DCPIV

Good day! 

I should be a lunch, but I had to get one more espresso and croissant at Café al Bacio. I love the croissants here. They are a nice size, crispy, and buttery. I don't know why the ones in Luminae are huge, glazed, sticky, and sweet. That ain't right. 

The cocktail class at Martini Bar didn't happen. I was the only one there at 4. I know they would've done it for me, but I was happy to just hang out for a little bit. After all, I had the bourbon tasting at 5.

For a moment, I was going to be the only one at that tasting, too, but a couple other gents showed up spontaneously. It was a decent tasting but not exactly anything staggering. The bourbon were Evan Williams, Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Bulleit, and Woodford Reserve--real meat and potatoes stuff. Still, we had a good time, and Igor was a good host. I stayed in Cellar Masters after the tasting to chat and listen to Gemini. 

Dinner was wonderful again. I've enjoyed my dining companions immensely! They were good enough to bear with me after my extensive "pre-lubing" and also with damn near ordering the entire menu. I hated skipping out on them for dessert, but I wanted to catch the show. 

And I'm glad I went to the show. She had a terrific voice! I didn't stay for the entire show because I sometimes get a travelling jones at night on board (especially towards the end. I want to do everything, and I'm running out of time!).

I went over to Rendezvous to see what was happening there and came across some cruise friends and an unexpected, entertaining show. Sue (the Cruise Director) also was in there, so I got to chat with her a bit. I stayed for a little while, but the travelling jones kicked in again, and I just went over to the Martini Bar where I came across the singer I had just enjoyed in the theater. 

I talked to her for a little while until the jones kicked in again and took me over to the casino. It was dead in there, so they were closing. I was a little bit perturbed at that since I was in a rare mood to gamble, but I understand the situation. 

Remarkably and beyond all understanding, I was getting hungry, so I grabbed something at Oceanview and went back to the room to enjoy my balcony and, eventually, go to bed. I love the balcony while we're underway at night. It's one of the reasons I cruise. 

I slept in this morning (go figure), got a little packing done, and enjoyed my balcony some more.

Now, let's see about that lunch. This afternoon is a wine tasting and one more massage, so I'll need my energy. 

So, it's been aa very nice time on board (and on shore) since the last report.

After the massage, I stopped in the Retreat Lounge in the hopes Connie would be there so that I could thank her for her very kind phone call yesterday morning (checking on me since I cancelled my tour at the last minute).  She was, and we had a nice conversation.  She was very clear and sincere that I should let them know if I needed anything at all.  We also had some laughs (mostly about the vibrating massage table).

After that, I popped over to the Martini Bar to see those guys.  My plan was to have a few sips and then take my drink up to the room to change.  However, I ended up finishing the drink there while talking with a lovely couple of honeymooners who are on their first cruise.

I've been amazed at the number of passengers that are on their first cruise right now.  I hope they still are fine with it when the numbers go back up!

Back up to the room for a quick change and then back down to Luminae.  Apparently, I arrived just as my previous night's companions had sat down (one of whom just chimed in above).  They extended me another invitation, and we once again had a great time.  Lots of good food and conversation (I recommend passing on the tuna in favor of the short ribs, by the way).  We all learned a few things from each other, but the best fact of the evening was that a B-52 could steer its landing gear!  Wow!

I was just going to go back to the room, wind down, and hit the sack.  However, I stopped halfway to have a nightcap at Cellar Masters.  Eugene and I chatted for a while, and it occurred to us both that Summit likely has not had 2000+ passengers, all added up, since the last time I was on.  Now, a lot of that is due to the few weeks they had to have zero guests on board while transitioning from St. Maarten to Miami, but it still was a staggering and humbling revelation.

A couple that I chatted with the night before also came through and had a drink.  They're fun and good company, and I was glad to see them.

After that, it was up to the room to crash and enjoy a much better night's sleep than the day before.

