Silvery Seas Cruiser

Sailing on Infinity in a few weeks. Can you tell me if the Celebrity app works on Infinity? Do they have the new way of doing muster or is it still the traditional way of crowding into some area to watch a brief movie and listen to instructions? Does Infinity offer the speedier Internet (extra price) or is only the standard Internet available? This will be our first time on Infinity. We are looking forward to cruising on Infinity.

On 6/3/2022 at 8:09 AM, not-enough-cruising said:

Seriously, right? So many experts that know exactly the inner workings of the Royal Caribbean accounting department!

A room steward on Royal did tell me one time they do know who prepaid. I can't remember the context of the conversation. Even though they do know, I think they really hope you will give them extra over and above the prepaid amount they are allotted. We always do and even more at Christmas if we are sailing then. 

On Mariner this week, the buffet was self serve, but I noticed that the staff replaced tongs regularly. Yes, there were crowds at certain times in the Windjammer. No social distancing. Few masks worn except for the crew who were masked. Before you enter the Windjammer there is an area for enforced hand washing. The energetic attendant is pleasant but insistent that you "washy, washy."

There is no social distancing in elevators and folks just crowd in. The theater was packed for most shows.

Have to say, though, the cruise I was on this week was a Memorial Day cruise crammed with families and kids of all ages. The kids were the most I had seen at one time in over two years. An officer told Hubby Mariner had 3300 passengers, so I guess the days of sailing forty or fifty percent full are over. 

Had a great time though even if the crowds and noise were tiring at times for someone used to pandemic restrictions. But we had fun and I was sorry when the cruise ended.

Just now, Silvery Seas Cruiser said:

No enforced boarding times that I observed. They were very strict about checking vaccination cards, COVID tests and Bermuda authorization papers. They actually checked the Bermuda authorization paper three times, but during the cruise, a passenger told me they never once checked his!!!

Just now, Silvery Seas Cruiser said:

No enforced boarding times that I observed. They were very strict about checking vaccination cards, COVID tests and Bermuda authorization papers. They actually checked the Bermuda authorization paper three times, but during the cruise, a passenger told me they never once checked his!!!

I should add that the actually boarding of the ship was enforced in order of priority by Suites, Pinnacle, Diamond Plus, Diamond, then I think a general kind of every one else strategy. 

Just now, S.A.M.J.R. said:

How was boarding?  Are they enforcing assigned times?

No enforced boarding times that I observed. They were very strict about checking vaccination cards, COVID tests and Bermuda authorization papers. They actually checked the Bermuda authorization paper three times, but during the cruise, a passenger told me they never once checked his!!!

Our stay in Bermuda on Mariner was cut short so Captain Tobias could sail a safer but longer path back to Port Canaveral. We did go through high winds and rough seas for awhile, but I can imagine it could have been far worse. My sister was very disappointed about the reduced Bermuda visit. I heard several passengers say they would have just preferred to ride out the storm in Bermuda.Had we done that, however, we might have returned to Port Canaveral a day or two late. 

I heard a rumor that Mariner may offer this same Bermuda cruise next year, so my sister is hoping we will take it and have better luck next year.  

Just got off Mariner this morning. No, you do not need to make reservations for shows on Mariner. You probably should make reservations for premium dining of you wish to try that, especially Chops and Izumi. 

The tricky part of parking at Terminal five at Port Canaveral is not parking, it is leaving after the cruise. Because there are only 3 pay terminals, it is very slow for everyone in the parking lot to pay. WE waited in line nearly forty minutes just to pay and leave the terminal aprking lot. But getting in to park is easy peezy. An attendant guides you to the spot to leave your luggage, then where to park. You then walk  across a bridge and wait at the terminal door for the paper checking. 

Just checked the web cam. Mariner is most definitely docked at Terminal 5. So much for the advice Royal Caribbean gave me on the phone. I knew Cruise Critic folks would come through for me. Many thanks to all of you. 

3 minutes ago, Tagsalong said:

Capt Tobias and HD Paul said Terminal 5 tomorrow.  Who to trust? Captain or Shoreside?

Quite a puzzle! Oh the challenges of cruising. Still worth all the stress though. Once we are on board all will be forgotten. 

Idea. Maybe we'll just do a Park and Sail lot and let them figure out what terminal.  

2 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Bummer. Terminal 5 is the oldest of the terminals and a pain to use if you are driving in.

That's not good news. I googled a map and it is confusing. I agree with that,

2 minutes ago, Tagsalong said:

Terminal 5 from now on.  No more Terminal 1.  They installed facial recognition machines in Terminal 5 last Sunday.  No more bussing from 5 to 1 or visa versa.

