JK805

I tried to post at the start of my last sailing to provide a captain update, but since I don’t see the post (but do see the rotation updated with a different date) I’ll add that Captain Ole-Johan Gronhaug was at the helm of Vision on 1/6/24 for the start of the 13-night itinerary, so his rotation start date is at least one week earlier than what’s in the chart.

Just got off of this Vision sailing yesterday and didn’t get up to the pool deck to see this but can add a couple pictures as well. Here’s the view looking into the port and of the ship while leaving. I enjoyed the unique experience, and lots of the crew that morning were excited to see the sight of snow in person as well coming from areas that never get snow.

The lunch depends on the number of those doing B2B I’ve found. We had a really nice one on Navigator about a month and a half ago with about 30-40 doing B2B. Also, check in with guest services early-ish in the first leg to make sure you’re on their list of consecutive cruisers. (I’m about 50/50 on being on the list already when I check.) You’ll get a letter in your stateroom a couple days prior spelling out any specific details for that ship/sailing.

If Joseph is there in Schooner he was making these for quite a few people about a month and a half ago on Navigator. I don’t think he added the cranberry though. While I didn’t try the peanut butter and jelly myself, Joseph and John took great care of me at Schooner on Navigator for both parts of my B2B and I got to the point of just saying make me something with [insert base of choice here] and I wasn’t disappointed with any drink.

On board Navigator now, and we have Captain Johan. Not sure when he took over though, as it was still Captain James when I was on a few weeks ago (9/4-9/8).

@SportsFanatic I forgot to reply after my cruise a couple weeks ago, but remembered since I’m leaving on my next one tomorrow! I really only went to Schooner on Navigator last time (found some great bartenders who took real good care of us), but Schooner had Makers. It just was underneath and not on display on top. So it’s definitely available (at least as of now).

They did amp some cabins, or rather added some during the amplification. I got one of the new ones on my last sailing, and actually booked that one again for my B2B at the end of the month. Unfortunately, I don’t know where they’re all listed, if anywhere.

Definitely enjoyed following along when I could check in. Brought back memories of last year’s cruise (Cristobal was a great guide for the hike, but definitely glad I chose the early time versus the afternoon - even if it meant waking up earlier than I’d want!). And is getting me ready for my B2B with the Mexican Riviera (only 48 days to the 1st segment, and 52 to the Mexican a riviera segment, but who’s counting?). I’m a bit underwhelmed with the Jaimie’s changes, as I really liked the menu before. But all in all sounds like a great trip. Can’t wait to go on mine!

I remember a few bars having Makers last time I was on Navigator, though that was a few months back now lol. The theatre bar and Schooner I believe had it fairly consistently. Depending on when your cruise is I can confirm when I’m in board next month too.

Definitely enjoying the traveling vicariously through your posts - reminding me of my last Mexican Riviera trip and getting me excited for my next one at the same time! Perfect way to unwind and put work behind me by reading the updates of the adventures at the end of the day ha!

If bingo is being run by Marcus from Brazil, he would have those in the crowd who were one number away from a bingo stand up and do hip circles and call out “ooh la la”, so that became the secret code for later days to get extra cards when purchasing the packs lol. Always good to have that variety to keep things fresh, and have the options to change things up if things get monotonous or not as fun/enjoyable. And that MDR recognition is a nice touch that keeps me going there even for breakfasts and lunches. Even those waiters you get just a couple times for the other meals can be awesome, but it was really great having “my” waiter for almost every meal the one sailing. I kinda want to see if he’s there when I go back in a couple months and maybe repeat the experience 😂

Yeah, my lunch was in the MDR. Actually had my waiter for dinner “steal” me over to his section as the host was leading me somewhere else for the lunch during as arriving to Cabo. Bonus was the window seat, and I sat with my waiter for all MDR breakfasts and lunches after that for the rest of that cruise! (He actually grabbed all of those from my dinner table for the other meals I found out by day 3 or 4, and we laughed about that at dinner haha.) Helipad for arrival into Cabo sounds delightful too, maybe I’ll try that in a few weeks. Haven’t decided on any plans yet for Cabo yet. Jaimie’s bruschetta was delicious when I had it! I got UDP once on a 3 day, just to give the specialties a try. I enjoy MDR though, so I don’t usually book specialty that often. Interesting to hear about Izumi “following” you though, but makes sense for Royal at the same time. And your spa experiences are almost tempting me to splurge and book a treatment or two sometime… (or hope to win the spa raffle 😂) but I think I’d want your person if I booked on Navigator. Sounds like a pretty good one all around! i actually won a round of bingo last time on Navigator too, and if the same host is there I fully expect him to remember me from last year! But I already know the “secret” code for extra cards, in addition to all the items etc.

