Photo above is property of The Curious Correspondence Club Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XVIII: Calling Card Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: August 9, 2022 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 5/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price : $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Moving through the streets and alleys of London, you finally discover what you were looking for. Draped in caution tape, you find an old red phone booth that looks like it hasn’t been entered in ages. Stepping under the tape and into the phone booth, you find a mix of items scattered around the booth including a directory of names and numbers. This confirms that this is where you need to be but who do you have to contact? Short on both, time and pocket change, you only have one shot to figure out who’s number to dial and where you need to head to next. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening up the classic Curious Correspondence Club envelope, you are greeted with the novel-like story on the envelope and the checklist of items off to the side. In this mailing, some of the key items you will get to play with are a subway map and ticket, drink coasters, coins, a postcard, and more. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 After reading the story on the envelope, you are nothing but immersed in the narrative and objective of the game. Having played a few of their previous games, this one felt the smoothest to me. The signposting on how to start, how to progress, and what you needed to do was straightforward. With what was packed in this envelope and being able to solve the puzzles with no online material required always catches me off guard. If you are looking for hints and the final video once you solve everything though, you will need to access them on the internet. One of the other standard things you can find in most CCC games is being able to make something tangible to work with in the game and there is no exception here as we were able to interact with a telephone booth and rotary phone. One of the feedback with some of the CCC games is that you are typically looking for a set of numbers and there is not a way to confirm your progress without looking at the solutions. For Calling Card, I found that most of the puzzles were self-confirming. As I solved them, I knew for sure I had the correct answers and they stood out as being more obvious than some of their previous games. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 " Calling Card " can be played non-linearly so there can be a few people working on different puzzles at one time. If you follow the order laid out for you, though, the puzzles ramped up quite nicely. The puzzles required you to read into the instructions and figure out what needed to be completed. The final puzzle was also the right amount of challenging and satisfying once you realized what needed to be done. There was one puzzle though that did stick out a little bit where I needed to use the hint system and could have been better as you need to be familiar with words and the word discovery did seem a little random. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Curious Correspondence Club knocks it out of the park with their high-quality game that fits into an envelope. This one is definitely one of my favorite CCC games. From the well-written story at the start to the final video to finish the experience, I was engaged and immersed the entire time. The puzzles were just the right amount of difficulty where I did not feel frustrated but challenged along the way. All the puzzles fit well into the story including the memorable final puzzle. If you have been waiting to play a game with a few beginner or veteran puzzle friends and introduce them to Curious Correspondence Club, this is the one to do it. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of The Curious Correspondence Club Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XIX: Foretold Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: August 24, 2022 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price : $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Entering under the flashing lights, you get a whiff of popcorn in the open air as you navigate through the loud and busy crowds of "Zambini’s Circus"! This is where the Nexus brings you to find the next item. You make your way into the big top and find the main attraction of the circus. A grand, antique organ that legends says holds a secret, waiting to be found. Can you tune the right key and figure out what the secret is? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening the Curious Correspondence Club envelope, you are greeted with the high-quality story and graphics to immerse you into the game. On the right is the QR code to take you to the hints and the conclusion when you are done. On the left is a checklist of the contents which includes a Circus poster, Tarot cards, a Duck game, Acrobats and other high-quality items. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 The story is high quality and a pleasure to read. It feels like a novel when going through it which completely immerses you into the game. Looking at the items, you can separate the different items needed to solve each of the puzzles. One tip that we learned in the past is the front of a sheet and the back of the sheet typically are not part of the same puzzle so do not look for connections there. The art and design also look like something from an old fashion circus which we loved. In most CCC games, there are some tangible items that can be built to add to the experience. In this game, there were more tangible items than normal but the standout one was the pipe organ. It was absolutely a highlight in the game as well as the puzzle surrounding it was a lot of fun to solve. For this CCC game, there were a couple of times we solved a puzzle and there was no way to confirm the solutions you were getting until you get to the meta puzzle at the end, which will only confirm the solution if the final answer makes sense. The only other way to confirm your solution is going to their tiered hint system and looking up the solution. A way to check your solution along the way would be helpful. Once you finish the game, another highlight of all CCC games is the concluding video that ties together with the beginning story and the overall season story. They are always a pleasure to watch and makes for a very satisfying end to the game. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzle themes worked great with the story and blended in effortlessly which we really liked. There is an order that the puzzles need to be arranged for the meta puzzle at the end, but with the non-linear style, these were solid puzzles to divide and conquer. The puzzles consisted of a few logic puzzles that we knew what to do and had to figure out how to do it while there were a few that we had to determine what needed to be done to solve the puzzle. The latter ones were well done and had us pondering for a bit but not enough to make us feel frustrated. There was one puzzle that required manipulation to solve which the intended method did not really work but we were able to come up with our own method to solve it. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Chapter XVII: Foretold" was exceptionally written and enjoyable to play. Though having to check the solutions to verify your answers, the puzzles were fun to go through and tied in with the narration to reach a rewarding climax at the end. If you are a fan of circuses, well written stories or logic puzzles, this is one to pick up. We loved the non-linear style of the game that allows you to play with more people. We played with 2 people but feel that up to 5 could play this together and still not be over each other and still have a great time. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of The Curious Correspondence Club Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XX: Ludwig's Legacy Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: October 18, 2022 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price : $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Pulling your boat ashore, you and the Nexus arrive at the coordinates that were given to you by the Fortune Teller in your last adventure. Digging into the sand, sure enough you find what you were hoping for; a tin box full of materials. Sigrid of Brightstar has collected information on Captain Ludwig, a notorious pirate in these waters. Sigrid believed that a medallion had fallen into the hands of Captain Ludwig and we are now looking to retrieve it. To keep his stash of treasures safe, Captain Ludwig hid it away on an island nearby but only by discovering the associated islands will the final location be revealed. Heading back to the boat with the tin box, can you discover the islands and make your way to the final destination? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening the envelope, you are greeted with the in-depth story to introduce you to the game as well as a QR code that will take you to the hints and an inventory list. Inside, you will find some high-quality items including a portolan chart, a traverse board and a sea chart. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Investigating all the items, the game was signposted well. I was able to figure out where to start and where to head after that. This game also had more onboarding and story notes than some of the previous CCC games, which I thoroughly enjoyed and found it drew me into the game. Though the game was all paper, CCC was able to hide some fun secrets all around and set the game up for some interesting discoveries and different way to use the paper items. CCC normally includes a tangible item that could be built out of paper in their games and this time around it was a chalice which fit perfectly into the theme and story. Later in the game, there were a few more difficult puzzles which I felt could have used a little more cluing in the text or possibly used a little more tiers in the hint system, which only includes 2 clues before providing the solution. There was one puzzle that could have used a way to confirm the solution as it did seem ambiguous how to determine that answer. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The first couple of puzzles were simpler which started the game off on a high note. The later ones were a little more difficult and a little vague on what I was supposed to do. This left me trying different things out for quite some time. Sometimes after my initial attempt on a couple of the puzzles, things weren’t matching up correctly but after looking at the hints, I was doing the right process and just needed to finish to see the big picture. A tip would be to do your process right to the end if you are confident about it because there is a chance you might be solving the puzzle correctly. There were some visual puzzles that made for some great eureka moments and a clever meta puzzle that was fun to solve and had a satisfying ending. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 Exploring the myth of "Chapter XX: Ludwig’s Legacy" and puzzling to find his lost treasure made for a grand adventure. The story was well told with lots of narrative and some clever manipulation of the items to make you feel like a treasure hunter. The puzzles did range largely with the difficulty level but were all themed within the story. They were all a pleasure to navigate especially the final puzzle. Pirate lovers, puzzle manipulators and people who love a good narrative would enjoy this game. CCC also wraps the game up beautifully with their outro and if you have been following along with the other CCC games, makes me excited to see how season 2 will be wrapping up. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XXI: The Fountain Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: February 11, 2023 Difficulty (based on 2 players): 8/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price: $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Navigating the streets, you and the Nexus continue to pass by many archways leading into the catacombs. Each one you pass has nothing distinguishing about itself from the previous or next one. Reaching an archway, the Nexus notices a crack in the wall that gives way to a journal inside. Looking at the journal, it seems to come from a previous Guardian, searching for the Fountain of Youth. Believing that the Fountain of Youth contains what you are looking for, can you decipher the journal notes to navigate the different levels of the catacombs and find the next medallion? 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening the CCC envelope, you find the story written on the envelope as well as a checklist of the contents and a link to the hint page. You also find many interesting contents that include a journal, some map pieces, and different archways. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 Reading the highly detailed story and checking out the beautiful drawings on the envelope, you are immediately drawn into the story. Going through the contents, we found this game was laid out straight forward with the cluing and directions with what needed to be done. One of the things that CCC does well is intertwine the story and the clues together seamlessly. This requires you to make sure you read the text carefully to find what you need to solve the puzzles. Each CCC game usually comes with a tangible object that can be built from the contents and the one included in this game was one of my favorite ones in the series so far, a replica of the tunnels. We are also a huge fan of the outro that you are rewarded with once you make it to the end and it will get you excited for the next chapter in the game. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The puzzle setup in this game was slightly different than other CCC games. Rather than 5 puzzles leading into a meta puzzle, this game offered 4 more difficult puzzles leading into the meta puzzle. The bulk of the puzzles were made up of logic puzzles. CCC also ensures all sides of the paper are used and relevant to the game. In this game, the puzzles were printed in a well thought out manner that the bulk of the solving could be done easily without interfering with other puzzles. This made it easy for us to work on separate puzzles without getting in each other’s way. The hint system for this game requires you to go to their website and for each puzzle, there are 2 hints before providing you with the solution. We found for this game, the solutions were easier to confirm once the puzzles were solved and you knew it was correct once you got there. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "The Fountain" was a great continuation of the ongoing Brightstar story. It also had a magnificent tangible item to play with and some high-quality print items. The puzzles could have used more variety, especially if you are not a fan of logic puzzles but was set up easily to divide and conquer. We played with 2 people but this one could work easily with up to 4 people. This was a little more difficult of a game but another solid chapter as season 2 makes its way towards the ending. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XXII: Crossroads Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: January 1, 2023 Difficulty (based on 3 players): 8/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price: $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 Journeying through the mountainous terrain and climbing along the rocky trail, you reach the Great Valleys. Surrounded by the breathtaking landscape of mountains, trees and rock, the Nexus confirms that you are in the right place. As you enter the nearby village of Luska, a man recognizes you right away and pulls you aside. Handing you a package left by his great aunt, he tells you that she travelled and roamed these lands her entire life and if she hid something here, all the information you need to find the next disc are in this package. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Opening up the CCC envelope, you find many curious items including a pamphlet similar to the one you would find at a national park, wooden signs, a translator wheel for the local language, a language board and more. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 After reading the novel-quality introduction and checking out the beautiful sketches on the envelope, the tone was set to play the game. The set up for CCC games is that there are 5 puzzles and the solutions of the 5 puzzles will help you solve the final meta puzzle. For this game, there is a lot of information that you will have to read. One tip is to pay attention to the details of the text. There is always a clue there to help you along to solve the puzzles no matter how cleverly blended into the text it is. There were a few puzzles that after rereading a few times, the eureka moment hit us. One of the things I always love with CCC is once you know the final answer and head to the website, you can input the final answer and if you are correct, you are rewarded with an outro video to close off the chapter of the adventure. