LIVE - B2B Mariner 5/7/22-5/23/22 - ABC! 🎶 Easy as …um, Bermuda?

[aring75]

4 minutes ago, bup1224 said:

Loving your live report! Do you know how many passengers onboard?

Thanks!

 

I haven’t heard yet. But I will try to find out. I will say that it “feels” pretty close to normal. 
 

The Windjammer was packed. 

[bup1224]

1 hour ago, aring75 said:

Thanks!

 

I haven’t heard yet. But I will try to find out. I will say that it “feels” pretty close to normal. 
 

The Windjammer was packed. 

Thank you! I live in Curaçao (we are all excited to have more passengers lol) and work in Punda. 

[Mary&Jim]

Thanks for posting the pics of your cabin. We booked the Bermuda trip late and the only cabin we could get was a promenade balcony. Fortunately, we were able to Royal Up to an ov balcony.

 

Because of your b2b, how are you dealing with the Bermuda testing requirements? 

Mary

[aring75]

2 hours ago, bup1224 said:

Thank you! I live in Curaçao (we are all excited to have more passengers lol) and work in Punda. 

Wow that’s cool to hear. We love Curaçao. It’s one of our favorite Caribbean ports. 
 

And I found out from Cruise Director Mark that we are sailing at approximately 80% capacity with 2,923 passengers. 

[aring75]

1 hour ago, Mary&Jim said:

Thanks for posting the pics of your cabin. We booked the Bermuda trip late and the only cabin we could get was a promenade balcony. Fortunately, we were able to Royal Up to an ov balcony.

 

Because of your b2b, how are you dealing with the Bermuda testing requirements? 

Mary

The room is pretty great. And we have a nice table on the balcony. Might do room service for breakfast one morning!

 

We had heard that the cruise line would be testing B2B passengers for Bermuda, but we brought our proctored eMed tests with us just in case. I will check with guest services tomorrow to find out for sure. 

[aring75]

First night’s dinner 

 

 

We have 8:00pm seating. It seemed like things were a little hectic and scattered this evening, but no major issues. 

[aring75]

We started with the crab cake appetizer. I liked the accompanying salad, but the crab cake was just so-so. 
 

 

 

Felt like I needed something green. Caesar salad did the trick. 
 

 

 

Prime rib - medium (Just stop with that weird tomato already Royal, please.)

 

 

Key Lime Pie for dessert. Mmmmmm.
 

[bup1224]

2 hours ago, aring75 said:

Wow that’s cool to hear. We love Curaçao. It’s one of our favorite Caribbean ports. 
 

And I found out from Cruise Director Mark that we are sailing at approximately 80% capacity with 2,923 passengers. 

Thank you! I can't mention my business name in here however think Italian Ice Cart, Punda, near the Queen Emma Floating Bridge 

[aring75]

Just confirmed at the guest services desk that Mariner will test B2B cruisers for their Bermuda entry requirement. We will receive instructions within the next few days about TOD and testing schedule. 

[aring75]

Mother’s Day brunch in the Main Dining room this morning Deck 3. There was a tremendously long line. We ate in the Windammer, but here’s the menu. Seemed like a mash-up of Royal’s regular breakfast and lunch menus. But I thought it was a nice gesture. 
 

 

 

 

 

[Sea Dog]

Loving your review and pics. I've been to Aruba and Curacao but have always wanted to do a ABC cruise. Love the fact it's an 8 nighter with lots of sea days.

[cruisegirl1]

Enjoying your comments.  We sail Mariner B2B in late May and again in early June.  8 night  Bermuda and 8 night  Eastern Carib.  

 

We have to change cabins for the B2B, but that is OK.  We have an aft cabin for the first leg (I'm a bit concerned about the super structure at the aft) and then have a center hump for the second leg.    We just did a B2B a few weeks ago on Harmony  and moving  was super easy.  Packing cubes help!

 

Thanks for all the good info, keep it coming!

M

[Sunshine3601]

Excited to follow along with you on your b2b.    Great itinerary for both sailings.    Hope you have wonderful weather!

