senrab

2 hours ago, cruisinfromtampa said:

Back to Day 3...

 

After the slot pull, I took a much deserved nap. Before dinner, we went and sat on Rising Tide for a bit. It has become our go to bar on board. The bar tenders know us by name, and start making our drinks the moment we walk through the doors. They’ve been wonderful. 

 

Dinner tonight is at Wonderland! I have been wanting to eat here since I learned it existed. As I’ve made abundantly clear, I love food. And I love pushing the boundaries of what food is and can be. Peculiar flavor profiles, and unexpected things are my favorite. 

 

Our view wasn't too bad. 

 

 

 

When seated, you are given a picture in a frame and a paint brush.

 

 

 

Once you release your inner child, and “paint” to your hearts content, the menu magically appears. 

 

 

 

The menu is elemental, with Sun, Fire, and Ice  comprising the appetizer course(s), and Earth and Sea the entrees. Your waiter will ask about food allergies, and then they usually will pick some from each of the top 3 to bring out. We were very specific about ones we did not want, and she picked from what was left. 

 

Mad Hatter’s Purple Potted Shrimp. I could eat 20 of these. The shrimp was cooked beautifully, and was perfectly tender. The wrap was tantalizingly crispy. The foam was light and airy, and a great spark of heat from the pepper. DH doesn’t eat seafood, and I was not upset when she brought out two. 

 

 

 

The Bird’s Nest. They were good. I’d eat them again. But it was a simple deviled egg, just spicy. The smoke, however, is what changed the whole bite. They fill the dome with smoke, which flavors the space once it's released. You can smell it, and you can taste it. That’s what makes the dish special. 

 

 

 

Crispy Crab Cone. I’m not a huge avocado fan, so that was a little much for me. The crab was good, tasted fresh, and the wonton was crispy. The wasabi is a stronger hit than I was expecting, but it changed the flavor profile in a nice way. This could very easily go south, but it was a tasty bite. 

 

 

 

Tomato Water. This dish is pretty mind blowing. It really just looks like clear water with orange bubbles floating on top. I was apprehensive about it, simply because gazpacho is not a go to for me. I was more than pleasantly surprised. It tasted great, and it makes your mind work. 

 

 

 

Wonton Soup. DH got this. The broth was flavorful, and he enjoyed the wonton. The noodles were unexpected as well. On a cold day, I could have a bowl of the broth and be completely satisfied. 

 

 

 

Liquid Lobster. Great bite. Could eat 10. Lobster melted in your mouth. The bisque like soup was flavorful. No complaints. 

 

 

 

DH got the chicken, and loved it. For someone not really into food, he mentioned it multiple times. It was crispy, tender, and juicy. I enjoyed the bite I stole with the sauce that came with it. He just had the chicken and potatoes, which he also liked. 

 

 

 

The Rib T Luscious Short Rib. Beautifully tender. Fall apart and melt in your mouth. The sauce was a bit too salty for my palate, but DH liked it. I wanted to like the beets so badly, but I just can’t get there. I try them every few months but to no avail. They still taste like dirt. I’d order this again. 

 

 

 

Halibut Cooked in Clear Paper. This was the only disappointment of the night. The fish was obliterated. Completely over cooked, and barely flaking. The liquid and mushrooms on the bottom were tasty, but the fish deserved better. 

 

 

 

The World. Scrumptious. Delicious. Delightful. Tantalizing. Superb. I have nothing bad to say, other than I wish we had each gotten our own. Having to share was a crime against humanity. 

 

 

 

Forbidden Apple. Not a fan. Mousse had a nice flavor, but strange texture. Too firm. And the mound of coconut in the bottom was overpowering. Wouldn’t order again. 

 

 

 

I ordered peppermint tea, and the honey came in its own demitasse. Sometimes it’s the little things. 

 

 

 

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening. So much in fact, that we changed our reservation for Night 6 to come back rather than going to 150 Central Park again. I think Wonderland is a must do one time for everyone. It’s just plain fun. 

THANK YOU FOR THIS! I've been waiting with bated breath for your thoughts on Wonderland, and this review (especially the pictures) sold me!

2 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

It's quite rare to book a basic cabin GTY and end up with some huge suite.

Well I sure can HOPE for that plush suite!  But indeed, I booked an oceanview balcony with that as my expectation.

Forgive me if this has been asked before.  I did a search and didn't find what I was looking for.

I know that when booking a guarantee cabin, you can get your assignment anytime from minutes after booking to the day of embarkation and that it could be anything from the category guaranteed up to the Master of the Universe Suite.  But I have two questions I can't find answers to:

1. When did you ACTUALLY get your assignment (how far before sailing)?
2. How did you find out your assignment?  Did Royal call you? Your TA? Send a singing telegram? Email? Or did you just log in one day and say, "Hey, honey, we have a cabin number!"?

