LIVE from the Wonder of the Seas 2022 WB Transatlantic Cruise and our 4 year journey to get on this TA!

[LouChamp]

Enjoy your voyage and as i tell my fellow cruise critic friends please post food pictures.  We have been blessed to have traveled the world on dozens of ships but can never get enough food pictures lol. May you have a wonderful vacation!

[akeka]

On 10/26/2022 at 2:26 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We are on the move - in the Atlanta Sky Club on a 6 hour layover....Thanks for the update on the interesting backstory.    I only booked 6 months ago.....

Pete and Judy, so happily surprised to see you on Royal Caribbean.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 minutes ago, akeka said:

Pete and Judy, so happily surprised to see you on Royal Caribbean.

We are onboard.   Check in took 10 minutes from curb to camera (check in photo) 

 

We booked key so probably a little faster.   First impression.    Amazing!!!!

[CruisingGrandmaW]

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We are onboard.   Check in took 10 minutes from curb to camera (check in photo) 

 

We booked key so probably a little faster.   First impression.    Amazing!!!!

@The-Inside-Cabin  Hi Pete & Judy.  So excited that you're on the RCL Wonder.  Pete does a wonderful blog.  Am looking forward to your perception of RCL vs HAL.  Have a great cruise you two.

[BillOh]

On 10/26/2022 at 10:55 AM, Teeara said:

 Many of us were originally booked on the ill-fated Allure WB TA scheduled to set sail in October 2020 a

I have to imagine you are on board now. I'm sitting at home getting ready for a long winter and then boarding  Wonder at the end of April.   We have had 2 cruise since the shutdown and are looking forward to this one.  Thanks for taking the time to do this.  

 

Now for me to catch up.

[BillOh]

On 10/29/2022 at 2:27 PM, Teeara said:

Today was our tour of Barcelona and Montserrat with Spain Day Tours.  We were going with Andrew (AWaters) and Bob and Cindy (Grandpabobbylew).  We also ended up with a German couple who were on an Azimara cruise.  Unfortunately, since their ship was late in disembarking their passengers we were unable to get to Montserrat in time for the early viewing of the Black Madonna before they closed it for only paying clientele.  Such is life.  However, because we now had over six people on the tour we had the benefit of a tour guide in addition to a driver, so that far outweighed the inconvenience and we had a gem of a tour guide in Marta.  She was simply splendid.

 

So we started off with a quick jaunt down Las Ramblas to the Columbus Monument while our driver Wilfred went to pick up our German partners at their ship.  Then we were off to Monjuic since the early morning fog had finally started to burn off and we could see the top of the mountain.  We drove by the cable cars that Pam and I hope to take tomorrow morning to the top of the hill to see the fortress and we drove by the Olympic Stadium where the Barcelona 1992 Olympics were held.  The beautiful torch that had been lit with a bow and arrow still stands tall next to the stadium.

 

Next we went to the National Museum of Catalan Art to gaze down at the Magic Fountains and the beautiful city of Barcelona gleaming in the early morning sunlight.  Such a lovely sight to see today.  Then we were back in our Mercedes Sprinter van to drive by the Arenas de Barcelona where the bullfighting takes place.  Our next stop was La Sagrada Familia.

 

This time we were outside the four sides of the church as Marta explained the different towers, their meanings, the construction, the plans, and challenges that lie ahead.  We even went to see a chocolate representation of the completed church.  Now that's something I could dig my teeth into ;o)

 

Back to the van and the hour long drive to Montserrat.  It sped by quickly and Marta was an engaging historian and answered all of our questions on a range of subjects.  I was very grateful that we didn't have to walk all the way back to the parking lot where the majority of the cars and buses were parked.  Pam's leg is still bothering her and I knew that today was going to really take it's toll on her.  

 

Marta stopped to show us the view across the long valley towards Barcelona far in the distance as well as the winding roads we had recently climbed on our way up to Montserrat.  She showed us where the previous monks were buried on the site and where the choir boys live and go to school here on the mountain during the week, but said that they go home with their parents on the weekend.  We walked past the cafeteria and the gift shop (always Pam and my favorite places to visit) before heading up the steep street up to the church.

 

I wish I could say that it was beautiful inside the church, but we got there and they said it was going to be a 45 minute wait before we could go inside.  Since we were only going to be there for 2 hours and needed to eat, shop and explore the grounds we decided to skip the interior of the church.  I have to say, though, that this is one place that I would absolutely return to some day and that I would take an entire day to explore.  There is so much to see and that I would not want to rush it.  I felt so rushed and didn't feel that I was able to do it justice at all in my photos and videos.  I hate that.  So we as a group decided to scrap it and left.  Pam and I lost track of the group and thought they had decided to go back to the cafeteria for lunch so we made our way back down to it.  We had to go slow since by now Pam was in quite a bit of pain.  When we got to the cafeteria we discovered that no one had gone there so we decided to just have our lunch, do our shopping and return to the pickup point at 2 which is what we did.  In the end we both agreed that the gift shop was disappointing.  Nowhere near as good as La Sagrada Familia's was (I could've spent a fortune there).

