Definitely, not live from the Allure December 11, 2021.

[xpcdoojk]

Hello from Fort Lauderdale.

 

We are staying at the Hyatt Place Cruise Port off 10th, same hotel as the last time we sailed (again on the Allure) way way back in January 2020.  Either it was not a problem almost 2 years ago, or my memory sucks but the AC unit rattles a lot.   Other than that the hotel is fine.  

 

Our flights yesterday were all on time and we were super lucky here at FLL, as we got our bags, and went to the hotel shuttle area, and the shuttle for Hyatt Place immediately showed up.  Opened the Hyatt App to verify it was the correct Hyatt Place, and hopped on.  Perfect driver, too as he didn’t wait a moment for more people to fill his shuttle.😅  So, off we went with 5 passengers in a van that could hold well over a dozen.

 

Got to the room instantly, and cleared out my FlowRider bag from excess stuff like wet suits and rash guards and board shorts and flip flops, and went about filling it with essentials for the FlowRider, which apparently opens at 1PM.  Quickly realized my camera bags, were missing my cheap $1 Amazon tripod.  There is a nearby shopping center with a Publix, a Game Stop, and a TJ Maxx, so after shopping online, it appeared that Game Stop had something that would work, who knows what TJ Maxx has based on shopping online.  

 

We had a dinner reservation at the 15th Street Fisheries which is at the end of the canal, but one canal over from 17th street.  So, I rushed the DW out telling her we needed to go to Game Stop.  She gave me the look that only a wife of over 40 years can give when you explain why.  “Don’t you have a drawer full of crap like that?”  “?Yes, and I had one in my hands at one point last night when I was packing.”  I am sure despite thoroughly searching all of our bags and my backpack I will find it at some point when we are on the ship.

 

Arrived at Game Stop after 5 minute walk, the guy (who looked just like a guy who would be in a Game Stop) working there in the empty store offered to help us.  I enquired about a small camera tripod.  We don’t sell those, and I mentioned it showed online.  Yeah they have lots of stuff online that we don’t sell,  He suggested TJ Maxx.  Off we went.

 

TJ Maxx because it is pre Christmas time has all sorts of junky gifts, but they don’t have small camera tripods.  So, I ended up with a Samsonite phone holder that suction cups to the dash of your car.  Hopefully it will hold my small but wider than most cell phones camera and not fall down.  I haven’t tried yet.  When we got home (HP) we were tired and climbed into bed.

 

O dinner at 15th Street Fisheries.  Good waiter, ate upstairs where they do reservations had a lovely view of the yacht Blackhawk from Chicago over 100 feet long and delivered in 1971.  Nice old boat.  DW had a Tarpontini which was Grey Goose, Peach Schnapps, Pineapple and Cranberry.  She seemed happy with it.  I had a couple of glasses of Kenwood Cabernet Savingnon.  We had their jalapeño rolls, an appetizer of Calamari (very fresh, but not really awesome) and we both had the grouper pan seared with quinoa clams strips, wild mushrooms, some Wisconsin white cheddar (may have been Vermont Cheddar), and fried onion ring bits. It was really tasty but not a light meal.  Made the 20 minute walk back a bit more of an experience!s🤣

 

So, I just got a message from the Royal app reminding me to fill out the Health survey for faster boarding.  So, with that I must go.

 

jc

[lemming]

We are on Allure on the 18th. Hope ya'll have a great cruise.

[John&LaLa]

Are you headed to Coco Cay? Look for us tonight. Headed to Miami.

Edited December 11, 2021 by John&LaLa

[little britain]

Have a great cruise JC! 

[xpcdoojk]

John we are in Nassau, We are planning on staying on the ship today as the FlowRider is open 9-11:30AM and 2 to 6PM. 

 

Thanks LB!  

 

Lemming, the ship is pretty full one of the Maitre Ds told us at lunch yesterday in the Solarium that we were going to have around 4000 passengers and the next will be at max capacity whatever that is in the days of Covid.  Not sure he actually knows that or not.

 

The FlowRider line is always fascinating to re-meet people from the past.  First up was Glenn and his family from New Hampshire, sailed with them back in 2015 on the Oasis.  They have greatly improved.  Next up was Richard from the UK (who had a bad flight experience and only got 3 hours of sleep but who was ready to surf at 1PM when the wave opened!🤣) from the Symphony TA in 2018.  Then a couple of hours later Kasey the FAA person from New Jersey, also from the Symphony cruise.  His wife is now retired.  

