PinkSandGirl

Day 9 - Sea Day A surprise in the Celebrity Today last night. Bug Trivia, in the flesh. 🍹

Martini Bar Area Currently sitting on Deck 5 overlooking the Martini Bar and dance floor. It's not packed tonight, like usual. Usually all of the chairs are taken and people are packed in. I can't imagine what it's like on a fully booked sailing. It is lively. I do understand how people say the noise (music) carries all throughout the area and there aren't many quite spots...even just to have a conversation. Eden earlier was loud with a DJ as well. When sitting in World Class, it is loud. It's nice to have a lot of places surrounding this area but I also think that can be a down side when in those other places. It is not the Martini Bar on S-Class. If you like that (I do), you have to get that out of your head on here. It may be called the Martini Bar but a totally different feel. The bartenders still have their flair and perform. It has grown on me. I don't like when it is jam packed though. Martini Bar in the Grand Plaza. When there isn't a DJ, there is live music at times. Some are really good. Channel 5 is Celebrity Entertainment and plays recordings of some of the performances. 🍹 What it looked like at 10:45pm. Not usual. Other pictures from various times.

I love these deer. 🍹

As I said in previous posts, it hasn't bothered me but it is very noticeable and has gotten more frequent and in more areas. 🍹

I crack up whenever we walk by this. It's in the staircase area within the Retreat areas. 😂 🍹

Chocolate on the bed tonight. A cute little box. 🍹

Shellac Fire & Ice Pedicure. Feet feel happy. I always like to book for one of the first days but my mom wasn't sure what day and our butler wanted to book it. That was nice but I should have done what I usually do and book when I board. We couldn't get anything earlier than today (unless it was on Port Days). I also wanted two appointments at the same time, for my mom and I. Remember to use your Captain’s Club Discount if you have one. 🍹 Pink. I usually get Cream Puff (white) for a cruise but they were out of it. Pink is always good. 😉 View when sitting while getting Pedicure

Two cabin issues today #1. Before pool time I went to the cabin to put my bathing suit on and when I opened the bathroom door, a really bad smell came out. No one was in there previously. I saw water on the floor by the opposite wall under and surrounding the ottoman. I opened the door to where the toilet is and there was water all over and brown 'gunk' on and around a grate in the floor. 😬 The water was around the toilet and ran out to the opposite side of the bathroom. It was a lot. I took pictures, but I'm not sure anyone wants to see that. Whatever that was. It wasn't coming from the toilet. I called Our Butler. She said she'd come but sent someone who looked and said a plumber would come. Eventually, we think a plumber came ???, had to ask about getting the floor cleaned again, it then got done. She kept up on them to get it done. Was told it is a drain and there is stagnant water in there?!?!? How it overflowed or came out? I don't know. My mom and dad's room next door had a smell but no 'flood'. They had their drain cleaned as a precaution. My mom said she smelled something when we boarded. Our bathroom had a slight tinge but then went away. This is a new ship. 2. I wanted to go to the Retreat Lounge before the show but our safe wouldn't open so had to wait for someone to come. Our cabin attendant was in the hallway so I told him and he called the Chief Engineer. He called a second time and the guy came to fix it. *** So, my mom and dad just had the same thing happen to their safe! *** 🍹

Day 8 - Sea Day The sun is shining! Slept in, Lunch at Oceanview Cafe and a cocktail from the Oceanview Bar, Cafe Bacio for Iced Tea, Fire & Ice Pedicure, Pool Deck at the Retreat with some frozen daiquiris and pool time. Decided to go to the 7pm show rather than the 9pm one. Retreat has reserved seating but it does get full so go early. The Retreat Concierge staff all line up and the butlers are there. How cute. The show tonight was Stage Door. It was good. The three production shows were all very good. After the show we went to Luminae for dinner. Now to decide what to do tonight. So much to do but then also feel like being lazy and relaxing. 😉 We received those dreaded departure luggage tags today. 😠 I'll talk more about that later. We're still cruising and have another full day and night! 🍹

