Rogueperson's **Live** Adventure of the Seas B2B Bermuda (maybe) and Canada. September 24 - October 8, 2022

[Rogueperson]

2 hours ago, joyandjerry said:

I noticed 70s dress was noted for one day. Were you informed of this prior to the cruise?

 

I realized i didn't answer you fully.  We did not have prior notification of the theme nights, but i’m pretty sure it was on the app about a week before.  I can’t remember but I knew the 70s night and our planned chef’s table was on the same day.

[Rogueperson]

On 9/26/2022 at 3:57 PM, mets123 said:

Is the liquor store on the ship well stocked? Do they have Blanton's bourbon? Thanks in advance. We're boarding on 10/13 for a B2B.

@mets123 This is the bourbon in the store.  Not much really.

[mets123]

Thanks. I've never heard of Town Branch.

[Rogueperson]

Today’s a slow day.  Here’s the current situation.

 

 

I’m in the Diamond Lounge.  Only one person here.  Scratch that, two more people just

came in.  Wife is still out.  

 

I’ve confirmed that since we are technically on board already, and Canada has recently dropped their testing mandate, we are

not required to be tested.  I CANNOT MAKE GUARANTEES ABOUT PROTOCOL FOR CHECK IN FOR THOSE BOARDING TOMORROW.  You should be safe and get a negative test as that is still the current protocol.  

 

I have enough experience now to talk about my feelings about the UDP (Ultimate Dining Package).  After tonight, I will have had 2 snacks from Johnny Rockets, 3 lunches at Chops, 2 dinners at Gionanni’s and one at Izumi’s and Chops and Chef’s Table.  This is my review.

 

UDP says you have to schedule all your dining in the beginning.  In that aspect, its less flexible.  Chops today was really busy for lunch.  Also, i believe it was the only specialty restaurant open as Izumi’s had the sushi making class and Giovanni’s was where Taste

of Royal was held.  I think if you tried to walk in without reservations, you would have been turned away, though the restaurant was not full, service was still slow because i think there was only a handful of staff to operate the restaurant.  Is it worth it?  Depends on how much you paid for it.  I got it for 50 dollars less per person than the current pricing.  110/person plus tip.  That comes out to 22/day/person.  In that aspect, i scored a great deal.  Last I checked it was sitting at about 165/person.  Even at 165/person, i think it would still be a good value considering lunch and the snacks I got.

 

Downside.  The menus are limited, especially lunch.  We pretty much got to try everything but its getting a little tedious now.  I love chili cheese fries, but i can only eat it so many times.  I’ve had more steak this week than the last six months.  It also assumes that all the restaurants are good and you want to eat there, if you don’t like a restaurant for whatever reason, the others have to carry the slack and makes your choices even more limiting.

 

So my verdict is that the UDP is good for 5 days or less.  5 days is pushing it though.  Any more and I think I would get tired of it.  It is not worth it if you want to jump back and forth between specialty and regular menus.  If you are on a short cruise.  Get it and you’ll  enjoy yourself.

[Another_Critic]

Have you heard any passengers counts for tomorrow's sailing?  Total #, number of D, D+, Pinns?

[Rogueperson]

I’ve been on 13 Royal Caribbean cruises and 12 other cruise lines.  One thing i generally miss is the Windjammer Buffet.  I generally assume the Windjammer usually reflects whats in the MDR.  Tonight, the wife went in because she needed a snack to tide her over to dinner.  We almost went to Izumi’s for a roll, but they took forever just to seat us, so we bailed and ended in the Windjammer.  As i was looking, i notice a lot of Indian food tonight.  I hadn’t realized that they had theme nights and tonight was Indian.

 

 

 

 

I found one of my favorite Indian dishes.  Butter Chicken.

 

 

I’m sad to report that this blows away the local restaurant that i go to.  That means i need to find a new Indian Restaurant 

 

 

[KATHYMAC68]

7 hours ago, Rogueperson said:

@KATHYMAC68

 

I got nothing as of noon today, so being paranoid, i went to guest services.    They gave me this.