[aring75]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Loving your review and pics. I've been to Aruba and Curacao but have always wanted to do a ABC cruise. Love the fact it's an 8 nighter with lots of sea days.

Thanks! We love the ABC itineraries. And the two sea days on the way there and then again on the way back feels perfect! 

[aring75]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Enjoying your comments.  We sail Mariner B2B in late May and again in early June.  8 night  Bermuda and 8 night  Eastern Carib.  

 

We have to change cabins for the B2B, but that is OK.  We have an aft cabin for the first leg (I'm a bit concerned about the super structure at the aft) and then have a center hump for the second leg.    We just did a B2B a few weeks ago on Harmony  and moving  was super easy.  Packing cubes help!

 

Thanks for all the good info, keep it coming!

M

I agree! I love the packing cubes too. And to be honest, I love the B2B cruises so much I wouldn’t care if I had to change cabins. Just get me on the ship! 😁

[aring75]

36 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Excited to follow along with you on your b2b.    Great itinerary for both sailings.    Hope you have wonderful weather!

Thank you! So far the weather is great. 79 degrees right now with a very nice breeze. 
 

Me right now. 
 

[aring75]

Mother’s Day celebration in the Windjammer at lunch. 
 

 

 

Also, we’ve been making good use of our Diamond + vouchers. The pineapple guava sangria is a nice, light afternoon drink. 
 

 

Just a note about availability. 
 

So far we have noticed they are out of a few of the wines. (Estancia Pinot Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc I tried to order yesterday.) 

 

Also, the Viking Crown bar is out of Kraken rum, but they have it at the Schooner Bar. 

[Shamrock Girl]

We just spotted this beautiful rainbow on the horizon off the port side of Mariner. The photo really doesn’t do it justice.

 

[ATG]

On 5/7/2022 at 12:58 PM, aring75 said:

Our boarding time was 11:30 am. Arrived at Port Canaveral at 11. PC is a little different from some other terminals. Here (at Terminal 1), you drive into the parking garage first floor to drop your luggage. Then, they will direct you to parking. For us, it was the open lot next door to the garage. You pay for parking at the time of arrival. 

We’re with you this week.  We also had to park in the open lot, but there was nobody collecting parking fees.  Maybe we get a free pass.

[aring75]

1 hour ago, Shamrock Girl said:

We just spotted this beautiful rainbow on the horizon off the port side of Mariner. The photo really doesn’t do it justice.

 

Love it!! I always miss stuff when I’m taking a nap. 😩

 

 

42 minutes ago, ATG said:

We’re with you this week.  We also had to park in the open lot, but there was nobody collecting parking fees.  Maybe we get a free pass.

 

Wow, that was lucky! When we parked they were collecting payment as you exited the garage. They gave you a receipt and a parking pass to place on your dashboard.  When you got to the open lot, there was another person standing there checking the dashboard for that pass. If you didn’t have one, he collected payment there (the car in front of us paid at that time).

 

I think the parking gods were smiling on you. What a nice way to start your vacation! 😁

[the wandering two]

I wouldn't bet on it, saw a few clamped cars when we left after our recent Mariner sailing.

[Mary&Jim]

Enjoying your posts. Can you please comment on the entertainment in future posts? Curious about the shows for next week.

 

Thanks,

Mary

[aring75]

1 hour ago, Mary&Jim said:

Enjoying your posts. Can you please comment on the entertainment in future posts? Curious about the shows for next week.

 

Thanks,

Mary

Of course! The first night there was a comedian in the theater. That was kind of a welcome aboard show. There was also adult karaoke and live music in Boleros and the Schooner Bar. 
 

Tonight we are currently sitting in the theater waiting for an Elton John tribute. I will keep you updated. 😁

[aring75]

1 hour ago, the wandering two said:

I wouldn't bet on it, saw a few clamped cars when we left after our recent Mariner sailing.

Oh no! That would be VERY unpleasant. Got my fingers crossed for you ATG!!

[aring75]

Tonight we used one of our D+ bogos in Jaime’s. Dinner is slightly different than lunch with a couple of additional entrees.