This Ain't Homer's Odyssey - A Live B2B2B on Odyssey of the Seas (8/22/2021-9/11/2021)

[caribbeanfever]

On 8/27/2021 at 10:13 AM, JessyCruises said:

I think  are checking into a virtual balcony tomorrow so I can definitely do that!

Hi Jess. I’m trying to get on the 8/28 Facebook site, but it says pending member approval. Did you by any chance check into your virtual balcony cabin and take pictures or videos?  If you need my Facebook name I can give you that. Thanks!

[Scottee25]

21 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Today’s rules may mean nothing in 8 months, especially on a TA. 

Totally understand that and being that I will be on a TA, the rules in Europe may be completely different. But I was curious how things are currently being handled.

[caribbeanfever]

On 8/28/2021 at 4:36 AM, Namelocg said:

I am checking into a virtual balcony cabin today. Will have pics and a short video. Will post tomorrow on the 8/28 FB group.

For some reason it’s taking forever for the admin on the Facebook group to approve my request to join the 8/28 Facebook group. Would it be possible to post an interior virtual balcony cabin?  I’ll be in 9177 in March, and I  am trying to see if the bed is on the back wall or side wall. Thanks in advance!

[Luckynana]

On 8/18/2021 at 7:50 PM, JessyCruises said:

Cool!  We love it here 😃

 

I am looking forward to cruise ships next year.  When our son moves out of his section of the condo, we are noodling starting a cruise related business 😂

We'll be on the Adventure of the Seas visiting your port next October 2022😁

[JessyCruises]

Sorry for the radio silence!  We have been without wifi since the changeover so I have not been able to post.  I will be playing catch up answering any questions I might have missed today.

 

As mentioned above, we were booked in an interior for the 8/28 cruise.  It ended up that I had only been in an interior, not an interior with virtual balcony for this cruise.  We were in Cabin 13129 and it was TINY. 

 

We are booked in a forward facing Oceanview (10506) for the next cruise (9/5/21) and on turnover day on 8/28/21 I had gone to guest services to see if we could change the 9/5 cruise to an interior and they could move us to any interior they want this cruise as long as it is available for the next one too (I did not mind a downgrade if it meant one less move). 

 

We got a call later in the afternoon on 8/28 and apparently even with only 500 or so people onboard this cruise, there were no interiors available for both cruises. What they were able to do is move us to 10510 which is a forward facing oceanview on the end and it was just two doors down from our cabin for next week.  The entry is a little weird because 10508 & 10510 share an exterior door that requires key access and then each cabin needs the key again to access.  I think the intention is to have a family cabin area.  This new room is HUGE and is one of the ones with the "stripper pole" at the end of the bed.

 

Original 13129 Cabin

 

Cabin 10510

 

 

Edited August 31, 2021 by JessyCruises

[JessyCruises]

On 8/27/2021 at 2:09 PM, caribbeanfever said:

Hi, Jess. Looks like your having an amazing time!! Being that you will be on the ship for a while, would it be possible for you to get a picture of an interior view balcony cabin?  My husband and I have always stayed in a balcony cabin, but since we are using a casino comped cruise we thought we would do something a little different this go round. We are in 9177 in March and would love to know the bed placement and if it’s on the side wall or the back wall. No one to date has had any pics of the  Odyssey Interior Virtual Balcony cabins. 

Sorry turns out we were not in a Virtual balcony so I was not able to get a photo.

[JessyCruises]

On 8/28/2021 at 12:03 PM, cruisetorelax44 said:

I'm on Odyssey in November.  Right now, the app shows Solarium Bistro is open for only breakfast and lunch. Is it the same for you? Or is there a dinner option as well? Thanks!!

We have not eaten there but it is available for dinner as well.  It is available to book on the app for $0

[JessyCruises]

On 8/28/2021 at 9:27 PM, bajathree said:

Is there a reason why you guys are still in port?

 

We were late leaving because of a "technical" issue.  I am not sure of the exact reason but it almost sounded like the engine would not turn over, which I am sure is not the case.  It sounded like the engine would get turned off, then the lights would flick, and then it would turn off again.  It was weird but we got underway eventually.  We also had a medical emergency after leaving Coco Cay on Sunday and had to head to Nassau to drop off a passenger.  I believe it was the wife of a gentleman we were playing cards with the earlier in the day.  He mentioned his wife was in medical with a pancreatis attack and we have not seen him since.  Hopefully she recovers quickly. 

