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**Live** Grandure of the Seas 4/14/18

Jasonmom

By Jasonmom,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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Hi [emoji16] my name is Stacey and I'm going to try my first live review. I'm using voice recognition on my cell phone which is something very new to me. We will see how this goes.

 

On this trip will be me and my mom (her name is Patty). I'm 48 and she's 76 so it might not be exciting enough for many of you.

 

Right now we're sitting in the Best Western Plus Hotel on Dorsey Road in Elkridge Maryland. I would recommend this hotel to others who want a place to spend s night and then leave their car while cruising. Our room is comfortable, clean, and right across the parking lot from a restaurant.

 

We went to the restaurant last night (sorry l can't remember the name) and really enjoyed it. Had the crab soup and the crab dip. The crab soup comes in three different styles: Maryland crab, creamy crab, or a mix of the two. Mom got creamy crab and I got a mix of the two. Think the creamy crab might have been the best. We weren't very hungry and didn't finish any of it. Got to recommend the Pina Coladas made with Malibu rum (of course how can anyone make a bad one of those).

 

We had had a six-hour drive up here (we are from southern WV) and after having a pina colada we were off to bed. I guess you could say we're more of an early riser than a late-nighter. But that will probably change on the cruise somewhat as we both love the casino in the evenings after the show.

 

This will be our first time on Royal Caribbean but have cruised before on Carnival and NCL. We have been on somewhere between 18 or 20 cruises. If you would have told me 20 years ago that I wouldn't remember the exact number of cruises or names of all the places in the Caribean I've been I would have thought you were crazy. I've truly been blessed with having the chance to travel over the years. Favorites thus far has been Mediterranean (from Venice to Barcelona) and Panama Canal (from Miami and Los Angeles). Also enjoyed one from Miami to New York via Southern Caribbean (loved coming into NY seeing Lady Liberty).

 

This time it's just me and mom. I'm leaving my 11year old at home. Going to miss him like crazy [emoji24] but feel blessed to be getting to spend this time with Mom. What a wonderful husband for being ok with me doing this. I'm even missing spending our Anniversary while away.

 

Mom and me are not picky about our room (as long as it's clean) and have sailed in balcony down to an inside (the inside was with 4 people). This trip we are in an OV room. Would have loved that balcony but couldn't justify the cost difference (that's less casino money).

 

Got an email saying there was some kind of delay getting on this morning as they were doing some type of inspection. Oh well, we will get on when we get on. A few extra minutes sitting (hopefully sitting) in the terminal won't kill us. At least I'm not driving.

 

I did ask for wheelchair assistance for my mom with boarding. She doesn't need one any other time, but walking up that ramp would kill her knees. I'll let y'all know how that goes.

 

I hope I can keep this interesting enough for those who want to read it as I've never done one of these before (think I already said it [emoji39] ).

 

 

Sent from my SM-J327R4 using Forums mobile app

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Rogueperson "Live from...." Rare

Rogueperson

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I was thinking of doing a live review for the next Grandeur cruise. I will board when you disembark in 12 days. I may still. If you can, can you post a speedtest of the Voom. I'm pretty sure it will be the same as the last year, but still curious if they did any modifications since then to speed it up a little.

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Lady Hudson

Lady Hudson

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Thank you, Stacey. Please let me know how it goes with the wheel chair assistance. Every cruise we have not had a problem for my DH but the last trip in March didn’t go so well. Different procedure, they said. Insist on using the ground level elevator instead of ramp. No matter what they say, insist! I let guest relations know of the difficulty DH had boarding so hopefully they have fixed the problem.

 

So glad you and your mom can sail today. Katherine

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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I was thinking of doing a live review for the next Grandeur cruise. I will board when you disembark in 12 days. I may still. If you can, can you post a speedtest of the Voom. I'm pretty sure it will be the same as the last year, but still curious if they did any modifications since then to speed it up a little.
Have no clue how to do a speed test. Sorry, I'm really new to technology[emoji12]

 

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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Thank you, Stacey. Please let me know how it goes with the wheel chair assistance. Every cruise we have not had a problem for my DH but the last trip in March didn’t go so well. Different procedure, they said. Insist on using the ground level elevator instead of ramp. No matter what they say, insist! I let guest relations know of the difficulty DH had boarding so hopefully they have fixed the problem.

