3. 2. 1……Does a Mariner Wonder the Allure of Cruising 1/15/24-2/2/24

[OCSC Mike]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

So Wonder might be my favorite Oasis class, I have symphony in Jan of 2025 but until then, it's this ship.

Welcome to the club!

The PC part plays a huge role for me but I really did love the ship.

[Ampurp85]

Day 2 sea day

It was a rough ride. This virtual balcony room is forward and I felt all the motion, which left me a bit nauseous . Another issue is being so close in front means the announcements are insanely loud.

The only negative about Wonder is the beds. For a ship that is only 2 years old, these are some worn out sunken mattresses. I slept decently but I could use a touch more firmness.

In totality we did 3 specialty restaurants yesterday. I let my brother use part of my credit and he got 24 wings and the onion rings. I got plain fries and he finished the rest.

No shenanigans for me yet. But my brother went to the casino for a few drinks. He said it was packed. While at the bar a lady peed herself. She was super drunk, staff had to help her. He didn't know if she was with people or alone but she was crying.

The app still isn't showing any dining reservations. My brother said his popped up 2hrs before but I un-installed and re-installed the app and it only shows the past reservations. I know I have a lunch and dinner but not where.

My brother is up and getting ready to have breakfast in the WJ before our 12:45 lunch. After his breakfast he will hit the gym. I will try the walking track unless it's too windy. Since you miss my mother I will leave you with a related shenanigan.

My mother's BFF has sailed with us twice, she does a lot for my mother. Driving her to church every week and to errands. She helped her find and get into her house. She has also been there plenty of times. She is a bit older but they have known each other 40+ years. As stated my mother isn't "kind." The BFF found out we were cruising, so she asked if we could buy cigarettes and bring back. My mother refused based on the fact that the BFF couldn't pick her up at the airport . Mind you she waited until the Sunday before we left, one day, to ask. The BFF had made plans and told my mother she should have asked earlier. My mother took this as a slight and spent the cruise talking about her friend in the worse way. The issue was our luggage was too full to bring them back, but she had ample space. She was just being petty because she had to pay to get home.

The view from the room is nice.

 

[ckruetze]

I'm curious about your virtual view.

1. You mentioned your room is forward so is the screen showing the correct thing at the correct location? If you were to drill a hole through the screen and whatever cabins are between the screen and the outside would it match or is the picture from somewhere else like from another side or so?

2. What is the delay? So in rough sees when you feel the ship going up and down with the waves is it accurate with the screen or is the screen a second or two delayed and it might show the ship going down when in fact it is already going up again?

[CanHardlyWait]

I'll jump on the virtual view.

Does it make your room too warm like a big TV might?

[Cactus527]

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

My mother's BFF has sailed with us twice, she does a lot for my mother. Driving her to church every week and to errands. She helped her find and get into her house. She has also been there plenty of times. She is a bit older but they have known each other 40+ years. As stated my mother isn't "kind." The BFF found out we were cruising, so she asked if we could buy cigarettes and bring back. My mother refused based on the fact that the BFF couldn't pick her up at the airport . Mind you she waited until the Sunday before we left, one day, to ask. The BFF had made plans and told my mother she should have asked earlier. My mother took this as a slight and spent the cruise talking about her friend in the worse way. The issue was our luggage was too full to bring them back, but she had ample space. She was just being petty because she had to pay to get home.

Your mama needs a healthy dose of karma. Ugh. Thank goodness you're on Wonder and SHE'S NOT!!!!!! 

[asquared17]

5 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I know I have a lunch and dinner but not where.

honestly if this isn’t the saddest part of this update…

[Ampurp85]

1 hour ago, CanHardlyWait said:

I'll jump on the virtual view.

Does it make your room too warm like a big TV might?

So far I can't say. My brother like the room warm. We don't have the AC on. So it's hot in general to me. But sitting on the sofa didn't result in extra heat.

[asquared17]

2 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

My brother like the room warm. We don't have the AC on

annnnnnnnnnd we are no longer twins. 

[Ampurp85]

So I went to the specialty dining kiosk on deck 5 and took pictures of my reservations. Lunch today was at hooked, it didn't happen.

I was up pretty early, I showered and hit the Crown Lounge. At 8:15 there was only one couple there. I got OJ and a croissant. Then I played until 12:20. I texted my brother, he said he left the WJ at 10, worked out for 45min and came back to shower. He said breakfast was so good in the WJ he was too full. Mind you he went there at 7:30. . So no hooked because I don't eat anything but shrimp from the sea.

I  was starving so I went to JR while he showered. It took awhile to get served, possibly because I sat inside and alone.So many groups came behind and got there food already. We have the puzzle society at 7, then Chop's.

