RicardoC

Thanks for posting your adventure. I'll be following you along.....Happy Sailing:)

Thank you! Enjoy!

Jealous of your amazing cruise! Looking forward to seeing your review :) Have always wanted to go to Egypt, hoping in the next few years we can do a similar cruise.

Oh I'm glad I'm already inspiring people's trips :p

You will make it sooner than you think...and for now jump in and enjoy :)

Looking forward to your updates.

Looking forward to it

Thanks for following!

Looking forward to following this thread! Sounds like an amazing itinerary.

Thank you for following! I'll do my best :)

Wahoo Ricardo! Thanks for bringing us along with you "Live"!

Oh, the pressure! I read your "live" too...will try my best to bring you all like you brought us on your cruise, Mr. ! :D:cool:

LIVE from the Mariner of the Seas Barcelona to Dubai

Wednesday, May 1st – Orlando, FL

Welcome everyone!

Everything is (almost:o) packed, reservations are checked, and pretty much all is ready for our month long trip! I have been wanting to do a “live” review for a while, but never really got to do it. Since this is a rather different itinerary I decided it would be nice to take you all in my luggage (or should I say in my laptop?) with us. Our pre and post cruise hotels will have free wifi and I made a pretty good international data plan for my phone, so I should be able to be fairly consistent with posts…I’ll do my best. I’m flying out tomorrow night but wanted to give you some general info as well as leave you some time for questions and things like that. So there you go, Enjoy!:)

Background

I’m Ricardo (Rico), 19 years old, born and raised in Brazil but have been in Florida for the past 5 years or so. We like traveling, A LOT, and started thinking about this summer back in January. My father had been wanting to go to Alaska, so we promised this would be the year…we promised it for third time and didn’t do it. I found this repositioning cruise on the Mariner and the itinerary, on a ship like that, and with an unbelievable price sounded like an obligation to take:rolleyes:.

The Cruise

As many of you know the Mariner of the Seas is the fifth and last ship built for Royal Caribbean’s revolutionary Voyager Class; it has everything from the traditional pool to an ice skating rink, so a repositioning cruise on her should be a nice experience. We had tried to go to Egypt twice in the past couple years but had to cancel both due to the Arab Spring and political tensions in the country. The idea of giving Egypt a third try was already good, and let’s say Barcelona, Petra, and Dubai helped out with the final impulse:p.We researched, talked about it, and eventually booked it.

Stay tuned for info on our land portion, packing, and more! Later on tonight!

Thank you, Ricardo! :)

 

The Top Chef cruise is a 5-day, 4-night cruise with two stops: Cozumel and Key West! I hope to have the review done in a month - that would be good, huh?!

 

It WAS a beautiful weekend here - Florida has nice weather, for sure! ;)

Good timing!

I just have to make sure I don't lose control of international data like that one time reading someone's Med Review while waiting for flights :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Heheh :o enjoy your cruise!

The solarium. I'll have to venture here at least one day :)

Ahhh the Solstice class :cool:

Thanks for taking the time and efforts so we can sail with you! I have been wanting to write a live report for our cruise coming up and this might just be the final incentive for me to do it! Enjoy your cruise and, if I may give you my opinion, venture to the Solarium once a day, not just one day ;):D

Ah, Rico - thank you...I'm glad you enjoyed the picture of the Engine Room...or was it the picture of Gisele that you liked, more?! ;)

 

And you're right - I DO need rest! Not really. I mean, I DID need rest after working in NJ/NY, but I'm all rested up now...just in time for my surgery, woot! Can't wait to start the review of the Top Chef cruise!

 

And I'm glad I'm not the only creeper/stalker on here...hee hee. Your secret is safe with me.

Sherri,

Hope your surgery goes well...it will, I know it ;)

Where is the Top Chef cruise going to? Is it a 7 night as well? Hoping it is so it means I will (most likely) be able to read the new review before I leave for my 1 month "adventure" in the East :D:cool:

Have a great weekend (I know it must be an awesome day out down there...just like it is here in the Orlando area) :)

About a month...can't wait :D

 

Midway through the spiel, a door behind me opened, and in walked someone - HOLY SMOKES! IS THAT GISELE? THE SUPER MODEL?

 

No. It wasn't Gisele...but it might as well have been. It was an officer who works in the Control Room...but she was easily 6'3" tall...and looked more like a model than an officer. Leave it to Steve to get a picture of not only the Control Room, but Miss Fashion Model, as well:

 

Hmmm…don’t think it was accidental that he took this shot…hee hee!

 

 

 

I want one of these, too. (Remember the spoiled character, "Veruca Salt", from the classic, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"? I was sounding a lot like Veruca this day..."I want one! I want one now!" At least I was only referring to the laundry equipment - unlike some of the men, who were probably having this same thought about Gisele. Giggle.)

 

You see....there's a reason I want to be a naval engineer ;)

Thank you very much for the great entertainment....this was amazing, as always. Even though I don't have plans on sailing on Oasis/Allure soon I enjoyed this as if I cruised with you! My sister and brother-in-law just booked their first cruise on Oasis (bro-in-law's 2nd cruise ever!) in about a month and I sent them the link to this (though I'll probably have to tell them everything you wrote about...they're lazy to read and not as cruise geeks :o ). Anyways, it was a good read and already helped them (indirectly) with their own cruise (i.e. I had to...let's say...threat them that they HAD to get an oceanview balcony as opposed to the so wanted central park #sorrynotsorry).

I see that you have a cruise on Connie soon so hope you enjoy that to its fullest (after all, you need your rest after so much work both in NJ and writting this!). Celebrity is awesome, our favorite line, and I'm sure you'll have a much needed rest "in style" :cool: We'll be here waiting for pictures and another funny, informative review from that famous critic ;)

ps: People creeping is the best past time on a cruise...or wherever, really....don't worry, you're not alone (pshhh don't tell anyone :rolleyes: )

Here, we’re docked next to the Carnival Miracle…so named because it’s a miracle that it’s one of the few Carnival ships left that hasn’t had any engine or electrical issues in the last few months.

