sweet, suite symphony ~ 12.8-12.15.2024 (symphony of the seas)

[asquared17]

IT HAS BEEN. AN ETERNITY. IN DRY DOCK.

but!!!!! we sail in just over a month!!!

 

there is MUCH to catch you all up on, but i will leave you with this quick gem for now while i gather some thoughts together:

entertainment is OPEN.

i've just reserved the aqua show (hiro), hairspray, and the comedy show.

...will we get to these? ah, well. we are pre-vintage. so it's really anyone's guess.

but at least we have the resos if we need them!!

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

Yippee !  I reserved the ice show, water show and flight….all of which we have seen many times.  I despise Hairspray so no go on that one.  Hiro isn’t my favorite water show but it’s ok.  Like you….we’ll see if we get to any of them !

[asquared17]

is 1977 the ice show?? i couldn't remember ?

[asquared17]

some general details...

 

itinerary

MIA > PDCC > at sea > st. thomas > st. maarten > at sea > at sea > MIA

 

YAY FOR SAINT MAARTEN!!

also you know how i feel about PDCC on the front of the trip, but i will survive somehow

i had considered going to st. john by way of the ferry in st. thomas - everyone says it is beautiful, and the beaches are phenomenal - but i am concerned about the transport piece and somehow missing the ship. we are in st.  thomas for the shortest period of time if i am recalling correctly, so i am not looking forward to that nightmare. (literally my worst nightmare to miss the ship and get stuck on an island without our stuff.)

 

some general details

• we will still fly in and out of FLL.
  • our boycott against the MIA airport is GOING STRONG!!!!!!
• we have some insane amount of OBC to burn through
• this will be our second time on symphony and she is our FAVORITE ship, even despite the struggles of our first sailing (and also my first live post-blog!)
• our cabin is... clutch. *(more on this later)

 

other interesting things to note

• J IS FINALLY DIAMOND!!!!! bring on the drink vouchers!!!!
• we are contemplating jamie's for my D+ BOGO since i am pretty sure the fine print says that hooked doesn't participate.
  • i've heard that the lobster portion in hooked has changed from the BEAST that i got last time. actually i've heard that hooked has generally changed a bit since we were last aboard. not sure if this is true.
  • and i ordinarily wouldn't push for jamie's BUT i think they are going to be taking them out of the ships, so i wonder if we should go before we can't anymore
• this is the last royal cruise we have on the books (we've booked celebrity ascent for february 2025 and, it just worked out that we booked her again for next december) so basically we are going out with a BANG.
  • going out with a bang is pretty much going to be our theme this time around (just hopefully in a non-terrible shenanigans way)
• @WAAAYTOOO and dan will be on our sailing!!!! we will be REUNITED AGAIN!!!
  • tbh i feel bad for everyone who hasn't met them as they feel like our family at this point, and we are quite spoiled to be able to see them for a third time

[ScottD]

8 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

• • our boycott against the MIA airport is GOING STRONG!!!!!!
•  

Ha ha, so I was a goof and booked a real cheap hotel in FLL BEFORE I booked our flight.  Cruise is out of Miami on 12/7, and I just assumed the flights to FLL would be cheaper- well I was wrong and just booked the flight a few days ago for 12\6 to MIAMI for almost peanuts.. so we just ate the hotel cost and booked another one at a pretty good price right at the Miami airport. But the plan was to avoid Miami, but the Hopper app got us some dirt cheap tix that couldn't be passed on! lol

 

Gonna try and follow along with your blog while we sail since Symphony will be our next cruise!! 

[asquared17]

12 minutes ago, ScottD said:

was a goof and booked a real cheap hotel in FLL BEFORE I booked our flight. 

wait so we also have a good hotel rate in FLL (as we typically find them to be much more reasonable / more bang for your buck) than MIA but what the HECK was with the flights for this weekend?!

there is some kind of jazz fest in FLL that weekend too but for some reason, flights this time were so expensive!! we couldn't believe it.

 

@ScottD are you guys MSC for this one?

[ScottD]

14 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

wait so we also have a good hotel rate in FLL (as we typically find them to be much more reasonable / more bang for your buck) than MIA but what the HECK was with the flights for this weekend?!

there is some kind of jazz fest in FLL that weekend too but for some reason, flights this time were so expensive!! we couldn't believe it.

 

@ScottD are you guys MSC for this one?

