binro01

So the day ended quite well. Had a nice but underwhelming welcome aboard meal. I can still tell that the food quality is lower and has not increased yet back to the state of pre pandemic. 
 

i know that the folks at Royal are doing well but the loans I’m sure are still there and need to be cleared. Will it ever go back. Not sure. 
 

The crab cake had imitation crab in it. So sad. The prime rib was of a lesser quality. I know. I use to butcher at a prime meats shop. this would be lucky to have been a select grade if that. 
 

The shrimp contrail was using very small shrimp. Oh well. The service was great as well as the company. We had late traditional dining. 
 

After dinner I went over to the schooner bar. The piano man was excellent and very entertaining. Then shot over to the music hall. What a great venue. 
 

overall a nice first day aboard. I do have the deluxe beverage package and took full advantage of it the first day. From noon till midnight I had 8 cocktails one beer and one wine. Plus a couple of lattes. This was all stretched out over twelve hours so I don’t think I really felt any affects of the alcohol or they were lighter pours. You decide. I’m a big guy so it takes a decent amount for me. 
 

I ordered continental breakfast for the following morning between 830 and 9. Didn’t show up till 9:50. Almost an hour late. So keep that in mind. It’s was for my wife. She does not get up early like me. I went to the main dining room for breakfast for my fresh squeezed OJ a latte and my bagel and lox with eggs sunny side up. 
 

We are going to head to the solarium. Will report how crowded that is on an overcast cold day.
 

Oh. And since the real sun is hiding today the NCL sun decided to made an appearance. It’s a race!

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZhPvUrEkaYk?si=HpVmj1susf_540iV

Embarkation day was a breeze. Got to the port at 10am on an Uber. Cost was 22 bucks. Cheaper than the hotel transfer of 15 per person. 
 

we stayed at the Maxwell Hotel close to the pier and the space needle. Great hotel and reasonably priced. 
 

I would highly recommend the Maxwell. 
 

we handed off our two large suite cases to the porter. Went through security and checkin within 10 minutes and the. In 5 minutes they started boarding. 15 minutes total for us. 
 

Did our muster and headed over to the Windjammer. Relaxed with a light brunch. And then headed over to the Northstar bar to relax on the loungers looking over the pool deck where I am now situated. 
 

Rooms became available at around 1:00 pm. 
 

About to start on drink number four 1 Mojito and 2 Gombay Smashes so far. . Ship looks to be in great shape in the public areas. The outer hull need a lot of deck maintenance and painting. Lots of exposed rust. The Navy spouse was not impressed in the lack of hull maintenance. 
 

Here is a short video about the windjammer on the cruise! The heart of the ship on embarkation day!

https://youtube.com/shorts/X_Cyer8NsQk?si=qT5olP2d6i3OVx6r

4 hours ago, LEMJMcC said:

We're sailing Quantum on July 1 out of Seattle.  I am most interested in what they say about Skagway.  We have an excursion booked there through RCI that we really hope not to miss.  If they provide any update on the accessibility for future cruises, I'd be much obliged if you'd share them. 

Enjoy your cruise and your anniversary!

The only thing they said was that there is still issues at the port from the rock slides. They had a temp pier that got damaged on its way up. Still waiting for them to fix it. Not sure why our ship was the odd ship out. The port of Skagway made the announcement before we got notification from Royal. My guess it’s the port that decides which ship miss is out. 
 

I would follow the port of Skagway to get info sooner vs from Royal. 
 

no compensation for missing that port and the switch out for Icy Straights. 

14 hours ago, cynt said:

Thx for posting your live review! This will scratch that I want to cruise now itch. 

 

Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

 

We board Quantum in 63 days along with 14 family and friends. My 3rd Alaska cruise, DH 2nd and everyone else's 1st Alaska cruise. 

 

Enjoy your cruise. I'll be here patiently waiting for updates! 

 

Let me know how your check in experience goes today.

Check in was extremely smooth. Easy to get through with minimal lines. On the ship in 15 minutes from entering the terminal. 

16 hours ago, perfect match said:

I’m looking forward to following along! This is going to be fun.
Happy Birthday 🎂 and Happy Anniversary! 🥂

Thanks for the well wishes. 

19 hours ago, mikembs said:

formal night attire?  jean ok or not aloud. free lobster night in the main dining room?  bring alcohol aboard?  room service charges?  we have a big family trip in September 2024. trying to educate my family on cruise life.   thanks for any info you may have.

