swemto

Wednesday morning

As the ship gracefully gliding into Havensight harbor like a swan doing the cha-cha. I stumble onto the balcony, hoping for a view that makes waking up before noon seem worth it. 

Lo and behold, St. Thomas unveils itself like it's auditioning for "Nature's Next Top Model."

Today's agenda? 

An excursion to Coral World and Coki Beach – the budget-friendly beach day, or so I thought. 

Hold up – the excursion costs $65. But fear not, because in the magical realm of cruise math, where logic takes a vacation, our Free at Sea credit of $50 and an extra $50 for being FAS+ superheroes somehow turns it into a financial masterpiece. 

it might not end up cheaper in the grand scheme. 

Welcome to cruise math, a realm far more intricate than regular math and seemingly more complex than rocket science. 

It's like trying to understand why cats do parkour at 3 AM – you just accept it.

Fast forward to 12:15, we're in the theater, waiting for our group to be summoned like extras in a B-movie. 

Suddenly, we're told to abandon ship, descend to deck 4, and look for an English flag amid a sea of purple shirts. 

Swedes being the queue pros we are, we form a line, expecting wristbands like we're VIPs at a concert hosted by sea turtles.

 But wait – the rest of the world doesn't know how to queue. Germans might, and possibly the rest of Scandinavia. 

Armed with elbows sharper than IKEA furniture, My wife carve her way to the middle, trading tickets for wristbands. Mission accomplished.

Now, enter the "taxi." 

Picture this: a Ford F-350 with the charm of a 5-star jalopy – benches welded onto the bed, no doors, no seat belts. 

It's like a Mad Max meets Caribbean cruise experience. As a Swede, this was shock therapy on wheels. I might not be a car expert, but even I can tell a transmission crying for retirement. Forget counting gears; I'm contemplating a eulogy for the poor gearbox.

The brochure hypes up the journey to Coral World as a scenic 25-minute joyride.

 Who's the wordsmith behind this masterpiece?

 A failed real estate agent turned comedy genius? Amidst the laughter, we survive the trip, enduring a dozen engine stops, and voila, we arrive at Coral World.

Coral World, a place that seems to have missed the memo on "ocean vibes." 

It's like a concrete jungle for fish, complete with parakeets that look like they need a beach vacation. 

Sorry, Coral World, it's time for a swift exit.

Off to Coki Beach, a sandy paradise with more people than a mall on Black Friday. 

But hey, that won't stop us from soaking in the sea, sun, and questionable beachside aromas.

After spending $25 on what can only be described as a beach relaxation kit (comprising an umbrella and two sunbeds of questionable quality), 

we set ourselves up for seaside enjoyment. We indulge in a refreshing dip in the clear water, soak up some sun, and just as I'm starting to fancy myself a beach aficionado, the sun decides to play hide-and-seek.

It's at this moment that I start to detect the aroma of "herbs," and I'm not talking about basil or tarragon. 

I'm sure you understand – not exactly my favorite fragrance

I open my eyes only to discover a looming figure, inquiring if we were in need of a doctor. 

A doctor? 

He presents a bucket of "medicine" . A swift reality check reminds us we're not patrons of his impromptu beachside pharmacy, and off he saunters, blending into the sands like a misunderstood "herb" sorcerer.

Two hours on the beach fly by, and suddenly we're back at the ship. Straight to the cabin to rid ourselves of sand in places it should never be – a feat that requires strategic showering skills.

I'm convinced there's more to share, but in a world where my attention spans rival that of a goldfish with a short-term memory disorder, let's call it a day and brace ourselves for Thursday's adventures. I don't even know if anyone reads my small texts.

The tales of customer service escapades.

At lunch, we confidently ordered a bottle of Aqua Panna, only to have our dreams dashed faster than a toddler's tower of building blocks. Why, you ask? Well, we've got the premium plus package, a package that we proudly secured long before the cruise sailed into our lives. The restaurant staff, like water warriors, decided to let us have our precious aqua, but not without sounding the urgent alarm bells—check the account!

Post-dinner, we embarked on a quest, not through uncharted seas, but through the never-ending line of customer service. This, my friend, is not the exotic adventure I signed up for. I swear, the time we spent waiting could have been used to master a new language or become a crochet prodigy. Finally, after what felt like a journey to the center of the earth, it was our turn.

The person behind the counter, a hero among staff, claimed victory after approximately 10 minutes. Victory, my friends, was sweet – or so we thought. Armed with newfound confidence, we decided to test this solution at Starbucks. Lo and behold, the magic worked! Coffee, the elixir of life, was now within our grasp.

Emboldened by our success, we set sail for the waterfront, only to be met with another storm of refusal when attempting to use our prepaid package. Seriously, is there a hidden treasure map we missed? Down we descended, like defeated pirates returning to the depths of the 6th floor and the lair of customer service.

This time, there was no way we'd endure the agony of the never-ending line again. Sneakily, I slid in from the side, determined to unveil the mystery of our denied waterfront indulgence. It turns out, the agent at the service desk had delegated the task of permanent resolution to a colleague who, it seems, was more interested in ignoring voicemails than solving our maritime mysteries. Ah, the joys of cruising – where every misadventure unfolds like a comedy of errors on the high seas!

Tuesday translates to Taino Bay in the Dominican Republic.

Hold up – you haven't even told the story about Monday!

My extraordinary wife, the true superhero in our love story, adorned herself with a cape as we marked three decades of marital magic. I won't delve into the specifics, but let's just say Le Bistro played the faithful sidekick in this romantic monday.

Picture this: My amazing wife, with her superheroic grace, effortlessly carried the weight of 30 years of marriage on her capable shoulders. Joining forces with Le Bistro, armed with culinary superpowers, they orchestrated a date night that could outshine any blockbuster movie. Sparks of love and laughter flew, and not just in the kitchen!

