LIVE! First Time Royal Cruiser In Wonder-land Oct 1-8th Let’s Cruise!

[TravelBluebird]

Also, my video of the hotel I’m staying at just loaded up!  Here it is if you would like a room and hotel facilities tour.  And, I don’t usually ask for subscribers to YT here, but I’m just 3 away from 1000 and I would love it if my Cruise Critic family put me over the top!

 

 

[karriec]

Now you are 2 away.

[BecciBoo]

One

[TravelBluebird]

You guys put me over JUST as I was boarding the ship. THANK YOU.  I can’t believe 1,000 people are interested in what I have to say! 😂 but it’s very lovely

 

 Boarded NO PROBLEM at noon.  Got all my UDP reservations on Promenade—now at Izumi’s to see if I can add that.

 

More to follow!  Still pouring rain.  

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

I’m at lunch at the Mason Jar!  If you can get past all the people making reservations, plenty of seats.

 

Going to have the Salmon Avocado Toast AND the Charred Watermelon Salad, and the Mississippi Moonlight (no moonshine version).

 

Tonight is 150 Central Park! Going to start off BIG!

 

 View of the rain from the restaurant!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[OCSC Mike]

That's the drink I had with our brunch in June (alcohol version), really liked it.

 

I also tried about 75% of the menu with my extended family... but neither of the items you got. Too healthy for me, lol, Hope you enjoy Mason Jar.

[TravelBluebird]

11 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

That's the drink I had with our brunch in June (alcohol version), really liked it.

 

I also tried about 75% of the menu with my extended family... but neither of the items you got. Too healthy for me, lol, Hope you enjoy Mason Jar.

 

The Non-Alcoholic version was also very good!  Maybe a tad too sweet.

 

I will often—but not always—look for lighter or healthier options. Nice that they are available!  So glad to not have to do the buffet on the first day,

 

I LOVED the watermelon salad.  Fresh and delicious with some Jalepenos is thrown in for zing.  Going to try and make that at home!  The Ava ack Salmon toast was tasty and generous portion, and I loved the warm cornbread with the pimento butter.

 

Service was fast and friendly.  

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

My room, a Neighborhood View Interior, is very spacious for one person!  Would be fine with DH too.  I do miss the feeling of opening up to the balcony and looking outside. BUT, Just love the layout and the extra window seat. Definitely has a balcony-type layout as I was hoping for. A couple pictures below; full room tour to follow later.

 

No Cruise Compass in the room; I will ask my room steward about them when I see him. No ice bucket is my other one disappointment. 

 

Does anyone know where I can get bottles of water with my Refreshment Package? And my coke cup.

 

No luggage yet I’m going to the 4:30 sail away party if it does not rain too hard (can’t compare with Carnival if I don’t go to the sail away party!)  Evidently there is some big party later tonight with a giant balloon drop, but I have my reservation tonight for the Aqua show which is at the same time.  😭

 

My UDP reservations were a breeze.  The line at the kiosk right where you board on 5 only had a line about 4 deep. Because I’m OCD, I had a typed list of the restaurants I wanted t go to, and times I would be available, and we knocked them right out.  And had to make reservations for the one night I’m planning to go to the MDR (formal night); glad I was reminded to do that.  Got on line about noon.  Then decided to try for the Izumi Hibachi after all, and that line was much slower (only about 5 deep) but I snagged final night Hibachi reservations (at 5pm; that is practically lunch time for me 😂. Looked around the ship and was at Mason Jar around 1pm.  

 

I have dinner reservations at 150 Central Park, Wonderland, Chops, Hooked, Giovanni’s, and Izumi Hibachi.  Lunch reservations for Giovanni’s (which I may or may not keep) and Izumi Sushi. Quite pleased with all of that; definitely getting my value out of the UDP!

Thank you to those of you who told me I could just board early—I’m one of those by-the-rules people, and I have to say it did make me a little uncomfortable “jumping the line” BUT there was NO back up anywhere in the boarding process; I literally walked right through security and check in and onto the ship with no delay at all. I assume if there was a back up they would have been checking check in times (but they did not even look).

 

OK, off to do more exploring of this big beautiful ship!

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

By the way, if you see I always “edit” my posts, its from an old trick that Jim on the Celebrity board taught me—I edit so I can separate the photos by a little space. I am very visual, and I just hate them all jumbled up!

[Hogladyrider]

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

More to follow!  Still pouring rain.  

Welcome to "The Sunshine State"!

[TravelBluebird]

Just now, Hogladyrider said:

Welcome to "The Sunshine State"!

 

 Well right at THIS moment it seems to be a bit of a misnomer.

 

It looks like its letting up finally.  I wonder if they cancel the Aqua show if its raining tonight?

[Spinelli1107]

2 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Got all my UDP reservations on Promenade—now at Izumi’s to see if I can add that.

Where on the promenade did you make your reservations? Trying to get the inside scoop in where and how to avoid the crowds lol. (Ah disregard a I see your follow up post answered this!)
Which restaurants did you lock in other than the Mason Jar and 150? (disregard this question too lol!)
Mason Jar looks amazing. I love the concept of this restaurant and definitely looking forward to trying it. That watermelon salad looks great! 

