July 6 Mariner Daily Review – Great vacation!

[galavant3]

Marilyn, I'm loving every minute of it! Thanks for the great review!

 

My guys wondered where all the college aged kids were "hiding". It seems like every time they went into the Dragon's Lair, it was an older crowd. The very last day at the pool, they finally met a couple of kids and hung out them them the last night.

 

In retrospect, I think a few of us with older kids should have gotten cabin numbers, last names etc so that we could have gotten in touch in board. Since I missed the meet and mingle, I spent the week wondering if that was someone from the roll call.

 

They had a great time but I know they would have liked to connect with others of similar age.

[krmlaw]

Great review! Cant wait to read more.

[Tabbymom]

Did I mention that our towel animal last night was an aardvark?

 

We woke up to a sea day and took our time getting up to the WJ for breakfast – another beautiful day. After breakfast I went down to Studio B to get Ice Show tickets. Their recommended shows for main seating guests were either Wed at 9:00 pm or Fri at 5:00 pm. Their recommended shows for second seating guests were either Wed at 7:00 pm or Friday at 7:00 pm. They had two lines, one for each seating and each line only gave out the tickets for that seating’s shows. Although it said ticket distribution would be from 9-10 am, they started handing them out 15 minutes early. I got three tickets for the 7:00 pm Friday show.

 

After breakfast I took a look at our pictures from the night before. The photo studio had large wallboards with a folder for each stateroom; most of the pictures were put in that folder unless they couldn’t identify the stateroom, then they were put on a different board. There was one board for arrival at CocoCay, one for Wave Runner pictures, etc. You were asked to move your pictures to your folder when you found them. Later in the week our pictures started landing in the folder even when we had not given the photographer our SeaPass card; we learned that they had face identification software! Once they had enough pictures with your stateroom, they could identify you on the pictures without it. A little scary. They also had special packages available for purchase through 11:00 pm Tuesday night; some were 6x8, others 8x10, and more combo packages. Without a special, the price was $9.95 for a 6x8 and $19.95 for an 8x10. We learned that as long as you purchased any package, you could upgrade and add to that using the specials all week. So you really didn’t have to make any decisions other than to purchase a package. And they ran different specials each day. We made our final decisions on the last day and bought the pictures then.

 

Anyway, DH and DS had gone up to the sports deck to the Adult Mini-golf Tournament at 10 so I went up to see how they were doing. I watched them finish the game then waited with them for the results – in the end DH got a bronze medal and DS tied for second place and got a silver one! Very exciting way to start the day. DS started collecting ShipShape Dollars – apparently that was considered a fitness activity! I went to see the Diamond and Tanzanite event and picked up a raffle ticket, then met DH at the Schooner Bar for the morning trivia contest (they had at least two contests every day). We were put on a team with another couple; while they were checking the answers I went back to the Promenade but did not win the $200 diamond necklace. Oh well…when I met up with DH he told me we had tied for first in the trivia contest and won a highlighter pen! Not a diamond but better than nothing!

 

It was then time for our Meet & Mingle in Ellington’s at 11:30. We had 65 people signed up and I would estimate maybe half showed up; I’ve been learning on the boards that several people were under the weather so didn’t come. They had some snacks for us, gave everyone a notepad on a long loop, and raffled off a mat/beach bag, bottle of wine, and the coveted RCI mouse. We had already used up our luck so did not win any of those prizes but had a nice time talking to everyone, many of whom we’d met at sail away.

 

We decided to try Johnny Rocket’s for lunch. It was a short line and we were seated in just a few minutes. The restaurant looked very authentic. It took a while to get service but our waitress was very good once she showed up bringing a plate of onion rings and fries. They were delicious and the rest of the meal was Ok, especially the Oreo sundae at the end. The crew stopped every 15 minutes to dance in the aisle; for some reason it was always the same song – Staying Alive. It was entertaining the first time, a little less so the second, by the third – not so much!

 

After lunch DH and I headed off to the Solarium where we were able to get some chairs without much trouble. I spent some time in the pool chatting with others about our college-age kids and got some great relaxation. DH tried out the health club and reports that was well equipped with a nice view out the bow of the ship; he used the cardiovascular equipment and also noted the excellent locker rooms with saunas and steam rooms.

 

During the day DS watched with amusement the line dance class, participated in SuperHero trivia (a fun contest with some good questions), went to Learn to Salsa, and participated in the Adult Dodgeball competition.

