GetToLivin

Hello from the Bahamas! We arrived on time and had the green light to get off the ship by 11:15am. Gorgeous weather, so happy the rain stayed away! We decided to go to Margaritaville which is about a 15-minute walk from the pier. We purchased our passes on ResortPass at around $100/pp plus fees. It includes entrance into their Fins Up Waterpark and Beach, beach chairs (first come first serve), wifi, and towels. Food and drinks are an additional fee. When you exit the port area, take a right and continue walking on the sidewalk (hug right the whole way). You'll pass the old Colonial Hilton on your right, and you'll see a McD's to your left around halfway through your walk, indicating you're on the right path, but continue to stay right. Eventually, you'll come to a hard right and you'll see Margaritaville right in front of you. You will continue straight, follow the signs that say Fins Up, it is on the right side of the hotel. This is the check-in area for day passes (pic below), you do not go through the hotel. The only thing they could have done better here is to have one line for pre-purchased day passes and another for walk-ups (which take longer). When you pre-purchase it's a breeze, they confirm your name and reservation number, give you your wristband, and you're good to go. At the entrance, towels will be to your immediate left. To find the beach, keep right until you see the bar (you're basically walking to the other end of the resort) - you can get to the beach by walking around the bar and down the slope (left side of this pic). We had a later arrival today and I thought I counted four other ships in port (RCI (Hi Oasis!) and Carnival) so I was a wee bit worried we'd be outta luck finding a decent spot at noon, but I was wrong - they had plenty of loungers on the beach and we had no issues finding a spot right away. This pic was taken right from where I was sitting: The resort is absolutely beautiful, it has such a good vibe and energy (DH said this was one of his favorite day-pass resorts we've ever done). The waterpark has some waterslides and a lazy river, looks like a great place to bring kids. The drinks and food were delicious and as you can see, prices were reasonable: We had a good bartender so our drinks were plenty strong and smooth, we tried the margaritas and blended drinks: And just in case you want to burn a few calories, they've got you covered... I don't know what beach this is (I'm sure someone here will know) but it was pretty packed out. To the left there is a place to get massages, their prices were better than what has been offered on my sailing thus far but they will ask you to go online and make an appointment. This is located directly across from the Margaritaville bar. One word of caution (and I know this is such obvious advice), but CHECK YOUR BILL. We had a $228 bill that should have been half that. We were charged for 3 extra drinks and a $60/tip that DH did NOT authorize. Guy at the front kept telling him to, "just sign, sign" and when DH looked at the bill he said, "I think it's time you go ahead and call your manager over." The guy insisted to just, "give him the three drinks" but obviously, we didn't want them as we were heading back to the ship. So everything was refunded and then charged correctly, it's just very shady and disappointing because it seemed deliberate. Aside from that, all-in-all I would definitely come back here. The amenities are lovely, the views and ample seating will guarantee you amazing ocean views, and the food and drinks were great (food: very flavorful, drinks: not watered down). It's a short 15-minute walk so no need for a taxi unless you prefer one. One final pic...the water was so glorious to swim in! So back to the port we went! Crowds had cleared out so the walk back was easy and quick. We haven't been here since this new area was in place so I took a couple of photos. It's really a nice upgrade, tons of shops, beverages, wares, etc. They have separate exits for those walking and for those who want a taxi, so mind the signs and they will lead you where you want to go. For one last bit of entertainment, a couple of guys from the Carnival ship next to us had a security guard yelling down the port to hold the ship, not sure of their sprint time but something tells me they broke their personal best today 😉 And our final picture of the evening, leaving Nassau and waving goodbye to Oasis (met a lot of nice people at the resort today sailing on Oasis, have a blast and enjoy Sabor for me!).

