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It looks like you had an amazing time, Kat, and you look great, too! Sherri🙂

It’s nice to see you are all healing well and I hope this continues! We are leaving early Friday morning to make the long drive up I95 to VA for two of Eli’s soccer games, then heading down to Charlotte on Tuesday for Gavin’s soccer game and Camie’s gymnastic meet. She scored first place in balance beam at the SC state meet in her age group so this is the regional meet which means she will be competing against 89 girls from other states. Can’t miss this! Christy, maybe you’ll see me waving as we drive down to Charlotte area. I always wave at you and also Lois in Jacksonville when we do this trip!😂 Sherri🙂

We had a group of 8 on our Independence cruise last summer, I went straight to Chops as soon as we boarded and made reservations using our two BOGOS. No problem at all. I don’t think you can do this in advance but I could be wrong.😂 Sherri🙂

We just got off last Saturday, most of the shows were 7 and 915 but a few nights it was 8 and 1015. Do you use the app? If so, go to the current sailing and check the times for it. Sherri🙂

I think it has been pointed out several times, Etta, that I left off the plus sign. Sherri🙂

The cover charge on Mariner is currently $14.99, drinks not included. Sherri🙂

Sorry, of course it is D+🙄 Sherri🙂

No, unfortunately they don’t, there is nothing like a vintages on Mariner. But we found a few we liked at the schooner bar and also Chops & Jamie’s. We like red wines and one that we have really enjoyed was only at the schooner bar, Terrazas de los Andes, a Malbec I believe from Chile. Sherri🙂

We are currently on Mariner, sitting in the Solarium at the moment😂. The windows can be opened, so we have a nice cool breeze coming through. Very pleasant. The Solarium bar only shows a few wines on their menu and I would not describe any of them as good, only a few of them are drinkable.😂 The best wines we have found are in the specialty restaurants and at the Schooner bar. Sherri🙂

Yes, Odyssey has a Solarium for adults 18+. Solarium has a bar and there are bars at the outside pool. Sherri🙂

Technically, it is one per Diamond in the cabin so a couple would get 2 free bags on a 5+ cruise. Sherri🙂

We were just there Friday on Mariner. Icon was the other ship with us, they had just docked when we were getting off the ship so we had a head start. Had no trouble finding chairs at the pool and that appeared to be true our entire day. Pool was never as packed as I have seen the Oasis Lagoon pool. Lots of empty chairs at the beach, also. We enjoyed our day there and would do it again at the right price. Food was good, pizza was better than that on the ship. More of a “frat party” atmosphere on sea days on Mariner than Hideaway. I was concerned the DJ would be loud and irritating but did not find that to be the case. DJ did not start until 11am. Sherri🙂

Have a great trip! Sherri🙂

We’ve never had a problem and we have used it many times, most recently twice on a 28 night cruise. My husband will send boxers, socks, t shirts and shorts while I stick with work out clothes and undies. They have always come back the same size😂 and in great shape. In fact, they are folded much better than anything I do! Sherri🙂

Glad you are home! Good thing you are paying attention to your body and caught this early before you got into big trouble! Fingers crossed the fluid turns out to be nothing serious and you are right, getting older does suck!😂 Sherri🙂

Wow, Lois! So sorry to hear you are in the hospital, hope you have a quick recovery! Also, condolences on the passing of your brother in law, I hope your sister is doing ok. And belated birthday wishes! Melody,I hope both you and Les get everything taken care of and have smooth sailing after everything is done. It was a quiet Easter for us, youngest son and family were planning to come down for a week but they fell in love with a puppy at a rescue shelter last month and decided to adopt. No traveling for him for awhile.😂 We also Christy, had steak, potatoes and wine for Easter dinner.😂 Sherri🙂

Maximum age in St Thomas in December for a snorkeling tour was 70 and my husband at 71 could not book it, I could since I was “only” 69. In January, I could not book a snorkeling tour as I will be turning 70 in September of 2024 and Royal now lists my age as 70. We both could go on snorkeling tours in Moorea and Tahiti last month on our Serenade cruise, there was no maximum age listed. Sherri🙂

Spending our last day in Australia packing and trying to figure out how our clothes have expanded in the suitcases😂. Very difficult to fit it all in! Our flight leaves this evening, should be back in Orlando early morning tomorrow. It’s been a good trip (loved Auckland, Melissa!) but will be nice to get home. It looks like I have a lot of catching up to do! Sherri🙂

We do that as well and they always seem surprised. Sherri🙂

We were there in January, the mall is pretty pathetic. The stores you mentioned were open ( I’ve heard that Macy’s will be closing in the near future) but very few customers. The “food court” had two spots open, Sbarro pizza and a fast food Asian style. We went to the movie theater and accounted for two of the six people watching the movie. The mall looks like it is on it’s on it’s last legs. The Avenue is an outdoor mall in Viera which might be a little closer than the Melbourne Mall. It is my favorite place to shop if I don’t want to drive to Orlando. Sherri🙂

We don’t take wet towels back to our cabin as any wet ones are exchanged for dry ones before we return to cabin. Sherri🙂

I bring the clothes and shoes I plan to wear, toiletries, flat iron for hair, medications and any jewelry I may want. Passport, credit card and phone. Some cash for tips. For our recent 28 day cruise plus 10 days in Australia, I had one large suitcase and one carry on. My husband had the same. We each used our free wash & fold bag for laundry on the ship. I am always amazed at all the junk people bring.😂 Sherri🙂

There was hardly anyone in the Solarium today. I did go up to the library to return a book and it was the first time I saw anyone in there. Library was packed! Sherri🙂

An announcement was made last evening requesting volunteers to donate blood as someone needed a transfusion. Sherri

Currently on this cruise, so far we are enjoying it. The ship is in much better shape than when we sailed in November, 2021. The only crowded areas appear to be the bars in the evening😂. The new library is great! Lots of shiny new books, most do not look like they have been touched. The gym really could use some new weight machines as the current ones have a lot of rusty areas and are difficult to adjust. They did bring in some new stuff today, a new rowing machine and some type of strange running contraption but I did not see anything that looked like it could be replacements for the weight machines. Food has been amazingly good but they are repeating stuff in the MDR, for example, warm apple cobbler has been one of four desserts on the menu every night so far. We had very good steaks in Chops Tuesday evening, but they were not busy at all. There were only 2 other couples beside us the restaurant, I don’t think I’ve ever seen waiters just standing around before. Entertainment has been ok, but not great. I did think the Royal singers did a very good show but the magician/comedian put me to sleep last night. Bed is comfy, pillows are nice and the new towels and robes are amazing! Our cabin is in very good shape. Looking forward to the next 24 days! Sherri🙂