Rare FionaMG Posted October 24, 2022 #176 Share Posted October 24, 2022 51 minutes ago, MommaBear55 said: I was not able to get warm cookies the 28 days I was in her in May. It was a disappointment. We got them once, purely by chance, as we didn't even know this was a thing. It was latish in the lunch hour, some time after 2 pm. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted October 24, 2022 #177 Share Posted October 24, 2022 2 hours ago, laurieal said: I saw they had books, but I would rather have something I can take home with me in case I have not finished when the cruise ends. That's good that the books are back. I think they may have been MIA last Christmas. I assume due to COVID-19. Though it's possible I'm mixing up Oasis from last October. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dani negreanu Posted October 24, 2022 #178 Share Posted October 24, 2022 3 hours ago, laurieal said: I’m afraid I’m almost done reading the last book I had downloaded for this trip. Of course, I could re-read the Harry Potter or Song of Ice and Fire series in order to do better at trivia next time, but if anyone has any books recommendations I’d be happy to check them out and buy them digitally. I prefer fiction and tend to enjoy a good mystery while on vacation. Bonus points of you know any good books that take place on a cruise ship. Laurie, as an avid reader, I can relate... so, there is a list of books Joanie (thanks 🌷), aka @GeorgiaPeach51 compiled from various cruisers' recommendations, mine too (in red). Enjoy -- Here is the latest book list, updated. 😁 Joanie Book Series to Read Georges Simenon Series Gideon Oliver -Aaron Elkins series Louise Penny’s Gamache series. Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series Any books by Josephine Tey Barbara Hambly - Benjamin January series, if you like historical mysteries! JD Robb books and Robert B Parker The Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell MC Beaton books Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series. Donna Leon’s Brunetti series. Any books by Tana French Any books by P. D. James. Greg Isles, a writer from Natchez, MS. Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson. (Book 1 of 6 - DarkIceland) Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger. Also non-series books. Brad Thor JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series), writing under the name Robert Galbraith -- the Cormoran Strike series. Andrea Camilleri -- the Inspector Montalbano series. Helen Fields -- the Perfect series. Karin Slaughter -- the Will Trent series, Grant Country Line series. Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon series James Crumley —should be read in order Winston Graham—Poldark series Janet Evanovich—Stephanie Plum series. Fox and Hare series. Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen Old Archie comic books and Mad Magazine. 🙂 Ian Rankin’s Rebus series Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks series Nevada Barr’s National Parks series Anything by Anne Cleeves Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - current times Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry - Victorian era (and if you are planning a trip to Egypt check out theAmelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters) Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. 4 books. The Longmire books by Craig Johnson. Also suggest the fantastic series on Netflix. David McCullough 'Path Between the Seas' (Panama Canal) Caroline Graham Inspector Barnaby series. John Sandford , the Prey series and the Virgil Flowers series Any books by Harlan Coben Khalid Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Kite Runner Cupcake Brown, A Piece of Cake Andy Weir, “not science fiction but science plausibility” Danelle Harmon Series Caleb Carr - The Alienist. Anthony Horowitz, Magpie Murders/Susan Ryeland Series. Also Horowitz & Hawthorne series Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe books, later written by Robert Goldsborough Ruth Ware Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington series. #61 just published. Tess Gerritson Lisa Scottoline. Michael Connelly Bosch books Lee Child Reacher series James Lee Burke Robicheaux Patricia Cornell Scarpetta books, Andy Brazil series Jonathan Kellerman Delaware books Greg Iles Jeffrey Deaver Lincoln Rhymes series Nelson DeMille John Grisham Scott Turow Pat Conroy...more family drama than mystery The Outlander series Brad Meltzer Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six (same author) I just finished American Dirt and loved it so much I bought two more of her books. Iris Johansen (EveDuncan series, and others). Colin Dexter Inspector Morse series David Baldacci—Amos Decker, Atlee Pine and John Puller series JA Jance Karen Rose Carol Goodman, The Stranger Behind You, plus multiple other books. Contemporary suspenseful fiction. Chris Carter - Robert Hunter Series - I just started #5 One by One Jefferson Bass - Body Farm Series - Based on the Body Farm at UT Knoxville. Joe R. Lansdale - Hap and Leonard - probably one of the most politically incorrect novel you will ever read - two Red Necks as they take justice into their own hands. Keeps me in stitches. Sara Parestky - The V.I. Warhawski Series - I just started "indemnity Only(1982) and is #1 of 21 Sue Grafton—the Kinsey Millhone series Ian Cross—-the Ackerman thrillers Ginny Rorby—Like Dust I Rise 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecslady Posted October 24, 2022 #179 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Here's two books set on a cruise ship. They are on my to read list, as they have gotten some good reviews. Maiden Voyages: Magnificent Ocean Liners and the Women Who Traveled and Worked Aboard Them by Stan Evans. This is non-fiction but seems interesting. Danger on the Atlantic (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3) by Erica Ruth Neubauer Thanks for the pics of the virtual balcony at different times. Can't wait to see a pic of when you are in port. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royalnina Posted October 24, 2022 #180 Share Posted October 24, 2022 4 hours ago, laurieal said: Day 7 - continued On my way out, I made a short detour to the outside promenade on Deck 5, which had been closed due to weather for most of the cruise. Most of it was roped off, so I couldn’t see much, but I did see a group of cruising ducks chatting about shore excursions. Shore Excursions have accumulated quite the collection! Meanwhile, I have still found 0 and according the the roll call the place is crawling with ducks. We found 5 (!) on Odyssey… so good luck to you 😃 also good luck with the cookies… I remember it being awesome… we asked them, when they will bake new ones and just stayed there… there was always a long line when people smelled it and they went really quick 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare AndyLovesCruises Posted October 24, 2022 #181 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Amazing review. Buzzing for our trip Jan 2nd ! does anyone have any experience of the kids club? (Royal tots) does anyone have images of the evening sleep area (with cots) where little ones can sleep ? (Paid service) 💤🛏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njkruzer Posted October 24, 2022 #182 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Just rode the bumper cars. Hadn't done that since our last Anthem cruise in October 2019. They just (last week) redid the surface and I think the cars are new, seem a little slower. There's a person in an open basket attached to a movable arm above the cars controlling things. We always have fun and definitely think the average age of the drivers is north of 50! Definitely a don't miss thing to do. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #183 Share Posted October 25, 2022 On 10/19/2022 at 1:42 PM, crzndeb said: If you don’t feel like day drinking and you have any vouchers left, stop by any bar on your way back to your cabin in the evening, and get some unopened cans or bottles of anything and take back to your cabin. I’m not really a day drinker anymore, and I drink martini’s, so I’m not going to be drinking 5 of those in the evening, or I would end up on Youtube. Also, since I’m a solo traveler, if I happen to be chatting with someone for a while, I may get them a drink. You can share these. Debbie PS I love your live reports. I will be boarding the Wonder TA on the 30th, and I loved your review. Hey Deb, you can always "gift" me with one of those "extra" drinks during the Wonder TA ;o) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #184 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) On 10/20/2022 at 1:17 PM, laurieal said: If the image is yellow-ish, then I scanned the paper compass (like Day 2) with the iScanner app on my phone. For the non-yellow compasses I took a screen capture of the digital compass. Thanks for that info! I've never heard of iScanner before. Going to try that for my Wonder TA livestream. Edited October 25, 2022 by Teeara 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #185 Share Posted October 25, 2022 On 10/21/2022 at 7:13 AM, ecslady said: Loving your review. I was wondering if at some point you can post a few pics of different views/times (the seas/in port/day/evening etc.) of the virtual balcony. I have never stayed in one, but was wondering if it truly looks like what you would see if in a real balcony. Sometimes I cruise solo and always thought it might be a good option to save some money. Thank you. That is a great suggestion. