LIVE from Harmony B2B First 2 US Sailing's

[happychippy]

:DI'm Happy Chippy:D and I love cruise critic. I learn so much from everyone and I'm still learning, but I want to share my upcoming journey with you. I've been counting down for 240 days since I won a cabin on the 2 night preview Nov. 8th Harmony of the Seas cruise, I decided to book the 3 night cruise on Nov. 5th to make it a full 5 night cruise. I've cruised before, but this is my first MEGA ship, and my first time cruising out of Ft. Lauderdale. This is going to be a "Girls Getaway" Myself, My sister, Friend, and Niece who is 11. We're flying down from Ohio this Thursday, Nov. 3rd and we are going to stay 2 nights at the Hollywood Beach Marriott. We're going to explore every inch of that coast North and South. On this 5 night B2B cruise, we will have 2 days in Nassau. The first day we are spending the day at the Atlantis Resort and Waterpark, and the second day we will do just a Beach day at the Hilton. All our reservations are booked and ready. We've done our online check in, I've downloaded the Royal IQ, Cruise Critic, and Taptalk App to keep everyone informed as we go. Already purchased the VROOM, dinner and shows booked, and we booked Wonderland reservations. On the first 3 days we have an Inside cabin for the 4 of us, on the second mini cruise we have 2 separate inside cabins, so we will be able to review a total of 3 inside cabins on different decks. We are all very excited for this trip and looking forward to share our journey with you. Appreciate any advice from any of the more Novice Cruise Critic friends as I've probably been following and been inspired by many of you.

[PhilNDebbieAtSea]

Sounds awesome!! Thanks for sharing!!! I will be following along!!! Have a great cruise!!

 

 

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[ALSEAU]

Looking forward to reading about your experiences and opinions.

[happychippy]

The trip is filled with excitement already. While packing I get a message from my sister that they're at the ER and her daughter broke her arm so no swimming only toes allowed in the water. Poor darling is heartbroken that she thinks she's ruined the trip. I'm confident that there will be so much more "dry" fun that we can find.

 

 

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Edited October 30, 2016 by happychippy

[easyboy]

Will be looking forward to your feedback on your fun cruise.

 

 

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[happychippy]

We are checked in and waiting for our flight to Ft Lauderdale. :) so excited to finally be on our vacation!!

 

 

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[happychippy]

 

 

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[kdnurs]

I am soooooo glad the little one is doing better. She looks very happy. I am praying for a wonderful vacation for all of you. God Bless and ENJOY!!!! :D

[BillOh]

: We're flying down from Ohio

 

OH!

 

Port Everglades is a breeze, enjoy your trip, I'll look forward to hearing about it.

Edited November 3, 2016 by BillOh

[danacline]

Even if your niece can't go in the water, there is still a lot to see in Atlantis. As aquariums go, I think it's one of the best in the world. They have a downstairs dining room where the entire wall (12-feet tall maybe) is a view into the aquarium. I could easily sit there and watch for hours.

[tampadee]

So glad you're posting!

[happychippy]

At the Ft Lauderdale airport the taxi stand was to the far far left outside of baggage claim. The Marriott Hollywood beach was about a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport. Checked in at 10:30am but room is not ready so they are holding our bags and will call us as soon as room is ready. We're having breakfast at their restaurant on the beach.

 

 

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[dedosr]

Have a great time!

[clochette]

The trip is filled with excitement already. While packing I get a message from my sister that they're at the ER and her daughter broke her arm so no swimming only toes allowed in the water. Poor darling is heartbroken that she thinks she's ruined the trip. I'm confident that there will be so much more "dry" fun that we can find.

 

When my daughter broke her arm, we found a sleeve that covered her cast and kept it dry she did swim all summer with the that cover and her cast, nothing would stop her. You might want to see if you can find something similar.

[birdlord]

Happily following along. I'm sure your daughter will still have a great time! Bon Voyage!

[happychippy]

Made a run to Walmart it was just 10 minutes from the Marriott Hollywood beach. Tonight we are at Margarittaville having dinner. Great food service and entertainment. Just a short walk from the Marriott.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[LuCruise]

Following along. So exciting. So sorry that your niece broke her arm just before. I'm sure you'll still all have a blast.

 

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[happychippy]

Margarittaville hotel at Hollywood Beach is gorgeous and a lot of fun. They were booked up with two weddings but we went in and took a look around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[happychippy]

Beautiful morning here on the boardwalk. I think it is so great to keep up with a review this way. Usually I'm so busy with work and home that I never have time to sit down and write a good review. It's 6:08am here and the other ladies are still asleep so I'm sitting out on the boardwalk waiting for the sun to rise watched a ship come into port Everglades.

