John&LaLa Live B2B from Symphony 10/26 and 11/2, Great Expectations 🎂

[John&LaLa]

3 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Hi John! We are onboard with you both weeks. Just started packing today. Drive to the hotel tomorrow for an overnight before we board. Kinda glad we are driving because I'm pretty sure there was no way NOT to overpack for this cruise. Halloween, theme parties, 50th Anniversary gold celebration, plus all the usual stuff. Looking forward to seeing you two onboard. 😊

 

I started packing yesterday. We have an entire suitcase of crap, including two Crystal blocks I'm trading.

[John&LaLa]

I have a favor to ask. Can anyone take this picture and Photoshop Symphony in so it looks like she's 8-10 miles off the coast.

We pass Havana on Halloween, hopefully in the afternoon. This is the old Havana Yacht Club beach

I'd like to do it for my dad. He'd get a kick out of it. 

Thanks

 

 

 

[wolfganghowell]

Looking forward to this.  And yes please people stop quoting pictures.  geez......;)

I can only imagine what the SL will be like on the 50th cruise!  <shudder shake>

have a great time!

[brillohead]

 

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

@CruiseLifeRick will be adding to fun?

 

I'm not sure. He has appeared in our Roll Call. 

I'm sure he will be on Periscope and Instagram

There will be several #PooleParty / #jumpinthepoole / #RoyalWedding attendees on the 50th cruise in addition to Rick.... I think Jason said he's got a group of 70+ going.  

[brillohead]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Will do, Graham. I'll try and post a Bella pic that day in your honor

Gratuitous adorable doggie pics are always welcome, in my book!  

[LuCruise]

Wow...a B2B on Symbphony!  We were on her in March with your first week itinerary.  Love Symphony!  I always enjoy your reviews so look forward to following along.  Have a great cruise!

[John&LaLa]

This will be our first sailing on Symphony, but our 20 somethingth on an Oasis ship. I think they are my favorite.

 

Here's a little graphic from Royal

 

I'm looking forward to Hooked, El Loco Fresh and the Solarium Pool.

 

I also understand the Flight show and Ice Skate show are fabulous

Edited October 24, 2019 by John&LaLa

[Jesseslola2]

Hello!!!...sooo happy to follow you..so glad you are doing the review!

Can't wait for your El Loco Fresh review!!

 

Have a great trip!!!

[Milwaukee Eight]

deleted quoted wrong post. Opps 

Edited October 24, 2019 by Milwaukee Eight

[Milwaukee Eight]

2 hours ago, molly361 said:

And to add you also don't have to post "following" in order to follow a thread.  There's a place to click to follow the thread on the top right hand side

Ok. I know where the “Subscribe” feature is on my MacBook. I have no clue where it might be using my iPhone?  Suggestions 

 

I do very little with my MacBook, Laptop, or iMac. I use my phone now 99% of the time. 

[John&LaLa]

Our Cabin

 

As I mentioned earlier, the prices at time of booking were crazy expensive. They have since come down considerably.😉

 

Plan A

I first tried to book through a group booking, but that was a bunch of BS. The TA was very sketchy, and I finally gave up.

 

Plan B was enacted.

 

Laura qualifies for a free annual cruise courtesy of Casino Royale. It's an inside cabin, but we're not picky. 

The downside is I had to wait until April to book it. Got lucky and found a great cabin available both weeks.

So we paid for week 1 and Casino Royale paid for week 2.  Hopefully, Laura doesn't give it all back in the Casino.

 

I had a Plan C as well. We earned a free balcony cabin when we passed 1050 C&A points. We ended up using that for Harmony on my birthday this summer.

 

Anyway, we got a great cabin on Deck 9. It's a CP view. Never had one, but it's similar to the Promenade View cabins on Freedom, so it should be fine. 

 

We are above CP150 and close to Dazzles, 9641. Not sure about the obstructed view symbol

 

 

I'll tell you why being close to Dazzles is fortuitous in a minute😁🍷

Edited October 24, 2019 by John&LaLa

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Our Host

 

This is Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International

 

Mbayley@rccl.com

 

I have a goal to get a selfie with him. If anyone else gets one, please post it. 

