LIVE from Oasis of the Seas Transatlantic (with bonus Disney World) April 2024

[laurieal]

My Mears shuttle was only scheduled for 11:05 this morning, so I took things slow. I’m not sure what the shower situation will be like at my Miami hotel, so I had one last good shower in my Disney hotel.

 

Then, I had to pack. To my absolute surprise, I was able to fit everything back in my suitcase, even the new Spirit Jersey! Nothing got left behind. Even all the individual packs of Pringles that I had ordered before the trip as room snacks have made it.
 

Are you on the Oasis transatlantic? Do you have snacks? Do you want to do some trades? Hit me up! 😂 

 

The Mears shuttle was about fifteen minutes late, but I had given myself plenty of time to spare. Our driver was hilarious; he could get a job as a skipper for the Jungle Cruise. 
 

 

 

 

I’ve made it to Terminal C!

 

 

[laurieal]

It was ok for me, but it’s a bit of a trek from the drop off place for Mears and the Brightline train station. It took me approximately 15 minutes. 
 

After entering Terminal C from the Mears drop off point, I had to take an elevator to the fourth floor. From there, it was a matter of following the directions. 
 

 

 

 

And finally there I was!

 

[laurieal]

I am travelling Premium today. I got a coupon code that brought the price down and since there’s a checked bag included in Premium that’s how I made it make sense. 
 

There’s an area where you can purchase food or gifts as well as a bar. Those are accessible to everyone. 
 

 

 

And here’s the premium lounge. 
 

 

 

 

 

I wasn’t able to complete an order for a complimentary glass of Pinot Grigio because the camera didn’t recognize me as human. It’s fine. My feelings aren’t hurt or anything. Someone got me a glass from the bar, so all was good. 
 

They also have some complimentary food available. Some crudités, salads, cheese, meats, and a dish of tortellini with garlic bread. 
 

[laurieal]

Did anyone else have issues logging in their RCI account? Both browsers and app completely refused my password (which was saved and correct) and I had to change it to the exact same one. 
 

Bit strange, but now my checkin is complete and I can start looking at all the activities in the calendar. What do you think? Should I go to the 7am abs class?

[juanrod]

18 minutes ago, laurieal said:

Did anyone else have issues logging in their RCI account? Both browsers and app completely refused my password (which was saved and correct) and I had to change it to the exact same one. 
 

Bit strange, but now my checkin is complete and I can start looking at all the activities in the calendar. What do you think? Should I go to the 7am abs class?

So enjoying your trip report as always ! And yes they didn’t communicate anything but you need to change your password and have new protocol to choose to match the change 

[GimmeOcean]

57 minutes ago, laurieal said:

Did anyone else have issues logging in their RCI account? Both browsers and app completely refused my password (which was saved and correct) and I had to change it to the exact same one. 
 

Bit strange, but now my checkin is complete and I can start looking at all the activities in the calendar. What do you think? Should I go to the 7am abs class?

Yeah, think that affected just about everybody. There’s a thread here on it.

 

 

Edited April 20 by GimmeOcean

[laurieal]

On the train, now!

 

 

 

 

I wish I had a table like the Via Rail trains have, but there’s a little tray in the seat in front of me that I can use. 
 

 

Someone went by with snacks and drinks and since I couldn’t choose between sweet or savoury I got both. My drink is vodka with strawberry lemonade and it’s delicious and I’m already feeling it. 
 

I had barely gotten started on my popcorn when the guy came by again, this time with sandwich trays (I got Italian) and a mini dessert (strawberry). 

 

[laurieal]

Brightline train update! We are now departing Aventura and heading to Miami. It has been a very pleasant ride. 
 

My only issue, which isn’t an issue at all, is that the snacks guy is making his rounds way too often. 
 

After the sandwich tray, I got another cocktail. Then, a bag of snacks, followed by some water and some gummies

 

 

 

I had spotted some potential dinner spots in Miami, but now I’m full.

