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"LIVE" from Grandeur of the Seas- Bermuda / Nov 1, 2013

Radio

By Radio,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

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Posted
You're probably a packing pro...but wow....I'd stress if I weren't packed on boarding day. We're leaving tomorrow for NJ and Sunday on Explorer....we packed last Sunday.

 

 

Thanks Kelly. . . My "Not Packed yet" comments are kind of a goof :rolleyes:

 

I think you will have a great time on Explorer ! I'm sure our paths will cross again !

 

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

.

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

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Posted (edited)

Hello everyone . . . Welcome to DAY 1 of “LIVE” from Grandeur of the Seas. I made it !

 

 

I was able to leave Perry Hall, Md. for my short drive down to Cruise Maryland at a little after 10 this morning. I arrived at the Pier by about 10:30AM, and made it through security quickly. I was asked if I had any water or sodas, but they let me take them on like normal. I had to check in, get my card after filling out some additional paperwork and was guided to the board Grandeur right away.

 

I like the way that your Sea Pass Photo is take during check in, as it cuts down the time for boarding, I always walk past the Welcome Aboard photo set up (Inside cruise Maryland) and work my way through the multi-ramp Gangway to Deck 4.

 

NOTE TO RADIO > Next time remember to print out your Set Sail Pass so you don’t have to fill out a bunch of paperwork. . .argh...)

 

I immediately headed up to the Windjammer on Deck 9 to have a bit of some Honey Stung Chicken . . . I don’t know why I love that so much, but I really do. Oops, I forgot to visit Park Café but I have many days to try out the wonderful Menu there.

 

I needed to visit Great Gatsby Dining Room on Deck 5 as I need to set my reservations for MTD with several Cruise Critic friends.

 

I just returned from the Muster Drill 3:15- 3:30, and we are scheduled for Sail away at 4PM. I expect it to be dark before we get to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (near Annapolis). I think that my Dinner at Giovanni’s tonight may interfere with the Welcome Aboard Show at 715. . .

 

 

Here are a few pics from embarkation. . .I will try to get a few more after Sailaway.

 

 

Thanks for the nice comments, and thanks for tuning in.

 

Radio

 

 

I was rainy and cloudy when I first saw Grandeur of the Seas at 10:30AM

 

 

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I love Cruise Maryland . . .They are so friendly and efficient

 

 

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Grandeur of the Seas is calling my name. . .

 

 

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After checking in, I start to walk up to the Gangway

 

 

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I am almost there. . .

 

 

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Wow. .. I made it. Whew. . .Now it’s time to chill out. . .(and do a few posts)

 

 

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.

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travelplus

travelplus

Posted
Posted

Hey Radio Thanks for the review. My Father and I will be on the Grandeur's sister ship the Splendour from Santos Brazil to Barcelona in April.

 

I would love for you to do one of your famous reviews on the Splendour. Your the best armchair travel entertainment around:D I love your style of writing and your photos.

 

I guess the Grandeur and Splendour look alike in many ways.

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gordito

gordito

Posted
Posted

Mark:

Thank you for the wonderful job you do for all of us.

We are going Nov. 16 to the Western Caribbean on the GOTS; it is a great ship; and cruising on it is a very nice daily adventure.

Looking forward to be "with you".

Rebeca and Herb ;) :confused:

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

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Hello everyone. . . Welcome to Day 2 of “LIVE” from Grandeur of the Seas.

We left Cruise Maryland yesterday right at 4PM, It was nice that the sun came out around 3, and it warmed up to a pleasant day at around 75F. The cruise staff was up on the pool decks along with hundreds of passengers. The music was festive, and passengers seemed to be very excited about the upcoming 7 nights.

 

 

I was able to enjoy dinner last night down at Giovanni’s Table (DECK 6) I will tell you that I beg you to sit down with an empty stomach, as you are provide with an endless supply of delicious Italian food.

 

When we arrived (6PM) there were only a few people there. . . We left almost 3 hours later, and there were still only about a dozen passengers. Everyone was delighted that we chose Giovanni’s. When I got back to my cabin, I thought about resting for a moment and making a post from our departure with several images. . . Ooops, I guess that was a mistake. As soon as my head rested for a moment, I was out like a light.

 

 

The NEW Sea Pass card program is in place for this sailing. There will be no more “Ultimate Value Coupons” for any Crown and Anchor status in your cabin, Everything is now built in to your Sea Pass card. There will be a letter delivered to show you what is included for your cruise. It worked perfectly as I used it for Giovanni’s last night.