I guess I need to start going to the Top Tier Event 😇

Last night we found ourselves in Playmakers watching the Dallas game. Notice how with each drink the score went up? You're welcome! It was a beautiful morning from Bermuda -- DH and I decided to go to the little coffee shop (Dockyard Pastry Shop) this morning and look for a Bermuda magnet. Some people collect shirts, some collect hats, and I collect magnets from each of our travels, proudly displayed on the side of my refrigerator 🤷‍♀️ We spent an hour or so walking around and then decided to head back and get the day started. This is my favorite spot on the ship, have gotten so much writing done and I just love being able to take a look out of the window to stare at the beautiful ocean when I need a break! Dinner tonight was at Izumi -- they were a bit behind getting everyone seated and just seemed to be running behind in general, so after sitting for 10 minutes, I went across to Schooners and got a couple of drinks for DH and I. Tonight I tried the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned which was delicious! Apparently, while I was gone, it was announced at the table there'd be a $15/pp up-charge to the original package and it sounds like no one expected that. The Crown Lounge concierge already alerted me to it when he booked our reservation, so I knew it was coming, but I guess it's not common knowledge? Maybe they say something about it in the cruise planner when you book, but I didn't pay attention and I guess no one else did either 🫠 No worries! John was fantastic, entertaining, and made some delicious food... We had the Green Mix Salad as a starter (ginger dressing is outstanding). DH had the Geisha (NY Steak and Chicken) and said the steak was the best he has had on the ship yet. I had the Izumi (scallops and lobster). My food was delicious! I've had so much seafood on this trip and have yet to be disappointed. Dessert was the green tea ice cream, light and refreshing! We are currently marinating in our dinner in our stateroom, convinced that lying flat will get rid of how much rice we ate tonight 👀 We may head down to the Quest game in a bit if we can stand upright. We've gone to nearly every Quest and always enjoy a good laugh. Ship is a rockin' tonight but skies are clear. Tomorrow is a sea day so I'll try to grab some pics of the ship in general and share. Here is the photo of the day: as I was writing I noticed the light starting to change and went out onto Deck 4 to snap this photo. It never. gets. old. And with that: this Quest is ::clap clap:: closed!

This! I'm more on the introverted side and what I love about the RCI ship layout is that you can enjoy the people-watching and activities, OR find a space where you just want to feel like it's you and the ocean. One of my favorite things to do on each cruise is to find "my spot" where I know I can go and write, reflect, etc. Then, when DH is ready to meet up we head to the venues with more activity going on (DH is extroverted). We each get our fix 😁 Back in 2021 (I know I said 2020, typo! Where did anyone go in 2020, yeesh...) we tried the Hyatt Ziva in Cancun which was absolutely gorgeous, lots of restaurants, bars, pools, etc, and I remember being grateful to even go somewhere but also...I just kept looking out at the ocean wishing I was in the middle of it on a boat. Like, my heart ached for it. That's when I knew I'd probably never spend my hard-earned money on a land vacation again 😂

