Sunshine-lady

Pictures of the balcony can be found in post #609 of this thread, as well as a follow up comment a couple of posts after. :)

 

 

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Thank you Very Much.

We just booked a cruise on Navigator. We booked our first aft cabin. We have room 7690. Does anyone have any pictures of this room or any comments? Would love some feedback. Thank you in advance.:D

We are sailing the day after Thanksgiving this year. On all our past cruises, we have always flown in the day before our cruise. We want to be with family on Thanksgiving. Both our father's are getting up in age, and we want to spend Thanksgiving with them. So, we have no choice as to fly in the day of our cruise. Our first leg of our flight is the first flight out in the morning. So, hopefully, no issues. Then our second flight is out of Atlanta (Uh Oh). But, it too is early, so hopefully no issues there too. We are supposed to land in Miami at 10:00 a.m. So, if there are any issues, hopefully, they can be resolved quick.

We originally had a hump balcony for our upcoming cruise on Navigator. But aft balcony (7690) came open, and we booked it. We have always wanted to try an aft balcony. I hope we didn't make the wrong decision.

One more question. When it comes time at the end of the cruise, when you do your tipping. If you eat all your meals in the windjammer. What do you do about the gratuities for the head waiter and asst. waiter and everyone in the MDR? Do you still leave them their gratuities? Sorry, if this seems like a stupid question. We have always eaten in the MDR, but with our upcoming cruise, we are thinking about just eating all our meals in the Windjammer. We are just wanting to take it easy, and not have to worry about dressing up every night. Thank you in advance for you responses.

Go the night after the MDR serves Lobster...someone I, uh know, may have eaten 6 lobster tails once.

Do they serve Lobster in the Windjammer? We thought they only served Lobster in the MDR? That's probably the only reason why we go to the MDR, because we like the Lobster Tail. We have never eaten dinner in the Windjammer. Is the food pretty comparable?

WE are sailing on Navigator the day after Thanksgiving. And, since we don't want to miss Thanksgiving with the family. (Parents are getting up in age). We are flying the into Florida the day of the cruise. This will be the first time we have done this. Yes, we have bought insurance. Hopefully, we don't have to use it. We booked the first flight out in the morning. So, hopefully, no problem. Cross fingers(yn)

Great review. Loved reading it.

Looking forward to your review. Also looking forward to how you liked your balcony. We have booked room 7690 for our next cruise. First time we have had an aft balcony. So, looking forward to seeing how you like yours. Have a GREAT cruise.

Lobstaaaa Night

 

Creamed Wild Mushrooms

 

 

Royal Crab Cocktail

 

 

2 Lobster Tails

 

 

The verdict on the Lobster - It was "ok". It wasn't great but it wasn't awful either. The worst I ever had was on the Oasis a few years ago. It had no taste and trying to cut it was like trying to cut thru a sneaker.

 

The best we ever had on a cruise ship was on the Anthem this past October. I was stunned at how delicious they were there. They were big and very tasty. Of course this was at the Grande restaurant in the prehistoric Dynamic Dining days so I'm not sure how good they are now.

Did they bring you two lobster tails at the same time? Did you just ask for them?

We haven't heard anything about Ricky Mathews. We are sailing on Independence on February 28, and was wondering how he was as a CD?

Any idea who the Cruise Director will be on the Independence, after Joff leaves in September? We are cruising on Independence in February, 2015.

Sall Away.......... from everything. We love standing at the side of the ship watching the sail away. And also getting away from everyone, just the two of us.

I always take my camera everywhere on the ship. From now on if we need a chair and find some "reserved" I will take pictures with time and date. Then if the Hog comes back complaining, I will have pictures with exact time and date.

We used VIP last year and they were A++. I wouldn't go with anyone else.

Love Connection if our FAVORITE DRINK!!!!!!!!!! I order them all the time each cruise. As soon as I get on the ship... I start.... LOL. And, yes, they are half Pina Colada, half Strawberry Daiquiri, with fozen mango on top. LOVE, LOVE them.:D:D

I am going on my 5th Royal Caribbean cruise in October. It has been a couple-few years since my last cruise. My drink, of choice, has always been The Love Connection. I know that isn't what it is really called though. Does anyone know what the real name is? Thanks!!

