Cruise-y

I replied similarly on the other thread but so far I’m very impressed with the look and I expected the pricing. I also expect a class experience better than SB or SS and hence the pricing. It all sounds great to  me. 

I’d be thrilled if I were traveling solo. 
 

A sushi restaurant will come, just not named yet. 

58 minutes ago, greykitty said:

Getting worse; more infected, per this story; next sailing cancelled. 

 

 

 

The problem is there are always some people who don’t follow the rules. There were people standing in the distant background in the video with no masks, people lying at the pool with no masks (and others walking close to them to get by), a very small elevator for 4 people, the crew living in close quarters, etc. 
 

It’s great to hope that sailing with restrictions is going to work, but it’s just not.  Which is why Crystal responsibly canceled 2020.

57 minutes ago, BWIVince said:

 

Yay Patty!  You're in luck, tonight there are cashews in the containers -- and I'm in luck (besides your company), the hot hors d'oeuvres are pigs in a blanket.  🐷 😋

 

 

Vince

Oh man! I always manage to miss the pigs in blankets. And those potato thingies with crème fraîche.

Like many of us I was supposed to be on a Crystal cruise this summer, sitting on my veranda and sipping a Bistro coffee.  But I’ve decided my own deck is just as pleasant. I have one of those little battery powered spring things that whips my hot milk into foam and I can spoon that into my Keurig coffee. I have beautiful crape myrtles and roses instead of umbrella pines.  I have a pool instead of the ocean. But I need to enjoy these simple, wonderful things more and stop complaining!  I’m still healthy too (so far!)

1 hour ago, BWIVince said:

I was really missing one of these this morning. I missed it even more when I settled for cold pizza.  😢

 

 

Vince

Totally agree. That looks fabulous

2 minutes ago, TrulyBlonde said:

I make mine with Vanilla non-fat yogurt and lowfat milk. Oats, raisins, cinnamon, sliced almonds, yogurt and milk. Add honey if you want additional sweetness. Stir it up and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator.  Add sliced fruit of your liking to you own bowl in the morning. Fewer calories this way.

I make it every evening while making preparing dinner because after wine I tend to forget 😉

I wonder if I could use more chia and less oats?  I think the chia adds the tapioca-like texture

3 hours ago, ChatKat in Ca. said:

I have a recipe called Muesli as well.  Both are from a healthy cooking class onboard another ship and are Canyon Ranch Recipes - neither are called Overnight Oats.  The Crystal treat is exactly the same.  The other recipe makes a big batch.  The key is 6 oz Plain Full Fat Yogurt, 6 ounces of regular Milk, Orange Juice (1/2 Cup), 1 Cup of Steel Cut Oats, A banana, 1/4 cup sliced almonds, a tsp of vanilla extract,  an apple cut into little bites, and top with whatever fruit you like.
Usually I have seen this in the Bistro in a small square dish and you can add berries or melon or oranges to it.

Yummy!

Thank you! I can hardly wait to try it. I just need to get some chia! Yes I imagine the yogurt makes a difference. 

On 7/10/2020 at 12:51 PM, ChatKat in Ca. said:

Mix together ¹/₃ cup oats, ¹/₂ cup milk, ¹/₃ cup Greek yogurt and 1 teaspoon chia seeds in a small Mason jar or lidded glass bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight; in the morning, mix it well and add optional toppings like fresh or dried fruit, maple syrup, flaked coconut or nuts. Sitting in the yogurt overnight softens the oats.

 

I add almonds slices, a little honey, mashed banana and whatever fruit. Berries, peaches...

Thank you again so much.  I'm looking forward to trying this. I'm just curious, is this Crystal's recipe or one of your own? Crystal's always seems so creamy, you could hardly tell there were oats in it. It always seemed almost like tapioca, and they were served in those dainty little finger glasses. (I've tried cold oats and they are still pretty oat-y, if you know what I mean.) Of course, my memory could be swayed by the luxurious bits of tropical fruit they put on top and the beautiful sea views while I was eating it. 

Thank you ChatKat!

6 minutes ago, ChatKat in Ca. said:

They are really easy to make. LMK if you want and I will post the recipe.

Thank you!  Yes I would like the recipe!! ❤️

I wish they served those little glasses with soft cold oats/chia and fresh berries on top in the Bistro.

It doesn't look like there's a lot of activity/responses on this port locale.  It must not be visited that much.  If anyone who has been here can respond, I'd surely appreciate it.  

I've tried to make a reservation at Shellona (a restaurant on Shell beach) and get very limited/non responses.  I understand that it is the only beach restaurant within walking distance of the port, so is probably booked, but I'm about to give up.  They don't answer emails or respond to the "reservation" part of their website.  

I've also seen that it is very hard (and expensive) to rent a taxi to get to other places on the island.

Thus, I've also tried to rent an electric car to drive elsewhere.  Hopefully that will be a bit more successful. Our ship is in port until 11:00 pm so they must assume their clients will want to eat dinner ashore.  

Any guidance, advice? Restaurant recommendations?  THANKS MUCH

Thank you!

I'm interested in getting FAR away from the port hubbub with all of the overcrowded beach bars with a direct view of your cruise ship.  That's just not our thing at all (but cheers if that's what you want to do).

We've pre-booked a golf cart to get away and tour the island.  Can anyone suggest a great restaurant with really good local food (jerk, etc.)  We want to see local culture if possible.

