Saturday, November 26, 2016

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 8

August 7 2016
Fort Lauderdale, FL

For some reason, Mom got up at 5.30am and looked out the balcony door.  Since we were pulling into port, she went outside. So that woke me up and I joined her.  We watched us come in while it was dark.  

Went back to sleep for another hour or so and then got up to get dressed and get out of the cabin.  Went for breakfast - it was really crowded!  After breakfast, we found a quiet shady spot on the pool deck to hang out at since we had a later disembarking time 

Since we all had phone service, we were all on our phones.  I sent Facebook requests to Stacy and Dee Dee and Kristin. And caught up with the world :)

Our # was called about 10.30 and we headed off.  When we got into the terminal it was mobbed!!  So I grabbed a porter as there was no way we were dragging our luggage through these lines!  Turns out they only had 3 Customs Agents working.  Ummm, what??  There are over 6000 people who have to get off this ship.  Are they serious!  We spent forever on line and it really was a shitshow.  We even started getting nervous about having enough time at the airport for our flights!  

We didn't get to the airport till 12.15 (flight was 1.45!)  Thank goodness we were TSA Precheck and there was not a line for security.  We had enough time to wee, grab a slice of pizza and board the plane.  The flight was good and on time and we found Uncle Andy pretty quickly (considering LGA is a zoo!) We got back to Mom's around 6.  

Great vacation!  Mom is hooked and can't wait to go on another cruise.  

Stay tuned ... Independence of the Seas in Dec 2016 is next :)

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 7

August 6 2016
At Sea

Pool all day long with our new friends!  We all got up early so we could all save seats together.  Was a great day of sun and fun in the pool. (with frosty beverages of course!)  

Lots of discussion of Next Cruise - Stacy and family are doing the Harmony in late June, but we weren't sure we could go then b/c of Ash's school schedule.  We agreed to meet that night after dinner at On Air to exchange names for friending each other on Facebook.

New Friends - Kristin and her parents and brother - from Bethpage, NY

Sometime around 2pm the Captain comes on the PA.  Since it wasn't his noon report, my crew training kicked in immediately ... something was up!  Turns out we had passed a boat that was not responding to calls over the radio and it seemed adrift.  So the Captain was going to turn back and do a pass to make sure there is no distress.  Even try to "turn around" a 245,000 ton vessel?  Yeah, me neither.  But it was one hell of a wide turn.  So we got out of the pool and dried off and walked along to see where we were headed.  Ash and I ended up in the Solarium as we came about behind it so we would cross its path and could get a close look.  Pretty interesting!  As it got closer and closer, I knew it would pass on the starboard side so we moved back to the pool deck so we could get a spot by the railing and see it for ourselves.  It was a make shift sail boat, that they think came from Cuba (we were in the straights between Cuba and Florida) but had already been marked by the Coast Guard as clear. (the use spray paint to mark it) 

By about 4pm we all started heading back to the cabins as we had to pack :( Boo!

#ThrowItAllIn

Pre-dinner drinks ensued as usual.  Dinner was great.  We brought envelopes for our wait staff as they deserved more than we had pre-paid.  They were very appreciative! Went to On Air to meet up with the Stacy and Dee Dee clans, and say goodbye :(  Stayed for a bit of karaoke as it was really good! 

Headed back to the cabins to finish packing and put our luggage out 

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 6

August 5 2016
Cozumel, Mexico

They day before in the pool, Stacy and Dee Dee had told us about a place they were going in Cozumel called Mr Sancho's.  It was an all-inclusive beach club about 15 mins from the port.  They said it was $55 per person for full use of the beach, swim up pool and included all food and drinks.  Since I had planned to take everyone to Channakabb, which is beautiful but doesn't have much of a beach (you walk into the ocean via stairs that go over the rocks), nor is anything included, it sounded like a good deal.  

I knew I would have AT&T cell service in port, so I brought my phone to breakfast.  While we ate, I went online and booked us for Mr Sancho's.  It didn't open till 10am local time, so we didn't have to rush.  We finished breakfast and then headed to the cabins to get dressed for the day.  We were probably off the ship by 9.30 and then walked through the port to head to a cab.  We got caught up in one jewelry store (my fault this time!) as I was in love with this ring that had this awesome turquoise opal on the sides.  I wasn't crazy about the sunburst stone (bright orange) but it was also very different and cool.  I told the guy we had to think about it and after we had to pull his fingers off me (I'm kidding!  But they are very pushy there) we headed to the taxi stand.  

