ReneeFLL’s Semi-Live Review B2B Ovation TP & NZ Oct 9th - Nov 9th

[ReneeFLL]

Here are a few pictures I didn't post from when we were still in Hawaii.

 

We had a Garden View room, but had a small view of the ocean. These were taken from our balcony.

 

 

An outdoor bar at the hotel.

 

Mai Tai and a Pina Colada. I don't think the bottom part had any rum (at least it didn't taste like it) so there was a big floater on the top. It was strong, a little to much for my liking, but that didn't stop me from ordering one after tasting Mike's. 😁  Even after mixing it up the drink was pretty brown.

 

One of the things I love about the commissary in the Navy Exchange Mall is their sushi. We get it every time we're there. This time we got it on 2 different days. They make it there and you can ask for extra sauce and they will put it on. You can see the extra sauce on the rolls in the front compared to the rolls in the second tray. Yum. 

 

I kept seeing the Rum Chata Limon every time we walked into the little store at the hotel. I wanted to taste it, but didn't want to buy it because I knew I wouldn't finish it before we left. Unfortunately, my bad side won out. 👹  I knew it wouldn't go with sushi, but I tried it anyway. I really liked it.

 

I often bring an orchid on the ship and this was no different. It was the first time I ever carried it in my backpack. Neither one of us had enough hands. I always get lots of stares and some comments. Most people don't know you can bring on flowers/plants, it's just you can't take them off. This applies to the US, but I'm not sure about other countries.

 

[Luckynana]

That sushi looks wonderful!!!!!

[ReneeFLL]

On the ship and then at sail away.

 

 

The Aloha Tower is a retired lighthouse.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Tower

 

Diamond Head off in the distance.

 

This picture was taken from the lighthousefriends website. It changes colors and for October it's red for the Red Cross. In 1949 President Roosevelt proclaimed the first Red Cross Month in 1943. In honor of the yearly tradition it will be lit in red. In March it was yellow and blue to show solidarity for the Ukraine 🇺🇦. Different months it's different colors.

[bobmacliberty]

2 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Definitely, something that doesn't seem to exist very much these days. Maybe it also had something to do with being Hawaiian? They do seem nicer in general, at least the ones we came across.

 

I agree.  Everyone we met in Hawaii was very nice and helpful.  Must be a side effect of living in paradise.  

[ReneeFLL]

22 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

That sushi looks wonderful!!!!!

It is. There are closer places to get sushi, but we really like theirs. We paid about $40.00, but I'm not sure what it would have cost us out in town. The military stores aren't always cheaper. The Rum Chata was $3.00 cheaper in Walmart. I bought it in the little store they have at the hotel. The package store at the Navy Exchange Mall might have been cheaper, but I didn't go in there.

[lenquixote66]

1 hour ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I agree.  Everyone we met in Hawaii was very nice and helpful.  Must be a side effect of living in paradise.  

A friend of mine since Elementary School retired last year after nearly 50 years as a Professor of Political Science at The University of Hawaii-Maui.To him living in Hawaii all these years has been pure paradise.

[mets07]

 

 

Love the colors. Enjoy your travels.

 

[#55worktoplay]

15 minutes ago, mets07 said:

 

 

Love the colors. Enjoy your travels.

 

 

I love this picture @ReneeFLL. 

[ReneeFLL]

16 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Who are the bands onboard?

There is usually one in boleros and one later in music hall.

I haven’t forgotten about you, I just haven’t looked yet. Will do so soon.

[ReneeFLL]

40 minutes ago, lenquixote66 said:

A friend of mine since Elementary School retired last year after nearly 50 years as a Professor of Political Science at The University of Hawaii-Maui.To him living in Hawaii all these years has been pure paradise.

Lucky him.

[ReneeFLL]

36 minutes ago, mets07 said:

 

 

Love the colors. Enjoy your travels.

 

 

Thanks, we’re having a great time.

[Luckynana]

Bon Voyage!!!!🛳️

[ReneeFLL]

53 minutes ago, #55worktoplay said:

I love this picture @ReneeFLL. 

Thanks. Sometimes I have to weed thru my pictures to get a few nice ones. 😀

 

30 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

Bon Voyage!!!!🛳️

Thanks. I’m so sorry to hear about how your cruise ended early and Jim having to have surgery.

