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Posted
23 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Someone in the dining forum mentioned that they bring tupperware-type containers.

Yes! I always bring two sizes of tupperware type containers for my desserts to save as snax in the cabin. I also bring several ziplock bags (Gallon and Sandwich) that come in handy. I put my ice in the gallon bag in the cooler and swap it out every day because it doesn't stay very cold.

Posted
43 minutes ago, Debstr66 said:

Yes! I always bring two sizes of tupperware type containers for my desserts to save as snax in the cabin. I also bring several ziplock bags (Gallon and Sandwich) that come in handy. I put my ice in the gallon bag in the cooler and swap it out every day because it doesn't stay very cold.

The Tupperware is such a good idea. I may have to do that next cruise!

Posted

Stray observation: I'm sitting by the Snack Shack on South Beach. A man just walked by me with a tattoo that had a shark on it with the international no sign going through it. I thought, that's perfect for the Caribbean, now the sharks know who to avoid. 🤣🤣🤣

Also, drunk pairs ping pong is hysterical to watch. It's only 12pm!

Posted

Lunch. It's the only reason I got off the ship - to go to the Snack Shack. Incidentally, I can never find the Snack Shack that is on the map that is not on South Beach. Every time, I wind up at South Beach! It's kind of frustrating, but at least I know where that is. 

Secret sandwich, fries, cookie, fresh pineapple, and a hungry seagull watching me. Picked up a funnel cake and brought it back to the ship with me. 

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I really loved seeing the Sandcastle decked out for the ultimate world cruise. That was kind of a fun take on it. 👍

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And now some stray pictures that I took in my 1+ hour of sweaty sweaty madness on PDCC.

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Posted
11 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

I can never find the Snack Shack that is on the map that is not on South Beach

I'll post a map with marked directions next time if you want. Our spot by the pool is strategically located between DJ iPod, the Snack Shack you can't find, and Chill Grill.

Posted
15 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

Incidentally, I can never find the Snack Shack that is on the map that is not on South Beach.

The easiest way I tell people to find it is to take the path to Oasis Lagoon and find the bridge that goes over the pool towards the dry side of the swim up bar. That path behind the bar area goes right to the Snack Shack behind Oasis Lagoon. You'll also find the soccer style billiards setup over there.

Posted
1 hour ago, Cactus527 said:

I really loved seeing the Sandcastle decked out for the ultimate world cruise. That was kind of a fun take on it. 👍

 

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Ahhhh....we saw the guy working on this when we were there on Sept 6.  It did not occur to me that it was intended for the UWC folks.  I will have to show Dan.  We sat and watched him for a while.  Very impressive work.

Posted
4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I'll post a map with marked directions next time if you want. Our spot by the pool is strategically located between DJ iPod, the Snack Shack you can't find, and Chill Grill.

I would love that. I always get so confused through there, and I don't tend to go to Oasis lagoon, so maybe that's part of my issue.

Posted
3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

How was the humidity for you? 

Let's be frank: I'm from Arizona. The humidity hovers between 20 to 30% all the time for me. Even though it's monsoon season right now, and the humidity tends to be up near 50%, I'm not used to humidity. Today was horrible in terms of humidity. There's really nothing like sweating in places that you didn't think sweat. 😳

Posted

I am such a party pooper - I remember seeing that it was starting to pour down rain at about 1:00, and the next thing I knew it was 4:30. 😴 I think having spent 4 days at that conference prior to getting on the ship and not sleeping hardly at all while there has finally caught up to me...

Posted

Dinner in the MDR. I really enjoy Caribbean night because they always have chicken korma. 😍 The Asian bao tacos are also a favorite. Then, blueberry cobbler and pineapple sunshine cake. I got a photo of my roll just for @Ampurp85 😉.

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 One fun note: My server asked me if I have been on Allure recently. I said that I had been on it last summer with my daughters. He then turned around and asked me if I recognized this server? And it was our server from last summer! I swear, the wait stuff in the MDR have photographic memories!!!! So good to see our past waiter again, so glad to hear he's going off contract in 23 days. 👍

Posted

Stray observation: I'm really glad I have an oceanview room versus something that has a balcony this cruise. With the amount of rain that has happened the last couple of days, I can't imagine people with balconies are getting much of a chance to enjoy them. 🙁 It's pouring again outside!

Posted

The staff do have great memories. I was on Allure from Galveston in Oct and when I went on in Jan, so many of the crew were asking where my family was and chatting to me like they knew me. But I say they have great memories one way or another. Either you were a kind, beautiful in soul and/or looks individual.......or an ahole.......and that's how they remember you 🤣.

Posted
2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Either you were a kind, beautiful in soul and/or looks individual.......or an ahole.......and that's how they remember you 🤣.

