Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 #1 Share Posted December 21, 2023 This post was recognized by LauraS! "And another from Rubyfisch! Thank you for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Live Cruise Reports page.. . When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" Rubyfisch was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' and 5 points. Hello everyone! I'm headed out tomorrow on Vision of the Seas of the Christmas sailing. I plan of doing a live review, so please feel free to ask questions, leave comments, etc. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #2 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Obligatory luggage post - I'm headed out this morning to Baltimore, and then after the cruise I'm going to DC for New Year's, and then on to Delaware for a business trip, which is my current excuse for this much luggage for one person .... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #3 Share Posted December 21, 2023 I am not a particular nervous traveler, and the flight from Boston to Baltimore is not particularly long, but this time of year, I'd prefer to leave nothing to chance ... So I'm on an 8:40 flight. Which means leaving my apartment in the dark .... Here's a blurry photo from the ride to Logan: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Logan wasn't too crazy - there was no line for bag drop at Southwest, and the pre check line moved pretty smoothly. It was only about ten minutes from getting out to curb to getting through the security. The B Terminal was decked out for the holidays: Bonus stuffed monkey: 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #5 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Mobile ordering from Starbucks for the win: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted December 21, 2023 As an interlude while I wait (and wait) for my bags at BWI, a little bit about myself. This is my fifth Royal Caribbean cruise (and sixth overall. I'm traveling solo, bought the key and the refreshment package, have a couple of excursions planned, and am ready for the fun to start. My last cruise was on Holland, which was wonderful and different and lots fun. I enjoyed Holland with my partner ... I think I might have bored as a solo (in case you were curious). Check out this one if you are interested in the review: Check out this link if you want to see effectively the same cruise as this one, but colder and with many more logistical issues caused by the weather, aka Christmas 2022 on Enchantment: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted December 21, 2023 And here is the itinerary. We were originally calling in Nassau rather than Bimini. I've never been to Bimini, but I've been to Nassau ... So I was fine with swap. It's an eight day out of Baltimore, which I think is just about perfect for a holiday cruise. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #8 Share Posted December 21, 2023 My flight was very smooth - I was in 2A (which effectively just meant I had lots of time to pace around baggage claim as we were half and hour early and baggage at BWI moves at a glacial pace). Here is a Logan on this fine morning: And the harbor: And the Boston cruise port (normally closed this time of year, although those poor folks on MSC just spent two and half days there): And a grainy, blurry picture of NYC: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #9 Share Posted December 21, 2023 So, I have to admit - I hate taxi cabs. I'm old enough to remember how horrible they were in the years leading up to Uber. They were expensive and dirty and the drivers didn't use GPS and would "get lost" and would always claim the meter stopped working or credit card reader didn't work. At least that was my Boston experience. But I also kind of hate figuring out Uber in new airports. I decided to go with the cab line today because it was there and I have too much stuff. And it was a perfectly pleasant experience. It was $45 including tip (and Uber XL would have been about $40, and a regular Uber maybe $32 or so). The convenience of it was worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #10 Share Posted December 21, 2023 And, miraculously, a room was ready. I'm staying at Courtyard at McHenry Row. My view: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Ran over to Harris Teeter (conveniently across the street) for some stuff for the trip and for lunch (don't worry - the bananas will get eaten here). I should probably get to finishing up work stuff so I can officially be on vacation. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredgram Posted December 21, 2023 #12 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Just got off her on the 19th. Have a wonderful cruise and Merry Christmas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #13 Share Posted December 21, 2023 10 minutes ago, retiredgram said: Just got off her on the 19th. Have a wonderful cruise and Merry Christmas. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieJo Posted December 21, 2023 #14 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Heading to Baltimore in 2 weeks for the January 6 sailing. It's a 13 night Southern. This will be our 3 year in a row doing an itinerary out of Baltimore. The last 2 years were on Enchantment. Looking forward to sailing on Vision. (We sailed on Vision back in 2015). We also stay at Marriott on McHenry Row. It's a great location. Will definitely be following along on your review. Have a wonderful cruise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clochette Posted December 21, 2023 #15 Share Posted December 21, 2023 looking forward to following your adventure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #16 Share Posted December 21, 2023 It's gray and cold in Baltimore. I went across the street and got another cup of coffee, but I'm struggling to stay awake ... I don't normally wake up at 5:45, and I kept waking up thinking I had overslept .... In other news, it looks like little Vision is off the coast of North Carolina: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 21, 2023 Author #17 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Sunset ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadey Posted December 21, 2023 #18 Share Posted December 21, 2023 Have a great trip and a merry Christmas. I'm looking forward to your review. going on a trip in April on the vision and we have never traveled out of Baltimore but it will be close that we can drive there. Have never been on this ship . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 22, 2023 Author #19 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Current status, rewatching the Great British Bakeoff from 2017, eating dinner from the grocery store, and debating rearranging what's in what suitcase ... Also, I'm very excited about what I have waiting for me for dessert: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 22, 2023 Author #20 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Getting closer: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare perfect match Posted December 22, 2023 #21 Share Posted December 22, 2023 I’ll be following along. I’m already enjoying your pictures. Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 22, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Good morning from Baltimore! Vision is here: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra36 Posted December 22, 2023 #23 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Have a great trip! ? Sailed on Vision twice this year without incident but seems lately there have been issues with water/pipe problems on deck 7, would like to hear if this has been resolved or is this just an ongoing problem for an older ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 22, 2023 Author #24 Share Posted December 22, 2023 4 minutes ago, zebra36 said: Have a great trip! ? Sailed on Vision twice this year without incident but seems lately there have been issues with water/pipe problems on deck 7, would like to hear if this has been resolved or is this just an ongoing problem for an older ship? I'm on deck 3, but I'll keep an eye out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rubyfisch Posted December 22, 2023 Author #25 Share Posted December 22, 2023 Breakfast today, much like breakfast yesterday: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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