 

 

I asked about testing as i didn’t see anything about it.  

 

*DISCLAIMER*. THIS IS WHAT I AM TOLD FOR ME AND CONSECUTIVE CRUISERS.  FOR THOSE BOARDING ON THE NEXT LEG, THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

 

I was told by guest services that I am not required to be tested.  I will confirm again a little later but thats what i’ve been told.

 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to post that for me! 
 

[karl_nj]

1 hour ago, Rogueperson said:

 

I found one of my favorite Indian dishes.  Butter Chicken.

 

I’m sad to report that this blows away the local restaurant that i go to.  That means i need to find a new Indian Restaurant 

 

 

 

I've noticed that Indian food on all cruise lines is generally quite good.

[Rogueperson]

1 hour ago, karl_nj said:

 

I've noticed that Indian food on all cruise lines is generally quite good.

Yes.  Considering many of the cooking staff is Indian.  There’s also a alternate vegetarian menu that is very Indian and very good.  I’ve seen it before, but haven’t consistent asked for it.

[Rogueperson]

Last dinner of this leg is at Giovanni’s.  I’ve posted the menu before so won’t do it again.

 

For Appetizer.  We have the Tonno Crudo.  This dish had a surprise sweetness to it.  It almost ruined the dish because its a surprise, but afterwards, I’m like yeah, this is good.  Also,

again better tuna than Izumi’s.

 

 

Main dish is Royal Porchetta.  Delicious.

 

 

My wife had the Shrimp.  Also pictured is the delicious risotto.  

 

 

And for dessert, Canolli.

 

Here, i got a coffee drink.  Royal something.  I totally forget.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by Rogueperson

[Rogueperson]

Good Morning from Bayonne.  I’m up early because i’m a little anxious about turnaround day.

 

Current situation.  

 

My diamond benefit worked for Starbucks!!!  Thats why i didn’t make coffee.  Wanted to see if it works and it does!

[Biker19]

23 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

My diamond benefit worked for Starbucks!

Just to clarify for those who may not know the details - the D and up drink perk does NOT work at a dedicated Starbucks kiosk - it does work at any other coffee specialty venue which serves Starbucks.

[Rogueperson]

9 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Just to clarify for those who may not know the details - the D and up drink perk does NOT work at a dedicated Starbucks kiosk - it does work at any other coffee specialty venue which serves Starbucks.

Thanks.  My mind has not woken up yet.

 

The emphasis on this is that my diamond benefit worked on Debarkation day, not that it worked at a starbucks kiosk.  Adventure does not have a branded kiosk.

 

Also, as i posted earlier on it, Diamond benefits and drink packages do not work at Ben & Jerrys (like their milkshakes)

 

[Biker19]

Just now, Rogueperson said:

The emphasis on this is that my diamond benefit worked on Debarkation day, not that it worked at a starbucks kiosk.

Only to a very few was that ever in doubt.

[crewsweeper]

16 hours ago, mets123 said:

Thanks. I've never heard of Town Branch.

It's out of Lexington.  Distillery opened back in 2012.  72% corn, 15% malted barley 13% rye. 90 proof. 40% abv.

Per a couple of reviews: Bright copper color, Sweet corn syrup scent but taste is a bit dry. Supposedly a little bitter on the finish. Kind of a simple bourbon in the lower end of small batch pricing.

[Rogueperson]

4 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Only to a very few was that ever in doubt.

I have read somewhere where it didn’t recently.  It was isolated.  But enough for me to question.  But doubly so for me as I’m staying on.  

[Rogueperson]

Here is Day 6 aka Day 1, Leg 2’s cruise compass.

 

 

 

 

[Rogueperson]

Oh hey, i JUST noticed this in my room.  Yeah, i’m slow.

 

[Rogueperson]

Current Situation.

 

We’re hanging in the Imperial

lounge.  I just heard last call to disembark.  Wifi shut off at about 9am.

 

Theres a nice setup.

 

 

 

And my view.

