Vision ~ B2B ~ 5 Nights ~ July 21st & 26th: My Diary

[srice]

Ture....That would be great if work permits! These photos are from the Fleet Landing parking lot at the Charleston port when Vision last visited.

 

Do you by any chance know roughly how far it is from the pier where the ship will be docking to the pier where we can board the ferry to Fort Sumter? I can't seem to figure out exactly where the ship will be docking.

[scooter90]

Jane,

 

I just love your reviews. I have two years before I can retire and I'm living through your travels until that time when we can cruise more than we do now.

 

I love how you find the off the beaten places to visit (less crowded) and beautiful pictures. I'm always sad when your cruise ends but look forward to your next report!

 

Thank you for taking the time to do these.

[maxs mom]

Thursday ~ July 31, 2014 ~ Fort Lauderdale

 

We were rudely awakened at 5:30 by my iPhone alarm. Yuk!! We wanted to be at breakfast as soon as they opened so we wouldn't be rushed. We usually stay an extra day in a port on our return, but we got a good deal on a flight out today. Our flight was at 11:30. Betsy said she would personally escort us off as soon as the walk offs got off.

 

I always hate to see these out in the hallway.

 

 

On my way up to get my coffee.

 

 

And the view sailing into port from the CL.

 

 

We had a nice final breakfast in the MDR....excellent food and service there for the two cruises. On the way back to the cabin we saw Nancy and Bill on their way to breakfast. We said good-bye to them. Very nice sailing with them.

 

 

Looks like they were ready for us to get off:

 

 

[mychild]

FANTASTIC review!! I'm newer to CC and have read a few reviews. Your review is my fav to date!!!! I felt like I was there with you. (I wish I was really there)!! Thank you for taking the time to share with us!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone

[ucfknight07]

I saw one of the cart guys rolling that famous cart around. This is the same guy that I jokingly confronted in February about the noise!! LOL!

 

 

This is also the guy who cleared all of the kids out of the pool to close it down for the night when they were playing Frozen. The movie had less than 15 minutes when he kicked the kids out. My wife and I were sitting in the area at the end of the pool and refused to move. It's not our fault the activities people and the pool crew didn't coordinate their schedules. They ended up starting to drain the pool WITH KIDS STILL IN IT. Dangerous much? We were not very happy about that, and ended up leaving the movie early to go to guest services. We also shared the experience with Betsey the next day. Come to find out, the person who the pool attendant brought out when we asked for the officer apparently was NOT the pool officer, but only a supervisor.

 

That was the only down side to our Vision cruise (in spite of all the negative reviews as of late.) I understand the pool crew's position, but if a movie has left than 15 minutes, particularly when it's a kid's movie, let them enjoy it and then shut down the pool. Then correct the issue with the activities manager before the next cruise!

[maxs mom]

One last photo before we go.

 

 

We gathered all our stuff, said good-bye to the wonderful Ashton and head down to the dining room on Deck 5 to meet Betsy. It was probably around 7:30. On the way we saw all of the walk offs lined up. There were a lot.

 

 

As soon as those folks cleared out, Betsy said that we could go. One last hug, and off we go.

 

 

Betsy got an elevator for us and we went down to deck 4 to disembark. She walked us all the way to the door......more hugs.....and off we go. Thank you, Betsy!!!

 

They were just finishing up getting the luggage out in our area when we got down. We had to wait just a few minutes before we could get our bags. Good thing was that I could see them. There was hardly anybody down there.....just a few walk offs going by. Soon we got the OK to get our luggage. Then we walked over to customs and immigration.....no waiting....as a matter of fact, the immigration guy took our passports to look at them, but told us not to stop......to keep walking. Never had that happen before. He was trying to speed things up, I guess.

 

So all we had to do now was grab a taxi .....and that was super easy.....they were all lined up ready for us......no waiting. We got to the airport in plenty of time. We had a few hours to spare!! Our flight left on time at 11:30 and we were on our way back to RDU. Great flight.....we got in at 1:00. That meant we were able to pick up our sweet dog, Holly. She was ready to go home!!

 

 

Wow!! What a great trip! We enjoy this ship and it's crew so much. I hope that we can book again before too long.

 

As usual......thank you all so much for following along and "cruising" with us. It was a pleasure to have you along! People who cruise are just the best!! And also as usual, we want to have a toast to all our cruising buddies....past and present. Until we meet again.......Salud!!