The sick bags are in the hallways, hanging on stairs. I saw about 5 people fall. The promenade is a mess. Two families were letting their children climb and play on the large metal installation. Which I think is crazy because it's not a jungle gym.

I saw the arcade games in Playmakers last night, I don't know if they are free. But the Playmakers on here is huge.

 

 

[OCSC Mike]

8 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

the Crown Lounge

Houston we have a problem! They better have chocolate croissants when we're onboard or my wife will not be happy, lol.

15 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I saw the arcade games in Playmakers last night, I don't know if they are free. But the Playmakers on here is huge.

I think the retro arcade games are free, not sure about all of them like the pop-a-shot basketball ones. I popped in to get a drink a couple times but didn't spend any time there in June. Looking forward to eating there.

19 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

he said he left the WJ at 10, worked out for 45min and came back to shower. He said breakfast was so good in the WJ he was too full. Mind you he went there at 7:30.

That might be me if I sailed solo.

[Cactus527]

33 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

he said he left the WJ at 10, worked out for 45min and came back to shower. He said breakfast was so good in the WJ he was too full. Mind you he went there at 7:30.

IS YOUR BROTHER OKAY? IS HE FEELING WELL?!?!?!?? I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIS APPETITE! 

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

….aaaannnddd I WISH I had his metabolism!  I love food but my body doesn’t know what to do with it so it deposits it in all areas that are noticeable! If only!!!!!

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

….aaaannnddd I WISH I had his metabolism!  I love food but my body doesn’t know what to do with it so it deposits it in all areas that are noticeable! If only!!!!!

Yep, mine has definitely begun to slow over time. My pre-cruise diets have become more and more necessary to offset the weight gain.

It would probably help if I went to this "Gym" venue I keep reading about but that's not happening.

[Lovetocruise2002]

19 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

So Wonder might be my favorite Oasis class

+1

[She Sails Away]

We need to see photos of all that your brother consumed for breakfast if it made him too full for lunch!
 

your brother might like these infinite verandas on Celebrity. You can sleep with the half window open for the fresh air deal. You don't have to have the whole entire sliding door open.

[SweetPea]

12 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

While at the bar a lady peed herself. She was super drunk, staff had to help her. He didn't know if she was with people or alone but she was crying.

I'm a "professional"drinker and this behavior is just sad. Always, always drink in public with a buddy.  No exceptions. Especially females.  And have a code phrase with your buddy in case the drink sneaks up on you. (Especially if you're an amateur drinker making the rookie move of pounding Long Island Ice Teas or doing shots.)

Sorry to segway, you know that's not directed at you. It just makes me sad when someone doesn't know their limits, unintentionally embarrasses themselves in public, and is inevitably in for a terrible vacation day the following morning with a cocktail flu. We see way too much of this on vacation. 

[Ampurp85]

Sea day continues

It has been a bit of a mess. The weather is still bad, windy and slight spots of rain. That didn't stop the pool deck from popping. I spent most of that day in the casino. My brother walked the ship and snacked.

We had an alpha.....it was two teenagers who overdosed on something, my brother thinks energy drinks. This cause a major pile up. There was already a pile up because MTD is on deck 4. The line was in the casino. I left at 6:35 heading to adventure ocean on deck 14 to do the escape room. I walked until deck nine but it was actually more congested as people were taking selfies and filming. I made it to the puzzle room at 6:53. My brother never did.

The first boy collapsed on deck 5 by the elevators. Then one on deck 8 stairs. The one on deck 8 had been in the gym eating protein powder. People were being looky Loos, so it was 15min after 7 before he could get to deck 14. So he missed the puzzle society and was upset. I liked the actual escape room better. We didn't finish on time because people wouldn't listen. But we got 5min after it was over to complete it.

I took the stairs to Chop's. My least favorite specialty restaurant. The food was pretty bad imho. I actually sent the peppered "bacon" back. the host said the complaintis  are is either burnt or uundercooked. I got the petite filet and truly I could have gotten nothing and would have enjoyed thar more.

To be continued......

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

My former son-in-law was allergic to energy drinks.  I had never heard of it before it happened to him.  I hope those young men are ok.  Very scary.

[CanHardlyWait]

35 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Sea day continues

It has been a bit of a mess. The weather is still bad, windy and slight spots of rain. That didn't stop the pool deck from popping. I spent most of that day in the casino. My brother walked the ship and snacked.

We had an alpha.....it was two teenagers who overdosed on something, my brother thinks energy drinks. This cause a major pile up. There was already a pile up because MTD is on deck 4. The line was in the casino. I left at 6:35 heading to adventure ocean on deck 14 to do the escape room. I walked until deck nine but it was actually more congested as people were taking selfies and filming. I made it to the puzzle room at 6:53. My brother never did.

