blondcat

Day 6 and it’s actually embarrassing how lazy we’ve been today. Last night we went to the suite lounge as usual and played cards. We went to MDR for first time and actually had a great time! We thought the food was yummy. SD demolished her lasagne which is a good sign as she has such a small appetite. We went to pub after and nabbed the last table around 9pm and planned to stay for the 70s show. I ordered a vodka soda water and it was 17 dollars! I find that wild. I think it was 10.99 for the vodka and the rest was soda and service charge or whatever. Blows my mind how expensive it is! And yes I acknowledge we’re in this pricey old room but meh - double standards guy over here I guess! the show was really fun and we got back to the room around 11pm. concierge invited on a bridge tour today which my partner was really excited about. The first officer was very generous with his time and answering questions and we got to take pictures. Was a really nice little treat! we’re back in MDR tonight for formal night 2 - partner will be thrilled about getting his chinos back out! SD loved dressing up though so it’s a win for her. Hopefully the food is as good tonight :))

We’ve been for breakfast and lunch a couple of times and I think it’s pretty good! We aren’t fussy eaters, no allergies etc. I found the salad to be nice and fresh and I like that if you want to you can actually make yourself a healthy plate of food! Breakfast I liked that they did fried eggs and put them on little saucers for folks to grab although wasn’t that warm. I’m not a huge fan of scrambled egg. Took us a while to find tables but the staff are very quick clearing up from what i can see. I wouldn’t go to the buffet for dinner as the main dining would be my preference for the freebie option but I think the Windjammer is just fine!

Today was Tortola and we went to the Virgin Gorda baths - absolutely magical. Quite physical winding your way through the baths, my mother would struggle a bit I think l

Dinner last night was chops again and I’d say don’t bother paying extra for the lobster - not worth it. We did enjoy sushi the night before at Izumi

So as usual I fell into a Caribbean dream and lost track of posting. In St Croix we did the turtle snorkel thing - it was brilliant. Then got a cab to rainbow beach. The cafe there was very expensive and took 45 mins for 2 x nacho orders and ripped us off a pina colada! But it was still nice to see the beach as well as to the turtle excursion. I think we saw about 10 turtles which was brilliant and got some great go pro footage you can actually see the turtles in the sea as soon as you pull into port and which is great for everyone

It is a lovely room isn’t it! The only thing I find slightly annoying is that it’s immediately below the pool deck so pretty noisy! we haven’t tried the bigger ships yet but have icon of the seas - a sky junior suite booked for 2025. Although I think my family only ever want to stay in this suite. Tbh I think they’d be happier with the smaller ships. But seems a shame to cancel this suite as I think they were quite sought after.

So cruise day 2 We spent the day at the pool. The suite sun lounger section is really good actually - seems to be room for everyone that wants seats in that section. We had 3 loungers and another family of 3 came and nabbed the 4th and last in the row so we just gave them one of ours - plenty of room for all of us. We were all in and out of the pool anyways. I was walking past a lounger and overheard a couple saying it was much better now they clear the loungers that have been saved. That sounds like a good idea? We loved the belly flop competition and did the dance class on deck. Had wind jammer lunch which was wild and chaotic but actually pretty good. It was formal night tonight and I would say it’s overwhelmingly more casual. My partner packed some chinos and he said FFS I have to wear trousers 🤣. I said yes - I want a nice family picture!! I definitely don’t want this to illicit a debate - I’m in the you do you camp. But I like it when BF makes an effort and I think he likes to make me happy :)) we went to giovannis and we really didn’t like it :(( I loved it on brilliance. Doesn’t matter though, we’ll just switch to something else as we were going to go there twice. didn’t get many pics from today - tried to get nice fam pic but didn’t come out too well!

I had the NY strip and BF had the ribeye - both were excellent. SD had the kids steak which was a really generous portion and waiter offered to cut it for her which was a really nice touch as she’s little and the angle doesn’t make it the easiest!

Took this yesterday - they’re by the flow rider :))

So day 1 done. Was a really good day. The whole thing of “you can’t board” this morning which was totally misplaced was annoying. And defo doesn’t make you feel special getting less than before. But the room is still beautiful. We went to the sail away party and spent quite a few hours in the pool. SD queued up for 30 mins for the free ice cream on pool deck which I thought was ridiculous. But she was happy when she finally got it. we went to dinner at chops after cards in the lounge. Was actually really great. Steak was decent and was just a really nice dinner. Far better than Nusr Et yesterday IMHO and it was 0.00 cost ad we had the unlimited dining package - i believe our gratuities are zero because we purchased in the UK and they are included when you buy UDP . BF I think left an extra 20 bucks as he liked the waiter. We didn’t switch the dinner reservation times in the end and SD is shattered so we’re back in the room. Sofa bed was made up ready and a sweet little towel animal was left which she was really excited about. It is so windy out there I feel like I’m on the verge of sea sickness! Lots of motion so I think an early night is in order. We don’t have any plans tomo - it’s a sea day so defo some pool action. Been left this top tier invite thing but not sure what it is. BF: “it’s not for us” 🤣. Some pics:

I will find out for you 🙂

My Bf did! He was bizarrely quite excited about it!