We were surprised to get a hotel in Miami for a good price, there is a huge, high end art thing going on and all of the hotels near the port and on South beach were INSANELY priced, which is why we took one near the airport instead. The hotel we got in FLL was super cheap, but I also booked it like 6 months ago and it was a lower end, budget type place anyway, so not really upset we aren't staying there now, lol.  

Yep- this will be our MSC! I'm gonna do a semi- live blog on CC, and maybe a post here and there in here, as I doubt @Matt wants me doing a full on live blog over here- but definitely looking forward to it!! 

[asquared17]

3 hours ago, ScottD said:

Yep- this will be our MSC! I'm gonna do a semi- live blog on CC, and maybe a post here and there in here

amazing!! i can't wait to read more about it - i think you and are continuing our cruise following each other with this trend haha so we will be a fine pair!

[asquared17]

okay so onto cabin shenanigans!!

we originally booked this trip way back in 2023.

after our experience with needing to get our cabin changed on the past sailing because of our riotous neighbors, we had a future cruise credit coming our way. then on top of that, we had shenanigans on one of the oasis sailings and that merited another cruise credit. i won't lie; the oasis credits weren't anything substantial, but every little bit helps!! so for this reason, and because we booked this sailing almost as soon as it opened, we were able to snag a really great rate for a grand suite, 10650, on the bump out. (i knew better than to go to deck 11 on this ship after our last sailing )

our first FULL suite experience; i was DELIGHTED.

J is always happy to find a deal and she was along for the ride; when i first started her into cruising, we were central park balcony gals and i have been working on her ever since. a junior suite is typically our sweet/suite spot as i live for a walk in closet and we like the extra space -- and of course, dinner in coastal kitchen (attendance permitting).

i know CK can be somewhat controversial as far as it not being anything too special at times, but to give you some insight into why we love it so much...

 

the last couple of cruises have been a little tighter getting into CK and required some finagling with times which necessitated eating at specialty ($$$) or going to the MDR. we agree that the MDR is nice, but i find it to be overwhelming on the oasis-class ships, especially if you are doing MTD and don't necessarily have the same team every night. the last oasis cruise we were in an aft balcony which meant no CK and while the crew was great and the head waiter very accommodating, it was just a LOT.

we both work in customer service/success and i was in retail for about 15 years prior to my current gig. because of this, we tend to shut down + go quiet on vacation. if you've followed some of our earlier journeys, you know that we are not typically the adventurous excursion types. we are in bed early and sun-seekers on the sundeck during the day. all of this to say - we've basically come to the conclusion that we like a somewhat more contained dining situation. CK suits us well from a service and ambiance standpoint, but a JS is not a guaranteed "in" and  a huge draw of the GS was that we could have guaranteed dinner there every night at a (hopefully) decent hour - but also breakfast and lunch as desired.

as it is, we usually split up for breakfast and lunch so one person can stay with the seats in the morning. one of the things i am looking forward to most is not fighting my way through the jammer (though i will likely peruse for a biscuit and grapefruit at some point!) and being able to get baja eggs and then make our way to the suite sun deck for the rest of the day!! a DREAM come true.

but speaking of dreams coming true...

 

my ultimate favorite cabin is a crown loft suite on deck 17.

i've been fortunate enough to do a CLS before when traveling with my parents, but the way pricing has been recently -- we knew it would be a total long shot and we would likely have to cross all our fingers/toes for a royal up bid. i called our TA to see what it would be to upgrade it was somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500 i think; even she suggested waiting for the RUB.

true to form, the RUBs came out just before check-in at 45 days. the CLS minimum bid was $455 per person, which.... wasn't terrible. it wasn't great, but it wasn't abysmal. since i am a bit of a travel psychopath* (*a term used affectionately among my best friend and i), i had been ghost booking the cruise for weeks, and knew that there were between 6-8 CLS still available, and was counting on us winning that bid. i continued to ghost book and watch the cabins like a hawk. we put in the minimum bid and i personally marveled that the min bid for a 2 bedroom GS was $250.

but all i wanted was the CLS.

and then... the hurricanes rolled in.

whether by accident or design, the prices for this sailing plummeted. and i ghost booked a CLS to see that the pricing was nearly on par with what we paid for the GS, over a year ago. once again, contacted our TA to see what the price to upgrade would be/if we could even upgrade as we were well within the final payment window. they got back to us and it was very reasonable, almost half of what it would have been for the minimum bid for the RUB!!!!!! not only that, but we were able to select the cabin we wanted, rather than rolling the dice and getting one with perhaps a view/location not ultimately desired. (since i am the psychopath that prefers specific cabins, this was GREAT.)

you had better believe i cancelled that royal up bid IMMEDIATELY!!

we secured the cabin i wanted, paid the nominal upgrade fee, and are now proud residents of deck 17!!!!!!!!!