The first boy collapsed on deck 5 by the elevators. Then one on deck 8 stairs. The one on deck 8 had been in the gym eating protein powder. People were being looky Loos, so it was 15min after 7 before he could get to deck 14. So he missed the puzzle society and was upset. I liked the actual escape room better. We didn't finish on time because people wouldn't listen. But we got 5min after it was over to complete it.

I took the stairs to Chop's. My least favorite specialty restaurant. The food was pretty bad imho. I actually sent the peppered "bacon" back. the host said the complaintis  are is either burnt or uundercooked. I got the petite filet and truly I could have gotten nothing and would have enjoyed thar more.

To be continued......

 

Digging your brothers funky ass shirt. LOL.

[SweetPea]

I liked Chops on Anthem, but it was my least fave on Oasis. I blamed it on the pandemic at first, but that restaurant seems inconsistent? Or am i only reading opinions in a box? 

[Sweety]

No red velvet cake?

[ScottD]

15 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I think the retro arcade games are free, not sure about all of them like the pop-a-shot basketball ones. I popped in to get a drink a couple times but didn't spend any time there in June. Looking forward to eating there.

If it's the same as Oasis, then yep- the retro games and pool are free... the pop a shot and foosball stuff right out front cost money. On Oasis in October, that's where we spent MOST of our time due to the baseball playoffs.  

 

16 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

We don't have the AC on. So it's hot in general to me. But sitting on the sofa didn't result in extra heat

Ohhh no... that the first thing I do when I get in a room, BLAST the AC... my wife knows to bring a small blanket or sleeves whenever we stay at a hotel because I'm turning that room into a walk in meat locker. 

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

Ohhh no... that the first thing I do when I get in a room, BLAST the AC...

Same here but there’s no such thing as too cold for my wife. I’ll take cold over hot for sure.

That’s one aspect of interiors that sold my wife on them. We’ve found them to get much colder than balcony cabins on some ships/sailings. Cold, dark caves are good for sleeping, lol.

[She Sails Away]

That is so sad about those two kids. I hope they're OK!

[Cactus527]

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Same here but there’s no such thing as too cold for my wife. I’ll take cold over hot for sure.

That’s one aspect of interiors that sold my wife on them. We’ve found them to get much colder than balcony cabins on some ships/sailings. Cold, dark caves are good for sleeping, lol.

I live in southern Arizona and keep my AC at 80-82° in the summer. When on ship, I think my temperature thing is always more on the warm side. All this "cold" and "meat locker" talk makes me shiver. Warmer is better!

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, Cactus527 said:

I live in southern Arizona and keep my AC at 80-82° in the summer. When on ship, I think my temperature thing is always more on the warm side. All this "cold" and "meat locker" talk makes me shiver. Warmer is better!

At least you have a dry heat (which I know is real from trips to Vegas). Humidity on the east coast sucks and I'm originally from PA so I look forward to those few weeks per year that it cools down here.

 

[Cactus527]

26 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

At least you have a dry heat (which I know is real from trips to Vegas). Humidity on the east coast sucks and I'm originally from PA so I look forward to those few weeks per year that it cools down here.

Every time someone says "dry heat," I always mention that the inside of an oven is also a dry heat. Would you like to hang out in there? 

Also, I can't exist in humidity. On ships, I can only spend so long outside before I melt, no matter what time of year it is.

[Cactus527]

@Ampurp85, speaking of which, how has the weather been overall? Hot? Warm? Super humid?

[OCSC Mike]

5 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

On ships, I can only spend so long outside before I melt, no matter what time of year it is.

I don't do sun or extreme heat on cruises either. My skin tone choices are pale or red... I choose pale. Chilling in the Solarium in the shade for a bit is my version of lying out. I can only tolerate it on CocoCay and other beaches with shade, drinks, and the occasional dip in the pool/ocean to cool off if need-be.

Since we normally can only cruise in the spring or summer, squeezing in October cruises the past 2 years was very refreshing, weather-wise.

[ScottD]

15 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

I don't do sun or extreme heat on cruises either. My skin tone choices are pale or red... I choose pale. Chilling in the Solarium in the shade for a bit is my version of lying out. I can only tolerate it on CocoCay and other beaches with shade, drinks, and the occasional dip in the pool/ocean to cool off if need-be.

Since we normally can only cruise in the spring or summer, squeezing in October cruises the past 2 years was very refreshing, weather-wise.

This is exactly why our last two were in Jan\Feb and Oct...kinda dreading this July one in Bermuda...

[Ampurp85]

Weather hasn't been ideal, we are just getting some mild heat. Captain said swells are 13ft, and 44-46mile winds. I finally put on shorts today and I'm not freezing.