We got to Mr Sanchos just after 10am and seemed to be among the first there.  We got checked in and picked a table (covered with an umbrella) as well as our beach loungers.  Miguel was our waiter and was awesome.  Started us off with some frozen drinks and was always around for whatever we needed.  A woman was walking around with a massage menu and the other 3 jumped on it.  While they did that, I laid on my beach chair and read and kept an eye on the bags at the table.  Everyone came back looking relaxed and really liked it! The Mom's said there was some good shopping so I sent them off.  While Ash and I were laying on the chairs, talking to a newlywed couple from our ship, someone came by offering the pedicure where the fish nip your feet.  She always wanted to try it.  So off she went.  There was no way anything was nipping on my feet so I stayed put.  

When everyone came back we started ordering food.  We were several drinks in by then and needed to eat!  We saw Stacy, Dee Dee and their clans but they were over by the Aquapark - which was a little further down the beach from us - so they had tables down that way. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the swim up pool.  Mom liked that - she sat on a stool at the bar, in the pool with a frosty beverage!  (the ocean had gotten a bit seaweedy as the tide changed) 

We headed back to the ship around 3.  The place starts to clear out so you get the idea that its time to go.  Besides, the Mom's wanted to shop some and I wanted to look at that ring again.  When we got back to the port, we stopped at the silver store I often go to and then we walked by a jeweler on the corner and Mom pointed out the same ring only with a tanzanite stone in it.  Well I was in love!  I had always wanted a tanzanite ring and it had the same turquoise opals on the side.  So after a bit of haggling, and getting to a cash price we all liked, I bought it.  I needed to borrow cash from Mom as she had more than me on her.  (I had more on the ship) As we walked away, she said "Happy Birthday honey" She would give me the cash I used and as she was paying for the ring for my upcoming birthday :)  Thanks Mom! 

The Mom's and Ash wanted to keep shopping but I needed to wee, so I left them to get earrings on their own (Mom wanted silver hoops) and went back to the ship.  I waited on the balcony to watch them come back .. jeez, they were taking forever! Finally I gave up and went in the shower.  

Ash and I had an appointment with Next Cruise before dinner, so we sent the Mom's to wander the Promenade before we headed to get drinks before dinner.  We booked the Adventure for Aug 2017 for a Southern Caribbean cruise (however, as of the time of this being published, we have switched to Harmony in July 2017 to join the Mihalik family) 

Went for drinks and then dinner in the main dining room as usual, and as always was great!  We had tickets for Blue Planet that night after dinner.  I really liked this show in Feb and knew everyone else would too.  It was a combination of singing, acrobatics and dancing (basically the cruise staff from Mamma Mia and Ocean Aria) While we waited for the show, we had a cocktail and they kept coming on saying they were delayed due to a technical issue.  Unfortunately it ended up being canceled due to the issue.  Was disappointed, but hey, it happens.

The next day was a sea day so an early night was ok with all.

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 5

August 4 2016
At Sea

I set my alarm for 7am but it never went off.  Luckily, my internal alarm was working and I woke up just after 7.10am anyway.  Raced to get dressed and was still up at the pool at 7.15 LOL  When I got up there, there was no one.  Like NOBODY.  I didn't know if my clock was wrong, or everyone was sleeping in today or what, but I was glad to get up there and get my spot :)

Ash came up around 8 or so and Aunt Ginny a little later.  Mom finally came up at 9 and we all made a big deal to say "Happy Birthday!!" (it was a big # for her, which is how this cruise came about in the first place)

We planned to stay at the pool all day; since it was a sea day, where else would I be?? At one point early on I told AG to keep Mom busy and I went to decorate our cabin with Ashley.  I bought streamers and banners for the cabin and cabin door.  We were done in under 15 mins.  We went back up to the pool and she was none the wiser :)  It was a gorgeous day, even if it was hot.  (I'm not complaining!!) Just meant you needed more frosty beverages and to get in the pool! Hung out in the pool a lot with our drinks.  Perfect day if you ask me!

New friends - Stacy and Jeff (and kids) from Delaware.  And Dee Dee and Anthony (and kids) from Ohio.  Love them!!  Such awesome families! I particularly loved Stacy's youngest daughter --- that kid was a riot!! 

After enough sun for the day, we headed back to the cabins to relax and shower. Ash and AG came to our cabin at 7am and we had a little party for Mom.  Gifts for her and she was loving the attention.  (she says she never wants anyone to fuss, but who doesn't love to be spoiled a little?) 

We had tickets for the Ice Show at 7.30.  While I wasn't crazy about it when I saw it in February, the rest of the gang hadn't seen it.  And the Mom's were so easily impressed by this ship, we couldn't skip it.  So we had our pre-dinner cocktails at the show and then headed to dinner.  It was Lobster Night in the dining room and we weren't missing that for anything!! 