In the enchanting realm of our love story, my wife emerged as the ultimate superhero, laying the foundation for more adventures in the unpredictable universe of wedded wonders. 

Here's to my superheroic wife, the heart and soul who kickstarted not only our week but also, most importantly, my heart!

Now, back to Tuesday. We had this grand plan for the "Puerto Plata shopping and beach" extravaganza, but then we stumbled upon Taino Bay pics and videos.

Cancel mission! Who needs shopping when you can just soak up the sun? 

So, armed with pool towels, we embarked on a quest through a labyrinth of small shops and winding paths.

We hit the main pool, a colossal water arena with free sunbeds of every variety. 

But, surprise! If I had a hearing aid, I'd have yanked the batteries out. 

We're yelling at each other, suggesting a retreat to the family pool. 

Spoiler alert: same ear-piercing tunes that could wake a hibernating bear. 

It's like a musical battle royale, with each area throwing in their jams, creating a symphony of chaos. 

Three music pieces and styles clash in my ears, making my hair stand on end. 

As a has-been DJ, I shed a silent tear.

We attempt to chill and swim, but the music, especially the volume, forces us to grab our towels and make a strategic exit.

In the elevator, we find kindred spirits who agree: it was like a rock concert on steroids. Maybe age is catching up, or maybe it was just plain bonkers.

Next up, St. Thomas – let's hope the island has a mute button for the background soundtrack!

Sunday afternoon:

After lunch, we headed to the observation lounge to wait for our cabins to be ready. 

This place It's like a living room with a touch of magic and class. 

While waiting for the announcement that the cabins to be ready, we sipped tea and nibbled on fruit. 

By 2:30, impatience got the best of us. 

Taking a chance that turned out to be spot-on, we grabbed our backpacks and descended the stairs to deck 9.

We booked a Sail Away Club Balcony, a mini-suite promising a fantastic massage shower.

After the classic "getting lost in the hallway" routine, we finally located our cabin.

Just before reaching it, we noticed our suitcases were already there.

With key cards in hand, the door swung open to a somewhat narrow hallway. But then, the room revealed itself. 

The bed near the balcony, just the way we wanted it. Now, it was time to inspect the bathroom.

Facing a petite letdown:

no massage shower, just a tub. I'm 188 cm tall (or 6.2 feet for my non-metric pals). Predictably, standing tall meant a ceiling tête-à-tête. Not a lot of room for negotiation.

Guess what? We rolled the dice with a Sail Away cabin. It's a bit of a gamble. But hey, who plans to be room-bound anyway?

Now, the realization hits, as usual – what to do with all the clothes I packed from chilly Sweden? Anyone up for a flea market? Same story every cruise. After unpacking everything except our winter clothes, suddenly, it's dinner time at Taste.

Navigating deck 6, we discovered a shortage of tables for two, forcing us into our favorite pastime – the art of shared tables. 

Call it dinner guest roulette, where the odds are uncertain

Tonight, luck favored us, turning it into a jackpot. A mesmerizing dinner unfolded, weaving tales that spanned from nature's wonders to the thrilling escapades of cruise journey's

At dinner, we confidently ordered a bottle of Aqua Panna, only to have our dreams dashed faster than a toddler's tower of building blocks. Why, you ask? Well, we've got the premium plus package, a title that we proudly secured long before the cruise sailed into our lives. The restaurant staff, like water warriors, decided to let us have our precious aqua, but not without sounding the urgent alarm bells—check the account!

Post-dinner, we embarked on a quest, not through uncharted seas, but through the never-ending line of customer service. This, my friend, is not the exotic adventure I signed up for. I swear, the time we spent waiting could have been used to master a new language or become a crochet prodigy. Finally, after what felt like a journey to the center of the earth, it was our turn.

The person behind the counter, a hero among staff, claimed victory after approximately 10 minutes. Victory, my friends, was sweet – or so we thought. Armed with newfound confidence, we decided to test this solution at Starbucks. Lo and behold, the magic worked! Coffee, the elixir of life, was now within our grasp.

Emboldened by our success, we set sail for the waterfront, only to be met with another storm of refusal when attempting to use our prepaid package. Seriously, is there a hidden treasure map we missed? Down we descended, like defeated pirates returning to the depths of the 6th floor and the lair of customer service.

This time, there was no way we'd endure the agony of the never-ending line again. Sneakily, I slid in from the side, determined to unveil the mystery of our denied waterfront drinks indulgence. It turns out, the agent at the service desk had delegated the task of permanent resolution to a colleague who, it seems, was more interested in ignoring voicemails than solving our maritime mysteries. Ah, the joys of cruising – where every misadventure unfolds like a comedy of errors on the high seas!

This refers to Sunday am. 

We've now ditched the rental car at Miami Airport. Despite it being just ten minutes past ten in the morning, we decide to head towards the port and NCL's new terminal building, the "Pearl of Miami."
 
We don't want a repeat of the traffic chaos we experienced in April, which took nearly two hours to reach the ship from the airport.

I can't handle more stress. We find a taxi and hop in. Or was it a low-flying plane? 
I have no idea how far it was between the airport and the port, but my gut feeling says it took shorter time than learning to spell "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

The taxi driver does his best to find a drop-off spot, but buses and other cars keep cutting in. Eventually, he's had enough, abruptly shifts into park, rushes out, and unceremoniously tosses our bags onto the sidewalk. 

Simultaneously, a local authority figure gives our driver a verbal smackdown.

Now it's close. After all the drama, no obstacles remain. We take the escalator up to security, and faster than a pig can blink, we're at the check-in counter, armed with our cruise cards and assigned to boarding group 8.
 
We find some vacant seats. Suddenly, a clear voice announces the boarding for group 1 and so on. It probably takes no more than 10 to 15 minutes before we set foot on the Encore. Before we explore the ship and potentially get into some mischief, we locate our assembly station and check in.