[Ampurp85]

Sea day continues

So hand washing isn't a thing even in the bathrooms. Cleaning seems to be minimal in bathrooms, hallways and staterooms. Our attendant didn't come the first night at all, then he seemed to only made the bed and gave us towels this night.

I thought the one boy was a teen but he was like 12. He kept ordering red bulls and the caffeine caused a reaction. They say he is mending now. The teenager was wearing a bubble coat and booty shorts. The protein, energy drinks and attire attributed to his reaction. At least that is what this chatty vintage from the casino said.

There was also a fight in the elevator between a wheelchair user and a drink lady. She kept pressing the close button and not letting people on or off.

The demographics for this cruise indicates that 45% is over 55, 35% are under 18 and the remaining 20% fall in between. Walking the hallways you are seeing 5 and 6 wheelchairs per section. Then 1 or two bulky strollers.

As I said Chop's was probably the worst dinner I've had so far and we ate in the MDR for 5 nights on mariner. So we went to Playmakers, I got chicken strips and my brother got 12 wings and onion rings. We also got our vouchers. It was packed on the boardwalk.

I got some ginger ales because my stomach is feeling the movement hard.

[Ampurp85]

Sea day 3.

Weather has improved somewhat but not nearly enough for my brother, who is grateful he brought 4 pairs of pants.

The casino hasn't been kind. But I watched a guy play $48 spins and hit $3700. Also everyone is assuming because there is a smoke-free casino, they can smoke on the non-smoking side of the large one.

The Crown Lounge has snacks after breakfast. There was tuna sammies  my brother had 3, cookies and fruit. We had Chop's lunch scheduled but after last night we decided to get Playmakers. We have Giovanni's Italian kitchen for dinner, so we should be full.

We popped in the top tier event for punch and mimosas. Basically 2/3 of the cruisers are newbie. 300s of D/D+, 60ish pins and about a thousand to round out the rest. My brother is a mechanical engineer so when they were talking about Icon, he was laughing. He said despite it holding almost a third more people it's on a small room of footage actually added.

We are at lunch at Playmakers, watching the Abyss and Aqua show practice.

[OCSC Mike]

Playmakers garlic parm fries!

Looking forward to your Gio Kitchen pics/review. Table has always been our one specialty go-to (pre-Mason Jar) so we’re going to try Kitchen with a bogo as soon as we turn D+ after this next cruise.

Hope the weather improves for ya. It’s going to be pretty warm here the rest of the week.

[CanHardlyWait]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

So hand washing isn't a thing even in the bathrooms. Cleaning seems to be minimal in bathrooms, hallways and staterooms. Our attendant didn't come the first night at all, then he seemed to only made the bed and gave us towels this night.

I can't even with people not washing there hands. 

As for public toilets not being cleaned enough on Wonder, that was an ongoing issue back in May. Sad it hasn't improved. 

Hope the weather gets better. The waves too. LOL.

[She Sails Away]

That food looks amazing! I hope you feel a better soon. 
 

The bathroom cleaning on oasis was also much more below standard than usual. The bathrooms here are nice although I have yet to see anybody in there actually cleaning them.

[Ampurp85]

There was a parade on deck 5. We saw something similar on Oasis last year and it was cute.  It was too congested and people had no manners. I mean truthfully manners are lacking all around: people are letting their children do whatever, they stop mid-walk, they film everywhere and they touch everything.

There is a Kincaid Disney collaboration happening with the art collective. There were paintings of Avengers, captain America, I believe the little mermaid, etc. It says not to touch and adults and children alike were touching. There were also tiny humans running around touching the parade performers, staff and random people including me . I saw the stowaway piano aft, his elevator was always full, everyone was recording.

We only had enough to get food with new pricing at Playmakers. So we headed to the WJ for dessert. My brother made out pretty good. I got some fresh chocolate chip cookies and sprinkle's soft serve. The tiny humans had no concept of a line and just got in and ordered multiple cones. The WJ was pretty packed, I'm glad we didn't need seats.

I walked the pool deck to forward, it was crazy. Those pools/hot tubs you can see the people in were filled to the brim. Also there were tins of "brave" adults, some if those outfits were hanging on by a prayer .

I went back to the room and had my first nap. Now I'm heading back to the casino. We have voices at 6:45 and Giovanni's is at 8pm.

[asquared17]

25 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

some if those outfits were hanging on by a prayer .

oh lord

[Cactus527]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

Also there were tins of "brave" adults, some if those outfits were hanging on by a prayer .

I can picture this EXACTLY. I don't know whether to laugh, be horrified, or both. 

[Ampurp85]

I finally had some luck in the casino. I got seats in the theater and my brother went to the WJ for snacks. They are selling popcorn,  I don't know how much it cost, I will ask.