Looking forward to all your restaurant reviews and pictures!

Super excited to live vicariously through you this week!!! Thank you so much for taking us all along with you! 

Edited October 1, 2023 by Spinelli1107

[TravelBluebird]

WOAH THE captain is not Italian!

 

Sorry, I’ve been cruising on Carnival for so long 😂

 

We just had the captain’s announcement for everyone to complete their muster drill. Honestly, I would have possibly forgotten my head was spinning so much when I got on the ship, but I wandered by my muster station on the way to Izumi.

 

My station is conveniently located by the casino; works for me!

 

Captain is Captain Trym. Announcement in room was very clear.

 

 

[TravelBluebird]

15 minutes ago, Spinelli1107 said:

Mason Jar looks amazing. I love the concept of this restaurant and definitely looking forward to trying it. That watermelon salad looks great! 

Looking forward to all your restaurant reviews and pictures!

Super excited to live vicariously through you this week!!! Thank you so much for taking us all along with you! 

 

@Spinelli1107 Sorry about jumping around like that. Sometime if I’m running around I’ll give the basic details with more to follow later.

 

That salad!  I think I need to go back to Mason Jar and have it again sometime. Was fantastic.

 

And you are very welcome! As a solo cruiser especially this trip, it’s nice to have y’all along!

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[OCSC Mike]

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

The Non-Alcoholic version was also very good!  Maybe a tad too sweet.

 

I don't do whiskey which many Mason Jar drinks include and fruity lemonade seemed to go with an early meal anyway (we had 10:45 brunch although we were there for a while eating so much).

 

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

I will often—but not always—look for lighter or healthier options. Nice that they are available!

 

Best part of cruising in general... something for everyone! I was busy stuffing myself with chicken n waffles, peanut butter stuffed french toast, etc. 😁

 

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

I loved the warm cornbread

 

Agreed. Very good. Glad you had something not overly healthy, lol.

 

54 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

My room, a Neighborhood View Interior, is very spacious for one person!  Would be fine with DH too.  I do miss the feeling of opening up to the balcony and looking outside. BUT, Just love the layout and the extra window seat. Definitely has a balcony-type layout as I was hoping for.

 

It sounded perfect for you when we talked about it earlier, glad you're happy with it. I still don't care about my cabin in general but I'm looking forward to at least having a new category later this month. Mine won't be as shiny and new as yours on the older ship we'll be on but same basic layout (the closet situation is different, I like the Wonder version with two wardrobe type units on either side of the bed, but not a big deal).

 

Cheers!

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by OCSC Mike

[TravelBluebird]

Did some chore-like things.  Fixed WiFi technical issue with Kiosk on Promenade.  Tried to get a NoJito at Boleros (Latin Bar) but they are out of something.  Made me something else and it’s too sweet! Blech.  At least with the refreshment package I don’t  have to drink it! 
 

also got a bottle of water. 
 

prefer a more closed-in Latin bar—there’s some cherry Muzak wafting in here!  But I have a great seat watching the world go by.

 

Right by the Starbucks—always a line, even at sea.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by TravelBluebird

[TravelBluebird]

I’m on the pool deck.

 

still raining.

 

WHERE IS THE PARTY?

 

If sail away party is rained out, where is a good spot to watch sail-away?

[BecciBoo]

Get to the Solarium, all covered and rainless and great spot for sailaway

[fla33023]

22 minutes ago, TravelBluebird said:

I’m on the pool deck.

 

still raining.

 

WHERE IS THE PARTY?

 

If sail away party is rained out, where is a good spot to watch sail-away?

I don't think any line does a sail-a-way party like Carnival. Royal's is more like a nice gathering! lol

[BecciBoo]

Get to the Solarium, all covered and rainless and great spot for sailaway

[BecciBoo]

Watching you sail out now: 

[Donsyb]

7 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

IT’S CRUISE DAY!

 

Woke up to some thunder and pouring rain; last night the weather people said it would be over by noon; now the forecast is not so sure. Oh well, it is Florida!  Oh wait….just got a FLOOD WARNING  until around noon.  Hope that doesn't’ complicate getting to the ship. Also, seas in the port area predicted to be 5 to 8 feet and occasionally to 9!

 

Slept well; very comfy bed and pillows here. I stayed last night at the TownPlace Suites Port Canaveral//Coco Beach. More on the hotel later; very convenient, and one of my favorites here.

 

Got a quick breakfast at the hotel; I’d show you a photo but it was literally 2 hash browns, a coffee and one of those 1/2 yogurts that they like at hotel breakfasts to save money. Saving my calories for the ship!

 

 

We are staying at that hotel before our cruise in December - any tips?

[Hogladyrider]

@TravelBluebird...is it the photo angle but that pool looks small for such a large ship.

[TravelBluebird]

3 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@TravelBluebird...is it the photo angle but that pool looks small for such a large ship.

 @Hogladyrider There are FOUR pools on the top deck; 2 on each “side”.  More photos when it stops raining!

[TravelBluebird]

10 minutes ago, BecciBoo said:

Watching you sail out now: 

 Nice!  Just pouring rain for sail away. Stayed up till now but the wind just about blew me away—now I have to wash my hair, I look like a drowned rat.