 

So glad you and your mom can sail today. Katherine

Will do [emoji4]

 

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Rogueperson "Live from...." Rare

Rogueperson

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Anyone got any advice on how I can put a picture on here? I have a Samsung galaxy J3.

 

Sent from my SM-J327R4 using Forums mobile app

 

I use the cruise critic forum app for iphone. However, on my phone, there's a photo icon on the bottom when you''re posting and when you hit it, it will bring up your phone's photos and allow you to tap to add to your post. I'm not 100% sure if its the same on the Galaxy.

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sha88

sha88

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We just got off the Grandeur this morning. Had a wonderful cruise on the "old lady", hope you and your Mom have a great cruise. Our Captain Ante is leaving this ship and I think his second in command ( a woman, yay!) is scheduled to take over. Captain Ante is going to the Brilliance.

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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Good morning everybody.

 

Well getting on board with wheelchair assist had a couple issues. As soon as you come into the terminal doors there's a line. The lady said she didn't have any wheelchairs right there that minute and could Mom stand in line for about 10 minutes to get through security and then we could get a wheelchair. I said sure, like a dummy, so we started standing in line. First it was longer than 10 minutes and second when you got to the through security there was no wheelchair to be found [emoji53].

 

We had to stand in this other line waiting to get set sail stuff done (ya know they take your credit card information for your onboard account and your picture for your set sail card). They did put us in a short line [emoji14], but by now my mom's knees, back, body said it's it needed to sit down. We got up to the friendly lady at the desk and started filling out some papers. A few minutes later I told her my mom needed to sit down and she immediately got her to a chair.

 

Mom had forgotten her credit card that we had originally put on the sailing from home, and we were afraid it was going to be a problem. It was no problem. She just used another credit card.

 

Next a sit us insome other chairs. And we waited.... And we waited some more..... And then we waited some more. A couple of the nice people there think that they kind of overlooked us. I heard one employee state " these nice ladies have been sitting here quietly they get the next chair". Woohoo [emoji847] ........ And then we waited some more...........

 

Finally we got a chair and off we go to the ship. Now wait now, we are anytime dining so they put us in a separate line. They want us to book what time we're going to eat tonight 🤤.

 

I don't know what's going on tonight how am I supposed to figure out what time we want to eat ...... but we found out the shows at 8:15 so we book dinner at 5. Should be fine.

 

Off we go to the ship. The nice young gentleman pushing mom ( as soon as he left we wanted to know his name and weather we should have tipped him) was super nice. He took us all the way to the Windjammer and found us a table ( not an easy task as everybody's there after boarding). Does anybody know if we should have tipped this guy? If so I feel really bad and really lame because he was great[emoji50].

 

We sat in Windjammers for a pretty decent time, mom stayed at the table while I went and got each of us some food. They had on The Carving Station roast beef, it was pretty good. I had a pretty good salad. Mom liked one of the desserts, but I wasn't impressed.

 

 

Went and sat out on the pool deck for a little bit and then it was time that rooms were ready.

 

Room looked a little smaller than what we've grown used to, but completely manageable. Pretty good size closet, little bitty bathroom.

 

Just an FYI there were 24 coat hangers in the closet. There's not much drawer space for clothes anywhere. We managed to somehow last night once our luggage got here to get everything unpacked, but the plan is today to get it some drawers figured out that are a mess. Once again limited space on drawers for clothes.

 

Once into the room, mom stayed here with her feet up, while I went to a talk with the virtual tour of the ship. It helps some, in telling me about a few things that I didn't know such as the touch screens by the elevators that help you find directions throughout the ship.

 

 

After that I went to go get internet. Painless process even for those of us us really technologically handicapped. Painful for those of us who are attached or a wallet.

 

Next it was time for the muster drill, I'm pretty sure I've already put in a picture of that. We lined up against the back end so we could lean against the wall. A couple of people tried to get us to move, but we stood our grounds, and the muster drill went pretty smoothly for us. Being in back we couldn't see what they were doing up front but after about somewhere between 15 and 20 of these I think we're okay. Recommended immediately after muster drill you go stand out and look at the view rather than trying to get to an elevator first thing. That's what we did. and we looked at a long line waiting for the elevators.

 

Since we had that 5 dinner reservation we went back to our rooms to get ready. Our bags had just arrived about that time, but we really didn't think we had time to change so we went to dinner as we were. lots of people there --men and women in shorts. I think the first night you could get by with about anyting.