 

Here’s a picture of the restroom closest to my seat. 

 

 

I really enjoyed the my experience with Brightline and wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again. 
 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a ticket, I recommend subscribing to their mailing list. I have received a few offers from them, some of which were very interesting like a coupon code got a cheaper fare or a BOGO. 

 

I also find it reassuring that they have so many trips each day. It makes me feel like I have a backup of something ever goes wrong. 

 

[mac_tlc]

5 hours ago, laurieal said:

It was ok for me, but it’s a bit of a trek from the drop off place for Mears and the Brightline train station. It took me approximately 15 minutes. 
 

After entering Terminal C from the Mears drop off point, I had to take an elevator to the fourth floor. From there, it was a matter of following the directions. 
 

 

 

 

And finally there I was!

 

I gotta say --- Terminal C is absolutely brutal. Especially if you are arriving on JetBlue. Brand New and one of the longest corridors I have ever experienced in an airport that doesn't have a moving sidewalk. As you can probably attest, its a wheelchair challenge. When we arrived on Jet Blue, in order to get to the rental car garage I think we went up three elevators and down two -- with about a mile of walking in between ... 

 

Sorry for the hijack -- back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

 

 

mac_tlc

[mac_tlc]

Brightline question: The wheelchair section -- does the wheelchair face that empty seat that was in one of the pictures so if there are two they travel facing each other? 

 

mac_tlc

[gatour]

1 hour ago, laurieal said:

Brightline train update! We are now departing Aventura and heading to Miami. It has been a very pleasant ride. 
 

My only issue, which isn’t an issue at all, is that the snacks guy is making his rounds way too often. 
 

After the sandwich tray, I got another cocktail. Then, a bag of snacks, followed by some water and some gummies

 

 

 

I had spotted some potential dinner spots in Miami, but now I’m full.

 

Here’s a picture of the restroom closest to my seat. 

 

 

I really enjoyed the my experience with Brightline and wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again. 
 

If you’re thinking of purchasing a ticket, I recommend subscribing to their mailing list. I have received a few offers from them, some of which were very interesting like a coupon code got a cheaper fare or a BOGO. 

 

I also find it reassuring that they have so many trips each day. It makes me feel like I have a backup of something ever goes wrong. 

 

Curious what were the red and green lights (buttons???) by the door.  One counter height and the other near the floor.

 

My internal engineer is peeking its head out.  🙂

[laurieal]

7 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

I gotta say --- Terminal C is absolutely brutal. Especially if you are arriving on JetBlue. Brand New and one of the longest corridors I have ever experienced in an airport that doesn't have a moving sidewalk. As you can probably attest, its a wheelchair challenge. When we arrived on Jet Blue, in order to get to the rental car garage I think we went up three elevators and down two -- with about a mile of walking in between ... 

 

Sorry for the hijack -- back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

 

 

mac_tlc

 

4 minutes ago, mac_tlc said:

Brightline question: The wheelchair section -- does the wheelchair face that empty seat that was in one of the pictures so if there are two they travel facing each other? 

 

mac_tlc

Hijacks are always welcome, especially when they contain pertinent information. Or pet pictures. Or dad jokes. Or food porn.
 

Sounds like a terminal to avoid. That’s too bad, because what I saw looked super shiny. 
 

The empty seat is the only one in the “wheelchair nook” and it faces the back of the seats in the next row.
 

A person who stays in their wheelchair for the trip could travel with a companion who would be sitting in the empty seat. They would be sitting next to each other and would both be facing the same direction (the back of the seats in front). 
 

 

Not sure how it would work for someone in a wheelchair but who prefers to transfer to a train seat and who is travelling with a companion. In the premium car, the aisle seemed wide enough that they could just roll to a different row and maybe they could park the wheelchair with the oversized luggage or in the wheelchair nook if unoccupied. 