Next task: lunch! Why jostle with people in the buffet when we can be served? We decide on Taste, or was it Savor? 
Post-lunch, my memory decides to play hide-and-seek – probably because I turned the good drinks into my own personal memory erasers. 

It's like my brain went on vacation without me.

Stay tuned for more. Later tonight, you'll get to read the story of why we stood in line at guest service three times.

So, waiting for something good apparently takes longer than convincing a cat to take a bath. 

After 465 days of anticipation, today's the day: we're about to embark on the NCL Encore.

At the ungodly hour of 3:30 AM, I wake up with a headache, thinking it's just my brain protesting against such an early start.

Coffee, my usual savior, turns out to be a traitor as the only capsules for the coffee machine are decaf. 

Decaf, the coffee equivalent of getting a high-five in the face with a Chair. 

But hey, who needs caffeine anyway? (Hint: Me. I do.)

Fast forward to 7:00 AM – breakfast time. Guess who's leading the queue? You probably guessed right. Straight to the coffee machine like a caffeine-fueled Sherlock Holmes, solving the mystery of morning alertness.

After I've downed that first cup, I can finally focus, transforming from a sleep-deprived zombie to a somewhat functional human., ready to conquer the buffet. 

Starving doesn't even begin to describe it; I'm so hungry, I could eat a dictionary – and that's saying something because dictionaries are notoriously bland.

Back in the hotel room, we play a thrilling game of suitcase Tetris, fitting in winter jackets with the precision of a sushi chef. 

Then, my wife drops the bombshell: "I need an umbrella." 

Cue a GPS-guided quest to Walgreens, or so I thought. 

Plot twist – she wants Target! Because when life gives you choices, always choose the option that turns a simple errand into a shopping odyssey.

After surviving the ULTA shop in shop at Target – a place where credit card weeps silently – we finally break free and head to the airport. 

Miami traffic greets us like a riddle wrapped in an enigma, driven by drivers who've either stolen their cars or they're smoking Jazz tobacco 24/7. 

Amidst this chaos, we navigate to Hertz, return the car, and now, the final hurdle: getting to the port. 

But that's a tale for another post – join us on this rollercoaster of embarkation, where the only predictable thing is the unpredictability.

After a lengthy flight, the wheels touch down at Miami International Airport, and suddenly, it's time to get a move on. Lufthansa's Boeing 747 joins the party at the far end of terminal J, like the VIP guest at the coolest building in town.

Now, armed with passports, we find ourselves in a line for CBP that could give a giraffe a run for its money – the longest I've ever seen. Before we knew it, four mega planes landed just ahead of us. We estimated around 700 passengers, or as I like to call it, a small country.

But hey, queuing for customs is practically a tradition. It didn't take more than 30 minutes, and the officer's glance at our passports was quicker than a microwave minute. Off we went, eagerly approaching the baggage claim.

Would our bags show up on the belt? Or would we have to parade around the ship in our stylish travel attire? The suspense was killing us, but ever since Lufthansa started announcing their luggage-loading progress in their app, we felt as serene as a sloth on a hammock. Sure enough, like an early Christmas present, our bags gracefully slid onto the carousel.

With a swift grab, we've got our luggage, and off we go to the car rental center. Renting a car for less than 24 hours, you ask?

Well, two reasons: firstly, we always book the same hotel – the Best Western Plus, a 30-minute drive from the airport, unless traffic feels rebellious.

The second reason? We're thrifty, or as Mom would say, economically responsible. Our costs are probably higher than those traveling domestically, what with transatlantic flights and all. With practiced steps, we head to the rental center, take the elevator to the Hertz Gold Members section, and snag our rental – a Polestar EV, thanks to fantastic discounts from my wife's job.

Plug in the hotel's address into the car's GPS, and off we go to our first stop – because, let's face it, six hours of jet lag can turn anyone into a hungry, sleepy zombie. We steer towards the Miami Executive Airport area, where our hotel awaits.

Ah, then it hits us – Taco Rico, the Mexican joint/fast food haven. We indulge in a fajita steak salad – absolutely divine and refreshing.

Next stop: Walmart, for some last-minute shopping shenanigans.

After a Walmart sprint to grab the essentials for our cruise, we head back to the hotel. Check-in goes smoother than a jazz melody, and before you know it, the room is filled with the soothing symphony of snoring by 9:00 pm. Because, after all, conquering a new city is tiring business.

"Are we there yet? Well, not quite hitting the destination jackpot just yet. We're navigating through the journey, and by the way, we've practically conquered half the distance – a milestone for us budget travelers in the cattle class.

To keep things interesting in our airborne adventure, they've got us engaged in some grade-A entertainment.

Picture this:

1. We're playing the thrilling game of 'Guess What's on the Menu Today.' It's like a culinary lottery, and everyone's a winner because, hey, it's food at 30,000 feet!

2. Attempting to savor a meal becomes an acrobatic challenge when the guy in the seat ahead decides to transform his chair into a makeshift rollercoaster. Eating while dodging abrupt tilts and turns – talk about a gastronomic obstacle course.

3. The crews table-clearing skills are in a league of their own. They dismantle that tray faster than you can say 'in-flight service.' It's a race against time, and let's just say, we're Olympic contenders in the 'Dining Decathlon.'

Now, kidding aside, let's talk about the real star of the show – the in-flight cuisine. Today's culinary masterpiece featured ravioli adorned with spinach and ricotta. Taste buds, brace yourselves, because despite the mid-air antics, the flavors soared to new heights. Bon appétit, turbulence and all!"

Ah, the joys of air travel – a delightful dance of uncertainty and spontaneity. Our saga begins with the thrilling news that our flight was gracefully rescheduled via the magical land of Germany and the city of Frankfurt to the sunshine state of Florida

Oh, the charm of airline punctuality – pushback scheduled for 06:45, and here we are at the edge of rebellion at 06:53.

