Virtopia

Definitely looking forward to this review as it reminds me of my first cruise aboard the Liberty.

Keep it up; you're doing an awesome job!

@love2cruise56 - I was up and out the door no earlier than about 8:30-9am.

 

@virtopia - sure, no problem.

Thank you so much; I really appreciate you giving me permission to do so.

I actually just downloaded my camera's manual and I'm going to start doing some practice shots with different settings. I know they won't look half as good as yours, but at least I can try!

I'm also aiming to catch at least one sunrise as well, while the ship is nice and quiet.

These photos are absolutely breathtaking!! Would you mind if I used one for my computer wallpaper? I feel like I need to really learn how to use my basic point and click before my Allure cruise. Amazing!

This is by far the best review I've read on CC. I've spent the last 5 days reading through this entire thread; the only other one I've visited is my roll call for my Allure Cruise!

Your writing skills are fantastic and now you have me thinking about switching my Jewel Caribbean cruise to a Med cruise; Santorini has now been added to my hit list of cities I intend to visit in my lifetime.

Keep up the great job; I'm still here following along!

PS Taylor is cute!!

87 and it needs to get here quick ... I don't want to rush summer, but I kinda do LOL

That belt is great!! Ah, I'm going to have to check out that store when I get to Fort Lauderdale LOL

I wish I could travel last minute! These are some great solo rates.

We were also just on the March 19th cruise, and we did not smell anything at all during the entire cruise, including in between floors of 10 and 11 in the stairwell near the Windjammer. If there was a smell, it might have been for a very, very short period of time.

 

Being in the media field, I made a point of walking from one end of the ship to the other on every deck during the cruise to see for myself if I could smell anything based on reports I read before the cruise, and to report my findings upon returning home.

 

No smell at all. I am not saying the above poster wrong, however, many of you know from cruising in the past, that on every cruise, there are many people that complain about everything and, exaggerate and blow up things that are of no relevance to 99% of everyone else. Some people just like drama.

I'm assuming you are referring to me. I'm glad you walked the whole ship, but you weren't on my sailing. As I said, I loved the cruise, but I could've done without the smell. That's me giving my honest opinion to the OP's question.

Thanks I feel a lot better...just curious Virtopia when did you cruise on explorer?

The January 27th sailing.

Now, let me make note that I still enjoyed my cruise immensely, but that smell wasn't a normal ship smell. I use to work with a ferry company and was also on the Liberty and Majesty and never smelled anything like that.

I was on Deck 9 inside and it was disgusting. It was steady and consistent for about 4 days, but I whiffed a bad smell at least once a day.

It seems like a room about 5 doors down had a leak or something. The door was always ajar which made it worse and I heard a fan going off in there on more than 1 occasion. Also, there was a head officer that was always checking in with the stateroom attendant that was assigned to that room.

I was in room 9581. That smell alone is deterring me from booking the 7 night Bahamas cruise in January.

Celebrity was having a sale and I was able to upgrade my Summit inside to an OV cabin and still fall under $1,000 solo. That's my budget for cruise alone and I seem to be doing pretty good. Now, the flight is a different story ... I will start checking in a couple months.

Don't know far in advance everyone is looking, but I found a pretty good single supplement for my Celebrity Summit cruise. It was under $900 for an inside for a 7 night Southern Caribbean sailing. It leaves from San Juan with 1 sea day and 5 stops.

Thanks again for your review!

I just went over to look at the pictures of the hotel again and I think I might switch my current pre hotel cruise (Fort Lauderdale Hilton Marina) to this one! Plus, it's walking distance to the restaurant and club you mentioned and those are both spots that we'd want to try.

I'm back! I make way too many changes! LOL

Okay, so I will now only be staying one night pre cruise and will be leaving the same day we return, so no longer staying 3 nights post cruise.

Because of this change, I want to upgrade my pre cruise hotel and don't mind shelling out a bit more.

I'm looking for a hotel that has free airport and/or cruise port shuttle, relatively close to the water and free internet and/or breakfast.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! I don't want to exceed $200 (I'll be splitting it with my friend, so $100 each is the max)

Hi Virtopia! Yes we decided on the 23rd. Are you on the Roll Call yet? I'll join it once I book on Monday. That way we can meet at the Meet and Mingle. My TA has a great sale in line with the WOW sale. Wesley, Rae, and her husband Rod are coming, we're going to have such a good time.

Yes, I've joined the roll call. They have it quite organized over there, which is nice. I anticipate that the Meet and Mingle will be well attended as a lot of them are doing B2Bs with the Sept 30th sailing.

I'm completely looking forward to the sailing. My friend has only cruised with Carnival so she is going to be in shock when she sees the Allure and she's always wanted to go to Jamaica so we get to cross 2 things off her list!

I see you've decided on my sailing!! Yeahhhhhh! LOL Is Rae and her husband joining you? The Allure would be amazing for a couples vacation; one of these days I'll have to do that as well.

James Andrews. Had him on the Liberty and Majesty and he was extremely personable and easy to approach.

Had Jimmy Rhodes on my last cruise and he wasn't my cup of tea.

Too many days!!! But I'm keeping distracted by planning my 2013 cruise, which is looking like a European adventure!

Why do I have a feeling that Crystal won the free cruise?? LOL

Love seeing happy couples! Just makes me smile.

I've never heard of the white party either; there was one on my NCL cruise but I don't remember one during my Explorer sailing.

Time to look for a white dress for the Allure!!

Really enjoying this review! I'd love to get a couple close friends and go on a trip anywhere; right now, I'd have to settle for my cruising buddy, but she's the best.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the Miami Vice! LOL I just discovered it on my last cruise and it's now a favourite, a staple if you will. I probably ordered it 5 or 6 times during my sailing.

Our cruise will be stopping in Cozumel and we've already put down our deposit for Nachi Cocom, but now I'm scared. This place does look way more lively and it's the same cost. We're both outgoing, but my friend is very social and I don't want her to get bored, but she's been to Cozumel several times and this was her choice, so I hope it works out for us.

Still hoping you pick the Sept 23rd sailing for you and your husband's Allure cruise!

Yes, now that Wesley's seen the Liberty, he's very excited about the Allure, and so am I. We're looking at the Allure for sometime this year. We have pretty hectic schedules at work right now so we're waiting until things settle a bit before deciding on a date. Our first choice would be September 23rd. We'll see!

That's the date I'm on the Allure!!! That would be so great if you were on that sailing. Keep me posted!!

Hi Crystal,

 

Another great review , always fun to read & very informative. The pictures are always great! Happy Birthday Divas!! Can’t wait to read more.

Hey!!! :D I hope you know who this is! LOL

Thanks for the great review! I also will be celebrating my 30th birthday with a cruise ... the Allure in September. I figure, go big or go home! LOL

Quick question: How far would you say the Blue Martini is from the port? I ask this because the hotel my friend and I are staying at pre cruise is right across from the port and I definitely want to check out the Blue Martini that night. It looks like a nice spot.

Thanks and I look forward to reading the rest! I have a special place in my heart for the Liberty as it was my first cruise and your CD was James Andrews. I had him for my Liberty and Majesty sailings and I simply love him; he does a wonderful job.