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #186 Share Posted October 25, 2022 On 10/22/2022 at 12:41 PM, bnaselli said: Hello. I was wondering if you Anthem cruisers could help with a place for cruise critic people to meet on sea days. Do you think the Two70 at 2:00 would work? Thank you, Barbara Loving hearing about your TA. We are on next Oct. 15th 2023 TA. I think you can email anthemevents@rccl.com and someone on Anthem will be able to work directly with you. I was able to work directly with someone on Wonder at wonderevents@rccl.com in order to get Music Hall for our upcoming Wonder TA next week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #187 Share Posted October 25, 2022 19 hours ago, ecslady said: Here's two books set on a cruise ship. They are on my to read list, as they have gotten some good reviews. Maiden Voyages: Magnificent Ocean Liners and the Women Who Traveled and Worked Aboard Them by Stan Evans. This is non-fiction but seems interesting. Thanks for this one! I got it for my Kindle. Backup reading for the TA next week in case I need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Teeara Posted October 25, 2022 #188 Share Posted October 25, 2022 All caught up now. I love your reviews. I really like the split nature of them, too. I think I might try that, too. I love your photos and descriptions. Have the seas calmed down for you? How have the temps been? It looks like they have warmed up a bit based on what the Compasses are listing. Have they said anything about the new system that's brewing off the East Coast and how you might be affected by it? Continued safe travels to you! We fly to Spain tomorrow and our adventure begins. Oh, and if you run into that Spanish gentleman again... Strawberry: Fresa Mango: Mango Rum: Ron Peach: Durazno Mango Lava Flow: Flujo de lava de mango Peach Lava Flow: Flujo de lava de melocotón Please keep your hands off me: Por favor, mantén tus manos fuera de mí. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeorgiaPeach51 Posted October 25, 2022 #189 Share Posted October 25, 2022 @dani negreanu I added the new suggestions. Here is the hot off the presses newest list. I hope we get to meet someday! Based on the red books, we have the same tastes in reading material! Joanie Georges Simenon Series Gideon Oliver -Aaron Elkins series Louise Penny’s Gamache series. Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey series Any books by Josephine Tey Barbara Hambly - Benjamin January series, if you like historical mysteries! JD Robb books and Robert B Parker The Scarapetta series by Patricia Cornwell MC Beaton books Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley Series. Donna Leon’s Brunetti series. Any books by Tana French Any books by P. D. James. Greg Isles, a writer from Natchez, MS. Snowblind” by Ragnar Jonasson. (Book 1 of 6 - DarkIceland) Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger. Also non-series books. Brad Thor JK Rowling (author of Harry Potter series), writing under the name Robert Galbraith -- the Cormoran Strike series. Andrea Camilleri -- the Inspector Montalbano series. Helen Fields -- the Perfect series. Karin Slaughter -- the Will Trent series, Grant Country Line series. Daniel Silva - Gabriel Allon series James Crumley —should be read in order Winston Graham—Poldark series Janet Evanovich—Stephanie Plum series. Fox and Hare series. Anything by Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiassen Old Archie comic books and Mad Magazine. 🙂 Ian Rankin’s Rebus series Peter Robinson’s DCI Banks series Nevada Barr’s National Parks series Anything by Anne Cleeves Richard Jury series by Martha Grimes - current times Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry - Victorian era (and if you are planning a trip to Egypt check out theAmelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters) Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. 4 books. The Longmire books by Craig Johnson. Also suggest the fantastic series on Netflix. David McCullough 'Path Between the Seas' (Panama Canal), and The Great Bridge Caroline Graham Inspector Barnaby series. John Sandford , the Prey series and the Virgil Flowers series Any books by Harlan Coben Khalid Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Kite Runner Cupcake Brown, A Piece of Cake Andy Weir, “not science fiction but science plausibility” Danelle Harmon Series Caleb Carr - The Alienist. Anthony Horowitz, Magpie Murders/Susan Ryeland Series. Also Horowitz & Hawthorne series Rex Stout, Nero Wolfe books, later written by Robert Goldsborough Ruth Ware Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington series. #61 just published. Tess Gerritson Lisa Scottoline. Michael Connelly Bosch books Lee Child Reacher series James Lee Burke Robicheaux Patricia Cornell Scarpetta books, Andy Brazil series Jonathan Kellerman Delaware books Greg Iles Jeffrey Deaver Lincoln Rhymes series Nelson DeMille John Grisham Scott Turow Pat Conroy...more family drama than mystery The Outlander series Brad Meltzer Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger series The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six (same author) I just finished American Dirt and loved it so much I bought two more of her books. Iris Johansen (EveDuncan series, and others). Colin Dexter Inspector Morse series David Baldacci—Amos Decker, Atlee Pine and John Puller series JA