The plane, a beacon of timeliness, is currently being scolded, and soon, it will embark on a journey to Frankfurt on what appears to be the aviation equivalent of a clown car – completely full, of course.

I can practically hear the collective sighs of those destined for Munich, forced to embark on the scenic train ride from Frankfurt to Munich, adding a touch of unexpected adventure to their travel plans.

Bless my fortunate stars, as I impulsively lunged for the phone upon receiving the cancellation email. After a mere two-hour chat with the geniuses at United, they miraculously conjured up seats for us on LH809 departing from Arlanda, with a layover leading to the grand finale – LH462 bound for Miami.

Pushing back from the gate at the remarkably precise time of 7:03 am, the captain, with an air of defiance, throttled the engines, and by 07:13, we were airborne.

The captain optimistically estimates a flight time of 1:55 hours, a figure that should guarantee a nearly punctual landing. Almost too good to be true, isn't it?

Fast forward to 08:45, and a voice, undoubtedly belonging to someone in authority, graces us through the speakers with the poetic announcement, "Cabin crew, prepare for landing." Thus, our descent into the wondrous embrace of Frankfurt Airport commences, culminating at airgate A17.

A spirited jog through the labyrinthine marvel that is Frankfurt Airport brings us to our gate just in time for boarding. The race against time, a truly riveting part of every travel escapade.

Now, with a leisurely 11 hours until touch down in Miami, I contemplate the gradual descent of my blood pressure and the potential transition from antacid tablets to the more refined company of rum and cola.

Surely, they serve alcohol on the plane; it's practically a flying cocktail lounge, isn't it?

Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment from us at 6:00 pm Miami time, where we may or may not be recounting tales of high-altitude mixology and navigating the intricacies of airline hospitality. Cheers to the unpredictable symphony of travel!

Oh, joy! Lufthansa just sent a love email– a cancellation notice. Now, I'm serenading hold music with United and Lufthansa, creating a symphony of stress. Who knew rebooking could be the comedic highlight of my day? *Cue nervous laughter.*

As the final suitcase clicked shut, and our Uber's imminent arrival was signaled by the cheerful ding of our phones, it hit us - vacation mode: activated. Miami, here we come! But not so fast; first, a pitstop at the glamorous Clarion Hotel at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Because nothing says "let the adventures begin" like a cozy airport hotel, right?

After what felt like the world's quickest half-hour journey, we found ourselves at the doorstep of Arlanda and SkyCity. Check-in was smoother than a freshly ironed shirt, and after a room inspection that rivaled the thoroughness of a detective searching for hidden treasure, we adhered to tradition.

With a hunger that rivaled our excitement for the impending vacation, we made our way to Restaurant Pocket at Arlanda airport SkyCity. Here, we did what any self-respecting traveler would do - ordered the most Swedish meal on the menu. Cue the meatballs, mashed potatoes, cream sauce, and lingonberries - a dish so quintessentially Swedish, it practically sang ABBA songs.

Now, you might be raising an eyebrow, thinking, "Aren't you tired of meatballs? Isn't that a bit too 'Ikea chic' for a pre-vacation feast?" Well, dear reader, let me regale you with the cautionary tale of the time we dared to deviate from the meatball routine.

Picture this: a vacation without meatballs. Sounds daring, right? We thought so too. But oh, how the universe laughed in the face of our culinary rebellion. The result? A broken foot, courtesy of my wife, on the very first day of the vacation. Lesson learned: never underestimate the power of meatballs to keep you on your feet—literally.

So, here we are, back at it again, embracing the meatball ritual with open arms (and mouths). Because when it comes to vacations, we've learned that some traditions are best left unchallenged.

#WatchThisSpace

No coffee at 4am

Ah, the joys of early morning flights. You set your alarm for what feels like the middle of the night, drag yourself out of bed, and stumble into the airport bleary-eyed and in desperate need of caffeine. But wait, what's this? All the restaurants are closed?! Stockholm Arlanda, you have some explaining to do.

It's 4:30 am and you're staring blankly at the "Closed" sign on the coffee shop. You can feel the panic rising in your chest. How on earth are you supposed to make it through your flight without your trusty cup of Joe? You start to wonder if you can survive on the tiny, complimentary cups of airplane coffee, but deep down you know it's just not going to cut it.

As you wander around the terminal in a daze, you can't help but wonder: do the people who run this airport not understand the basic human need for caffeine? Are they secretly trying to make us all suffer? Or do they just have a really weird sense of humor?

You start to imagine what it would be like if the airport were run by a group of mischievous trolls who take delight in watching bleary-eyed travelers stumble around in a caffeine-deprived stupor. Maybe they think it's hilarious to see people accidentally board the wrong flight or fall asleep on the baggage carousel.

But wait, what's that in the distance? Could it be? Yes! A glimmer of hope! You spot a vending machine selling tiny cups of lukewarm coffee. It's not exactly the Starbucks latte you were hoping for, but at this point, you'll take whatever you can get.

Disclaimer:

Ahoy there, welcome to my cruise trip report

Please be advised that the views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and are meant to be taken with a pinch of sea salt, a slice of lime, and perhaps a fruity drink with an umbrella in it.

I cannot be held responsible for any unfortunate incidents that occur while following my suggestions, such as seasickness or overindulging in buffet food.

Additionally, I enjoy adding humor to my writing and may exaggerate certain experiences for comedic effect. That "epic" sunset I described from the deck might not be as awe-inspiring as I made it out to be, and my description of the ship's spa as "heavenly" might just mean they had decent massages.

Before I start sharing my thoughts with you, I want to clarify that English is not my first language. I hope you won't mind any occasional grammatical errors or misspellings that might slip through my writing.

Despite my best efforts to ensure the quality of my writing, some mistakes are bound to happen. But let's face it, who needs perfect grammar when you can deliver some great jokes and humor?

So, if you're ready to be entertained, let's dive into some interesting discussions and have some fun together!