 

Wanted to share some more background on how we won our cruise. My birth sister Letha and I grew up in different homes, I lived in Ohio with mom and my 4 sisters and she lived in Kentucky with dad. When I was 11 years old I met her by chance at a lake where my mother took me to go fishing not knowing that my dad was camping there. My sister was 15 at that time and was sitting on a swing, when I went over to swing. She recognized me but I had no clue who she was so she asked me my name and I told her and she said "it's me your sister." Such love and joy at that moment, many tears of happiness of meeting this lost sister of mine. Less than five minutes later my mother drove over and told me to get in the car we had to leave. "But mom, look it's Letha." The heart break that I felt had to of been nothing compared to the heart break of my sister Letha who hasn't seen her mother in 10 years and mother doesn't even get out of her car to hug her or anything just demands me to get in the car. With tears I hugged my sister and left never knowing if I'd meet her again. Amazing ways how life works, during both our childhoods, both my sister Letha and I were in and out of different foster homes. She was still in Kentucky and I was in Ohio so we each went back and forth to our biological parent and back to foster families. Mom chose men and drugs over me, and Dad married a very abusive woman.

 

Her last foster home introduced her to the third Friend we are cruising with, Christa. Christa is Letha's foster sister and they have both been through so much together that they have this sisterly bond that will be forever.

 

When Letha turned 18 she moved to Ohio to be closer to her family that she she's missed all these years with. How she ever found the love to forgive my mother for what she did I will never know. At this time I was 14 when she moved to Ohio and still in and out of foster care and county homes. Letha was a saving grace, she was the only one to come and visit me and bring me anything I needed.

 

Fast forward to us in our 30's. Letha and I both are married with families and both find it a blessing to have lived in this foster families for we learned how to love and be a mother. We both volunteered at different elementary schools daily to help make a difference in children's lives.

 

Letha was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she battled that bravely and never showing fear. She had to be strong for her 2 girls and husband. Through that Letha never slowed down and continued to always be doing for everyone. When her Chemotherapy was complete she called me up to help her plan her "Celebrate Life" celebration by taking her families and closest friends on a Disney Cruise and to Disney world. That was an amazing week and the joy she brought to these 6 families was amazing.

 

Which brings me to last year when Royal Caribbean asked travel agents to nominate a client that is a Hometown Hero I immediately had to nominate her to give back to her all she's done for everyone. I'm so thankful to have this week with her and creating memories together that we lost as children.

 

 

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[JoyMouse]

 

Which brings me to last year when Royal Caribbean asked travel agents to nominate a client that is a Hometown Hero I immediately had to nominate her to give back to her all she's done for everyone. I'm so thankful to have this week with her and creating memories together that we lost as children.

 

 

 

Thank you for being willing to share your and your sister's story. That is amazing. You were meant to be together. Blessings to you both as you continue to build memories.

[A&L_Ont]

Happy Chippy, what an adventure you and your family have been on. To be able to share this cruise with your "adopted" foster sister makes it even more special. You never know where life will take you and what your end destination will be, but I am glad to know that you have reconnected with the ones that matter most to you.

[happychippy]

Thank you everyone. When I hit the send button I always wish I didn't because some may not care about the background of the significance of our week. I am looking forward to spending time with Christa and getting to know her. Hoping to see the 3 Sister ships meeting today even if it's on a live feed. Tomorrow is the Big Day on the ship!!!

 

 

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[waster666]

Im following along too. Loving your posts so far! Could you please post lots of photos of the inside cabins please? We have an inside cabin booked for our cruise in January and so far Ive only seen inside cabin photos from other ships but none from Harmony yet. We are staying in a Q category cabin, number 10275

[SenatorsFan]

Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm looking forward to following along on your cruise. Hope you all have a wonderful time!:)

Heather

[happychippy]

Friday Nov 4th. We had the buffet breakfast at the hotel and then walked all the way down to the Nature park North Hollywood area, no ships this way and there is just one rest room at the start of the nature are by the Turtle cafe. We walked and collected shells then walked the canal area on the way back. My Niece Kiara needed some Ben n Jerrys so we walked back there and did some more shopping at Margarittaville. Christa made it in late last night and it's been so much and I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. My niece was getting tired so I agreed to stay at hotel room while Christa and Letha went down to have some beach time. Right now I am sitting on the hotel balcony watching history as the Harmony of the Seas is pulling in to meet her two sisters for the first time. So Amazing!!! Tonight we're going to the Golfstream track and casino to have dinner and shopping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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