Oh, my goodness! I just read this. Guess I am back to looking at the web cam tomorrow morning.  Those facial recognition cameras are great. Celebrity's terminal at Port Everglades has them. So fast and easy. I hope it is terminal five.

Well, surprise! Royal Caribbean just called me back and said it was Terminal One. I have to say I'm impressed with their customer service. 

Thank you.That's what I read too. Maybe the best way is to check the web cam bright and early tomorrow morning. Really don't want to get to the port after a long drive and be confused as to where to go. Terminal One and Terminal Five appear to be in different directions. I actually called Royal Caribbean and they didn't seem to know either.

Can someone please tell me where Mariner docks at Port Canaveral?

Thank you both for the quick replies. Now I know what to pack. I appreciate the advice.

Haven't been on Royal since well before the pandemic. We will be on an eight night cruise soon which makes me wonder how many formal (or dressy or chic) nights will there be. Long ago an eight night cruise would have two, but I would appreciate it if someone would tell me the current practice. Just trying to plan what to pack. Would love to pack "light,"

Right after boarding we scurry to the Windjammer, but on those cruises that offer it, we have pre-cruise reserved lunch at Jamie Oliver's to avoid the boarding day crowds in the Windjammer.

Thank you for that. I wish the web site had made that clear. All it said is you must apply no later than 28 days before sailing. I took that to mean I could apply now, but you must be right. I jumped the gun...over eager as always. 😊

On 3/26/2022 at 5:10 PM, Heymarco said:

Put your mask back on. If it can block a little virus, it can certainly block those large smoke particles in the air. 😇

A mask will not block the smell of smoke in one's hair or clothes even though it amay help keep one form breathing second hand smoke.

Being as I can't seem to get Royal on the phone, here's hoping some of you can answer this. Bermuda requires that cruise passengers fill out a $40 application form for authorization to visit Bermuda. I tried to fill it out, but it lists the ships coming to Bermuda and Mariner isn't one of them. Thus, I cannot go any further in the application. So I can't get Royal on the phone, They actually disconnected after I waited. Who do I ask or what can I do? Anybody here know?

1 hour ago, BleuzLex said:

We enjoyed the March 7th sailing as well. Very relaxed! Aqua class was amazing and our state room attendant, Stanley, was consistently excellent. We were wowed by the cuisine and service in Blu. I would like to hear from anyone who dined in qZine. I was dying to try it, but DH, not so much.

Three of us dined in QZine on that cruise. The head waiter told us the menu had just changed. I take it that the "show" changes when the menu changes. One good feature is that there are two menus. The animations follow the courses on Menu A, but it doesn't really matter if you have chosen from menu B. The animations are still funny, even if they don't match your food. 

I was surprised that the lovely animated tablecloth changes with each course. 

My ever restless husband thought the meal lasted too long, but even he enjoyed the experience as a whole. At first I thought QZine would be wonderful for children, but the long spells between the animations might be hard for really active children to endure. It probably depends on the child, however. 

My sister and I  thought the courses were interesting and the food was good, but Hubby still prefers Murano. 

Sis and I would go back to QZine when the menu and animations change because we thought it was so cute, but Hubby might be harder to persuade. I don't know how many different animations there are in a typical cruise. Our cruise on Silhouette was 11 nights. I know they did at least two different animations, but maybe more. Can't say. 

Hubby wants me to tell you that a popular web site that features videos, has the QZine full animations on their site. Don't know if I am allowed to say the name of that site. 

The Silhouette March 7 to 18, 2022 sailing was not self serve for food in the buffet. Masked servers plated dishes for passengers and tried their best to understand what you want and how much you want. It does take longer.

There were times when I wished I could just grab a bran muffin or what not, but I guess this current way is safer. I do miss the previous way of choosing your own type of pasta and sauce plus little extras that were cooked to your order. The big pans of prepared pasta never appealed to me and often looked too dry. Oh well, maybe next year we'll all be back to cruising as we knew it.  

7 hours ago, bjahil47 said:

We love Equinox Deck 12 Aft and never hear any noise.

Same with Silhouette. I barely heard the pool bands playing near Deck 12 mid ship, slightly aft. It was port side, but no smoke drifted up from Deck Five smoking area.

The other consideration besides sun is how the ship docks in port. The simple answer is you just never know for sure how the ship will dock in port meaning will your cabin be facing the port or facing away from it? Or will it be smack dab beside another ship, maybe even a bigger ship. It is very difficult to book a cabin based on your situation in any given port.

Port facing can be scenic as in St Lucia, for example, or it can be very noisy if you face a busy cargo port and fuel barges beside your ship in St Maarten, for example, even  if no ship is next to you. 

In short, I choose my cabin based on my preferred location and deck of the ship. Oh, another caveat, afternoon sun on a west facing balcony can be blazing hot and painfully bright.  Just saying.