This morning, we woke up in Costa Maya.  I went down for a quick breakfast in Luminae and then off to the Chacchoben ruins.  I'll see about getting some photos up off this wonderful site later on (they all are on my phone at the moment).  Our tour guide, Pablo (Pablito, really, as Pablo was in the van ahead of us), was greatly enthusiastic and equally as knowledgeable and personable.  The wildest part about it was that there might have been about a dozen tourists at the site.  It was only two small groups, and we both were from Summit (the only ship in port today--also wild).  It was like having the site ro ourselves because--well--we had the site to ourselves.  That was something of a thrill, but a bitter one of course.  Still, it was an excellent tour, and we all enjoyed eacfh others' company for the time.

It was also sad and eerie to see the port complex so devoid of people.  A number of the bars, restaurants, and shops were open but with no one or almost no one in them.  Again, it was just the roughly 270 of us from Summit.  There was one woman in the pool and one man also there (he was taking lots of pictures of her, so I presume they were together).  No one was at the beach club thing.  No one was in bars.  Just surreal.  

Upon returning to the ship and rinsing off, I hit up Sushi on 5 for a late lunch.  They are so nice in there (just like the rest of the crew).  A bit of sashimi and a glas off sake, and I was off to an incredibly relaxing facial at the spa (gotta burn this OBC somehow!).  Actually, I took two minutes to have a quick ristretto at Cafe al Bacio, but even that caffeine shot didn't keep me from falling asleep under Mache's touch.

The plans for tonight include the cocktail class at Martini Bar and the Bourbon tasting at Cellar Masters.  Then, it's lobster night.  My apologies in advance to my dining partners should I arrive rather "pre-lubed."

Tomorrow is the last full day and at sea.  Time to live it up!

4 hours ago, gkm said:

Just wanted you to know how much we are enjoying your thread AND your company at dinner.  We’ve had some fun and lively discussions, haven’t we!  I definitely agree with you about the crew.  They are the best and friendliest we have encountered on all our cruises.  
 

Garry

Thank you, Garry! The pleasure has been mine! 

9 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Wondering did you read any threads here prior to posing these questions?

Wondering if you've ever tried using the rather useless search feature on this board. 

I tell you what, folks. There's nothing like a Swedish massage to get you back on track. It's a different world than it was a couple hours ago. 

Pro tip: Schedule your massage during sailaway. The vibrating table is a bonus! 

I keep forgetting to post this. 

Nikola has a delightful sense of humor. He did this and wanted me to send a photo of it to DW in order to make her think I might've met a new "someone special" on board. 🤣

It actually was a nice comfort this morning (albeit a slightly strange one 🤣).

Thanks, everyone, for your kind words and thoughts. I came back to the room for some badly needed rest after lunch, and that nap did worlds of good for my disposition and well being. I expect that the massage I have scheduled in a little while will do even more. 

Also, I received a phone call from the Shore Excursions desk. They refunded the cost of the tour I cancelled this morning. I never expected that or even asked for it. Pleasant surprise! 

On 10/4/2021 at 4:50 PM, Laurab23 said:

I would love pictures of you cabin and balcony. I love seeing them all. I hope to some day book a Royal Suite.

 

Laura

Here are those bathroom photos I owe you. 

The bathroom is one of my least favorite parts of the RS. The layout is tricky, especially that tight squeeze between the toilet and the shower. There also is no good place to put your stuff. The counter space is very limited, and the raised sinks make it awkward. There's no real shelving to speak of (what little does exist is full of other stuff and behind the door when it's open). There's a little bit of storage underneath the sinks, but it's tight and requires crouching down to access it. 

There are few other complaints I have with the room, such as there are only two US plugs in the whole suite, and neither are near the bed. There's also no mirror long enough or adequately placed to as one's full body (although there is good space for one).

However, it's mighty nice overall! I have no qualms staying in here at all, and I recommend it. Just know it's limits and quirks.

Yes, just call them up and ask about the upgrade. I'm not sure if you can do that via the website after final payment (but you can try, I suppose).

