plainjane_1

I dont think there were big differences between the Dec 11th copies on RC blog and the one posted here from last week.

Lobster night was Day 6 (the second formal night) with lobster tail (all you can eat) on list. If you want a full lobster that was an upcharge/extra of $30.

Just off Oasis where my DH is a vacation smoker (rarely does it at home but he does it on vacations - ugh). Anyway, avoid the casino (esp later in the cruise) on deck 4 and on 15 the bar that is called the "Pool Bar". It is on the opposite side of the kids area - lots of space between the two so smoke doesnt invade the kids side. Forward from that as that is all smoking and above "Pool Bar" on 16. If you see "Pool Bar" turn around and go a different way.

Other than those designated areas I never smelled any smoke from anyplace else. Enjoy your trip!

That is insanely expensive! Not impressed. For a supposedly family friendly cruise line they are seeming less and less as I learn more.

Just got of Oasis and wagging those extra clothes was a pain, but we didn't bring any dress up clothes in lieu of this (we are more of a t-shirt, shorts and jeans casual family anyway). Our only other cruise was Disney Magic (pre-referb) about 4 years ago and that laundry availability came in very handy.

I also read somewhere they only wash the clothes all at once in hot water as well. Good for socks and underwear but not for t-shirts and such.

No irons either (unless you send out), so hopefully you pack/fold well, use the spray or live with the wrinkles.

On our January 22nd cruise, there were a record number of self assist (according to the LA on board we talked to that morning in the theater waiting area). It backed up the rest of us about 20 minutes to wait for our number to be called. And we had one of the first numbers.

 

Got off the ship only 20 minutes late, then once we stepped off the gangway, the line came to a dead halt. Was over an hour to wait in line to see customs agent, since the self assist pax were already full up in the terminal in line in front of us.

 

Some of them had gotten in line at the door as early as 5 am. :o

 

We noticed the suites line, of course had priority, but there was another line (who were not suites, but

part of a specialty group on board) that they were taking in groups of a dozen or so, having them cut

into our line towards the front. That did not make a lot of people that were already waiting in that line

with their luggage for almost an hour very happy at all. :(

We just got of Oasis yesterday and our experience was similar. Regular balcony cabin - first time RC. I think we had group #32 set to be called around 9:40am (we were not catching a flight that day). That time comes around and our number is not called. About 20+ mins later we see on the screen it was called. For some reason the RC rep that was verbally calling them out in the Opal theatre was MIA. So we gather our things and walk to the exit only to be stopped for another bit of time unable to get off because the terminal was too full. We finally were allowed off and then the trek to find your luggage and get to customs where actual custom time took about a minute. So it probably took about 45mins to an hour to get off and then find our ride. Plan accordingly - the couple behind us had an early flight around 1 and were starting to get very nervous they were going to miss their flight.

For the non-live stuff, I would say the vast majority of music is 80s - today pop music/top 40. There was a 70's disco night. Really slim pickings for any music earlier than that. I was shocked that in the specialty restaurants and MDR's on Formal night were playing the same type of pop music - lite pop/alternative. No light jazz or classical/strings. I love pop music but not for dinner as it was more distracting (started playing "name that tune") than relaxing. Luckily there are some live music options as suggested above. Loved the ship.

Day 2 addendum

 

I forgot that Day 2 also had our Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle. It was a lot more sit and not mingle than I expected. I thought people would be a bit more social, and I was looking forward to meeting a few of the people we had conversations with online. Not so much. After the raffle was over, most people just left. Also, there was probably only about 40 people there. It was a bit of letdown, as I had hoped to meet some others with kids, but my kids were the only kids there.

Thanks for the information. We are going in a couple of weeks and I thought about signing up for this function. I hoped we would be able to meet other families with kids (our daughter is 8), but you confirmed what I thought. I got the impression kids were reluctantly welcome. So we will give this a pass.

How early does the MDR open for breakfast? And is it a 2 hr thing like dinner or are you generally out within an hour or less?

No munchies in bars, except for tapas (extra cost) at Vintages.

Thanks.

Are there appetizers/chips/snacks/nuts in these places? I need munchies if I'm going to drink. Do I just go to Sorrentos and grab a few slices and bring them in?