Karannk Posted August 29, 2023 Report Share Posted August 29, 2023 Today marks 47 days to go. We received our genie survey 2 days ago. Plan to work on it this weekend. This is our 2nd star class sailing. First was on Anthem in 1/2020, right before cruising and life as we know it hit the fan. This is our first cruise back, and we’re excited! Our suite will include myself, the husband, and our 12 yr old son. Cruise Itinerary: 7 night Perfect Day Bahamas (Port Canaveral, CocoCay, Nassau) from Cape Liberty, NJ on 10/15/2023 Stateroom: Grand Panoramic Suite #1758 Shore Excursions: We have no real excursions planned. Will probably stay on ship in Port Canaveral and Nassau. However, we do have a Thrill Waterpark Cabana planned for Coco Cay. Transportation: We are fortunate to live approximately 2 1/2 hours from the port, therefore will be arranging transportation through Delaware Express. We have used them many times for airport transportation, and have found them to be reliable. Looking forward to finding out who our genie will be! Sweety, WAAAYTOOO, Lovetocruise2002 and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nferr Posted August 29, 2023 Report Share Posted August 29, 2023 I'll be on that cruise. Far from Star Class though. Booked in a 14'th floor interior room, actually right next door to the Aqua Suite. We'll see if any Royal Up bids are successful but I'm doubtful. Going solo and looking forward to a great cruise. I'm also about two hours from the port in Connecticut. Taking Amtrak in the morning from Bridgeport and a Uber from Newark. Karannk and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted August 30, 2023 Report Share Posted August 30, 2023 1758 is one of my favourite cabins! Karannk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVPIII Posted August 30, 2023 Report Share Posted August 30, 2023 OTS was our first Star class Cruise. My first cruise with Royal as a matter of fact and we loved it. It will always be one of my favorites I think. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottD Posted August 30, 2023 Report Share Posted August 30, 2023 I'll be on Oasis 10\1 (OV balcony deck 14). I'll get her warmed up for you. I also plan on doing a live\semi live blog. Karannk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted September 4, 2023 Report Share Posted September 4, 2023 I'm debating blogging with so many other good SC blogs on the shelf right now, but we're in the OP across the hall in 9/24. So of course I'll be following along! Happy planning! WAAAYTOOO, Rags1 and KristiZ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 5, 2023 Report Share Posted September 5, 2023 21 hours ago, SweetPea said: I'm debating blogging with so many other good SC blogs on the shelf right now, Ok, I will decide for you. You're blogging. The end. JVPIII, Sweety, Jax and 6 others 2 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVPIII Posted September 12, 2023 Report Share Posted September 12, 2023 On 9/4/2023 at 11:34 AM, SweetPea said: I'm debating blogging with so many other good SC blogs on the shelf right now, but we're in the OP across the hall in 9/24. So of course I'll be following along! Happy planning! On 9/5/2023 at 9:28 AM, Lovetocruise2002 said: Ok, I will decide for you. You're blogging. The end. SweetPea, FireFishII and Rags1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFishII Posted September 14, 2023 Report Share Posted September 14, 2023 SweetPea - even a bad blog is better than no blog. So BLOG away. We will keep all comments to ourselves. LOL SweetPea and Rags1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted September 14, 2023 Report Share Posted September 14, 2023 5 hours ago, FireFishII said: SweetPea - even a bad blog is better than no blog. So BLOG away. We will keep all comments to ourselves. LOL Oh if do it, please don't hold back! That's half the fun and i have a thick skin! Rags1, ScottD, Jax and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted September 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Let’s be honest, I’ve been waiting impatiently for our genie email. Today marks day 28 before the cruise. I had already seen that some others on our sailing had gotten their genie emails from Derrick and Leticia. Finally, at nearly 11PM today we got our genie email. It was communication from Shane, who will handle all pre-cruise arrangements before his upcoming vacation. Onboard we will have Allan as our genie. I think this is great news. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about both of them. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVPIII Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 41 minutes ago, Karannk said: Let’s be honest, I’ve been waiting impatiently for our genie email. Today marks day 28 before the cruise. I had already seen that some others on our sailing had gotten their genie emails from Derrick and Leticia. Finally, at nearly 11PM today we got our genie email. It was communication from Shane, who will handle all pre-cruise arrangements before his upcoming vacation. Onboard we will have Allan as our genie. I think this is great news. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about both of them. This is exactly how our communication went on our first Star Class trip on the Oasis. Shane handled pre cruise and Allen took care of us. We had an awesome time and I know you will as well. Congratulations on getting that email. I know from personal experience that refreshing the inbox on your email every few minutes to check is not healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 2 hours ago, Karannk said: Let’s be honest, I’ve been waiting impatiently for our genie email. Today marks day 28 before the cruise. I had already seen that some others on our sailing had gotten their genie emails from Derrick and Leticia. Finally, at nearly 11PM today we got our genie email. It was communication from Shane, who will handle all pre-cruise arrangements before his upcoming vacation. Onboard we will have Allan as our genie. I think this is great news. I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about both of them. You would have been in great hands with either Shane or Allan. We were in that same suite and had Shane as our genie. You are in for a treat; the suite is one of our favourites. A word of caution, the windows in the master that overlook onto the walking path are 2 way so be sure to pull the privacy shades. I was not aware of this until day 2 or 3 of our cruise. I love Oasis particularly their dining options; Portside bbq and Playmakers are great lunch spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Allan is so awesome! But so is Shane! It’s a win-win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rags1 Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Allan is great! He doesn’t miss a thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Wow, is it just me, or do Genies seem to be on short vacations? Didn't Derick just come back to replace Alan sometime in July? So they barely get 3 months off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFishII Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 It may be their choice too. Or the cruise lines are experiencing what most businesses are experiencing - lack of workers. WAAAYTOOO and SweetPea 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 3 hours ago, SweetPea said: Wow, is it just me, or do Genies seem to be on short vacations? Didn't Derick just come back to replace Alan sometime in July? So they barely get 3 months off. Standard rotations for genies are 5 months on, 2 months off. SweetPea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: Standard rotations for genies are 5 months on, 2 months off. Thanks for that. I don't envy that schedule! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 10 hours ago, SweetPea said: Thanks for that. I don't envy that schedule! Agreed! Not much time for them to destress. SweetPea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 Cruise day tomorrow! A couple changes to our plans. Rather than using Delaware Express, we’re going to drive mostly there today and stay at a hotel close-ish to port. When looking at options, prices were pretty high for not much value in the Bayonne/Jersey City area. We’re headed to the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Edison/S Plainfield. Gets us close enough for an easy drive to port in the morning and it has free parking and breakfast included. MaryS, TessFromFlorida, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 Have fun! And if i can offer one piece of advice for the GP: bring slippers or at least a pair of grippy socks. The floor can be cold and slick. I regretted not having a pair of slippers, but as usual, i forgot which cruiseline i was sailing! Be especially careful in the bathroom. We did put a lot of towels down to prevent falls from the wet floor as well. Karannk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 It was an easy drive this morning from our hotel in Edison, NJ. Check-in at the port went smoothly. Allan took us directly to our suite. After chomping on some suite snacks, we headed off to the muster station. We planned for lunch at Playmakers, but there were no seats available inside. And outside is just too chilly today. So we ended up at Coastal Kitchen for lunch. Lovetocruise2002, Cruisin and Boozin, MaryS and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 Here’s our tentative schedule: WAAAYTOOO, FireFishII, SweetPea and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandstromCruise Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 Have a back up plan of something you might want to do during Cats. I walked out of that after 10 minutes. It was so bad. Lovetocruise2002, SweetPea and TessFromFlorida 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 3 minutes ago, LandstromCruise said: Have a back up plan of something you might want to do during Cats. I walked out of that after 10 minutes. It was so bad. Agree, we skipped it all together. Our Genie told us the show used to be 3 hours, but no one stayed after intermission. But even if one person stayed, they had to finish the show! I figured you would have a hard time getting a seat at Playmakers today with Sunday football on. I'm actually looking forward to sailing on Symphony on a Friday so we have a better shot at getting a seat! Monday night was helpless as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 I miss that room so much! Enjoy it! And please tell Allan that Sabrina & family miss him lots! You are so lucky to have him this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 Love that suite ! Best one we ever stayed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 i love this suite — and i only know it from pictures shared here!! it’s so gorgeous and posh can’t wait to read more about your adventures this week! WAAAYTOOO and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 Filet night at CK did not disappoint! The burrata was delicious. Rigatoni was not spicy at all, and kinda tasted like an elevated chef boyardeee spaghettios and hotdogs. It was OK. Later in the night we spent some time at Vintages per Allan’s recommendation. Food was great. I only have one pic of the crab croquetas. Forgot the rest. Gobbled everything down too fast. PPPJJ-GCVAB, Cruisin and Boozin, asquared17 and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 Day 2: Sea Day. Breakfast at CK. Followed by a quick stop at Starbucks. Husband went on the zip line. Husband and son then took the Abyss slide down to the Boardwalk. I took the elevator. They totally beat me. The elevators are pretty crowded. Someone ran over my foot with their jazzy power chair in the elevator last night. I was not happy. We have lunch reservations at Izumi Sushi. Dinner at Chops. Illusionist show tonight. Cruisin and Boozin, Sweety, Lovetocruise2002 and 6 others 7 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 We enjoyed the Illusionist. Seems SC seating is the front row for that show so if you want to sit back further, advise Alan. Karannk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 The boys are in the balcony hot tub. We’re currently off the coast of NC. Still too cold for me! Listening to the jams on the pool deck. And the clinking of the ping pong balls down below. Lunch was at Izumi Sushi. Love those Geisha drinks! They certainly pack a punch. WAAAYTOOO, Lovetocruise2002, Jax and 4 others 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 that green tea ice cream is calling my name! i should have asked this prior to your reservation — does anyone know if izumi serves brown rice sushi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 22 minutes ago, Karannk said: Listening to the jams on the pool deck. And the clinking of the ping pong balls down below. that ping pong table drove me nuts!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 On 10/15/2023 at 7:16 PM, Lovetocruise2002 said: I miss that room so much! Enjoy it! And please tell Allan that Sabrina & family miss him lots! You are so lucky to have him this week. We mentioned your name tonight and his face lit up. Nice guy. We’re lucky to have him. Lovetocruise2002 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 9 hours ago, SweetPea said: We enjoyed the Illusionist. Seems SC seating is the front row for that show so if you want to sit back further, advise Alan. We were seated in the first row of the slightly elevated section, if that makes sense. Not the front front row. Nice ledge for drinks. SweetPea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted October 17, 2023 Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 18 minutes ago, Karannk said: We were seated in the first row of the slightly elevated section, if that makes sense. Not the front front row. Nice ledge for drinks. Much better than us ... we'd have had to set our drinks on the stage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karannk Posted October 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 Tonight’s dinner at Chops: Alligator towel dude by our room attendants KoKo and Jo: Skigoofy, MaryS, Jax and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 17, 2023 Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 Is that gator consuming some poor, defenseless rodent ? I spy those noxious nodules [raisins] in the apple pie. <shudder> Lovetocruise2002, MaryS, asquared17 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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