 

I went back to the cabin and used the interactive TV to order fruit and cheese plates –took a couple of minutes to figure it out but it worked! The food was delivered in about 20 minutes and it was very pleasant to relax on the balcony and watch the water while enjoying my snack. On our way to dinner we tried out the first casual photo op – a white background. The photographer had several stock poses, one of which included grown children lying on the floor which DS declined. The evening entertainment at the Savoy Theater was a Las Vegas show starring Glenn Smith which we decided to pass up; we stopped by “Name that Disco Tune” at the Schooner Bar.

 

It was Italian night in the dining room – this was the third night menu from Albert’s list in my day 1 post. The event of the meal was the waiters’ parade and song – O Sole Mio – you could really tell which waiters were playing to their tables.

 

The big event that night was the ‘70’s Dance Party in the Royal Promenade. It was amazing how many passengers could fit into the street! First there was music, then a big introduction, and finally the hit of the evening – The Village People. Well, not really them, but crew members doing an admirable job considering the costumes! They sang and danced on the bridge then came down into the audience to lead line dances, take pictures, and generally liven up the crowd (it was pretty lively already!) The promenade rooms had a great view and we saw one guy dancing in his window – he was a pretty good dancer, too! The party only lasted about an hour altogether - not as long as I thought but probably a good thing for the promenade rooms.

 

After the party we went down to hear Dan Davies on the piano in the Schooner Bar and had a great time – he says he knows 1000 songs and I believe it. Although we did hear many of the same songs each night – Piano Man, anyone? DS stopped by Dragon’s Lair most nights but didn’t really run into his age group. While I’m thinking of it, his report on pizza onboard: Promenade Cafe – if you’re hungry you can eat it. Windjammer – better but not still not great.

 

And our towel animal was an elephant.

[tdogcruiser]

Thanks again for supplying all the details...my anticipation is growing for my upcoming cruise....keep it coming!

[Tabbymom]

Just as a quick note, if you're waiting to read about Quest, Love and Marriage, Battle of the Sexes, spa treatments, the casino, or Art Auctions...sorry, we didn't do any of those! OK, I did lose $5 in the slots...:p

[time4agetaway]

Loving the reviews so far! Can't wait to be on her August 17!

 

Question: How long is the ice show? :confused:

[cheaptravel]

Ahoy there ! Any plans of sharing the Compass ? Thanks !

[Tabbymom]

The ice show is about 50 minutes, and Krystle very kindly posted the compasses from our trip:

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/starslam?vhost=community

[Tabbymom]

Again I woke early, this time to an island in the distance…nope, not St. Thomas yet! We passed a Carnival ship and finally pulled into Havensight right at the end of the long dock. A beautiful harbor indeed; our balcony had a great view of Frenchman’s Reef.

 

Right after breakfast, we went down to the Deck 5 dining room to “present” ourselves to US Immigration Officials as instructed. In theory, guests with an excursion before 10:00 am were supposed to arrive at 9:00 and everyone else from 9:30 to 10:30. In actuality, there was one loooooooong line that we later learned stretched all the way down the Promenade and partly back again. We came down the elevator near the DR looking for the special line, but the security guys just said to go under the rope and join the others near the entrance – didn’t need to show the excursion tickets; they just took our word for it. The official were a few minutes late but once they arrived it moved very quickly. You entered, held out your SeaPass strip side up to be scanned, went all the way around the back of the DR (getting a glimpse into the kitchen on the way), stopped at the Officials to show your passport, then had your SeaPass annotated with a smiley face on the way out. Done!

 

We had signed up for the Turtle Cove Sail & Snorkel. The online schedule and our receipt both said 9:15, but the tickets had 10:00 so it wasn’t really a rush. I did feel like we lost 45 minutes of our time on the island compared to our plans, though. We got our pool towels, snorkels, and masks and disembarked. The excursion leader Tom had a sign and we waited for everyone to arrive, then walked all the way down the dock to the other end. Did I mention it was a long dock?! We basically went all the way past the Mariner and the Carnival ship and then some more but finally got to the Dancing Dolphin catamaran where we were greeted with ice cold water. I really needed it after that walk! We motored out of the harbor and along the coast of St. Thomas getting information about where we were going and how it would work. DH and I were very happy to see the Limetree where we had stayed many years ago (pre DS); now it’s a timeshare. As we approached Turtle Cove, the crew handed out equipment and inflatable vests.