Service so far hard to tell. Concierge is great. Service in chops was good. Our room attendant is lovely but they seem so stretched. It’s hard writing anything critical on here given the room we’re in as people think you’re ridiculous complaining about anything at all but it’s all relative. I think the picture of the R.Suite snacks & welcome drink says quite a lot when you look at the difference in just 12 months. We got to the room and it was ready but there were dirty towels left behind. Every other time I’ve stayed in this suite the goodies have already been here when we arrived. They came today at 1300. Same as our luggage. Arrived 1500 and was down the other end of the corridor. In the lounge we played cards for over an hour before dinner - only offered one drink. In the past been offered multiple. None of it has been worth mentioning (in my view), but I think perhaps there is less staff or they have to do more ? Hard to say but I notice the subtle differences. But we’ve had a lovely first day regardless 🙂

LOL as nice as the free Italian bubbles and missing strawberries were I miss the moet! Luggage found down the end of the corridor thank god! We’re baking at the sail away party :))

Yes travelled from the hotel - and gave the 3 cases to the baggage chaps just in front of suite check-in. Not going to lie, slightly freaked still! But 2 glasses of bubbles deep and telling myself not to be melodramatic…. Also we were really dumb - forget to pack sunscreen in hand luggage so can’t go to the pool until suitcases arrive which is a shame. Every other cruise I’ve been on the luggage has arrived straight away. But I’ll know for next time not to assume. The shop on board doesn’t open until 430 so just doing a bit of admin in the room whilst I still have decent wifi. Although I’ve been up and down like a yo-yo - had 4 phone calls in 20 mins, chefs table, art thing, spa - can’t remember what the other one was Also a little downgrade observation, always been Moët previously, now Italian sparking wine and not as good snacks. It’s actually lovely tasting but interesting contrast nevertheless Now: last year:

Not going to lie, this is freaking me out slightly! All our luggage is showing up as being in Turnberry Way !! No idea where that is but i feel like it would be weird that they all show up as over there … it looks like a port ? Pray for us!

It was fabulous from start to finish. Really lovely hotel! Although not sure my SD got her monies worth from the breakfast buffet, she eats like a sparrow :))

Check in was a breeze although one agent got stroppy about our names - my partner and SD have the same name and he has legal parental responsibility. I have a different surname as we’re not married. She tried to suggest we wouldn’t be able to board without written permission from SD mother. 7 members of staff had to get involved and confirmed that is not the case as they are father and daughter. I was secretly thinking her mother is living her best life for 2 weeks, she’s not going to be best pleased if I have to WhatsApp her and tell her were dropping off her child early 🤣 we were in the room at 11 although no sign of our bags yet. No idea how the drinks packages work - do they know you’ve got it from your set sail card? BF is looking for a Mocktail. SD living her best life 😎

Yes defo will! We’re just finishing breakfast at the mandarin. We were planning to get to the boat at our check in time but concierge said to get there for 1030 and she’ll meet us so we’re heading off in 30. Hopefully she’s not too hacked off with us - we already want to change our dinner reservation as SD has just spied the silent disco at 8 so that’s where will be heading. Breakfast with a view.

He had a tear in his eye watching his departure video 🤣. He’s a big old bloke covered in tattoos and shedding a tear for Harry’s departure *eye roll*. He’s still hoping we’ll be able to watch the spurs game in the pub tomo……

So today went to the gym, was small but well equipped, I’m so out of shape, was a real struggle. our room rate includes breakfast so we headed there after. Was pretty good and the egg station was great. After that we went to the hotel pool which was perfect. Great service, gorgeous water and view. Not over croweded at all. Lots of Instagram posers which caught a few sniggers round the pool but if I looked like those girls I’d probably be doing it too! We were there from 10-2. then headed to Nusr Et to see what all the fuss is about. They’ve just introduced a 40USD lunch so it’s a good way of seeing whether youd bother with the more expensive dinner. Honestly I would not. The service was poor, they screwed up my drink and then argued with me about it, forgot our side, my SD ordered her steak medium and it definitely was not that. They didn’t correct the bill for the incorrect drink. It was just underwhelming. The food was quite tasty though. Evening was the Miami dolphins - and despite the cab taking forever to get there it was so worth it. We had an amazing time … FIRST DOWN!!! We got so into it and getting home was a breeze. some pics including the steak which was allegedly medium

BF is trying to convince himself it’s a good but I think he’s actually traumatised. Thanks for the updates!

BF is trying to convince himself it’s a good but I think he’s actually traumatised. Thanks for the updates!

Thank you! We’re super excited now

🤣 I mean I don’t think many people visit England for the sensational summer weather but it started with such promise. May and June were so warm, Royal Ascot in late June was glorious, too hot for the men in their suits tbh. But July has been dismal whilst the rest of the world apparently set record breaking temperatures! I think it’s a bit nicer for the next couple of weeks - always the case when I leave the country