Jance Karen Rose Carol Goodman, The Stranger Behind You, plus multiple other books. Contemporary suspenseful fiction. Chris Carter - Robert Hunter Series - I just started #5 One by One Jefferson Bass - Body Farm Series - Based on the Body Farm at UT Knoxville. Joe R. Lansdale - Hap and Leonard - probably one of the most politically incorrect novel you will read - two Red Necks as they take justice into their own hands. Keeps me in stitches. Sara Parestky - The V.I. Warhawski Series - I just started "indemnity Only(1982) and is #1 of 21 Sue Grafton—the Kinsey Milhone series Ethan Cross—-the Ackerman thrillers Ginny Rorby—Like Dust I Rise Jacqueline Winspear—Maisie Dobbs series Carlos Ruiz Zafón "The Shadow of the Wind", set in Barcelona, with a walking tour at the end of the book. Cemetery of Forgotten Books—4 Book series. Mark Kurlansky—Cod (good for a Canada/New England cruise) John U. Bacon—The Great Halifax Explosion James Patterson—When the Wind Blows series Ken Follett—Pillars of the Earth series, Century series, Eye of the Needle Maiden Voyages: Magnificent Ocean Liners and the Women Who Traveled and Worked Aboard Them by Stan Evans. This is non-fiction but seems interesting. Danger on the Atlantic (A Jane Wunderly Mystery Book 3) by Erica RuthNeubauer 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridagal83 Posted October 25, 2022 #190 Share Posted October 25, 2022 laurieal, I am enjoying your review. The virtual balcony looks an option to save money versus the real thing. How do you like it? Would you book it again? Thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Another_Critic Posted October 25, 2022 #191 Share Posted October 25, 2022 45 minutes ago, Vikequeen123 said: laurieal, I am enjoying your review. The virtual balcony looks an option to save money versus the real thing. How do you like it? Would you book it again? Thank you. I want to try a VB sometime, but I'm 0 for 3. Quantum - booked VB guarantee, free upgrade to OV balcony Anthem - booked VB guarantee, free upgrade to OV Anthem - booked VB guarantee, self upgraded to OV balcony for less money 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #192 Share Posted October 25, 2022 7 hours ago, Teeara said: All caught up now. I love your reviews. I really like the split nature of them, too. I think I might try that, too. I love your photos and descriptions. Have the seas calmed down for you? How have the temps been? It looks like they have warmed up a bit based on what the Compasses are listing. Have they said anything about the new system that's brewing off the East Coast and how you might be affected by it? Continued safe travels to you! We fly to Spain tomorrow and our adventure begins. Oh, and if you run into that Spanish gentleman again... Strawberry: Fresa Mango: Mango Rum: Ron Peach: Durazno Mango Lava Flow: Flujo de lava de mango Peach Lava Flow: Flujo de lava de melocotón Please keep your hands off me: Por favor, mantén tus manos fuera de mí. Splitting the reviews have an advantage j has t thought of: if there’s an error while I’m posting or if I accidentally hit the back button and my draft isn’t saved (I’m ashamed at how often that happens), then I only have a small section to re-do. The seas have definitely calmed down for the last three days. While I wasn’t suffering with sea sickness, I’m glad that showering is back to being a normal activity instead of an extreme sport. It’s been nice enough that people are using the outdoor pool and the loungers, as long as they’re in the sun. A lot of people on this cruise are from the UK, so I’m not surprised to see people using the outdoor facilities. I haven’t heard anything about a system in the East Coast, but if anyone has feel free to chime in! Thanks for all the Spanish vocabulary! I should have guessed Fresa, it’s also the same as in French. Wishing you a nice flight tomorrow and a lovely time on Wonder. I’ll keep an eye out for your review. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #193 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Vikequeen123 said: laurieal, I am enjoying your review. The virtual balcony looks an option to save money versus the real thing. How do you like it? Would you book it again? Thank you. I like the virtual balcony and I wouldn’t hesitate to book it again. I would still book an ocean view window before a virtual balcony if the price difference wasn’t too big, but I like what the virtual balcony does to the stateroom (to me, it feels more open than a regular inside). I also like keeping the curtains open during the night so when I wake up I can tell at a glance if I can go back to sleep or if I should consider getting up. So yeah…I would never say it’s as good as an actual balcony, but I don’t think it’s advertised as such. I will say it’s definitely better than staring at a wall in an inside stateroom. Edited October 25, 2022 by laurieal 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #194 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Day 8 