akcruz

To add another wrinkle, if you do a Royal Up you only get points for the cabin originally booked.

17 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

I am watching Resident Alien on Netflix,three seasons with a fourth later this year.It is a sci fi,murder mystery,comedy with well known actors as well as actors I never heard of previously.

 

I am on season 2,episode 9.

I watched that when it was on originally, started off great, kind of silly but fun, and got stupid towards the end.  Enjoyed it though.

3 minutes ago, Momof3gurlz said:

Thank you all for the anniversary wishes.  
We made it to our first stop, Harrah’s in Atlantic City. I’m hoping Andy carries his luck from our Adventure cruise last October.  For those who don’t know, while we were all in the Schooner Bar, he made a run to the “restroom”  and was back in about 10 minutes with a slot machine winning ticket for about $ 1,100.  Certainly not in Lionesss’ category but it was a nice bonus.  

First vacation cocktail. Cheers to 36 years with the love of my life!

Happy Anniversary, safe travels.

1 minute ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

Stork Update:  DIL1 delivered baby at 6:56AM. 2/18/2024 5lb6oz.  It was a quick & speedy delivery.  He was very eager to enter the world.  Thank God, he and his mommy are doing well.  Doctors are keeping an eye on mommy to make sure everything is stable.  We will go see them in a week or so.  Now we wait for DS2’s turn who is due in April.

Congratulations 🍼💖🎉

It is 4 drinks a day so be careful if you want to use them only on alcoholic drinks if you get something else.  The bartenders tend to use the vouchers first so specify you would like to or not like to use a voucher when ordering.

1 hour ago, BOATBOI said:

i've been reading this thread since its inception, but have  only posted once. Now I have question for you fine people, when does the entertainment become available for reservations on the "O" class ships? Thanks

34 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

I think it might be around 30 to 45 days out. Anyone else know for sure. 

I think they start releasing them around the 1st of the month the month prior to your cruise.  So, if you are sailing in April start looking around March 1.  Have heard of some a day or so before and some a week or so after so no official this is the day.

Sad to see the end to a happy day in KC, so senseless and disheartening to hear children are among the wounded.

Adding my birthday and anniversary wishes to all who are celebrating, along with a happy valentines day to all.

1 hour ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Icy path + ankle =. an early morning trip to hospital (once someone could be flagged down to help)at 6.30am and a teary call to parents in Australia in the early hours of the morning.  The winter season has ended prematurely for one of my “kids”.   Op in a few days time.

 

Greg, all the best for your op. Trust it all goes smoothly and you have a good recovery.

 

 

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

Sorry to hear that about your child, aussie!  Will they be operated while in Canada?

My youngest grandson broke his wrist last weekend while snowboarding.  Luckily it was a clean break.  He did great snowboarding for the first time all morning, before falling on his wrist just before heading to lunch.

Hope both will be better soon.

My son fell snowboarding while in high school.  He complained to us how bad his hand hurt but nothing seemed broken.  It was our last day in Vermont so he rode home complaining the whole time.  After a few days of hearing him complain took him to the Dr, they took x-rays and yep one of the bones in the back of his hand was broken, Dr called it a fighters break, common when knuckles hit something.  We felt bad and still hear about from time to time.

@Sea Dog best wishes for a successful surgery tomorrow.  Hoping this will allow you to more easily recover from your knee surgery.

@Sunshine3601 sorry to hear of your run i  with the mailbox.  Definitely dont miss driving in the snow.

Our son is in eastern PA, he usually downplays the weather, asked today and his reply yes we got quite a bit of snow.  We need to be up that way next month for a wedding, hoping Phil was right and all the snow will be done by then.

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

 

I'd love to see you join us on Bella 2 or Bella 2.5 or Bella 3.

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Be careful what you wish for.😉😁

2 hours ago, Arzeena said:

We are on Bella 2 and 3.......Remember we have a lot to talk about and don't forget comparing Sorrento's pizza slices and toes in person!!!!!🤣

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

C'mon...join us!!  You know you want to!!😁

Aww come on book it, we would all love to have you onboard with us.  Bella 2 fits right in with your usual time, just 1 year from this week.

On 2/8/2024 at 2:06 PM, smokeybandit said:

I know it started when there were so many covid concerns onboard, but having to use a clean cup to refill your own water bottle is amusing to me. At least as a health concern.

It was long before covid that they asked you to refill your personal water bottle from a glass.  The problem was people would put a bottle with a narrow opening right up to the nozzle.  Think about it, drink from a water bottle then put that bottle up to the nozzle on the dispenser.  If using a glass that normally wouldn't happen whether first use or subsequent.  Have personally witnessed the issue with bottles with the sign right there well before covid.

1 hour ago, island lady said:

Current position.  Sea day (again)...on our way to the last port of call for this first quarter.  Very chilly out, and seas a bit rough with higher winds again.  

