OCSC Mike

You can always look up the current sailing in the app. You'll see the same info as everyone onboard sees.

This is exactly our situation as well. My wife grew up with her parents taking her on cruises in balconies or above. I had never been on a cruise til our honeymoon. She said we need a balcony so we got a balcony. This continued for a few cruises (despite us barely using the balcony). Then when we were exactly 4 points from Diamond, I suggested we just take a cheapo 4-nighter in an interior to get to Diamond, then we could go back to the balcony she thought she needed. Well, all it took was those 4 nights for her to realize the balcony was a waste and we've been getting interiors ever since (unless her generous parents are taking the family on vacation). As with most things cruising, different strokes... We had an amazing time in our first ever GS on Harmony last May with the family (the suite was very nice but I appreciated the perks more than the large room). They also got us all an OTW cabana (for $1599, booked during covid before prices went crazy) and that was pretty great too! In the following months, sailing alone, we spent 11 nights in an interior on Indy eating mostly in the WJ instead of CK and 3 days doing Coco Cay without spending a dime (besides tipping for drinks) and had a great time too!

Looked fine to me last May/June.

Obviously you're not alone... but much of this thread is just comical to me.

To each his own. I found the jammer to be the best in the fleet Hey John, been on Cruse Critic hiatus for several months since I knew we wouldn't be cruising until Wonder in June. Just getting back on since we're almost 2 months out. You know I'm all about food (if you remember me from discussing Indy and Playmakers last Summer/Fall). What's so great about this particular WJ? Anything beyond the layout?

This was our experience at PC in October. There's only one set of doors but they were calling Diamond to board no more than 5-10 minutes after the higher groups.

Blasphemy! Those of us who only cruise once or twice a year make every minute count. I pride myself on taking a scoop of untouched boarding day paella in WJ. 🤣 Hope all is well. I took a Cruise Critic hiatus for the past several months since I knew we wouldn't be sailing again until Wonder in June (and sadly we will likely be back to our previous schedule of only cruising in the summers). Life has not been cooperating on multiple fronts lately.

Correct, but it doesn't supersede your assigned check-in time (if they decide to enforce it). The OP is not entitled to show up any earlier than 12:30 just b/c they are Diamond.

This is indeed an unintended perk of B2B's at PC.

Thanks, I tend to go on hiatus from CruiseCritic when I know my next cruise is a long way off... it just makes me jealous of those who can cruise more frequently. Haven't been around in a few months. Not a big deal to me, was just curious. As I posted above, I enjoyed having a couple free iced coffees from Cafe Promenade and grabbing a few bottled waters for the 2nd half of the B2B we did in July, but definitely not important.

One cruise doesn't mean anything but my 3-nighter out of PC in July didn't seem all that different from the 4-nighter it was paired with. Neither seemed overly filled with "party people" to us.

When did this change? Haven't cruised since October.

We did a B2B on Indy last July (primarily for the double Coco Cay stop) and loved it. However, based on your list of CONS, I'm not sure you'd be happy with it besides the Coco Cay part. 1. Turnaround day didn't bother us at all, even switching cabins. Anything you leave hanging up will be moved to your new cabin on the hangers. You only have to pack the rest, which will of course also be moved for you. We used that morning's diamond vouchers on some iced coffees and bottled waters at Cafe Promenade and then reported to the Star Lounge around 9am or so while everyone else disembarked. We were eventually given new sea pass cards, led off the ship, spent maybe 15 minutes in the terminal, and went right back on to hang out on an empty ship until the new passengers boarded... it was kind of cool and eerie at the same time. 2. Yes, the menus will repeat except for the extra night. We don't care for the MDR so that didn't bother us either. 3. No FREE lobster. 4. Less formal although formal nights aren't all that formal on 7-night Oasis class caribbean cruises either. 5. The headliner may or may not repeat but good chance a lot of the entertainment will be the same (i.e. we didn't go the same trivia twice, lol). 6. Had great service, no difference to us between long and short cruises. My impression is you'll be happier on Oasis but hope my info helps.

Friends & Family rates you can only get via a travel agent.

Now I'm jealous. We were on Independence for a total of 11 nights between July and October and my only (minor) complaint after sailing almost nothing but Oasis-class for several years prior was that it didn't have an "extra" complimentary food venue like Park Cafe or El Loco Fresh. Free Fish and Ships would have done the trick. Enjoy!

Agreed. Also enjoy the garlic parm fries that comes with them and the Goalpost margarita (jalapeno and pineapple).

Many people will tell you Sorrento's pizza is bad. I'm not picky and I also love to eat on cruises. It's definitely not great, but I've always found it edible. Typically you just go up to the counter and ask for however many slices you want of what type (they had plain, pepperoni, and veggie during my 3 Indy cruises this past July and October). However, if you plan to eat a lot (by yourself or sharing), they will happily make you your own pizza however you want it (based on their limited available toppings; it's not Pizza Hut). As an example, my wife and I like our pizza well done/crispy and we're not huge fans of red sauce. We've asked them to make a sauceless pizza extra crispy on multiple occasions. After looking at us like weirdos for not wanting sauce, lol, they run it through the machine twice and it comes out like crispy cheesy flatbread. Not telling you to order the above unless it sounds appealing, just a heads up that they can make you a whole pizza to order (they're not very large).

Again, no. If you have a particular location in mind (we have a favorite spot) you may want to get off the ship early but there will always be chairs.

Cococay for the food. I have other reasons but I like the food so much that alone is enough.

Our family actually has the 3 closest cabins to the SL in June. Mine appears virtually adjacent looking at the deck plan, which is appropriate, but I don't think my FIL did it on purpose. 🤣

FWIW, I've seen people watching movies at night from the main hot tubs on Indy.

Understood. That's where my wife's usually is... in my pocket. I don't mind though; it's easier to use her vouchers that way. 😁

Got some sort of low water pressure message in July, crew member said to just ignore it. Same message was there 3 months later. They just don't value the machines like we do.

Yes, you get a cabana attendant who will bring you food from the Beach Club. Our attendant last May also brought us food from the snack shack b/c we love the chicken sandwiches and funnel cake.

I don't use lanyards, but from this question being asked so often, the answer is they generally will not punch a hole in the RFID cards b/c it could damage the chip.