Compass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #195 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Day 8 Hello from the pub, whose name I can never remember. Is it the Buck & Bassoon? The menu doesn’t say and I don’t want to go all the way outside to check. It’s the English pub. I was up earlier than usual and the Diamond Lounge was empty when I got there, except for the person manning the desk who came up to me and asked if my name was Laurie. Another fan of my very famous reviews, I thought. Can’t go anywhere without getting recognized. Turned out she wanted to tell me that a Pinnacle man had been asking about me. Excellent, I thought, already planning my wedding to this mysterious Pinnacle in order to inherit his status. I halted all wedding preparations when she told me his name. He was a cruising friend of my parents looking to meet up for a drink. I gave her my stateroom number and left without a future husband, but with a cappuccino. I went up to the Solarium which was still dark as the sun was still rising. I stuck with my old favourites for breakfast, but I felt adventurous and I went for a pastry. Also, I hadn’t had chocolate milk in ages, so I grabbed one. 6 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #196 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) Day 8 - continued After breakfast, I wanted to enjoy the sunshine outside, but it was a bit cold and windy even for me. Instead, I found a spot close to the indoor pool. I asked for a Lava Flow and we did the dance. « Alcohol, ma’am? » he asked. « Hmm, I don’t know, what time is it? Oh fine, if you insist I’ll have it with alcohol. » Flawless. My peach Lava Flow looked and tasted nothing like the one from the day before, but it was an enjoyable drink in the heat of the indoor pool area. I was there for a while, finishing my book and playing my video game I like the accessibility of the indoor pool area. There is a lot of room between the loungers and the pool, so one has plenty of space to access and use the pool lift without having to ask a whole row of loungers to move, which is usually the case at the outdoor pool. If I were to use a pool on this sailing, it would definitely be this one. Edited October 25, 2022 by laurieal 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #197 Share Posted October 25, 2022 At one point, I had to go back to my stateroom and I saw something in there I bad never seen before… a ship! In the afternoon, I went to the Perry Grant matinée, as did many people. The theatre wasn’t full, but it was a lot busier than the Name that Tune Live show from the day before. His style of humour really tickles me, so I enjoyed the show a lot. After the show, I rushed to Name that 90s Tune, which is the only decade they’re doing on the ship that I can hope to do relatively well at. I teamed up with another girl who was also a youth in the 90s and I think we did quite well. After Name that Tune, I was meeting my parents’ cruising friend who had been asking about me in the Diamond Lounge. We had been leaving each other messages during the day and had agreed to meet at Vintages before dinner for some Cosmos. On the way, I recorded my heartbeat in the big art piece. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #198 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Day 8 - continued Dinner that night was at Chops. From my table, I could look into the Chef’s Table room from afar and see Edwin presenting the different wines to the guests. I sighed a sigh of envy as I drank my Pink Grapefruit Sparkle. I had a good meal at Chops, although the service was just fine. For my appetizer, I asked if they could make a smaller portion of the Spicy Jumbo Shrimp, which they did. Then, I had the Wild Mushroom Soup, which I always love. That thing warms me to my very soul, it’s magical. Then, I had the Petite Filet with Peppercorn Sauce, Truffled French Fries and some Mac & Cheese. I could have done without the Mac & Cheese, which I found a bit bland, but the rest was very good. There was no way I was going to be able to eat dessert, so I took my Key Lime Meringue Pie to go. Despite it being quite early, I was exhausted, so I headed straight to my stateroom. In the elevator, someone asked me if my name was laurieal. See? I told you I couldn’t go anywhere without being recognized because of my incredibly famous reviews! 9 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaniDanielle Posted October 25, 2022 #199 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Your reviews are famous! The ship looks very clean, have they revitalized it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare laurieal Posted October 25, 2022 Author #200 Share Posted October 25, 2022 10 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said: Your reviews are famous! The ship looks very clean, have they revitalized it? As far as I know, no. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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