

1 hour ago, Matt said:

My next live blog will be from the newly amplified Oasis of the Seas in late November.

Message boards for that one too?  I'd be glad to let you do all the heavy lifting and just piggyback on your message board postings..haha.

[Matt]

1 hour ago, WesF said:

Wow, Matt, it's 10:00, and you've been home an hour (so 9:00)?  What time were you off the ship?  I know you live close to the port, but I didn't realize you were that close or that disembarkation would have you back at your car by 8:00 or so.

We were among the first off the ship. Walked off a few minutes after 7am, home around 8:40am.

[Matt]

43 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

You still got a small plate though....didn't you?

Nope

[Matt]

39 minutes ago, MotleyCruiser said:

Y'all attended Mass?

The quest is pretty much the opposite of anything that would fly in Mass

[Matt]

10 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Message boards for that one too?  I'd be glad to let you do all the heavy lifting and just piggyback on your message board postings..haha.

Nope, back on the blog.

[devbak150]

Can you make the stir-fry/mongolian and take back to your room for later.  This would be an excellent late night snack, even if it is cold from the fridge!!

[devbak150]

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 1:48 PM, Matt said:

Originally I wanted to have lunch at Playmakers but true to form, that restaurant does not have enough staffing and we left before the meal could begin.  It seems each time we are on Mariner, there aren’t enough waiters to keep things moving, which is unfortunate. 

Instead, we ate lunch in the main dining room.  There was a great menu and the lovely Tutti Salad bar option plus pasta station.  

During lunch, the captain announced we will head to Fort Lauderdale to drop off a passenger for medical needs. Should be there around 4pm and be in port for less than an hour. 

This looks amazing.  is there a specific floor for dining for this.   Thanks for posting, I hadn't heard of the sea day lunch dining in MDR. 

[Matt]

15 hours ago, devbak150 said:

Can you make the stir-fry/mongolian and take back to your room for later.  This would be an excellent late night snack, even if it is cold from the fridge!!

Yes, just take the food and walk out of the Windjammer.

[Matt]

15 hours ago, devbak150 said:

This looks amazing.  is there a specific floor for dining for this.   Thanks for posting, I hadn't heard of the sea day lunch dining in MDR. 

Deck 3, which is the only deck of the MDR open for lunch.

[Mike P]

On 9/20/2019 at 5:16 PM, Matt said:

I’m pretty sure we did a similar room on Navigator a number of years ago and recall motion being more noticeable there too. 

You did....I just listened to that podcast yesterday!  Episode 27 (preview of Navigator) and 29 (review).  Navigator had just been refurbished with so many new additions including your 1st taste of Sabor!  How time flies! 

[Matt]

18 hours ago, yzfmik said:

You did....I just listened to that podcast yesterday!  Episode 27 (preview of Navigator) and 29 (review).  Navigator had just been refurbished with so many new additions including your 1st taste of Sabor!  How time flies! 

It seems like eons ago. We had one less kid, were living in NYC and had never heard of @mpoole3!

[mpoole3]

On 9/25/2019 at 6:15 AM, Matt said:

It seems like eons ago. We had one less kid, were living in NYC and had never heard of @mpoole3!

New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade! Great live blog, guess I'm a little late to the party...

[Matt]

2 hours ago, mpoole3 said:

New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade!

I had never been so excited to watch that parade to hear what the big announcement was from Royal Caribbean!