Dress how you wish. No enforcement usually on Royal. Jeans will be fine. 
 

no being on board alcohol other than two bottles of wine. 
 

yes room service charge. I believe 8 picks plus 18%
 

19 hours ago, mikembs said:

is there a laundry on quantum? 

Nope. Need to use the bags for a fee

On 5/19/2024 at 12:21 PM, NancyandRussell said:

We are going on Quantum inn August, and I look forward to your reviews and suggestions.We’ll be traveling with our teenage grandkids, so we’ll probably have less of an adult experience. However, will enjoy your recommendations. Travel safely and have a wonderful time!! BTW, love your video!!!

 

 

Plenty of things for a teen to do on this ship. Great family cruise ship. 

Well I’m up and ready to go a full 30 minutes ahead of schedule. 
 

Is it because I’m all wide eyed and bushy tailed? No! Even though I’m a morning person. This is prime sleeping hours unless I’m on a real good roll at the Craps table in the casino. And I see no dice in sight!

wife decided she did not want to sleep with a wet head so she took her shower this morning. I just got up at the same time. This why I’m early. Maybe I can sleep on the plane. Probably not. 

Well, I’m officially all packed up and ready to go. Just need to pack up the CPAP after tonight’s sleep and place my toiletry bag in the carryon after my shower before I head to bed. 
 

I have a very early AM flight to Seattle tomorrow morning. (6:17AM or what I like to call, the butt crack of dawn.) so it’s up and at em at 3:00 AM and off to the Airport by 3:30. That should get me to the airport 2 hours before the flight leaves. 
 

We land in Seattle at 7:17 AM Seattle time. (Short flight from Salt Lake City) and I figure we will be in Downtown Seattle by 9:00 AM. 
 

We are staying at the Maxwell Hotel near the space needle for the night before the cruise. I like being in the thick of the city. Gives me lots of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 
 

Just need to call the hotel to let them know of my early arrival time. Crossing my fingers and toes that they will be able to accommodate the early check in but I’m not expecting it to happen.

Now it’s just time to relax and watch my wife scurry around like a crazed chicken without it’s head. She is the ultimate procrastinator and just started to pack. My guess is that everything is going into the suitcase from the closet.

Today is my true anniversary. 28 wonderful years. Here is a pic of what my wife got me. I told her there is something special for her when she gets on the cruise. 
 

Last night we went out to dinner for my Birthday with our sons. All young adults now. They got me this hat as well as some fun tee shirts that are packed for the cruise. I will take a pic of them when I’m wearing them on a given day. 
 

Tomorrow the Adventure begins. Looks like Seattle will be pretty nice these next two days. 

1 hour ago, crzndeb said:

On Quantum class, there is a plug next to bed. I have a cpap as well.

Happy Birthday and Anniversary. My bday was yesterday and I debarked from Celebrity Edge. We did make it up to Dawes glacier, but the Edge is a bit smaller, though not much. Lots of ice in the water on the way up and a few pretty good size icebergs. Enjoy!

Awesome. Sounds beautiful and happy birthday! Hoping to get up to the Glacier. We will see. 

2 hours ago, Bxc53 said:

Hope you have a great cruise!

May I ask a small favor?

Could you check for a power outlet near the bed ( not USB)?
 

We will be on the Quantum for the Seattle to Tokyo this fall and I’ve recently started on a CPAP machine.. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

Will do. I use a CPAP as well and I always look for nearby outlets!

15 hours ago, Matt&Carolyn said:

Fun! Are you going on the Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier excursion boat?

Unfortunately no. I will see if I can get on it if there was a cancellation. 

20 minutes ago, Cherful59 said:

I was lucky enough to do a land trip to Alaska 25ish years ago and then cruise on Radiance last August.  Loved Alaska, but would love to cruise Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier so will definitely be following along.  Enjoy your cruise. 

Here is the scheduled live stream of the cruise through Endicott Arm and Dawes glacier. It startson May 24th 9:00 AM eastern 

Hi folks,

Well it's time to get on a Royal Caribbean ship again! This time it's Quantum of the Seas. Our very first Quantum Class ship and we are sure excited about that. (Even though the Northstar is closed... )

My wife and I are doing my Birthday cruise up to Alaska. Its also our Anniversary cruise too., (28 years tomorrow)

We have been to Alaska 2 times before. Once on NCL and once on Princess, so it will be interesting to see how Royal showcases Alaska.