Dinner was fantastic. Mom was thrilled she could get more than one lobster tail and impressed that the waiter would take it out of the shell for her.  She's cute! #FirstTimeCruiser  I had pre-ordered a chocolate cake the day before to come out and they could all sing to her.  It was great!  She really lapped it up.  The cake was yummy too!  And we brought the leftovers back to the cabin.

On the way back to the cabin, we stopped in Dazzles as they were doing the Battle of the Sexes.  We stayed for a bit, but when Ash caught me dozing off, it was time to go! 

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 4

August 3 2016
Falmouth, Jamaica

We had a late docking in Jamaica, so we said we would all sleep in a bit.  Mom had coffee delivered around 8.30am and then we went and sat on the balcony for a bit. I think Mom really enjoyed that.  Once Ash and Aunt Ginny (AG for short) were up we decided to try Johnny Rockets for breakfast instead.  Wasn't too bad of a wait and breakfast was a change of pace from the Windjammer. By then we were docking, so after breakfast we went back to the cabins to watch and then get ready to get off the ship.  I didn't make a plan for a beach - it was midweek and knew the Mom's might be 1) a little crispy from 3 days in the sun and 2) wanted to do some major shopping.  Falmouth's port is excellent for shopping of every kind. 

We got off the ship around 11am and Ash and I decided we would stay with them for a while and then go back on the ship for some pool time later.  The first store we were in, they looked at everything.  Every. Single. Thing.  We went and sat outside and decided we would NOT be staying with them all that long LOL  She wanted to pick up a few souvenirs for the girls at work, as did I, and I always get my hair braided on a cruise and I like the girls in Jamaica, so I wanted to do that.  We went with them to the 2nd store, Del Sol, and then told them we were going to go do our own stuff and then catch up with them in a bit.

We walked around a little, picked up a few souvenirs and then went to get my hair braided.  Ash then went to go find the Mom's to see where they were and would come back to where I was in about 15.  She came back - she had found them in only the 4th store.  They were seriously slow shoppers! When I was done, we went to look for them and could not find them anywhere.  We looked in every store and no dice.  We knew they couldn't get lost (the ship looms largely over the port) so we knew we could leave them.  We went back on board by about 2 and then went up to the pool.  We had a nice day but every so often we wondered where the Mom's were!  Ash even called the rooms a few times, but nothing.  

At 5pm the Mom's come strolling up, packages in hand and looking relaxed!  Turns out they went to Margaritaville for drinks and lunch around the time we were looking for them.  Then did more shopping.  AG was in love with a ring, but was on the fence about it so Ash went back with her to look at it. Mom stayed with me for a few minutes to relax and put her feet up.  They came back about 20 mins later and AG was wearing the ring :)  Everyone was ooh'ing over it.  Chocolate diamonds in a rose gold setting.  Very pretty! 

New friends: Ruth and Charlie.  Older couple from Pittsburgh area - but now in FL.  So fun!

I stayed at the pool till about 6.30 just relaxing and reading.  Everyone else had left by then to nap, shower, etc. Sail away was at 7 so I figured I would shower and watch from the balcony.  There was a medical emergency and a family was off loaded :( Looks like the Dad broke his leg pretty badly.  Sad when that happens and the whole cruise is ruined, and now you are in a foreign country going to the hospital.  I know the cruise line does everything they can to get you set up and the port agent takes care good care of you until you leave, but still.  

We all got dressed for dinner and met for drinks at the Champagne bar before dinner.  Dinner was good as always and our wait staff was finally warming up to us and really starting to have fun!  After dinner we had the headliner show, but as we walked to the Promenade there was a Disco Party.  The Mom's were so happy to watch and dance along that we stayed.  It ended in time to go to the Headliner show anyway.  The show was only "Eh".  (as I write this, I can't remember who it was and I didn't put it in my journal - if and when I remember, I will come back and edit)

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 3

August 2 2016
Labadee, Haiti

Mom and I got up about 7.30 and just in time, as we were already docking in Labadee.  Ash and Aunt Ginny were also up and could wave to them from our balcony.

Since it was just a beach day, there wasn't a big rush to get off the ship.  So we got dressed and met up for breakfast.  We then went back to the cabin and got our beach bags ready for a day on the island.  We were off by 9.30 and walking to the beach 

Ash and I like Nellie's Beach and we took the Mom's there again.  I reminded them all to bring small bills in cash.  Even though you use your SeaPass to pay for drinks, the locals appreciate the tips and will basically get you whatever you need, all day long.  So as we got to Nellie's, we rented Floaty Mats, and our cabana guy brought them down to the beach for us, got us 4 chairs right at the water line, and made sure he found a cabana guy to "check on us" for drinks.  