I booked a room. They don't do day passes. I booked many, many months ago and asked if I should book the day before and get late check-out or day of and early check-in. The gentleman said book day of but he would hold a room the night before so I could have early check-in. Staff and service was wonderful. We had the beautiful Beyond to come back to but it was a tease to stay at the Ritz-Carlton for such a short time. We all said we would go back and stay there. I would also do the same thing again if visiting Aruba on a cruise. The creaking doesn't bother me but it is definitely noticeable and more creaks have come. 😂 Thank You! 😃 🍹

The App did show our reservations pre-cruise but initially mine didn't. I called and they had to do something to fix it. 🍹

Yes, there is the 9 hole called Links something. 😉 He prefers 18 hole courses and last year they let him take a golf cart around to look at it (he didn't plan to golf there last year) So, this year, everything was planned before we arrived. He didn't feel like bringing his clubs because we have to fly so he rented clubs, he's a lefty and they have both. The clubs he said were fine. The 5 iron had something wrong with it so he told them but other than that, all good. I'll get more details about them. He also played in Curaçao last year. He liked that as well. That is a hike from the ship. The golf course was open but it was becoming a Sandals Resort around it, but he was able to play. I don't know the progress it's had since them. The course is staying. That was well maintained as well. 🍹

A perfect Sea Day! 🥰 🍹

Hi! Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf. He liked it. 18 hole course. Well maintained. It was windy and many elevation changes. Nice grounds and houses while driving in. It was 16 minutes from the gas station outside of the port. So, allow an extra 10 minutes to the ship. It's over by the California Lighthouse. One hole butted right up to it. I'll get some pictures from him and post. 🍹

A wonderful view. 🥰 Excuse the bags on the couch, I didn't feel like unpacking them from our day yesterday in Aruba. 😉 🍹

Internet We have Xcelerate. Thoughts about my experience. 1. I do think it is a step above from the previous internet I had last year on the Equinox. 2. It is slow at times. 3. I can't upload videos to this thread. 4. There are a couple websites I can't access. 5. For some reason, it just randomly drops the access. There are four of us, all with Android phones. It doesn't happen at the same time, it doesn't always happen to everyone. Text messages will still come through but no phone calls. When that happens, we have to restart our phone and then do the whole sign in again. It did this to all of our phones on the Behind the Scenes Tour but we think that's because we were in a 'secure' area. It has since done it a few times. As for a laptop and uploading files... I have to do some work today so I will report how that goes. 🍹

That's good. 😉 I was talking to a couple who are Deck 11 Aft and they hear creaking. They brought it up and I said I hear it as well. Currently in the cabin and walls and ceiling are all making noise. 😂 I've taken videos/recordings but I can't get them to upload. 🍹

That's what I always thought, go the first day and book. I was just going by what people used to say about the Specialty packages. 🍹

Maybe because Edge villas come with specialty dining? I was able to book whatever I wanted to. I didn't book a specialty package though. 🍹

We did a Pre-Sailaway Meet and greet at the Sunset Bar (for Roll Call) but for actual sailaway we went up to the Retreat on Deck 17 back by the hottubs because it was low glass. I thought it would be crowded, but not at all. 🍹 The fog came back in. We stayed there for awhile and then after going under the Verrazano Bridge, we walked around the whole area again. There is also seating if you dont want to stand.

You're Welcome. 😃 We are rocking a bit now and the creaking has extended to other parts of the cabin. It doesn't bother me or keep me up but just an observation. Definitely noticeable. 😉 Lite sleepers may want to bring ear plugs. 😉👂 🍹

As @Susanb10567 said, suites can board any time. If you are able to get to the port earlier, you'll be able to have lunch in Luminae. I'll ask if the food at the Pool Deck/Sundeck of the Retreat is served on embarkation day. 🍹 Here is the menu again.

Day 8 Sleeping in a bit today but woke up, looked out and saw this. 🍹

I believe if people book a package, they can't choose any of the restaurants until onboard. The first night is assigned and then you choose the other restaurants/nights once onboard. Considering availability is slim, you may not get ideal days/times that work for you. Do you have a specialty dining package? 🍹