Cruiser Formerly Known As Cheapo Dad's Trip Report on Odyssey of the Seas Sailing to A Minus B Plus C Plus H Islands

[harryfat1]

Also gone since 2017 is the dude who used to hang around the beach looking for a tip to set up the lounger chairs.  Maybe we got off the ship too late after the IFly experience or they stopped the tipping policy but I didn’t see anyone there looking for a tip as all the lounger chairs were already set up.  I prepared some small bills in case I had to pay for the dude to set it up for me.

 

Anyway, there are lots of loungers around and many trees/umbrellas so if you want a shady area, you should be able to find one.

 

As with land real estate, the closer to the water, the more people preferred so all the early birds got the first row of chairs right by the water and then the second, third, and later rows were taken. Since we didn’t get there until after 11 AM, all the front-row loungers were occupied. 

 

Personally speaking, it’s not a bad thing because as the day wore on, the sun would shift so that the shaded area would be completely gone in the first row by 11. 

 

So if you want the front row but not in the direct sun, come to the beach early and then leave early to avoid direct sun exposure.

 

We were in the last row before the “walkway” that people can walk by and there are more loungers behind the walkway.

 

See the walkway dividing up the umbrellas.  Not much sun in the row closer to the water but more shade in the back rows

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

So after scouring around the area, we found 2 X 2 chairs with the boys in the front and my wife and I in the back.

 

 

 

I like this area because it’s shady and has a straight path to the beach in the front as well as to the lunch area behind us and the restroom on the other side.

 

 

Turning around, the buffet lunch is just behind the blue umbrellas in the middle so it's a convenient area

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

The boys in front of us and nobody behind us other than the walkway

 

 

[harryfat1]

After dropping off the stuff, we took turns being in the water just so there was always someone to watch our stuff

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Technically my cell phone is supposed to be waterproof up to a certain point but I wasn't going to tempt fate in case someone bumped into me and my phone took a deep dive so I didn't go too far into the water

 

I had a waterproof camera that I should have brought along on this trip then I just wrapped it around my neck and took as many pictures as I wanted in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

I like the old dude in the background holding his drink as he walks across the water...

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

The North Star is up

 

 

Even at the beach, we visited the uncle in prison (aka shipboard photography) with the boys in the picture together

 

It's just crazy to me the dude is that deep in the water with the expensive SLR taking pictures

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

We also took turns getting lunch.  I was the first one to get something to eat as the boys were still in the water when I stood in line at 11:45. I wanted to grab lunch earlier before the buffet area got messy

 

Here is the lunch area as you see people taking the food back.  You can either eat on the benches there or eat by the beach. We have always brought back our food to eat at the beach with the view of the ship as how often do you get to do that back at home?

 

 

They are open from 11:30 to 1:30 so don't be too late for the lunch area

 

 

Self Explanatory

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

You have your basic burgers/hot dogs/chicken/corn and salad selection.  Another sign of RCI cutting back on the food quality.  Back in 2014 and 2017 when were last at Labadee, they had ribs as part of the lunch offering.  Not there anymore

 

 

My lunch in 2023

 

 

My lunch in 2017

 

 

Much better fruit display back in 2017 as well.  Didn't see anything like this back in December

 

 

 

 

Edited March 2 by harryfat1

[NHProud]

15 minutes ago, harryfat1 said:

You have your basic burgers/hot dogs/chicken/corn and salad selection.  Another sign of RCI cutting back on the food quality.  Back in 2014 and 2017 when were last at Labadee, they had ribs as part of the lunch offering.  Not there anymore

 

 

My lunch in 2023

 

 

My lunch in 2017

 

 

Much better fruit display back in 2017 as well.  Didn't see anything like this back in December

 

 

 

 

Without going to a lot of work do you know offhand if RCL’s  expenditure for food per passenger has gone up or down per the last quarterly report.  

 
I was not impressed with the monotony of the WJ .  Obviously, the goal is to get passengers to eat in the premium restaurants.  
 

I’m sorry to see you end this review. No one can accuse you of not being thorough. 

[JamesEM]

When visiting 2 years ago, I apparently didn't pay enough bribe money to the chair guy because when I returned from the swim up bar my lounger was gone, but my belongings were on the sand.  

[harryfat1]

19 hours ago, NHProud said:

Without going to a lot of work do you know offhand if RCL’s  expenditure for food per passenger has gone up or down per the last quarterly report.  

 
I was not impressed with the monotony of the WJ .  Obviously, the goal is to get passengers to eat in the premium restaurants.  
 

I’m sorry to see you end this review. No one can accuse you of not being thorough. 

As you recall, back on my Navigator of the Seas trip report, you requested that I analyze the foot cost for half of the year (the latest info available at the time).  Here is the link (see post #413 for those that didn’t read the old info):

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2958097-cheapo-dads-trip-report-on-the-navigator-of-the-seas-maybe-with-few-pictures-added/page/17/#comment-66046593

 

I assume the cost remained similar for the rest of the year.  Originally I was going to do a comparison for the whole year but Biker19 mentioned that there’s already a discussion on the RCI board on the 10K results so there’s no need for me to reinvent the wheel if people are already talking about it. 