Thanks in advance, and first beer's on me if you're ever in Atlanta and can answer one or both of these!

19 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Should I be afraid to Google it??

Yes.  I wouldn't recommend doing it at work.  Very NSFW.

On 6/22/2019 at 11:26 PM, Flow Bro Ty said:

Sadly I Got To Go Film Class.   

Methinks a good film of the launch would go over well.  I'd watch it!

8 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

We hated Wonderland.  Consider Izumi Hibachi

Can you be more descriptive why?  

19 hours ago, Cruising Latitude said:

We were also on the Memorial Day weekend Symphony of the Seas 3 day cruise, our first time on an Oasis class ship and first time to CCC. 

 

A few newly learned tidbits of facts and impression of Cococay, hope they might be useful to other cruisers:

 

1.) We didn’t book the water park but from outside the water park did not look crowded, though I did hear others say the water slides wait time was still long.  The slashaway area (with tipping buckets)  was free for all and loads of fun. 

 

2.) The Oasis Pool area filled up as the day went on.  It was practically empty when we first walked by it at 9AM but by 12noon it was a little harder to find two loungers together with an umbrella.  The pool and the bar all looked clean and inviting.  

 

3.) The South Beach area with the floating bar has lots of chairs and umbrellas and some natural shade. The water is very shallow for about 200 yards and you can walk far into the ocean without needing to swim.  We saw a few stingrays and a little shark like creature and lots of fish.  Good snorkeling for those who don’t know how to swim.  

 

4.) Chill Island Beach, lots of chairs and umbrellas though not much natural shade.  Very breezy and comfortable compared to the pool, or even South Beach and it is the choice for snorkelers.  Deeper water to actually swim and lots of colorful fish.  The further you go the calmer and clearer the water. 

 

PSA to snorkelers: Unfortunately the plane wreck is now out of the boundary defined by buoys and ropes and the good reef area is now only accessible by paid snorkeling excursions.  But there is still a sunken boat by one of floating platforms.  As far as free snorkeling in the Caribbean and Bahamas go this is still a pretty good location.  

 

5.) Food stations are large and lines were short if any.  Finding a table at peak lunch hour could take a couple of minutes but still not impossible.  The standard burgers and hotdogs and the little sandwiches were very tasty.  DH had his fill on corn on cob. Bars didn’t seem crowded either. 

 

6.) Zipline, we didn’t try but it looked much shorter than the one in Labadee.    

 

7.) We booked helium balloon rides but could not go due to high wind.  It didn’t feel windy at all at ground level only comfortably breezy but the ticket lady said it was too windy at 450 meters in the air so the balloon was grounded.  

 

8.) The day was mildly cloudy and we applied layers of sunblock still ended up with a little sun burn.  So lather up please especially if you get a bright sunny day.  

 

9.) Overall a very nice private island.  Due to balloon cancellation by wind we end up not spending anything on excursions but still enjoyed our day very much. 

This is a huge disappointment, and may drive me to cancel my snorkeling plans on CocoCay.  I was more excited about the plane than anything else...the fact that it's still on the maps is a bit deceptive.  We had booked the snorkel at your leisure, but may cancel that in favor of relaxing on the beach, oasis pool, or at the floating bar.

1 minute ago, Iamcruzin said:

There are settings on social media that only allow friends and family to view your profile. In addition you don't have to add your Address and phone number to the profile. Mine only has the town I grew up in and schools I attended so past classmates can find me if they wish to search. You don't even have to give your full name when registering. My friends and family  all know my address and phone number and when I'm working or on vacation without referring to my postings.

  

 

Agree:  Good settings help significantly, but some people don't have the settings quite right.  Also, plenty of people have casual acquaintances added on social media that aren't necessarily as well "curated" as they perhaps should be.

I'm not saying it's the highest risk activity.  But it does make sense to take a precaution.  There's a big difference between telling your parents/siblings/children/best friends of your travel plans, and another to post it where people less close to whom you may still be connected (digitally).

For example, you mention connecting with former classmates: some of mine I'd place in the acquaintance category rather than in the close friends.  Still happy to hear from them, but not ready to share my vacation plans.

3 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

I think these two pose a higher risk than social media.  

Quite possibly true, as you know the people at your local post office or newspaper are, well, local.

But why make it easy by posting on social media, too?  Just like adding an alarm to an already locked door, just keep it behind one more layer of protection.

On 5/11/2019 at 10:38 AM, KimA75 said:

Yes. Don't leave keys hanging or in drawers in case of a burglary. That way they can't also take your car.  We put all keys and valuables in a safe that is bolted to the floor.  