[Luckynana]

Thank you so much, Renee!💕  We're just glad to be home!

[ReneeFLL]

This the first time I have been on a Royal ship (excluding the inaugural Wonder cruise) that has handed out champagne when first getting on. We were also given leis. 

 

 

 

[ReneeFLL]

We booked jr suite 12232 which is a J1. It is a square cabin compared to the typical rectangular type. The location is great if you like being near the elevators. We prefer aft, but wanted to try this layout and with the bigger balcony. 

 

 

 

 

[ReneeFLL]

This is the door from the hallway. It opens into another hallway if you could call it that. There is our cabin and a very small inside cabin to the left. There is also a door to the right, but it doesn't look like a typical door. Not sure what it's for. 

 

 

This is as you first walk into the room on the right side. For some reason they left a sixpack of Sprite which I don't drink. They didn't know why it was left, but they let me change it out for diet Coke.

 

Looking straight into the room.

 

This closet is to the left. There is no walk in closet in this jr suite layout. Definitely a negative.

 

Looking from the bed back towards the door.

 

 

Closet on left side of bed.

 

Closet on right side of bed with the safe.

 

 

Balcony is more of a triangular shape. When we got in there were only the 2 loungers. We asked for 2 chairs. They showed up along with a table. When standing to the left side of the balcony you can see a little into the balcony on the right. Not something I cared for. 

 

 

 

 

I think it's a bad idea to put a drain in the middle of the tub. Does anyone know if there's a reason for it? I spend about half the time trying to make sure I don't step on it. The slightest pressure makes it close and then you have to open it. You have to turn the silver knob on the side of the tub to open it. The step up into this tub doesn't see as high as other jr suite tubs. I'm not sure if this is typical of all jr suites on the Ovation or just this layout of cabin. We will be in a typical rectangular jr suite for the next cruise so I will be able to compare.

 

I do like the little shelf at the end of the tub.

 

 

 

[aussielozzie18]

Beautiful Hawaii photos.  Is anyone in the tiny studio room next to you?  Even as a solo, I wouldn’t want to do a TR in that inside cabin.  Love your Junior Suite and the new orchid is a lovely addition.

[ReneeFLL]

2 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Beautiful Hawaii photos.  Is anyone in the tiny studio room next to you?  Even as a solo, I wouldn’t want to do a TR in that inside cabin.  Love your Junior Suite and the new orchid is a lovely addition.

Thanks. There is someone, but I don’t know if it’s one person or two. We were coming out of our cabin one day and the cabin attendant was cleaning and had the door open. It was so, so small.

 

edited - I looked on the deck plans and it’s listed as an interior studio cabin.

 

Edited October 20, 2022 by ReneeFLL

[ReneeFLL]

Coming up next will be Moorea.

[Ocean Boy]

Thanks for the cabin photos. Kind of odd how they shoehorned that studio cabin where they placed it. When at you balcony rale is the view looking to the left obstructed?

[kernow]

Thank you for the cabin pics, I really like the look of that one. Last year on Anthem we had one of the JS with a separate bathroom and toilet, I much prefer your layout especially that big balcony.

On our upcoming Ovation cruises we have just a regular balcony, have put in a bid with Royal Up but don't hold out much hope.

[Sunshine3601]

@ReneeFLLwe have had this square configuration on Anthem.   One tip, be careful when opening the bathroom door if someone is sitting on the bed.   I gave Eric's knees a good whack at least once or twice as I would be coming out of bathroom as he was getting up.

Love love love the extra large balcony.

So happy you and Mike are able to take this amazing trip😍

 

[#55worktoplay]

The cabin looks lovely and the balcony is a great size. 
 

I have no idea why they put drains in the centre of the tubs. I am currently sourcing materials for new bathroom and I haven’t found a free standing without the drain in the middle. My friend has one and if she moves the push drain will start draining the tub with the right movement of her derrière.

 

Enjoy your time in Moorea, this is what dreams are made of.

[2chiefs]

14 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

This the first time I have been on a Royal ship (excluding the inaugural Wonder cruise) that has handed out champagne when first getting on. We were also given leis. 

 

 

 

They used to hand it out in the early days to Crown & Anchor folks. (Any level) but after that it was hit and miss and then gone. Glad to see you get it in Honolulu!!