Woohoo! It's finally our turn to set sail on the Oasis of the Seas, our favorite ship! Today's the day and I'm practically bouncing off the walls with excitement. We're heading to Arlanda airport in Stockholm, Sweden  at the crack of dawn (6:00am to be exact) for our flight to Munich, then Frankfurt, and finally Miami! 

But wait, let's rewind a bit. We've got to get to the Arlanda airport in Stockholm, Sweden first. Our flight is at a crazy early time of 6:00 am tomorrow to Munich, with a tight 50-minute transfer window before we hop onto the plane to Frankfurt. And then, off to Miami we go at 10:50 in the morning! Who knew booking the cheapest tickets would be such a wild adventure?

But don't worry, we've got it all planned out. We've hailed an Uber to take us to the airport, and we're staying at the Radisson BLU Arlanda Terminal, which is just a short walk away from Sky City. For those of you who don't know, Sky City is this awesome building that connects Terminal 4 and International Terminal 5. And it's not just a boring old building, oh no! It's got hotels, restaurants, shops, and even currency exchange. Plus, you can gaze out of its windows and check out the planes parked between Terminals 4 and 5. It's like a mini airport city!

Now, let me tell you about our hotel room. It's like we've stepped into a time machine back to 1993. The rooms definitely reflect the era, but at least they're still comfortable for sleeping. The bathroom, on the other hand, is a whole different story. We're talking 90s fashion in full force.

But before we hit the hay early to catch our early flight, we've got to grab a bite to eat and some coffee. And we know exactly what we want - meatballs! We've got a tradition to uphold, after all. And these aren't just any meatballs, my friend. These are well-sized meatballs made from minced veal, served with a smooth potato puree and raw-stirred lingonberries that will knock your socks off. And the creamy sauce? Oh, don't even get me started. We each paired it with a Mariestads beer and coffee to round out our dinner.

25 minutes ago, Missymo said:

. You are coming a long way  and your trip so far is fascinating.  I want to be the first  to welcome you to the US and Miami,.  Should you need any info concerning Miami, just ask.    I too, will be on the December 8 Oasis of the the Seas sailing. Hope to meet you on board.. 

Thank you. This is the 5th time to florida and the 12 time to the us. This will be the 3rd time on oasis

Everything I write here is from my perspective and may not match someone else's opinion. I want to use this time to say that English is not my primary language. This text is a product of nine years in the Swedish elementary school system in the seventies and the eighties. And we all know the seventies were the seventies. You might find some writing and grammar oversights. 

If the number of posts is dropping during the week, we likely have a lot of fun. I'll try to keep adding more and respond to all the questions you may hold. 

You lovely bunch, have likely already seen countless hours of footage from Oasis and hundreds of photos. So please excuse me if you view another picture of sliced roast beef in a kummelweck roll for the 356th time.

I love arranging the holidays as much as I like traveling on them. I am using lots of tools to help stay prepared. My preferred weapon for this is tripit.com. I also keep a binder to keep all documents and a few bits and parts together. I am sure there is a proper diagnosis for my behavior.

So who are we?

My name is Mikael, and I write this.

With me on the trip is as always, my lovely wife for the last 26 years Kerstin. I work as a field service engineer, and my wife is a registered nurse.

We live in a middle-sized area about 21 km northwest of Stockholm, Sweden.

 History and booking:

After our first cruise, on NCL Getaway in 2016. We fell in love with the cruising holiday product. After this, we have been on MSC Divina and Royal Caribbeans Oasis of the seas for a back to back cruise.

We want to cruise more, but the prices for the trans-Atlantic flights and the pre-cruise hotels are draining a hole in our vacation budget.

When we investigated the possibilities to get to the cruise, we had so many choices ranging from direct routes to flights with layovers. The layover flights usually are the more inexpensive alternative. 

After careful searching for a lengthy time, we noticed a ticket sold by Virgin Atlantic with a layover in London Heathrow. For this ticket, we paid almost four hundred USD return. That covered checked bags, and we made this our choice.

We are flying coach class, so we can afford to travel more. Its an uncomplicated equation for us. A few hours of cramped travel equals one more holiday week a year — an absolute win-win for us.

Pre-cruise travel Itinerary:

December 6th

Radisson Blu Airport Terminal 

December 7th

07:15 CET - 09:35 GMT ARN - LHR

https://www.flightview.com/flight-tracker/SK/525?date=20191207&depapt=ARN

10:15 GMT -12:05 Club aspire lounge 

12:55 GMT - 18:05 EST LHR - MIA

https://www.flightview.com/flight-tracker/VS/5?date=20191207&depapt=LHR

EDT 19:25 pick up the rental car at Alamo.

EDT 19:45 Arrive at the Holiday Inn Express Miami Airport Doral Area

EDT 20:00 Papa Johns on order 

EDT 21:05 Lights Out.

December 8th

EDT 07:10 Hotel Breakfast.

EDT 08:00 Last Minute Shopping at Walmart and Walgreens.

EDT 11:00 Return the rental at the airport.

EDT 11:15 Board the Almo courtesy bus from the airport to the port. 

EDT 13:00 Raid the buffet and get that bar tab going.

With this part completed, let's go forward with our semi-live travel report.

 Although we live so nearby to the airport, we decided to go a day earlier and check-in at the Radisson BLU Arlanda Terminal hotel. I reserved this with points that I have gained during many of my work trips. We had to add breakfast, which is an extra cost at this hotel. The price is about 160 Sek or $ 16 per person. This arrangement is rare for a hotel in Sweden. It may sound like an overprice to pay for a simple breakfast, but this is more like the breakfast in the windjammer than a typical American hotel breakfast.

