LIVE - B2B 10/26 and 11/2 Halloween, Birthday, and President's Cruise

[aring75]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!
 
We'll be joining you on the Nov. 2 sailing. We just booked this cruise last Friday (extreme last-minute). We were originally headed to Spain for 10 nights but changed plans after all the current issues in Barcelona. This will be our first cruise on an Oasis class ship and I'm really looking forward to it.
 
Cheers.

Wow! That is last minute. I’m looking forward to it too. I hope to hear that you love Oasis class ships as much as we do. [emoji4]


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[Lorey2007]

Do you have Traditional or MTD?

[aring75]

17 hours ago, Lorey2007 said:

Do you have Traditional or MTD?

Traditional. And on this ship early dining is at 5:30 pm. That’s way too early for us to eat dinner on a cruise. Hoping next week is better. We have the UDP, and going to try for better dinner times. 🤞

[aring75]

Sorry I’ve been absent. Cruising got in the way. 😉

 

Last night’s dinner menu:

 

 

Beef Carpaccio and Lobster Bisque appetizers 

 

 

 

Roasted Beef Tenderloin Entree

 

 

Grand Marnier Soufflé and Peach Shortcake Dessert (there was half a slice of peach in the peach shortcake)

 

 

 

[aring75]

Casino winnings after dinner. Lost $100, but came away with this. 😁😁
 

[aring75]

Today is Day 3 and we are docked in Roatan. Mark and I did an excursion to Maya Key. We met the ship’s group on the pier at 10:45 am and boarded a private boat for an approximately 10 minute ride directly to Maya Key (also known as Anthony’s Key Resort).

 

 

There was almost no one there. We chose two loungers in the shade, which meant they were in the third row back from the water. This was our view almost the entire time. 
 

 

We spent about an hour sipping on a frozen drink before we decided to see what the snorkeling looked like. 
 

[aring75]

You can just swim and snorkel at the beach, but if you really want to see the reef you want to walk down the pier and snorkel from there. You will need fins and a snorkel vest. Also they will require you to sign a waiver.

 

[aring75]

A guide will take you along the edge of the reef. On the way out we were swimming against the current, but we got to the edge of the reef wall and on the way back we spent much of the time drifting with the current, though you could feel it was still quite strong. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[grapau27]

Fantastic pictures of the reef.

Edited October 28, 2019 by grapau27

[aring75]

7 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Fantastic pictures of the reef.

Thanks Graham! It was a great day. 👍😊

[Domino D]

50 minutes ago, aring75 said:

A guide will take you along the edge of the reef. On the way out we were swimming against the current, but we got to the edge of the reef wall and on the way back we spent much of the time drifting with the current, though you could feel it was still quite strong.

Those are beautiful pictures.  How far out did you have to swim?

[Clarea]

Gorgeous underwater photos.

[aring75]

2 minutes ago, Domino D said:

Those are beautiful pictures.  How far out did you have to swim?

After you walk to the end of the pier, you swim to your left about 100 yards, maybe a little more. But almost that entire way is only 4-5 ft deep. The guide will stop to take a couple breaks so you can catch your breath. 
 

After you reach the deeper area, you pretty much drift snorkel the entire way back. Your snorkel vest helps keep you afloat and there’s a TON to see. It’s bright and vibrant. Just beautiful!

[aring75]

8 minutes ago, Domino D said:

Those are beautiful pictures.  How far out did you have to swim?

And thank you!!

 

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Gorgeous underwater photos.

Thanks Bob!

[bobmacliberty]

What was your overall opinion of Maya Key?  Worth doing again?  We're currently booked on a catamaran snorkel tour but a resort sounds like a nice option.

[Domino D]

1 hour ago, aring75 said:

After you walk to the end of the pier, you swim to your left about 100 yards, maybe a little more. But almost that entire way is only 4-5 ft deep. The guide will stop to take a couple breaks so you can catch your breath. 
 