It was quite warm so I was already wanting to get on my mat and in the water and sun.  Ash and I floated way out to the ropes to get into deeper water, away from the crowds at the shore line.  But once the Mom's wanted to come in the water, we went back to shallower water. My Mom can't swim but she will wade.  We even got her to sit on the floaty mat and relax with a frosty beverage .. a Labadoozie :)

We went for lunch at the tail end as to avoid the crowds and went over to Adventurer's Beach to eat.  After lunch, we walked to Adreneline Beach and watched the zip liners and the other parts of the island.

We went back in the water after lunch for a nice swim but since everyone was getting a little crispy, we headed back to the ship around 3pm.  The Mom's went for a nap, but Ash and I went up to the pool deck to relax in the shade.  We cat-napped and read up there for a bit. We headed back to the cabin around 5.30 to get showered.  Tonight was the night we were going to dress alike for White Screen pictures.  We agreed to meet at 7.30 in white pants and teal tops. 

Well, we were a sight!  4 blondes in color coordinated outfits.  We got a ton of compliments all night long!  After pictures, we went for pre-dinner drinks at the Champagne Bar  and went back to the Main Dining Room for our 8.30 seating.  

After dinner, we went to the Love & Marriage Game Show.  Its one of my favorite shows.  It wasn't the best one I've ever seen (was very slow in some spots) but was still funny.  Wandered the Promenade after and headed up to bed just after midnight.   

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 2

August 1 2016
At Sea

As is my norm, I was up and out the door EARLY!  I was in my deck chair by 7.15am.  And there were a lot of people up at that hour.  Guess there were seasoned, sun worshippers onboard as well.  It wasn't very sunny at that point and by the time Ash came up shortly after, it started to sprinkle.  Then it started to rain and we had to duck under the Deck 17 overhang.  It poured like crazy!  Luckily it only lasted a few minutes.  

The Mom's finally made it up to the pool deck and wanted to go for breakfast.  Since it was raining again, we all went together and when we were done, it was stopping.  So Ash and I went ahead to grab chairs and by 11am it was sunny and clear sky!

We spent the day enjoying the sun, reading, swimming etc.  Even got Barb in the pool :)  She was already really enjoying herself.  

Since we had tixx for Mamma Mia that night at 9.30, we changed our dinner to My Time Dining for 7.30.  We met on the Promenade at 6.30 for some shop browsing and then had drinks at Bolero's before dinner.

Mamma Mia was excellent.  I had seen it in Feb onboard, and live (in London) and of course the movie.  But it was still so good.  All of us really loved it.  Since the show is a full length show, it was after 1am by the time we got to bed.  

Allure of the Seas - Take 2 - Day 1

July 31 2016
Fort Lauderdale, FL

My second time on Allure this year .. and my Mom's very first cruise!  It's Ashley, her Mom (my Aunt Ginny), my Mom and me.  Check in was busy!  Waited a while just to get through security.  Our flight was later than my usual early morning flight, so we were later getting to the pier than usual.  I didn't like that.  I like getting there early and getting through security and checking in.  I'd rather have to wait upstairs than in a line.

Once we finally got onboard, we headed up to the Windjammer for some lunch.  Showed Mom the ropes :)  Once we finished lunch, the cabins were ready so we dropped off our stuff and headed out to look around the ship.  Ashley had been on Oasis with me 2 years prior so she knew her way around as well.  We walked around and ended up at Sabor Bar on the Boardwalk for our first frosty beverage!  Hung out there until the Muster Drill and pulled the same trick as Laurie and I did last trip - we went to our Muster Station early so we could get seats.  Even though Ash was only about 10 cabins down, they were in a different muster station so we agreed to meet on Deck 16 for sail away.  

Mom just loved it!!  She couldn't believe how many people come down to the beaches and out on their balconies just to see the ships leave.  I said its a way of life for them!  After we got out into the ocean, we headed back to the cabins to check on luggage and to start to unpack.  We were up early so we took some time to relax and unpack (you have to really only do it one person at a time - there's not to much room to have 2 people in and out of the closet and bathroom)  So Mom unpacked while I relaxed and vice versa.  

We planned to go to the Champagne Bar for pre-dinner drinks, as I knew they had the Moscato Ash and I love.  We met at 7.30 for drinks and then to our first dinner in the main dining room. We had a delicious dinner and our wait staff was great.  After dinner we walked around a bit and then had tickets for the aqua show, Ocean Aria.  It was a fantastic show!!  (as good as Oasis)

Once the show was over though, it was right to bed.  We had been up since 4.30am and the next day was a sea day - so for me that means up early for deck chairs at the pool!