RK-NC

Speedy recovery to everyone! ❤️‍🩹

sweet horseradish?!? and those sauce drops look smaller than a pea! 🤣🤣

@SerraG Maybe a future in food writing?!? I also enjoy America's Test Kitchen/Cook's Illustrated - I like their technique and science focused approach to cooking.

Yes. I wonder if it could be the same soup served 2 different ways? I really enjoyed the presentation with the popcorn/sesame seed "stick" on top. We had several different soups in various dining venues and all were very good! I am wondering about your food and writing background....I have enjoyed your descriptions. Do you do a lot of dining out? cooking? We both enjoying cooking, dining and trying new dishes but Luminae was just not our thing....just a bit too posh I guess.

Lots of cold soup in Luminae...they should serve hot soup in Alaska! I'm a pretty avid home cook and make a lot of (hot!) soups in the fall and winter. Have never understood chilled soup. Yellow corn soup at Cosmopolitan was one of my favorites on Beyond in April.

Best wishes for a wonderful voyage and thank you for sharing. We will be in Southampton 3 times on our Aug/Sept voyage and look forward to exploring there. Would love to hear more about your experience on QM2, especially dining/service and entertainment.

Check the creaking and popping thread to make sure you're not booked in a noisy one! Good luck! We were in SS 9168 and it was a snap, crackle, popping adventure.

We were on Celebrity in April and experienced the same. Our last cruise was in 2019 on Azamara and waiters were constantly EVERYWHERE offering to take drink orders.

It was a long, interesting read. Thank you again @exlondoner for sharing. I take all reviews (positive and negative) with a grain of salt. I do find it quite interesting that this long review is from a "new" cruiser on a first crossing. The author comes across to me as very experienced and I picked up some great tips.

Would love to read this! Do you have a link, please?

Knot forming in my stomach as I read this. Booked on M426A 30N British Isles RT from NY. We've had our Gala clothing prepared for a couple of months now and have looked forward to a level of service to match that elevated standard. I'm wondering if we should just skip the extra piece of luggage and plan to eat in Kings Court every night? I am somewhat hopeful that the problems will be ironed out by then - this will be the 400th crossing. We would very seriously be considering cancellation if not past final payment.

This is interesting and makes me wonder if they always fill those containers with the correct product. On Beyond, what we had was very lathery and scented. I know the pump bottles are more environmental but I really don't care for them. I've had hotel pumps that were blocked/didn't pump and one time, hair conditioner in the shampoo pump. It's annoying but I now pack my own everything (including hairdryer) to avoid the hassle. NO! Safe travels home!

Is that ONE green bean?? I think so too and that's embarrassing. What are the bits of green on top? @SerraG had a dessert with something that looked like dill sprigs thrown on top.

Just catching up here, enjoying your photos and remembering our Alaska cruise. Thanks for sharing! I was hoping you would have time to go to the gardens in Victoria. Our cruise didn't go there but we spent a few days in Vancouver pre-cruise and the gardens at Stanley Park were beautiful too.

I'm thinking maybe someone used Alaskan bear scat as inspiration for this presentation! 🤔

This is what I had on the one night we dined in Luminae. I don't have a photo of what I had but it looked nothing like this! It was 4 or 5 pieces of fish swimming in sauce. I was so disappointed as I expected a full piece of fish. Your photography is excellent but I must say that almost nothing from Luminae looks appetizing in photos....even desserts! That one chocolate/raspberry/licorice? one looked a little like 💩

We were on Beyond Retreat 10N in April and only dined in Luminae one night. Enjoyed the MDR menus much more with greater selection. Check out this live thread if you want an idea of the offerings in Luminae:

@Pushpit I found the tram stop Zeebrugge Kustlaan which is less than 10 minute walk from Cruise Terminal, as you stated. Which will then take you to Blankenberge. THANKS!!

@Pushpit thanks for this information! The tram looks very interesting, where is the church you refer to, I can't seem to find where to get onto the tram in Zeebrugge, but I do see tram stops a long the way to Blankenberge.

I agree, very strange 🤨 That's why we only had dinner at Luminae one night...it all seemed strange to us. Here is carrot cake from Cosmopolitan - I thought it was so pretty and DH said it was the best carrot cake he ever tasted!

We were on Beyond Retreat 10N in April and only had dinner in Luminae one night. Enjoyed the MDRs so much more in every way for dinner. We did enjoy Luminae for breakfast several mornings (and lunch on embarkation day...though disappointed with the lobster roll). OP, thanks for sharing, enjoy Alaska 🗻

Date of Cruise: April 12-22, 2024 Ship: Beyond Cabin #: 9168 Deck #:9 Cabin Category: S1 - Sky Suite Cabin Location: just forward of mid-ship, starboard Bed Position: facing veranda Balcony Type: Regular (not infinite) Balcony/Window Size: Standard, with 2 small chairs and small table Balcony/Window View/Obstruction: Regular full-length, no obstruction Balcony Overhang?: No Magic Carpet Issues?: No, cabin is about 10 cabins forward from MC Noise Issues?: YES. 5 nights of our 10-night cruise the noise was sleep-disturbing. Had to use 2 white noise machines, OTC sleeping medication, ear plugs. Bed even BOUNCED up a few inches one night. Noise was popping, crackling, like 2 cabin panels rubbing, and from all around, not just one place. It SEEMED to happen on nights/days in moderate seas (2-3 meters), but only when speed was high (around 19 knots); did NOT seem to be noisy when moving slower (11 knots) even in moderate seas. Wind Issues?: Only when sliding veranda door is pulled closed BUT NOT LOCKED. Connecting Cabin? Where Does it Connect?: Not connecting Suite Details: GREAT cabin layout, amazing bathroom (never seen separate toilet "closet" on any other ship), very comfortable bed, plenty of room, lots of storage areas (hanging and drawers). Living room table was small, and balcony had plenty of room for larger chairs/loungers/table. Advantages/Problems/Comments: See noise issues and suite details. Would You Book It Again?: NO. Only because of the noise issues, plus the fact that Celebrity absolutely knows about the noise issues and continues to allow customers to book cabins with noise problems and doesn't note them (like they do for Obstructed View balcony, for example). If this were resolved, we would book Celebrity again, as the Beyond was a beautiful ship, the entertainment was top-notch Vegas/Broadway level, and the food was great; and most importantly, the service was impeccable, from butler to room steward to dining staff (especially in Cosmopolitan), and to the all the staff (even friendly cleaning staff in common areas like al Bacio). Photos or Photo Links:

We were on Beyond in April and it was great except for our creaking and popping stateroom😠 I enjoyed Beyond Signature, Orange Crush (The Club), Tito's Punch (Craft Social), Toffee Apple (martini bar). I missed having a passionfruit martini but have heard it's a good one. I also missed out on the Junglebird at the pool bar. Had a mudslide one afternoon 😋 I like sweet drinks 😉 Have you been to theater shows? The production show Arte was outstanding. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

I presume this is just a jug of tap water?

Thanks!