[laurieal]

6 minutes ago, gatour said:

Curious what were the red and green lights (buttons???) by the door.  One counter height and the other near the floor.

 

My internal engineer is peeking its head out.  🙂

The red button is to lock/open the bathroom door. It turns green when unlocked. 
 

The bottom one had a bell image on it, so maybe something related to an alarm? Not even sure if that one is also a button since I didn’t try pressing it. Perhaps I should have… 👀 

[laurieal]

According to the voice on the train, we arrived in Miami 12 minutes late. From the platform, I could see part of a Virgin ship.

 

 

 

I got slightly lost. I had to take an elevator down from the platform to the mezzanine and then a different elevator from the mezzanine to the ground floor. 
 

 

Picking up my checked bag took no time at all and off I was to look for the Metromover station. 
 

The Metromover is a free mode of transportation in Miami and it serves the Downtown and Brickell area. I always try to find a hotel close to a station when I’m staying in Miami since it makes it so easy to get around. 
 

The elevator was across the street from the Chick Fil-A that’s close to the Brightline station. 
 

 

 

It was only a three stops ride to the First Street station, which is the one closest to my hotel. 
 

 

From the station, it was only a five minutes walk on flat terrain. 

[Rogueperson]

Got to ride it!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Trip is complete!!!  

[laurieal]

4 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

Got to ride it!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Trip is complete!!!  

I’m so glad you did! What did you think?

[jmh2006]

So glad your experience on the Brightline was good!  I thoroughly enjoyed my trip from Orlando to FLL!

[laurieal]

I’m staying at the YVE Hotel in Miami. The recent reviews were very meh, but it’s right in front of Bayfront Park and very accessible by Metromover. 
 

I booked it via Priceline, because I thought the price was pretty good for Downtown Miami. It did say I was booking an accessible room, but since it was only for one night I didn’t contact the hotel to confirm they would be assigning me an accessible room. 
 

You can probably guess where I’m going with this. 
 

The receptionist (who lived for 18 years in Quebec - how random) checked and they had no accessible rooms available for tonight. He was very apologetic, but I assured him it was fine and I went up to my non-accessible room. 
 

 

I feel like maybe if I were taller I would be able to see the cruise ships off to the side. I did hear one as it was sailing away, though. 

 

 

I burst out laughing when I saw the bathroom. 
 

 

That has to be the smallest bathroom I’ve ever seen. But the best thing is, because it’s so small I can actually reach the sink and the toilet from the door frame. 
 

The least accessible feature of the room has to be the bed. It’s so high! I told myself I had to bring all my bits and pieces with me because once I was in bed there was no way I was getting up until the morning. 
 

So of course I forgot my pyjama. But that’s fine, I can sleep in my underwear. 
 

I also forgot to use the toilet. Damn it. 

 

But now I’ve really got all my bits and pieces with me and I’m all settled in bed. I successfully set up a VPN on my laptop, because there’s a show on Crave I’m obsessed with and I’m hoping I’ll be able to keep up with it on the ship. 
 

Tomorrow we’re going on a cruise! It still doesn’t feel fully real. 
 

 

 

[laurieal]

It’s been a while since I posted a cat update, but I thought the sitter’s pictures were particularly cute tonight so I have to. 
 

 

I’m glad she’s keeping up with her hunting training while I’m gone. 
 

Since nothing exciting will be happening for the next 12+ hours, I’d love it if you shared pictures of your own fur babies to give me something cute to wake up to. 

[Coralc]

Bobby mittens. 😊

[dbancroft]

Our fur baby...lol

[melaniesmom]

⁹

[StanleyandGus]

Gus, Stanley and (temporarily) Thor. 

[Jimbo]

[Jimbo]

14 hours ago, laurieal said:

It’s very subtle, so I’m not sure, but I feel like you’re not a fan of RCI’s food? 😉 

Are there really any fans of Royal's food since the restart/cut backs etc.?