My View: Family of the Seas takes on Harmony...again (Semi-live)

[APDMOM]

 

My View: Day 2 - Perfect Day in Coco Cay:

 

[APDMOM]

I am usually the early riser of the family who tries to capture every sunrise on a cruise.  Today, I missed the sunrise by just a little bit... My body was trying to get used to this firm mattress and a restless night caused me to “sleep in” until 6:30.

 

Sunrise over Great Stirrup Cay:

 

[MrsKC08]

Do you happen to have the evening portion of day 1 compass? I see the last image you shared ended at 5:15? Maybe a back page?

[jimbri]

Enjoying your review and photos!

[APDMOM]

1 hour ago, MrsKC08 said:

Do you happen to have the evening portion of day 1 compass? I see the last image you shared ended at 5:15? Maybe a back page?

Oops!  I will have to look for that.  I did not see it the first day... May be buried among our papers. 🙂

[APDMOM]

We enjoyed the free breakfast at Johnny Rockets, including their amazing breakfast sandwich and fresh pancakes.  Despite many cruises of eating breakfast at Johnny Rockets, this was the first time we saw the entertainment.  Such a fun group!

 

[APDMOM]

After breakfast, we went to guest services to purchase WOW bands.  We had these on MSC Seaside, and decided we would always purchase them if the price stayed reasonable.

 

Tip: The bands are $4.99 and worth every penny to us. They become like your seapass card from opening your door to purchasing merchandise on the ship.  They also have your loyalty perks like diamond drinks uploaded.  The only thing you have to remember is that you still need your seapass card to leave and enter the ship in port.

 

 

[MrsKC08]

Don't know if it is just me, but your movie clips aren't showing a video for me.

Edited November 12, 2019 by MrsKC08

[KLMB]

Following, Thank You!!

 

[SenatorsFan]

Movie clips are working for me.

[Ren1216]

Movies not working for me either (wasn't planning to say anything because I didn't want OP to worry over trying to figure out why).

 

Edited to add:  I've been simultaneously reading your MSC Seaside review (loving it! and very seriously considering that line now).  Anyway, I thought the wrist bands on Seaside cost you $50+ and these are $5?  Maybe I am remembering wrong.  And is this a daily cost or for the whole week?

Edited November 12, 2019 by Ren1216

[suesnake2002]

Had to download clip to watch

[APDMOM]

49 minutes ago, Ren1216 said:

Movies not working for me either (wasn't planning to say anything because I didn't want OP to worry over trying to figure out why).

 

Edited to add:  I've been simultaneously reading your MSC Seaside review (loving it! and very seriously considering that line now).  Anyway, I thought the wrist bands on Seaside cost you $50+ and these are $5?  Maybe I am remembering wrong.  And is this a daily cost or for the whole week?

 

Sorry to hear the videos are not working for everyone.  It is slow to upload, since I am on free surf today.  No stream... I will check when we are home and maybe reload them through Youtube.

 

As for the wrist bands, they are $5 on MSC and $4.99 on Royal.  (Hope I did not make a typo on my Seaside review).  It is for the whole cruise.  I was also told we can use the Royal wrist bands again on another cruise as they can reprogram them.  I will try it on a next cruise that has Wow bands. 🙂  

[APDMOM]

@MrsKC08

I found the evening program for day one.  Thanks for catching that!  🙂

 

Day 1 Evening program (Port Canaveral):

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Although the weather was beautiful on the island, we were unable to go up, up, and away for the helium balloon ride.  The wind was too strong.  We were ensured that we would receive a refund, which was indeed added back onto our onboard account by midnight.

 

My views of Coco Cay:

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were plenty of loungers with umbrellas at the beach and by the pool, even though we did not get there until after 10:30.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Uploads are pretty slow right now, so I am signing off until later. 🙂

[George C]

Looking forward to rest of review, you always have the best reviews , hope we get to sail with you and your family again on a future cruise. 