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 The range of puzzles were a mix of logic, ciphers, and some that required some eureka moments. We found this game to ramp up nicely as there were a couple of puzzles we recognized and were able to solve right away with a few others that required some reading and rereading to get us to that eureka moment. One complaint we did have with this game was that one of the puzzles was based around a cipher but the text we were looking to translate had a different style than the decoder, which made for some difficulty in matching them up. The hint system for this game requires you to go to their website and for each puzzle, there are 2 hints before providing you with the solution. For this game, we found the solutions to be more straight forward than their other games. Since the introduction stated that the solutions were to be 6 letter words, it was easier to tell if we had gotten to the correct solution or not. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Crossroads" was another fantastic chapter in the CCC universe. There were some nice eureka moments in the game with the clever cluing in the text. The pamphlet and translator wheel were things I could imagine picking up in a National Park as well as the 3D signpost really brought the game to life. This time around, there were 3 of us playing together and found that there was a lot of overlapping information, so it was difficult to solve things separately. A tip here was to have your camera phone on hand so you could easily snap a picture of what you need to solve your puzzle and hand off the information. Any puzzling nature lovers would easily get on board with this game. With the season 2 ending coming up fast, the story started to take an exciting turn and we cannot wait to see how the story continues. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XXIII: Destination Pt. 1 Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery Date Played: February 7, 2023 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 7/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price: $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As you race up the steps, you can barely recognize the place due to all the chaos; M.B. Franklin Museum of Natural History. As you reach the top, you run into a familiar friend, Arjun, who debriefs you quickly as he leads you down the hall. Starfall agents have converged here, believing that the last dial is hidden in the museum somewhere as well as discovering a secret lab underneath for unknown purposes. With many Brightstar agents trying to fight them off, Arjun leads you to the surveillance room. Sitting you down in front of the CCTV screens, he needs you to dispatch the Brightstar agents to the appropriate locations to take down the Starfall operatives and get their keycards to access the underground lab. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Unsealing the envelope, I was greeted with the story written on the envelope with a list of the contents on one side and a QR code to the hints on the other side. Investigating the contents, I find some interesting paper items that include security screens, trading cards and pieces of a pamphlet. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 After reading the narrative, I was immediately sucked into the urgency and struggle of the story. The narrative is fantastic. If you have been following along for all of Season 2, you will not be disappointed. You do not need to know the story to play but you will exponentially get much more out of the game if you do. This game was a little different from CCC’s standard flow from previous games as there were additional puzzles on the front end before leading to the non-linear puzzles that lead to the meta puzzle. There was a lot of great content packed into this envelope. Though there was no 3D item to be built, this game did have the standard CCC feel in the game with a “card scanner”. One new addition in this game were the trading cards of key characters from previous chapters. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 As a big fan of trading cards, I loved that some of the puzzles revolved around something similar to a collectable card game (CCG). The overarching story and goal of the game was clued well but I did find that some of the more detailed signposting lacking with the puzzles. Once I read one or 2 hints for the first puzzle though, the entire game fell into place. There were a nice variety of puzzles that ranged from logic to eureka to matching. The puzzles were set up to be played non-linearly which would help with a big group but I found that with CCC’s use of all the sides of the paper, coordination is key. The back of a puzzle someone would be working could be required for a different puzzle. One tip would be to have people bring their phones so they can take a picture of the text to read and hand the paper off to others. The hint system for this game requires you to go to their website and for each puzzle, there are 2 hints before providing you with the solution. For this game, I found the solutions were only obvious once you completed all the puzzles and noticed the pattern, but I was not sure if I had the solution correct looking at each puzzle individually. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Chapter XXIII: Destination Pt. 1" was an absolute blast to go through. This game had the right amount of difficulty, and they were able to translate the feel of an action movie into the puzzles. As a big fan of trading cards, I really enjoyed how they were able to make some fun puzzles with them and incorporate them into the game. This would be a good game for a small handful of veteran solvers. This would not be the first CCC game I would dive into but one that rewards you if you have been following along season 2. This penultimate chapter had me on the edge of my seat and has me anticipating the final chapter. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Company: The Curious Correspondence Club Game: Chapter XXIV: Destination Pt. 2 Country: Canada 🇨🇦 Language: English Type of Game: Tabletop Game 📬 Genre: Mystery, Adventure Date Played: March 2, 2023 Difficulty (based on 1 player): 6/10 Size of Team: Unlimited (Age 12+) Time: Unlimited (Suggested: 60-90 Minutes) Price: $21.95 (free shipping in North America); Monthly Subscription: $19.95/Yearly Subscription: $179.00 🆃🅷🅴 🆂🆃🅾🆁🆈 As the elevator comes to a halt and the doors open, you step into the darkness and make your way forward. Reaching a chamber, you are taken aback by the sight in front of you; a pedestal with the Nexus subdued upon it covered in wires and cords, all hooked up to a briefcase. Coming out from the shadows reveals a familiar face with sinister motives. Telling you their plans for the Nexus and thanking you for bringing everything together, they move to complete the final assembly. Just as they touch the Nexus, a surge of energy erupts out of it and throws your nemesis back. Running to the briefcase, you survey the device inside just as the Nexus utters a warning, “Defense Protocol Activated”. 🆃🅷🅴 ❞🅻🅾🅾🅺🆂❞ Written on the envelope you can find the exceptionally written story, a list of the contents, the QR code leading to the hints and the final outro video. Going through the contents, there were many paper items that included a paper briefcase, a dossier with protocols inside and a piece of the Nexus. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅶🅰🅼🅴 🅿🅻🅰🆈 If you have been following along, then you know that each chapter of season 2 included the dial that you found after each adventure. Now is the time to pull them all out and use them. Finally, being able to use the dials from all the previous chapters made it much more rewarding to come this far. One thing I do wish that was prefaced prior was not only did I need all the dials, but I also needed the Nexus from Chapter 12 in the previous season so make sure you still have that around. Reading the season finale story, I was immediately drawn to the entire game and excitement of it all. The flow of the game followed the typical set up of CCC games. There were multiple puzzles that could be done out of order, which would work nicely with a larger group. The dossier also clued how to proceed through the game, but they blended it impeccably into the story. Of the contents, the “briefcase” that was used was a nice touch to bring some realism to the game and some creative assembly make for an amusing tangible experience. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🆃🅷🅴 🅿🆄🆉🆉🅻🅴🆂 There were different puzzles to go through including some logic, math and word puzzles, all with their own eureka moment to solve. One thing I noticed was that the difficulty level fit perfectly for this game. I was able to progress forward, sometimes at a slower pace but I found that I never got frustrated because I hit a point that I did not know where to look. The hint system for this game requires you to go to their website and for each puzzle, there are 2 hints before providing you with the solution. For this game, I found the hints to be straightforward. The nature of some of the puzzles did have me know what needed to done but I had to figure out how to do it. This game specifically could have benefited from an answer checker but I did find most of the puzzles were quite clear on the solution. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🅲🅻🅾🆂🅸🅽🅶 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 "Chapter XXIV: Destination Pt. 2" was the ultimate wrap up to season 2 of Curious Correspondence Club. This was an amazing season finale game that hit all the high notes. The puzzle difficulty and flow were on point. All the puzzles eased seamlessly into the game and everything came together perfectly. As with the story introduction and the outro video, all of it was the same great quality as we have seen throughout. As someone who followed all of season 2, CCC played the long game with the dials in each envelope, and it paid off with an amazing experience. This is not a game you want to miss having come this far into the season. Being able to rest now, I am excited to see what CCC has in store for the future. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure: We thank The Curious Correspondence Club for providing us with a sample of their game. Although a complimentary experience was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #MatthewLui #AtHomeGames #TabletopGames #PuzzlesByMail #SubscriptionGames #Mystery #Canada #TheCuriousCorrespondenceClub

LOCATION: Wharton, New Jersey, USA Photo above is property of 13th Hour Escape Rooms 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 10, 2022 🎬 GENRE : Fantasy, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : Up To 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins 💰 PRICE : $35.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Dorothy needs your help! A tornado ripped through and... "Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore"! We must help Dorothy get to the great and powerful Oz in 60 minutes before it's too late! Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE Wow, Wow, Wow!! The set design was phenomenal! Starting off with a monochromatic color scheme which transports us onto a farm in Kansas to something even more spectacular later on (not giving away anything, you guys will have to go experience this yourselves). " The Wonderful Wizard of Oz " is truly an immersive experience. The sound of a tornado coming really built up the suspense of the storyline. Because " The Wonderful Wizard of Oz " is a familiar story to most, you really needed to implement all the details from the story. This game was based from the book and we were truly impressed by the way the game designer was able to capture the characters, props and the entire experience. 13th Hour Escape Rooms spared no expense on the props. What we already thought was big, was made even bigger. The puzzles were not extremely difficult, but fit perfectly with the storyline. Everything that we received or had to use was somehow associated with what happened to a certain character. There was a jaw-dropping moment in this room that we had the pleasure of seeing how it operated after the game. After playing 700+ rooms, we probably only seem 1 other game that was able to complete this transition. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK There was just one puzzle that we wish had a little more indication on what it was operating on when we pressed it. Since there's no sound or light, we actually thought it was broken until we got the hint. It would be cool if the hint allowed the player to discover this fun reveal themselves. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? " The Wonderful Wizard of Oz " has something for everyone to enjoy whether you're a fan of the classic story or just looking to immerse yourself into another world. 13th Hour Escape Rooms did an amazing job at providing a perfect balance of an escape room and an immersive experience (although I would say this definitely feels more like an adventure). This company continuous to surprise us with high quality games and innovative ideas. Every time when we're there, we only have one question: when will you release your next game? ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot right in front Located in Warehouse "B" door 11 Lobby area with seating available Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank 13th Hour Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Fantasy #Adventure #TheWizardOfOz #13thHourEscapeRooms #USA #NewJersey

LOCATION: Wharton, New Jersey, USA Photo above is property of 13th Hour Escape Rooms 📝    ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Campground 📅 DATE PLAYED : July 27, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Mystery 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 6 ppl) : /10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : Up To 8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 90 Mins 💰 PRICE : $49.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY One of your friends has vanished from a mysterious campsite at Whispering Oaks State Forest, and it's your mission to find them before time runs out. Decipher clues by the campfire and uncover secrets beneath the moonlit forest... 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE When the GM gathered our team for the rescue mission of a missing person, we were eager to enter into the mysterious Whispering Oaks State Forest. The GM's concise and clear message pumped us up for the mission ahead. We appreciated how the creator used TV news as a narrative tool to convey the storyline and provide a sense of progression without relying on an actual timer. The set design, as expected, was outstanding! From the ranger's office to the forest and the cabin, every detail, from props to clues, was perfectly aligned. The special effects, sounds, and ambient lighting truly immersed us in the woods, creating a sense of impending danger. This experience is packed with puzzles. It starts with simpler visual puzzles and progresses to multi-step challenges, keeping us engaged nonstop. The teamwork required made the experience even more enjoyable. 13th Hour excels at incorporating personalization, which we thoroughly enjoyed. It made us feel like characters in a real-life adventure. There were no moments of confusion about what opened or where. Everything was clear, and the reveals were truly "magical". Our favorite puzzles involved associating certain props with clues, leading to those satisfying "ohhhh, it's for that" moments we loved. The puzzle solutions were not too difficult, yet they weren't handed to us either. The logic behind the placement of clues was impeccable. The game concluded with a "bang." It felt so authentic that some players momentarily forgot it was a game and reacted as if it were real, trying to run away. It was an exhilarating to see. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We absolutely loved everything about this game. It would be even better if the forest space were a bit larger, especially if you have played their other games. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? 13th Hour has been our absolute favorite NJ escape company since our first visit in 2019! Whenever they announce a new game, we can't contain our excitement because we know they're going to deliver with their incredible set designs and mind-blowing puzzles. Each experience is better than the last, and this time was no different! We loved the captivating storyline and how they whisked us away from reality into a haunting forest for 90 thrilling minutes. Surprisingly, this game isn't as "scary" as some of their others, given their haunt background, so it's perfect for families and large groups. If you're seeking a more "magical" adventure, " The Wonderful Wizard of Oz " remains our top pick, so be sure to book that next! ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking lot right in front Located in Warehouse "B" door 11 Lobby area with seating available It's important to note that the game uses fake snow; if your team has any allergies to it, you can have the GM turn it off immediately. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank 13th Hour Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Mystery #Eerie #13thHourEscapeRooms #USA #NewJersey

LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Photo above is property of The Nemesis Club Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Mogollon Monster 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 22, 2022 🎬 GENRE : Survival, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You've just arrived as a new trainee at the Monster Rangers campsite and already you've been tasked with an extremely difficult job. They want you to lure the Mogollon Monster onto the campsite and take a photo of it as proof of the monster's existence before the camp gets shut down within an hour. Are you up for the challenge? Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We absolutely loved the intro for this game. Besides the game master being an excellent ranger, the way they set the scene gave us goosebumps before we even started. We definitely felt the fear of being in the middle of the woods and the only protection between us and the monster is a flimsy old tent. Just like in " EVIL Robots ", the creator thought of a clever way for us to figure out a way in. The mission for this adventure was very clear. We had to come up with ways to lure the monster to the camp. I loved the puzzles that they came up with in order to prepare the lure. All the props in the game would be something you'd find at a campsite and surprisingly they were all used in someway or another. When in camp, there are always silly moments that might happen around the campfire and we definitely experienced a few in this game. The set design had a little bit of a horror movie scene vibe especially when paired with the lightning and sound effects. I honestly thought the game master wore a monster outfit and came into the room at one point. But there's no live actors in this game, it's all in my imagination (I'm very good at scaring myself). The conclusion was spectacular. It totally rocked my world (you'll get my pun after playing this game). 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Absolutely nothing. We loved everything about the game. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? The moment we entered that tent, we no longer felt like we were in an escape room. We had been transported into the world of Steam Crow's Monster Rangers, Mogollon Monster: Scouting for Arizona’s Bigfoot . The puzzles felt a bit more difficult in this room than in " EVIL Robots " mainly because there were a few more logic and deduction types and a little more "search and find". Everything was spot-on from beginning to end. Both games were amazing in their own ways. So if you ever make it to Phoenix, AZ, this is a location that you will have to carve out time for. But you'll have to find the way into the club first (check out our YouTube video for some guidance). Word of advice, don't get distracted by the yummy milkshakes (that's your first challenge)! Photo above is property of The Nemesis Club ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking right in front. Soda Jerk Co. Milkshake Bar attached to the escape room. Lobby with seating areas Merchandise available for sale. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank The Nemesis Club for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Survival #UrbanLegend #TheNemesisClub #USA #Arizona

LOCATION: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Photo above is property of The Nemesis Club Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : EVIL Robots 📅 DATE PLAYED : August 22, 2022 🎬 GENRE : Sci-Fi, Adventure 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $35.00/ pp ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY You are just on a normal tour at the Experiment Virtual Intelligence Laboratory (EVIL). All of a sudden, the assistant tells you that they are having an emergency lockdown because a menacing robot just powered himself on. Since you are the only ones on the premises, it's up to you to stop his evil plan. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The game master did an amazing job with acting out her character. The intro video wasn't the normal ones you see at most of the escape rooms on TV, it's actually a prerecorded skit being presented in a very creative way within the escape room. It was as if we were part of a show. The set design reminded me of " The Jetsons ". It felt like we were in a futuristic cartoon. The objective was very clearly introduced at the beginning but in case you didn't pay attention, there was a list in the room as well. There were a lot of tech used in this room which complemented well with the futuristic laboratory theme. One of our favorite moments was discovering something we never thought could be possible to be utilized in solving a puzzle. That "aha" moment was gratifying. Special effects were found everywhere in this game. Smoke, fog, laser, water, various types of lighting and more! This is a production! We love the feeling of having to break into the lab but not just by finding a normal key or entering a code. All the puzzles were designed to feel like real life situations. The plot was engaging and of course having a twist at the end is always a plus. Let's not forget that touch of humor as well! Sometimes you just want to take a break from solving puzzles and have some plain old fun. We had an opportunity to do that in this game. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK If we had to nitpick on a perfect game, towards the end, some controls were a bit difficult to maneuver (not sure if it was intentional) and dragged on a bit before we saw the finale. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? When we got out of this room, a guy walked into the laboratory (yes, you can get lost inside the Nemesis Club) and was like "I'm lost". We thought this was still part of the game still and there were more surprises waiting for us. Truthfully, we just didn't want it to end. I probably used this terminology quite a few times in reviews before but this time I really felt it, "Disney Quality". From the set design to puzzles to storyline to cinematic effects, Nemesis Club hit the bullseye on everything. Just like how they advertised on their website, this is an attraction you don't want to miss when visiting Phoenix, AZ! But you'll have to find the way into the club first (check out our YouTube video for some guidance). And don't get distracted by the yummy milkshakes (that's your first challenge)! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking right in front. Milkshake bar attached to the escape room. Lobby with seating areas. Merchandise available for sale. (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank The Nemesis Club for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #SciFi #Adventure #TheNemesisClub #USA #Arizona

LOCATION: Reading, United Kingdom Photo above is property of Deadlocked Escape Rooms Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : The Reading Witch 📅 DATE PLAYED : June 3, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 120 Mins. 💰 PRICE : £160.00 (4 ppl), £180.00  (5 ppl), £200.00  (6 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY Join forces with a group of TV detectives and explore the eerie forest rumored to be the home of the enigmatic Reading Witch. Unusual noises and ritualistic chants have been reported in the area, yet no one has ever returned from the cabin. Do you believe you can debunk the myths, or will you become ensnared in the witch's trap? 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE I love the creativity involved in crafting this storyline. If someone told me I was going to play a horror witch game, I'd probably say "No way" (being the scaredy-cat that I am). But if you tell me I'm just on a TV set trying to debunk a witch rumor? I'm all in! We have a peculiar fascination with any game involving cabins, so when we entered the forest with a creepy cabin, our eyes lit up, eager to find a way in, only to be surprised by yet another twist... The balance between scare moments and puzzle-solving was perfect, giving players a chance to "breathe" and clear their heads when finding solutions. Once that's done, you get to enjoy a short dramatic scene just like in the movies. The props played a unique role in the story, and we really loved the "engagement" required to unlock and reveal certain secrets with them. We played as a duo, so we had to divide and conquer at times. There were moments where the creators intentionally designed different "encounters" for us, allowing us to share different stories with each other after the game. The finale had a big twist that truly brought joy to our faces when we escaped. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK We thoroughly enjoyed this game. The only suggestion we might have is to challenge yourself to create an even longer version...Too soon? 