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Live" From the Monarch of the Seas- July 20-23, 2012


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This will begin the start of my first "Live" thread of my journey on "Monarch of the seas." July 20-23, 2012. This will be my second journey on Monarch and traveling on a cruise solo. With all that being said I'm not sure what to expect as far as reporting or how well it will go.

 

If I don't produce any additional post, then one of the following happened:

 

A: Fell of the side of the ship drunk.

B: Got pushed of the side of the ship by a swarm of angry teens in their attempt to throw a deck chair of the side of the ship.

C: Got beat up by a chair hog when I sat in their "reserved" chair.

D: Got beat up by someone hungrier than I in the buffet line at the windjammer when I would not move out of their way.

E: Met my future ex wife.

F: Technical issues.

G: Got lazy.

H: All of the above.

 

In any event if I fail because of any of the above, I shall post upon my return. If any of the above should happen or any other unfortunate events, it will not ruin my cruise.

 

My post will be posted from my iPhone or iPad using Tapatalk. My iPhone will be in airplane mode with all cellular data off with the exception of wifi. When I'm not posting, my wireless will be off along with all the other crap my iPhone or iPad have. My post may be short at times. Will post pictures when I can. During the live review my pictures will come from my iPhone and most likely one picture per post as I'm pretty sure Tapatalk only allows one picture at a time. All other pictures I take will be from my Canon camera in which I doesn't link with my iPad or iPhone, so they will wait until the conclusion of the adventure.

 

This is a very last minute cruise, booked 9 days ago. I've got two somewhat back to back cruises planned in November but since I haven't cruised since last November I was in need to be back out on the open seas. My father had passed almost 4 months ago and the mouth and a half leading up to it and of course the outcome wasn't pleasant. A cruise with a group or solo was in order. A solo cruise won. :-)

 

My goal is three or more cruises a year. With my fathers passing I didn't think it was going to be possible with so much missed time from work or if I wanted to. On memorial day weekend my gf and I decided to do a land based vacation in lieu of a spring/summer cruise utilizing our annual passes at Disney. We stayed at Port Orleans in honor of our fathers as hers passed almost a year before mine and always wanted to go to New Orleans. We had a great time, this was our first time staying at a Disney resort, we had a great time pretending we were tourist. Because of vacation times and saving up for an Alaskan cruise next summer she will not be able to cruise this year. This alright as it gives me more opportunity to cruise solo as I've really wanted to do more.

 

And now the fun and exciting journey begins as I depart Tampa for Port Canaveral here very shortly.

 

PS: I'll do my best to live up to "Radio's" and " Trainman-2" excellent "Live" posts. These are hard shoes to fill.

 

Sailing Itinerary:

 

July 20- Port Canaveral

July 21- Nassau, Bahamas Noon-11:59pm

July-22- Coco Cay, Bahamas 8:00am-5:00pm

July 23- Port Canaveral

 

 

 

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My trip from Tampa to Port Canaveral was mostly uneventful. Around Lakeland traffic came to a halt suddenly, there were clothes all over the road and an suv in the median with Vermont plates. Looked like four-five collage students standing around the suv. They all appeared alright, another car was on the side of the road near them on the phone. Other than that your typical I 4 crazy traffic. I left Tampa around 945 arriving at "Cruise Parking at Port Canaveral" where I'll pay $5.99 per day. They are located off exit 46 and require an online reservation to receive this daily rate. The parking lot and safely around it looks great along with their shuttle service. This lot is owned by a former police officer. I arrived here at approximately 1145am. Boarded the shuttle and was on the ship by 12:15. Short hold up getting into the building where they were checking for sail passes and passports and birth certificates. Rooms will be ready at 1:00. Walking around the ship some and about to get an adult beverage. Sun is shining with a nice breeze, couldn't ask for anything more.

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I hope you have a great cruise!

 

I think it's neat that we both have live threads for sister ships going on during the same weekend. Perhaps we can compare notes. :)

 

Sounds good. Is good both sisters are getting represented at the same time. :-)

 

 

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Rooms were ready right at 1pm as advertised. Monarch is showing her age but overall holding her own very well. One thing I like about this ship it's got a good "real ship" feel to it. Guest are slowing boarding. All those that are already on seem lively and ready for some r&r. Just got first drink of the day and it's very tasty.

 

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My room is located in the front of the ship, think this a first for me staying in the bow. Nothing like a good nights sleep out at sea.

 

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Today's Compass

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Today's funny guest comment of the day. Cruise director Mark just got done talking about the rest of today's events. Pink shirt lady " That guys got some sugar in his britches."

 

Muster drill completed promptly at 4:00pm. They do now ask your room number and check you off the list. Just before drill they will call out those rooms missing in the muster area to ensure they didn't miss anyone.

 

 

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We cast away on schedule. The weather has held up well and looks to be in our favor the next couple days. Sail away was enjoyed while sitting at the bow of the ship on deck 12. After we got past the inland canal I decided I had enough sun for awhile and decided to tour around the ship for a bit.

 

My seapass had a dinner time of 8:30 from when I booked the cruise but no dinning room or table number assigned. I had been on the wait list for my time dining. As I was walking I saw the MTD reservation desk, so I decided to ask if I had been switched but not advised. Sure enough I had MTD, nice. Makes things much easier.

 

Stopped by and relaxed in the Schooner bar, one of my favorites on this ship. After relaxing in the Schooner bar decided it was time to donate some money to the casino. That decision and will power to leave when I was ahead worked out for me. I decided while I was ahead I should cash out and go to dinner. Was up $15.00, not sure for how long though once I go back.

