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

[jam19872016]

Overall I enjoyed my dinner again. Service both nights here was very good. I'm debating coming here for lunch. It is $25 which is more than I care to pay but there are still things I would like to try.

[jam19872016]

Some work stuff came up after dinner that needed my attention.

 

I still haven't got my gym time in today and it's closed so I am heading to the walking track to get some laps in.

[jam19872016]

9 hours ago, buffet24 said:

The Wife and I got married on the Freedom.... Great seeing the Old Girl again... 😍

I love the freedom. Great ship 👍

 

9 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

That's funny, we love the food on Cococay so much (taco bar, chicken sandwiches, funnel cake) that we don't expect to be super hungry for dinner on those days.

That's why I resisted the temptation. I think this weekend I will schedule dinner late that day because it is such a good spread on coco cay.

[jam19872016]

7 hours ago, susi_q said:

We're returning to cruising after many years busy with other pursuits ... Joining Mariner on Thursday ... we dont have any status (yet) ... but are there any tips/tricks/secrets that we can enjoy on our quick journey??

 

Thanks so much for your "reporting" ... helping me get excited!

My #1 tip is Monday morning don't hold up debarkation because I will be waiting to board 😅.

 

But seriously don't try to do it all because it's your first time back. Go have fun but be sure to take time to relax and marvel at the beauty of the ocean surrounding you.

 

The helipad is a great spot for sailaway views. If you go all the way forward on the outside of deck 4, take those stairs up to 5 you will reach it.

 

You can also spy in the bridge. Walk to the front of the solarium on port side. Take those doors outside and follow it to the front. There you will find windows looking down I to the bridge.

 

Enjoy your return to cruising!

[jam19872016]

That's all for me.

 

Tomorrow is our sea day.

 

Good night everybody.

[OCSC Mike]

6 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

The helipad is a great spot for sailaway views. If you go all the way forward on the outside of deck 4, take those stairs up to 5 you will reach it.

 

Agreed. We did this on Indy last month although it was also partly b/c there were 5-6 ships leaving PC that day. There was an extended horn battle with Mariner too.

[jam19872016]

Good morning from a day at sea.

 

I was up pretty early amd couldn't go back to sleep. Then I did and now it's after 11.

 

Still haven't made up my mind about sabor. Play it by ear I guess as I get ready.

[jam19872016]

4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Agreed. We did this on Indy last month although it was also partly b/c there were 5-6 ships leaving PC that day. There was an extended horn battle with Mariner too.

I love an unobstructed forward view for sailaway. I always scan the deck plans on a ship that I've never been on looking for one. Sadly many if the newer ships only have obstructed views.

[jam19872016]

Since this ship doesn't have a Starbucks the Cafe Promenade has the full Starbucks menu. I confirmed I could order anything with my vouchers.

 

I asked for a refresher but they don't have either flavor. 

 

So back to the old standby, Frappuccino.

 

[jam19872016]

Guess where I ended up for lunch.

 

[jam19872016]

I made a return to sabor for lunch today.

 

Started again with the guacamole which i didn't photo. We know what it looks like by now lol.

 

Same is true of those delicious chicken stuffed bacon wrapped jalapeños bit I still photoed them.

 

 

I really wanted to mix it up bit those things are too good to not order.

 

Next came the shrimp tacos. I put one in my mouth and remembered to get the picture that's why one is not quiet as pretty looking.

 

 

These were my favorite main dish yet. They were very flavorful and even packed some heat.

 

Chicken and roasted corn empanadas.

 

 

 

Also very very good and a little bit of heat although it could have been a bit spicier for me.

 

Finished the meal off with the banana and chocolate chimichamga.

 

[jam19872016]

Another great meal and at $25 a much better value than ddinner. As far as I could tell it was the same menu. It was fuller than I've seen it for dinner and if they would lower it at dinner I bet they could fill it and make more money than they are now with a half empty restaurant.

 

Of course Izumi makes more money in this space so it makes sense to put it in here but on ships that have room for both I am sad to see it not being offered anymore. 

