Tree_skier

I'd highly recommend Ovation. We sailed her at the end of August to Alaska and loved her. A previous poster said they couldn't recommend her. Whatever those issues were they have been resolved. The crew was fantastic, I never ran into any short suppled items and the entertainment and activities vastly exceed what you will find on the smaller ships. While I'm sure that the kids will enjoy either one they will enjoy Ovation more.

I had the Short rib at Jamies on Ovations it was exceptional. I'm a big steak eater but I'm almost convinced I like Jamies and Giovanni's better than Chops now.

I get the soda package and stick to juice and soda until after lunch. I get at least half of DW 4 vouchers and pay cash for the balance of the day. I used to buy 1 DBP for me and 1 RP for her. Now using D vouchers I come out ahead. If I was drinking mimosas or Bloody Mary's in the morning I'd probably have to reevaluate my math. At this point it works.

I'd have to be careful. I was using mine in the afternoon and Sharron's in the evening. She will get one Latte in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon. If she went to get her Latte in the morning and vouchers were already gone I'd be in big trouble.

Absolutely!

Just FYI.. I don't think you mentioned what cabin you are in and, although this is a thread related to CK, your questions didn't indicate you were in one. Coastal Kitchen is only available to suite passengers and those with pinnacle status. I wouldn't want you showing up at CK thinking you were escaping the crowds only to be disappointed because you aren't traveling in a suite and weren't let in. You may be but if not it won't be available to you.

Things will be less hectic boarding at 12:00 than at 11:00. That being said, I boarded my last cruise at 12:00 because I had a 5 hour drive on embarkation morning and didn't want to get up any earlier than I did. This was my first cruise out of LA. I'm usually traveling in the day before and I typically board as early as I can and deal with the chaos. I want to start my vacation as early as possible. I rarely go to the WJ on embarkation day. I will either book a specialty restaurant lunch or head to the solarium Bistro or Cafe 270 on embarkation day. However, if you are trying to avoid the crowd at boarding time after 12:00 is your best bet.

That is right. No free internet with suites on Freedom class and down.

@4-2-N-8 There is alway a crush right at the start and it gets better as the day progresses. We boarded Navigator last month at noon and it was 30 minutes from leaving our car in the parking lot until the first drink was in my hand. Very quick at every point.

94 was a special one.

Great story... Those old time hockey players were remarkably down to earth. The best one I ever met was Dave "Tiger" Williams. He showed up at a rec hockey game I was playing in back in 1990 at 8 rinks (it might have still been 4 rinks back then) He'd been retired for a few years and moved back to Vancouver. He skated with us in the warm up and had a few wobbly pops with us after. Just a regular guy and a great story teller.

I think you're in for a good season. Rangers have arguably the best goalie in hockey and that is what really matters come post season. As long as they can finish high enough to secure a couple of rounds of home ice I'd say you're going to be smiling well into June.

Do you need to make reservations for CK for lunch or is it just first come first served?

5 cruises so far since covid restart and I haven't won a single one yet. Two were weak bids but two were considered strong. Apparently I'm just unlucky!

I don't want to start a whole thread just for one question so I thought I'd ask here. Next March will be our first time on an Oasis class ship and our first time experiencing "Royal Suite Class". We've been in a suite before but I understand that on Oasis it is different. One question I have is about the free beverages in the suite lounge. Ive read on other threads that there is free beer and wine available in the suite lounge from 11 to 11. Can you also get soda and bottled water?

One more week until hockey season begins... This ever hopeful but perpetually disappointed Canuck fan has great faith that this year is the year they turn things around. It's been an eternal drought...

You need to try an asada street tacos from a Taco truck in downtown LA. 🙂

They had draft Strongbow as well.

We were on Ovation in August and it was working fine. I have travelled all over Canada and the United States and still feel like my old home, Vancouver, is the most beautiful and picturesque city in all on North America. I'll admit to a little bias but I stand by my opinion. 🙂 I enjoyed them a lot on our Alaska cruise as well. I think I caught them 4 or 5 times. That lead singer really brought the fire.

I've never had vouchers remaining at the end of the night 🤪

I've cruised my last double points cruise. I got all my double points with out problem. I was surprised because I expected at least one of them to get screwed up.

I'm not Andrew but I've sailed on Mariner. They have slides.

I can't believe I missed the start of an @A&L_Ont live review! That'll teach me to be off CC for three days. What was I thinking.

Reason 427 why I use a great TA.

They didn’t ask for ours at San Pedro (LA) but I had it just in case.