That's our FAVORITE drink. I have always called it the "love connection". That's the first drink I get, when I get on the ship.:D:D

Thank you :) Your countdown looks about like ours did when we booked. It was a long wait, but well worth it!

Yes, but reading your review, helps the "sting" a little.... lol. We can live vicariously through your post.

Loved reading your review. GReat pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DH and I are really enjoying your review. We have a whole year before we sail on her, so, these live reports keep us going.

Thanks, we will be watching sail away! Have a blast!!

So long Polar Vortex! And hello CC fans!

I have decided to post (hopefully) “Live” from Independence of the Seas this week! (If RCI wi-fi and photobucket cooperate!) We will be on the 6 night Western Caribbean sailing, with stops in Falmouth, Grand Cayman and Labadee .

 

I have posted a few reviews before—my last on Allure was my first “live” report, and I actually found it more fun to post during the cruise as I was enjoying it, then coming home and doing a recap upon my return. Nothing like returning to sub zero temps, snow, and work and then trying to be jubilant in my reporting effort. Guessing my cruise euphoria will be a distant memory by then….:(

 

My review will be following on the heels of an awesome photo and trip report by Darth Grady, so I have some big footsteps to fill! Hopefully I will be able to share a thing or two that Grady may not have covered….a disclaimer offered up right now that my photos won’t be near as amazing as the ones I saw on that thread! I enjoy reviews of all kinds (“live”, short, long, photo heavy) and appreciate the effort that goes into them. Nothing like a good review to pass the time until my next cruise! Sailing “virtually” with other cruise critic posters is the next best thing!

 

To say I was looking forward to this cruise would be an understatement. Our weather here in the Midwest has been, well….horrible. Sub zero temps, followed by snow, and then the cycle repeats. Over, and over, and over….It’s like the movie Ground Hog Day….incidentally, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow—SURPRISE! so 6 more weeks of this upon our return…..joy of joys…..

 

So, a bit about us….(me) Chris, traveling with DH, and my 2 brother in laws and sister in law on this cruise. We are all in our 50’s. I have 15 cruises on RCI, and following this cruise, I shall be just one measly point away from Diamond Plus. Yep, 174 points….I think I shall note on my comment card a suggestion to allow the process of “gifting” of cruise points. Surely there is a D+ or Pinnacle member out there that would be willing to “spare a square” (you have to be a Seinfeld Fan to understand)

PLEASE? ….just one cruise point to take me over the top? ;)

 

Weather permitting and fingers crossed, we shall leave tomorrow from Chicago O’Hare airport at the crack of dawn for this cruise. Despite the fact that I have many cruises on RCI, each sailing always brings a new experience. New ports, new ships, new adventures…

So, here is what’s new this time….

 

• This will be my first time on Independence of the Seas .

 

• We have reserved an over the water cabana rental on Labadee. I am excited about this—it has been 10 years since my last visit to Labadee. If my memory serves me—there wasn’t much there back then. A few huts serving food and drinks and some picnic tables.

 

• This will be my first cruise following the new “smoking” policy……mehhhhhh, yes, as a smoker, I am not rejoicing like the rest of the non-smokers out there, but hey—I completely understand the logic behind the policy, so I will comply….I am a rule follower, so I won’t be sneaking any puffs on my balcony, and I shall restrict my smoking to the designated areas. I had planned to quit with the aid of the e-cig prior to this cruise. However, since I shall be banished to the smoking areas with those smoking the “real” thing, I decided to delay my smoking cessation plan until immediately after this cruise.

 

• And finally, another first…..I am sailing with Elvis……yep, the “King” of rock and roll…..we are on the Elvis Tribute “Love Me Tender” sailing…..so in addition to many photos of the ship, my report may include Elvis sightings….so, until tomorrow folks, when I will be posting live (hopefully) from the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel!

 

Any questions, fire away. I’ll do my best to accommodate!

Alright! We are looking forward to your review and will be following it daily. One question: How far out were you when you booked your cabana? We don't sail till next year and want to reserve one but didn't know when was the earliest you could do it.

ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!

Great shopping. My opinion is don't miss Maho beach. The planes coming in are hard to describe. It is one of our favorite stops. I hope this helps a little.

Thanks so much for taking the time to let us share in your cruise. It is helping us get through the winter.

We were just wondering, what time your sail away is. If you could please note the time that she sails away, we would really appreciate it. Thanks, Stan and Dawn.