 

They did not upgrade the wave from the overhaul they did right after we were on this ship in early 2020.  Which means it is still slightly ballooned up, and therefore very easy to ride on.  

 

My wife did the video muster for us, and I ran down about 3PM to check in.  Not sure i like being in studio B preparing to abandon ship on a deck that has no lifeboats.  

 

I don’t like not being able to pre book shows any more prior to the cruise.  So, when we were having lunch at noon in the Solarium, I booked all of the shows.  I hadn’t figured out what V and E meant at that time.  So, I booked the Aqua theatre show that was E which meant most of the seating wasn’t used for social distancing.  The show was really good.  I must really have missed being on the ship!  I, also, booked the Adult Comedy show for 9PM right after, my app assigned us to 11PM.  Crapola, no way I will be awake at 11PM happily.  So, in the Diamond Lounge, I visited the DL concierge to see if he could change it to 9PM.  As usual, the DL concierge has rarely ever helped me.  He told me it was now booked for the entire cruise. Krystal likes the comedy club so we kept our 11PM.  

 

After the Aqua Theatre show, we decided to get in the standby line, we were 3 and 4 in the standby line.  The host basically told us we would get in but nobody else was likely too.  Finally just before 9PM he let us, and about 10 others in.😆  The comedy show was funny as heck.  Really good, I must really have missed being on the ship.  

 

Other random bits.  We didn’t leave Port Everglades until after 6PM after having been told we were departing at 4.  They kept telling people to do muster, and finally when I got off the wave around 5PM, and went to our cabin for the first time, to get ready to get ready for the evening, they were paging a couple on deck 8.  When we emerged from the cabin around 6 to head to the DL, there was about 10 security people having a conversation with our neighbors two cabins down.  The couple was explaining that they didn’t hear a specific announcement that they were to do muster.  I think we were actually moving away from the dock at that point, and I am sure that couple made it to at least Nassau.🤣

 

In the reservation line for MTD a man in a Sergio Perez jersey was beside me, I asked him how did Quali go today.  He said, like I didn’t know, Sergio gave Max Verstappen a tow, and he edged Lewis Hamilton for Pole.  Probably a good thing, I didn’t have my LH 120$ baseball cap I purchased at COTA in October on at the time like I do now in the DL updating my 3 fans!😆  I plan on watching the race from Yaz Marina during the downtime between the morning and the afternoon session if Voom Surf and Stream will allow.  

 

Ciao until later.  

 

JC

[xpcdoojk]

Day 2 in Nassau.  FlowRider was open 9-11:30AM and again 2-6.  I was a bit late at 2:30PM as I was screaming at my Ipad at Toto Wolfe for being a complete idiot, and not pitting Lewis giving Max an easy win from an impossible situation.  I didn’t listen to any post race, because I was already late.  I was in a foul mood, but FlowRider therapy helped.  I was still in a much fouler mood, and was very critical of my errors on the wave.  That followed thru to an uninspired MDR menu, where I settled on the classic strip steak.  They must do something to tenderize these steaks because it didn’t have the feel or texture of a steak.  Honestly, It tasted like it could have been tuna or Swordfish due to the texture.  It was fine, but weird.  Fortunately, I had the garden salad, excellent.  The Escgargot and it was excellent.  A shrimp cocktail that was good.  And the excellent creme brûlée.  After dinner we took pictures in front of the Xmas tree, and road the rising tide up to our cabin deck 8, while listening to Motown trivia from the Schooner bar.  

 

We promptly went to bed, and The DW turned off the master switch sometime about 1AM she got up to go to the potty, and I asked her if she had turned off the master switch, she said I just turned it on.  I said that is why it is smoking hot in here I think it controls the AC.  Needless to say sleeping was a challenge last night.

 

Today is her birthday.  So, I will be on pins and needles trying to get to the FlowRider.  I did turn down an offer for an 8AM private session, so at least I am not a total fool.  

 

The regular session is for 9 until 6PM.

 

I think we have the Ice Show tonight somehow booked before and after dinner.  Have I mentioned that booking everything on board and not pre booking sucks for us planners.  As Mama Mia is 7:30PM in a few nights, and I can’t book MTD prior to the show.  