We have recently been told that we will not port in Skagway because of their ongoing pier issues, and we will be stopping instead at Icy Strait Point. Not what I hoped for. I was hoping if Skagway was cancelled we would be able to sneak into Ketchikan since we are not stopping there on this itinerary. But we will be stopping in Sitka which was the main reason why I booked this itinerary. (Never been there)

I do have the deluxe beverage package and my wife has the refreshment package so I will let people know what my favorite drinks were. I like trying new things on ships because I never drink when at home. It only happens on cruise ships for some reason! LOL

We also do have a YouTube Channel so I will be posting many YouTube shorts of our days on the ship as well as doing a live stream as we go down Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier. I will post them here as well so you can see our ventures in real time. 

We are going to be doing the Chef's Table as well as a dinner at Chops during our trip so you will get some impressions on that.

Overall we are excited about heading to Seattle on Sunday and Boarding on Monday.

Do not hesitate to ask questions or request info. That is what Lives are for!

Now it's time to go back to my overpacking for Alaska. I never know what the heck to bring and it seams like the weather on the app keeps changing.

Anything else.. Well this will be cruise number 18 for us, and our third this year. In January we were on the Celebrity Ascent, and in March we did a 15 night cruise to Hawaii from LA on Princess. So yea.. We like to cruise and we are so lucky to be able to cruise as much as we do.

To spice this post and live up. I made a YouTube Short to get me and the wife excited about the Quantum of the Seas... Hope you enjoy it!
 

And for desert the chocolate soufflé and an Irish Coffee at Cage Al Bacio. 

9 minutes ago, LaCal said:

Looks Delicious and Exactly what i’ll be ordering 😜

 

Are you planning to do the Land and Sea lunch special tomorrow at Tuscan Grille??  And if so please take pics   Thx 😊

Not planning on doing Land and Sea lunch at Tuscan. Tomorrow is Le Petit Chef dinner for us.

The main today was the surf and turf for me!

My first and second course for Murano lunch. 
 

Seared Shrimp and Crab salad. 
 

j

Puerto Vallarta is our favorite port on this Itinerary. 
 

we did once again a side by side RZR excursion up into the rain forest early in the AM. Did this with Unique ATV and they have reasonable prices and keep you very safe as you wind through the city to the rain forest. It’s so much fun and I highly recommend it.

Lunch in Oceanview Cafe was British Themed and I had the fish and chips. Best fish in chips I had at sea anywhere! The Oceanview cafe has been very good and varied this cruise. 
 

Pre dinner we went to the Passport bar. We find the table service there to be the quickest on the ship outside of El Bachio. 
 

dinner in the MDR was good to very good tonight. I had a chicken dish that was good but the French onion soup redeemed itself. Well made. Flavorful and deep. Desert was very good. I had the banana foster with a side of the pineapple sorbet. 
 

The amazing thing they did was gave our table a chefs selection that was off menu with a wonderful short rib on top of a polenta. 
 

the evening we went to the Broadway Cabaret and the production staff did a great job.

2 more sea days left!

Ohh. And ohhh my! They are having their first Lunch at Murano on this ship since the restart!!!

Here is the lunch menu! Doing it as a sea day lunch on a he second Gala night. 
 

So, yesterday was a lazy day. Wife and I worked on both our small business stuff, YouTube videography and volunteer commitments till about 4PM. We are not huge fans of Mazatlan so took advantage of a semi quiet ship. I guess many people feel the same about Mazatlan.

Once we finished up we headed back to the room to get ready for a 545 dinner at Murano.

Murano lived up to my expectations for a speciality restaurant. I started with the lobster bisque and had the lobster Murano. My wife had the loup de Mar. Both mains were delicious. I have heard some speak of not being offed a cheese plate but we were. The Matre’d at Murano treated us like royalty and we had a wonderful conversation for about 20 minutes. Drink service was great, bread service great. Our waiter was wonderful.

We had an early excursion in Puerto Vallarta so decided to make it a quiet evening and head to head a little early because the ships clocks rolled toward to match port time. 
 

we had the 6 shot glass sampler for our desert at Murano (for two) sorry forgot to take a pic of that. It was so appealing we dug right in. 

We ate at the OceanView Cafe for lunch and I had a great Indian food lunch. 

And for those who asked about the slots. Here is a hyper lapse short of all the slots in the casino in under 1 minute. I know I was able to spot my machines. But you can slow down the video if needed. 
 

Cruise Ship Casino Slots. Celebrity Eclipse. #cruise #cruiseship #slots #travel
https://youtube.com/shorts/-AVZ4cb2n14?feature=share
 

Rock City production show’s first song. The show was entertaining. 
 

The tender ride back to the ship. Some people hate them. I love them. No better way to see your ship.