asquared17 Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 2 hours ago, melmar02 said: Rumor in the group is that Royal changed to only include it on 7+ night sailings when they switched to the one tail rule. i vaguely remember hearing something along these lines but i also remember people on shorter cruises having lobster. so it’s a bit of a blur. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 1 hour ago, asquared17 said: i vaguely remember hearing something along these lines but i also remember people on shorter cruises having lobster. so it’s a bit of a blur. Night 5 which is supposed to be our second formal night is showing as casual, so maybe? I'll definitely report back on this. Maybe there will be some in the WJ on day one since Liberty is only scheduled for shorter 4/3 day sailings after our 6 day. The kids are hoping they will need to get rid of it all the leftovers from New England on our trip. PPPJJ-GCVAB, OCSC Mike and asquared17 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 28, 2023 Report Share Posted October 28, 2023 33 minutes ago, melmar02 said: The kids are hoping they will need to get rid of it all the leftovers from New England on our trip. I saw lobster tails in the WJ once ever, a long time ago… it was a glorious night, lol. melmar02 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said: I saw lobster tails in the WJ once ever, a long time ago… it was a glorious night, lol. OCSC Mike, asquared17, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Marketing works! I just received our last call to book in the cruise planner email. Since we probably won't be taking surf lessons at FLL, I booked flowrider lessons for the kids for day 2. There are actually a couple flowriders at city pools near us and we had a chance to practice this summer a couple times. DD can stand for about 10-15 seconds. DS goes down pretty quick, but doesn't like to wait in lines so didn't practice as much as DD. A dedicated lesson will be good for them. PPPJJ-GCVAB and LandstromCruise 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandstromCruise Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 32 minutes ago, melmar02 said: Marketing works! I just received our last call to book in the cruise planner email. Since we probably won't be taking surf lessons at FLL, I booked flowrider lessons for the kids for day 2. There are actually a couple flowriders at city pools near us and we had a chance to practice this summer a couple times. DD can stand for about 10-15 seconds. DS goes down pretty quick, but doesn't like to wait in lines so didn't practice as much as DD. A dedicated lesson will be good for them. My wife and I are actually going to do a lesson on Odyssey next month. I have done the knee boarding before but never tried the surfing. The wife tried once on our first cruise back in 2018 and she went down like a sack of potatoes . Figured it would be fun to try something new. PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 24 minutes ago, LandstromCruise said: My wife and I are actually going to do a lesson on Odyssey next month. I have done the knee boarding before but never tried the surfing. The wife tried once on our first cruise back in 2018 and she went down like a sack of potatoes . Figured it would be fun to try something new. I tried over the summer, and it did not go well either. PPPJJ-GCVAB, LandstromCruise and Ampurp85 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 I think it was right after the restart they started doing lobster only on 7N or longer. But yes the marketing is insane, I brought so many dinners for my next cruises because of those emails. melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 It's travel day! Kids just need to add a couple items to their bags this morning after they get dressed. DH and I are 90% packed - it's all there and just needs to be tetris-ed into the bags. Weather looks maybe a little better here is Dallas. 40% chance of rain all day, but at least they aren't saying heavy storms. FLL is now supposed to be only partly cloudy today through embarkation day which with just a 25% chance of rain. Ampurp85, MaryS, LandstromCruise and 6 others 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Out the door. Stopping for gas then on to the airport. So far our flight is showing on time and it has only been sprinkling. MaryS, asquared17, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 At the gate. Still on time, and we board in about 10 minutes. WAAAYTOOO, PPPJJ-GCVAB and Lovetocruise2002 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandstromCruise Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Sending good travel vibes! melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Safe travels melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 The flight had a bumpy start but smoothed out once we got above the clouds. In the Uber, and it's $70 for an XL to the hotel. Should be a 35 minute ride. MaryS, Lovetocruise2002, FireFishII and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Made it to the hotel, and they are renovating. DH said they sent him an email this week about it. First impressions are that they could use an update. We arrived 20 minutes too late for tonight's free happy hour so DH went on a search for a bottle of wine. We do get 2 beach chairs with an umbrella, and 2 tropical drinks of the day each day. We're all tired so we decided to go with a known quantity for dinner and ordered a pizza. Our room has a living room, separate bedroom with 2 queens, and 2 bathrooms. We didn't pay for the upgraded view, so we