Ky Bill

We completed our Emed tests today so we can board the AD of Seas this Thursday bound for Bermuda.  Well worth the effort to visit Bermuda, IMHO.

Bill

My drink of choice is Woodford or other bourbon over ice.  We are D+ so my drinks are vouchered.  I generally get my drinks from one or two bars aboard ship. I generally tip between 3 to 5 dollars per drink.  I've noticed after my first couple of tips the pour seems to be improved on my drinks.  I have never figured out why.

Bill

Speaking of old "Farts" I'm 72 and had no problem doing our pre cruise covid proctored tests on my iPhone 11.  I used a couple of books to hold the phone as needed.  The proctors I had were helpful and even called me back when we got disconnected.  I was using the Emed tests which I purchased through RCCL.  Good luck with your tests!  

Bill

Thank you for a great report.  Please let us know how check in went.

Bill

We've received those emails twice in the past and both times the cruise canceled.  This was during the covid fiasco time period.

Bill

Probably my last 60 cruises has been on RCCL.  I've been on many Carnival cruises including the Inaugural Cruise for the Sensation circa 1990.  Both lines have a lot to offer, IMHO.  There isn't much different in the food quality, quantity or food service between the two lines.  Staff is about the same with most being friendly and capable.  We started on RCCL and just seemed to be more of what we were looking for like sniffing corks and such!

Bill

21 hours ago, Ashland said:

Hmmm....Interesting, we had a port day in St Kitts onboard Explorer also in March and certainly didn't see this.

In retrospect it could have been Barbados.  

In March, 2022 while we were on the ADoS we were at several port that did have a temperature machine you had to walk through to gain admittance to the island.  Saint Barts and Saint Kitts were the two which come to mind.  I don't know if they are still doing it.

Bill

The photo/video appears to be the same video for both the Carnival ship and the RCCL ship?

Bill

I guess throughout my 69 RCCL cruises I've been on almost every class of RCCL ships back to Song of Norway.  My favorite RCCL cruise ship is the one I'm lucky enough to be on at the time!  My worse day on a cruise ship beats my best day at the office.

Bill

We completed the drill while getting checked in and went directly to our Muster Station.  Took all of 10 minutes start to finish.  What an improvement which I hope is kept.  BTW this was our March, 2022 cruise on the ExOS.

Bill

We sent ours in in mid March for renewal and received both back the first week of April.  We did not use the expedited service.  We used Walgreens photo service.

Bill

13 minutes ago, Jasukkie said:

A few years ago, memories of begging guest services to do something, 3am in my handy C&A robe, and being told there's not much they can do if the parents won't keep them in their cabins. Me, in desperation, reminding them they have a jail onboard. 

They can do something and should do something.  Ask for the Hotel Director to meet with you as soon as possible.  You should notice a change of attitude.

Bill 

After 69 cruises I can honestly say I don't remember a single CD.  I think everyone must cruise their own cruise which involves their likes and dislikes.  Some people like shows, trivia, name that tune, bingo, etc.  Some people like to make their own plains which maybe reading a book, enjoying time on their veranda, pool, hot tub or people watching.  I am sure that many of the CD's are hard working and make a difference for many cruisers.  Just not this one.

Bill

As some one who travels in a GS or better I enjoy having Pinnies in the Suite Lounge.  Some of our best cruise friends are Pinnies we've meet in the Suites Lounge.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel toward becoming pinnacle.  

Bill

I know this is going to sound strange but I love the corned beef hash at breakfast.  Second would be the Mongolian grill.

Bill

2 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

We're flying out of CVG July 16 to board Mariner on the 17th.  DW and I have already discussed it... if our flight gets canceled, we're driving to Florida!  It should be a ~14 hours, it will be a crowded minivan (4 adults, two teens), but we're going to do our best to not miss the cruise.  

 

Of course, our flight is at like 4:30P, so we need to make a call around 7-8p on what we're doing.  

Good luck with you cruise and I think you're doing a smart thing by planning for a plan B.  If our flight fails we're going back home loading the car and driving all night.  Sure hope our flight is OK.

If possible we never fly the same day as our cruise for the aforementioned reasons.  We are sailing on the AOS out of Port Liberty on August 18th, 2022.  We are flying Delta on the 17th at 5 PM.  We have two other flights leaving CVG on the 17th which would get us to Newark.  If all flights fail my plan B is to drive from Northern KY to Port Liberty which is about a 10 hour drive.  Always have a plan B.

Bill

On our March EOS cruise out of San Juan we observed everything from rag bag to tuxedos on formal nights.  There are no dress codes which are enforced so come as you are.  Sounds like in your case you will be just fine.  Enjoy!

Bill

Our Cruise Agent compares flights and cost then decides which works best for us.  Our cruise in March on EOS out of SanJaun was best booked through Air2Sea.  Our upcoming AOS cruise out of Port Liberty was also best booked through Air2Sea.  We had all of our flights booked when Delta stopped almost all the non-stops from our area to EWR.  Our cruise agent worked with Air2sea and had new flights and because everything was booked except first class we are going first class!  

Bill

On our recent EOS cruise I had several choices for bourbon in the suites lounge.  Buffalo Trace and Makers Mark, while neither is Woodford both are nice.

Bill

My late wife had a problem getting in and out of the tub in our GS.  If you ask the ship will supply you with a stool which makes getting in and out of the tub much easier.  If you could upgrade to an Owner's Suite they have a bath tub and separate flat on the floor shower.  

Bill

I obtained D+ while married to my late wife.  When I remarried while on our first cruise I noticed that my new wife was also D+ and I didn't ask.

Bill

3 hours ago, johnjen said:

We just booked the same hotel. Bear in mind, there is no shuttle service to the cruise terminal. We were at the same hotel 4 years ago, we got an Uber to the terminal with no problems. Can't recall the cost though. It was a little bit trouble back then though getting back and at the terminal there is usually a lot of huffing and fussing from the cabbies against Uber (the union thing). Have fun cruising!

We were planning on using Uber to get from the hotel.  We're doing the Manhattan post cruise tour which will get us off the ship and the tour drops us at the airport.  

We are on the AOS on August 18th, 2022 and are at the Royal Naval Dockyard according to our itinerary.  It maybe that ships the size of AOS can't dock at Hamilton.

Bill