[bajathree]

Did you say ONLY 500 passengers aboard this sailing?

[JessyCruises]

On 8/29/2021 at 2:48 PM, Scottee25 said:

@JessyCruisesSorry if you already answered this and I just didn't see it, but are they allowing you off the ship at port without having to use the cruiseline's excursions? I'll be on Odyssey next April on a Trans Atlantic and trying to get an idea of whether we can do the ports on our own or will have to use Royal's excursions if we want to get off the ship.

 

I think it depends on the port, but right now if you are vaccinated you can get off the ship without an excursion booked. 

 

Of course, all rules could change tomorrow!

 

We are not actually planning to get off the ship except for Coco Cay.

[JessyCruises]

1 minute ago, bajathree said:

Did you say ONLY 500 passengers aboard this sailing?

Yup.  I have heard a few different numbers ranging from 480-550.  Crazy!!

[bajathree]

Just now, JessyCruises said:

Yup.  I have heard a few different numbers ranging from 480-550.  Crazy!!

WOW...that is both crazy and worrisome. Are all the venues open or are they closing some of them due to such low capacity. I can't imagine all the dining venues operating for only 500 passengers. 

[JessyCruises]

3 minutes ago, bajathree said:

WOW...that is both crazy and worrisome. Are all the venues open or are they closing some of them due to such low capacity. I can't imagine all the dining venues operating for only 500 passengers. 

Yes everything is open except for the windjammer at dinner, but that has been the case on all sailings since the restart.  The only thing I have noticed that is different is I have noticed there is usually only 1 showtime per night for the headline or main production shows.

[crewsweeper]

On 8/29/2021 at 1:48 PM, Scottee25 said:

@JessyCruisesSorry if you already answered this and I just didn't see it, but are they allowing you off the ship at port without having to use the cruiseline's excursions? I'll be on Odyssey next April on a Trans Atlantic and trying to get an idea of whether we can do the ports on our own or will have to use Royal's excursions if we want to get off the ship.

Scottee25....by April 2022 rules will be different.  We're getting off as you're getting on.  We have the last Odyssey cruise out of FLL. 4-16 to 4-23

[SilkySal]

Definitely a good score on your rooms!! Thanks for taking us along!! Bon Voyage!! Cheers!!

[JessyCruises]

6 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

Definitely a good score on your rooms!! Thanks for taking us along!! Bon Voyage!! Cheers!!

Thanks.  We will still need to move but only a few doors down and it was worth it for the extra space for the 8 nights!

[JessyCruises]

Turnover day went very smoothly.  All the B2Bers had to meet in the Music Hall.  There were several contractors that were staying onboard.  They were gathered on the 1st floor.  The guests were gathererd on the top floor.  They took photos of our vaccine cards again and took our pictures. I do not think they looked at our passports.  We were then escorted off the ship, when through the facial recognition scan, and then were escorted back on board.  Easy peasy!

 

We did not go to the B2Ber lunch as we are on the Ultimate Dining package this week and wanted to use it to its full advantage.

 

We went to Giovanni's Italian Kitchen for lunch.  I had the Nonna's Soup for an appetizer and Paul had the Meatball Gigante.  I had the Carbonara for my entree and Paul had the Chicken Parm.  He was not a fan of the parm - said it was kind of tough.  He said he should have gone with his first instinct and gotten the pizza, but he thought it would have been too much food for one person.  He said he is definitely getting pizza next time!  He quite enjoyed the meatball but it really was HUGE as the name implies (see room key in photo for perspective). My soup was delicious.  The Carbonara was a little underseasoned, but nothing a little S&P could not fix.  Not the greatest view in the world, but overall a nice mean and looking forward to trying it again for dinner.  Any recommendations are welcome 🙂

 

 

Edited August 31, 2021 by JessyCruises

[caribbeanfever]

1 hour ago, JessyCruises said:

Sorry for the radio silence!  We have been without wifi since the changeover so I have not been able to post.  I will be playing catch up answering any questions I might have missed today.

 

As mentioned above, we were booked in an interior for the 8/28 cruise.  It ended up that I had only been in an interior, not an interior with virtual balcony for this cruise.  We were in Cabin 13129 and it was TINY. 