 

I found my stupid $1 Amazon tripod when emptying my suitcase.  However I didn’t bring my SD reader, may fill up my card at some point and with the 4K camera, it requires really fast SD, so not sure I brought another super fast card.  

 

Will report back soon

 

jc

[Ocean Boy]

Just found the thread this morning. Have a great week. Is the Windjammer open for dinner?

[SummerBeee]

15 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Just found the thread this morning. Have a great week. Is the Windjammer open for dinner?

Windjammer was open when we were on after Thanksgiving 

[Cruise_Anne]

Love the commentary!  We will be on Allure in May - first cruise since COVID.  Cant wait to hear more of your adventures!

 

Cheers!

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, SummerBeee said:

Windjammer was open when we were on after Thanksgiving 

Thanks. Still listed as closed in the app for my January sailing.

[golf4me2010]

Can you walk into the main dining room for breakfast anytime you want? Thanks enjoy.

[Sea Viewer]

On this cruise also, agree would like to be able to schedule in advance. Saw 2 people leaving the ship just before finally setting sail at 6 pm. They had luggage with them and were being escorted by a couple of what looked like shoreside staff. Several of the lines had been dropped earlier just prior to the captain paging the names. The remaining ones were dropped after the couple left.

It's definitely busier than last week, but was able to book all my shows etc during the consecutive cruisers lunch, which was held in the dinning room for the first time since restart. Having a great time, a little rocking and rolling today, but I like that.

Mary

[Sea Viewer]

29 minutes ago, golf4me2010 said:

Can you walk into the main dining room for breakfast anytime you want? Thanks enjoy.

During open hours which vary each day, yes

[xpcdoojk]

6 hours ago, Sea Viewer said:

During open hours which vary each day, yes

Yes

10 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Thanks. Still listed as closed in the app for my January sailing.

I will try to find out Thursday when we are at Mama Mia during our MTD reservation.  

 

It was super windy this afternoon, I didn’t always look like my smooth effortless grace on the wave.  When you got near the top of the wave it was like trying to knock you down.  Plus your spray became a personal shower.  It was so difficult I actually fell one time on the top which I am able to avoid normally 95% of the time.  Still I was in line for about 5 hours.  🤣

 

 

[xpcdoojk]

Dinner menu in the MDR was less than awesome tonight.  However, the classics are being served at a very high level.  The Escargot are the right temperature and delightfully yummy and disgusting at the same time.  The Shrimp cocktail is not awesome but it is solid.  I had the seafood linquini Alfredo tonight it was very rich but not bad.  We requested the rolls with the pumpkin seeds and they were very nice.  The E version of the Ice show was limited to less than 50% capacity.  It is still a bit rocky tonight, as I can feel the ship moving on deck 8 pretty mid-ship pretty consistently.  The seas are probably 7-10 feet.  Tomorrow is St Thomas, I am pretty sure, the plan is me surfing til 11.  K working out and laying in the sun, lunch on board, then off to some very expensive jewelry stores to look at things we might or might not buy.  I am a if you like it and want it buy it kind of guy and K is a I am not sure I like it enough to buy it kind of girl.

 

Probably lunch on board in the Solarium, because we enjoyed the conversations we had today in the MDR with our neighbors but the food we didn’t enjoy enough for the amount of wasted time.

 

So, I will report back tomorrow morning from the DL with a latte macchiato double expresso in the AM.  If I didn’t mention it before you get to make your own in the DL.  On another point in the evening the upper level of the DL is roped off.  It is very hard to find a chair together.  Lots of couples at 4 tops.  We have been sitting at the 6 tops in the evening no where near the window overlooking the Boardwalk.

 

jc

 

 

[John&LaLa]

On 12/12/2021 at 7:52 AM, xpcdoojk said:

After the Aqua Theatre show, we decided to get in the standby line, we were 3 and 4 in the standby line.  The host basically told us we would get in but nobody else was likely too.  Finally just before 9PM he let us, and about 10 others in.😆  The comedy show was funny as heck.  Really good, I must really have missed being on the ship.  