 

If you are on Liberty I highly recommend giving this spot a try for lunch.

[jam19872016]

I have 645 reservations in the mdr. I will probably cancel them and just eat a small dinner in the windjammer just before it closes because I am again very full.

 

Heading out to the gym now.

[jam19872016]

I'm not sure how, but I am actually a little hungry. I kept my reservation in case this happened but I really don't need a full dinner.

 

Maybe I will pop into the diamond lounge and see of they have some snacks to hold me a little longer.

[jam19872016]

Some assorted dl snacks.

 

 

[jam19872016]

That snack hit the spot. I'm in studio B now enjoying a bloody mary waiting on the ice show to begin.

 

I'm having good luck finding multiple bartenders making it the way I like it. I struggled with that on Mariner.

Edited November 16, 2022 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

Made it to the star lounge 11 minutes to the start for finish that lyric. That was early enough to get a seat this time.

[jam19872016]

What can I say about the ice show?

 

First let me say what I overheard in the diamond lounge. It was the best ice show they have ever seen. That's proof everyone has different taste.

 

I, on the other hand, would rank it least favorite. Very talented group, not a single fall. But the music wasn't for me.

 

The theme was classical music from around the world. Think musical theater from west end, the Russian ballet, Paris opera house etc. If that's your thing you are in for a treat. As for me,  I guess I'm not cultured enough.

 

The final was American music and felt like a completely different show and not really on theme but a very enjoyable finale.

 

No diss at all to the talented cast. The story and music just weren't for me.

[jam19872016]

Snuck out early to catch the Windjammer before it closes.

[jam19872016]

I'm not sure if it was always there and I didn't notice it or if it's recent but the Windjammer dinner theme is now listed in the app. Tonight the app said it was Caribbean night.

 

It was Italian. 

 

 

 

Dinner was decent. I still managed to eat too much.

[jam19872016]

I found this duck in the stairwell.

 

 

I forgot to mention one I found last cruise also in the stairwells on the last night after I had finished posting for the night. That seems to be where I find the most ducks.

[jam19872016]

There are casino drawings at 10 and 1030 but I don't want ti get sucked into playing so I'm gonna walk around the outer decks for a while until the drawings.

 

The plan is to go in, win the money, and run back out. I'll at least achieve two out of three 😆. 

[Cherries Jubilee]

I’m really enjoying this review! I’m considering a family cruise on Liberty but I feel like it might be too similar to my Anthem cruise.

 

Do you know if Cafe Promenade has oat milk?
 

Also is there a place to get the famous roast beef sandwiches on Liberty?
 

 

 

[jam19872016]

2 hours ago, Cherries Jubilee said:

I’m really enjoying this review! I’m considering a family cruise on Liberty but I feel like it might be too similar to my Anthem cruise.

 

Do you know if Cafe Promenade has oat milk?
 

Also is there a place to get the famous roast beef sandwiches on Liberty?
 

 

 

I have not sailed anthem but I have been on sister ship odyssey and I don't think they are similar. Unless you are talking about the itinerary being something similar to the one you took.

 

I will find out about the oat milk next time I pass through.

 

The sandwich if it is available will be at the Windjammer on the lunch buffet. That is the only place I have ever seen it on this class of ship. I have not seen it since I've only been once but I would be surprised if it wasn't there at least once. I will check tomorrow, maybe that will be roast beef day 😋

 

Glad you are enjoying thanks for reading along.

[jam19872016]

Had an odd thing happen when I went to cash in my remaining vouchers. I had one less than I should have had. 

 

Upon checking my account I had a charge from the casino. The bartender took my card long enough to see it said prime and handed it back.

 

She never swiped it. She never asked my deck since the card doesn't list the deck.

 

The first day a bartender there asked my room number and wrote it down. He's the only one, and that was two days ago. 

 

Anyway, I will need to follow up tomorrow and make sure the charge for the second poweraide is removed. 

 

Thank you to everyone who subsidizes my free poweraide. $5.25??? That is an insane markup.