wwcruisers

Thanks Guys -- that's nice to know! 😎

We have the Hampton Inn Brickell booked for our pre-cruise night, in February. I don't see anything on their website about shuttle service (free or for a set fee) to/from MIA -- or to the Port of Miami. Anybody know whether they offer these services -- or are we on our own, to Uber/Cab it? Thanks!

A couple of months ago, we booked the 9-nighter, departing Ft. L. on Feb.25, '25 -- as a B2B with our SJC 25.2 booking. When we discovered this sailing, it had been out long enough that many of the best cabins were already booked.

Lots to look forward to -- thanks, HB!!🎶

Aa-ah, that explains it! 😸

HB -- try hitting 'refresh' on the website's main page, for SJC '25. Mindi's name is there, along with her picture. 🤔

Or, were you expecting an announcement today about something else, for the SJC '25 schedule?

LOL -- For me, anyway -- it gets really hard keeping everything straight, when you have two years of SJC's booked, at the same time! 🤪

Oh -- now I remember what I heard this weekend: They've added Mindy Abair to the '25 SJC lineup! (I keep hoping for Rick Braun and Keiko, though -- as we are still a long way out from that one!)

Thanks so much for posting that SJC info, and the link, HB! (what would we do without you?😃)

Aahh ... missed that one, HB! I think we can access that (albeit not live) after the broadcast, right? Mainly, I'm just looking for anything routine, that might have changed from last year. 🤔

Thanks, HB! I'm SO happy that Labadee is on the itinerary. Hoping for a concert on the beach (like they do on CocoCay)!  I have mixed feelings about Grand Turk, as that is a Carnival port. If a Carnival ships docks before us, you can expect every restaurant seat, bar stool, and beach chair to be taken, when you get to the beach! At least, that was my experience, the one time that I was on a Celebrity ship that went there. 🫤

That's where talking to your waiter or Maitre'D the night before can help. Obviously, they can't do anything about things like soup, but preparation of your particular meal can be managed, with a little advance planning. 😎

Thanks for the update, HB! My DH just booked our airfare to Miami, for the SJC 24.2 cruise. Now that we have our plane tickets, it's starting to feel real! 😎

5 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 

 

 We put ours together and used them, along with the room service tray, as a table. 

 

 

 

Very creative! Thanks for the tip! And, I appreciate everyone's input -- and wonderful pictures! 🙂

3 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

First of all, not all Aqua Sky Suites are on the hump with a bigger balcony (at least on M and S class, not sure about E class).  All they did was take Sky Suites and re-categorize them.  So as far as the room itself, there is no difference between Aqua and regular Sky suites.  If you luck into a hump cabin then you get the bigger balcony (not sure the cabin itself is any bigger - I think not but never measured so couldn't prove it).  What you get with an Aqua Sky Suite is basically the spa access and whatever the heck is a spa concierge (I guess can book spa appointments for you?).  All else is the same.  Any suite passenger can eat in Blu on a space available basis.  

I was wondering about the 'Spa Concierge'. My best instinct tells me that it's a spa manager, trying to sell you overpriced spa services (which I have no interest in). The list of amenities did include yoga mats. Now, THOSE I can use -- especially on that large balcony!😃

16 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

We stayed in stateroom 6132 on the Millennium two times -- once prior to be "Hoppenized" and once since then.  I believe it is now categorized as an Aqua Sky Suite.  We did find the new desk chair awkward, but found the overall storage just fine.  I am not an over packer but am not a minimalist either.    We also don't travel with a number of magnets.  The second time we were in 6132 it was on a cold weather cruise, and the two stools had folded extra blankets on them.  We actually used one of the stools under the desk and placed the desk chair along a wall.

 

We have a set of B2B cruises next spring in an Aqua Sky Suite.  Again, it is a stateroom we have been in before and love the location.  Also like the spare footage.  I doubt we will use the "aqua" features.

Thanks for the tip on using one of the 'camp stools' as a desk chair -- will try that! 👌

Miched -- thank you so much for your reply, and the wonderful pictures! You and I are on the same page, when it comes to Ms.H. Last year, we sailed in that HUGE Sky Suite that's adjacent/connecting to the Penthouse Suite, on Millie. LOTS of space, but NO storage! And, everywhere from the cabins to the Retreat, furniture that looked OK -- until you tried to sit on it! So, I was (sadly) expecting more of the same, on Summit! 🫤

Thanks for your conclusion that what we're paying for with the Aqua Sky Suites is location and cabin/balcony square footage -- works for me! 👌

Just booked our very first Aqua Sky Suite (Summit in '25). We've sailed in Sky Suites, since back in the day when they had S-1 & S-2 designations. But, we're not really 'Aqua' people, so I have no idea what I just signed up for, lol! I did get the cabin that I wanted -- with the big angled balcony. And I know that our main  dining venue is still Luminae -- although the amenities list says that we can get a reservation for BLU, on a space available basis. Since neither of us go in for spa treatments, having a 'spa concierge' is probably not necessary. I think that we have included access to the thermal suite, but I'm not wild about those on the Millie Class ships.

So, for those of you who've stayed in regular and Aqua Sky Suites (particularly on Summit or Millie) -- I would love your feed-back. Did you feel that Aqua was worth the extra $$, or not?

I know that I've said this before, but BEST Smooth Jazz Cruise line-up EVER!😄

Thank YOU, HB!!! that's GREAT NEWS!!🎵😎

Fingers crossed for news sometime tomorrow!🤞🎵

1 hour ago, Honolulu Blue said:

In Mr. Lazaroff's latest bi-weekly newsletter that landed in my e-mail box an hour ago, he had some news about the 2025 Smooth Jazz cruises that some of you have been waiting for.  Quoting (emphasis mine):

 

We are trying to put the final touches on the lineup for and the launch of The Smooth Jazz Cruise ’25.1 & ’25.2. We had hoped to do the roll out by the end of the week. With more musicians scheduled to perform than on any other edition of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, gathering all the confirmations is taking longer than usual. And, the final touches on our itineraries have not been set. For those reasons, it looks like September 26 will be the magic date for the unveiling.

Thanks for the update, HB!🙂

My DH got a rather cryptic email from The Jazz Cruises yesterday, reminding us that, 'in a few days' we would have a limited time opportunity to secure our current cabin, for the 2025 Smooth Jazz Cruise. Reading between the lines, I think that we have artist line-up information coming SOON!🤞

Nothing in the Weekender. I would guess that Michael Lazaroff is still  working hard to line-up some great talent for the '25 sailings!

12 minutes ago, Globaliser said:

 

Not here. Maybe in tomorrow's email?

Hope so -- will check the Weekender, when it comes out! 🤞

Was hoping for some word today, re: the '25 sailings line-up. Anybody hear anything yet?🤔