 

We are booked in a forward facing Oceanview (10506) for the next cruise (9/5/21) and on turnover day on 8/28/21 I had gone to guest services to see if we could change the 9/5 cruise to an interior and they could move us to any interior they want this cruise as long as it is available for the next one too (I did not mind a downgrade if it meant one less move). 

 

We got a call later in the afternoon on 8/28 and apparently even with only 500 or so people onboard this cruise, there were no interiors available for both cruises. What they were able to do is move us to 10510 which is a forward facing oceanview on the end and it was just two doors down from our cabin for next week.  The entry is a little weird because 10508 & 10510 share an exterior door that requires key access and then each cabin needs the key again to access.  I think the intention is to have a family cabin area.  This new room is HUGE and is one of the ones with the "stripper pole" at the end of the bed.

 

Original 13129 Cabin

 

Cabin 10510

 

 

 

Edited August 31, 2021 by caribbeanfever

[JessyCruises]

Just now, caribbeanfever said:

Wow!  That’s a much bigger cabin. I love the extra space, and that window looks huge!!  I know you’re busy and having a great time, but if you get a chance maybe you can get a picture of an interior virtual balcony cabin. 

If I walk by one with the door open, I will try!

[caribbeanfever]

1 hour ago, JessyCruises said:

Sorry turns out we were not in a Virtual balcony so I was not able to get a photo.

No problem. 

[caribbeanfever]

3 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

If I walk by one with the door open, I will try!

Sweet!

[colesc15]

15 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

Turnover day went very smoothly.  All the B2Bers had to meet in the Music Hall.  There were several contractors that were staying onboard.  They were gathered on the 1st floor.  The guests were gathererd on the top floor.  They took photos of our vaccine cards again and took our pictures. I do not think they looked at our passports.  We were then escorted off the ship, when through the facial recognition scan, and then were escorted back on board.  Easy peasy!

 

We did not go to the B2Ber lunch as we are on the Ultimate Dining package this week and wanted to use it to its full advantage.

 

We went to Giovanni's Italian Kitchen for lunch.  I had the Nonna's Soup for an appetizer and Paul had the Meatball Gigante.  I had the Carbonara for my entree and Paul had the Chicken Parm.  He was not a fan of the parm - said it was kind of tough.  He said he should have gone with his first instinct and gotten the pizza, but he thought it would have been too much food for one person.  He said he is definitely getting pizza next time!  He quite enjoyed the meatball but it really was HUGE as the name implies (see room key in photo for perspective). My soup was delicious.  The Carbonara was a little underseasoned, but nothing a little S&P could not fix.  Not the greatest view in the world, but overall a nice mean and looking forward to trying it again for dinner.  Any recommendations are welcome 🙂

 

 

I can't wait to hear all about the dining package. Was curious what's available on boarding day with the package and this will certainly do as I assume Chops is only for The Key 

[CanuckCruizer]

Jessy - was wondering what happened to you - lol.  I thought you mentioned that you had to work while on the cruise, so thought you were maybe busy at work. Don't forget to use your Diamond Plus free internet. 

 

Speaking of Diamond Plus....have you been able to get into the Diamond Lounge yet?

 

Thanks for posting the food pics & menu - much appreciated.

 

Still hoping for someone to post a pic of a corner aft Junior Suite but it seems like there is not too much reporting from this ship yet.

  

Glad that you are well & congrats on the nice upgrade. Hope you enjoy this cruise & lucky you still have another one to go after this one!😁

 

Cheers,

Canuck

[ilovetotravel1977]

Ummm, that is a very wide stripper pole! lol  

[JessyCruises]

1 hour ago, CanuckCruizer said:

Jessy - was wondering what happened to you - lol.  I thought you mentioned that you had to work while on the cruise, so thought you were maybe busy at work. Don't forget to use your Diamond Plus free internet. 

 

Speaking of Diamond Plus....have you been able to get into the Diamond Lounge yet?

 

Thanks for posting the food pics & menu - much appreciated.

 

Still hoping for someone to post a pic of a corner aft Junior Suite but it seems like there is not too much reporting from this ship yet.

  

Glad that you are well & congrats on the nice upgrade. Hope you enjoy this cruise & lucky you still have another one to go after this one!😁

 

Cheers,

Canuck

Yes we had the full Wifi plan last week and worked most days.  This week we are just working a few days and using our 4 free wifi days so it will be spaced out a little more 🙂  I am hoping to get a chance to load some stuff I have missed once I am done work for the day.