Do these count?

 

[Milwaukee Eight]

58 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Gratuitous adorable doggie pics are always welcome, in my book!  

Even multiple quoted ones?  Lol

[Biker19]

6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Not sure about the obstructed view symbol

I assume some tree in front of the window.

[John&LaLa]

6 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Do these count?

 

 

 

This is what I was talking about

[John&LaLa]

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

I assume some tree in front of the window.

 

That sounds about right. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

9 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Our Cabin

 

As I mentioned earlier, the prices at time of booking were crazy expensive. They have since come down considerably.😉

 

Plan A

I first tried to book through a group booking, but that was a bunch of BS. The TA was very sketchy, and I finally gave up.

 

Plan B was enacted.

 

Laura qualifies for a free annual cruise courtesy of Casino Royale. It's an inside cabin, but we're not picky. 

The downside is I had to wait until April to book it. Got lucky and found a great cabin available both weeks.

So we paid for week 1 and Casino Royale paid for week 2.  Hopefully, Laura doesn't give it all back in the Casino.

 

I had a Plan C as well. We earned a free balcony cabin when we passed 1050 C&A points. We ended up using that for Harmony on my birthday this summer.

 

Anyway, we got a great cabin on Deck 9. It's a CP view. Never had one, but it's similar to the Promenade View cabins on Freedom, so it should be fine. 

 

We are above CP150 and close to Dazzles, 9641. Not sure about the obstructed view symbol

 

I'll tell you why being close to Dazzles is fortuitous in a minute😁🍷

 

No quoted pictures 

 

So on this cruise your an “Official “ NSPP...  (not my term).   Lol

[John&LaLa]

4 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

 

So on this cruise your an “Official “ NSPP...  (not my term).   Lol

 

Correct, no big deal. Whatever it takes is my motto

[John&LaLa]

So, here is last years special accommodations matrix. 

 

This year, they created a separate list for each of the 3 top tiers

 

 

 

Being close to Dazzles means we're close to Happy Hour lounge. We're also close to Chops for breakfast.

Winner winner chicken dinner. 😎

 

Edited October 24, 2019 by John&LaLa

[Milwaukee Eight]

2 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

So, here is last years special accommodations matrix. 

 

This year, they created a separate list for each of the 3 top tiers

 

Quoted picture for effect. 
 

Saw this last year. It obviously wasn’t enforced. Didn’t you make your reservations to the CK the week prior (first leg B2B). I know Suite Guests who could NOT get any CK reservations for the week. You would think If this was enforced, Suite Guests could have reserved the remaining nights the first day onboard. 
 

Maybe like Dress Codes, only a Suggestion. 😱

[John&LaLa]

We have gotten one setback pre cruise. It's been discussed a bit on the boards lately. Coast Guard Inspection😱

 

This letter was received a week or so ago

 

We had planned on arriving at around noon on Saturday so we could enjoy a nice lunch in CK. We probably still will, but Laura wants to stop at Lilly Pulitzer on Las Olas now. 💲💲😱

[John&LaLa]

7 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Quoted picture for effect. 
 

Saw this last year. It obviously wasn’t enforced. Didn’t you make your reservations to the CK the week prior (first leg B2B). I know Suite Guests who could NOT get any CK reservations for the week. You would think If this was enforced, Suite Guests could have reserved the remaining nights the first day onboard. 
 

Maybe like Dress Codes, only a Suggestion. 😱

 

Correct, but we only reserved 3 nights as I recall

[Sherri914]

I believe your cruise director is Mike Szwajkowski on this cruise.  He was the CD on our first ever Royal cruise - and we just loved him.  I hope he's as fun as he was back then on Liberty.  Looking forward to your review.   

[Brit-Cruiser]

A picture with Michael Bayley, taken in Jan 2018 on Harmony

[janetz]

Me too!

Sailing in January 😊