I really hope it's the former and not the latter! 🤣🤣🤣 Though DQ did try to test the limits of the wait staff with how many drinks and how much food they could bring her. Thankfully, they would run it by me first. That child...

Posted
2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

 

Sorry, @Ampurp85, For whatever reason it's not letting me get rid of the block quote thing. 

I went down to the early comedy show tonight (7:30). Collin M. and Nery Saenz, in that order. I've not been to an adult comedy show before, so I hid in the back because I was afraid. However, both comedians were great and I really enjoyed it. I would say about 1/3 were there with reservations, and the rest came in when they opened up the house. Definitely recommended for the 18+ crowd. I failed to get any photos of the comedians, but I did love the signs around the room.

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Posted

@Cactus527 I think you are a kind, beautiful person in soul and body 🥰.

I truly think that it is how you ask and not what you ask. Which is to say......running the staff sort of ragged but constantly thanking them and being polite probably doesn't bother them as much as snapping your fingers and being rude. My brother will test them on drinks and food, but he is always polite and respectful, we feared they would get upset but they always are just amazed at where he puts it 🤣.

 

Posted
4 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

@Cactus527 I think you are a kind, beautiful person in soul and body 🥰.

I truly think that it is how you ask and not what you ask. Which is to say......running the staff sort of ragged but constantly thanking them and being polite probably doesn't bother them as much as snapping your fingers and being rude. My brother will test them on drinks and food, but he is always polite and respectful, we feared they would get upset but they always are just amazed at where he puts it 🤣.

 

Agreed - manners count. It's one of the things I've drilled into my children, and something I'm very proud of when people compliment me on how well they're behaved. I unfortunately grew up with the example of the opposite. It drives me bananas when I see other people doing it!

Posted

Slept in this morning. It's sprinkled on and off since I got up, so I wonder if the weather will be dodgy again today. It's currently 8:45 and I'm *still* waiting for my 8:00-8:30 breakfast room service delivery. 🤦 I'm hungry, dangit!

I literally typed "dangit" and there was a knock at my door. It figures! 😂

Observation: My MDR waiter started in on his spiel last night about high ratings for the MDR staff. I cut him off and asked him, what exactly do you not get if I won't give you a 10? He blinked and looked really surprised. I said, MDR staff always tell me that I need to give them 10s, but I have no idea what that actually does for you. He looked out the windows near us and commented that I had said something about it raining today. He said that he has not gone outside on this ship in days. He's constantly working. By getting one of the highest ratings in the MDR, he earns time off where he can actually go outside. Whether or not this is absolutely accurate, I thought it was an interesting understanding of why they need to have higher ratings - It's how they get their time off. 😑🙁

Okay, breakfast time. Feeding the hungry beast now (me).

Posted
47 minutes ago, Cactus527 said:

Slept in this morning. It's sprinkled on and off since I got up, so I wonder if the weather will be dodgy again today. It's currently 8:45 and I'm *still* waiting for my 8:00-8:30 breakfast room service delivery. 🤦 I'm hungry, dangit!

I literally typed "dangit" and there was a knock at my door. It figures! 😂

Observation: My MDR waiter started in on his spiel last night about high ratings for the MDR staff. I cut him off and asked him, what exactly do you not get if I won't give you a 10? He blinked and looked really surprised. I said, MDR staff always tell me that I need to give them 10s, but I have no idea what that actually does for you. He looked out the windows near us and commented that I had said something about it raining today. He said that he has not gone outside on this ship in days. He's constantly working. By getting one of the highest ratings in the MDR, he earns time off where he can actually go outside. Whether or not this is absolutely accurate, I thought it was an interesting understanding of why they need to have higher ratings - It's how they get their time off. 😑🙁

Okay, breakfast time. Feeding the hungry beast now (me).

And THIS is why the server at Playmakers remembered me and my family 9 months apart. We raved about him on the survey in January...when we went back in October, he came right up to us and said- "you were on the ship a few months back, right... I remember you guys and appreciate the review you left! Your survey went to my manager, who showed me and then it went to the department head who gave me an extra day off and a bonus"  He was SO grateful, and really remembered us- remembered that my wife was a bartender in the past, asked my son how his soccer was going...it was borderline insane!  So I guess it's true- they remember you for the good or the really bad reasons, lol 

Posted
2 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

He looked out the windows near us and commented that I had said something about it raining today. He said that he has not gone outside on this ship in days. He's constantly working. By getting one of the highest ratings in the MDR, he earns time off where he can actually go outside

did you hear that? ITS THE SOUND OF MY HEART BREAKING. 

GOODBYE. 