 

So back on the bus and we were headed to Park Guell as our last stop.  We had skip-the-line tickets there and I'm glad we did.  Here was another place that you will want to spend a lot of time at with minimal people there.  I hate it when people pop into my photos as I'm taking them.  Sorry folks.  That's the scrapbooker speaking ;o)  And there were so many people there it was just nuts.  Just like at La Sagrada Famila.  But it was beautiful with all the trees and birds and water.  The buildings mimicked nature in such a holistic way that it felt "right".  I have to say that when I first started seeing Antony Gaudi's work when I originally booked the Allure TA in 2018 I thought he was a bit over the top and wacky.  I still think that way, but I can appreciate his artistic talents more when I can see and understand where he is getting his inspiration from.

 

So we walked all through Park Guell.  It was hot and the sun's glare made it hard to enjoy some of the things we were looking at (the mosaic benches in particular were really hard to photograph due to glare), but the shady places were a joy.

 

we can every single one of us agree on this one thing:  we hate taking those Covid tests in order to cruise.  But to know that they've now been pretty much eliminated for everyone else EXCEPT for transatlantic cruises is really frustrating.  And terrifying.  I've waited 4 years for this cruise.  I've paid a LOT of money for this cruise. and airfare. and hotel fees. and Covid insurance.   You get the drift.  So to finally have to face the dragon with only a nasal swab and an iPhone was scary.  I'm glad I had Sir Andrew come to my (and Pam's and Bob's and Cindy's rescue).  Andrew brought 4 extra proctored Covid tests with him and walked us all through them BEFORE we started taking them since none of us had done a proctored test before.   But having him with us was the best thing ever.  Well, the 2nd best thing ever.  The best thing ever was when all 4 of us got negative Covid results!  Woo hoo!!!  We're going on a cruise!!!!  

I so appreciate this sentiment,  Very happy for you. 

[jmh2006]

So glad all of your tests were negative.  I was in Barcelona this past September and your pictures are bringing back wonderful memories.  Have a wonderful cruise!

[Teeara]

On 10/30/2022 at 11:59 AM, LouChamp said:

Enjoy your voyage and as i tell my fellow cruise critic friends please post food pictures.  We have been blessed to have traveled the world on dozens of ships but can never get enough food pictures lol. May you have a wonderful vacation!

Ha!  Much to the annoyance of Pam I have been taking pictures of the food and it will be forthcoming with each day’s entry. 

[Teeara]

On 10/30/2022 at 2:53 PM, BillOh said:

I have to imagine you are on board now. I'm sitting at home getting ready for a long winter and then boarding  Wonder at the end of April.   We have had 2 cruise since the shutdown and are looking forward to this one.  Thanks for taking the time to do this.  

 

Now for me to catch up.

It’s taking me a little time to catch up, too.  All I have to do next is get my Kindle set up for the ship’s wi-fi.  That’s where all the dailies are kept.  Photos, of course, are on my phone.  I hope to get the Kindle done today (we’re in Valencia).

[Teeara]

Here are the Park Güell pictures:

 

Pam

 

So many people at the stone benches.  This area can only be reached if you are part of a group tour.

 

Walking down the stairs to get to the marketplace below the mosaic stone benches.

The marketplace entrance below the mosaic stone benches 

The marketplace 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[island lady]

wow....nice!  Your tour was sure a lot better than ours.  So called "Valencia Flavors and Sky Bar" was one of those bad ones.  Way too many on the tour, lots of walking (which we do love) but the two stops had no place for everyone to sit.   Tour was absolutely nothing like the description.  

 

Win some lose some...this was a loser.  😞 

[tpcwags]

Thank you for sharing. My wife and I were on the EB Wonder in April/May (also originally the Allure). We plan to book a WB from Barcelona in 23 so will be following your post.

 

Have a great crossing.

[BillOh]

13 minutes ago, tpcwags said:

Thank you for sharing. My wife and I were on the EB Wonder in April/May (also originally the Allure). We plan to book a WB from Barcelona in 23 so will be following your post.

 

Have a great crossing.

Would that be April 30th?  We have a good roll call going on!

[tpcwags]

22 minutes ago, BillOh said:

Would that be April 30th?  We have a good roll call going on!