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? This game is absolutely is a step up compared to all the other Deadlocked Escape Rooms we've experienced! From the incredible set design to the captivating storyline, the inclusion of real-life actors, stunning special effects, and mind-bending puzzles, we were completely immersed! Normally, I'm not a huge fan of horror because I either end up being chased or become too scared to concentrate on solving puzzles. But this game nailed it, offering those suspenseful moments like in a scary movie where you expect something to happen, but nothing does—until the unexpected takes you by surprise. It's an exhilarating adventure, and if you're even a tad curious about the world of witchcraft, it's absolutely worth the trip to Reading, UK, to dive into this fun and thrilling escapade. Plus, who wouldn't want the chance to be famous on a TV show set? You might even bump into an A-list celebrity or two on set... ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO Free parking for customers. The escape room is located down one flight of stairs. Small lobby with seating Minor crawling is required Live actor "Sensory friendly" and lower player count available by request. 18+/Parental Advisory Photos above are property of Deadlocked Escape Rooms Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owners, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Deadlocked Escape Rooms for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion of the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #DeadlockedEscapeRooms #Horror #Witch #Reading #UnitedKingdom

LOCATION: Wappingers Falls, New York, USA Photo above is property of Escape Time Adventures Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Master of Illusion 📅 DATE PLAYED : October 12, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Mystery, Magic 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 2 ppl) : 6.5/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 4-8 ppl (Ages 12+) 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 90 Mins. 💰 PRICE : $32.95/ pp or $171.80/ group (8 ppl) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes 📖 THE STORY The Great Nivek, a renowned magician, died during a performance at the Magic Mansion's main stage. Venue owner Peter Zabar, a friend and illusion expert, is the primary suspect and has expressed deep sorrow over what witnesses describe as a bizarre accident. As private investigators, your task is to uncover the truth and differentiate between illusion and reality before you disappear. Gather evidence to build your case. Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE We really enjoy the theatrical introduction at this location before each game. Every game transports you to a different era, enhanced by a captivating performance from the GMs, and experiencing it firsthand is a must. Be sure to check out the "peculiar items" they've collected over the years. The set design for this room is truly breathtaking. The array of magic props and posters includes both familiar items from historical magicians and intriguing pieces you might not have seen before. The designer's meticulous attention to detail in every prop is impressive. The sound and lighting significantly elevate the overall experience. The in-game character appears at precisely the right moments to expertly guide players through the experience while also unfolding a bit of backstory, enhancing the immersion profoundly. The special effects, magic tricks, and illusions in this game are on an entirely different level. We were continually amazed by the reveals, and to this day, the methods remain a mystery. I guess that's why they call it magic! The puzzles are ingeniously integrated into the props and storyline. As we uncovered solutions, we also gathered the evidence needed to unravel the mystery. Just when you think you've made quick progress, you'll be astonished by how much more awaits. It's definitely strategic to divide and conquer in this room, especially towards the end. Many of our favorite puzzles were here, demanding substantial logic and teamwork. The flow of this experience was seamless. We encountered no issues during gameplay. As I documented the information we discovered as evidence, I truly felt like a detective on a mystery case and forgot how much time has passed by. This is the level of immersion we are always looking for! 🧩 MISSED THE MARK This game is nearly a perfect experience for us. A more dramatic ending in how to reveal the conclusion would have made it a flawless performance. 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? We were really excited to be able to experience this room after seeing it in its preproduction stages! The anticipation was worth it, and we couldn't be more excited! We absolutely adore magic-themed rooms, especially those that seamlessly weave in real magic tricks. With the owner's background in magic, he knows exactly how to bring the magic to life. This game is a dream come true for magic lovers, murder mystery fans, and anyone looking for an extraordinary escape room experience—it's a fully immersive journey from start to finish. The special effects and magical reveals will leave you spellbound, asking, "How did they do that?" Be sure to put this game at the top of your "must-visit" list for your next escape room adventure! Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO Free Parking right in front of the location Lobby with seating area Merchandise available for purchase Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, an interview with the owner, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more: Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank Escape Time Adventures for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #CiciCao #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #EscapeTimeAdventures #Mystery #Magic #NewYork #USA

All photos are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers We embarked on our cruise on November 1 st , 2025. The Carnival Cruise Jubilee marks our inaugural experience with Carnival Cruise Line, as well as our first departure from the Galveston, TX cruise port. As seasoned cruisers, we naturally intend to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this cruise line in comparison to others we have experienced, such as NCL, Virgin, MSC, Princess, Celebrity, and Royal Caribbean. In this blog, we will primarily focus on the culinary offerings, while also providing tips that we hope will be useful in planning your next Carnival cruise. The Carnival Jubilee embarked on its maiden voyage on December 23, 2023, departing from Galveston, Texas. The ship measures 1,130 feet in length and has a gross tonnage of about 183,521. It can accommodate 5,374 guests at double occupancy, supported by a crew of 1,735. The vessel includes 18 passenger decks and can host up to 6,630 people when the crew is included. Preboarding Preparation Don't forget to download the Carnival Hub app! It's super handy since you can check the ship's time, see what's happening daily, find out where to grab food or drinks, check your room account balance, book excursions, see your casino tier and balance, book the onboard rollercoaster, reserve restaurants, get an internet package, and view the ship's deck plans. Make sure to print out your embarkation papers, or you'll end up having to wait in another line at check-in to get it printed by an employee. It was pretty annoying because they didn’t mention this, and we always just used the app before for other cruise lines. But they're really strict about needing a paper ticket for everyone. If you've got drinks in plastic or your own bottles, you'll need to toss the liquid. You're allowed to bring a 12-pack on board, but make sure they're in metal cans. Bringing a water bottle was a lifesaver since there aren't any cups in the gym. You'll either have to use the water fountains or bring your own bottle. The TV channels on board are pretty limited. You can get movies on demand, but you'll have to pay for them. It's a good idea to download a bunch of movies beforehand so you have something to watch. They do have movie nights on certain days, but it can get a bit repetitive. Onboard Cruise Tips: If you didn't pick a dining time when you booked your cruise, make sure to use the app to check in when the Pacific or Atlantic restaurant is open. They usually let you check in a bit earlier on the app. Once your table's ready, they'll send you a notification. It's much better than hanging around in the crowd by the restaurant. On sea days, everyone wants to do brunch at Pacific. We checked in pretty early but still ended up waiting about an hour for our table. Cucina del Capitano and Chibang are two special dining spots you can try out