Yeah, I’m really looking forward to it. Last year I added on a 3 day last minute to my 7 day, so it was at the end. It wasn’t bad, but the energy change was a bit more dramatic going from 7 day to 3 day crowd! So I think the 4 day to 7 day will be better. And my 4 day is 1 port (Ensenada) only, so extra sea day bonus! If the bartenders I like are still there at Schooner, they’ll take good care of me on both sides of the B2B 😂. And your spa person sounds awesome! Gotta love the no upsell. I usually can’t get myself to depart with that much money for a treatment, but with someone like that and your positive experience I might change my mind haha. Enjoy Cabo tomorrow. I enjoyed my lunch as we sailed in along the coast last year, I got seated by the window with a great view as we came in. Made a great experience (before the tendering to get ashore).

I love the helipad for sail away on Navigator! Always my go to. The open deck and calm really helps get me in the cruising spirit 😊. I’ve done 3 and 7 night sailings on Navigator - definitely a different vibe entirely. I’ll be doing my first 4 day in a few weeks, followed by a 4/7 B2B. Enjoy the sailing, can’t wait to head down to the Mexican Riviera in two months myself. I’ll be living vicariously through the post until then…

A good TA is always nice to have. Mine is awesome, and haven’t missed final payment, but did recently learn that the agency policy where my TA works sets their “final” date ~15 days before the cruise line one, mostly to make sure there’s a buffer in case of any issues to make sure the absolute final date isn’t missed.

Sounds like a bit of improvement for more tables available for those getting food on the pool deck with deck 11 no longer a smoking area. Would often see the same people at the same table all day long all cruise before.

And different airlines handle differently too. Booked flight a couple months ago on an airline I hadn’t flown in 10+ years but had an account still. Was logged in to book, but at payment screen (or just before) I saw it didn’t have my suffix to fully match my ID and wouldn’t let me edit name from account since I was logged in. Called/messaged airline agent next morning, sent copy of my ID, and got it changed - but realized they essentially canceled and rebooked to do the change since I got an email receipt after listing travel bank as payment source. Was fixed easily and quickly enough, but learned some systems are so engrained it took a cancel/rebook to update name to add a two letter suffix.

Just getting a decent connection that allows me to do what I want to do is good enough for me most times, especially when I remind myself I’m miles off land! Even with “slow” speeds I’ve been able to surf the internet, use wifi calling, and even join the weekly family video chats while in the middle of the ocean. That being said, on Vision last month I was pleasantly surprised to see some great speeds, but could very well have been a perfect combo of where the ship was, where I was on the ship, and what AP I was connected to and how much interference wasn’t there between everything.

Definitely enjoyed following along. Satisfied a small part of my itch while waiting for my next sailing. But man am I thirsty from following along! 🥃

I loved the extra sea days going down to the ABCs!!

Pure guess… but I’d imagine Welcome, France, Caribbean, Italy, Bon Voyage. But again, just a wild guess with no insight whatsoever.

My experience with disembarking with the Key is either go to the meet up point and they walk you directly to be scanned off, or mention to a crew member near the line/exit you have the Key and they put you right in the line a few people back from being scanned off.

There’s another active post this week about using the Key with tenders here https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2944338-the-key-tender-ports/

They might have change the menus offered too as it gets closer to sailing. I had a Taste of Asia show in the couple weeks before my last cruise, and it went away about a week out. Can’t remember what it was replaced with though.

I always enjoy sitting out on the promenade deck for the peace and quiet of the ocean going by. I’ll usually find myself out there for anywhere from 20 min to an hour or more each night. But since Vision is smaller, there are less areas to relax inside without much else going on. Depending on the evening’s activities in the Centrum, there are chairs around the Centrum area in the decks upstairs around the centrum to sit and chat or relax - but activities might vary so you’d have to check the app or Cruise Compass to see what’s planned in the Centrum. Another relatively quiet place (and sheltered from any weather) is the Solarium. There can be traffic there with Park Cafe, but once the pool is closed it’s fairly quiet and went up there for the night there was a lot of ocean spray keeping me from enjoying the non-smoking side of the promenade deck.