At 7:00 pm, there are only two real possibilities to get to our flight. The first obvious choice is a taxi for about 60 dollars. The second choice is to drive. There is no problem to find a parking space at Arlanda. Pick from outdoor to heated indoor parking. You have to let the wallet decide what right for you. As winter is officially here in Sweden, the choice fell to a covered parking space near the terminal. This cost almost 90 USD for the ten days we are gone. Indoor parking may not be the most affordable option. Still, it sure beats an open-air parking space with the risk for iced windows and a few inches of snow surrounding the car when we return.

The drive to the airport was smooth even in the light rain, and we arrived after about 35 minutes.

We drove on a more or less an empty highway to the airport. We pulled up to the indoor parking space and headed up the ramp to the 3rd floor. That gives us direct access to terminal 2. Our first stop today is the Radisson hotel at SkyCity. All terminals on Arlanda airport connects with indoor walkways, and it is a comfortable walk for about 15 minutes. After the check-in at the front desk, we went up to our room. Our room is on the first floor, and we checked out the amenities and bed. After the compulsory bed check, I headed down to the self-service kiosks to get my luggage tags and boarding cards. So we can use the self bag drop at the star alliance area. Time well spent that will give us a few extra minutes to enjoy that pricy breakfast at the hotel.

Now its time for the room tour. This hotel room is not large more on the small size, but it is adequate for a night's sleep.

The room is clean and decorated in a trendy Scandinavian style. The bathroom is bright and tiled from floor to ceiling. Here we will most likely sleep well in the bed that is not in the bathroom. 

We headed down to SkyCity to get something to eat. The choice fell on the restaurant "on my way." And what does a swede eat at the airport, Swedish meatballs of course. That plate of restaurant meatballs with lingonberry and sweet pickled cucumber and the velvet-smooth cream sauce are as good as it gets. After that dinner, we went back to the hotel room to shower and wind down before the early wake-up call.

More to follow in tomorrow

As woke up, the ship just pulled in to the berth. Today we are going at our own pace, and we decided to wind down and do what we like. So after a slow breakfast in Windjammer. We decided to find the gangway and visit the port area. Philipsburg are our favorite port in the Caribbean. In the port, there is a booth that sells tickets for the water taxi. Prices are 7 USD per person for a return ticket to town. After a short trip, the boat pulled up to jetty at the main beach street in Philipsburg. The beach in the city is fantastic. We rented two chairs and an umbrella for 20 USD. If you use the scalpers by the jetty, you will pay a much higher price. I heard like 25 -30 dollars. We chose the location just to the left of the dock. They had an offering of 5 beers in a bucket for 10 dollars, mix, and match. Even if the time was just 11 am, I cracked open the first beer Carbi, realizing that is 5 pm at, so I am good. Fantastic value, if you consider the prices onboard. it was our favorite day so far, relaxing in the sun, warm sea, and nice people. After a few hours on the beach, wife went shopping for some custom jewelry in the flee market. My self-went back to ship for a shower and a snack. We continue the day and the rest of the evening we a few drinks and beers. No, we couldn’t tell if the ship was rocking or not

Pictures in next post

It's official cats sucks. And this was the headliner version sort of best off. But there no good bits of cats. We left before the show ended, cats have not aged well. Monday on the eastern Caribbean is Nassau. We did not have any plans for this stop. So went ashore and explored a little. Nassau port area is tired, and people are pushy but will accept a no. After an hour's walk early in the morning, we returned to the ship to have a quiet day onboard. Quiet it was not, this was a crew training day. Constant PA calls to the crew. The emergency signal going off and so on. I know they have to train for our safety, it was a bit annoying. We had our lunch at Windjammer, packed with guest returned after the excisions and exploring.
It's was the first formal night.
After departure, there was an alpha-alpha announced over the PA system. A passenger that was so ill that the captain decided to return to Nassau. So they can have medical care. This makes a late arrival at our next stop. But I am glad that they take safety measures, before a schedule. Felt like I overdressed. I wore a blue tuxedo and a bow tie. As we have an early dinner time, we went down to the royal promenade to mingle. At that time we were overdressed as people still was wearing both beachwear. Did change as the dinner time come closer. This was the first night in the main dining for us. And we got placed at table 629 in restaurant American Icon grill on level 3. Also known as the naughty corner. It was hot and no airflow — a horrible place for dinner. The table is cramped in between a pillar and the kitchen station, with one person sitting close to extruding wall. And the other with the support pillar just behind there's back, also the main route for the servers. Food was excellent, waiters lovely but the whole experience for dinner was a letdown. After dinner, we went for a stroll down the royal promenade. Now almost everybody was dressed in formal clothes.  
After a few drinks, it was time for the turd in punchbowl, sorry Cats. And after we escaped cats, we went back to our room an fell asleep in a jiffy.

Biker19 you are correct, this was a gift from our son. It's an onboard delivery, ordered via royal gifts problem. Just Google royal Caribbean gifts. And may I congratulate you on the eagle eye vision

