Live from Mariner of the Seas b2b 9/13-9/20

[jam19872016]

I spent the last couple hours constantly refreshing my phone. Tried to watch some TV but it was pretty weak.

 

Walked around a bit. I finally found a nice spot for sailaways. I like a forward facing deck with no obstruction. Found the helicopter pad, perfect spot for sailaways.

 

Casino looked eery, I've never seen the machine displays turned off.

 

[jam19872016]

Did cartoon trivia and now about to try afternoon trivia. I'm up here in the viking crown lounge way at the top of the ship and one bartender just said to another five words you don't ever want to hear on a cruise ship "do you smell something burning".

[keyboardjunkie]

Since we have been on the ship for B2B's thought I would respond to a few questions:

 

1.  The day before disembarkation you have a Covid test (deck 2 conference room) in the morning.  They ask you to make an appointment using a QR code they provide or to to a provided website.  The test is quick and painless.  It is very well organized and 'sanitary' - including plastic on the floor and everyone in the equivalent of hazmat suits.  They e-mail you the results by the afternoon.

2.  On turn around day, about 9:00 they ask all B2B's to go to the Star Lounge on deck 5.  While there, they distribute new sea pass cards.  As soon as the departing guests are all off the ship, they walk everyone down to deck 4 (elevators for handicapped) where you 'bonk' off the ship using your old sea pass card (once, they collected them but the last cruise they did not) and walk down into the terminal.  In the terminal, they do the face recognition scan.  When everyone has done that, you walk back on the ship.  If you are staying in the same room, you can return to your room.  If you are moving to a new room, you will need to wait until the cabin attendant sanitizes it.  Rooms are ready for everyone at 1 PM (but the signs say 1:30 just in case).  The bars are closed until regular boarding commences.  When that begins, bars open, windjammer opens (you sign in and out of the Windjammer with your Sea Pass card), Jamie's opens ($), and Johnny Rockets opens ($).  It is very painless.

 

Lastly, someone asked about crew.  Right now, Royal is not letting crew off the ship to go shopping.  This means that they are limited to what they can buy in their commissary.  Based on my conversations they can use items like snacks, candy, soda (particularly Coca Cola as they do not sell Coke soda in the commissary), and laundry pods.

 

I hope this helps......

 

Madeline

[2chiefs]

17 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

<<<SNIP>>>As soon as the departing guests are all off the ship, they walk everyone down to deck 4 (elevators for handicapped) where you 'bonk' off the ship using your old sea pass card (once, they collected them but the last cruise they did not) and walk down into the terminal.  <<<SNIP>>>

Bummer. We always keep our sea pass as souvenirs (helps remembering dates, ships and cabins we've been in).

[keyboardjunkie]

3 minutes ago, 2chiefs said:

Bummer. We always keep our sea pass as souvenirs (helps remembering dates, ships and cabins we've been in).

 

They delivered them back to our cabins later the same day.

[jam19872016]

20 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

Since we have been on the ship for B2B's thought I would respond to a few questions:

 

1.  The day before disembarkation you have a Covid test (deck 2 conference room) in the morning.  They ask you to make an appointment using a QR code they provide or to to a provided website.  The test is quick and painless.  It is very well organized and 'sanitary' - including plastic on the floor and everyone in the equivalent of hazmat suits.  They e-mail you the results by the afternoon.

2.  On turn around day, about 9:00 they ask all B2B's to go to the Star Lounge on deck 5.  While there, they distribute new sea pass cards.  As soon as the departing guests are all off the ship, they walk everyone down to deck 4 (elevators for handicapped) where you 'bonk' off the ship using your old sea pass card (once, they collected them but the last cruise they did not) and walk down into the terminal.  In the terminal, they do the face recognition scan.  When everyone has done that, you walk back on the ship.  If you are staying in the same room, you can return to your room.  If you are moving to a new room, you will need to wait until the cabin attendant sanitizes it.  Rooms are ready for everyone at 1 PM (but the signs say 1:30 just in case).  The bars are closed until regular boarding commences.  When that begins, bars open, windjammer opens (you sign in and out of the Windjammer with your Sea Pass card), Jamie's opens ($), and Johnny Rockets opens ($).  It is very painless.

 

Lastly, someone asked about crew.  Right now, Royal is not letting crew off the ship to go shopping.  This means that they are limited to what they can buy in their commissary.  Based on my conversations they can use items like snacks, candy, soda (particularly Coca Cola as they do not sell Coke soda in the commissary), and laundry pods.

 

I hope this helps......

 

Madeline

That's disappointing if my room is not ready. Its not like all rooms are magically done at 1. Someone's room has to be first, shouldn't it be those doing consecutive cruises?

 

I would just eat until my room is ready but I've seen their portion sizes and I'm no match lol.

 

Oh well, either way I'm on a cruise 🙂

 

Also that is a shame they are not being allowed off the ship at all. I hope royal will reconsider that soon.