[cravingthis]

Thanks for sharing while on your cruise vacation!  The pictures look amazing. 

What camera or phone are you using?
Please let me know if/when there is the seafood and chocolate buffet in the WJ!

 

Thank you!

 

[bobkins40]

5 hours ago, APDMOM said:

 

Tip: The bands are $4.99 and worth every penny to us. They become like your seapass card from opening your door to purchasing merchandise on the ship.  They also have your loyalty perks like diamond drinks uploaded.  The only thing you have to remember is that you still need your seapass card to leave and enter the ship in port.

 

 

 

will they have the drink package on them ?

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, bobkins40 said:

will they have the drink package on them ?

 

Sure, the bands can be scanned and that will access the onboard database with all your info.

[Ren1216]

2 hours ago, APDMOM said:

As for the wrist bands, they are $5 on MSC and $4.99 on Royal.  (Hope I did not make a typo on my Seaside review).  It is for the whole cruise.  I was also told we can use the Royal wrist bands again on another cruise as they can reprogram them.  I will try it on a next cruise that has Wow bands. 🙂  

Thanks for the info on the wrists bands.  I wandered back through your Seaside review -- my mistake, I read it wrong..."I started the day with an early morning visit to guest services to purchase the wrist band.  It is already worth the $5 I paid for it.  "  I thought it said $51... which seemed awfully pricey!  $5 sounds much more like something we'd try.

 

If I may, a couple more questions: 

1) How is the elevator situation?  This is the one common complaint I often see in reviews. 

2) Can't recall now if you have the UDP... if so, are they allowing you to use it multiple times per day (if you've even tried this)?  There's a current report that the new Hotel Manager (I think it was) is not honoring the Unlimited part of the product description, and instead is restricting guests to one lunch and one dinner per day (as in... no add'l stops for appetizers or desserts outside of those 2 meals).

 

Love your reviews... beautiful pictures, great info.  Thank you so much for all the time and effort you devote to helping others.

[APDMOM]

1 hour ago, red-dragon said:

Thanks for sharing while on your cruise vacation!  The pictures look amazing. 

What camera or phone are you using?
Please let me know if/when there is the seafood and chocolate buffet in the WJ!

 

Thank you!

 

I will try to find out for you about the Windjammer.  We are not spending much time there, but I will see if we run into it or find it in the app.  
 

I use a Nikon P900 for most of my pictures, and sometimes an iPhone XR. 🙂 Thank you for reading along!

[APDMOM]

21 minutes ago, Ren1216 said:

1) How is the elevator situation?  This is the one common complaint I often see in reviews. 

2) Can't recall now if you have the UDP... if so, are they allowing you to use it multiple times per day (if you've even tried this)?  There's a current report that the new Hotel Manager (I think it was) is not honoring the Unlimited part of the product description, and instead is restricting guests to one lunch and one dinner per day (as in... no add'l stops for appetizers or desserts outside of those 2 meals).

 

1) We did the cabin crawl today and the aft elevators were definitely more crowded and slow. Forward elevators are not much of a problem, except when shows let out and after muster drill. 

2) We do not have UDP, but something strange happened at Johnny Rockets this morning.  For 4 cruises on Oasis class we were always able to get free orange juice for breakfast at JR.  Yesterday was no problem either.  Today, we were told they only serve freshly squeezed juice, which is an upcharge.  We opted for water and fee coffee.  Then, they brought us the free orange juice that we had yesterday.  We saw many other tables also receiving the free orange juice.   I am not sure if there is a strong push from management to sell the freshly squeezed juice or if the waiter lied to try to sell juice for an extra gratuity.  

[APDMOM]

More views of Coco Cay, including a favorite of my mom and dad:

 

 

“Sandcastle”:

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Views of Coco Cay from the ship:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip: For the shop lovers like my mom, the vendors are across the bridge - when you exit the pier, turn left to cross the bridge:

 

 

 

View of Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian private island):

Edited November 12, 2019 by APDMOM