 

We had the option of jumping off the side of the catamaran or entering via a ladder, then everyone gathered around Tom while he led us to some of the underwater sights. There were indeed sea turtles; mainly they stayed on the bottom then if it wasn’t noisy they would rise up to take a breath. Seeing them was a first for us. Altogether I saw about eight turtles, or maybe saw one turtle eight times. I also saw a manta lift off the ocean floor and swim away. Then Tom led us over the coral near the shore and left everyone to explore for about an hour total. Having snorkled often in the past, we would rate it as average in terms of fish; there were some very pretty species but not huge groups or as many varieties as we’ve seen elsewhere. And since there were four other boats in the same small cove, it did get pretty crowded. DS hasn’t snorkled since he was quite young and thought it was cool, and enjoyed seeing the turtles and coral. He thought it was an exciting experience with good sights.

 

We had to climb back up the ladder; I had some trouble reaching the first step but made it onboard and was rewarded with a rum swizzle. They were potent – I knew I shouldn’t have had that third one! OK, the pirate tattoo did wash off later. The crew put up the sails, put out chips and salsa, and kept pouring swizzles. There were also plenty of cold soft drinks and beer. It was a fun trip back on the Dancing Dolphin thanks to the crew.

 

After the sail we walked back to the Mariner for lunch and a short break. Then we took our floats and also the straw mats that we had bought in Cocoa Beach for $2 each and grabbed a jitney cab (seats about 25) over to Magen’s Bay. It cost $8 per person for the cab and entry to the beach was $4 pp. There were some beautiful views from the cab but the driver never stopped for pictures; we were lucky to get some good shots of the ship anyway. The bay was beautiful, the sand was soft, the water was clear and warm, and it was a great way to float away a couple of hours. The beach was a little crowded but we had no trouble finding space. There were more cabs lined up to take people back but wouldn’t leave until they were full; it was somewhat cramped on the ride back.

 

The cab stopped in Charlotte Amalie to drop off some of the passengers so we were able to get a quick look at the town again then ran into some very bad traffic going back to Havensight due to road construction. So be sure to allow for lots of time to get back to the ship. We had considered shopping in town but were advised the shops closed at 5:00 so no go. We stopped briefly at Havensight Mall for DH to get some cologne at AH Rise; good thing because they closed early too. We dropped off our stuff onboard then walked back to the shops; all the free shopping shuttles from the morning had disappeared. It seemed like the shops were mostly jewelry and souvenirs so we only bought a couple of magnets. A few of the shops started closing up about 6:00; onboard call was for 7:30. We had originally planned to go up to Paradise Point but were tired and it was getting late so headed back onboard.

 

I watched the sailaway from the balcony while getting ready for dinner, DH and DS went up on deck. The Mariner backed out then turned; the town and hills were full of lights since it was almost dark. It was a very impressive experience. Dinner that night was menu six from Albert’s list. The surprise at dinner was what we later referred to as “the annoying pirate kids parade”. I’m sure the parents enjoyed it!

 

After dinner we relaxed for an hour then headed up for the Family Outdoor Nightclub, better known as the Pool Party. (This is what took the place of the midnight buffet.) There were tables set up around the outside of the pool deck covered with ice sculptures, carved fruits, and much much more. We arrived just after they were taking down the photo op ropes at 11:30. The food ranged from appetizers to wraps to fruit to tacos to desserts and tons of other stuff – all munchie style food. I wish I had been hungrier! I had a couple of brie slices and one small cream puff; couldn’t even think about the sundaes. The band was playing and everyone seemed to be having a good time. (For those who are interested, the Love and Marriage show was this night at 10:45; it was broadcast on the cabin TV’s for the rest of the cruise.)

 

And our towel animal was a bat.

[Merion_Mom]

 

I watched the sailaway from the balcony while getting ready for dinner, DH and DS went up on deck. The Mariner backed out then turned; the town and hills were full of lights since it was almost dark. It was a very impressive experience.

 

WOW! I would love to leave a port after dark! That must have been incredible.

[dwdwnurse]

Hey Marilyn!

Love reading your review...it puts me right back on the ship! Enjoyed meeting you and your family. My oldest daughter said to tell your DS "hello" from her!

 

Suffering from major PCD (post cruise depression!) We took the girls on to Disney and they had a really good time and it was a good way to "wean" ourselves off of the cruise.