 

Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Make sure you stop the mail and newspaper.  Don't have packages scheduled to be delivered.  

 

Don't put your social security number on paperwork for doctor/dental offices.  (I can't tell you the number of times that info is stolen or sold.) Don't store credit card information on websites if possible.

 

Yes, there are reasonable measures you take to stay safe.  But, the possibility of a stranger joining a social media group to find a house to break into is so minimal I refuse to stress about it.  You can't live life by what-ifs, or you will never live.

Doesn't this just publicize to the folks at the post office and the newspaper that you're going to be out of town?  It's a vicious cycle because one precaution leads to publicizing it to another group.

Honestly, even so much as having a friend or neighbor pick up the mail publicizes it to someone.  So I guess we have to figure out what our risk tolerance is.

Slightly off topic, but hope you forgive me...

GF and I were staying at an AI in Cancun during Winter 2018.  They had a play casino (no cash).  So they'd teach you blackjack, allow you to "cheat" (if you made a bad bet, like splitting on the wrong cards and got burned, they'd say "see why you don't want to do that" and let you take a mulligan.).  It was a great way to learn.  And of course you could get more chips anytime.  (The downside is you couldn't actually win anything, but hey...)

GF wanted to learn to play craps, but when we got to the casino, we were told the craps table was "broken".  I'm pretty sure it was a language barrier issue meaning that nobody knew how to run the table because, by gosh, all the legs looked intact and the felt looked fine...

I've told her about the casino classes on our upcoming cruise and she joked "I hope that it's not broken..."

1 hour ago, mattb31 said:

 

Just so were not fear mongering here the Level 2 Bahamas advisory is the same level that was issued in Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and UK.

 

Freeport sucks, but the Nassau hate here is so overblown.

Don't you know that perspective, rationality, and complete information aren't permitted on the internet? 😏

Just a quick update on my passport renewal experience:

• I mailed (priority mail flat rate envelope) my renewal application on May 23.
  
• Delivery on May 25.
  
• Tracking on State Department visible on May 27.
  
• Memorial Day holiday on May 30.
  
• Passport tracking updated on June 9 to show projected delivery of June 15.
  
• USPS Priority mail delivery on June 11.
  

Total: 19 days including 2 weekends and one federal holiday.

So, Does that lock in Joy for Oasis VI?

 

Harmony and Joy are very Feng Shui.

 

RCI have taken 2 of the 8 remaining potential names off the list of trademarked names so far.

 

•Spectrum of the Seas

•Joy of the Seas

•Harmony of the Seas

•Emblem of the Seas

•Apex of the Seas

•Pulse of the Seas

•Passion of the Seas

•Ovation of the Seas

VI? Six? Did the fleet plan expand even further? Or should that be IV (four)?

I think CC needs to create/implement an "Auto Close" feature on threads which sit dormant. No need to keep resurrecting threads which haven't been active in ten months.

Perhaps after 30-60 days the thread locks, is still visible, searchable, and available, but not open for reply.

Thoughts?

I'm gonna bring high powered magnets on board and see if I can mess with the pour levels a bit

It would be amusing if your messing with pours worked...by reducing the dispensed volume.

I wonder since there is a dress code, is there an equal and opposite undress code?

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction... So, do with Newton III what you will.

I am a woman, but I was raised with a generation of men whose fathers told their sons to remove their hats when coming indoors. This would preclude, of course, a man wearing a hat of any kind in the Windjammer, the dining room, the theater, an indoor bar, and so on.

 

Certainly, it is second nature for my husband to remove his hat any time he comes indoors. I am also interested, as a hockey fan, that the announcer has to announce that people should remove their hats during the national anthems.

 

Do fathers teach their sons when to remove their hats any more? And if not, why not?

I was most certainly raised to remove a hat indoors. The only exception to that rule in my upbringing was an indoor sporting event. I can't explain the logic behind that exception, but that's how it was for me.

I definitely agree that there's a difference in standards between walking into a restaurant and walking into a basketball (or in your case, hockey) game. Yelling, screaming, and cheering, while not just permitted, but encouraged at a game is typically less accepted practice at a restaurant.

Nope, it's there. I'm like 4 for 5.

 

To the OP please remember that English is a second (third, fourth or more) language for most of the staff, so their way of speaking may sound stiff or jerky, which could be interpreted as rude.

I'm batting 1000 on CocoCay (1 for 1). It does exist.

Maybe they share the lease with other cruise lines and each line only REALLY gets it once a month, and the others have to miss due to "weather" the other three weeks.

I own my own tux, but managed pack everything EXCEPT the tux pants. (They fell off the hangar between the closet and the garment bag and were comfortably waiting on my closet floor when I got home...)