 

Being thorough is part of the occupational hazard of being a “bean counter” as you have to be detailed oriented to survive this job.  Almost every Accounting job posted online requests the ideal candidate to be detail-oriented.  

 

There’s an old saying – treat others the way you want to be treated (apparently most people on social media never heard of this saying as they constantly bash one another).  When I read other people’s trip reports, I want them to be as detailed as possible as being a 9.2 on the anal scale, I don’t like surprises on my vacation so I look for tips that help in my planning. And since I get bored easily with my ADHD tendencies, I also want to be entertained when I read trip reports. 

 

Thus when I write my reports, my target audience is myself as I write these reports the way I want to read them if I was on the other end.  Loads of hourly details and photos and tips on boarding/disembarking and maybe a Baby Got Back video to keep me engaged.

 

This trip report is almost done but not quite there yet.  To borrow the old sports adage – it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.  She’s last seen in the background warming up but not on the stage yet so we have a bit more to go before we wrap this up.

[harryfat1]

17 hours ago, JamesEM said:

When visiting 2 years ago, I apparently didn't pay enough bribe money to the chair guy because when I returned from the swim up bar my lounger was gone, but my belongings were on the sand.  

Next time you should wrap a couple of diapers to both sides of the lounger chair and squeeze a little mustard on the diaper with a touch of water dripping from it.  I guarantee you that your chair will be untouched…🤪

 

Heck, you may not have anyone sitting next to you if you point the mustard part outward to both sides of you so you will have lots of space to stretch out…

 

 

[harryfat1]

Back to the trip reporting

 

++++++++

 

So I brought the lunch back to the lounger chair area.  You can either eat on the benches by the buffet or bring it back to your chair to eat.  The view is better back at the beach area

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Then it was my wife and the boys' turn to get their food

 

 

Dessert Time

 

[harryfat1]

They had different groups coming by periodically singing and dancing to keep the area lively. That's assuming you want it to be lively. 

 

If you want your beach time to be nap time, it might not work out for you

 

 

Between the drums and megaphone chanting, it's likely your nap time will be cut short

 

 

[harryfat1]

So done eating and washed my hands in the bathroom by the lunch area.  It's time to just chill out at the beach

 

 

 

You can hang your hats underneath the umbrella

 

[harryfat1]

At about one o'clock,  my wife and I decided to walk along the beach to see what was happening at the other part of the Columbus Cove. 

 

As I said, we are not the sitting type on vacation.  Not even at the beach, not when there are photo opts to be had...

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

 

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

There’s a water park on the other side of the walking pier.  I don’t know what the cost is to use the water park – anyone who knows can leave a comment so others will know

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at our lounger area

 

 

[harryfat1]

 

 

 

 

Does anyone know the cost of doing the slide?

 

 

 

[harryfat1]

Ok.  Enough pictures.  Time to go back to the lounger chairs.

 

After we came back, both boys wanted to check out the area as well so my wife went back with them while I chilled out at the lounger.  I might have dozed for a few minutes while they were gone.  I think I woke up when the next roving musical band came by to do their act

 

Here are their pictures

 

 

 

[NHProud]

2 hours ago, harryfat1 said:

As you recall, back on my Navigator of the Seas trip report, you requested that I analyze the foot cost for half of the year (the latest info available at the time).  Here is the link (see post #413 for those that didn’t read the old info):

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2958097-cheapo-dads-trip-report-on-the-navigator-of-the-seas-maybe-with-few-pictures-added/page/17/#comment-66046593

 

I assume the cost remained similar for the rest of the year.  Originally I was going to do a comparison for the whole year but Biker19 mentioned that there’s already a discussion on the RCI board on the 10K results so there’s no need for me to reinvent the wheel if people are already talking about it. 

 

Being thorough is part of the occupational hazard of being a “bean counter” as you have to be detailed oriented to survive this job.  Almost every Accounting job posted online requests the ideal candidate to be detail-oriented.  

 

There’s an old saying – treat others the way you want to be treated (apparently most people on social media never heard of this saying as they constantly bash one another).  When I read other people’s trip reports, I want them to be as detailed as possible as being a 9.2 on the anal scale, I don’t like surprises on my vacation so I look for tips that help in my planning. And since I get bored easily with my ADHD tendencies, I also want to be entertained when I read trip reports. 

 

Thus when I write my reports, my target audience is myself as I write these reports the way I want to read them if I was on the other end.  Loads of hourly details and photos and tips on boarding/disembarking and maybe a Baby Got Back video to keep me engaged.

 

This trip report is almost done but not quite there yet.  To borrow the old sports adage – it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.  She’s last seen in the background warming up but not on the stage yet so we have a bit more to go before we wrap this up.

So either you have a fantastic memory or you went back and checked. And , yes it was me that asked you about RCI outlay for food.   I’m assuming with the newer and bigger ships with more passengers and more restaurants they have some formula in place to determine their profit margin on food.  I’m just curious how they go about determining what will sell and how much they can charge.  

[perfect match]

We will be visiting Labadee on our Allure cruise at the end of April. Here’s some screenshots of today’s prices for the water park, the water park combined with the coaster, and the water slide. We purchased our ziplines back on Black Friday at about half of today’s sale prices.