 

Still unpacking, but at least we got to do our laundry at the condo in Orlando - yay! (Hate to come home with a mounain of laundry!).

 

Glad you enjoyed your hump stateroom! We tried an aft balcony this time and we're definitely hooked! Oh how I miss my cheese platter and wine on the balcony before dinner!:p

 

Can't wait to read more!!! Take care!!!

Debbie

[Tabbymom]

Hi Debbie!

 

Thanks to your daughter; she was a very lovely and friendly girl! We came home straight into a week of work so no time for PCD. Writing this is really helping us (me) solidify the cruise in our minds and will give us a good supplement to our memories. DS discovered that two of the men where he's interning were also on RCI trips in the last couple of months - one on the Mariner Western route. Quite a coincidence!

 

I wish there was a Cafe Promenade in our house...just one little sandwich, one tiny piece of pound cake, one teeny sweet roll...loved those small bites!

 

Laundry got done in two days. Ironing, on the other hand...:(

[Tabbymom]

We were approaching St. Martin as I awoke and I watched as we backed into the harbor. The hills were higher and more pointed than in St. Thomas. It was a beautiful harbor except for the construction equipment; they are building a new dock for the Oasis. We had left out the room breakfast card the night before and it was delivered exactly when requested, with all of the specific breads (crescents, English muffin) that we had written in.

 

We disembarked and it was only a short walk to meet Bernard at 9:00 am. We had about a dozen people on our tour; all four of the parties were from our roll call! Bernard led the tour himself in the small AC van; he drafted the front seat passenger as bartender (hi Chris). The bartender’s job was to pass back water, soda, beers, and very potent shots of rum punch. It was an excellent and informative tour; as he drove, Bernard gave us information about the island including geography, history, economics, government, education, health care, housing, and flora and fauna. It was very interesting to learn about the relationship the two sides of the island had to each other, to France and the Netherlands, and also to Guadeloupe and the Dutch Antilles island groups. He discussed the cost of living differences and noted, for example, why all the fast food places and casinos were on the Dutch side.

 

Bernard started in Phillipsburg with a half hour stop at Rima’s since it was not near the other downtown stores. This was a huge store with two rooms filled with beautiful tropical clothes plus almost anything else you could think of to buy. And my fellow riders will attest that I could buy a lot in 30 minutes! Everything was reasonably priced (dresses for $15, shirts $10 or 17, necklaces for $6, etc.). This was not native crafts (my clothes were made in China and Thailand) but if you want to stock up on souvenirs, this is the place to go. Bernard said that the vendors in Marigot probably bought their supplies in Rima’s but charged twice the price and I believe him.

 

He continued around the Salt Pond and stopped several times for pictures, including hummingbird nests in the cotton trees, the Bienvenue to St. Martin sign, and an overlook of Oyster Pond and the yachts and homes on the hills. There was another stop with an overlook platform of the beaches; this is where Bernard waded into the water to find a sea urchin and let anyone who wanted hold it. DH was the brave one in our family. Bernard made sure to point out other islands (such as St. Barts) in the distance wherever applicable.

 

Bernard dropped us at Orient Beach by Waikiki at 11:00 for two hours and suggested we might want to get lunch there since it was the longest stop. We had our straw mats and walked up the beach a little ways to a clear area; only the hair braider/souvenir sellers approached us. It was a stunningly beautiful crescent shaped beach with many water activities including wave runners and parasailing. We relaxed and swam a little; DH and DS took a walk down the beach. There were no nudists and only a few topless women, most of whom obviously did not normally do this! There was one very tanned woman, however…

 

At about 12:15 we went to the Waikiki restaurant on the beach for lunch; there was a very good group playing what I would consider dinner music. We had an extremely delicious and outrageously overpriced lunch; DH had a Thai seafood dish and I had baked Brie with apples and bread (hey, I was in France, right?). It was a beautiful setting, sitting outdoors watching a local man weave palm leaves into a bowl with the beautiful beach in the background.

 

Bernard met us at 1:00 and took us on to Marigot, where we had a half hour to explore the beautiful harbor and open air French market. There was a fort high on a hill overlooking town; Marigot looked like an intriguing town to explore but there really wasn’t time to do much. DS had studied French for several years in school and found it fun to see it used naturally everywhere.