We woke up to Bermudiful sunny skies with a bit of a breeze and once we tackled our workouts, we left the ship around noon to start our adventure. There were a handful of shuttles waiting to fill up and once we had 6 people in the cab the driver started us on our trek to Horseshoe Bay (this is one port where the shuttles are basically next to the ship, we didn't have to walk far at all and that was nice). Bermuda is such a beautiful island! Everything is so well-manicured, green, and lush, and the building architecture and colors were just gorgeous. The drive to the beach will go down as my number one favorite drive on an island, the scenery was second to none. When we arrived at Horseshoe Bay the driver took us all the way to the entrance at the bottom of the hill and we easily found the stand where we could purchase chairs/umbrellas. Chairs were $20/each and umbrellas were another $20. Since it was cloudy when we arrived we opted for two chairs and the attendant set them up for us. It looked like it was going to rain but never did and within 45 minutes everything cleared out and we had some lovely sun. Here are a few photos I took before the clouds rolled out, I love how gorgeous the sand and water look against the dark clouds! I walked a ways down the beach and followed the path to grab some secluded pictures (which I read about on CC, thanks to the Bermuda Board!), the sand was so powdery and soft that I went barefoot 😊 And once the clouds rolled out... We stayed for a couple of hours and then the next set of storm clouds started to roll in, so we decided to get back and get ready for dinner. We did not partake in the drinks or food on this beach so I can't comment on that, but if you come hungry or want an adult beverage, you'll have the option to purchase something. They also have bathroom facilities and plenty of places to wash off the sand on your feet before you get in the shuttle. On the way out there were several shuttles waiting, though they were more stringent on trying to get them as full as possible, which is fine when they run the AC. When they don't, the wait seems like forever and the drive back was less glamorous than on the way there as we were fanning ourselves for the whole thing, so be aware. For us, this beach is in our top three. It reminded us of Aruba and Cayman Islands from the velvety sand to the silky warm water and scenery. We feel so lucky to have visited Horseshoe Bay! One last pic before we left... Dinner tonight brought to you by The Frog and Onion: what a cool pub! Very easy to get to and just a 5-10 minute walk from the ship. DH chose the fish sandwich and I chose the fish and chips, we finished with a sticky toffee pudding. Glad we worked out earlier because I was full as can be after that meal. Very generous portion sizes and the fish was lightly breaded, so the pieces were actually full of fish and not just breading. I should note that if you have kiddos or are traveling in a group, there is an arcade located in the back of the restaurant. Nice little touch if you want to enjoy some conversation and send the kids (or husbands) somewhere distracting 😉 We walked (waddled) around for a bit after dinner which was maybe around 6:30/7pm and it was pretty quiet, all the shops were shut down but there were a couple of restaurants open and this most interesting bar: Tomorrow we're in port until 3 pm but from what my weather app is showing, there will be weather, so I plan to sleep in, get a coffee, and maybe get in a little writing. The Starbucks on this ship has a cozy nook right behind it with three little tables that look out of the port holes. If you need a quiet space to disappear to this is where it's at (and where you'll find me!). I'll leave you with tonight's photo - I'm always humbled by the size of these ships and blessed that these vessels bring us to some of the most beautiful places in the world. Today I was grateful to be able to say, "I've seen beautiful Bermuda, what a way to spend a Monday!"

This makes sense. On our current sailing (Mariner) we are able to go in at all hours, but I will say it was an absolute zoo on embarkation day so I haven't been back to actually utilize the space, it's just too small for the number of people who want to partake.

Crazy prices I understand (for a new ship). What I don't understand is why their bedding arrangements face the seating areas. That's not gonna feng shui with me.

Today we entered yet another time zone change and we are now two-hours ahead of Texas time which threw me for a loop when I woke up at "11 am" (really, but not really). Down to Starbucks I went and after I was revived I noticed it was gorgeous weather outside. Clear skies, minimal wind, couldn't ask for a better pool deck day! I'm not one who wants to be right by the pool so I never have to worry about seating. My ideal spot is right here, up on one of the higher decks with a chair facing the ocean. I happened to be there when the belly flop competition was going on. The crowds were participatory and the MC did a great job creating an interactive event. Dinner tonight was at Jamie's! We love this place. The aesthetic of this venue on Mariner is a little more coastal v. formal atmosphere. Only thing I wasn't a fan of was the music, an odd array of pop music from the early 2000's to today. I wanted some Sinatra, a nice standards playlist of sorts, it's Italian after all 😉 We had the meat plank and crab and avocado for the appetizer. Salmon for me for the main (absolutely delicious), with Penne Vodka (shared) and Penne Carbonara for DH. Our waiter spoiled us with dessert and brought us Tiramisu, Lemon Cheesecake, and Chocolate Brownie. We were already full at this point but sometimes they just insist and what can you do but oblige them 😉 Entertainment was Scott Record and I know we've seen him before and quite recently, but I can't recall which ship. He is a classic entertainer, does a little bit of everything: sing, dance, comedy. Some of the show is cheesy, sure, but you have to admire someone who has been able to make a long career out of making others smile so all in all, I appreciated it and it was a nice way to end the night. Up next: Bermuda! The plan is to catch a shuttle to Horseshoe Bay. We're not docking until 9am but we're not going to get off the ship until noon or so to avoid the morning crowds. We just want a couple of hours at the beach and the afternoon is fine with us. After that, we plan to come back to the ship, freshen up, and go to the Frog & Onion for dinner. We always enjoy a good pub. Will share some hopefully lovely pics of the beach tomorrow! For tonight I'll leave you with one last pic - this right here is my peace. We went on a land vacation to an AI in Mexico in 2020 and I so badly wanted to love it, but all I could think of was how we weren't on the water. I'm a cruiser for life.

