island lady

I use my wrist watch (remember those? 😉 ) in ports, set to ship's time. Yeah...old dinosaur that I am. 😄

We just finished the Baltics. The time zone seems to be right down the middle. Almost every night we were changing the clocks back, then forward, then back, then forward...etc. Had to leave a note next to my clock which way to go each night. Oh well, not as bad as some of those flights with multiple time zones at once. 😵

We are in Haugesund Norway right now on Serenade. I am still not getting that "Wow" factor as of yet. Though we are working our way north, with three more stops along the coast of Norway coming up. Perhaps it gets more dramatic as we head that way? This is our first time to Norway for us. I guess I expected it to be more like Alaska inland waterway. Then again, nothing so far (for me anyway) compares to Antarctica and the fjords of South America.

And you were right on. 🙂

Thanks Dave! Really looking forward to our first X experience! I hope they continue to bring the ships into our home port of PC...though it is just 2 hours to drive to Tampa also. 🙂

Yes, it does! 😄 I take one big bar for the shower, and a smaller "foo-foo...nice citrus smelly one" for the sink. 😉

Indeed...Royal has found many ways to nickel and dime us over the last few years. 🤑

Though yes...I do like the idea...and will enjoy it for our Connie cruise coming up. Does it seem to work out OK with attendants working around them? It's something we have not experienced yet. So many new things to explore! 🙂

I wondered the same thing. Would too many pax in the hallways while crew is running around like crazy trying to get cabins ready, be an inconvenience to them? Of course Royal does not allow that, though have witnessed some that try. It must work on X...will be interesting for our first cruise with X.

Dave....talked to someone once that had no idea about the chocolate on the pillow, coming in late from party time. The next morning, he found brown patches on the sheet...and well...sort of freaked out. 😄

LOL.... 😄 I am too picky. I take my own large bar of French milled soap. Lasts for a couple of weeks. So easy to toss into suitcase. Done deal. 😇

Same with us...branching out to other lines after exclusively sailing with Royal for 20 years. 🙂

Wow! Great narration and pictures. I love your style! We will be there doing the same thing next week...excited to do so even more now. And yes...will order "the works" for our dogs. 😄

All the way aft to the lounge on six (past schooner bar which seems to have a lot of noisy events). Also agree about Viking Crown as a choice.

We are not in Amsterdam until 8 days from now (Serenade). Going to assume things back to normal by the time we get there...but no worries (for us anyway) as we are on ship until back to Miami. Though I am sure there could be some tours disrupted if it still going on! 😮

Agree there. Looking forward to our first Celebrity cruise (the Connie). Have another two booked now as well. Though our transfer to a more adult oriented line...is now Viking. Have 5 more longer cruises booked with them. No children under 18, and much more laid back. They term their cruises as "what we don't offer". 😉

Yes...the cruise fairy definitely smiled on us!! 😍

Thanks! Mmmm...coffee!! 😉

Seems to me that we will have nice perks as match from RCI Pinnacle to X Zenith. Looking forward to it. 🙂

We as well. But we also drink the carafes of water, which I enjoy in the cabin. 🙂

Have fun! We will be on that tour on the 23rd! 🥰

Agree....I have never witnessed the former DL (now Crown Lounge) closed at any time..on any ship.

Apparently things have changed then? An officer I talked to at one of the old original "meal with and officer" events told me they took on potable water at various ports, mostly due to limited areas to dump the residual salt brine.

Yup, no reservations or tickets needed on Serenade currently...and was also the case from start in Miami. 🙂 Though of course the "wow" affect is not there as in the high tech shows on large RCI ships...but we like it that way.

And is the main reason we are switching from RCI to X. 🙂 Added to sweeten the deal...status match. 😉