 

I can't believe I remember his name but I think our waiters name was something like Antuioro ( that's not it --- it was a prettier name than that) from the Philippines and his assistant was Arie the Greek goddess. They were really nice and super fast, and filled my water glass about 8 to 10 times[emoji12]. Food was good. I had calamari, escargot, horseradish crusted salmon, and sugar free blueberry cobbler. Mom had Waldorf salad, escargot, aged roast beef, and the sugar free blueberry cobbler. The star of the meal for me was the blueberry cobbler and it be in sugar-free woohoo. Mom said the star of the show for her was the beef.

 

Maybe I'll try to get some pictures of some meals if anybody wants, but I know you can already find them out there.

 

We were done with our meal within an hour and 10 minutes.

 

We were off for the theater, but stopped to look at the casino on the way. Lots of slot machines. And I saw a couple blackjack tables. Happy Days!!!!

 

Went to the welcome show. The cruise director Mike something or another seems very nice and funny. the singers dancers.... I think I'll have to see more of them before I make a comment. There was a comedian on who was funny, but ain't that kind of his job. ( okay my attempt at humor --- pretty lame right ). The guy made me and my mom laugh out loud more than once.

 

After the show we came back to the room and tried to unpack. As the day was coming to an end so where we. Ad we got more and more tired the unpacking got more and more sloppy. Know we got some work to do there today.

 

Right now it's time to get up get moving and go to breakfast in the main dining room I think.

 

I will try to get a few extra pictures today. not really sure what all we're doing. there's a port talk and then a shopping talk this morning and some point and we'd like to go to that. But I can't remember if it interferes with the blackjack tournament or slot tournament where you can win a cruise. oh whatever what shall we do

 

 

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Bookish Angel

Bookish Angel

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Very good start, Stacey. Hubby and I have been on Grandeur a few times and love that ship and its crew.

 

I so hope Huanxiu Chang is on your sailing. She is the sweet, small, friendly young woman with glasses outside the Windjammer on Grandeur. While squirting your hand with sanitizer, she will make you smile and teach you some Chinese. She remembered both my name and my husband's, neither of which are common, from a previous cruise a few moths before and gave me a huge hug.

 

Have fun and good on you for being so good to your mom. :halo:

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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Went to the Cruise Critic meeting this morning. Got to meet a few of the ladies that I have been speaking with. So happy I could find some of them I wanted to. The one lady named Sergeant curly gave my mom a gift. It was a photo box with the beautiful saying about family. Anyone on my roll call for this selling Noah's why it was so special.

 

I got a picture of the cruise director and I'm going to try to post it.

 

Just looked at the pictures I got and y'all don't want to see them. So I posted a picture of his name tag. Whoopi[emoji849]

 

Waiting in line to get into the shore shopping talk and I'm going to try to post a picture of that also. Mooooo. I guess there's a free coupon book to the first 75 people / rooms in line. I guess I'm stupid enough to be one of them.

 

Mom went to the casino. She's the smart one in the family. Let y'all know how it goes6cc30bfcc8ec253111c206777c636001.jpg29d91b70daaeb1113e590dcaa42ed0b7.jpg

 

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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Oh my gosh[emoji21][emoji44][emoji32][emoji22] I don't think this lady will ever shut up. She is droning on and on about trivial things. Think we will be leaving before the door prizes. Been here over an hour and she is still on stores in St Thomas and that is our first stop.

 

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Jasonmom

Jasonmom

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It wasn't long after I put in that last message that she wrapped it up when was done. The talk went on and on about St Thomas and then was very short on other ports. I don't quite understand this, except that I guess there is more shopping in St Thomas.

 

Think we were a couple of the last people who made it to the main dining room for lunch before they close shop. I had a Greek salad and Mom had some kind of pasta thing that was meh. Had some kind of apple strudel for dessert and then when we Saul are tablemates chocolate cake and thought it look good our waitress bought us a piece of that. It didn't all get eaten but it sure was good.

 

Went to the casino and played for a while. I was ahead on the blackjack table until they change dealers and then the whole table off three hands in a row so we all got up and left. Still came out a little bit of head. Mom $150 on the slot machines. I sat down to play beside her and lost 30 on the slot machines like BAM. Pretty much par for the course.

 

Right now waiting on the time set up between me and my child to talk on Skype, and getting ready for dinner.

 

May seem pretty boring too many of you, but we're having a pretty good time [emoji16]

 

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