Dinner at Chops last night was great as expected. They were pretty full and we arrived a bit earlier than our reservation but had no issues getting seated. The appetizer was the crab cake for DH and I which was outstanding and reveled the "seafood cake" I had the night before in the WIndjammer 😉 DH had the Crispy Goat Cheese salad which I normally get as well, but when I saw the Lobster Bisque I opted for that instead. Big mistake, it's definitely not like the lobster bisques I've had before and while it had a fishy type of taste, it was just a broth, no hint of lobster at all. Not creamy. The waiter came over and asked how I liked it and I told him it was okay and smiled, he mentioned that people usually comment it's not what they were expecting 🫠 On to the main course, DH got the Bone-In Ribeye cooked medium and he said it was perfect. I had the Grilled Branzino which was outstanding - the lemon and salt ratios were perfect on the sear. For the sides we had asparagus, creamed spinach, a baked potato and mushrooms for the steak. Everything was cooked as expected and flavored quite nicely, no complaints. Dessert was the Warm Chocolate Cake (not too sweet at all so I liked it) and Strawberry Ice Cream with Pineapple Sorbet. All in all it was a relaxed day, very low key and we appreciated the nice little touch at the end:

Last night we were in a casual mood so off to the Windjammer we went. It was around 8pm when we went up and it was nice and quiet with plenty of hot food still available. Now, I get that food is subjective but DH and I are seasoning people. We cook with fresh herbs. Salt. Heavy Pepper. You get the idea 😉 The main point is, when we go to the Windjammer we have zero, and I mean, ZERO expectations. But last night it really was good and piping hot. I opted for fish, veggies, salad, coleslaw, and something called a 'seafood cake' with aioli (I admire how they did NOT call it a crab cake, no false advertising here!). Desserts were good too: key lime bite, cheesecake bite, and a beignet set on top of a mug of hot chocolate. The desserts didn't just look pretty but actually tasted how they should. I have sailed on certain ships (Harmony comes to mind) where that was not the case, so I'm glad Mariner came through. All in all not disappointed at all with yesterday evening's offerings. After that we went to the Barnacle and Barrel Pub for some live music and look at this gem of an Espresso Martini, doesn't take much to impress me sometimes 😁 For our nightcap, we hit the Bamboo Room. What a fun little venue! So colorful and festive, and if you need a break from the noise, it's a nice quiet space to end your night. I had one of the Mai Tai's, best I ever had: fresh, smooth, not too sweet and it went down a little too easy. Kenneth from Kenya is a great bartender! Ship was a bit rocky last night but it rocked us to sleep and we woke up to calmer seas. The plan for today was to enjoy some coffee in the Viking Crown Lounge then head to Playmakers to watch the Michigan game since it was listed on their lineup. We arrived around 30 minutes prior to game time and we were able to find seats. By noon, it was packed. Now, I'm going to be a little blunt here because this is a review after all. My DH and I have been on 12 cruises and we always say to each other how remarkable it is that the staff always remains so friendly although it HAS to get old acting happy, smiling, and accommodating day after day after day...month after month...we're all human. We always tip, we're friendly, and if they seem like they want to chat we ask about their home, families, etc. My point is, we know their job is demanding and we sincerely appreciate how they make us feel welcome, which is why I'm really surprised I'm even typing this story. So the Michigan game isn't anywhere to be found on any of the TVs, and DH goes up to the bar and simply asks a certain bartender if he knows which TV it's going to be on. He doesn't get a straight answer from the guy so DH looks up the channel it'd be on via his phone, and the bartender put his hand up and told DH, "you're on vacation, you need to relax and go sit down." Whaaaaaaaaat. 👀 So we digress and eventually someone started changing all the channels and the game appeared to many waiting fans. Yay! Then someone changed them all again, we lost the game, and DH went back up and just mentioned the game was turned off and could they please change it back. The same bartender told him, "Okay. Go sit down." Ya'll. What? It wasn't a, "Hey man, no problem, we're working on it, have a seat and we'll get it going." His response really killed the mood. I'm all for people having a bad day, I get it, but this guy was just rude. If someone is drunk or obnoxious *I guess* I could see this being a somewhat understandable response, but we just came from coffee...we come in peace Mr. Bartender! I got his name, he'll be mentioned on the survey. Anyway, game channel was eventually sorted and we tried some wings and they were great: It was cloudy for the majority of the day and very windy, so I skipped the pool deck but I'm hoping there's pool weather in store for tomorrow. Meanwhile, our stateroom attendant left a little something silly for us: Tonight we have dinner reservations at Chops! It's our 7-year wedding anniversary and this is where we wanted to celebrate. Will report back on the food quality since it's always a hot topic. For now, I'll leave you with our "it's 5-o-clock-somewhere" sunset.

