TravelBluebird

NOT as bad as St. Thomas (hold on tight on those Jitneys up the mountain is EXACTLY what I felt; was afraid to film as I thought my camera would pitch over!) Did NOT go up the high mountain to the zip line etc on St. Marteen, so not a fair comparison, BUT the roads are narrow, the drivers crazy, and a TON of traffic. Then the road to Orient Beach was sand, not paved, and bumpy as heck; I’m assuming a paved road washed out during Irma. The destruction to this area of St. Martin in Irma was catastrophic; its now a sleepy beach with some restaurant shacks, and I understand it was quite different before the hurricane.

@Arzeena When I get back I have an entire video room tour of the room for you! I’ll also post additional photos here. I LOVE it—having natural light and an ability to see if it is raining or sunny is great. In brief, I adore the little seating bench right at the window. And the room seems spacious and set up like a balcony!

@CruiseMomTX The beaches are outside of Marigot; we went to Orient Beach, and I highly recommend it (other than the seaweed). The restaurant at Orient Beach, Le Little String, has won culinary awards at the island and the fish dishes there looked incredible! The restaurant I ate at was a small stall restaurant; I’ll get you the name and will have some video when I get home as well. Only saw/tasted the salted cod and the conch fritters, but both were yummy according to all reports (I had the cod with the johnny cake). As for taxis, PLENTY of taxis at the RC port. From taking to people, it looked like $20 to Marigot for 2 people; $30 to Orient Beach; more for additional passengers.

Me & my Virgin Colada in the Solarium! TON of ocean front loungers available at 11:40 when I got here!

😂 🤣 Just give me some seating and bars and wide-open views and I’m happy. Like on Celebrity. Or Summer’s Landing on Mardi Gras. Or those giant observation areas on the smaller ships like HAL has.

@h20skibum I’m glad I’m not the only one; was beginning to think I was too sound sensitive as I get older. I almost left; instead I just plugged my ears with my fingers. And YES to those dB meters! My hubby has reduced hearing due to single engine plane noise in his youth (he used to have a pilot’s license) and loud music. I don’t want to go down that path, and I’m sure all those families that attend the shows don’t want to either.

I hope this is temporary and Royal can re-consider whoever has “turned up the volume” on the shows, so to speak. The show WAS really great; lighting, costumes, those incredible divers! But I wish there was a way to make this giant area at the back of the ship more useful the rest of the day. Takes up so much real estate on the ship!

Some little tidbits from yesterday that I forgot to share. Had 2 people who would have been pier runners, coming aback at 5:31, but the little cart driving guy took them back to the ship. So boring. But THEN, a family of 3 got escorted off the ship with their luggage. Don’t know if they were leaving for medical, or if they were made to disembark for a broken rule. Everyone at the back of the ship was making up stories as to why they left. Finally, I met someone who knew the blood donor for the medical emergency. They said that the person who needed the blood was the person injured in the ice show. Of course, I can’t confirm this, but that is what I was told. I hope they are OK. Another vlogger on the ship got footage of the helicopter rescue from their balcony.

@Hogrider @BecciBoo My husband would LOVE the Celine tour. And also St. Martin, so I’ll take him on this tour when we come back here!

@BecciBoo I know from my years on Carnival that one ship chef is not like the other and the same dish can vary ship to ship, so I will!

Chris the CD is making the activities announcement. They are having a Sexiest Man Competition?? What is this, Carnival? 😂😂🤣

My current views! My happy spot, even without the ocean. not hungry so Ok missed Park Cafe breakfast. yep slept in The dry cappuccinos still delicious. Going to go to solarium and work on videos next

Well I still love music and a good party! Never loved too loud music—also distorts the sound!

Yes! No pancetta taste, and too gloppy sauce

It’s nearly 1am! Starting pouring rain as we all sat down for the Aqua show, Intense, but it was short lived Intense was….too intense! I loved the high diving and the synchronized swimming, the aerialists. But if I thought the other shows were loud, Intense was ear-splitting, I literally got the high decibel warning on my iPhone (see below). Royal really needs to consider the sound levels; I went by the Caribbean Promenade party and later Boleros and again, so loud. I really need to find a pair of ear plugs if I go see the Effectors show. If you are sensitive to sound, or just want to protect your hearing, I would bring ear plugs at least to Intense. Also played some in the casino, Loved the Little Shop of Horrors machine. Was not lucky. I want to do the 9:30 AM dance fitness class tomorrow but there is a good chance I’m going to sleep in again! Overall, another good day, but a long one! IMG_1324.MOV

Went with the Panna Cotta for dessert on Jason, my server’s rec. it was about the best panna cotta I’ve had. service all week has been exceptional! Jason was one of the stand outs!

