MaryS Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 A little about me: I am 61 but still think I’m in my 40’s (don’t know where those 20 years went). Grew up on Long Island, moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia 30 years ago. Still can’t get rid of my NY accent and I will always drive like I’m from LI. I love sailing solo! This will be my 7th solo cruise (4 on Royal & 3 on Celebrity). I have traveled with my parents many times when they were alive and blame the travel bug on them. I sometimes travel with 1 or both of my sisters but I didn’t want to this time (I didn’t even tell them until after I booked, sorry not sorry). My 1st solo cruise was on the Celebrity Summit in 2018. I have sailed on the Summit 2 times from Cape Liberty NJ to Bermuda and have enjoyed the Celebrity experience. The past 2 years I have sailed the Anthem Christmas cruise from Cape Liberty NJ but the 2023 cruise was double the price so no Xmas cruise for me. Normally I’m not able to travel Jan – March due work (I’m a corporate controller for a hotel development and management company for the past 32 years). We have sold our hotels so my 2023 work load has been very light (not complaining at least I still get paid). Now I can finally book a winter cruise! In October I booked the Celebrity Ascent January 282024 – February 4, 2024 7 Day Eastern Caribbean. I picked this cruise for the itinerary not realizing that it’s a new ship. I originally booked an ocean view cabin on deck 3 (veranda is not in my budget traveling solo on Celebrity). I saw that a Panoramic Ocean view cabin (floor to ceiling window) on deck 6 was available and paid just a little more for it. I have also put in Move Up bids for all veranda class cabins (Infinite, Concierge, Sunset and Aqua). Suite Move up wasn’t offered. Oh well I wouldn’t know what to do with a suite anyway. Who am I kidding I would love a suite. People on our FB group started getting their upgrade emails Christmas week. Sadly, no email for me but my status still says “pending” (I really want Aqua class). Itinerary: Flying in on Saturday Jan 27 on American Airlines Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale. I’m staying at the AC Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel using my Bonvoy points. Sun 28 Jan Fort Lauderdale - Florida --- 3:30 PM Mon 29 Jan At Sea --- --- Tues 30 Jan San Juan - Puerto Rico 3:30 PM 10:00 PM no plans will just walk around Wed 31 Jan Tortola - B.V.I. 8:00 AM 6:00 PM Ultimate Beach Experience: Relax at Long Bay Beach- Beef Island Thurs 01 Feb Basseterre - St Kitts & Nevis 7:00 AM 5:00 PM excursion: Scenic Railway Tour Fri 02 Feb At Sea --- --- Sat 03 Feb At Sea --- --- Sun 04 Feb Fort Lauderdale - Florida 7:00 AM Flight home at 12:00 from Fort Lauderdale I am Diamond on RC therefore I am Elite on Celebrity. On Celebrity you do not get drink vouchers but you do get free drinks from a specified menu (very limited) from 5PM to 7PM at most bars but not in the MDR. You also get 30% off on WiFi package. I love Black Friday sales! I was able to get the Premium Beverage Package for $54.99 per day (originally $99.99) and WiFi 1 device for $15.99 per day (originally $34.99) and my St Kitts & Tortola excursions 50% off! Packing: I am the classic over packer! I will have my 29” checked bag and my 21” carry on. My biggest problem is keeping the big bag under 50lbs! It’s only clothes, toiletries and sunscreen lots of sunscreen (I have blue eyes, freckles and reddish brown hair so I burn and add on to the freckles). JohnK6404, SweetPea, WAYNO and 9 others 10 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Hi and following. Interested in your experience as we hide cruises from family but i don't know if i have the guts to go solo if hubs can't ever make it! We're hoping the Edge Class makes its way to Bayonne sometime. Happy packing and thanks for taking us along! Neesa and MaryS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neesa Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Following along. My bucket list includes sailing single O! Looking forward to your trip report. Love, love, love that wall color! MaryS and Sweety 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 12 minutes ago, SweetPea said: We're hoping the Edge Class makes its way to Bayonne sometime. I would love it if Edge Class went to Bermuda from Bayonne or anywhere from Bayonne SweetPea, PPPJJ-GCVAB and Neesa 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 6 minutes ago, Neesa said: Love, love, love that wall color! Thanks Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 mary!!!!! i have been WAITING for this blog safe travels on saturday and i am hopeful the weather will be in your favor signed, your NJ neighbor who has hating this cold snow we had this last week!! MaryS, Sweety, Neesa and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK6404 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 4 hours ago, MaryS said: A little about me: I am 61 but still think I’m in my 40’s (don’t know where those 20 years went). Grew up on Long Island, moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia 30 years ago. Still can’t get rid of my NY accent and I will always drive like I’m from LI. Have an amazing time! My wife and I have lived on Long Island our whole lives (wife grew up in Farmingdale and I'm from Smithtown), but do not see us retiring here. We toy with the idea of moving down south... maybe Florida! Need to be closer to those ports and amusement parks! 