BEENSAILING

3 minutes ago, OTownNick said:

I will find out the answer to both of these and let you know. We decided not to do Wonderland this time. Friends did eat there last night and she will be posting food pics and giving a review here on this review. 

Wonderland was wonderful! Paul and I did Wonderland several years ago on Quantum Bayonne to Barcelona. He called it a “chick” restaurant. I liked it and went by myself on  Anthem and told him menu offers were different. So I was so surprised and happy he was willing to try it again. I will post pictures and other observstions from my ipad. Easier than doing on iPhone.

-Cheryl

5 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Lysol wipes are bogo at Publix.  

 

 

I have clorox wipes that I brought from Chicago on airplane. And Purell bottles. On Symphony now. Hope to stay healthy on this brautiful ship. However, can’t do much about sneezers who sneeze into the air... 

2 minutes ago, OTownNick said:

Made it to FLL. It looks like I’m dressed for a cruise lol 

great yellow crocs!

2 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

There is no CL on Symphony. Only DL and Suite Lounge where at this time Pinnacles are also welcome. 

I meant SL. sitting in the sun and not editing my post. we are in a loft suite. splurged on this. 

2 hours ago, OTownNick said:

Well it’s 24 hours until boarding. Many of the guests are already there in nearby hotels so THIER vacations are already underway. I still have a few more hours of work.

 

i checked in on my SW flight at 6:35AM precisely. We will land in FLL at 7:40 so we will be taking our sweet time retrieving our checked bags and getting a Lyft (I have a 10% discount code, otherwise i just use Uber). The cost of the ride is around $20 if I recall correctly. We will get to Terminal A plenty early enough but not before 9:30 just to make sure the Porters are collecting luggage for the new passengers. Terminal A is gorgeous and it’s my favorite of all, 2nd to Port Canaveral. We will be able to relax in the exclusive waiting area. I know we will be tired because who can sleep the night before a cruise and we have to leave the house around 4 to catch our early flight that got moved up even earlier to 6:35 am. We will take a Lyft from our house to the airport. That is about $24.

 

Our plan upon boarding is to head to the Suites Lounge to drop off our carry on bags and make our dinner reservations for Coastal Kitchen. Then explore the ship til Noon and come back to Coastal Kitchen for lunch. 

 

Note that I do a lot of live streaming broadcasts during my cruises on Periscope. This is a free App if you want to download it and watch the live or previous broadcasts. It’s interactive and the viewers can type in questions and comments  live and I can answer  them. It’s fun. If anyone wants to watch these , my user name is NickVitani so follow me on Periscope if you want to see the cruise from a different and live perspective. 

Nick. I am sitting at the pool at Hilton Miama. left frigid Chicago at 6:30 am. Paulgets here from Boston aroudn 10 pm. We also are planning to get to ship early and like you bring carry on to CL and lunch in Coastal Kitchen at noon. see you then...Cheryl

36 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Agreed, insurance is a necessary travel expense that everyone hopes is never needed. Just make sure you have purchased some that actually covers you for what you want and need. Read the T&Cs.

my trip insurance agent knows me well enough that she can almost predict what I will want.

53 minutes ago, babs135 said:

Whilst I feel sorry for what this family has gone through they are, quite frankly, stupid.  How can anyone not take out travel insurance and for that reason and that reason alone my sympathy for them is very much muted.

 

DH took ill and needed hospital treatment.  He was discharged just before we were due to go on a cruise holiday over Christmas and New Year but was declared unfit to travel.  Thankfully we have travel insurance and from the first phone call to our insurers to the money going into our account (full amount less a small excess) took only four weeks.  If we hadn't been insured we would have lost the lot.

 

Buying travel insurance should be the very next phone call after you have booked your holiday, be it on land or sea.  

absolutely!

4 hours ago, OTownNick said:

Well I wasn’t PLANNING  on it since we are flying and packing /luggage weight may have to be considered ........but ???

 

Thanks for following. Let me know if you have any questions. 

4 hours ago, OTownNick said:

Well I wasn’t PLANNING  on it since we are flying and packing /luggage weight may have to be considered ........but ???