Saturday morning we left our hotel at 0830 in the morning after waking up a 3:15 am. The timezone difference for the first night hit hard. 
I woke up with a terrible headache, in need of coffee.
At 03:45 I found the coffee maker in the room. 
Soon the pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee spread in the room. Breakfast started at 0700. Breakfast was surprisingly good, lots of choices, clean fresh. Served was a typical American style of breakfast. After the meal, we loaded the bags in the car and steered to a Walmart. Some last minute shopping was scheduled. That shopping trip was interesting; I did not know that girl need that may face brushes, that selection is staggering after leaving the store with a variety of face brushes that would make  Leonardo Davinci envious. It's time to steer to the port and drop off the rental at Alamo's business partner Enterprise. A fantastic day to drive to the port, traffic was flowing nicely. In about an hour we arrived at the rental car office. And in about 15 minutes later we were on the courtesy shuttle to the port, excitement as the holiday is starting for real.
After arriving at the Port, the excitement levels dropped rather quickly. Look at that line, a mile long!
After the initial shock, we found the end of the line. At this time around 11:15 the line grow fast. The line was not moving at all, due to some government inspection.  After about 20 minutes without the line moving at all, suddenly we moving forward at a nice pace. I took us about an hour to be lead in the main terminal building to enter a cattle fencing, that zigzags round inside before facing the security officers. I don't know if they were stressed about the number of people in line. But they did not even look at our bottles of wine in a carry-on. Next up check-in, absolutely no problem here. No queues went directly to counter and were assigned boarding group 17, that was boarding right away. After almost 1 hour and 45 minutes, we entered the gangway to board the ship. Lady O is gorgeous. Our chosen location for lunch, the solarium was not crowded at all. Food was ok, nothing to write home about but filling. After the dinner, we got down to deck 8 to find the cabin. Located in the front the of the ship. It's small inside cabin, entirely adequate for our needs. Our stateroom was clean and in good shape.
As we had booked FNDR, as promised, they had made a reservation for us at Giovanni Table. We went for dinner at 0630. Food was amazing. We had carpaccio for an appetizer and as the entree a beef filet and pasta ragu Bolognese. More or less the same food we had at MSC divina last year, and royal Caribbean versions are miles ahead. After some wine and beer, there was no room for dessert. Next up was comedy show a 9 pm. We canceled that and went to bed totally exhausted after the long haul flight on Saturday, early morning and cattle fencing situation.
 

Are we there yet..... The chairs on this bird are horrible. The flight is quite uneventful, and that's a good thing another surprise was a warm meal served about one hour before landing. This time the choices were pasta with marinara sauce or a German-styled meatball with mash and red cabbage and mustard jus.
We both took the meatball dish, and there was no complaint from us. It reminded me about Swedish Christmas food, and red cabbage is a staple at Christmas dinner.
When I am writing this, we are landing within 10 minutes. No awaits to see if the bags are on this flight. We also need to pass the immigration officers inspection. This usually is not a problem as we are a frequent flyer to us, and have pre-authorization of the E.S.T.A. Sweden is one of the countries in the visa waiver program.
I know the time here is 6 pm, our body clock is midnight. We have been on the road for almost 19 hours with the layover. I think we are skipping the pizza tonight and only go for the beer. Anyhow, we will wake up something like 0430 craving breakfast and coffee. 

Frankfurt airport is huge. I think we walk for 20 minutes before we reached the gate z66. Boarding started about 20 minutes late, but the flight time was reduced from 10 hours 20 minutes to 9 hours and 45 minutes. So I guess we will make it in time to Orlando. Flight attendants handed out some little saltines, and we were offered a free drink for the drink cart. I got my self a German beer. 
The flight is almost full. We are in the middle seats in really old 747; the plane is nearly 21 years old. 
Meal service is about to start I suppose, the crew went around and handed out warm towels. That is a nice touch. On the plane, you can use wifi for the whole duration of the flight for 15 Euro or 5000 points. I selected the points; I never get any status anyway, I can spend them onboard. We have ordered a specialty meal service. On Lufthansa, you can pre-order an Ala Carte meal for a fee. I ordered the beef tenderloin meal, and for my wife ordered the catch of the day. 
I have not told my wife about this, and it's a surprise to happen.
The meal was indeed worth the 35 Euro we paid per person. My beef was a bit of overcooked. Lunch was served with some string beans, pommes Anna and some peppercorn jus. For dessert a small bowl of Bavarian creme with raspberry sauce. Ohh I almost forgot the starter, a fennel and orange salad with dill in all a fantastic meal service. Only eight hours to go, and I am bored as bored can be.
Right now we only have 4132 miles to Orlando, so we will be there in a jiffy or NOT.
The chairs on this flight are incredibly firm; I believe that there are rocks that are more comfortable than the chairs on this 20 years old 747.

Boarding was like a black Friday sale, people where is your manner's. I am sure that everybody that has a ticket will get a seat. We are on a flight where you are assigned a seat. So why mad rush people. Captain says the flight time is 1hr 45 minutes to Frankfurt. Push back on time. We are flying an excellent a320 model 100. This legroom for this short flight is quite lovely. I am 6'2 and have no problem with the legroom.  But the seats, horrible I am glad it's a short flight.
At 09:25 we are ready for taking off from heading R19. I wonder if the captain is an old fighter pilot, he isn't wasting any time. One of the fastest takeoff ever. Now I am looking forward to some drink and a snack. 
The plane is almost full, a few empty seats. I have never seen a short flight with 15 rows of business. Business class is full. An economy is filled to about 85 percent. 

I found some interesting fact in the in-flight magazine. Wine and beer to anyone of the age of 16. Hard liquor you need to be 18. I love culture anomalies. 

Inflight service offers was a sandwich with cheese, and arugula creme and free drinks. Ok for an economy fare ticket. I opted for a glass of Coke Zero.  
At 10:32 we are starting our descent to Frankfurt airport. Our planned arrival time is 11:14, but the captain must found a shortcut as we are landing ahead of schedule.  At Frankfurt, we have a 2 hr layover. As the plane is one time, it would be no stress to pass security and find the new gate. Maybe even do some shopping, why not a bottle of real champagne for our 25th anniversary the 4th. We have the drink package for the first week of this b2b adventure. The excellent stuff is so overpriced on the ship. One glass of champagne would cost as a whole bottle. We like to drink more than one glass. 
Gate change at Frankfurt was no problem at all. We stopped for a preflight burger at the golden arches and a beer. Yes, you may have a beer at McDonald's in Germany.
Now we are soon boarding the flight to orlando. So no more updates untill 7 pm. That if the jetlag is kind to me. 
Next update in about  12 hours.
See ya

05:14:59am

BEEP BEEP BEEP … BEEP BEEP BEEP

BEEP BEEP BEEP … BEEP BEEP BEEP

BEEP BEEP BEEP … BEEP BEEP BEEP

The most annoying sound in the world wake us up but it´s ok, It's Saturday morning, and the vacation starts right now.