 

We continued on to Maho Beach where we had another half hour to watch the planes come in. While we were there, at least two big planes and several small ones landed; we all found it quite impressive. Before we left, Bernard treated us to rum punch shots from the beach bar. But after my rum swizzles the previous day I was playing it safe; didn’t want to wear out!

 

We headed back towards Phillipsburg with the chance to take some great pictures of the Mariner at the dock. When we reached town at 3:15 we had the option of shopping or continuing on to the ship; about half of us got out at Front Street and arranged for Bernard to return in 30 minutes. We picked up a bottle of Guavaberry liquor at the factory after free tastes and were able to get our hand-painted bottle personalized with the year. The van was about 10 minutes late picking us up but got us back to ship in plenty of time; DS had returned earlier and was watching for us off our balcony so I got a great picture of him from the pier.

 

I would recommend Bernard without hesitation; I cannot believe how many things we were able to see and do in only 8 hours. It was a great overview of the island. At the start of the tour he asked us to let him know of anything special we wanted to see but I sure wouldn’t have been able to think of anything else! Except maybe four times as long at every stop.

 

Once onboard we went up to the Solarium for sailaway and frozen custard (it was the first time they had the machines working). As the ship pulled away from harbor, we identified many of the areas we had toured and I got a picture of a plane taking off from the airport. We also took a look at the Peekaboo Bridge, which was reached by going outside from the forward side doors of the Solarium.

 

We went back to the cabin to get ready for dinner and changed into our new St. Martin clothes and had some casual portraits taken. That night we decided to try WJ for dinner but were not overly impressed with the experience. I had read that the WJ would have most of the same food as the DR but that did not seem to be the case. DH had sushi, and there were some very good lamp chops, but for example the potatoes were underbaked. It seemed odd to be eating there in the dark with no view out the window! The atmosphere was pleasant and there was a guitarist entertaining us, but we probably wouldn’t try it again.

 

The evening’s entertainment was Abbacadabra, the tribute band of our cruise. We went to the 9:00 show. I wasn’t an ABBA fan in their heyday and didn’t even know how many of the songs I knew until we saw Mamma Mia the play, but they were very energetic and authentic and put on a great show.

 

This time we made it to the parade at 10:45; the Enchanted Nights Parade. There were some interesting and innovative costumes. After the parade we went up to Ellington’s for a few minutes where the dinner guitarist was playing, then back down to the Schooner Bar to let Dan Davies end the evening. (For those who are interested, Quest was this evening; doors opened at 10:30 and it started at 11:15.)

 

And our towel animal was…a monkey.

 

Here we are in our new island clothes:

[Merion_Mom]

Great "island" clothes! :)

[Fun@C]

I loved reading your posts!! I can't wait til I sail away!! I read that you rented from Avis, did you happen to use a discount code? Thanks!!

[dwdwnurse]

Hi Marilyn,

Thanks for the sweet comments - I know my daughter thought your son was a really neat guy. That is quite a coincidence that the others were on an RCI cruise - they're the best!

 

What? You don't have a Cafe Promenade at your house? lol! What a treat it was to grab a bite and just people watch.

 

Still enjoying your great reviews...wish I were back!!!

 

Take care!

Debbie

[mamaza]

Now, why is it that there are so many threads about how good things are on the MOS. Probably, because it's true. Guess we'll find out in December.

[Mark O]

Can you tell me where you got those folding mats and how you like them?

[Tabbymom]

I will be sorry to finish these reports since it will seem like the cruise is ending all over again!

 

Fun@C - I rented the car through my employer web site so don't really have a code I can give out - sorry!

 

Mark O - this is what the floats were like: http://pooltoy.com/eassprinloun.html - (wow, some of these are a lot cooler than ours!) If the link doesn't work they're called spring floats and they were great - like a floating hammock. And they're very easy to climb into while in the water. I most recently saw them at Target but I think there are a lot of varieties available around. They fold up fairly flat and are 18" in diameter so we were able to fit them into our large suitcases.

 

We got the rollup straw mats at the beach store across the street from Ron Jon's for $2 - they were good for a couple of days but were pretty flimsy. I am not averse to a nice beach chair but the mats were fine for an hour or two.