[keyboardjunkie]

Jam:

 

Go meet your new room steward the night before this cruise ends.  Explain that you will be moving into room #.......   Ask if they will flip that room first.  They generally will. 

 

Also, with as empty as this current sailing is (1,200 guests, 29 children, & 12 Pinnacle), your new room may not be occupied now so it could be immediately ready.

 

The reason crew may not get off the ship is that Royal is trying to maintain a 'bubble' around them.  They are tested every week for Covid.  They do not want them out-and-about and risk them bringing something back to the ship.

 

Madeline

[jmklade]

1 hour ago, jam19872016 said:

Lunch at Izumi was good again.

 

Spicy crispy shrimp roll.

 

 

This was good but not spicy.

 

Crisly rice spicy tuna.

 

 

This was spicy. I have a high tolerance for spicy and this was indeed spicy. Very delicious but don't order if you are not a fan of hot foods because this wasn't messing around.

 

Chocolate lava cake. 

 

The spicy tuna looks great!

[jam19872016]

8 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

Jam:

 

Go meet your new room steward the night before this cruise ends.  Explain that you will be moving into room #.......   Ask if they will flip that room first.  They generally will. 

 

Also, with as empty as this current sailing is (1,200 guests, 29 children, & 12 Pinnacle), your new room may not be occupied now so it could be immediately ready.

 

The reason crew may not get off the ship is that Royal is trying to maintain a 'bubble' around them.  They are tested every week for Covid.  They do not want them out-and-about and risk them bringing something back to the ship.

 

Madeline

Good point about the room being empty. Its nearby my current room so I walked to it yesterday but couldn't tell if it was being lived in or not. 

[jam19872016]

2 minutes ago, jmklade said:

The spicy tuna looks great!

It was soooo good. I really have trouble finding something that says it is spicy and really is without just being liquid fire with no real taste. That and the crunchy texture of the crispy rice and it all just worked perfectly together. 

 

I'm trying to sample as much of the menu as I can but that is definitely getting a repeat order. 

[jam19872016]

I resisted the urge to grab a hot dog. Dinner is at 545 at chops. It is the specialty im least excited about but the filet was better so I may get that again just not quite as cooked through. I will be good and hungry for it for sure.

 

Come on 545 🙂

 

[keyboardjunkie]

Jam:

 

If you like lamb, it is really good at Chops......

 

Madeline

 

[2chiefs]

39 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

 

They delivered them back to our cabins later the same day.

Whew! 😓

[jam19872016]

34 minutes ago, keyboardjunkie said:

Jam:

 

If you like lamb, it is really good at Chops......

 

Madeline

 

I don't think I've ever eaten lamb. I think I will give that a try on my next visit.

[lazydayz]

8 hours ago, flamingos said:

Covid not detected!   We will be joining you on Friday!

 

  

Us, too.  We used the at home monitored tests purchased through e-Med and both hubby and I tested negative!!  Looking forward to a great weekend getaway on the Mariner.  

[jam19872016]

Dinner was good. I'd still rank it at the bottom of the specialty restaurants but it was good.

 

Crab cake.

 

 

That thing is all crab no filler very good.

 

Black pepper bacon.

 

 

Filet mignon 

 

 

For dessert I got the key lime meragne pie.

 

 

I have to point out how prompt the service was. I was done with dessert 50 minutes into my meal. My last steakhouse experience on carnival took 3 hours. A+ to Royal.

[jam19872016]

This picture is for any tablecloth obsessed carnival readers.

 

 

No tablecloth at the steakhouse tonight.

[jam19872016]

There is a light rain outside right now. We are docked in Nassau until 9. I'm in the solarium staring at Freedom of the Seas for a bit while I decide on my evening plans 

[flamingos]

2 hours ago, jam19872016 said:

There is a light rain outside right now. We are docked in Nassau until 9. I'm in the solarium staring at Freedom of the Seas for a bit while I decide on my evening plans 

Did you see the SpaceX launch, by any chance?  

[jam19872016]

No my only view was the freedom docked next door. I don't think I could have seen it this far out or I might have tried. 

[jam19872016]

At the pub now listening to the performer. He is playing leaving on a jet plane. I forgot that is a real song and was singing leaving on a fun ship.....then I was like wait why are they singing a carnival song on royal. Ooops.

[SheSailsFL]

 

1 hour ago, flamingos said:

Did you see the SpaceX launch, by any chance?  

I did!  It went right over my driveway!  Never gets old! 

[flamingos]

We went down to the beach. Canaveral is ~120 miles south. 

Edited September 16, 2021 by flamingos

[SheSailsFL]

 

17 minutes ago, flamingos said:

We went down to the beach. Canaveral is ~120 miles south. 

 

Love the photos!  Always better photos at the beach.  I’m about 4 miles inland. 

[jam19872016]

A little late night snack at Cafe Promenade.