Boring bit:

The opinions I may express here is my own, and may not reflect someone else opinion. I am not a professional writer, and I like to share my experience with other fellow travelers. If the number of posts is declining during the weeks, we probably have a lot of fun.  I'll try to keep adding posts and answer any questions you may have. You lovely lot, have probably already seen hours of footage from Oasis OTS and hundreds of photos. So please excuse me if you see, another picture of roast beef in a kummelweck roll for the 356th time. It reflects my trip and a way to keep me from the casino. 

This is meant to be an ongoing travel report and not a full-blown review. I'll try to write this report in my best possible English, English is not my native language. What I learned was in elementary school ages ago. So please bear in mind that the use of grammar and spelling may be completely batty sometimes.

 Who are we?

I am Mikael, and I am traveling with my wife, Kerstin. We are in our early fifties.  We are seasoned travelers, mostly in Europe, and the USA. We work to be able to travel as much as we can. We live in a middle-sized suburb about 21 km northwest of Stockholm Sweden. I work as a field service engineer with IT, and my wife works as a nurse.

Background and booking:

After our first cruise Feb 2016 on NCL Getaway we fell in love with the cruising holiday concept. On Cyber Monday back in 2017, I found this cheap cruise with Oasis of the seas. It was only 495 USD included tax and gratuities per person in a guarantee cabin. At this point, we were already booked on the NCL bliss for about the same date. But that cost was 2500 USD for one week. So we canceled the NCL booking and went for a B2B with Oasis. So for less than 2000 USD, we get to cruise for two weeks. We got assigned a cabin rather quick for both cruises, at that this point it looked like we needed to change cabin for the second week.  One quick call later to the RCL office found us a cabin that was available for both weeks. We got assigned an inside at the front of the ship on deck 8. Its one of the smallest cabin on the ship and its located on the port side next to a balcony, but its an inside cabin. 

I will get post more about the cabin later.

When I researched the options to get to the cruise, I had three choices, direct flight to MCO (ORLANDO) with the low-cost carrier Norweigan. That did not work out for us. No departures on a Saturday and the prices are not that low. And there were restrictions on luggage allowance, and you have to pay for food and drinks. Not for us. Next was a cheap flight with BA (British Airways)$275. This flight was from ARN to London and a layover and then to Mia. That would mean that we needed to drive direct to Orlando after landing or on the morning of the cruise, too stressful. Next was quite a few options with layovers, to Orlando. Our choice fell on a flight with Lufthansa. We are flying from ARN (Stockholm - Sweden) to FRA (Frankfurt-Germany) with a two-hour layover. And from Frankfurt direct to Orlando on a 10hrs flight. First flight out is at 09:15 am local time. (Translates to 03:15 am EDT)

This time we are flying economy because we are cheap. The price for the price was 300 USD return. We could not turn that down. We also have a rental from my favorite company Alamo, and I never had a bad experience with Alamo at MIA. I am hoping for the same experience at MCO. It's a oneway rental with drop off at Port Canaveral. We have pre-booked a hotel a short drive from the airport. The hotel is in an area called Millenia. I had some loyalty points to redeem, so I booked SpringHill Suites by Marriott at Millenia. The total cost including points was 50 USD.

We would like to cruise more, but the prices for the flight and pre-cruise hotels is eating a hole in the travel budget. And the Mediterranean cruises, do not have the same appeal and are about double the price. We have also visited quite a few of the ports and islands and attractions in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.

Pre-cruise travel Itinerary:

December 1st

CEST 09:15 - CEST 11:25 ARN - FRA

CEST 13-40 - EDT 17:55 FRA - MCO

EDT 18:50 pickup rental car at Alamo

EDT 19:30 SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando at Millenia

EDT 20:00 Dominos Pizza arrives

EDT 20:05 One or two beers at the hotel. 

December 2nd

EDT 08:00 Last minute shopping

EDT 11:50 Return car at Port Canaveral

EDT 12:00 Alamo courtesy bus to Port

EDT 13:00 Raid the buffet and get that bar tab going

Diagnosis :D

Grumpy middle age man.

I love planning the holidays as much as I enjoy traveling on them. I am using lots of tools to help stay organized, my favorite tool for this is tripit.com. I also have a binder to keep all documents and a few bits and pieces. I sure there is a proper diagnosis for that behavior.

Let's start this progressive travel report.

Local time 06:45 am

This morning makes a cruise in the Caribbean looked like the right choice, there is sleet falling from the sky, and the temperature is about 32F (0)c.

We are dragging our big suitcases to the car to steer to the airport. 

There are other options to get to the airport, but this is at the beginning of the flu season, and public transportation is like a boiling petri dish. The biggest concern is the transatlantic flight, enclosed with four hundred fellow passengers in an aluminum tube for 10 hrs. I read an article about planes and the dirtiest spot on the plane is the tray table. So let's pack those Clorox wipes and keep that personal surfaces clean.

We have booked an indoor parking space for the 17 days that we are on this trip. This is not the cheaper option, but it sure beats an outdoor parking space with the risk for iced windows and 10 inches of snow surrounding the car when we return.

The drive to the airport was smooth even in the sleet, I have studded winter tires on the SUV, and we arrived after about 35 minutes, driving on a more or less an empty highway to the airport.  We pulled up to the indoor parking space and the park on the 3rd floor with access direct to terminal 2. Our flight leaves from terminal 5. All terminals on Arlanda airport is connected, and its an easy, smooth walk for about 15 minutes.  The biggest problem was handling the big and small roller suitcase that we both have. After that rather long walk, we arrived at the star alliance area of the terminal 5. We used the self-service terminals and the bag drop. That was a small wait for about 10 minutes , now off to the airport security. The line moved on quickly without any problems. 

Now we need to find our gate for the flight to Frankfurt.   

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