simon.hed

That drink when executed properly as it was on Independence last June is the best drink RC offers. Then on Harmony in August was meh.

I am too much of a control freak when it comes to planning trips. I have this subconsciously belief I can do it as well or better no matter the evidence to the contrary. OTOH I see where people who cruise far more than we do wouldnt consider doing it for themselves. I keep saying I am going to try using a TA but I never do.

I cancelled our Breezy Bay bed and booked the South Beach one for August. After a half dozen or so visits to Coco Cay South Beach is where we end up in the mornings unless there is something else going on so we are going to give it a shot. I will try to take time to scope out other ones on this trip. But prolly not lol.

It is showing up for me now. Not sure I will change.

@Merion_Mom August 2023 Mariner South Beach (which is now listed because of course)/Breezy Bay $199.00 Chill Island $299.00 June 2024 Allure Breezy Bay/South Beach $219.00 Chill Island $329.00 August 2024 Adventure same as June 2024

I noticed same when I was trying to decide which ones to book. We love south beach but they were not listed on the sailing I was looking for. Breezy Bay was $100 less than chill island so we chose those.

@island lady I have seen people almost put the rising tide bar in same category as the bionic bar, glad to see we arent the only ones who enjoy it!

We stay upmarket in Vegas but Ellis Island is a must stop every trip.

That is interesting. I got a fan that looks almost identical and didnt realize some might get confiscated. I will be sure to look for that label. Thanks!

I went not long after it opened and they had the half day option. That worked out great because we got there early and had a chance to do all the stuff we wanted to do then leave. I can’t recall what we paid, maybe $49? There is no way on earth Id pay 200.

ranges from $78 to $88 on the cruises we have booked (from Aug 2023 to Aug 2024)

if you bought add ons and can get same price cancel and rebook. I was in same boat last year when 25k offer was out, I was able to cancel drink package and rebook. (Perhaps I am captain obvious here but you never know)

We drive to Orlando and stay near the airport, then drive the 45 min or so to the port date of departure. The Orlando drive is 5 hours or so which is brutal, but alternative of airports, baggage, etc. makes it the least bad option. We sailed Harmony for a comparatively 'cheap' trip August of last year. Wonder has been double or more than that sailing. Allure for 4 or 5 night sailings next year are more reasonable but if I am taking off a week and driving that far I would much prefer longer. I have looked at Tampa, but the boss lady loves PDCC and I would like to stick to at least Voyager class.

Florida (particularly PC in my research) prices are nuts. I even researched flying to Galveston to sail Harmony. we live 45 min away from ECP and have tons of SW points. Their flights to Hobby are reasonable.

In my experience it doesnt have to be a single $1000 purchase. So long as it totals $1000. If you later cancel something that gets you under that total later on amex will almost certainly claw the points back, so be aware.

I didnt mean aria was new (though it technically I suppose is newish on the strip, built around 2007/08), I mean it had a different type of filtration system (or so i recall reading) that makes smoke much less noticeable. Fwiw https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2022/03/14/61782-new-study-ranks-mgm-39s-aria-as-strip-property-with-best-air-quality

We are booked on an 8 night Southern Caribbean August 24 in a JS. We have been on Mariner several times and the way the OV balconies are designed on Adventure does look different. Like peering out a cave. I've read good things about the ship and love Voyager class.

you can gauge the age of a casino by how much this doesn't apply. Newer Vegas casinos have much better filtration systems than older ones. Think El Cortez vs Circa/Resorts World. Aria was the first one I noticed that truly seemed to be better about that.

Excellent. Thanks for the headsup. I’ve been hoping this offer would pop up. I got the 25k offer last year 2x and I have the 20k offer on mine and my wifes card.

I have been there several times (it is my wife's fav stop) and the swim up bar area of the pool is bananas later in the afternoon. We have somehow never been there with 2 ships, I can only imagine its moreso in that case. we currently have 3 cruises booked that visit there and all 3 allegedly will have 2 ships there. The one June of next year Allure and Symphony.

Mariner is a great ship, enjoy!

agreed @davekathy & @OCSC Mike, just one of those things

we have been in promenade cabins on Mariner twice, and the sound wasn't bad (after reasonable bedtime for us). The interior we stayed in on Independence was far worse about transmitting sound from promenade. It seriously seemed like the sound was pumped in, it was strange (9291 fwiw). That was a big reason (I think) for the wife hating that cabin so bad. It was the noisiest one we've ever had on a cruise.

topics like these are really interesting to me. different strokes, etc. I like a balcony. I sit on them in the afternoons, it is one of the most calming/peaceful places on earth to me. We had an interior on Independence last year and my wife h a t e d it. Like despised it. I have endeavored to make my wife happy for 31 or so years, so. It is very interesting to hear everyone's opinions of promenade interiors on voyager/freedom class. The wife doesnt mind them at all. I personally think it's the bed config being in the end of the room on the interior cabins. Something off-putting about it, idk. We did book an interior on Allure for next year with adult children. They didnt want to spend the extra for a balcony (+$600 per cabin or so for 4 nights). I suspect we may make our first RoyalUp interactions when we get close enough.

"pushing" people out of the way? Seems that could get interesting...