overlook the pool...of the motel across the street. MIL texted that it sleeted a little back home. Glad we missed it! PPPJJ-GCVAB, Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002 and 5 others 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InmyElement Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 Safe travels and looking forward to reading along..we'll be at CocoCay on Thurs the 9th just miss you by a day. Hoping for good weather for all.. melmar02 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 29, 2023 Report Share Posted October 29, 2023 glad you landed safely and are in for the night. nothing like being grateful the first leg of the trip has passed!! WAAAYTOOO and melmar02 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 51 minutes ago, InmyElement said: Safe travels and looking forward to reading along..we'll be at CocoCay on Thurs the 9th just miss you by a day. Hoping for good weather for all.. Thanks, same to you! 50 minutes ago, asquared17 said: glad you landed safely and are in for the night. nothing like being grateful the first leg of the trip has passed!! Right! DH and I looked across the pizza covered table and let out a collective sigh that today was over. Dinner was a success! Tomorrow we are going to enjoy our free breakfast and check out the beach in the morning. We booked an escape room for tommorow afternoon, and the kids have requested seafood for dinner. We have a plan! Right now we are all happily in our jammies letting the vacation vibe wash over us. Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO, asquared17 and 7 others 7 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 7 minutes ago, melmar02 said: and the kids have requested seafood for dinner. What? Umm…ever hear of LaBamba? lol asquared17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 7 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said: What? Umm…ever hear of LaBamba? lol We're not at the Embassy suites in Ft Lauderdale. We're staying in Deerfield Beach which is 30ish minutes north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 6 minutes ago, melmar02 said: We're not at the Embassy suites in Ft Lauderdale. We're staying in Deerfield Beach which is 30ish minutes north. When there’s a will, there’s a way. I am even contemplating driving there when we sail out of Miami in March, and we are staying at the Intercontinental! I know, I am nuts! PPPJJ-GCVAB, LandstromCruise, asquared17 and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandstromCruise Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 5 minutes ago, melmar02 said: We're not at the Embassy suites in Ft Lauderdale. We're staying in Deerfield Beach which is 30ish minutes north. I think @Lovetocruise2002would definitely travel 30ish minutes for LaBamba. I’m willing to guess even further than that melmar02 and Lovetocruise2002 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, LandstromCruise said: I think @Lovetocruise2002would definitely travel 30ish minutes for LaBamba. I’m willing to guess even further than that Your guess is probably correct! Btw, @melmar02 there are other locations…I think the one on North Federal Highway is closer to where you are at. melmar02 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 I am glad you all made it safe without much delay. I love when travel is over and I am at my destination, pizza also usually a safe option. WAAAYTOOO, asquared17 and melmar02 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day here in Ft Lauderdale. High of 84, and there are a few clouds in the distance. With the rip current warning still in effect, we think we made the right decision to forego surf lessons today. We went to the hotel's included breakfast and were able to catch the sunrise over the pool. The ocean is just on the other side of the pool. Breakfast was the typical just OK free hotel breakfast. A step up from Homewood suites with an omelet station in addition to buffet eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, muffins, bagels, and oatmeal. There was no waffle maker which disappointed the kids. after breakfast we walked over to the beach which was clean and drops off pretty quickly at the foot of the loungers. DS and I are headed to the pool, DH is taking a nap, and DD needs a break from yesterday's over stimulation and is going to watch TV until DH is up. They'll join us at the pool then. CruzOnBye, MaryS, Sweety and 8 others 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 Ooh a jalapeno and spinach omelet would not have me ready for the day PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, ScottD and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 3 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: Ooh a jalapeno and spinach omelet would not have me ready for the day Girl, I live for jalapenos! DH and I were shocked we didn't have the option to have them on our cheesesticks last night. #youknowyourefromtexaswhen CruzOnBye, WAAAYTOOO, OCSC Mike and 3 others 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 12 minutes ago, melmar02 said: Girl, I live for jalapenos! Big fan of the jalapeno pineapple margarita from Playmakers and the jalapeno cucumber one from Sabor the other night was good too. Bacon wrapped chicken jalapeno app at Sabor is also my favorite thing on the whole menu. We had the nicest server who brought me a triple order when I told her that, lol. May you find many jalapenos on Liberty! WAAAYTOOO, melmar02, CruzOnBye and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 9 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said: May you find many jalapenos on Liberty! Thank you! Funny thing, I have never been able to get jalapenos in an omelet in the suite breakfast. I have had them kind of figure out what I wanted and add fresh around day four. One of the reasons we like the Freedom and Voyager class is the WJ being right next to Chops where the suite breakfast is held. I can get a little cup of jalapenos from the buffet to add to my breakfast. 