 

 

My cabin for this sailing is a Junior Suite up on Deck 8. It is a very nice cabin, and it has been a while since I have stayed in one. My last time in a JS was back in 1997 when Grandeur was new as we sailed from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean. The cabin is roomy for a single passenger, but I like the extra room, and storage. I booked this cabin over a year ago when the price was right.

 

 

We are currently about 580nm from Kings Wharf, Bermuda. We dropped off the Pilot about 90min ago at the Cape Henry pilot station. The weather outside is a little cool (54F) but the seas are very calm.

 

 

 

 

Here are a few pics from our Sail away last night. . . Thanks for tuning in.

 

 

 

 

Radio

 

 

 

Grandeur of the Seas pulls away from the pier slowly. . .

 

 

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We say So long to Baltimore for a few days.

 

 

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I make it up to the Viking Crown Lounge for a great view of our sail away.

 

 

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A local news helicopter was filming our departure for the evening news (WBAL)

 

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Many passengers came out to enjoy the sun as we left. . .

 

 

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We make it under the Key Bridge with just a few feet of clearance. . .

 

 

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.

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

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Posted (edited)

DATELINE : 5AM in the Atlantic Ocean . . . .Here are a few more pics from yesterday. . .

 

 

Many more pics later today !

 

Radio

 

 

 

 

 

The weather really changed from my arrival this morning to sail away !

 

 

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I hope to be dining at Izumi later this week.

 

 

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We make it to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge right at sunset

 

 

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A large balcony for my "Pressroom" will be nice

 

 

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Junior Suite Overview

 

 

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I really like that a Coffee maker is included.

 

 

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.

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bmac1

bmac1

Posted
Posted

Radio one quick question, was there a separate line for suite guests to go through security as you entered the terminal or do all guests go through the same screening line? We are getting on next Friday as you return. Thanks from a fellow Perry Hall resident.

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

Posted
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Posted (edited)

Hello everyone. . . I watched the news a little after the 5AM post this morning, and am feeling much better. The weather outside is rainy and cloudy, and the seas today are very rough. The weather is warm (74F), but the showers are keeping many passengers from the pool decks.

 

Grandeur is pitching heavily, and many passengers have been getting sick. My advice for anyone who may be feeling sick on a rough rainy day at sea is to stay in your cabin. . . The “Ooops, I’m sick” bags are prominently stationed at all stairwells throughout the ship. During the daily Noon announcement today, Captain Espen Been suggested that while Grandeur has crossed the Gulf stream many times with smooth seas, that this is the normal transit that we are experiencing (with rough seas) He suggested that later tonight things should improve. . .

 

 

We had the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle this morning, and it was nice to see a few of the Cruise Critic members we have been chatting with over the last several months. They gave away several RCI Bingo T-Shirts and a few bottles of Wine. There are many activities planned today for all ages . . . I am thinking of just resting today and maybe I will take a few images.

 

 

Casino Royale has been very “Radio Friendly” so far, but I have to announce that softly as sometimes there are some “not so” friendly days. There appears to be a few new machines that I have not seen previously. Tonight is Game Night in Casino Royale with our Cruise Director, Ricky Matthews. . . He will be challenging many of the passengers.

 

 

Here are a few pics from this morning. . .Thanks for the nice comments.

 

Radio

 

 

 

0ur Cruise Critic “Meet and Mingle” was up in the Viking Crown Lounge

 

 

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I am afraid to fill up the bathtub, with the rolling and pitching that is happening today.

 

 

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A cooking demonstration was held this morning in the Centrum on Deck 4

 

 

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I wish the images could show how rough the seas are. . .

 

 

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The seas should be much calmer tomorrow at our arrival in Bermuda

 

 

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Here is our current position. . . We only have 421nm to go !

 

 

MAP2.jpg

 

 

 

.

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Radio "Live from...." Rare

Radio

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Radio one quick question, was there a separate line for suite guests to go through security as you entered the terminal or do all guests go through the same screening line? We are getting on next Friday as you return. Thanks from a fellow Perry Hall resident.

 

Yes there was a separate line for Suites, Diamond, and Diamond Plus passengers at Cruise Maryland. . .

 

Radio

;);)

 

.

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dixieva

dixieva

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the pictures!

 

Hope you are enjoying your JS. And don't you love the coffee maker? My favorite perk of the JS.

 

I see you have the new vessel type sink. We had one of these in our JS on Enchantment and didn't like it at all. We couldn't even get our hands under the faucet to wash them:eek:. And forget trying to rinse out a bathing suit in there. We had to use the tub. Just wondering if maybe yours may be mounted differently so as to make the sink usable.

 

Hope your seas will smooth out for the remainder of your journey to Bermuda!

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