 

 

Customs was east.  We walked in, showed out passports to two customs

officials.  Thats it.

 

They just checked out vaccination cards.  And giving a quick demonstration of the life jacket .

 

On an odd note, as we were walking here.  My wife drew my attention to a plate on the ground.

 

 

She goes “who eats the centers out of cucumbers”

 

 

Edited September 29, 2022 by Rogueperson

[joyandjerry]

Leaving tomorrow from Baltimore on B2B. How many in your group continued on to the next cruise?

[Rogueperson]

Just now, joyandjerry said:

Leaving tomorrow from Baltimore on B2B. How many in your group continued on to the next cruise?

about 20.  Not that many

[Rogueperson]

Ding to ding time.

 

 

Its official.  We did not have to test.  After waiting for 0 passenger count, we were escorted out the forward gangplank.  Walked over and back onto the aft gangplank on 4.  We are now checked in and boarded for the next leg.  Really easy.  I was anxious for nothing.  The time is 5 minutes but we all had to get our photo taken again when we dinged.

 

@KATHYMAC68 They really take care of everything.  If you’re staying in the same room, you don’t even have to rescan your pass at your muster station, thats automatically done.

[joyandjerry]

Did you move rooms? We are just a few doors down for the second leg. Hoping I can just bring some things down to the new room instead of repacking as if I am going home.

[Rogueperson]

13 minutes ago, joyandjerry said:

Did you move rooms? We are just a few doors down for the second leg. Hoping I can just bring some things down to the new room instead of repacking as if I am going home.

I'm in the same room.  You'll need to repack so they can move the luggage for you to your new room.  The cool part of being in the same room, is you're allowed access to your room upon reboarding.  Actually, i'm not sure if even moving rooms, you'll have access to the new room.  We are given new cards upon reboarding, so you have room key cards, thought that's a REAL short turn around time because someone was more than likely in your new room on the previous leg.

I'm relaxing in our room as I type this.  I finally broke out the laptop.  We didn't take out our laptops on our last leg at all surprisingly.

 

Also, we have a special lunch in the Sapphire dining room (MDR) at 11:30 for b2b cruisers.  That's cool.  When we found out, we skipped breakfast and slept in a little, or in my case, I tried to, but failed.  Now that i'm on the second leg, a big part of the anxiety is gone.  I expected to test, so i was afraid we might test positive and be denied boarding.  All last cruise, we wore masks just in case.  We may still do so, because better safe than sorry.

 

Since this is a new leg, I can mention it now.  One of my friends onboard tested positive.  We are sure she had a false positive, but it didn't matter.  She was sick prior to the cruise, and in the abundance of caution, took a antigen and a PCR test which were negative.  She went for an ear infection, and got tagged positive and was quarantined and isolated  The issue was they would not confirm and retest her.  In fact, they would not even entertain another test until day 5.  Her family was tested negative.  After pushing for a retest, she got the retest, and tested negative.  Still in isolation.  She had to get a meeting with the Staff Captain, chief medical officer and land corporate after a 2nd negative test and was allowed to return to her room, and continue quarantine, but not isolation.  She continued to test negative, but was never let out of quarantine and today, they escorted her off the ship under special protocols.  I will find out what kind of compensation they are giving them.  I feel bad for them as she never tested positive again after the first test.

Edited September 29, 2022 by Rogueperson

[mets123]

2 hours ago, Rogueperson said:

Ding to ding time.

 

 

Its official.  We did not have to test.  After waiting for 0 passenger count, we were escorted out the forward gangplank.  Walked over and back onto the aft gangplank on 4.  We are now checked in and boarded for the next leg.  Really easy.  I was anxious for nothing.  The time is 5 minutes but we all had to get our photo taken again when we dinged.

 

@KATHYMAC68 They really take care of everything.  If you’re staying in the same room, you don’t even have to rescan your pass at your muster station, thats automatically done.

Just to clarify, all you did was a turn around on deck 4, and did not have to go into the terminal? My wife uses a scooter so I want to be sure of the process. Thanks for your review and help.