 

Edited August 9, 2014 by max'smom

[maxs mom]

Sue......hang I there for that retirement! It is the most wonderful thing!!! Oh yes....I love the off the beaten path places to go. I will always try to find those every place we go!

 

Mychild.....Thank you! Welcome to CC. It's a great place to be. There are a lot of great regular reviewers on here. Happy reading!

 

ucfknight....wow! That seems a little unreasonable. Sorry that happened to you. Glad you had a great cruise otherwise!

[teltrainer]

Do you by any chance know roughly how far it is from the pier where the ship will be docking to the pier where we can board the ferry to Fort Sumter? I can't seem to figure out exactly where the ship will be docking.

 

Hi! There are two places to board the ferry boats for tours and Ft. Sumter. One is fairly close to the port. It's located next to the Aquarium which is a few blocks away along the harbor area.

 

This is the link to the info: http://spiritlinecruises.com/sightseeing-harbor-tours/

Spiritlinecruises dot com/ sightseeing-harbor-tours

 

Hope this helps! It's a nice boat ride and you tour Ft Sumter on your own or join guides working there.

 

 

Jane, Thanks so much for the added info. Love all of your reviews and photos and inspired us to book the Vision for next year. First time on Royal.

[srice]

Hi! There are two places to board the ferry boats for tours and Ft. Sumter. One is fairly close to the port. It's located next to the Aquarium which is a few blocks away along the harbor area.

 

This is the link to the info: http://spiritlinecruises.com/sightseeing-harbor-tours/

Spiritlinecruises dot com/ sightseeing-harbor-tours

 

Hope this helps! It's a nice boat ride and you tour Ft Sumter on your own or join guides working there.

 

 

Jane, Thanks so much for the added info. Love all of your reviews and photos and inspired us to book the Vision for next year. First time on Royal.

Thanks for the link.

 

I have actually called them and couldn't get an answer to my question which is where does the Vision of the Seas dock in relation to the Aquarium Wharf departure point?

[Hoopster95]

As usual......thank you all so much for following along and "cruising" with us. It was a pleasure to have you along! People who cruise are just the best!! And also as usual' date=' we want to have a toast to all our cruising buddies....past and present. Until we meet again.......Salud!![/quote']

 

Great job once again Jane! Thank you. It'd be great to sail with you two some day. :D

[maxs mom]

Great job once again Jane! Thank you. It'd be great to sail with you two some day. :D

 

Thanks so much! Would love to do that, too!

 

Just put a hold on two weeks on the Jewel...Sept. 6 and 13. Still thinking about it, but I had to hold the cabin because it was the only one available both weeks.

 

I was looking at this last night on the RCI website and the prices went crazy low while I was looking at it. I thought I would have time to cook and eat dinner and when I came back....the prices had gone up. Still good but up. WTH? Somebody must have made a mistake. Anyway.....hope to book those shortly. We'll see if I can transfer those other reservations over and not lose the OBC.

Edited August 9, 2014 by max'smom

[Kik35]

Jane-Once again, excellent review with great pix. You weren't kidding that you did great beaches, esp the Westin on GC. Don't even mind taking the tender over there!!:cool: Hated to see the suitcases out.:( Such a cute pic of your fur baby welcoming you home.

 

Hope you do go on the Jewel next month. Will be another great review and I always have a special spot for the Jewell as she was our first cruise.:). Also interested in seeing how the FCC/OBC works out.

[Realtor at Sea]

So sad the cruise is over, but look forward to your next one(s)!!!

[maxs mom]

So sad the cruise is over, but look forward to your next one(s)!!!

 

Hopefully that will be very soon! Will keep you posted.

[TheInnocentAge]

Jane & John,

 

I posted early on in the thread to thank you, but I wanted to express my gratitude once again now that your review has come to a close. Your pictures are terrific, and your writing is clear, concise and informative while still being warm and entertaining.

 

You two look like a wonderfully nice couple, and I hope you enjoy many, many more years of cruising together. If we ever see you out there on the seas, we will surely stop and say hello. I've got a few more years until retirement, and until then will take the occasional cruise and look forward to eventually getting out there as often as you two.

 

Take care, and God bless!

 

Bill

[maxs mom]

Jane & John,

 

I posted early on in the thread to thank you, but I wanted to express my gratitude once again now that your review has come to a close. Your pictures are terrific, and your writing is clear, concise and informative while still being warm and entertaining.

