LIVE! First Time Royal Cruiser In Wonder-land Oct 1-8th Let’s Cruise!

[TravelBluebird]

We have left CocoCay! Wind speeds were varying from 23-29 knots for awhile there; they are calmer now, but the captain said it will be a bumpy ride tonight!

 

Checked out the Solarium; got a couple nice photos from the outdoor “wings.  I do wish there was somewhere I could get photos from the ship that do not have high plexiglass (although with the wind today it was just as well.

 

Solarium was quite nice…oddly, I thought it a little loud with sound bouncing off the ceiling. Nice temperature in there today; not hot and not cold!  Good views out though from everywhere, so I’ll go there when I want to look at the ocean and be out of the wind.

 

I really missed having a balcony this morning when I could not see us dock and when we were in port, and for sail-away this afternoon. 

 

Typing this on my little blue couch looking over central park.  You can see this type of room—the row of windows under the Central Park Balcony rooms.  9 is a good floor—can easily walk 1 flight down to Central Park.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[Cherries Jubilee]

Really enjoying your review! I hope the weather clears up for you!

[TravelBluebird]

18 minutes ago, Cherries Jubilee said:

Really enjoying your review! I hope the weather clears up for you!

 

@Cherries Jubilee Thank you, and I really hope it clears too! Last cruise was foggy for days (Transatlantic) and the one before that had the first 2 1/2 days very rainy.

 

Captain says the seas will be calmer tomorrow, so that bodes well.  Sea day tomorrow!

 

Tonight I’m eating at Wonderland, and then added the Voices show at 9pm,  Bars were very crowded last night and I still haven’t found that “nook” with music that I’d like to sit and listen to (I’m sure there’s one somewhere!), and I don’t see any deck parties, so it seemed like a good idea.

 

I had an early lunch and it has taken all my willpower to NOT go get a snack somewhere so far!  

 

My towel animal today was an adorable mouse.  And her’s a look at the lovely views from the Solarium this afternoon:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 2, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

Hmm…found a Latin Fiesta dance party at 10:15.   May do that if I don’t check out the casino!

 

Still haven’t managed to get a paper copy of the Cruise Compass BUT that link that @OCSC Mike gave me for the PDF version is fantastic on my iPad!  So much more informative than the app.

 

 

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, TravelBluebird said:

Still haven’t managed to get a paper copy of the Cruise Compass BUT that link that @OCSC Mike gave me for the PDF version is fantastic on my iPad!  So much more informative than the app.

 

Happy to help. I don't know why they don't have a link/button to take you to that URL posted somewhere. Like most of my info, I got it from someone in forum-land.

[cruisin73]

Loving your live review of Wonder.  I love sitting in Central park and listening to music there.  Will be on Symphony in a few weeks and Central Park is my favorite spot on the Oasis class ships.  What's the Broadway show on Wonder?

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, cruisin73 said:

What's the Broadway show on Wonder?

 

There isn't one. There are in-house stage shows.

[TravelBluebird]

11 minutes ago, cruisin73 said:

Loving your live review of Wonder.  I love sitting in Central park and listening to music there.  Will be on Symphony in a few weeks and Central Park is my favorite spot on the Oasis class ships.  What's the Broadway show on Wonder?

 

Thanks @cruisin73! I’m going to head down there right now@ Really couldn’t stop last night with all the rain!

 

And there are NO Broadway shows on Wonder!  Which was a disappointment; that Carnival nor any other line I’ve been on recently has, and I was really looking forward to one!

[TravelBluebird]

20 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Happy to help. I don't know why they don't have a link/button to take you to that URL posted somewhere. Like most of my info, I got it from someone in forum-land.

 

I was thinking that too; they really need to put that link somewhere!  It was a life-saver; I missed a bunch of stuff in the app because it’s not really eye-scan ready like the Compass is. AND the info on CocoCay was so much more accessible there.

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

I missed a bunch of stuff in the app because it’s not really eye-scan ready like the Compass is.

 

The app takes getting used to and you eventually would if you kept using it it but I agree the Compass is better at having everything kind of all in one place.

[TravelBluebird]

And right before dinner I get my first paper one!  For day 3.  I do like them for reference for writing and videos once I get home!

 

At Wonderland!

[TravelBluebird]

I do love all the different tastes!  I told the waiter what I liked and his selections were excellent.  
 

I had 6 appetizers!  All small bites.  
 

Will have the Branzino for my main,

 

I think the tuna tartare in the lime with the uzu on top was my favorite! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[JessyCruises]

2 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Hmm…found a Latin Fiesta dance party at 10:15.   May do that if I don’t check out the casino!

 

Still haven’t managed to get a paper copy of the Cruise Compass BUT that link that @OCSC Mike gave me for the PDF version is fantastic on my iPad!  So much more informative than the app.

 

 

Even if you don't plan to hang out in the casino tonight, swing by and check your card for free play tonight.  It will probably be only $2 but you might get lucky 🙂. I think it disappears after night 2.  You tap your card on any slot machine and the passcode is your month & year of birth.

Edited October 3, 2023 by JessyCruises

[TravelBluebird]

10 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

Even if you don't plan to hang out in the casino tonight, swing by and check your card for free play tonight.  It will probably be only $2 but you might get lucky 🙂. I think it disappears after night 2.  You tap your card on any slot machine and the passcode is your month & year of birth.

