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Posts posted by Cycler48
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ddsdoc: Simpson Bay was not all-inclusive. We paid for all our meals, but will be reimbursed for those by RCI. If you ever have this happen to you, keep ALL receipts.
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Dolphins: We chose not to do a drink package this time and what luck, considering we didn't get on board until St. Maarten. An eight night cruise became a five nighter for us.
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Hi, we have not found either Chops or Giovanni's Table to be open for lunch. Also, since we missed embarkation day (cancelled flight) I can't answer about the Windjammer. However, in the past, that has been about the only option. Now, since there is a promenade on this ship, maybe one of those places was open as well.
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Just a reminder that I'll be doing daily updates from the January 3rd sailing of Independence to benefit anyone thinking about doing this 8 day cruise in the future. It is Eastern Caribbean.
Go to:
cycler48.blogspot.com
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I will be posting a daily blog of the Independence of the Seas Eastern Caribbean cruise starting on January 3rd. You can find it at:
Enjoy!
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Thanks for the review. We're going on Brilliance next Saturday.
But as someone who is local, you can't get to Clearwater Beach in 20 minutes from the airport. Too many traffic lights. I'll give you 30. Maybe 25 if you're speeding on the Causeway. :)
What if I said it was Thanksgiving Day, after the Turkey Trot was over, and maybe I was speeding a tad?
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What is "The Thrifty shuttle". Is it something you had to reserve in advance? I will be on the Brilliance 12-2,7,12&16. My DH is going home after the 12th. I still need to figure the easiest way to get him off, thru, customs and to the air port. He has never done this as I do all the planning and he is also starting do have some cognitive age related issued.
Any hints would be great.
If you rent a car from Thrifty or Dollar at the Tampa airport and return it the day you get on the ship, they will take you to the dock in a shuttle. Likewise, if you rent a car on the day the ship arrives, they will pick you up at the dock and take you to the airport.
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Hey almost neighbor,
We're headed out on Brilliance on Monday.
Was there a blackjack tournament on the second sea day?
Thanks,
I'm afraid I'm a slots player, not table games. But I posted all of the Compasses on my blog at http://cycler48.blogspot.com
It should be listed if there was one.
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This review will attempt to hit all the highlights of the entire trip, including the extra day in Tampa to begin and a day in Clearwater Beach on the last day.
We arrived one day early and stayed in a Comfort Suites a few miles from the airport. If we do this again, we will definitely stay in Clearwater Beach instead. It is well worth the twenty minute drive. Beautiful hotels, white sand beaches, and more Italian restaurants than in Italy. Go to Coffee Culture, for sure.
Embarkation: As usual, Royal Caribbean had it down to an art. We boarded at 10:30, supposedly a special time for Diamond members and above and anybody on deck ten. Very short lines and helpful agents. Also, we had rented a car from Thrifty and they provided a shuttle from the airport to the ship at no cost. Same thing for Dollar and probably most of the other car rental companies. Once on the ship, the Windjammer was open. Rooms were ready at 1 PM and our baggage arrived almost immediately…a first.
Muster drill: As always, no need to take your lifejacket. We were outside this time instead of one of the bars or lounges.
Sail away: Be on the right side of the ship (is that port or starboard?) if you want the best view of Tampa while leaving. Or go to the pool and dance.
SeaPass Card: Don’t go anywhere without it. Anywhere. It is your life while onboard and you can’t get off the boat for an excursion without it. You can’t get back on without it. Don’t lose your SeaPass Card.
Food: For the first time ever, we did not use one of the specialty restaurants on this trip. But I can tell you from other trips that our favorite is always Chops. Giovanni’s Table and Izumi (sushi) were also available. We’ve only done Giovanni’s Table before and it was good, not great. The Park Café is good for light snacks but is part of the Solarium, as opposed to on the Boardwalk on the bigger ships. We did My Time dining in the main dining room. Unfortunately, our waiter did not meet Royal Caribbean’s standards. If you’ve done Royal Caribbean before, you’ll recognize all the menus. They have not added much. Most main dishes are good, not great. The escargots is great. Almost all soups are great. You want to know what the best food was that we had all week? Lobster? Nope. It was the ribs in Windjammer one day at lunch. Don’t miss them. Fill your plate, then go back and get another plate.
Diamond Lounge: Brilliance has added a Diamond Lounge, which was great for drinks and appetizers from about 5 to 8 PM. No, we didn’t stay the whole time but we went almost every night. It was busy, also.
Entertainment: You’re asking the wrong guy. I only did the Horizon Motown show and it was good. I didn’t see the comedian or any of the production shows. Actually, the last show was cancelled because of the rough seas. I was devastated. *sarcasm* The Cruise Director (Clo from Ireland) was good. We’ve had her before.
Kids Program: My kid’s 35. I’m sure they do a good job and who wouldn’t want their kid in a program all day on a cruise???
WiFi: Expensive and sporadically weak. We always do it anyway. Buy a package and save a little. Check your coupon book for discounts.
Casino: We are casino users and this one was not good. They appear to have taken all the older machines and deposited them on the Brilliance. That’s fine if they paid. These didn’t. However, as I might have posted earlier, I had one lucky spin on a dollar machine an won $360 or somewhere around there. Other than that one spin, I got nothing. My wife did OK at roulette. It’s just that the penny machines are not at all modern.
Debarkation: Maybe the quickest ever. We had luggage tags number two and got out around 8:15 AM. Bags were easily found and we breezed through customs. The Thrifty shuttle was waiting for us. I’d complain about something but I can’t.
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Enjoying your blog.
Keith
My pleasure!
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Thanks for blogging while on the cruise.
Is a specialty restaurant package offered on the Brilliance of the Seas? I am on the 10/05/14 New England/Canada cruise.
I am not aware of any specialty restaurant packages on this cruise. We heard nothing about it pre-cruise or during.
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Hi, we're just finishing up the pre-Thanksgiving cruise on Brilliance. I have documented it all on a blog at http://cycler48.blogspot.com
Enjoy!
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By popular demand, I'm including the Compasses for each day. They are photos, not scans. But I think they are readable.
John
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I have no way of scanning compasses so I'm not sure I can post them. I suggest doing a Google search for those. I have found them before.
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...to all who have commented. I have done this blog on many cruises in the past and people seem to enjoy it. I'll include pictures of ports and excursions as well as from around the Brilliance. We were on her in the Mediterranean before she was refurbished. I'm happy they added many restaurant options, especially Park Cafe...my favorite informal eating choice. More later.
John
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Hello. I'll be posting a daily live blog from aboard the Brilliance starting November 23. All comments and questions are appreciated. Visit the blog here:
John
Daily updated blog available for IOS 1/3 sailing
in Royal Caribbean International
Posted
We are at sea, but a new post is up from yesterday. Today's will include some pictures from the ship.