 

can you even believe it??????

and that is where our blog title comes from

[asquared17]

as far as excursions go:

 

we will likely purchase beach club passes for PDCC with some of our OBC and, of course, we are going to the holland house while visiting st. maarten.

for the first time since we started cruising and going to the HHBH, the price has jumped from $25 to a variety of options (included below):

 

i still think it's a great deal, and we always reach out to the staff and book prior to our trip. they do accept walk-ons, but it is limited to what the current hotel occupancy is and of course, timing as far as when you get there.

they have recently changed up the menu for lunch options as well and i was thrilled to see the fish tacos available!

i got them last time as a one-off as it was a holiday on the island and they were running a special menu that day. delighted to see they've come back for permanent and the staff was so sweet (in our correspondence they said "the fish tacos were just talking about you, they will be excited to see you! ") and assuming i don't fall down a flight of stairs this time.... our st. maarten happiness will continue!!

[Lovetocruise2002]

40 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

and are now proud residents of deck 17!!!!!!!!!

 

Yes!!!!!! I can feel your excitement! Congrats on grabbing it!

I am really going to try to follow this one live. Work has me completely swamped and exhausted this school year.

Have I mentioned how jealous I am that you have, and will be sailing with @WAAAYTOOO again! I still need to sail with her!

I am so happy for you and J that you are #teamDeck17 this sailing!

[WAAAYTOOO]

I somehow missed the Deck 17 part.  Congrats !  You are in for such a treat.  We are in a JS on this one.  Hopefully we will be able to join you in the SL and maybe for a couple of CK meals.  

[ScottD]

Yooo!!! That's so awesome!! Congrats on the upgrade-love when it works out like that and you don't have to roll the dice AND spend more with RU. 

[GatorCruiser]

Can y’all comment on Holland house vs big bastards. I’m looking at both for our cruise in 10 days 

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

9 hours ago, asquared17 said:

@WAAAYTOOO and dan will be on our sailing!!!! we will be REUNITED AGAIN!!!

• tbh i feel bad for everyone who hasn't met them as they feel like our family at this point, and we are quite spoiled to be able to see them for a third time

I couldn’t agree more!  We met up with them during one of our cruises (I believe it was on Independence) and would love to cruise with them again…

Congrats on an awesome upgrade!  I have yet to be able to check out CK but hope one of these days I will!  
 

[Ampurp85]

WHOOO that sweet. suite CLS. I mean you lucked up because you also get to sail with @WAAAYTOOO 

Since you have access to the suite deck, maybe you won't have to fight too hard for seats in the sun. 

I also agree that while the menu for CK leaves a bit to be desired, there is nothing like the calmness. I don't mind eating later so I would take my chances with just dinner in the CK. Also, maybe you will be able to get the big bottles of water there. 

[asquared17]

6 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am really going to try to follow this one live. Work has me completely swamped and exhausted this school year.

of course i will LOVE to have you along for the ride, but completely understand things have been nuts lately makes you wonder if there’s something in the air!!

6 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Have I mentioned how jealous I am that you have, and will be sailing with @WAAAYTOOO again! I still need to sail with her!

she is THE BEST!!! when we found out that we’d be on the same sailing in @Ampurp85’s alaska blog, i thought the entire eastern seaboard heard me yell in triumph

6 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I am so happy for you and J that you are #teamDeck17 this sailing!

i had hoped to share this joy, because i knew you’d get it thank you!!!

 

5 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

You are in for such a treat.  We are in a JS on this one.  Hopefully we will be able to join you in the SL and maybe for a couple of CL meals.  

YES!!!!! i can’t wait!!!! that would be wonderful

 

4 hours ago, ScottD said:

Yooo!!! That's so awesome!! Congrats on the upgrade-love when it works out like that and you don't have to roll the dice AND spend more with RU. 

thank you!! it was really the best of both worlds!! we are pumped

 

1 hour ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

I couldn’t agree more!  We met up with them during one of our cruises (I believe it was on Independence) and would love to cruise with them again…

Congrats on an awesome upgrade!  I have yet to be able to check out CK but hope one of these days I will!  
 

yes, you will get to CK!! i know it!! and we are with you on raye and dan

 

22 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I mean you lucked up because you also get to sail with @WAAAYTOOO 

you know i secretly want you to just ~appear on this trip and surprise us both

23 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Since you have access to the suite deck, maybe you won't have to fight too hard for seats in the sun. 

this is what i’m hoping!

