jam19872016

First impression of the ship. It needs some TLC. I'll elaborate more after the trip and most of it is just little stuff or minor cosmetic issues but it adds up and typically royal does a great job of maintaining their ships, so it's a bit unexpected. Texas just got a huge upgrade with allure. First stop was to the Windjammer for some lunch. Two of the three desserts were gluten free and actually pretty good. The meal was good too but I just finished an intermittent fasting regimin so I was quite hungry lol.

The drive down this morning was typical for south Florida rush hour. Unpleasant but a nessasary evil. At least I didn't have to go all the way to Miami. That extra 25 miles adds another hour lol. No idea what was going on with the train. I sat for 20 minutes and I'm not sure how long it was there already before I got there. I could see the parking place across the tracks but had jo idea how to get to it lol. When we left there was another train , not the same one, crossing. The driver knew how to get around it and let's just say, my car could not have made the crossing he did. We held on for dear life 😆. I used park and go for my parking. It is 11.50 per day and I've had great service from them in the past and use them each time I sail from ft.lauderdale.

Yes, I made it on in pretty good time 😁. Beat the masses so I'm happy.

Windjammer not open. If I'd known I would have done muster first. I've never seen lunch not open already when boarding starts. Odd.

Onboard at 1116. First stop is to the Windjammer.

Made it into the waiting area at 10:53. Looks like boarding is set to start any minute now. Very smooth process right now. No lines and no checking boarding times. They have the signage ready and I suspect once lines form they will check boarding times. Yes, suites are boarding now so boarding looks to begin at 11.

This is literally torture. I am one minute from the parking place. The slowest train of all time has had me stalled for the last 10 minutes. It came to a stop. It's now going in reverse. WTH.

I made it out by 8. 7:58 and I'm on the road with one stop for gas.

It's going on 1am but I finally about 90% packed with the last to do tomorrow. The goal again is to be on the road by 8 and I've got to try harder this week to meet that since traffic will be heavier going to ft.lauderdale even though I am half way between both ports. I have also had ft.lauderdale enforce checkin times when it gets busy although I couldn't say which terminal I was at. See you in a few hours for the next part of the journey.

Oh yes I definitely know to manage expectations with ship food. There is only so much you can do in that setting. I remember I was in Ketchikan recently and stopped at a little stand because I was craving fish and chips. It was $22 plus tax. I have enjoyed my fish and chips better this past week than I did that day, because I did not purchase it in Ketchikan.

Disembarkation was easy. On the road now. Have a busy weekend so will probably wait until I board liberty on Monday to post my final thoughts on Mariner. For now I leave you with Carnival Freedom returning to port.

I will be on the lookout. I love fish n chips. The one I got at lunch was OK at best. The dinner version was pretty good but definitely had better. If I can use the c word for a minute, Carnival has a spicy szechuan sauce they use at their wok station. It packs quite a punch and is so delicious 😋. I make sure to grab an extra napkin because my nose is running by the time I'm done 😆.

And we're moving.

If you can wait I always recommend holding off to disembark. The two lines to get off the ship are already wrapped the length of the ship and meeting each other on the outside deck.

Leaving the room to join the crowds waiting.

Good morning everyone. We have almost docked. Disembarkation is set to begin at approximately 7:30 but folks will probably be lined up by then so I will probably make my way down a little early.

Final count: +$168 in the casino. Results not typical! Going to pack and relax in the cabin now until I fall asleep. Going to try and be off the ship as early as possible in the morning. Good night see you all back in port canaveral.

Walked by again tonight around 8:30 and it was in use with three people playing. I've rarely seen the craps table not full when it is properly staffed so likely just not a craps crowd.

Day 5 evening entertainment. Name that tune 80s hits, Schooner 6pm Movie on deck: rumble 6 Visual trivia Michael Jackson, star lounge 6:30 Production showtime gallery of dreams, Royal Theater 7 and 9:15 Laser tag, studio B 7-11 Movie on deck top gun Maverick 9 Battle of the sexes game show, star lounge 9:30 80's flashback dance party, Royal Promenade 10 Adult karaoke, star lounge 10:30 Music. Live music with red label band, Boleros 4:45-8:30 Piano and vocals with Jesse veliz, Schooner 8-1230 Guitar and vocals with Carlos bolanos, pub 8:15-12:30 Latin dancing with macondo trio 8:45-12:30 Nightclub 10:30-late.

Day 4 evening entertainment : Queen trivia, star lounge 6pm Movie on deck, Wizard of Oz 6 and 8 Family karaoke, star lounge 7 Ice under the big top, Studio B 7 and 9:15 Top Gun Maverick, Royal Theater 7 Family hush! Silent party, Royal Promenade 8 Teen karaoke, star lounge 8 Royal Bingo, star lounge 930 70s disco vocal set featuring Royal vocalists, Royal Promenade 9:15 Dancing under the stars, poolside 10 Love and marriage, Royal Theater 10 Adult karaoke, star lounge 10 Hush 18+, Ellington's 10:30 Music Jazz with the jazz trio, Royal Promenade 5:30-7:15 Latin with macondo trio, Boleros 6:30-8:30 and 10-12 Guitar and vocals with Carlos bolanos, pub 8:30-12:30 Piano and vocals with Jessie Velez, Schooner 8:30-12:30 Nightclub 1130-late Very strange to have love and marriage at the same time as a deck party.

Dinner both nights in the dining room was right on the border of too long. Crispy coconut shrimp. Salmon gravlax. Fish and chips. Spaghetti bolognese. Chcolate cake. Everything was delicious although the fries were not as warm as they should have been. Great meal overall though.

False alarm on the laundry. It was on the couch when I got back so I likely just didn't notice it because it is usually on the bed.

Grabbed my casino vouchers to cash out and on the way back to the room it occurs to me my laundry has not been returned yet.

The line for dinner was short. Unless you had a reservation. That line was backed up to the elevator lobby. The couple in front of me have assigned dining but asked to eat here. They were accomadated. That irritates me as someone who prefers to eat around 6 without being boxed into assigned dining. I have never been accommodated even with a half empty assigned early seating. I politely mentioned my frustration with the system they have when the host mentioned I've only come twice for dinner. He didn't even pretend to care lol.

I love spicy. Real spicy not the Americanized version of spicy. But I'm always afraid to ask for spicy from cruise ship chefs. Worried like you they may get too carried away 😆.