[Fun@C]

Thanks anyway !! :)

[CruiseAwayWithMe]

It was then time for our Meet & Mingle in Ellington’s at 11:30. We had 65 people signed up and I would estimate maybe half showed up; I’ve been learning on the boards that several people were under the weather so didn’t come. They had some snacks for us, gave everyone a notepad on a long loop, and raffled off a mat/beach bag, bottle of wine, and the coveted RCI mouse. We had already used up our luck so did not win any of those prizes but had a nice time talking to everyone, many of whom we’d met at sail away.

I was there are the Meet & Mingle. ;) I felt a little sick the night before. But, I felt much better during the day. I was determined to make the Meet & Mingle. :) Anyways, thanks for the review. I liked reliving the cruise. :D Now, only if the next cruise can come sooner.

 

Wish the week didn't go by so fast!! It seems like when you are having fun, it just flies by TOO fast.

[Tabbymom]

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s a week since the cruise ended – somehow seems much longer! My tan’s starting to fade but according to the Wii Fit (the only scale I use) I actually did not gain any weight so no extra dieting needed!

 

Having a little sunburn from St. Martin, we tried to stay out of the sun for much of the day and started with breakfast in the dining room. We were seated with four ladies who had cruised a lot yet NEVER HEARD OF CRUISE CRITIC! I told them about some of the things I had learned from these boards and they were amazed. The special of the day was chocolate chip pancakes but other than that we were just as happy at WJ.

 

After breakfast we spent some time looking over the pictures; learned that a couple of shots had never been printed so make sure you get more than one take if it’s a special pose. Also, DS had noticed on our account on the TV in the cabin that we’d been billed twice for our photo package so I went to the purser to take care of that. Another good reason to check your account every day!

 

Then we went back to the trivia contest. This time DH and I were on a team by ourselves and luckily for me many of the questions involved old movies. We ended up tied for first with a group of six; Holly went through three rounds of sudden death and we kept on getting the same score. She finally awarded us both prizes – more loot! This time is was Ship Shape lanyards. Apparently trivia is my forte.

 

We went to Johnny Rockets again for lunch but this time it was a longer wait and the waiter was quite slow so it took close to an hour – in retrospect once would have been enough. I also learned that a chocolate soda was not what I thought – it was chocolate in a soda! Like chocolate coke, chocolate root beer, etc. We sat outside this time so couldn’t really see the staff perform but it did look there were different songs instead of the same song over and over.

 

DS had tried out the ice rink – he reported that skating was fun and didn’t feel different from normal. He also participated in the Sudoku contest, then watched the Bartender Flair Show and the start of the Belly Flop contest before joining us for lunch. After lunch he checked out other activities while DH and I headed to the Solarium for a couple of hours.

 

This was a slow day so it’s a good time to give my tip on hanging things to dry – I had brought along four clips to use on the line in the shower. I’d read how some people used belts to attach clothes to the chairs on the balcony – I tried using the strap that attaches my carry-on to the big suitcase and it worked great! Just string it through the shoulder straps of your bathing suit and clip it around the back of the chair. Works great and is very secure – you won’t see your suit fly away!

 

DH had signed up for Shabbat services on the TV earlier in the week. Since there were the required minimum10 people signed up, he went up to the Sky Chapel for the 5:15 service. It was a nice service led by a rabbinical student – the challah and wine were good but he suggests bringing your own prayer book – apparently the ship only stocked four so there weren’t even enough to share.

 

DH was ambivalent on the Ice Show so DS and I decided to try for 5:00 (our tickets were for 7:00) and had no trouble. We arrived 10 minutes early and the ticket guy gave us a couple of tickets that others had returned. We got very good seats. I was a little leery since it was called “Ice Under the Big Top” and it started out circus-y. But then it got GREAT! There were about seven different acts with some amazing spins and leaps; it was astonishing what they could do on that little rink. Believe everyone when they say this show is a must. In fact, I convinced DH to go to the 7:00 show and he agreed it was worth it.

 

It was the second formal night (also known as lobster night). We had some more pictures taken then enjoyed our dinner; it’s the second night formal menu on Albert’s list. I had prime rib and DH had the Fisherman’s Plate; when he turned to ask for another lobster tail Ernest the waiter had another plate ready and waiting. This time it was the chefs who paraded to a well-deserved round of applause (but they didn’t sing).

 

After dinner we went to the 10:45 showing of Pure Energy in the Savoy Theater. We found it much less enjoyable than the first production show. It was 80’s music that flashed lights in our faces (we were in the center of the balcony and I had to hold my hand in front of my face for much of the show). After the show we went out to the helipad to see the stars and the moon – very romantic.