for free on your first visit, and then it's just $8 per person after that. Make sure to check in on the app ahead of time, as the wait can get pretty long. We recommend hitting up other specialty dining places you’re interested in first and saving these for later in your cruise since most folks will have already tried them by then. These restaurants are also open for lunch on some sea days, but remember, the charge still applies if you've already used your freebie. There's no strict limit on how many dishes you can order at specialty dining spots. They seem pretty chill with you getting two or three appetizers and one main dish. At Cucina del Capitano and Chibang, the server mentioned you can even order two main dishes if you want. Just be friendly with your server and avoid wasting food, and I'm sure you'll get to try more than one dish in each category. On most sea days, the pools on the 8th and 16th floors are packed with kids. If you're looking for a chill spot, head to "Serenity" for adults on the 18th floor. It's a hidden gem (and it's FREE) that most folks don't discover until later in the cruise. Also, the towels there are a different color, so make sure you check in and check out when you return them, or you might get charged. We ran into a few problems like our stateroom not being super clean, a kind of broken balcony door, and some undercooked chicken at one of the restaurants. Just a heads up, you can ask them to take off the daily tips on the last day of your cruise, and then you can just tip the servers or stateroom attendants in cash if you think they deserve it. If you want to snag an early disembarkation time, the app is your best bet. Make sure to do it ASAP, because even if you pick the earliest time, you might end up in a later group since a lot of experienced carnival cruisers are on the same page. If you're into board games or cards, make sure to pack your own since there’s no spot on the ship that offers them. Also, there's no library, so don’t forget to bring something to read. But hey, you can grab crosswords daily at two bars—one on the 6 th floor and the other on the 8 th . There are a couple of cool free activities on board: a craft/color event on sea days and a virtual aquarium. You can color your own fish and watch them come to life in the display! Mini-golf is also free. The roller coaster costs $15/PP. If you go for the thermal suite option at the spa, just know that the "jacuzzi" pool only has one corner with bubbles; the rest is more like a lukewarm soaking tub. The steam room, aromatherapy room, salt therapy, and sauna are pretty nice, but sometimes people don’t shut the doors properly, and the heat escapes. The best time to visit is in the last few hours before they close at 10pm because it’s less crowded, and you can snag one of those hot stone beds. They charge $5 for texting in the Hub APP, but we found a little loophole. Somehow, our texts still went through to everyone in the outside world, even non-iPhone users, just by connecting to the free ship WiFi. So, definitely give it a shot before paying that extra fee you don't really need. Food Options Complimentary "Pacific Restaurant" - (you might also get "Atlantic Restaurant" for dinner, so just check your app to see which one you're assigned to) – They're open for brunch and dinner. The brunch menu stays the same, but for dinner, there's both an express dining menu and a full menu that changes daily. With so many food choices on this ship, we only managed to have dinner here once, on the last day. Big Chicken – We tried this on our first day on board. It's pretty saucy and fried, so if that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy it. They're open for lunch and also offer a light breakfast in the morning. Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse – They offer breakfast just like Lido, but if you're up for a change of scenery, give this spot a shot. They've got an ice cream truck and an espresso machine, so it's the only place to snag a free "specialty coffee." You can also grab a smaller lunch menu and a full dinner menu here. If you're willing to pay, they have ribs and wings. Our top picks were the brisket and pulled pork. Lido Market – This is your usual buffet spot. Unlike other ships with loads of stations, there are usually just one main station and some other stations that all serve the same stuff. In the morning, there's a separate area for omelets and bread, and some of the paid stations are open for dinner too. There's a salad station, but it doesn't have a huge selection. Lida is open late at night from 11:30 pm to 2 am. Blueguana Cantina –You can snag breakfast options like arepas and huevos rancheros, plus lunch burritos and tacos here. The best part? They've got a ton of toppings you can add to your dishes. Guy’s Burger Joint – They're open for lunch, and you can create your own burger. Everyone goes on about the Donkey sauce, but we thought it was just okay. Street Eats – There are three spots here where you can snag a free item each day, and they switch it up daily. There's a fries station offering different kinds of fries with all sorts of toppings, plus two Asian stations that sometimes serve bao, dim sum, or kababs. Everything's super tasty. Also, if you're in the mood for bagels in the morning, you should definitely check out what they've got. They've got all sorts of cream cheese and fun combos. The rainbow bagel was definitely our favorite. Fresh Creation –This salad bar spot is only open on seadays, not every day, so be sure to check the daily planner. They've got a few extra ingredients, but the salad dressing options are pretty limited on this ship. Coastal Slice – Pizza is open from 9am to midnight. They've got the same 5 types for free all the time, but the paid ones switch up every day. We loved the pizzas and went there A LOT. Swirls Soft Serve & Froyo – You can find these machines at Guy’s Burger Joint, Lido Market, and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. They switch up the flavors every now and then. Beach Buns – They're usually open from 12 noon to 10 pm. They serve sandwiches, hot dogs, salad, soup, and the cheese melt is sooo good. Speciality Dining (Paid) Emeril’s Bistro 717 – We didn't check out this spot. It's not in a typical restaurant setting; instead, it's in an open seating area on Deck 6. They offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, focusing mostly on Southern and seafood dishes. The menu is a la carte. Cucina Del Capitano – The first time's free for everyone, and after that, it's $8 per person. They're open for both lunch and dinner. We only went for dinner and tried the Arancini, Nonna’s Meatballs, Caprese Salad, and the Rucola, Cracked Farro Salad as appetizers. The Arancini was really good, but the meatball was a bit overcooked, though the sauce was tasty. Both salads were just okay. For the main course, I went with the Paccheri Patate E Cozze since it’s the captain’s favorite, and my husband got the short ribs. The pasta was a bit too heavy for us, but we'd definitely come back just for those short ribs. For dessert, the Tiramisu was amazing, and the Apple Crostata was just okay for me, but if you like apple desserts, you might enjoy it. Chibang - Your first visit is on the house, and after that, it's $8 per person. We kicked things off with egg drop soup, slow-braised pork belly, spring rolls, and lettuce wraps for starters. The egg drop soup was delicious, the pork was a tad too fatty, the spring roll was just okay, but the lettuce wrap, even though saucy, was really good. Since this place mixes Chinese and Mexican flavors, we also tried the Queso Fundido as an appetizer. It was a bit salty, but the cheese was spot on. For the main course, I went with the beef and broccoli, and my husband chose the steak ranchero. They were both just alright. The appetizers definitely outshined the main dishes. Plus, there's a lion performance during dinner that's a must-see. Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse – We hit up this restaurant on the first day of our trip because they throw in a free bottle of house wine if you book on embarkation day. It's $52 for adults and $15 for kids 11 and under. We tried the pork belly, jumbo shrimp cocktail, baked onion soup, and tuna tartare. If you're into cool pics or videos, definitely go for the smoked oyster—the presentation is awesome. For appetizers, the onion soup and tartare were the real winners. For the main course, we had the cowboy steak and prime ribeye. My husband thought his cowboy steak was pretty bland and couldn't really taste the marbling. My ribeye was better since it had some seasoning, but it still didn't match up to a real steakhouse steak. The mac n cheese and Yukon gold mash were tasty, though they were a bit cold, like they'd been sitting out for a while. For dessert, we had the chocolate sphere and cheesecake. If you’re after a show, the chocolate sphere is the way to go. It was also my husband's birthday celebration. Usually, on other cruises, they give you a separate cake for birthdays (we were celebrating my husband’s), but here they just brought out a plate with "happy birthday" written on it. It didn't feel as "special." Rudi’s Seagrill – It's $52 for adults and $15 for kids 11 and under. We started with tuna, blue mussels, oysters, and scallops. My husband thought the scallops were buried under too much mashed potato and there weren't enough scallops, but I enjoyed the mash, so it's really up to personal taste. The tuna and mussels were super fresh. The oysters had too much sauce, which kind of overpowered their natural flavor. For the main course, I went with the full 9 oz lobster, and my husband had a surf and turf. There's no extra charge for that, but you'll get half a lobster tail instead of a whole one, which the waiter said was about 5 oz. It was really good, and we were both pretty stuffed afterward. For dessert, we tried the apple cheesecake and key lime pie, and they were both pretty tasty. Seafood Shack – You'll find this spot in the Street Eats area, and they're open for both lunch and dinner. They offer an à la carte menu. It was pretty busy on our cruise, so we didn't get a chance to try it. The Chef’s table – They're open for dinner and you'll need to make a reservation. It's $124 per person. We didn't get a chance to try it on this cruise, but the menu is heavy, so make sure you arrive hungry! Donuts & Biegnets –This spot at Street Eats serves breakfast with an à la carte menu. All things Wings – This spot at Street Eats serves lunch with an à la carte menu. Empanada & Pie and Masala Tiger - Both spots are in Lido Market. They offer an a la carte menu for both lunch and dinner. Bonsai Sushi – This spot is right next to the Teppanyaki. They serve lunch and dinner with an a la carte menu and stay open late. Bonsai Teppanyaki - It's $49 per person, and it's right near Bonsai Sushi. You'll start with a set menu featuring four appetizers: teppanyaki white shrimp, pork belly yakitori, spicy tuna on the rocks, and your choice of miso soup or salad. For the main course, you pick one entrée—I think the combo options are the way to go since you get to try both a meat and a seafood dish. These come with fried rice and stir-fried veggies. To wrap it all up, you get a chocolate bento box with green tea ice cream for dessert. If you like a bit of a show with your meal and don't want to fuss over too many choices, this spot is perfect. Java Blue Café –This spot offers desserts, sandwiches, and coffee, all available a la carte. Tea Time in Atlantic Restaurant – On certain sea days, there's a tea time from 3-4pm where you can enjoy some specialty teas (the coconut one is awesome) and pastries. The App doesn’t list this as a “fee” event, and when you go, they just give you a tea box without a menu. You’ll find out later that there’s a charge for the tea bags. It feels a bit sneaky if you ask me. We managed to get the charge removed, but it’s a good idea to ask before picking your teas. The front desk mentioned there’s also a free tea event in the Lido Market, but it’s not listed anywhere on the App. Occasionally, they also have special dining events here. For example, on this cruise, they had a birthday breakfast ($15 for adults and $10 for kids) with a theme (this time it was Thing 1 & Thing 2).   In Conclusion We thoroughly enjoyed Carnival's diverse food options, high-quality shows, and the abundance of entertainment available around the ship. Seating is never a concern, as there are plenty of seats everywhere. The ice maker is consistently operational, ensuring a plentiful supply of ice, unlike the issues we've encountered with other cruise lines. However, we believe that the service, particularly the cleanliness of the ship, sanitation (no "washy-washy" staff at the port or in front of the lido), the warmth of the staff, and conveniences to enhance passengers' experiences (especially during embarkation and debarkation), do not yet match the standards of other cruises we've experienced. We hope to see improvements in these areas over time, but for now, we'll likely return to our preferred cruises that truly make us feel at home. #CiciCao #travel #Cruises #Carnival #traveltips #food

LOCATION: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Photo above is property of A/MAZE Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers 📝   ETR DECODER 🔑 GAME : Possessed 📅 DATE PLAYED : September 20, 2025 🎬 GENRE : Horror 🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 Players) : 4/10 👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS : 2-6 ppl 🕒 LENGTH OF TIME : 60 Mins. 💰 PRICE : CAD $40/ pp (pending on group size) ☎️ BOOKING TYPE : Private 🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED? : Yes [28:00] 📖 THE STORY An old Victorian house has stood abandoned for decades after a series of gruesome deaths — suicides, unexplained fires, and whispers of rituals gone wrong. You and your team of paranormal investigators are sent to uncover the truth behind its curse. But once inside, the air thickens with dread, objects move on their own, and an unseen force begins to take hold of your thoughts. To survive, you must unravel the house’s dark secrets before something ancient and malevolent consumes your souls. 🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE The room feels professionally built, with a large and thoughtfully designed space that gives a strong sense of exploration. Moving between areas feels natural and satisfying, and the layout adds depth to the overall experience. Props and set pieces are of high quality, with a realistic and authentic look that enhances the story’s believability. Everything from the furniture to the small decorative items feels chosen to reinforce the theme rather than just fill space. As the game progresses, the presence of the occult grows stronger — subtle hints give way to darker symbols, eerie lighting, and an unsettling atmosphere that builds steadily. The pacing of that shift makes the environment more and more immersive. The room strikes a good balance between exploration and focus. There aren’t piles of random items to sort through, but there’s enough material to make the world feel rich and lived in. It keeps you searching without feeling cluttered or chaotic. Special effects are present but light — they help establish tone without taking over. While subtle, they contribute to the eerie vibe rather than relying on cheap jump scares or loud surprises. The puzzles offer solid variety, including searching, logic, decoding, and decryption. There’s a good rhythm to how they appear, and they feel well integrated into the story rather than disconnected tasks. Many puzzles naturally encourage teamwork — some require multiple people to interact with objects simultaneously, while others simply flow better when the group communicates. It creates a nice sense of shared progress. While the narrative loses a bit of strength once the gameplay picks up, the ending still provides closure and wraps up the story in a satisfying way. It feels complete without dragging on. 🧩 MISSED THE MARK Although the game offers both a “scary” and “non-scary” mode — which is a great concept — the scary version isn’t actually frightening at all; the tone is more eerie than terrifying. For players who enjoy the horror genre, this lack of intensity might feel like a missed opportunity. The environment sets the stage for horror but never truly leans into it. That said, for players who prefer atmosphere over fear, the lighter tone might actually be a relief and make the experience more enjoyable 🏹 TAKE A SHOT? "Possessed " is a perfect gateway escape room for people looking to experience a light horror game with a strong aesthetic and an interesting selection of puzzles. The nonlinear puzzle format also offers an opportunity for larger teams to stay engaged throughout. ℹ️   ADDITIONAL INFO There is no parking available on site. There are some available spots on the surrounding residential streets. There are also good bus links to this location. There is a lobby area with comfortable seating and secure lockers for your belongings. Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers (If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from " ESCAPETHEROOMers "!) Disclosure : We thank A/MAZE for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever. #RyanDriver #IRLescaperoom #EscapeRooms #Horror #AMAZE #Montreal #Canada