 

Adding my thanks for all your updates during this cruise.  Will miss them over the next few months.  Do hope someone else will pick up the slack.  Enjoy living vicariously through you all.  Safe travels back home this weekend.

4 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

VV don’t have a cruise director either.  8 days for me 🥂Was only going to post photos here of my private day tour in Burnie, Tasmania  but if anyone wants photos from the cruise itself posted here, let me know.  (This is a Royal thread after all)

 

 

3 hours ago, SteelCityCruiser10 said:

I’ll be sharing for sure either via Live over on the VV boards or pop ins here on Dani thread.  Undecided which it will be

I think it would be great if you both could post at least your impressions here.  Anything more is appreciated.  I think many are looking at other options right now and having those familiar with Royal giving opinions helps greatly.  Safe travels to you both.

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Love The Patio.  Great food, usually good live music, and a nice casual atmosphere.  It has become very popular and hard to get in without reservations.

 

We eat at the Salty Pelican a lot and enjoy the upstairs area for the sunset views over the marsh/Amelia River.  You may have forgotten to post your photo, so here's one of ours.  The sky was lit spectacularly.  There was a replica of the Santa Maria at the marina that's partially blocking the view.

 

This is the shot I was referring to, not as nice as yours but was happy to get this one.  

The Patio was recomended to us by a local we met.  Got there just before 5 and there was already a 30 minute wait.  We got lucky and snagged bar seat soon after so really no wait.  It was burger night, amazing burgers for a great price.

We will definitely be back to your island again but want to keep trying different spots as well.

2 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Thanks, Deb.

 

Physically we're OK.

 

Our souls -- not so much.

 

Dire situation..... no end in the foreseeable future to this futile war 😢.

I liked your post but really don't like it.  Allow us here are thinking of you, terrible situation ☹️

8 hours ago, Momof3gurlz said:

@akcruz great pictures April, especially that sunset shot. You’re trip sound a lot like what Andy and I do every year between February & March.  We drive down to FL visiting several different spots spending 2-4 days in each one.  Then since we’re already in FL, it only makes sense to add in some form of cruise 🙂.  Do you have any favorite areas you’ve stayed? I’m always looking for suggestions for future trips.  

Our 2 favorites this trip were Siesta Key and Amelia Island.  One thing we realized is that many of the areas close to the beaches look the same and very similar to the tourists areas here.  

Hadn't been to the Sarasota, or west coast FL in 34 years wow has it grown.  Took a ride to Lido Key, where we had stayed last time and it was so much more developed.  Siesta Key is much more relaxed, although still busy, few hotels/motels.  We stayed in a "condo" walking distance to shops, restaurants and the beach.  

Two years ago we had spent 1 night on Amelia Island and enjoyed so wanted to go back and stay longer.  The sunset pic is from the Salty Pelican there.

As I think I mentioned before we had been hoping for warmer weather but at least it didn't rain.  Many days were very breezy with temps in the 60s.  It was in the 20s here in SC when we left, warming up to the 40s.  

6 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

@akcruz I'm also interested in what you liked most about your trip.  We're still relative newcomers to Florida and are always looking for someplace that we can visit for a long weekend.  

As above I think you already know 1 of our stops pretty well.  If you haven't been try Patios Restaurant in Fernandinda Beach, neat little restaurant.

Our other stops, besides above, were Cape Canaveral, Jupiter and Fort Lauderdale by car.  All ok but nothing to rush back to,  visited friends in both spots.

We stopped in Key West on the cruise, this is the city that started the whole trip, very pricey to stay, the 4 night cruise was less than 2 nights in a hotel there.  We had not been in almost 15 years when we spent a week, still an interesting spot but more commercialized than it was before, kinda sad.

6 hours ago, Keksie said:

If you are ever in the Panhandle visit Pensacola.  There is Fort Pickens, Pensacola Beach, downtown Pensacola, Fort Barrancas and the naval air museum located within NAS Pensacola.  Close  by is the Blackwater River park system and Navarre Beach.  Big fun!

Thanks for the recommendations will add for another trip.  We try to go south this time of year for at least a week.  Next year should be Bella2 but may add before or after.

5 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Good morning!  We finally had two great, sunny pool days on both Friday and Saturday.  This morning, we pulled our hurricane shutters down while the rain pounded our area, along with a Tornado watch.  All is good now, we're just expecting rain for the rest of today, as well as tomorrow.  In all of our years since coming here (since 2001), we have never had as much rain and cool to cold weather in the month of January as we've experienced this year.  Again,  I'm not complaining...we'd much rather be here for the Winter as opposed to being back up North.

Agree, happy it's not snow here but ready for my warmer weather. We usually have a few cold rainy weeks between Dec and Jan but it just seems constant this year.