If you were to go the route of taking the OBC, I also recommend calling them. It might be a long wait on hold, but it could be worth it. I did that for two sailings, and the person I spoke to calculated the credit, filled out the form, and submitted it for me all while I was on the phone. I liked that they did it for me. Not only did I have confidence that it was done correctly and that it was received, I also received more credit than I thought I would in both cases. 

I'm also on board Summit right now, and DW and I also were a couple months ago. It's rather fantastic! 

2 hours ago, twins_to_alaska said:

Millennium Nov 11-15 that was only going to Grand Cayman is now slated for Cozumel on Nov 13.

Thanks for the heads-up on that. I see that Cozumel is on the cruise planner now but that the sailing still is titled "Grand Cayman" and the app has not updated. I'm sure all will be taken care of in due course. 

I'm actually in Cozumel today (on board Summit). 🤣

4 hours ago, jg51 said:

.

Dear "DCPIV,"

May we ask a favor of you?

 

Could you please display photos of the "activities" page of two of your "Celebrity Today" issues (for example, October 4 and 5 (or October 5 and 6)?  We're referring to the page that gives detailed times and topics, possibly with all the musical performances summarized in the lower right-hand corner?  [We don't need to see any of the other pages.]

 

Thanks, in advance!

Is this what you were looking for? 

15 minutes ago, vickykay said:

So sorry to hear your sad news.  We lost a good friend suddenly also a few months ago and was also a difficult time.  I hope you can enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Thank you very much. 

I will enjoy the cruise. In fact, my friend would insist that I do. 

So, last night was another lovely one aboard. I actually passed on dinner at Tuscan Grill. Dining alone in a dark, nearly empty restaurant just isn't appealing. The more bustling Luminae is far more enjoyable. 

Before dinner was a reception at the Retreat Lounge with some officers present. I hope I didn't offend anyone, but I world only stay in there for a few moments at a time

The evening was absolutely perfect, so I kept going outside to enjoy it. 

I mean, come on. How can I stay in a room where the only view is three TVs when that's just on the other side of the door? 😀

A few other passengers were nice enough to invite me to join them at their table for dinner. I had a truly magnificent time with them and look forward to seeing them more over the next few days. 

Today is Cozumel. We're docked right next to Edge. I did have an excursion but I cancelled it this morning. This is more than y'all want to know, but I received some bad news from home last night. A friend passed away suddenly from a stroke. The shock from that led to a pretty awful night's sleep. When the alarm went off at 7, I may have had 2 or 3 hours of sleep, and that just ain't gonna cut it. So, I just called down to let them know I wouldn't be there and went back to bed for a few more hours. This is the first and only time this trip that I've not been okay with travelling alone. I'd very much like to be with some folks, chatting a bit about the friend we just lost. 

The phone rang right after I got back up. It was Connie, one of the Retreat Concierges. She was calling to check on me and see if I was feeling well. I expect that's part of ship safety protocol, but I also greatly appreciated the gesture. 

Other than espresso and a croissant, that's pretty much been my day. It may not be my best day, but there's no such thing as a bad day aboard a cruise ship. 

There's another helipad sailaway this evening, but I'll miss it because I have a massage that conflicts. 

Did I mention that there's no such thing as a bad day aboard a cruise ship? 

Off to lunch, now. 

13 minutes ago, Cdresser said:

Hi DCPIV, we are neighbors on the ship.

I look forward to meeting you in person! I was in Luminae when you arrived (and, yes, they did have to scramble a bit!)

3 hours ago, jg51 said:

.

Dear "DCPIV,"

May we ask a favor of you?

 

Could you please display photos of the "activities" page of two of your "Celebrity Today" issues (for example, October 4 and 5 (or October 5 and 6)?  We're referring to the page that gives detailed times and topics, possibly with all the musical performances summarized in the lower right-hand corner?  [We don't need to see any of the other pages.]

 

Thanks, in advance!

I will do my best to remember when I'm back in the room. 