 

You two look like a wonderfully nice couple, and I hope you enjoy many, many more years of cruising together. If we ever see you out there on the seas, we will surely stop and say hello. I've got a few more years until retirement, and until then will take the occasional cruise and look forward to eventually getting out there as often as you two.

 

Take care, and God bless!

 

Bill

 

Bill.....how very nice of you!!! I will look forward to the day our paths will cross....and you'd better say hello! Once in a while someone comes up to me and introduces themselves as someone who reads Cruise Critic and I really appreciate that. So hope to see you one of these days!

[ValerieJo]

Thank you Jane. I echo Bill's sentiments.

 

We are taking our adult kids on their first cruise aboard Vision next March (western Caribbean out of Tampa). After reading so many negative reviews as well, I was beginning to think we'd made a terrible mistake. You've certainly layed to rest my concerns.

 

Glad you enjoyed Nachi as we already have it booked in Cozumel. I do have a question about checking out beach towels. Is this something new or just for diamond and above? (We'll be Emerald coming up). I've not seen this on our previous cruises.

 

Thank you again for your wonderful review.

Edited August 9, 2014 by ValerieJo

[wato1963]

Thanks for a wonderful review jane, I have loved every minute of your b2b you make it come alive.I hope one day our paths will cross and I will stand you a drink.

 

Thanks Ian

[maxs mom]

Thank you Jane. I echo Bill's sentiments.

 

We are taking our adult kids on their first cruise aboard Vision next March (western Caribbean out of Tampa). After reading so many negative reviews as well, I was beginning to think we'd made a terrible mistake. You've certainly layed to rest my concerns.

 

Glad you enjoyed Nachi as we already have it booked in Cozumel. I do have a question about checking out beach towels. Is this something new or just for diamond and above? (We'll be Emerald coming up). I've not seen this on our previous cruises.

 

Thank you again for your wonderful review.

 

Thank You, Valerie Jo! I hope your kids enjoy it.

 

We've had to check out towels on all cruises until just recently. They stopped that practice UNLESS you are going to take the towels off the ship. If you are taking them off the ship, then you need to check them out. It is a quick and painless process....not a big deal....to me anyway. Now that is for this ship. Seems like on Freedom in May....we took the towels off the ship without having to check them out.

 

Hope you enjoy Nachi!

[maxs mom]

Thanks for a wonderful review jane, I have loved every minute of your b2b you make it come alive.I hope one day our paths will cross and I will stand you a drink.

 

Thanks Ian

 

Thanks so much, Ian! I'll hold you to that offer!!! Hope to see you on a ship one of these days!

[demodawn]

Thanks have always enjoyed you reviews!

[Sat1]

Jane, came onto this review a bit late. I'm just gold, but love to be able to cruise at 86. Questions, are the sunshades y'alls, or does the steward add them? Next the camera used for these. Enjoyed reading your diary. Or is that dairy? :D

[PCWalton1]

Jane,

How did I miss your review? Now I know I have been working too hard. :(

Thankfully September 5th we are bound for Hawaii on Rhapsody.

 

Thanks for the great pictures of Nachi Cocom. We will be making our first visit there on Oasis. It looks like we made a good choice.

 

Also thanks for letting us see what happens for a B2B, Sept 2015 we get to experience that for the first time on Jewel. Hoping we will get a lunch :)

[maxs mom]

Demodawn......thanks so much. Glad you followed along!

 

sat1.......86! Good for you! Not sure what you are asking about sunshades. The cameras we use are a fairly new Sony NexR and an old Nikon D-60. We've had good luck with those.

 

Bill!!!......I wondered where you were!! I hope you enjoy Nachi....get there early. If we book the Jewel today then we will have 2 B2B's on her between now and the end of the year. The B2B's out of San Juan are the best. Not sure how they are now, but in the past...we have not had to get off the ship at all. And they should have a lunch for you on Jewel. Those cruises out of San Juan are the BEST! Oh.....I just looked at your signature....you're doing Jewel on the West Coast. I'll bet that will be nice. I'll have to check that out.

Edited August 10, 2014 by max'smom

[Justmekaren918]

Does anyone know can you order breakfast room service through the tv order system in the am! Anyone know a cut off time?

 

Is the door card it?