 

Thanks for following. Let me know if you have any questions. 

I guess we”ll just have to wait... 

I am sure Nick’s review will be terrific. I will add in what he may not have if I have different experiences. As he and I will both be on same cruise I look forward to reading his comments, too.

You may not like the location. If you get the assigned room with time to spare you may be able to change location but closer to sailing you may just need to happily enjoy where they put you. On Harmony in JS you get dinner in Coastal Kitchen.

3 minutes ago, SherriZ366 said:

We sailed many times with Rahul when he was on the Freedom.  He is a fabulous concierge!!

And seems he still is!

18 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

I know with Grandeur going out of Baltimore it is insanely easy.  Drive into port, line in car, pop trunk, guys take luggage, put in cart...you go pay, park, walk into terminal and get on boat.

 

I 'assume' it is just as easy for Anthem...BUT...we are going out Star level on this boat which has as I understand it a slightly different luggage handling approach.  From what I can gather I have to look to flags....does that mean the process is a little different in that I will park first and then drag bags to terminal and hand to porters for either normal loading or special porter for suite/star loading?

I do not drive to the port for Anthem but from everything I have read you can drop off your luggage anywhere. You will have your tag on it. Go park your car. When you come back there is an area ( looks like a podium) for star  / suites outside. No dragging luggage unless you park first.

We are cruising Saturday on Symphony. I have been corresponding with Rahul in the SL for several weeks. I am looking forward to meeting him and thanking him in person.

24 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

There have been several stories in the news over the past couple years about similar situations.  Why does this mother think her story will change people when she disregarded the other horror stories herself? 

People sometimes believe something would not ever happen to them. Hard lesson to learn.

14 minutes ago, mugtech said:

Just saw on CNN that due to abnormal call offs one of the terminals at Miami airport will be closed this weekend.  And the fun begins.

Terminal G Miami will be closed then reopen. Details in this article -

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article224260800.html

Agree picking up towels day before needed is better than waiting in line morning of.

We are on Symphony Saturday. Just came back from Walgreens with Clorox wipes. I hope those on Oasis who got ill will have a rapid recovery. We cruise exclusively with Royal and they have taken a potential PR nightmare and turned it around with full refunds, hotels, etc. Brilliant Crisis PR management. 

29 minutes ago, GTO-Girl said:

How many times have we read where people say they never purchase travel insurance?  And then there are those who are only considering it now because they were getting older.

 

This article is a perfect example that even young, healthy people can get hurt or sick.  In my opinion travel insurance is much more important for situations like this than reimbursing you if you can’t make your cruise.

 

We have always purchased trip insurance (never through the cruiseline) and we always will..

27 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

Even having insurance doesn't necessarily mean you get treatment

 I always  purchase - not from the cruise line - specifically because of  emergency medivac.I have a great travel insurance person. And they will do immediate pay as primary.  I thought about getting a year round cruise insurance policy but coverage caps are different on year round than individual cruises.

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

I think someone already mentioned it- RCI is putting B2Bers up at a hotel for Saturday night. 

Thanks Biker. I must have missed that...

25 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

They probably want them off ASAP so the crew can start the cleaning.

I cannot imagine letting B2B cruisers stay on... anyone on board now know how this is being handled? 

1 hour ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Nick is a great tour guide. 

I did not ask if he is bringing his attire on this cruise. Nick????

This story in NEWSWEEK should be a reminder / wake up call for all to have Cruise Insurance.

https://www.newsweek.com/mexico-cruise-ship-passenger-appendicitis-hospital-cancun-1286350

28 minutes ago, OCruisers said:

Let's all keep in mind the crew, staff, officers, and those doing B2B will remain on the ship so not everyone who has been exposed to Noro will be leaving the ship. 

 

How can they have the B2B cruisers stay on board when ship needs to have deep cleaning?  Biker?

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Their “proper” vacation - probably newbies. 

Biker - have u heard staff members call it Norovirus...or is it possible food poisoning?

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Some on board are still not satisfied. 

Biker - since you are on board what  are people wanting????