Crown Lounge Concierge... we're in a Jr Suite so we're banned from that side of deck 14 😉

The impossible burger was quite good! I don't always like the heaviness of meat and we're heading to Chops tomorrow night, so I opted to try it out. I'd get it again 😊 Concierge was great, poor guy got stormed for a good hour+ with dinner reservations but I went up early, grabbed a seat and luckily was able to catch him first thing. He was able to secure all dates and restaurants I wanted, but I needed to be flexible with times, not a big deal for us. Here is his info:

After a good night's sleep, I woke up refreshed and hit the gym. I didn't partake in breakfast but it looked pretty good and the lounge area was full of people. Our shuttle through the hotel was ready right at 12:15pm and left on time. After a short 15-minute ride we arrived at our unloading spot and the driver took care of getting the bags off to the porters. We walked up a ramp which led to the check-in area. There was a long line outside of the building itself which wasn't the most comfortable waiting situation in this humidity, I've never had to wait outside of the building before so it just wasn't expected. Now I know! Here is our neighbor, Disney Wish: Once inside, I found the Suites line directly to the left and we were on the boat within 5-10 minutes. I chose a 12:30pm - 1pm check-in time because I honestly don't see the draw of getting on the ship any earlier than when rooms will be ready, it's just too much chaos for me. Once we boarded we went up to Deck 14 to the beloved Viking Crown Lounge. I miss this space on the Oasis class ships! We went ahead and ordered a couple of piña coladas and enjoyed the quiet of the space. On the way up we passed Deck 11 and the line to the windjammer was wrapped around into the hallway - again, I don't see the draw of getting on early just to go into that mess but to each their own. The Diamond Lounge is no more! They wasted no time renaming it to the Crown Lounge (Deck 14 on Mariner). I like getting my coffee and having a space to go to in the morning before I hit the gym. I LOVE that it's located on Deck 14, great views no matter where you sit, however, it is really small compared to Allure and Harmony Diamond (Crown) Lounges and seating is minimal, in my opinion. Rooms were ready around 1pm. I booked a Suite GTY in August at a decent price and was assigned a Jr Suite on Deck 9 around 30 days out. At the time, there were several GS's and OS's available and I was a little hopeful they'd just throw one my way (lol), but of course, I received the RoyalUp email instead 😉 I did bid on a Grand Suite, and for the heck of it, the Royal Suite. Aaaand like I assumed, here we are on embarkation day and I woke up to my rejection email 🫡 Everyone made their flights or I was outbid, either way, you gotta try! On a serious note though, I love having the additional room in a Jr Suite, the extra space in the bathroom and closet really does make the cabin experience more pleasant. While we enjoy the common spaces on the ship, there are times we just want the quiet of the cabin so space does matter to us. Lunch was at Playmakers and this was our first time in the venue. We're big college football fans so we'll be down there tomorrow for the Michigan game (DH's team). It's a really fun atmosphere, several TVs set to different stations and spaces to sit, a pool table, foosball, etc. DH ordered the truffle burger (pictured) and I got the impossible burger. Fries were thick-cut and piping hot! We are still waiting on our luggage and I think for dinner tonight we're going to keep it casual and probably go to the Windjammer. We have 5 nights of specialty dining for this trip so I've placed my wishes with the rep in the Crown Lounge and now I wait to see what days/times I'll actually get. We are just now leaving port, weather is clear making for a lovely departure. See you later, Florida!