@JessyCruises Thank you for the tip!  I will do that! 

[TravelBluebird]

Oops left off the Liquid Lobster!

 

And I forgot to take a photo of the Branzino. It had a light, crispy breading, coconut basmati rice and tamarind sauce.  Yum! 
 

All my food has been nice and hot when served!

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

Going with the apple desert because my waiter swears it is not too sweet.  Can’t seem to get a non-sweet non-alcoholic drink so far.  

[BecciBoo]

3 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

“nook” with music that I’d like to sit and listen to

Ewwww you must do Central Park in the evening, there is an exceptional guitarist, fabulous and there are the deck 9  corners in Central Park with the table and chairs a real NOOK,

Edited October 3, 2023 by BecciBoo

[TravelBluebird]

Apple dessert needed more Apple and less raspberry sorbet, but was not overly sweet!

 

In the theater —this theater is HUGE!

[TravelBluebird]

OK Voices.

 

I preface this brief review by saying that, as someone who performed in theater for many years AND was on the board of a theater for over 10 years.  I completely over-analyze any theater I see.  If you do not wish to read this sort of review, I can honestly say you’ll enjoy the 40 minutes—very talented actors and singers, and a new concept.

 

For those that want to dig deeper…

 

WHAT was the producer and director thinking??

 

The concept of VOICES is that the entire show would be acapella—a sort of Pentatonix thing writ large.  I LOVE me some acapella Pentatonix!  IF Royal had produced a group of beat-boxers off to the side live-singing the “instruments” parts, this show would have been spectacular!

 

But they didn’t do that. Instead, they decided to pre-record a bunch of people singing and beat-boxing, and you got an endless supply of GIANT peoples faces up on the screen, completely distracting you from the performers on stage.  Think 1984 (the book) and Big Brother. Think infamous Apple commercial from 1984.  Throw in lots of crazy virtue-signaling odd images like the giant image of a very old Indain man and a homeless man and quotes from Gandhi and Mother Teresa, and you have the hot mess that is VOICES.

 

Small point, but watching giant mouths beatbox is much like watching people eat. blech. Other times the whole thing looked like one of those Zoom calls where choirs would sing during the pandemic.

 

I really LOVE live music in a cruise ship show, and the pre-recorded voices just nixed that for this, and somtimes overpowered the very good singers on the stage.

 

Here are a few images to show you what I mean: 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

My tour of St. Thomas (the Selfie Tour) got nixed due to lack of participants (had a message on my phone when I got back tonight) . Guess I was the only one who wanted to run around the island and just take lots of photos 😂

 

So far I have substituted the Sunset Cruise (me on a smaller boat looking at the ocean will be nice) but I’m not sure there are any earlier tours that will work that are not already sold out, and not sure I want to explore on my own.  Will talk to excursions desk tomorrow.

 

Looked around the casino, played a little bit, but didn’t feel particularly lucky. REALLY wanted to play the Little Shop of Horrors slots (I Assistant Directed that once) but they were completely busy.

 

The Latin Dance Party was smack in the middle of the promenade and it made me claustrophobic—felt like more people than last night!) so I skipped it. Carnival’s deck parties are just as packed, but I think being outdoors on the pool deck makes it better (for me at least).

 

OK off to bed!  Nice lazy sea day ahead. Plans tomorrow so far are a morning dance fitness class, Izumi Sushi for lunch, Slot Tournament (if I can make it after lunch) and a late Chops dinner (8:15), ending with the late ice show.

 

Good night and thanks for following along! 💕

[Spinelli1107]

Sounds like you’re having a very nice time and enjoying the cruise so far! I can’t wait to be on her in 2 months.

Would you be able to tell me, what times are the shows being offered? And how often throughout the sailing are they running them? 
Thank you! 

[sgmn]

7 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

 

I was thinking that too; they really need to put that link somewhere!  It was a life-saver; I missed a bunch of stuff in the app because it’s not really eye-scan ready like the Compass is. AND the info on CocoCay was so much more accessible there.

Agree,  I miss the paper compass. There seems so much more info there than in the app, or maybe it's more different to find than just scanning the paper copy .  And I don't always want to take my phone around everywhere 

[h20skibum]

9 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Still haven’t managed to get a paper copy of the Cruise Compass BUT that link that @OCSC Mike gave me for the PDF version is fantastic on my iPad!  So much more informative than the app.

So tell me, does that link have the compass for the entire week, or is it refreshed every day to provide the compass for that day?  Are you then saving the pdf to your iPad to have a copy, post cruise?

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

So tell me, does that link have the compass for the entire week, or is it refreshed every day to provide the compass for that day?

It refreshes everyday. One big advantage to the app, of course, is that it has the entire cruise.

[TravelBluebird]

7 hours ago, h20skibum said:

So tell me, does that link have the compass for the entire week, or is it refreshed every day to provide the compass for that day?  Are you then saving the pdf to your iPad to have a copy, post cruise?

 

Refreshed every day.

 

AND I watched the Cruise Director’s (Chris)  morning TV talk and he DOES give the link quickly on the TV to the digital copy.

 

The link only has the compass for that day.  Good point—need to see if I can safe via a PDF to have a copy digitally post cruise!  I did manage to finally get a paper copy last night for day 3 (as mentioned above).