After you reach the deeper area, you pretty much drift snorkel the entire way back. Your snorkel vest helps keep you afloat and there’s a TON to see. It’s bright and vibrant. Just beautiful!

That sound awesome.  Thanks.

[aring75]

3 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

What was your overall opinion of Maya Key?  Worth doing again?  We're currently booked on a catamaran snorkel tour but a resort sounds like a nice option.

If you are really focused on snorkeling over everything else, then the cat tour will probably be a great option. Maya Key’s pluses are 1) it’s quick and easy to get to (the boat that takes you to the island is RIGHT THERE at the pier where the ship docks) 2) there’s a great reef system right offshore all around Roatan-so it’s easy to snorkel from shore. Maya Key is no exception, and they have helpful guides there to show you where to go. 3) Lunch is included (I thought this was okay, but not exceptional. It was chicken, fried fish, rice with beans, fried plantain chips, and salad with the fixings.) And they have alcoholic drinks for an additional charge $7-8 4) It’s also an animal rescue and rehabilitation center. So there are other things to do/see.

 

 

If your focus really is the snorkeling, you might want to stick with the catamaran, but if you want to have the option to snorkel and then chill and maybe rent a kayak or paddle board (and then chill, lol) I would definitely consider Maya Key. 
 

We will be back. 

[aring75]

Dinner tonight (Day 3)

 

 

Roasted Poblano Pepper Soup

 

 

Pan-seared Filet of Sole

 

 

Dessert:

 

NY Cheesecake and Lemon Tartlet 

 

 

 

[PhoenixCruiser]

The desserts looks fantastic

[aring75]

Saw the 1st ice show, 1977 tonight. Loved it.

 

 

Theater was almost completely full. Just a few scattered seats here and there as the show got ready to start. 
 

 

The drones at the very beginning are amazing. Don’t show up late to the show or you’ll miss them! And they are too cool to miss!

 

 

It has a fun steampunk vibe that I kinda dig. 
 

 

Fun theme, energetic pace, and great music. Definitely see this one. 
 

 

 

[aring75]

4 minutes ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

The desserts looks fantastic

I wish you were wrong! 😂

[perfect match]

Loving your review! We stayed in the same Hyatt Place when we sailed Symphony this past May. It worked out great for us!  The only thing I didn’t like was that at only 5 ft tall, I’m really short, and the bed was so high I had to jump to get in it! 😱 For some reason, my DH finds that amusing. 😂

 

I noticed the fins packed in your luggage, so I was hoping for some snorkeling pictures. 😀 I was not disappointed! 😎 🐡 🐟

Edited October 29, 2019 by perfect match

[aring75]

6 hours ago, perfect match said:

Loving your review! We stayed in the same Hyatt Place when we sailed Symphony this past May. It worked out great for us!  The only thing I didn’t like was that at only 5 ft tall, I’m really short, and the bed was so high I had to jump to get in it! 😱 For some reason, my DH finds that amusing. 😂

 

I noticed the fins packed in your luggage, so I was hoping for some snorkeling pictures. 😀 I was not disappointed! 😎 🐡 🐟

That’s too funny about the bed. My niece is 5’-1, so she explains to me all the time that I will never understand the world of the “vertically challenged.”  I’m only 5’-6 over here, lol! But it clearly makes a difference. I did think the bed was pretty comfortable though (or maybe I was just that tired 😊).

 

And ever since I rented fins in St. Thomas and I found a person’s toenail - yes, complete toenail - inside my fin, I bring ours whenever I can get them to fit. 😩

[aring75]

Had drinks at the Schooner Bar last night. I thought it was interesting how the bartenders can interpret the drinks differently. Mark has ordered “El Floridita” on many past RCL cruises.

 

 

It’s always served on the rocks like the drink in the background in the picture below. (The drink in the front is the grapefruit-habanero martini.)
 

 

Last night when he ordered El Floridita he got the drink in the foreground. Not remotely the same. We had to trade because he thought it tasted terrible. I didn’t think it was bad, it just tasted overwhelmingly of lime. 
 

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review and photos.