4 hours ago, MaryS said: I would love it if Edge Class went to Bermuda from Bayonne or anywhere from Bayonne Us too! Would also love for Royal to add Bermuda back to the Anthem, Odyssey, etc., itineraries. We've sailed Explorer and Liberty to Bermuda... time for a newer ship! I remember Anthem used to periodically sail to Bermuda. Getting tired of the Port Canaveral/Nassau/Coco Cay itineraries on the larger ships out of Bayonne (I know they're limited for 7-night sailings). Also, Tortola and St. Kitts & Nevis sound amazing! WAAAYTOOO, SweetPea, MaryS and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 10 hours ago, JohnK6404 said: My wife and I have lived on Long Island our whole lives (wife grew up in Farmingdale and I'm from Smithtown), but do not see us retiring here. We toy with the idea of moving down south... maybe Florida! Need to be closer to those ports and amusement parks! I grew up in Mineola and Oceanside. Last November was my 1st time back to LI in 20 years (uncles 80th Bday party). Almost all of the family moved and never had a reason to go back. I really don't miss it. What I do miss is how close the beaches were. Now I have to drive an hour to get to the northern part of the Jersey shore. I am also thinking about moving down south to Florida probably in the next 2-3 years. JohnK6404 and PPPJJ-GCVAB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Sails Away Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Fellow Long Islander here! Currently enjoying a solo cabin on the Ascent (as you know) and we are just going to miss each other when I disembark and you embark! Really looking forward to your blog and hearing all about your cabin, it sounds amazing. I also really like your itinerary, completely different than the one we're doing right now. Safe travels! ( I love cruising solo and do it all the time.) MaryS, JohnK6404, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 2 others 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 3 minutes ago, She Sails Away said: Fellow Long Islander here! Currently enjoying a solo cabin on the Ascent (as you know) and we are just going to miss each other when I disembark and you embark! Really looking forward to your blog and hearing all about your cabin, it sounds amazing. I also really like your itinerary, completely different than the one we're doing right now. Safe travels! ( I love cruising solo and do it all the time.) I love reading your blog and seeing your pictures. It is helping me get through this week (forget about working I'm basically useless and already in vacation mode). PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, Sweety and 2 others 2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnK6404 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, MaryS said: I grew up in Mineola and Oceanside. Last November was my 1st time back to LI in 20 years (uncles 80th Bday party). Almost all of the family moved and never had a reason to go back. I really don't miss it. What I do miss is how close the beaches were. Now I have to drive an hour to get to the northern part of the Jersey shore. I am also thinking about moving down south to Florida probably in the next 2-3 years. We love the beaches, East End (Hamptons, Montauk, wineries), restaurants, and proximity to NYC, but after a lifetime here we're going to be ready for a change when we retire down the road! MaryS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted January 24 Report Share Posted January 24 Sailing solo sounds really adventurous to me! I would love to try it someday! But right now it seems all my traveling is either with my husband and our friends (he keeps wondering when it will be just the 2 of us…lol!) or with our entire family (kids, their spouses, their kids) and adding in some of hubby’s family members! Note to self…definitely need to do a solo cruise soon! Sweety, asquared17, She Sails Away and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 27 Author Report Share Posted January 27 Oh well no Move Up for me SweetPea, She Sails Away, Neesa and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 this is such a sad email Neesa and MaryS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 Have a joyful and wonderful cruise. MaryS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Sails Away Posted January 27 Report Share Posted January 27 It's almost cruise day!! Sweety and MaryS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 27 Author Report Share Posted January 27 Sitting at the Philadelphia airport waiting for my flight. Getting excited WAAAYTOOO, asquared17, JohnK6404 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 Staying at the AC Marriott Fort Lauderdale Airport. Hotel has a free airport shuttle and only had a 5 minute wait. Hotel is only 2 years old and is next door to the Marriott full service. Both hotels share a nice size common pool on the 5th floor. Room is a nice size and the staff very friendly. The hotel also has a shuttle to the cruise port for $20 and leaves at 10, 12 & 1:30. PPPJJ-GCVAB, WAAAYTOOO, Neesa and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweety Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 May your cruise be full of joy. Neesa, MaryS and WAAAYTOOO 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 It's cruise day Neesa, MaryS and WAAAYTOOO 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 ITS CRUISE DAY!!!!!! MaryS, WAAAYTOOO and Neesa 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Sails