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

And THIS is why the server at Playmakers remembered me and my family 9 months apart. We raved about him on the survey in January...when we went back in October, he came right up to us and said- "you were on the ship a few months back, right... I remember you guys and appreciate the review you left! Your survey went to my manager, who showed me and then it went to the department head who gave me an extra day off and a bonus" 

oh my gosh. 

welp i am now doubling down on names and faces for our upcoming cruises. 

i always fill out the survey and try to use names but i will be SURE to call out our crew by name so they can get OUTSIDE and extra time off. they work SO HARD. 

Posted

Dinner at Chops. I actually had a reservation for lunch and decided I didn't want to do it, so I went to get services to cancel it. They called over to Chops and asked me if I would want to do dinner for the same price. Um, YES! $25 vs. $60 is a no brainer. So, I had my first experience there for dinner. I've had parts of the menu with The Key luncheon before, but this was so much better. My server was amazing too - when he asked me what I wanted for dessert, I told him to surprise me. He literally clapped and ran off with glee. 😂 

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Starter rolls - onion was better than pretzel. 

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Riesling for wine tonight. I used to love this, but it just wasn't hitting tonight. 

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Starters: wild mushroom soup with truffle (excellent) and goat cheese salad (OUT OF THIS WORLD I would literally sacrifice someone for the opportunity to eat this again).

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Main course: 6oz filet with au jus sauce (MWA loved). Truffle fries on the side were great - I like it was just barely a hint of truffle on them.

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Dessert: my surprise was key lime pie! 🤩 That meringue is something else... 😂

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Overall, very good dinner and I would do it again. I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. I understand now why it's so popular!

Posted

Observations: 

I see that there is a schedule for the rising tides bar on Deck 8 in Central Park, but it doesn't seem to be followed at all. I can't figure out if it's a 15-minute cycle or a 30 minute cycle. I've seen both? Very weird. 

I was accidentally in the schooner bar this morning when they did their veterans salute on the promenade. It was very well done, but I feel that the cruise director didn't really know how to read his script well. My guess is that he's not as familiar with the armed forces in the USA as he is in other places.

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Virgin tropic rye + Coke zero = bliss

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I was up on the pool deck around 11:00 a.m.. Since it's a Sea Day, I expected it would be full. However, at that time, you could still get a decent seat near the pool, you just wouldn't be able to do it with another person. There were plenty of stray seats all over the place. That said, the rock wall and the zip line had huge lines at that point. 

Walked around the ship a little bit to look at the artwork again and be reminded of some of the ones that I had seen last summer. This one was new to me and my favorite during this trip.PXL_20240912_222656339.thumb.jpg.703224b4f5e8df3d48585de5a03ac1fd.jpg

Saw the Captain! He's the guy with his arm extended. 

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I actually managed to not be panic packing this evening. I started in the afternoon, and actually finished around 8:30. Perfect. 

And tomorrow they kick us off the ship. 😭 Travel day. I'm hoping that Hurricane Francine didn't do too much damage in New Orleans as I have to go through there on my way back home. 🤞

I'll have a summary of everything in the next few days.

Posted

Forgot to say - I went to the Blades ice skating show last night, and it was just as good as it was when I saw it last summer. The hula hoop girl was actually joined by the cube man this time, but other than that, it was the same. Definitely recommended. 

However, if you decide to come in 15 minutes late, don't take the empty state beside me, take calls on your cell phone, talk loudly, bump into me constantly because you can't get comfortable, and then leave with 10 minutes left in the show. That lady was extra. 🤦

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Posted

And now I'm standing outside in the Florida humidity, for the last 30 minutes, waiting for the RC shuttle to Fort Lauderdale. They bumped up our exit time to 8:15, which I thought was weird for a 9:15 shuttle, but then they changed the shuttle time to 9:00 a.m.. It's now 9:04 a.m. and the shuttle is not going to be here for another 10 minutes. Why did they want us off the ship so fast? It's a little bit frustrating for all of us standing out here kind of dying in the heat. The disembarkation line wrapped through the 5th floor dining room onto the promenade. 😮Screenshot_20240913-051731.thumb.png.33685a8c1aa9c220420da09e14da25d2.pngPXL_20240913_122421132.thumb.jpg.40f17b48fbebee609603f70a6f11d901.jpgPXL_20240913_124031639.thumb.jpg.6b538887e1e7793961a86ba3d90f654e.jpg

Posted

When we had the boardwalk balcony I would sit out there and just watched people zip across, it was almost relaxing.   Thanks for the blog, sounds like, besides the constant rain, it was a pretty good trip.  I have learned some tricks to hoarding food and that as much as I liked Liberty, your pics and posts definitely made me realize that I LOVE the Oasis class ships and can't wait to get back on.  

Hope the flight and rest of the journey home go smoothly!! 

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