The Filet was FANTASTIC and yes, I think better than Chops! Perfectly medium rare. Melt in Your mouth. Silly to put cheese on the top though cause it’s an Italian place. The Carbonara was another story. Too salty//cheesy for me. Hard to get that dish right.

Then I had the Filet Mignon, and I hoped a tasting size Spaghetti Carbonara. IMG_7504.MOV

At Giovanni’s! started with the Truffle Caprese Salad. Very good—too hige portion. I realize most of the appetizers here are meant to share

Overall, I liked Tsp Factory! Tap is hard. Of the 4 main tap dancers one was EXTREMELY talented and a joy to watch. HOWEVER I wanted to PLUCK OUT MY EYES when the contortionist came on. AAAAAAGGGH! I averted my eyes. Not a fan of that. Again too loud. After this trip and my last on Carnival I’m convinced most sound engineers are 1/2 deaf.

Sail Away was Beautiful!! If you want a GREAT view with no plexiglass I. The way, that area near the start of The ultimate Abyss is PERFECT! Ssh don’t tell anyone else it will get too crowded!

I was wrong about it being a chill night. Checked my in-app Calendar and I have Taps at 7pm AND Intense at 10:45 (that is the make-up of the show that got cancelled on the first night).

I hope you like Hooked as much as I did! I will be in the casino some tomorrow as well, so I will see you there!

Above, border between Dutch and French parts of island, below, Menus in French and English at Maigot restaurant. Johnny Cake with Salted Cod. Harbor view from Marigot You’ve been warned! Orient Beach Orient Beach Orient Beach Free Punch Orient Beach Nell our tour guide Me at port! The entry to the Ultimate Abyss Slide Back of Wonder near the slide Signature drinks at the Lime and Coconut Poolside Bar, Wonder NA Lime and Coconut drink. Very good! Free cute cup. The restaurant at Marigot (not sure why out of order).

The tour itself was GREAT! Nell our tour guide was Awesome; informative, fun, and a good driver. He also plied the van with free liquor and drinks (I got a coke; there was beers and the local guavaberry liquor which was quite good (I did taste that). Fun group of people as well Started the day briefly driving through Phillipsburg, which is on the Dutch side of the island (as is the cruise port). Then we crossed the island to the French side. There are no barriers or passports needed, just FYI. We stopped in Marigot, and I had an early lunch there, a johnny cake with salted cod (quite good!) and cheap only $7 for that and a lemonade. Both sides of the island take American dollars, $1 to 1 Euro on French side. Walked around and got some photos. Other than culinary, the French side of the island is less developed for tourism. Then went to Orient Beach. Evidently part of the beach is clothing optional and my eyesight is bad, so I’ll have to check for clothing optional people in my videos 😂 Beautiful spot. We stopped at a well-known restaurant there Le String Beach as our base of operations. Got a chair and umbrella for $10. Got a free non-alcoholic drink as well; not sure why mine was free, but it was “Free Punch” Not crowded at all which I appreciated. Had a food massage for $20. There were some vendors on the beach but they weren’t too bad. The lady who did mine was originally from Jamaica; she said that tourism on the island had not recovered from the pandemic fully. Also, a bad hurricane hit the island in 2017, and destroyed a big resort right by Orient Beach, plus did lots of damage to all the beach area. Beach was BEAUTIFUL. Very rudimentary sand road to get to it; its in the middle of nowhere near salt flats. A bit marred by giant clumps of that sargassum seaweed that was all over the beach, and has become common in the Atlantic, Then we drove back; got back to ship around 2:45. Got a quick bite in the Windjammer (about to close and only a few stations still open,.I got some Indian food) so very UNCROWDED which you know made me happy. Also did a “walkie” of Deck 15 from one end to the other. Found a couple chairs and that bar at the back near the giant slide beginning that I think is PERFECT for sail aways, Got a Lime and Coconut NA drink from the Lime and Coconut, and I’m enjoying that back in my room after a quick shower. going to work on a video next then Giovanni’s tonight! Photos to follow in next post.