24 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

 while the menu for CK leaves a bit to be desired, there is nothing like the calmness. I don't mind eating later so I would take my chances with just dinner in the CK. Also, maybe you will be able to get the big bottles of water there. 

yes and i am hoping to cash in my vouchers for acqua panna or evian in the SL/CK! if not, i guess i’m traipsing back to jamie’s or maybe the suite concierge can advise me where to go

[asquared17]

17 hours ago, GatorCruiser said:

Can y’all comment on Holland house vs big bastards. I’m looking at both for our cruise in 10 days 

you got it

so i am not sure how big bastards (blue bastards? why am i thinking this! ) is equipped with showers/bathroom facilities - we usually love the HH because the last thing we do before leaving is use the showers and rinse off all the salt water before hitting the returning water taxi.

the bathroom is inside, up the steps, past the main bar and into the lobby. you have to go down a flight of stairs but it’s decently set up and has always been clean when we’ve gone. you do not (or at least in the past have not) need a key or anything to access it.

the included wifi is decent - it does kick in and out every once in awhile, but nothing is as steady as the starlink onboard, so we expect that.

i love the food and feel safe eating it - which is not to say that the food at BB isn’t good, but i haven’t had a chance to try it. because they are a full service hotel, i feel like the variety of offerings are pretty good and they are usually very accommodating to your preferences. timing can vary on how long it takes depending on time of day and food ordered, but you’re on vacation  

the loungers at HH are padded with full, thick cushions and lightweight, the umbrella is great too, and we usually can score an end seat or front row if we get there early enough. i used to laugh at the umbrella being up because we love the sun so much but we’ve gone there in may and the sun was INTENSE. after that i loved the umbrella and we usually have a few days’ color at that point so it’s not a bad thing to have a bit of relief from the shade. 

 

a few years ago i actually wound up staying at the holland house for two days before our cruise and it was very nice. some of the rooms are newer than others, and the food was a bit pricey but it was very good.

J and i tend not to drink too heavily when we are ashore as a precaution (not that we are heavy drinkers anyway) so the four beers included in package A are perfect for us. when i stayed with my parents, we got champagne once or twice and that was also quite good. 

for us it comes down to having a “home base” destination that we love going back to and feel safe and comfortable there. 

hopefully this helps!! 

including some pics for you, @GatorCruiser but be advised the pricing may not be up to date for BB given that the one i have for the HH is from may 2023. 

 

@SweetPea and batman went there more recently, so if she’s around, she may have some additional info to add

[Kelseylovestocruise]

Ohhhhh I love living through others suite life blogs (the cheap teacher in me who is already paying double as I’m solo in a cabin will never end up in a suite). 
 

also I love this St. Maarten ideas. I love beach clubs (prefer all inclusive but not crazy picky as long as food is good). I have traditionally tried to convince everyone else to do western Caribbean so now maybe next sailing will be eastern Caribbean (it’s been probably 8 years since I’ve done eastern Caribbean). 

[asquared17]

12 hours ago, Kelseylovestocruise said:

I have traditionally tried to convince everyone else to do western Caribbean so now maybe next sailing will be eastern Caribbean (it’s been probably 8 years since I’ve done eastern Caribbean). 

we like western because the weather is almost always great, but eastern has its charm too.

i do recommend the food at HH as it’s always been fresh and tasty. if i had to make a call out, it would be that it’s probably not big, typical american sized portions — in that regard it cold be that BB takes the win. not sure about their food portion sizes or offerings, but their pricing does seem to be a little lower (ie, 5 beers and an umbrella + 2 chairs for $20). 

so in the end, it just depends on preference

12 hours ago, Kelseylovestocruise said:

love living through others suite life blogs

us too!! we are excited we will finally be a proper suite

[Sweety]

I am following. I will be booking two more cabins on week of 11/11 and 11/18 due to having next cruise certificates. 

[Cactus527]

Love this! Following. I'll be on Navigator 12/6-12/9, so we're overlapping a bit. However, your suite is going to be AMAZING and my interior pales in comparison. HA!

