momof3cruisers

This is a really informative review. Thanks for doing this.

Maybe it’s buffet night at the pilot boathouse. He forgot to hit up Kroger’s before work so he had to improvise. 😉

I had this happen last fall. My friend and I booked a cruise under her VIFP number for a really good rate (not casino.) Then she had an issue come up at work that meant she couldn’t go. I got all kinds of dire claims from people on here that they wouldn’t let me board or they would make me pay the full fare rate etc. None of that happened. I got to check in, they asked about her, I said she wasn’t there yet and was on my way. Now, I wouldn’t flat out tell them the other person isn’t coming but they don’t call you down to guest services or anything else before or after sail away.

You all are getting me very excited for my Halloween cruise. Doing a B2B on Spirit. We are boarding on Oct 22 and don’t get off until Nov 5th. 😎😎

Well bummer because I really wanted that dish with the berries! LOL We are going to Aruba and Bonaire in a few weeks. Thinking of renting a car in Aruba and still haven’t decided what to do in Bonaire. Thinking probably snorkeling.

On Paradise in March, we had to do a “sing-off” to determine the winner. Sadly, I froze at the last moment (down from 7 to 3 of us) when the guy before me sang Jingle Bells and that’s what I had in my head. LOL

Thank you!

I have sailed in October a few times but never over the actual holiday. Share what fun things have happened for your previous Halloween cruises. Any can’t miss events?

I’m feeling completely technology illiterate here. I have done the sign up. I downloaded the app, signed in, gave permission and it’s stuck and has been for days at the page to continue after giving permission. I even tried deleting the app and reinstalling. Nothing is working. I’m about to give up. Any suggestions?

That new menu sucks. Sweet potato fries were SO good as was the grilled cheese with tomato etc. I’m fine with paying for items but this is just a bummer.

Continuing to enjoy your review. You’re going to get me close to my sail date. cCan you tell me if magnets stick to the walls and door of your stateroom and is there one of the little mailbox type things outside your door?

Great review so far! I appreciate all the pictures. Did you happen to take any of the water park?

Wouldn’t be surprised. A friend from high school was a life guard at Newport in the mid 80s and was paid $20 an hour. We were all stunned.

In our area, (second tier suburb of Minneapolis) the lifeguard jobs at the Y are in very high demand by teens as they pay really well. They start at $15 and after a year go to $17 and our minimum wage for under 18 is $10 something an hour. Of course the fact that it’s a year round lifeguard gig is a huge plus too. Not many of those in MN. 😂

Well that’s a bummer. Sounds like he changed his style. I wonder if people complained that he wasn’t “fun” enough.

I can give you a slight answer from the mom of someone who auditioned for production cast. They hold auditions and then rehearsals in fairly large groups. Sometimes, it’s just one cast member who gets sent to a ship to replace someone leaving for various reasons. When the shows are the same, that cast member is ready to go upon boarding. They also rehire talent who already know the choreography etc. Having the same shows streamlines the whole process. This is what she was told at the callbacks. (She didn’t get cast.) But it sure would be nice if they changed things up. The cast gets bored of doing the same shows too.

LOL….who knew that you were the only one with the correct opinion? I’ll be sure to check with you for any other choices I make on my vacation in the future. Too funny. I have enjoyed room service and will continue to do so. Would I prefer it to be free? Of course, but the paid items I have ordered have been quite good. I have also paid for the privilege of having them bring a pizza to me instead of standing in the very long line for it. I have health issues that can make standing difficult. It’s worth the $ to enjoy my vacation a bit more—while I eat my pizza…on my balcony. 😎🙀 And I have definitely seen a lot of wasted food on trays n the hallways. However, you see a lot of wasted food everywhere on cruises.

Can you order drinks at the steakhouse bar when not eating at the steakhouse?

Most of the bartenders can make the mocha chocolate getaway as long as they have a blender. I’ve also ordered a BBC from the various bars around the ship. Just FYI. I love most of the drinks at Alchemy. Last cruise I discovered the Whimsy Scarlet at the comedy club and that became my drink of choice.

I love how not a single one of the FIVE California cities listed, not a single one even has a cruise port. And as you pointed out, no FL ports? What alternative cruising reality is this?

That’s interesting. He was CD on my first cruise after the restart on I think Freedom. I actually stopped him in the hall one day to tell him that I appreciated his direct and to the point announcements with no extra fanfare. When did you sail with him?

Funny—you get off the day WE get on. Jam—thanks for doing this. We weren’t 100% thrilled with the ship switch either as we had paid extra for a balcony on Lido on a B2B and are now under the Serenity for part 1 and under the buffet for part 2. As in, not in the same cabin both legs.

Serenity has its own menu with some lighter choices. I really like the Skinny Fizz and the Serenity Cape Cod. Their sangrias are nice too.

Just highlighting these parts of your post to say that not seeing ANYONE you are sailing with for 12 hours is insane! My daughter and I sailed together in March. We like to do different things. I love trivia and relaxing on the Serenity deck. She’s into karaoke and more active stuff. We checked in with each other after each activity. Because it’s good to know the other person is okay. And she’s TWENTY FIVE and I’m 50. Same daughter back when she was 15 or so, decided to stay out past her agreed upon curfew ONE night on a cruise. We had connecting cabins and she apparently thought we wouldn’t notice. Silly little girl. Next day she was required to stay with mom and dad. She never broke curfew again which was 15 min after the club activities ended. Not only can kids get into mischief and trouble, but mischief and trouble find them and their safety can be at risk.

One thing I just remembered—last year in Oct they also had four seasonal cocktails at he lobby and casino bars. I tried three and all were good. Hoping they have them this year!