 

Head up to deck 7 balcony for Aqua Show next time

Edited December 14, 2021 by John&LaLa

[RCCL Fan]

On 12/12/2021 at 6:52 AM, xpcdoojk said:

 They kept telling people to do muster, and finally when I got off the wave around 5PM, and went to our cabin for the first time, to get ready to get ready for the evening, they were paging a couple on deck 8.  When we emerged from the cabin around 6 to head to the DL, there was about 10 security people having a conversation with our neighbors two cabins down.  

 

I forgot to mention this in my review.  That video muster was a mess.  Which is so surprising because it worked perfectly for us on Adventure.

 

But on Allure we all watched the video, went down there to check in and they basically repeated the video at length... much longer than Adventure... 

 

After it was all over and we were back in the room our cabin steward came and said we hadn't done it,   then security came and said all of us had done it except our youngest.   I assured him we didn't leave the first grader wandering the ship alone while we went to muster....  that seemed to appease them.

 

Then we got a note or a phone call saying my older daughter hadn't done it.

 

so weird 

[denamo]

2 hours ago, RCCL Fan said:

 

I forgot to mention this in my review.  That video muster was a mess.  Which is so surprising because it worked perfectly for us on Adventure.

 

But on Allure we all watched the video, went down there to check in and they basically repeated the video at length... much longer than Adventure... 

 

After it was all over and we were back in the room our cabin steward came and said we hadn't done it,   then security came and said all of us had done it except our youngest.   I assured him we didn't leave the first grader wandering the ship alone while we went to muster....  that seemed to appease them.

 

Then we got a note or a phone call saying my older daughter hadn't done it.

 

so weird 

Hope this isn't our experience on our upcoming Allure cruise.  We've done the Ovation and the Symphony since cruising re-opened, and both musters were a breeze.  We were able to watch it in the app in our hotel room before even boarding on the Symphony. 

[Ocean Boy]

4 hours ago, denamo said:

Hope this isn't our experience on our upcoming Allure cruise.  We've done the Ovation and the Symphony since cruising re-opened, and both musters were a breeze.  We were able to watch it in the app in our hotel room before even boarding on the Symphony. 

I've already watched the video in the app and I'm not even sailing until January.

[xpcdoojk]

Good morning from the diamond lounge approaching St Thomas.  Currently, I am here with a man with a cup of coffee he beat me by 10 minutes and was able to get a cup before staff started chasing people away from the machine.  Including a blonde older lady with her Yorkshire terrier in a little jacket.  

 

How do I get Rodrhi to go sailing with us or even the calmer OWD?

 

Be back shortly have some work to do, and hopefully score a cup of latte macchiato with an extra expresso shot.  

 

jc

[xpcdoojk]

On another note it is really easy to post using my Mac.... why does this site keep the you are not logged in when you are and your posts get hung up when you use an iPad?  Sigh.

 

jc

[A&L_Ont]

23 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

Today is her birthday.  So, I will be on pins and needles trying to get to the FlowRider.  I did turn down an offer for an 8AM private session, so at least I am not a total fool.  

 

That move shows that you are off to a great start. 
 

23 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

The regular session is for 9 until 6PM

Your mission got tougher with these times.  As a rider I know this first hand, but that was with no birthday factor. 🤭🤞

[A&L_Ont]

18 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

On another note it is really easy to post using my Mac.... why does this site keep the you are not logged in when you are and your posts get hung up when you use an iPad?  Sigh.

 

jc

This happens to me all the time. I just don’t get it, but it has reduced the amount of time I spend on CC. 

[xpcdoojk]

8 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

This happens to me all the time. I just don’t get it, but it has reduced the amount of time I spend on CC. 

which makes you think they might try to fix it.  Seriously, works like a charm on my Mac.  Zero issues.  Most people are not using computers in 2021.  

[xpcdoojk]

So, today, I will unless extremely lucky and Covid has decimated the David Yurman and Lagos selling stores in Charlotte Amalie pay the price for taking the DW on a birthday cruise and then spending 5 hours in the FlowRider line on her birthday.

 

On a cabin note, we are in 8204 a D2 with an angled balcony.  The AC is adequate for being in the cabin, but when I fall asleep with the covers over by about 5AM I am smoking hot.  I wish they would allow just a couple of degrees cooler AC.  

 

I am definitely hitting the FR at 9AM for 2 hours, then lunch, then off the ship to do my penance.  

 

Be back later.