Away Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 CRUISE DAY! MaryS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 Just arrived at Port Everglades. Took 2 minutes to check in now sitting and waiting to board She Sails Away, Lovetocruise2002, WAAAYTOOO and 3 others 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 Boarded a little before 11. Dropped my bag off at the cabin (didn’t get a picture since it was still being cleaned). Went to Oceanview Cafe for lunch now just wandering around. FionaMG, SweetPea, Sweety and 8 others 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 My cabin is a panoramic oceanview. Plenty of storage. asquared17, JohnK6404, Sweety and 8 others 10 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Sails Away Posted January 28 Report Share Posted January 28 WOW that's a pretty cabin! Love your photos! WAYNO, MaryS and Neesa 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 28 Author Report Share Posted January 28 22 minutes ago, She Sails Away said: WOW that's a pretty cabin! Love your photos! Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asquared17 Posted January 29 Report Share Posted January 29 love your cabin!! great pictures!! MaryS and Neesa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 29 Author Report Share Posted January 29 27 minutes ago, asquared17 said: love your cabin!! great pictures!! Thanks asquared17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 29 Author Report Share Posted January 29 Had dinner in the Normandy dining room and totally forgot to take pictures. Had scallops as an appetizer and the duck breast . Both were very good. Didn’t have a reservation and didn’t have to wait. Service was excellent. Hanging out in the martini bar area enjoying a coconut cream-tini Neesa, Lovetocruise2002, asquared17 and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 Celebrity has 2 shows in the main theater and they are always at 7:30 and 9:30. Last night was a comedian Louis Ramey and he was pretty good. After the 9:30 show went back to the martini bar and the bartenders did their own show which was wonderful. asquared17, JohnK6404, Sweety and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 Day 2- sea day Got up early (7:15) and walked my 3 miles then hit up the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast. It was already a zoo. I always forget how early the passengers get up on Celebrity. I finally remembered to take a picture of food. Went to the top tier event where they honored a double zenith couple. went to pool deck after and plenty of seats in the sun/ Shade. Got all set up and put on extra sunscreen and of course the black clouds roll in fast and torrential downpours. Old people can sure move fast when the rain starts . Went to the Oceanview along with everyone else on the ship. Of course I forgot to take pictures of my food. They had bbq chicken which was really good. Sun finally came out again spent the rest of the afternoon lounging. In the pool area they do not have bar staff walking around. They have a rolling kart with beer, wine, water and some other stuff asquared17, Neesa, Lovetocruise2002 and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 Dinner at Tuscan dining room. Didn’t have a reservation had to wait about 15 minutes. Not to bad. I did take a picture of the menu but again forgot to take pictures of the food . Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB, SweetPea and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 Off to the theatre to see the Residency show. More to come. Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB, She Sails Away and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPPJJ-GCVAB Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 1 hour ago, MaryS said: Off to the theatre to see the Residency show. More to come. Wow definitely looks like an older crowd on this ship! Or perhaps just the older folks enjoy theatre? She Sails Away, SweetPea and WAAAYTOOO 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 1 hour ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said: Wow definitely looks like an older crowd on this ship! Or perhaps just the older folks enjoy theatre? Definitely an older crowd. Lots of walkers and scooters. I was at the 9:30 show and that was standing room. I think the average age is around 75. She Sails Away, SweetPea, Lovetocruise2002 and 2 others 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 Some pictures from the show SweetPea, JohnK6404, She Sails Away and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 There was another show at 10:45 in Eden. Eden reminds me of 270 but a little more up class. They do 3 shows in Eden but really don’t have the room. Pictures aren’t that great because I was seated behind where they were performing. PPPJJ-GCVAB, SweetPea, Neesa and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryS Posted January 30 Author Report Share Posted January 30 @She Sails Away deck 6 forward elevators still stinks like sewage Neesa, Lovetocruise2002, PPPJJ-GCVAB and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
She Sails Away Posted January 30 Report Share Posted January 30 9 hours ago, MaryS said: @She Sails Away deck 6 forward elevators still stinks like sewage What is up with that? How depressing if you are a cabin steward who has to work in that hallway all day. asquared17, MaryS, WAAAYTOOO and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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