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A ROYAL November: LIVE from Mariner/Liberty/Indy/Mariner OTS

jam19872016

By jam19872016,
in Royal Caribbean International

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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On 11/9/2022 at 8:18 PM, birdylady said:

Qu.  Does Mariner have a craps table in the casino?  And if they do, are you finding it being manned and used?

thanx 

Erika

Walked by again tonight around 8:30 and it was in use with three people playing. I've rarely seen the craps table not full when it is properly staffed so likely just not a craps crowd.

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OCSC Mike "Live from...." Rare

OCSC Mike

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12 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

I love spicy. Real spicy not the Americanized version of spicy. But I'm always afraid to ask for spicy from cruise ship chefs. Worried like you they may get too carried away 😆. 

 

That was my thought when he reacted like that... "Finally, an American is asking me for spicy, wait til he tastes THIS!" 🤣

 

Switching topics, if you come across British night in the WJ (Indy had one last month), the fish n chips looked better than the pic you posted. Most of the stuff wasn't great overall but I'm definitely not an expert on British food. I sent my friend in the UK pics of the trays and he said it looked awful. 🙈

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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8 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

That was my thought when he reacted like that... "Finally, an American is asking me for spicy, wait til he tastes THIS!" 🤣

 

Switching topics, if you come across British night in the WJ (Indy had one last month), the fish n chips looked better than the pic you posted. Most of the stuff wasn't great overall but I'm definitely not an expert on British food. I sent my friend in the UK pics of the trays and he said it looked awful. 🙈

I will be on the lookout. I love fish n chips. The one I got at lunch was OK at best. The dinner version was pretty good but definitely had better. 

 

If I can use the c word for a minute, Carnival has a spicy szechuan sauce they use at their wok station. It packs quite a punch and is so delicious 😋.  I make sure to grab an extra napkin because my nose is running by the time I'm done 😆. 

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OCSC Mike "Live from...." Rare

OCSC Mike

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24 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I will be on the lookout. I love fish n chips. The one I got at lunch was OK at best. The dinner version was pretty good but definitely had better. 

 

Just to be clear, you'll definitely find better on land, but the WJ version was pretty good when I had it. It's fried food sitting on a buffet, just get it when it's hot and it's gonna at least be OK. I'm not that picky. If something is bad, move on to one of the other 100 choices.

 

Safe drive. Enjoying reading about your unique extended itinerary and food reviews.

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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On 11/12/2022 at 8:17 AM, OCSC Mike said:

 

Just to be clear, you'll definitely find better on land, but the WJ version was pretty good when I had it. It's fried food sitting on a buffet, just get it when it's hot and it's gonna at least be OK. I'm not that picky. If something is bad, move on to one of the other 100 choices.

 

Safe drive. Enjoying reading about your unique extended itinerary and food reviews.

Oh yes I definitely know to manage expectations with ship food. There is only so much you can do in that setting.

 

I remember I was in Ketchikan recently and stopped at a little stand because I was craving fish and chips. It was $22 plus tax. I have enjoyed my fish and chips better this past week than I did that day, because I did not purchase it in Ketchikan.

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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It's going on 1am but I finally about 90% packed with the last to do tomorrow.

 

The goal again is to be on the road by 8 and I've got to try harder this week to meet that since traffic will be heavier going to ft.lauderdale even though I am half way between both ports.

 

I have also had ft.lauderdale enforce checkin times when it gets busy although I couldn't say which terminal I was at.

 

See you in a few hours for the next part of the journey.

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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Made it into the waiting area at 10:53. Looks like boarding is set to start any minute now. 

 

Very smooth process right now. No lines and no checking boarding times. They have the signage ready and I suspect once lines form they will check boarding times. 

 

Yes, suites are boarding now so boarding looks to begin at 11.

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sharktums

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27 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Windjammer not open. If I'd known I would have done muster first. I've never seen lunch not open already when boarding starts. Odd.

 Wow! That's crazy, but also I guess is good cause it means you're on the ship super early!

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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The drive down this morning was typical for south Florida rush hour. Unpleasant but a nessasary evil. At least I didn't have to go all the way to Miami. That extra 25 miles adds another hour lol.

 

No idea what was going on with the train. I sat for 20 minutes and I'm not sure how long it was there already before I got there. I could see the parking place across the tracks but had jo idea how to get to it lol.

 

When we left there was another train , not the same one, crossing. The driver knew how to get around it and let's just say, my car could not have made the crossing he did. We held on for dear life 😆. 

 

I used park and go for my parking. It is 11.50 per day and I've had great service from them in the past and use them each time I sail from ft.lauderdale.

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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First impression of the ship. It needs some TLC. I'll elaborate more after the trip and most of it is just little stuff or minor cosmetic issues but it adds up and typically royal does a great job of maintaining their ships, so it's a bit unexpected. Texas just got a huge upgrade with allure.

 

First stop was to the Windjammer for some lunch.

 

20221114_113230-X2.jpg

 

20221114_114406-X2.jpg

 

Two of the three desserts were gluten free and actually pretty good. The meal was good too but I just finished an intermittent fasting regimin so I was quite hungry lol.

 

 

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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So like most people, I am a creature of habit. Once I get on the ship I like to grab a coffee and sit in the library until the rooms are ready.

 

Went to Cafe Promenade to grab my iced coffee. The machine is broken. I tried to ask how long it would be down and there was either a language barrier between us, or the guy working the counter is incredibly rude. Let's assume it's the former because if not I am a bit taken aback by his response.

 

So coffeeless I went to the library. Except it is a Pinnacle club where the library usually is. Great use of space 😒.

 

I found the library on the deck plans so went that direction. The library is nothing but some chairs and bookcases lined up along the railing overlooking the Promenade on deck 9. All the noise naturally travels up.

 

Decided my best bet for a quiet place to sit would be viking lounge. Other than the background music (which is at a reasonable volume) it's pretty quiet in here and the view is spectacular.

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jam19872016 "Live from...." Rare

jam19872016

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I ended up taking  a quick nap. First time I have ever taken a coffee nap and it worked very well for me I'm very refreshed now.

 

Going to miss sailaway because we have not left yet. The captain said they are working on a maintenance issue. No idea what that means.

 

Off to sabor for dinner.

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