B2B Monarch/Brilliance with A SOY DAIRY GLUTEN CORN SUGAR FREE KID*ALLERGIC TO CRAB*

[foxesden1]

 

 

 

 

 

So not as good as last time.

 

[foxesden1]

 

Much better steak then the last time I had one on RCI

 

 

 

I thought I would give the tea a try as I am not a fan of cruise ship sledge.. whoops, coffee..

[foxesden1]

We were running behind for the Welcome back party.. it was in full swing when we arrived.

 

 

 

I was advised that they have a flyer at Guest Services, but I forgot to pick it up.

 

 

 

 

 

I got the back of the IS because people were eating the fruit from the front and it did not look as nice. Seemed kind of odd to eat a whole banana at a cocktail event, but to each their own.

 

The food stations were set up on both sides. Our station had two young girls -9 -6 who came to the even with their parents. Both girls parked them selves between the wall and the back of the station and proceeded to play with the food on the mirror. Of course the parents were at the other side of the room..

 

I gave t hem the "mom look" and they stopped and moved on..

[foxesden1]

The Captain gave a run down on how many days were left on the Monarch, spoke about changes to RCI - new ships, sizes, and mentioned that the project sunshine is the best kept secret afloat as non one is taking about it. ;). No one knows anything and no one is saying anything.

 

One couple got their Diamond award, the Pinnacles were awarded their prizes (Roses and what not) and a new Pinnacle member was awarded. They had cake, champs, roses, etc etc etc.

 

I have to say, I do think its funny to see adults walking around with their "PINS ON". I mean, your Seapass card shows your status.. so the staff knows.. I guess I can see you wearing it when your at the M and M, and Welcome back party its a nice little chit chat.. but daily? Not quite my thing, but hey, who knows, my husband says I will get it tattooed on my forehead:rolleyes: if we ever make it.. LOL

[foxesden1]

 

Love and Marriage Show was up next!

 

 

Then bed time!

 

No one else seemed to be doing the late night kid party zone, so other then this one night, we always picked up Em at 10pm. (either cruise)

[foxesden1]

I woke up early and headed out on deck..

 

 

 

Playing with my new camera settings

 

 

I had breakfast in the WJ today - no need to have a Chef tell me how fat I was.. :rolleyes:

 

 

[foxesden1]

 

 

 

 

 

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/582264_10152453841875065_494960421_n.jpg/img]

[foxesden1]

 

So, side note.. I am going to mention this here because I may forget. The following week on my B2B I was in the dining room, and a very loud guest was asking (okay might be another word you could insert) if they had put out RICE KRISPIES on the buffet yet. (day three of cruise) He was informed yes, they had. And then the wait staff explained to him how the ships stores work, and what not. The Guest did not give a hoot, he only wanted to go on and on about how the dining room got RK only because he made a fuss the past two days.. and on the 2nd day, he had to CARRY A BOX down from the WJ him self.. :rolleyes: The wait staff left.. and then he turned to his table mate and said, he never eats RK at home, only when he cruises, so he can't miss a day.. :confused:

 

side, side note.. now, ship stores i understand. very well. because they must be VAST as my daughter only ever got ONE TYPE OF RICE NOODLE (PAD THIA) on the Brilliance.. I was always being told.. they are in the ships stores.. and they could not be brought up for a different type... they had no labels on the ones in the kitchen.. so we could not eat them.. (Gluten free can be made with corn as well).

[foxesden1]

 

 

ODD to RCI STOLLEN BREAD..

 

Oh how I sing your praises, and how I regret we never meet..

while I was on my Transatlantic..

 

:p

 

LORD THAT WAS SOME GOOD BREAD!

 

 

Miss Em wanted to make a pet at sea - the selection was more then a little low on the Monarch, but I assume thats because she is ending her run with RCI shortly.

 

I wanted to hit the cake decorating contest at 10:30 so I ran off and left DH and DD to hang..

 

 

Having never seen a cake decorating contest on the ship, I had no idea what was going to happen, but I did not know I wanted to be in on it!

 

I jumped up when Marc asked for volunteers - and it was GAME ON!

 

 

I don't have any pix, or much memory of what happened, other then I did at least three shoots of brandy in 5min with the CD - and the rest is fuzzy.. I wanted to carve a pool, but Marc kept trying to fill it with booze.. I know we came in 2nd place, and that I went up on deck ate something and then went to bed for a rest !

[foxesden1]

 

Setting up for lunch time BBQ poolside

 

 

 

Mid morning snack to soak up the booze..

[foxesden1]

 

We ended up with the same lunch menu on both ships sea days. It was okay.

 

 

Our view

 

 

Tutti Salad Bar

 

 

 

Today was broth day and my DD was thrilled.. (not so much by the end of the next week.. she still will not eat soup! LOL.

 

The staff was teasing her about her breaking the window, and they were going to arrest her.. it was cute

 

[foxesden1]

 

 

 

 

We played some Ping Pong, and then.. hit the wall..