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Beautiful photos.    Looks like you had some great weather.   Welcome Home.

Weather wasn't quite as warm as we had hoped, many days in low 60s, but no rain.  I will definitely take it for January though!

14 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

I have no idea what happened. I didn’t put those pictures there.

They are mine from the post prior to yours, was wondering.  No problem, enjoy your cruise

Sharing a few teaser pictures from our last 2 weeks.  Sandwiched a short 4 day Celebrity cruise, to Key West and Nassau, with a road trip around various Florida locations visiting friends and looking for new places for future trips.  Tried to keep up with this thread as well as the World Cruise one but haven't yet started the Icon thread, will take a bit.  Grocery run done and last load of laundry in.  Will have more in a few days once I get through all my many pics.

Wonder from inbetween Fish Lips and Grills a few weeks ago

View from one of my favorite spots on Silhouette, the sunset bar

Obligatory shot in Nassau

Best sunset on our 2nd to last night away

16 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Saturday... 8 nighter. Coco Cay on Sunday, two sea days, Aruba, Curaçao, 2 sea days coming back to FLL.

Safe travels, enjoy your trip, looking forward to h3aring about it and seeing pictures.

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

The weather is not looking good for Coco Cay on Sunday.😏

Wait a day or so and it may change.  Weather changes quickly in that area.

@dani negreanu adding to what others have already said, so happy to spend you were able to spend time with family.

3 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

16 degrees here.  No snow, just bright sunshine which warms things slightly.  Going to relax today and enjoy life indoors.  

 

Yesterday was Jack's birthday which was spent with a bunch of friends for a late lunch, hanging around the restaurant for over 2 hours laughing, eating, drinking, enjoying each other's company.  We had such a great time together (8 of us) that we continued our good time at our house for another few hours.  We just didn't want our good time to end. I love our gang!

Happy Birthday to the boys 🥂🎉🍰

1 hour ago, jagsfan said:

Happy Birthday to Jack.
Today is Dick’s 90th. Hard to believe either of us got so old!

 

Try to get on the waitlist f9r early dining, chances are you will clear before sailing, but if not go to the dining room as soon as you board and see what can be done. 

As others have mentioned MTD doesn't officially start until 6:45 but many have been seated earlier in the stand by line.  If all else fails do that the first night and go from there.  

40 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Thursday had the best weather forecast so we decided to go to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Thursday morning.  This is one of the 5 observation decks that now exist in NYC.  The OGs are the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center.  The newer players are the SUMMIT OV, One World Observatory at One World Trade Center, and The Edge in Hudson Yards.  We chose SUMMIT OV because of the immersive art experience and its proximity to Grand Central Station, the NY Public Library, and Bryant Park.  I'd highly recommend it.

 

SUMMIT OV covers the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd floors on the One Vanderbilt Tower, which was opened in 2020.  There also some introductory things in the lobby area at the ground floor.  The elevator ride to the top is very quick and barely feels like you're moving.  You are let out on the lowest of the 3 floors and you work your way up.  The lower 2 floors are completely indoors with floor to ceiling windows everywhere, and the top floor has an outdoor area.  The immersive art experience comes from the mirrored floors and ceilings, a silver mylar "balloon room", and a large digital display screen.  There's also a completely glassed in area (including floor) that you can stand in.  The website does a better job of explaining the "art" than I can.

 

Here are the views from the lower floor, starting with the view west looking at Hudson Yards and New Jersey.

 

Then looking north toward Central Park

 

And then east toward Queens/Brooklyn, wrapping around to see the indoor space

 

 

I didn't take a video facing south but got a few pictures in that direction.  Of course, I had to include a picture of the Empire State Building.

 

 

 

Interesting point of view looking DOWN at the Chrysler Building

 

 

And I worked up the courage to overcome my fear of heights and stand on the glass floor.  Looking 1100 feet down to Madison Avenue. 🫣😵🥴

 

 

You may notice the little booties on my feet.  Everyone had to wear these to protect the mirrored floors.  The also gave you sunglasses if you didn't have your own (to be returned at the end) since all of the mirrored surfaces brightly reflected the sun.

 

Here's the open area of the bottom floor, called Air: Transcendence.  

 

 

And looking down toward that area from the floor above.

 

 

It can definitely be a little discombobulating.  And finally, what the artist calls Air: Affinity, but what I call the balloon room.

 

 

Like I said earlier, I'd highly recommend SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.

 

Neat pictures, we did the Edge last fall and while it was nice definitely not worth a second try, this looks so much better, will have to remember if back in NY any time soon.  Looks like you had a beautiful day.

As for TKTS, there used to be a window by South Street Seaport, DH worked a few blocks away, he would go at lunch time and if anything good was there I would drop the kids off at grandma's and take the train in.  Saw many good shows that way.