 

Hahahah always some great, creative comments :p Thanks :D

Our fare was over l7 thousand dollars for this one week excursion and it was fine but we were in no way special.

Wow! Sorry for asking but is the 17 thousand "just" for the cruise itself or with extras(onboard, excursions, etc.) ? How did you like the RFS? We are staying on our first ever in a couple months...

Looking forward to your review...I've been curious about that itinerary, boarding in Panama, etc. :cool:

Gangway Style - every single time I see your name around here I start laughing...love it :D

I should get one day off in my 14-day deployment, so Broadway - here I come! :)

Too bad I'm not living up in NJ anymore...

My all time favorite is "Phanton of the Opera"...a classic! If you've already seen it or want something "happier" I'd say "MamaMia!" or "Jersey Boys" (awesome!).

Have fun, be safe, and "write back" soon! :)

Okay…back to our regularly scheduled program…Deck 5. Geesh Louise. If I depended on my Dear Readers to catch when I’ve left an entire VENUE off of my reviews…well…I’d be in deep trouble. Yikes. I expect more from all of you – ESPECIALLY the experienced Allure/Oasis cruisers…or perhaps it was just a test, to see if I passed/flunked….? Or perhaps some of you are snow-blinded??!!

 

In which case, you’re off the hook.

 

We were just testing you ;)

I was actually confused when you went down to deck 5...but maybe you were considering it's stage that's on deck 5 like the deckplans show :p

Btw I "had" to quote you on my latest review...there are just so many places one can say "I could live here" that I just had to....but I did quote so no plagiarism hahaha

Sherri,

Always a great time reading your adventures. I haven't had time to finish my own review (that one, from summer :o ) because I keep checking if you posted more :rolleyes:

Funny to see you talk about creativity with names...I was going to comment about that yesterday and then today they announce the new ships' names. Good thing they chose Quantum and Anthem (I'm getting used to them) I just wouldn't accept the trademark they requested for OVATION OF THE SEAS....REALLY!? I can't deal with it; I don't know if it's cultural or something but it reminds me of egg, ovary, I don't know!! Can you imagine saying "Our wonderful cruise onboard the OVATION" or "I'm boarding the OVATION tomorrow" ? :eek: Again, funny it came to my head yesterday as I read your review and today they chose them :D

 

 

I JUST got off of the Allure of the Seas last week - and if I ever get my act together - I plan on writing an extensive review of it, as well....I have some interesting observations, considering I booked it at the very last minute (four days before sailing - yikes!) and I cruised SOLO (yowza!)!!!

 

I've had to travel this week, due to a death in the family - but now that things are settling down - I will get to writing the new review - where the Middle Aged Drama Queen goes BIG!!! ;)

I'm sorry for your loss :/

I happened to "stop by" to check when we'd have another review from you and find out you were on Allure! And solo! I'm still working on my summer review and you're going for the 3rd since then; I should be ashamed :p well can't wait for another great one!

Thanks for the great review! We're boarding the Jewel on thursday on the same itinerary so that was great to calm down with the pre-cruise excitement :D:p

 

And here we are…

 

The "Matchy-Matchy" Family! (except for Brad...nonconformist)

 

Come onn don't you see it? It's like the four of you dressed (unintentionally) like the several white houses in Santorini & then BrainyBrad "had" to be the little blue the churches' domes are in between the white....you can see it in the picture...even cooler :D:cool:

BTW Santorini is amazing...we were there with the Brilliance (hey, Serenade's sister!) 4 years ago for my mom's 50th bday(another similarity) and I remember thinking I could live there off of managing a restaurant or a hotel....can you imagine??:cool:

Hi Sherri the review continues entertaining me (to the point I probably spent a lot on international roaming while seating & reading it at an airport):eek::rolleyes:

Anyways, the only thing that comes to my head about the late guy in Athens is being an important crew member? I mean...let's say my dad enjoys the casino a little too much :p and based on chats w all the friends he has made (who work at ships' casinos) it seems to be one of the best jobs onboard...they are usually young and have port days free, obviously they need them onboard to make some more $$$ off the barbarian cruisers at night so there you go :D

Having so much fun with this...way to go! Amazing trip, funny stories, and off course the pictures :p

Can't stop reading thank you!

From left to right: MSC Poesia, Monarch of the Seas, Carnival Imagination & NCL Sky in Nassau

MSC Poesia in Nassau

Monarch of the Seas in Cococay

Carnival Dream in St. Thomas

And in Port Canaveral this morning :)

Brilliance of the Seas in Athens, Greece

Brilliance and Wind Star in Kusadasi, Turkey

Again the Brilliance(shining and waiting for us) in Barcelona with MSC's Orchestra on the back, Costa Magica in the front, and Carnival Splendour in its first sailing(not in the picture):cool:

I'm sure this is ONE OF my best ones....

So many that I cannot select just one but this one I dreamed for 3 years before my cruise....

I always thought I would wake up open my curtain and see this image....ACTUALLY I woke up...opened the curtain and.......COULDN'T OPEN MY EYES BECAUSE THE SUN WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE ROOM WAS DARK....:D ...then I had to wait but the sun was still facing my balcony and I couldn't see SANTORINI(The main reason for our cruise) very well....

So I decided to wait...explored the island which is the most beautiful place I've been and when I came back to the ship I could take this dream picture from my balcony and I could say "I've been there" but acually it is still weird to think I've been there...

Well...thanks for listening for my short story.... hope you like the picture:D