ATG

We have a 2 BR ATS next February. The cost for 4 was about $9,000.

 

 

Here is the recipe for the breakfast raisin/cranberry bread. I asked the Chef on the Grandeur for the recipe. He sent it to my cabin and the recipe was for 37 loaves. Someone was kind enough to break it down to one loaf. I hope it works out right.

 

I haven't made it yet, but will try after my cruise in Feb.

 

If anyone makes it, come back and tell me how it is.

 

 

Gwen :)

 

I made this today. It is close, but I think Royal's has more egg. I also had to bake 31 minutes instead of 22. It took longer to rise, but it is cool and wet here in South Carolina today. I will try the other version next weekend.

I tried a coconut ranger recipe that came from Royal. It had a few different ingredients, like praline paste and coconut cream. No cereal in it. Unfortunately, it did not turn out like the ones on the ship. I hate coconut, but DH loves it. I made them for his birthday and was disappointed.

We are thinking about an Alaskan cruise September 2018. Since Royal hasn't announced them yet I took a look at Celebrity.

Can you book a Celebrity cruise on a Royal ship? Do you get the cabin discounts? We are D+, and I love getting a discount.

I have heard I need to call Celebrity's Captain's Club and get a membership number before booking.

Thanks.

I have also wondered about some of the art, but I know tastes differ. I do love that it is unique. One of the first things I try to notice is the art just past the stairs on my cabin deck. I can't count the number of times I've come off the stairs and gone down the wrong hall. (I am bad with left and right.) Now, I look for the art and go the correct way!

One cruise the concierge was walking around the lounge (don't remember which ship or lounge) trying to find people to sit at the Captain's table. We declined because it was at 8:30 and we don't like to eat that late. It just didn't sound that exciting. He had trouble filling the table.

We booked online with 4 people. We found an opening in February 2018 about 5 months ago. It was the only week available I could find. I always assumed they were snapped up as soon as the itinerary was released. I'm guessing someone cancelled and we lucked out.

Our first cruise was on NCL, I believe the Southward. It took a lot of convincing (and a few drinks) to get DH to agree, but after that we were both hooked. That was 1979.

The thing I remember most was at the formal Captains dinner. Everyone got a small plastic drinking horn with a shot of aquavit to toast the cruise. I kept the drinking horn for a long time (until the kids found it). They had a booklet with all the passenger's names and home towns. Dinner was much fancier.

We also sailed the Norway, which was once a transAtlantic ship. It was strangely configured, and not conducive to Caribbean sailings. But parts looked much like the movie Titanic.

Ships and atmosphere have changed over the years. I really like the more casual atmosphere now, and the ships are amazing with so much to do.

Our last cruise we were chatting with a couple whose daughter was a researcher at the CDC. She had told her parents that the hand sanitizer was very ineffective. I don't know if that is true or not. I always use it and try to limit the things I touch. I haven't been ill yet, so I guess my turn is coming.

I also think it has something to do with being at sea. If you look around, anything not washed down has a glaze of salt on it. It is in the air. And you breathe it in. I drink lots of water to help wash it out.

On one ship (sorry, can't remember which) I called to cancel and they said not to bother. I was raised to honor a reservation or let someone know, so I remember being surprised.

Did you try any of the specialty restaurants? If so, how did you like them?

On our Freedom cruise last month in a GS we got a chocolate grand piano with about 6 or so chocolate candies in it. That was a first in about 30 cruises.

I always book MTD ahead of time. I use the Cruise Planner on the website and haven't had any issues.

Obviously no Southerners. My grits came out with cinnamon!

We sail every September. Prices are lower and most kids are back in school. We have never had weather problems. I suppose it will happen someday, but until then we are enjoying it.

We were on Freedom last week and both CL and DL were very crowded. We like the CL and met several fascinating couples. We like to chat with people we don't know and learn about them. Since Freedom is leaving PC this fall, there were a lot of experienced cruisers who seemed to be taking one last Freedom cruise before it moves. If it was crowded, we did go to the Schooner Bar, so it was not a big thing. I agree, the food is just okay, but a piece of cheese and carrots and celery go well with a glass of wine.

I went through special needs for a foam bedtopper. Last week on Freedom it was in place when we boarded. It looked like the egg crates they used to have, but felt thicker. Or maybe my memory is slipping.

We just got off Freedom yesterday. Here are my thoughts. Note that DH and I are D+, so obviously we like RC. We are retired and in our 60s. This time we had a GS.

Cabin. The standard GS, clean and all in working order. The big surprise was the balcony furniture. We had small table with 2 chairs and 2 loungers. The seats all had really thick pads and were VERY comfortable.

Food. MDR food was the same as all other ships, some good, some okay. Windjammer did not seem as crowded this time. Food there was better than usual but not very hot. Specialty restaurants

Chops was very good, steaks cooked as ordered. We tried the bacon and didn't like it, it reminded me of BBQ ribs not bacon.

Giovanni's was great, as usual.

Sabor was okay. We weren't planning on going, but they were offering 20% off and free margaritas. Food was reasonable but service was really slow. We waited a very long time for the check. I just can't get over paying $29 for tacos.

Johnny Rockets was okay. I didn't think it was as good as usual. I tried the apple pie I have heard so much about. YUCK, underdone crust and gummy filling.

Entertainment. The Eagles tribute band was great. Drew Thomas did magic and I thought it was the worst show I had seen. The ice show was very good.

Miscellaneous

Internet was slow, but usable. I bought it at 30% off ahead of time ($63). It was $12.99 on the ship.

The cruise had a very large number of Pinnacle and Diamond Plus on board. Both suite lounge and Diamond lounge were crowded. I think that many frequent cruisers were on before Freedom goes to Fort Lauderdale. We met one couple who had been on Freedom 59 times and another with 44.

Chair hogs were not as common, but staff did nothing about them.

All in all, a very good cruise.

Formal nights were 2 and 5. We have had the old menus this week.

I am also on FOS now. I sent an email to special needs and asked for a foam bed topper due to hip problems. It was on the bed when we arrived. Very comfortable!

I can't wait to see your pictures. We will be on Freedom in 2 weeks. We have the western itinerary with Labadee and Grand Cayman. Love the puppy pics, we leave our "grumpy old man", a 14 year old cairn terrier named Ziggy Stardust.

One of the biggest surprises I had was when I ordered grits at Coastal Kitchen on Oasis

It came with CINNAMON sprinkled on top!!!

Did you call the general numbers or Special Needs? They may be better able to help you with either providing the milk or helping with refrigeration. They are very helpful.

We have not done a cruise, but spent time in Abu Dhabi while our son was there. It was so fascinating to be in a place with a completely different culture. I would strongly urge anyone to go. It was amazing!

I have been checking prices for our September 11 Freedom cruise. For well over a month the price for a grand suite is $800 HIGHER than the price for an owners suite! I am happy that the price I paid for my grand suite is considerably less than the current junior suite cost.