I called the tailor shop upon discovering this at 5pm on the first formal night and was quickly measured and fitted for a pair of pants. The tailor came up and measured, then returned about 15 minutes later with the pants. Made it to dinner without a problem. Pants were of good quality, typical for a rental tux.

Henceforth forevermore, I'll always check about 3 times to make sure the pants stay with the coat...

For those of you that have tried to get breakfast delivered to your cabin with use of the in-room room service breakfast card...

 

Did you succeed (and on what ship)?

Yes, Voyager and Freedom OTS, plus Carnival Conquest and Magic.

Every time (and on what ship)?

Always came within the requested/expected time. RCL does call when the breakfast is leaving the galley, Carnival does not.

How did you do it(and on what ship)?

Room service door card, same ships.

Epic fail(and on what ship)?

No "epic" fails. Just a few "learning curve" type things, such as the fact that OJ comes in something only slightly larger than a shot glass, but these were "user error" and we adjusted them on the next order.

I've heard it can be done...but not dependable. I am taking my 74-year old mom on a cruise in a few days and would love to surprise her with poached eggs on wheat toast. :cool:

I've never seen poached eggs on the room service breakfast menu. As others have mentioned, it's usually pastries and other "buffet" type breakfast stuffs. I've had good luck walking into the dining room and asking for plates "to go" when someone was feeling under the weather (not noro!) You could surely get this (and be sure it's hot and fresh) if you were willing to make the walk.

Enjoy the cruise with Mom!

Hello

We are returning on Brilliance of the Seas from a Baltic Cruise on July 1 at 4 am. Ship docks in Harwick. We are staying overnight in London then flying back to Toronto

We would like to get into London to see a few sights, but know London can be expensive. Can anyone suggest a nice hotel to stay in, it could be close to the tube outside of the city core, if that helps with expenses.

 

Thanks for the help, I know this isn't about the cruise but I didn't know where else to post!

 

DVMvet

I'm assuming you're flying out of Heathrow, and if that's the case, I recommend the Jurys Inn Heathrow. Very convenient to the tube, easy access to the city, clean, comfortable rooms and usually a much lower rate than city center (or centre on that side of the pond) prices. Depending on your flight time in the morning, it may be beneficial to start closer to the airport and sleep a little later.

I have no idea why the didn't do work on the flow rider when she was in dry dock but from the look at it the main floor area of the Flowrider is in better condition than the one I saw on the Oasis this past November. Chances are that they started the repair work while she was in dry dock and weren't able to complete it.

 

Now moving onto the Aqua Theater there is a very good chance that the weather isn't cooperating with them these first couple of days out of Florida. As we know there was a major storm the passed through the east coast yesterday and today. I remember on my trip in November the first three days of Aqua shows onboard the Oasis were cancelled because of the weather.

 

We not being on the ship don't know exactly what is going on. One person did come back and say the were doing work on the decking around the Flowrider. However, this person didn't mention anything about the Aqua Theater Pool. I was on the Oasis when the took the Oasis Dunes out of service for 3 days so they could recarpet it.

Makes me wonder why they didn't just take one or two holes of the course out of service for a couple days staggered over the week. Most people would be less frustrated by a 7 hole course than by a closed course. At least, I would...

On another note, the problems with Allure have been pretty public and well documented, including the propulsion problems which impacted the sailing schedule, resulting in a lot of publicity (at least on CC). As a mechanical engineer focusing on maintenance and reliability, (not in the marine environment, however) I wonder how often other "stuff" breaks on board that we don't see a lot of publicity on.

With 3000+ toilets on board (I'm just guessing at one per cabin plus crew areas plus public areas) I wonder how often one needs maintenance, ranging from a clog to a replacement of a vacuum valve or flush switch. Add in all the other parts of the ship, many of which we don't see (dining room coffee makers, of which I'm sure there are plenty) or only see peripherally (such as the rigging in the theater), and I'd be willing to guess that hardly a minute goes by without SOMETHING needing repair on board on each ship, from something as minor as a leaky sink to as major as Allure's azipods.

Awesome to find someone in the same boat I'm in! Just a few follow-up questions if I may.

 

1) Just to placate my paranoia, can you confirm that luggage valet does indeed work with a mixed Southwest/AirTran itineracy? :)

 

2) We booked through Southwest, specifically for the reason you mentioned. If it did work, my follow up thought was that I might get dinged for the bag fees.

 

Do you by any chance still have the company names or contact information from when you had to resolve this? It might save me a few steps if I end up needing to do the same.

In my experience, NO. We had several (seven people) in our family on the last cruise who attempted to use luggage valet with Southwest/Airtran itineraries out of Orlando (Port Canaveral, Freedom OTS) and all were unable to do so. They couldn't check in for the flight or get bags checked through the valet program.