Thanks and sorry if this is a repeat

We are very self-sufficient and have always pushed back from butler help.  Just the way we were raised, I guess.  I'll run to the coffee deck and back in the morning before I'll ask my butler - because I like the spontaneity of it (and, mainly, I really like not having to plan ahead when I'll get up).  I want to pick the specific drawers I'm going to put my clothes and toiletries in, so I don't want them to unpack for me.  We rarely get room service (for a lot of reasons I won't belabor here).  But we've booked a late October cruise with a butler and I want to do it right this time.

I'm thinking a list with this:

1) Please keep my fridge stocked with xyz (wine/beer/water)

2) Please deliver "new style" canapés in late afternoon, whether we are there yet or not. We'll get to them later.

3) Please make specialty restaurant (and show) reservations for me on xyz date

4) Please bring a power strip for each side of the bed so we can plug in and read our Kindles at night (or check email or our kids on Facebook or whatever)

Are these reasonable requests?  Should I palm him/her a tip ahead of time?  I know tips are included but I assume an extra is appropriate at the end?  Advice is appreciated.  Sorry to be a rube.  Thanks

Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant on a nice beach that also includes beach chairs?  I know there are several restaurants on beaches but we would like to stay afterward to swim.  Thank you

3 hours ago, RoperDK said:

Here's my story.  Several weeks ago I did online check in for DH and I on my phone.  I took his picture, but didn't take mine (bad hair day, lol 🤣).  I figured I could add it later.  I can't find a way to edit the set sail pass on my phone.  Is there a way?  Next thing I did was look at online check in on the computer.  I could edit it and saw a place to add my photo, but this time I was in my PJs with no make up on 😲, so I figured I'd add it later.  So, a few weeks pass and I was going to edit online check in today on the computer to add my photo. I get an "oops there is a problem, please try again later" message.  I've received it all day. I noticed that my edocs are available.  Does this mean that I can't edit anymore or is there really a glitch? I sail in a month.  The edocs don't have a set sail pass, but we have them on our phones.  I prefer a paper copy so I don't have to mess with my phone at check in.  Am I out of luck?  Thanks for the help!      

You can have your photo taken at check-in and it only takes a few seconds so don’t worry!  Have fun

Mistake paste sorry!  If host can delete I’d appreciate it!

This subject “Royal Caribbean Website Pain” was first posted in Sept 2017 and it is still very active almost 2 years later with 823 responses!   Users have a multitude of different issues with booking cruises, accessing accounts, printing passes, viewing itineraries, you name it.  It’s ridiculous that the RCCL website continues to have these problems and that anyone should have to clear cache, switch browsers, log out and in from a different page, wear a chicken suit or whatever else to hope it works.

Here’s my plan: I stopped cruising with RCCL. I just booked a cruise with Crystal and the website was fast, intuitive and so easy to maneuver around.  It was a joy.  

Now I need to figure out how to stop getting notifications from this thread because it’s obviously never going to end. 

The website has had ridiculous problems making access difficult, confusing (or impossible) for literally years.  Years.  One shouldn’t have to change browsers, clear caches, wear a chicken suit or do anything else to make it work right.  It’s unbelievable really, because website management is not that difficult in this day and age.  Are they trying to force everyone to go through agents?  Their lack of caring and correction is one of the many reasons I don’t sail with them any longer. 

Thank you for your thanks!  I appreciate it.

I’m sorry but you shouldn’t have to adjust/clear/change a bunch of settings or modes or operating systems to use their website.  That’s ridiculous.  It should just work.  

On 12/13/2018 at 6:32 PM, matj2000 said:

The poorly runned RC website has been well discussed over & over on this website.

 

Pretty much a daily basis.

 

But whats one more thread today??

 

 

Maybe if it continues to be discussed on a daily basis people who are coming to CC to research which cruise line they want to use will see the hassle and use that in their decision process.  

 

 

 

Cruise-y...where do you reserve the "free" tickets from on the first day?

We didn’t know about it so not sure. I assume they tell you in the Cruise Compass the night before but we obviously missed it. Maybe the activities desk?

Nice review. We just booked Independence after being on Mariner. I'm like you and don't go on the new features, but can say that our kids loved them on Mariner (including the SkyPad..it was a blast for them so not a waste) .

 

Question about Ice Show. You have to reserve tickets or you have option of just showing up? Never heard of that.

 

We booked FNDR. We loved Chops on Mariner. Do yo recommend it or Giovannis? I see you tried both.

 

Thanks for your review.

Thanks, glad your kids liked the SkyPad! I didn't hang around to watch anyone using it so that's good to know.

On Independence, you did have to reserve (free) tickets for the ice shows (not through the Cruise Planner but onboard the first day). We didn't know that so showed up without tickets. There was a separate line for those without tickets. We stood in line and when there was about 10 minutes to go, the arena obviously wasn't filling up, so they let us in. The shows were all sold out, so I guess theoretically it might have filled up and we wouldn't have been let in, but it was not a problem. We did that for both ice shows and had good seats. There were two completely different ice shows on our cruise, and each one was performed twice, so with 4 total shows I think everyone could see it. On other ships they may do it differently (as one responder noted in this thread).

Chops and Giovanni's are different (steak or Italian) and I liked them both. So if you have to pick one it probably doesn't really matter. You can get steak at Giovanni's also. The steak at Chef's Table was the best - better than Chops.