 

And the towel animal(s) were two romantic swans!

[Merion_Mom]

Then we went back to the trivia contest. This time DH and I were on a team by ourselves and luckily for me many of the questions involved old movies. We ended up tied for first with a group of six; Holly went through three rounds of sudden death and we kept on getting the same score. She finally awarded us both prizes – more loot! This time is was Ship Shape lanyards. Apparently trivia is my forte.

Congratulations!

 

DH had signed up for Shabbat services on the TV earlier in the week. Since there were the required minimum10 people signed up, he went up to the Sky Chapel for the 5:15 service. It was a nice service led by a rabbinical student – the challah and wine were good but he suggests bringing your own prayer book – apparently the ship only stocked four so there weren’t even enough to share.

That's very odd. Someone must be eating the prayerbooks. We have always found STACKS of them. And we've never been in the Sky Chapel - always in a Conference Room on Deck 2.

 

 

 

 

 

After the show we went out to the helipad to see the stars and the moon – very romantic.

 

And the towel animal(s) were two romantic swans!

 

 

Like these? ;)

 

[Tabbymom]

Yes, those were the swans. And I guess they just didn't bring enough books up from the conference room - just as well DS and I didn't go along.

 

Missed posting yesterday but continuing...

 

The day we didn’t want to see – our last full day. :( After breakfast, we went down to the photo studio to make our final selections. After some hard choices we narrowed it down to six 8x10’s and two 4x6’s. Our $79 package entitled us to 4 and 2; we ended up paying only another $29. (They had some complicated way of working out another package price; all I know is that the additional pictures cost $10 less than full retail).

 

DS and I went off to the Captain’s Corner at 10:00 in the Savoy with Captain Per and Drew. They each gave a little talk, showed some pictures of the Oasis (I’ve seen much better online) and answered questions for about 15 minutes. My favorite part was Captain Per explaining why you’re better off on a cruise ship rather than Florida during a hurricane! Sure, you may miss a port, but you have food, water, electricity, and company.

 

DH and I spent much of the day in the Solarium, taking turns at lunch and watching the chairs. It was a peaceful relaxing day at sea; DH took some time out to watch the ice carving demonstration and I took time to get soft serve! Got to have priorities…

 

DS had a busy day – he took the Backstage Tour, which was hosted by the dance captain Heather. It was a lot of fun; they saw the dressing rooms and he was amazed by the number of costumes and wigs. Then it was off to the Adult Dodgeball Competition – Guests vs. Crew. One crew team played 5 different passenger teams and won 4 of the 5 games; it was a well-organized and spirited game. Afterwards DS cashed in his ship shape dollars for a visor and a lot of keychains (he had been the grateful recipient of $$’s donated by teammates).

 

In the late afternoon DH worked out and I went on a private art tour – since the ship didn’t run one, I did it myself. I started at the top of the staircases and alternated to see all of the art in the landings. Then a final photo op in the Promenade (not to mention a final snack) and back to get ready for the evening.

 

We attended the Farewell Variety Showtime Spectacular with just about everyone performing, including a new comedian Derrick Cameron who started out a little shocking then just became hilarious – too bad they didn’t have him on late night comedy! The dancers and singers came out as themselves and bid us farewell. And I have finally gotten “Love Today” to stop echoing in my brain – only took a week!

 

Then off to our Portofino reservation at 8:00. It was a lovely restaurant; not very crowded that night and we had excellent service. Yes, they still had the seafood skewer although we passed it up. I had steak and DH had fish; DS the pasta. Service was excellent and it was a wonderful ambience. We would rate it a little below the best metro Italian restaurants, however; the presentation was beautiful and the food very good but not quite the WOW factor there might have been. It was definitely above the level of dining room food, though. DH stopped in the DR to hand out our tip envelopes and had to wait because the waiters were singing again. DS and I headed back to the cabin to pack (sob); suitcases were supposed to be in the halls by midnight although I don’t think they picked them up until at least 2:00 am or later.

 

After we finished packing we went to Ellington’s, where the Savoy singers were performing. It was supposed to last until midnight but they stopped about 15 minutes early, so back to the Schooner bar for a last drink. I think there were more people out and about than at any other time, including many of the entertainers! Finally, reluctantly, to sleep – and our towel animal was a manta ray.

[raytownlady]

Great detailed review, thanks for posting!