Ahh the food posts, here we go! Lunch at Splashdown was great, I got a strawberry salad and the DH had a margherita pizza. Food was surprisingly good and fresh (you never know with hotel food). I settled on the tequila sunrise - very smooth and a great first drink on vacation. The bartender was phenomenal, super conversational. Learned he hunts alligators and ended up more educated about that process than I ever thought I would be 🤓 Took a little nap and before I knew it, it was time to get up and ready for dinner. We went to Grills and it did not disappoint! We sat in the lower level of the restaurant which looks out onto the harbor. DH ordered a blended something with rum on top, very refreshing. We both ordered the catch of the day which was absolutely amazing. The marinade they used was sweet and salty, perfect on the cobia, hearty and filling. DH is a peanut-butter-fiend so when he saw they had peanut butter pie, this happened.... Even with a nap, we are full, happy, and tuckered out. See you tomorrow reporting from Mariner of the Seas!

Our flight was relatively smooth, just a few bumps along the way but that's always to be expected. Here are a few pics of our ascent and as we were nearing a storm over the ocean. We landed in Orlando around 10:30am, had our luggage by 10:50am, found our shuttle space by 11am, and were on our way around 11:30am. I can't say enough good things about Cruise Control Shuttle! They provided outstanding directions regarding where to go and how to find them, including pictures in a nicely laid-out PDF. They emailed me this info immediately after booking and followed up again this week. Additionally, today they communicated via text letting us know our driver's name and a link to view their route. While they said the driver would call us upon arrival, the gentleman actually came in and found us in the waiting area and helped load our luggage. These shuttles only hold 8 people so you won't have to wait long for it to fill up and be on your way! Our first stop was dropping off the other passengers at the MSC port, and next, our hotel! We ended up at the hotel around 1pm and happily they allowed us to check-in early. Here are a few pics of the room, plenty of space and a nice layout. The common areas are very nice, plenty of seating and some cozier spaces as well. The pool area looks nice, unfortunately, we have a lot of wind and rain so we won't be using it! There is a hot tub in the far right corner. The Splashdown Lounge and Pool Bar was one of the reasons I booked this hotel. While we're looking forward to dinner at Grills tonight, I'm really glad we have the option for a light lunch here instead of going back out right away. They open at 2:30pm and here are their offerings: Lastly, the hotel offers cruise shuttle service for $10.80/per person/one-way. They offer the shuttle starting at 9:15am and every hour until 1:15pm. To find the shuttle, you will walk down the hallway toward the pool and gym and you'll see this sign: I think that's it for now! I'm ready for some food and maybe a Caribbean Cruise cocktail 😁

To each their own but we tip $5-$10 for 2 bags.

Good to know! We had planned to shuttle over around noon for a 12:30 check in, hopefully things are calmed down by then. Thank you for the info!

No weather delay, but delayed boarding by 30 minutes because it's the senior pilot's first flight so they needed extra time to do checks... take your time, sir! We are in row 1 with that little bit of extra leg room and a window seat for me 😎 Good news is that the weather looks relatively clear for our flight path so hopefully it's a smooth flight. In other news, Jack was sure to do his angry bark as I walked out the door... but we got some cuddles in before hand... See you in Orlando!

Okay folks, bags are packed, DH has shirts, alarm is set for 4am, and my skin is currently marinating in whatever the "medium" spray tan will end up looking like on me. Now you know I have to introduce you to the furbaby because I'm already missing him. This is Jack and he is our 3-year-old pandemic puppy (he's still a puppy because I say-so 😜). In April of 2020, he was the last of a litter of Havanese puppies and I fell in love with him as soon as I saw his picture. He traveled all the way from a ranch in northern Nebraska via a pet courier and he's been attached to my side ever since! Havanese are such a sweet breed, very loyal and loving: you are their entire world... (DH says he's co-dependent but whatever, he's so cute!) He is my little buddy and he does NOT like it when mama leaves. He has taken out about half a dozen items in protest... Happier days for Jack... I keep checking on the weather like a crazy person as if it'll change what will be. BUT, at the moment, it looks like the weather pattern and our arrival time just might work out so long as the flight path there is also okay. Earlier we had an 85% chance for storms upon arrival, now they're at 35%. Goodnight, more to come tomorrow!