@Kelseylovestocruise, if it's near for you, go look at west coast cruises as a solo cruisers into 2025/2026. I just found a solo balcony on Quantum for $460 for 3 nights in April 2026. My Adventure cruise in January 2026 also just posted some interior rooms that are $1000 cheaper than what I had originally booked, so now I'm down to $1400 (solo interior) for an 8-night cruise! Students be damned, just get a sub (that's what I do, LOL). 

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, Cactus527 said:

Love this! Following. I'll be on Navigator 12/6-12/9, so we're overlapping a bit. However, your suite is going to be AMAZING and my interior pales in comparison. HA!

PFT. the most important thing is that we are CRUISING!!!! like how could we NOT be pumped about this!!

[Kelseylovestocruise]

2 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

Love this! Following. I'll be on Navigator 12/6-12/9, so we're overlapping a bit. However, your suite is going to be AMAZING and my interior pales in comparison. HA!

@Kelseylovestocruise, if it's near for you, go look at west coast cruises as a solo cruisers into 2025/2026. I just found a solo balcony on Quantum for $460 for 3 nights in April 2026. My Adventure cruise in January 2026 also just posted some interior rooms that are $1000 cheaper than what I had originally booked, so now I'm down to $1400 (solo interior) for an 8-night cruise! Students be damned, just get a sub (that's what I do, LOL). 

You are very right. I have to fly regardless (Canadian) so that does not matter much. There are some amazing deals! Now I have to make some decisions…..

[LTR]

On 11/3/2024 at 7:17 AM, asquared17 said:

 

• we will still fly in and out of FLL.
  • our boycott against the MIA airport is GOING STRONG!!!!!!

 

 

As someone who is booked into a sailing out of Miami, and has to fly in internationally, is it preferrable to fly into FLL? Or should you just look at pricing for flight/hotel/ride and go with whichever is best? 

[Pamp]

23 minutes ago, LTR said:

As someone who is booked into a sailing out of Miami, and has to fly in internationally, is it preferrable to fly into FLL? Or should you just look at pricing for flight/hotel/ride and go with whichever is best? 

That is what we do even flying domestically.

[Ampurp85]

59 minutes ago, LTR said:

As someone who is booked into a sailing out of Miami, and has to fly in internationally, is it preferrable to fly into FLL? Or should you just look at pricing for flight/hotel/ride and go with whichever is best? 

Miami airport leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to amenities, cleanliness and other stuff. I prefer to fly into FLL when I can from that standpoint. However I always stand by you should do what works best from a price/time and the value associated standpoint.

[asquared17]

4 hours ago, LTR said:

As someone who is booked into a sailing out of Miami, and has to fly in internationally, is it preferrable to fly into FLL? Or should you just look at pricing for flight/hotel/ride and go with whichever is best? 

i am not sure how the offerings would be for international flights into FLL. MIA may have more options/availability; ultimately we prefer the hotels and airport experience of FLL and find that the rates are usually cheaper for us to fly into FLL, even with the uber/lyft fees.

at the end of the day, we just truly don’t like the MIA airport but like @Ampurp85 advised, do what works best for your finances/circumstances.

[SweetPea]

Sorry! I do need to read and catch up, but it's a Sweet, Sweet Symphony this life! 

Holland House, based on my friend's recommendation, is great! We went our past cruise (on Norwegian) and plan to go again on Odyssey in January.

[Lovetocruise2002]

On 11/5/2024 at 12:34 PM, LTR said:

As someone who is booked into a sailing out of Miami, and has to fly in internationally, is it preferrable to fly into FLL? Or should you just look at pricing for flight/hotel/ride and go with whichever is best? 

We always price out both airports when cruising out of MIA and pick whichever one is best for pricing or flight times. Our preference is also FLL, but we will still fly in/out of MIA if it makes sense to.

[SweetPea]

Ha! Now that I've had time to catch up (Tuesday night was like the Super Bowl in this house ), a few thoughts on Holland House! They certainly appreciate a reservation via email. And since we had one and went during low season (end of August) she included our towels and we had front row seats.  The chairs are very nice and i had the fish tacos, which i loved.  However, i have to say the service on the beach was painfully slow.  Batman teased that he was glad he didn't put our server down as an emergency contact!

Now, as we were headed to HH, the guy who does the chairs next to HH stalked us all the way there, giving us a hard sell on how his pricing was so much better (and it was). It definitely included more drinks, but the chairs weren't as nice and besides that, we'd already made friends on the ship who were also going to HH, so we just stuck with the plan. 