12 hours ago, canderson said:

Those aboard seem to be loving the 3:1 ratio, but saying the low pax count does make the ship feel a little weird

Yes, it is a little weird, but it's hardly bad. Service is excellent, and it's very nice that the crew have time to chat. I know it's rough on them, though.

I wish I knew about this before now! I would've brought some. That sounds like fun, and I'll be sure to bring some in the future. 

By the way, the duck in Summit's Luminae is quite tasty. 

On 10/4/2021 at 4:50 PM, Laurab23 said:

I would love pictures of you cabin and balcony. I love seeing them all. I hope to some day book a Royal Suite.

 

Laura

Here are a few unedited photos taken by an amateur who's been enjoying a sea day. Please view with that in mind. 

I realize that I forgot to take one of the bathroom. That'll have to come a little later, as I don't expect to return until after dinner. 

Cheers! 

On 9/29/2021 at 1:24 PM, kearney said:

I love having different activities on the ship, even if it is not something I am interested in participating in. Thinking back, I recall skeet shooting on the Norway...back in the 80s... hard to imagine loaded guns on a ship these days...

I remember the skeet shooting as well as the driving ranges on board ships.

22 minutes ago, lhsail said:

She might have been making that for us. 😉

It's something to chair-ish, isn't it? 

These low numbers are flat out bizarre. I just took this. Again, it's a perfect, gorgeous sea day. 

Yes, that's an empty hot tub in the photo. 

3 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Is the Alexandra you were speaking of the ever funny bartender that was at Summit Retreat?

 

No, she was in Cellar Masters and also served us at the wine tasting where they break out the really good stuff. She's a lovely person in every respect. 

While DW and I were enjoying Cellar Masters last cruise, we noticed that she took a champagne cage and worked it into the shape of a chair. She was making that for another passenger. We remarked about how cool that was (and it was!)  While at the wine tasting (that included a champagne), she presented DW with a "chair" of her own (from the bottle opened at the tasting). It is and always will be one of our very favorite and treasured cruise souvenirs. 

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Can you update us on how many passengers and if there are any kids aboard?

 

Let me update that I have seen a few teenagers, but that's about as young as I've seen. 

Reporting from Café al Bacio. 

The rest of yesterday also went wonderfully. The helipad sailaway was cancelled due to rain, but I hadn't planned on going there, anyhow. 

My visits to the Martini Bar and Retreat Lounge were great fun--many familiar faces and fun catching up. It's obvious that they are concerned about their futures, but they also are optimistic with bookings on the rise. Don't think for one moment, though, they are bringing things down with their concern. Not at all. Their smiles are quite obvious and pleasant even from behind a mask. 

Dinner was fantastic. I'm very glad I got the duck!

I spent some time in the casino seeing about turning some of this OBC into cash (with relative success). Man, these low numbers are wild. There were times I was the only one at a table, and I don't recall seeing more than 3 at any table other than craps at any time (usually fewer), and the craps table never was more than half full.  Again, though, the dealers are just as pleasant and fun as can be. The biggest difference is that hands go mighty fast when it's only 1 or 2 at a table (and I was playing 2 hands at a time at blackjack).

After that, I spent a little time catching up with Eugene at Cellar Masters and enjoying Thiago's brilliant guitar. Unfortunately (for me at the moment), Alexandra has been transferred to Millennium, so I missed her. Fortunately (again for me), I'll be on board Millennium next month. 

The day ended with a nightcap on the balcony and a very nice sleep. 

Today is a sea day, so I slept in. I'm not typically much for breakfast, so I skipped that for some quality balcony time. It's a beautiful day out here, something to be savored and never taken for granted.

Sushi sounds good for lunch, but I might go down a deck to get the world famous Luminae Burger. Dinner will be at Tuscan Grill (gotta get the porterhouse). There's no telling what might happen between now and then and after, but don't be surprised if find me having a schvitz in the Persian Garden. 

Life is but a dream.