 

Decided it was time to eat around 630, checking into MTD. I sat with two groups and had a great time. Two moms and two daughters and another couple and their two children. The daughters were on the cruise for their hs graduation with moms to enjoy the celebration before they go off to college in a few weeks. We all had a great meal and dinner conversation. I had the prime rib, sorry no food porn as I didn't take any pictures.

 

The rest of the evening I'm planning on relaxin and enjoying the motion of the ocean. The Monarch is rockin a bit, but it's very pleasant. I'll check out some of the parties, have a few adult beverages and perhaps visit the casino briefly before calling it a night.

 

Seems to be a good group sailing and it doesn't appear to be tons of kids or I'm just not noticing.

 

Till tomorrow, live from the Monarch.

 

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Really enjoying your report so far! Been on Monarch twice and Liberty since ... but I will always have a real soft spot for Monarch and would love to sail on her once more before she goes to Pullmantur.

Have a nice Saturday and don't miss the Chocolate Frosted Donuts up in the Windjammer at Bkfst .. OMFG they are awesome! :D

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Friday evening has been a great evening. First part of the evening after dinner was spent at the Schooner bar where I enjoyed great conversations with a young adult daughters and their parents from Georgia and then another nice group of ladies. All points ended at the Piano bar at Schooner before "the circuit". Also met a nice mom from Michigan that was on her first cruise with her kids aged around 8/9 from Michigan. Sold her on getting the same drink as the daughter from Georgia got. She's hooked on the drink and cruising now. She's planning a surprise trip for her kids around Christmas. It's always so exciting to see a new cruiser so excited. She asked me how many cruises I've been on and said this was my 14th, she was like your a veteran. Lol.

 

Rowena the bartender at the Schooner is great. I plan on presenting her with a RC WoW before the end of the trip.

 

Fun people and fun times on the Monarch Live. Till a later time...

 

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Friday late night after my $ 8.00 donation to the Casino (Still even so far) I ended up at the Boleros bar and ran into my table mates the mom and daughters. They got after me because I hadn't danced on the dance floor so I obliged. The horror. :-) We all had fun, then I reminded them the girls wanted to go to the 80's party and there was only 20 minutes Left so we left from deck 7 to deck 8 to go to The Circuit for the rest of the 80's. It was The Circuit I got on the dance floor. Around 12:45 we decided it was time for pizza and headed to get pizza. Around 1am we decided it was a night.

 

I then headed to the open area of the front of the ship on deck 12 and enjoyed the night. The sky's were clear and the breeze was wonderful with the stars being so clear.

 

As I said to the moms with these short cruises if one doesn't condenses so much the first night they loose a lot. Think of it as squeezing seven days into three. On a six-seven day cruise your not totally relaxed until day two or three.

 

We made plans to meet up at Señor Frogs on Saturday. Worst case we all have dinner together once we coordinate times.

 

Ahhhh. The fun days and nights at sea, as I sit here at the bow of the ship this evening, I wish I was able to do this more often.

 

I love the sea, and wish I was able to cruise more often.

 

Around 1:30 I called it a night.

 

Till a later time. Live from the Monarch.

 

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Day 2 compass. I'm off to find some food. I was finally up and about around 9:45 am. After locating food which ought to be a chore on a ship, I'm off the the Circuit Lounge for C&A welcome back party.

 

Till a later time. Live from the Monarch.

 

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Went the Windjamer to grab a quick bite to eat and the went to the C&A welcome back party. Party was well presented with the usual drinks and snacks. Today's fun fact if you don't memorize the size of each ship and how many passengers such as myself: Enhancement holds less passengers than Monarch. 2100 vs. 2600.

 

Am excited to have learned a few weeks back Enhancement was taking Monarchs place next year. Am thinking of booking my next RCCL cruise next spring on Enhancement while I'm on board. I've got two Carnival cruises already booked for this fall.

 

As I was typing this into my notes on my iPhone up here on the pool deck 12 I got asked to take several peoples pictures with Atlantis in the background. We are still docking now in Nassau. I'm thinking I'll just take the water taxi over to Paradise island and walk around Atlantis for a bit then head back to the downtown area and fend off the beggars ending at Señor Frogs, then back to the ship.

 

When I was getting food I ran into the moms, they had just woke up too. The graduates were already out and about early this morning. One mom couldn't believe she was hungry.

 

Approaching Nassau.

 

Till a later time, live from the Monarch.

 

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nice review! we'll be sailing her in 2 months. do you know if the muster drills still held outside for some guests? I know on many of the ships they use other locations so that we're not out in the heat.

 

All musters on Monarch are on deck 7.

 

 

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**Utilizing Nassau's welcome centre internet** Departed the ship and purchased round trip water taxi for $ 8.00 to Paradise Island. Walked around Atlantis some and decided to gamble a bit, I started out donating $ 25.00 to this lovely resort but ended up with Atlantis donating a little more than $ 25.00 to me. Wasn't that nice of them? I could have stayed there all day but didn't want risk losing, so I left. Wasn't easy. :-) When I left my house I brought along with me $ 200 in cash. Unusual for me as I never have cash on me. I've still got $ 200 in cash and then some. That's including paying for my water taxi and tipping the driver where I left my car.

 

Karma must be on my side so far. I'm leaving now from Atlantis and off Nassau Begging Center errr I meant marketplace area along with Señor Frogs.

 

Stopped by Señor Frogs to see what fun craziness was going on there. I wasn't disappointed that's for sure, there's never a lack of entertainment there. Not feeling wanting to have a drink there I left and walked around a bit more before heading back to the ship.

 

On the water ferry over to Paradise Island the two guys in front of boat got to enjoy a cold beer. See wrapped in paper bags.

 

Till a later time I'm headed back on to the ship to eat, relax and do a whole lot of nothing.

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