P2l

Unfortunately, the storm that seemed so impressive for us was also the one that sank a super yacht, with one confirmed fatality and 6 others missing. Nature is spectacular but sometimes deadly.

Lunch & dinner have been good at YC restaurant, less impressed by breakfast. Room service breakfast also underwhelming. The grill, however, did a fantastic breakfast this morning.

Short video from the upper balcony this morning. The calm after the storm last night (hot tub got good use watching the lightning show). Posted mostly in an attempt to illustrate just how quiet & peaceful this ship can be - zero engine noise. IMG_2824.mov

Butler came good. Very little light pollution to spoil our lightning show tonight!

Back to the titular topic, the ship is decidedly wobblier of deck than on preceding days. Not just due to the gin either. Sat in the Panorama Lounge and the candelabra are noticeably swaying. On the plus side, we’re at the aft of the ship, so less distance to go to the engine room, where - assuming ship design hasn’t changed in the intervening years, and that the movie was in fact a documentary - the hull is thinner, facilitating an easier rescue following capsize.

One could not possibly comment. I would mention that in all the ports thus far, we have docked stern to. Thus, unless you have another cruise ship docked in front, it’s probably a bit better than elsewhere on the ship for being overlooked from off-ship.

So this set me on a quest to find some of the deck areas under the overhang. The first picture is from the aquarium in Genoa. The seating areas belong to the Fizz bar and (I think) Raj Polo. The lifeboat deck has a reasonable length promenade. The aft end is the crew smoking area, and the promenade seems mostly used by off duty crew. We got a glimpse through an open door into the fo’c’sle cable area.

Port side, Royal Suite followed by the 3 Dulpexes. 16003 being in the middle. To be honest, there’s not much in it between the Duplexes - they all have a private area at the back of the top balcony and a corner of the hot tub that is well screened. If you want privacy, it looks like RS is best. What’s also worth noting is that there is very little light pollution in the forward Duplexes, if no one else in the row leaves their deck lights on. Sadly, our neighbour has left theirs on and our butler was reluctant to get involved. We’ve not had chance to talk to the occupants - we suspect it’s by accident not design they’ve been left on. The light switches are generally confusing.

We’re in 16003. I’m currently finishing my wine in the restaurant, but I was planning on doing a walk of the Top Sail promenade after. I’ll see what I can do.

Just evening. I wore shorts for breakfast. Lunches have been at the grill thus far.

As it’s another common question: No sign of interlopers interloping in YC. Whilst there is a fair amount of shade in YC area, anywhere outside the shade the deck is scorchio.If you neglect to wear flip flops or equivalent, my feet attest that even a few steps can leave them feeling burnt.

Expect to queue a little while for waterslides, especially the blue one that uses inflatable rings. The pink one is certainly different! Kids were able to walk straight up to pick up pizza & fries for lunch near main pool. Adults opted for YC grill.

Certain places get busy, but there always seem to be quiet spots. We’re not social people so we try to avoid crowds. There is always one’s balcony (where I am right now). Plan to hit the water park later this morning, we’ll see how busy that is.

The Britannia Club dining experience is a different class even from YC. I trust you won’t be disappointed. Cunard also make it clear that mobile phones are unacceptable in their theatres, something MSC would do well to echo. Our Broadway show last night was somewhat spoiled by Ill-disciplined children and inappropriate use of devices. The most flagrant offenders were also in the YC reserved area. Cultural differences cannot excuse inconsiderate behaviour.

Note that one of the jutting out sections is part of La Brassiere dining room. We were sat there for dinner last night and it was a wonderful location, especially at sunset.

As it’s a question that seems to come up regularly, they were very definitive in the welcome talk that gentlemen were not permitted to wear shorts in the YC restaurant, although it’s OK in La Brasserie. Note there seems no equivalent rule around gentlemen wearing Speedos on the YC pool deck. YC pool (indeed all the pools) moderately busy, but sunbeds aplenty. It’s also shady on the aft facing deck 21. One minor quibble: The bathrobes don’t make one feel like they’re being hugged by a hundred fluffy bunnies, unlike our previous Cunard Britannia Club experience.

Poseidon Adventure forced upon the family - check (best safety briefing ever!) Better half convinced it’s worth turning up early to the cruise terminal - check. Arrived cruise terminal at 10.30, aboard World Europa and in the Top Sail Lounge by 11 (had to down my complementary fizz in a hurry on orders of a daughter). By the time we’d taken a few photos (including of our duplex from above), sorted out MSC app/Internet and half drunk some more complementary drinks, our stateroom was ready. Obligatory exploration followed. Venom slide slid. Steerage buffet walked, just to fully appreciate the YC grill lunch experience afterwards. No regrets on choosing YC.

In Barcelona right now and there’s no sign of anti-tourist sentiment. My guess is it’s largely the media peddling click bait “news”. And since we’re all profiled by Google and Facebook as having shown interest in cruising/cruise destinations, we’ll get targeted for those stories more. What you might need to know however: It’s swelteringly hot but the beer is cold 🫠🍺

I also considered Duplex vs Duplex Whirlpool vs RS on World Europa. I went for the Duplex Whirlpool primarily for the 2 bathrooms (3 ladies travelling with me), and the larger balcony space over standard Duplex. Booked well over a year ago, now only 20 days to go...

We're also heading to Barcelona shortly for a couple of nights before embarking World Europa. I'm hoping it's just the media blowing things out of proportion.

Fire risk from unattended charging devices more likely.

I've worked out how to get in. Don't tick the already a member box, use booking number and enter all the other details as if registering anew. Then it works. Or at least it did today. Who knows about tomorrow.

Cauliflower masquerading as spuds is like vol-au-vents masquerading as sausage rolls. Stern words should be had. Or bow words, depending on location.

I'd like to see the official signage on the entrance to the YC changed to No Interlopers

I suspect if you peruse all the lines' forums on CC you'd see there was a common trend. I'm not going to try to back up that claim because life is too short, but as a single data point try searching for "dress code" in the Cunard forum.