And, yeah for Deck 17!! Congrats! I've used the same method a million times and have often upgraded and chosen my room outright instead of gambling! We would def prefer a side facing CLS than a aft/deck facing one.  Not sure how you are, but not something i would risk!

[asquared17]

FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!!!

whether the cruise planner sales for black friday are a slow roll out or i just happened upon it -- the best of news has happened!!

coco beach club passes were 50% off at 76.99 pp plus tax (roughly $85 per person total).

I SNAGGED THOSE PASSES WITH OBC SO FAST!!!

 

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!!

[asquared17]

4 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

We always price out both airports when cruising out of MIA and pick whichever one is best for pricing or flight times. Our preference is also FLL, but we will still fly in/out of MIA if it makes sense to.

to torment myself, i will often do the same however it usually always winds up being that it's cheaper in FLL for arrivals/departures than MIA. must be a newark/EWR thing...

 

4 hours ago, SweetPea said:

The chairs are very nice and i had the fish tacos, which i loved. 

amen. i am ready for the fish tacos... but i agree with you on the pacing/delivery of food i forgot we got used to the "island time" of it all.

4 hours ago, SweetPea said:

yeah for Deck 17!! Congrats! I've used the same method a million times and have often upgraded and chosen my room outright instead of gambling! We would def prefer a side facing CLS than a aft/deck facing one. 

we've never had such an opportunity before but i am with you! we much prefer a side facing CLS than an aft. give me ocean views or give me DEATH.

... just kidding.

[Ampurp85]

Congrats on the cheap beach club passes. They are 50% off on my sailings but that is still over $100, so I don't think it is worth it. 

[WAAAYTOOO]

58 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Congrats on the cheap beach club passes. They are 50% off on my sailings but that is still over $100, so I don't think it is worth it. 

I was almost tempted to buy the Beach Club on our 12-8-24 Symphony cruise.  The base price is $76.99 which equates to  ~$91 PP.  That's just too much money for the Beach Club, IMO.  I know it would be great to be there with @asquared17 and J.  Maybe....

[WAAAYTOOO]

4 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I was almost tempted to buy the Beach Club on our 12-8-24 Symphony cruise.  The base price is $76.99 which equates to  ~$91 PP.  That's just too much money for the Beach Club, IMO.  I know it would be great to be there with @asquared17 and J.  Maybe....

Ok.  I'm an idiot.  I was adding 18% gratuity to the price.  Ding-dong.

We are in !!

[asquared17]

17 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

  I know it would be great to be there with @asquared17 and J.  Maybe

oh man!!!! we’d love to have you but also… i am certain we will have you in CK for meals  

i guess our taxes are lower for this in NJ bc we were at $86 for our total. but we also spend all day in the sun

[asquared17]

15 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We are in !!

HUZZAH!!!!!!

[asquared17]

also just saying…. there are still cabins open on this cruise if anyone wants to join us

[asquared17]

30 DAYS OUT

 

i will be sharing some bezos purchases (as is the custom) prior to our trip a little bit later on, but when i logged online today, i saw our cruise documents and printable luggage tags!!

 

a few years ago i purchased the reusable plastic luggage tag sleeves from bezos…. i remember when i first started cruising and saw them on some people’s bags and went, “who are these people cruising so much that they have REUSABLE LUGGAGE TAG SLEEVES???” 

…..ahahahaha my past self was truly a sweet summer child

 

as far as other trip purchases go, i am waiting to see if i can trade in my kindle paperweight to upgrade for the new jade color model and also get a set of navy compression packing cubes.

would you believe i only have non-compression packing cubes? THE HORROR, i know i’ve let you all down.

 

lastly — i have had my eye on the trunk suitcase from away travel for months. actually i’d purchased it in the spring and wound up quitting my job, so i couldn’t justify keeping it and had to return it — despite visions of sailing down the cruise corridors with a much narrower suitcase in tow. 

fast forward — i do, thankfully, have a job — and have been holding out hope for a decent black friday sale. 

i feel like you’re either team away or team monos on the boards when it comes to luggage (@Cactus527 is team monos ) so expect us to cry for joy if/when the black friday sales post

would be great if they decided to kick in early, like royal did….

 

i am very grateful i snagged our beach club passes with OBC last night before the great royal IT kerfuffle of 2024 kicked off  

we’ve found that like @OCSC Mike, there are real benefits to using OBC when making CP purchases if you are fortunate enough to have some — the least of which is having a refund for a re-price/book turn around in real time rather than weeks/months.