Throughout the years I've read so many LIVE reviews while I'm waiting for my next cruise, and I thought it would be fun to give it a go and pay it forward to all those who have brightened my day through their musings. This will be cruise #12 for us and we've sailed many itineraries more than once but this will be our first visit to Bermuda and our first visit to Perfect Day since the revamp. I visited Coco Cay back in 2005 and loved it then, I'm very excited to see what is in store for us with all the updates. After reading several reviews on these boards our plan is to visit Horseshoe Bay while in Bermuda and head to South Beach in CocoCay. Nassau will be a coin flip - we may head to Margaritaville to enjoy the beach/amenities or stay on the ship, we'll see. Like many of you sailing in hurricane season, I've been watching the Atlantic like a hawk. For now, the itinerary weather looks good! The flight? Not so much! We'll be flying out of Dallas on SW early Thursday morning with a 10:10 am arrival into Orlando. It looks like there's a heck of a storm system brewing so here's hoping everything goes as planned, but it is in these moments that solidify why we always fly out the day before. For the most part, we have always cruised from a port that was close to the airport and thus used a ride-share company, but with the airport being a bit of a trek to Port Canaveral, we opted for a shuttle service so we could guarantee pricing and reservations. After some more research (I love the boards for this reason!) I booked our transportation with Cruise Control. It was $112/roundtrip (for 2) to bring us from the airport to our hotel, and from the cruise port back to the airport. There were several times to choose from and these are true shuttles v. busses so the time waiting for the vehicle to fill should be minimal. SpringHill Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach is our hotel of choice and what sealed the deal for me was that they are newer, all-suite, and have a bar and light-fare offering in the hotel itself. The plan is to go to dinner at Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar and while the weather is looking to be wet and stormy, we won't care: we're not at work, not at home, and there will be drinks 😁 As for the rest of my day today, I woke up like a kid at Christmas at 4 a.m. and my "to-do list" started firing off in my brain, so I'm trying to finish up some work (vacation responder is READY to fire) and it'll be a day of packing, a manicure, and a spray tan because I'm as Nordic as they come. What does DH have to do to prepare? Just remember to pack shirts unlike that one cruise we found ourselves in Fort Lauderdale and he had packed none. While there happened to be a mall close by, saving the day, I don't know we'd have the same luck in Cocoa Beach. While I love the RCI brand, I don't think he needs to be a walking logo for them on the cruise. Yes, I'll be checking his luggage 😜

Date flexibility, which I know everyone doesn't have, seems even more essential now -- but I have been able to find more "reasonable" pricing this way. Then, after I book, I shop up until the final payment and this year I have saved almost 6k on two cruises by doing this. I check pricing nearly every single week and it has REALLY paid off in savings by simply catching these price drops. That said, I'm trying to make the NYE cruise our one annual family trip due to kids being off school, and I haven't booked a thing for 2024 because the pricing is outrageous. This is where the ability to be flexible just isn't there and the sticker shock is setting in. For new cruisers, maybe they don't know better and maybe that's their target while they ride this wave. But I've been cruising since 2004 and while I understand increasing over time, the price gouging is almost offensive.

Saw this on our NYE cruise last year, it was like an obstacle course and I'm not even being dramatic. I always thought it would be a fire hazard as well but for the entirety of the cruise, the hallways of Deck 11 looked like a stroller store.

We're on an 8-day cruise coming up and the price dropped to $299/pp for UDP. A while back I purchased a 3-night and Chops + 1 dining package since there isn't a CK. It's $190 more total, for the UDP: I'm wondering if it's worth it on this class ship? We're used to Oasis class which has more to choose from. Also, can you use UDP for lunch on embarkation day? Would be nice to avoid the Windjammer. Thanks for your input 😎

We also had 11730 on Allure last December and the balcony was hands down our favorite part about that suite. It's huge, perfect views, great place to sit and take it all in, enjoy!!

I've used Resort for a Day for several stops throughout the years, never had an issue and everything is as advertised. I cross-check with Trip Advisor regarding resort reviews, etc., and make the best decision from there.