🌶 WAAAYTOOO, OCSC Mike and FireFishII 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCSC Mike Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 7 minutes ago, melmar02 said: I can get a little cup of jalapenos from the buffet to add to my breakfast. Love the little food hacks like that. My wife isn't really a drinker and often gets a banana from WJ and asks a bartender (usually while in the Solarium) to add it to her virgin strawberry daiquiri. Comes out somewhere between a daiquiri and a smoothie. She's also grabbed chocolate chips from the WJ waffle station to add to things, lol. PPPJJ-GCVAB, melmar02, FireFishII and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 A few hotel pictures. The spa is closed on Mondays and about half the gym cardio equipment had out of order signs. Looks like drink prices are on point with RC, but you can get pitchers of drinks here. JohnK6404, Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 6 others 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 2 minutes ago, melmar02 said: A few hotel pictures. The spa is closed on Mondays and about half the gym cardio equipment had out of order signs. Looks like drink prices are on point with RC, but you can get pitchers of drinks here. Wow the sky is so blue! Happy you lucked out with the weather. I’m hoping for the same next weekend but so far the forecast isn’t too promising. But knowing yours wasn’t either, at first, gives me a little hope! melmar02 and asquared17 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 30, 2023 Report Share Posted October 30, 2023 @melmar02 you and my brother would best friends. Those drinks sound delicious, I hope the pitchers are at least 4 drinks because then it becomes a pretty good deal. The weather looks perfect, it's like 40 degrees in Chicago, even my cat is trying to stay warm. PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, InmyElement and 2 others 2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 DS and I hit the beach the pool and back to the beach after breakfast. There were quite a few jellyfish bits on the beach, and we found a few intact shells. We headed back to the room and the kids had leftover pizza. DD had a little school work to turn in, and then we took an Uber to The Master Escape Room in Boca Raton. We escaped with 16 minutes to go and almost made the leader board. The lady working the desk said we were the first group to not get a single clue. Then we caught another Uber to JByrd's Muddy Waters for dinner. It was OK. I would go back if we lived here, but probably want to try some place else the next time we sail from here. The spinach artichoke dip was really good - DS even kept eating it which says a lot. I had the gator poboy, DH had the French dip, DD had the seafood mac and cheese, and DS had fried chicken tacos. Nobody left hungry. We're back at the hotel and winding down for the night. We didn't use our drink vouchers yesterday so DH and I are each on our second strawberry margarita. Ampurp85, Sweety, asquared17 and 7 others 9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 That spinach artichoke dip looks like a cheesy salad. jbrinkm and melmar02 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 13 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said: That spinach artichoke dip looks like a cheesy salad. It was so good. I thought DS was going to eat it all! Ampurp85 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 i’m stuck wondering if the gator po’boy was real gator and then i decided i didn’t want to dwell upon it that shot of the coast/shore is stunning i love the shells you saw too! also i am unsure if i’ve ever seen a jellyfish that disturbingly intact on shore i am glad you steered clear enough of it!! love that you did the escape room family activity it’s so fun to see families doing “heists” and group events. we were always so low key in my family that i like to live vicariously through everyone else one last sleep!! it’s almost cruise day melmar02 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 7 hours ago, asquared17 said: i’m stuck wondering if the gator po’boy was real gator and then i decided i didn’t want to dwell upon it one last sleep!! it’s almost cruise day I was thinking the same thing! Hmmmmmm Let the cruising begin! melmar02 and asquared17 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmar02 Posted October 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 I forgot to mention. There was a TV I could see over DD's shoulder last night at dinner which had the news on. There was a story about an alligator swimming along the beach. Well of course I had to Google Map where that particular beach was located. Turns out it's less than a mile from where we are staying! Hopefully this doesn't become the trip of animal shenanigans instead of people shenanigans like poor @Ampurp85 experienced! WAAAYTOOO, Ampurp85, Lovetocruise2002 and 3 others 1 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted October 31, 2023 Report Share Posted October 31, 2023 ITS CRUISE DAY!!!!!!!! WAAAYTOOO and melmar02 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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