The EB this year was in April and also had a large roll call and FB page but we will be trying our 1st WB in Fall 2023. Our upcoming cruise on Granduer in a couple of weeks will move us up to Diamond and we plan to book next cruise while on board.

[taglovestocruise]

On 11/1/2022 at 12:00 AM, Teeara said:

It’s taking me a little time to catch up, too.  All I have to do next is get my Kindle set up for the ship’s wi-fi.  That’s where all the dailies are kept.  Photos, of course, are on my phone.  I hope to get the Kindle done today (we’re in Valencia).

You are off to a great start. We were also booked on Allure 2020, cancelled,  bumped to Harmony 2021, cancelled, moved to Ovation TP, cancelled, moved to Quantum 2021, canceled, moved over to Ovation 2021, canceled, moved to Ovation and then Quantum 2022 which we completed two weeks ago.  Happy Cruising, I will be following.

[crzndeb]

Finally got back on, due to log in fiasco. Looking forward to 8 seas days to really explore ship.

[island lady]

3 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

Finally got back on, due to log in fiasco. Looking forward to 8 seas days to really explore ship.

 

I had weeks of posting trouble.  Seems to be more cleared up now, but my Avatar picture was lost, and then had a devil of a time trying to upload a new one.  

 

Sooo..finally a score with a pic of sunrise coming into Nassau one year.  😉 

[BillOh]

According to marinetraffic.com she is now officially headed on her TA.  I assume it will be after dark, but I've never checked to see if there is a Strait of Gilbraltar web cam. (Yes, I can't wait another 175 days to board Wonder)

[SherriZ366]

9 hours ago, island lady said:

 

I had weeks of posting trouble.  Seems to be more cleared up now, but my Avatar picture was lost, and then had a devil of a time trying to upload a new one.  

 

Sooo..finally a score with a pic of sunrise coming into Nassau one year.  😉 

Pat  -- the whole website went down for about a day earlier this week.  

[BonTexasNY]

On 11/1/2022 at 2:32 AM, Teeara said:

Here are the Park Güell pictures:

 

Pam

 

So many people at the stone benches.  This area can only be reached if you are part of a group tour.

 

Walking down the stairs to get to the marketplace below the mosaic stone benches.

The marketplace entrance below the mosaic stone benches 

The marketplace 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your pictures are nothing short of spectacular.  Glad to be following this wonderful adventure.

 

Special shout out to @island lady Pat, whose posts I miss on another thread.  Have you been back to Maine this summer?  Wishing you and Bucky smooth sails and happy memories on your upcoming cruises including this one (which I think you're on).

[island lady]

4 hours ago, SherriZ366 said:

Pat  -- the whole website went down for about a day earlier this week.  

 

I have had problems posting since we boarded in Barcelona on the 16th.  I think it's the ship WIFI. 

[island lady]

10 hours ago, BillOh said:

According to marinetraffic.com she is now officially headed on her TA.  I assume it will be after dark, but I've never checked to see if there is a Strait of Gilbraltar web cam. (Yes, I can't wait another 175 days to board Wonder)

 

Indeed passed through the straits in the dark.  Bummer...would have liked to see it during day time.  Bucky went up on deck at midnight to see lights from Africa.  

[island lady]

3 hours ago, BonTexasNY said:

Your pictures are nothing short of spectacular.  Glad to be following this wonderful adventure.

 

Special shout out to @island lady Pat, whose posts I miss on another thread.  Have you been back to Maine this summer?  Wishing you and Bucky smooth sails and happy memories on your upcoming cruises including this one (which I think you're on).

 

Well hello there!  Posting here at 5:24 am Wonder time (insomnia strikes deep 😉 ).   

 

Yes, we were in Maine again this last summer.  Had to leave after 4 months, due to starting to grow claws from all that delicious Maine Lobster.  😄 

 

Thanks for the well wishes....we are out into the open seas of the Atlantic now...officially TA time!

[BonTexasNY]

24 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Well hello there!  Posting here at 5:24 am Wonder time (insomnia strikes deep 😉 ).   

 

Yes, we were in Maine again this last summer.  Had to leave after 4 months, due to starting to grow claws from all that delicious Maine Lobster.  😄 

 

Thanks for the well wishes....we are out into the open seas of the Atlantic now...officially TA time!

OOOOOO those lobsters! 

Hope the open Atlantic is calm. 

 

[island lady]

1 hour ago, BonTexasNY said:

OOOOOO those lobsters! 

Hope the open Atlantic is calm. 

 

 

Thanks.  Right now we are doing a bob and sway, which we have not done at all during the last few weeks in the calm waters of the Med.  Not bad, nothing falling off the wall...but now I can tell we are in the open ocean.  Probably feel it more being on deck 17.   Rocking to sleep.  😉 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by island lady