[foxesden1]

 

 

Miss Em and Daddy

 

 

Now there was NO WAY that Miss Em could have made it to the top with out some "help" :D but she was thrilled to be able to ring the bell. The following week on the Brilliance no "help" was given to climb the wall.

[foxesden1]

 

Did some shopping..

 

and then went to the wine tasting. OMG. OMG. OMG.

 

 

I was laughing so hard, I almost pee'd!

[earn]

Good to see you enjoyed your latest RCI cruises - so far at least. Since we cruised together on Liberty I have been diagnosed with Coeliac (Celiac in US I think) disease. I find that difficult enough at times, but I cannot imagine how it must be for Miss Em. It is great you still travel and I hope all the tests go well in the next few weeks. Hope to see you all on another cruise sometime.

[foxesden1]

Good to see you enjoyed your latest RCI cruises - so far at least. Since we cruised together on Liberty I have been diagnosed with Coeliac (Celiac in US I think) disease. I find that difficult enough at times, but I cannot imagine how it must be for Miss Em. It is great you still travel and I hope all the tests go well in the next few weeks. Hope to see you all on another cruise sometime.

 

Oh my! My FIL is Celiac - he cruises/travels all the time. tricky but it can be done! I was JUST SPEAKING to them about you guys last week! :D Hope you are all doing well!

[foxesden1]

So WINE.. I am not a wine snob, but I know what I like.. :D and I enjoy wine flights etc quite a bit. I booked us in for the Wine testing on the Sea day and we were booth looking forward to it. We were seated at the main table - and I already knew I would not be drinking much, due to my Cake Decorating Booze up that am.. but I was looking forward to learning about new wines.

 

Now, at this point, I must interject, I am Canadian, speak French and lived in France.

 

The event started off something like this..

 

You can't buy these wines in Walmart.. and then he went on to speak about he BOR _DOO region of France.. his accent was KILLING ME.. and yes, the WINE tasted like SWELL.. LOL But we had a BLAST!

 

And the one thing my husband learned now matter how bad the wine tastes, eat some cheese, to coat your tongue and you will be ready to roll!

 

 

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/19502_10152453847265065_648077392_n.jpg' alt='19502_10152453847265065_648077392_n.jpg'>

 

 

They did give us a really nice pkg of information on wine. We really enjoyed that. And then our table mate spilled her wine.. all over the folders.. she was of course.. drinking the swell.

[foxesden1]

 

Off to family bowling! Miss Em is the only one who showed up, she "won" a hat *cute btw and another water bottle..

 

SWAG baby SWAG! :p

[foxesden1]

 

 

 

 

so good!

 

 

I personally think Pizza Hut has better Cesare salad then RCI but to each their own.. my DH orders it all the time..

 

 

This, I did not eat. At all. Processed deep fried chicken covered in a very icky sauce. DH ordered it the following week, and it did not look so "perfectly processed".

[foxesden1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pirate Night -!

[foxesden1]

 

Because we had a flight, and I needed to make a stop on route to the airport for Miss Em - we had to hustle it. We had a 30min window to be able to hit Publix. I had to request early departure tags, as our flight to San Juan was at 11:35

 

Schooner 8:15 departure lounge. We were off the ship by 8:30

 

Happy Limo was to have picked us up at 8:30, txt to confirm, and advised at 8:15 we were on the move. They advised they were around the corner (must have been a very large corner.. as they showed up late. Very late. ) So late that I was not able to go to Publixs and pick up food for Miss Em for the next 7 hours of traveling we had to do. Needless to say, the Mama Bear was out, and pissed. They were advised that we needed to go to Publix, but they just did not care IMPO.

 

Notes -

 

Room Service on board Monarch, was only cold foods (I think.. ) and no room service on the last day. Brilliance served hot foods daily including the day of departure. Monarch was unable to send my daughters breakfast via room service, but Brilliance did every day. :rolleyes: Go figure.

 

I was pleased to have sailed on Monarch before she is transferred out this spring. She has a lot of life left in her, but a few touch ups are needed. The removal of the always wet astro turf poolside would be the first thing needed to be stripped!

 

The staff was kind, friendly and very help full. Most of them all ready knew what ships they were being assigned to and are looking forward to their move.

 

The Muster drill went quickly, but as always it was guests who held up everyone. :rolleyes:

 

We had a great time, but NEVER would we do a B2B with major travel needed between ships. It was just to much work.

[foxesden1]

HANG ON

 

MORE TO FOLLOW..

 

B2B

 

Next Trip Report will be on the BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS..

 

It may take some time..

 

but it will arrive within the week -

 

ALSO within two weeks, all the cruise documents I can lay my hands on will be scanned!

[earn]

Great review. Yes we are all good here. Going on independence TA this year and did Liberty again last year. Have jumped ship for a per-cruise cruise on MSC Poesia, and looking forward to some decent Italian food, and a different cruise experience. Keep in touch, and best regards to David and Miss Em.

[foxesden1]

Hope you do a review!

 

:D

[TheCalicoCat]

great review. My food issues are minor in comparison so I am glad to read that you daughter was able to eat...